Ah, Let Them Eat Cake. Back for its third year, the day of huge performances set against the lush backdrop of Werribee Mansion Gardens made for a day that could snap punters with even the biggest New Year’s Eve hangover out of their misery. With a bounty of international and local talent spread across six stages, Cake ’15 flaunted a vast array of improvements from last year, making the experience well-worth the trek.
Already in the country for Falls Festival, Jamie xx joined the lineup at the last minute, filling in for DJ Sneak, who was unable to make the trip due to medical issues. The change forced a massive timetable shuffle that left Jamie xx in the 1pm slot at the Main Stage- the bamboo built Bastille Stage. He laid down a set that was appropriate for the time of day, with tropical, laid back vibes and his productions with The xx, like the eerie Sunset.
Todd Terje took over the decks next, starting off with a remix of Men At Work’s Land Down Under, and he didn’t disappoint, flirting with guilty pleasures and nu-disco along the way. Over at the smaller Guillotine Stage, Ben Pearce delivered a smooth hour and a half of deep house, after being bumped from the Main Stage in the DJ Sneak replacement shuffle.
As the clouds began to clear and the much welcomed sun washed over the mansion grounds, duo Bob Moses took the stage for a live show that landed amongst the highlights of the day. With Tom Howie on vocals and a keyboard and guitar in the mix, their hour-long performance featured tracks like underground club hit All I Want and slow burner It’s Gone. The pairing of electronica with live elements made for a unique performance that still fit right in with the rest of the tunes of the day.
While there was never any doubt that the music would be top quality, the festival’s organisation also proved to be impressive. Lines, if any, were sparse, and food and drinks were not only delicious, but also priced reasonably. Even more, the garden grounds were a visual feast, with a myriad of art installations and decadent stages featuring swirling lights and pyrotechnics. The extended set times, ranging from one and half to two hours on the backend of the main stage also ensured that the DJs had plenty of room to work through an eclectic mix of tunes that the crowd could really get into.
Not to be forgotten, one of the most notable and appreciated improvements from last year was the sound. The addition of Funktion-One rigs made a huge difference in its quality, with Carl Craig’s mammoth closing set made even sweeter by their crystal clear output. Sprinkling in his own productions, he also dropped in special treats like Jeff Mill’s The Bells and his remix of Tom Trago’s Use Me Again. But far too soon, the sound of Stevie Nicks’ voice flooded over the crowd and Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams signalled the end of the night, with punters dispersing for the dreaded journey back from Werribee.
Summed up, Cake 2015 was a whirlwind day of extravagance in its purest form. From the organisation to the lineup to the atmosphere, there’s little question that Let Them Eat Cake is well on its way to becoming the premiere underground New Year’s Day event.
BY LAUREN GILL
Loved: The sunshine.
Hated: The train ride back.
Drank: Fancy slushies.
