Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals
Headlining this years festival is Anderson .Paak with backing band the Free Nationals. Following his album Malibu, Anderson .Paak has already delivered power sensation tracks ‘Bubblin’ and ‘Till It’s Over’. Exploding in hip hop, RnB, funk and bursting in vivacious energy, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals are a must on your see live list.
Toto
The band behind ‘Africa’ will be gracing the Falls Festival stage this year. Formed in 1976, the band produced a plethora of hits including ‘Rosanna’, and ‘Hold the Line’. Continuing to evolve and develop, Toto will have fans dancing and singing along in a symphonic chorus.
DMA’s
Sydney band DMA’s have been killing it with the release of their new album For Now earlier this year. Touring internationally and playing festivals Coachella, Glastonbury, and Australia’s Splendour in the Grass, DMA’s have been spreading their sound with kick ass singles ‘In the Air’, ‘Dawning’ and ‘Do I Need You Now?’ Their sweet guitar pop and intoxicating melodies will send fans into a contagious dazed haze.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
In 2017, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard set about the task of releasing 5 studio albums. To which they certainly did. Kicking off the year with Flying Microtonal Banana, to working on collaborations with Mile High Club on Sketches of Brunswick East, the Melbourne band’s last release of their big year was Gumboot Soup. Outrageously psychedelic, overflowing with energy and spontaneous spunk, King Gizzard are set to burst ears and blow minds.
Golden Features
Who is the man behind the mask of Golden Features? Australian DJ Tom Stell is whom we can thank for the dance infused deep house grooves. Album SECT descended on us this year, seeing Golden Features continue to land on Triple J’s hottest 100 for the past three years. Working alongside artists Julia Stone, Nicole Miller and Alison Wonderland, Golden Features has sold out shows around the country and is not to be missed.
Jack River
Golden girl Holly Rankin A.K.A Jack River sold out Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth shows with her tour of debut album Sugar Mountain. Sparkling with electro pop, and tingling harmonies wrapped in synth, Sugar Mountain is an ode to the loss of youth and innocence. Featuring on the album is catchy single ‘Fools Gold’, which landed her in Triple J’s Hottest 100. Not only does Rankin pour herself into her solo work, she is the co-founder of Electric Lady, advocating the celebration of the achievements of women through all women tours and major music events.
Soccer Mommy
Mingling bedroom pop and indie rock is Sophie Allison, the voice behind stage name Soccer Mommy. The 20-year old Nashville born songstress combines melancholic tones and lyrical guitar on her debut album Clean, which includes single ‘Your Dog’ with the opening line ‘I don’t want to be your f***king dog’. Rapidly progressing from demo tapes to international tours, the young artist is developing a secure presence on festival line-ups.
Odette
A silhouette of tangling curls, emitting an emotive and enigmatic voice makes Odette hard to miss. The young Sydney based artist released her debut album To A Stranger this year, immediately making a mark as one of Triple J’s feature albums. Fluctuating from spoken words to lyrical forms, Odette arranges soul and pop with her love for literature and prose alongside her family heritage of jazz piano practice.
Alice Skye
2018 has been a big year for young Alice Skye. Releasing her debut album Friends with Feelings under Indigenous label CCAMA Music, the young artist was also awarded the International Women’s Day First People’s Emerging Artist award. Coming into prominence back in 2015 with her single ‘You Are The Mountains’, Alice Skye intertwines her roots of the Wimmera region of Victoria with her journal entries to create gentle haunting melodies that cascade in a dream like softness.
Mahalia
Blessed with a voice that is dripping in honey is artist Mahalia. Based in Birmingham, England, Mahalia wraps up her sass and flare in the production of Dairy of Me. Oozing in soul flow and jamming beats Mahalia is the epitome of cool. Releasing singles ‘Wish I Missed My Ex’, ‘No Reply’ and ‘Proud Of Me’ this year, Mahalia is setting off a kick arse career.
The Vaccines
The Vaccines are coming back to Aus with new album ‘Combat Sports’ under their belt. Releasing the single ‘I Can’t Quit’ to build anticipation for the album’s drop in March, the Vaccines have taken a turn in their approach to previous albums. The London based indie rock bands are as ever infectious sure to sweep crowds away.
Ocean Alley
From the northern beaches of Sydney, Ocean Alley will hit the Falls stage running, blending psychedelic surf and garage rock. Selling out their Australian tour in May this year, and appearing at Groovin’ the Moo and Splendour in the Grass, Ocean Alley have entranced listeners becoming an international sensation. Single, ‘Confidence’ is an immediate place to start familiarising yourself with the band’s iridescent charm.
Flight Facilities
Duo Flight Facilities gained stellar acclaim with the release of single ‘Crave You’ back in 2009. Since then, they delivered us cosmic hit ‘Foreign Language’, produced bewildering album Down to Earth, received an ARIA and performed live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. How do you top that? Yet, Flight Facilities did indeed strike again with the release of singles ‘All Your Love’ and ‘Need You’ this year.
Tia Gostelow
Following her break out in 2016 at BIGSOUND and constant turnovers on Triple J, Tia Gostelow is an artist to keep track of. Delving into the alternative/ indie genre, this young, Australian artist captivates listeners with caressing harmonies and piercing guitar combined with a jangling backbeat. Expect to see the release of her debut album Thick Skin this September.
Interpol
Coming together in 1997 straight out of NYU is Interpol. Their latest release is sixth studio album Marauder, which is home to the flaming hot single ‘The Rover’. The band has recieved raving reviews from Rolling Stone and TIME magazine, and appeared on late night television such as David Letterman’s Late Show. So, take some time, sit down and be taken away by the irrestiable swoon of Interpol.
