Groovin' the Moo - Bendigo, 4th May 2013
Words: Cass Fuller
What do you call a day where some of Austrailia’s finest musical acts share the stage with international big names combined with festival-goers with a proclivity to wear onesies and bad patterns, bond together in a barren town for youngsters? You guessed it! Groovin’ the Moo Bendigo.
The sun was shining; the grounds were clean – all ready for what the event would produce. Herds of people flocked to the Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Bendigo for what would be one of the best lineups of musical talent the town has ever seen. Local Bendigo band Eater of the Sky was the first to perform on the stages while Kingswood were pumping tunes in the Moolin Rouge tent. Three songs into their set, a girl had already taken her knickers off and flung them at the stage. Although Kingswood had only kicked off the festivities of the day for the Moolin Rouge, their lighting displays were nothing to be left unnoticed.
Triple J Unearthed winners Abreact made their presence known with their brutal drumming and killer vocals. The crowd gathered to hear them perform Bomber, which was held in the #1 spot on the Triple J Unearthed Metal Charts for four weeks. Also included in their set from their album Entities, was the opening song Remnants as well as Weight of Disturbance, The Grit that Grinds, finishing off with Cull. The crowd was rapt.
The sun was shining; the grounds were clean – all ready for what the event would produce. Herds of people flocked to the Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Bendigo for what would be one of the best lineups of musical talent the town has ever seen. Local Bendigo band Eater of the Sky was the first to perform on the stages while Kingswood were pumping tunes in the Moolin Rouge tent. Three songs into their set, a girl had already taken her knickers off and flung them at the stage. Although Kingswood had only kicked off the festivities of the day for the Moolin Rouge, their lighting displays were nothing to be left unnoticed.
Triple J Unearthed winners Abreact made their presence known with their brutal drumming and killer vocals. The crowd gathered to hear them perform Bomber, which was held in the #1 spot on the Triple J Unearthed Metal Charts for four weeks. Also included in their set from their album Entities, was the opening song Remnants as well as Weight of Disturbance, The Grit that Grinds, finishing off with Cull. The crowd was rapt.
Back to the Moolin Rouge tent where Tuka with Ellesquire had the crowd going in an 8 Mile-esque rap scene. Fingers were pointed and arms were being raised up and down, up and down. Further on in the day’s schedule, LA punk band The Bronx proved to be one of the most interactive bunch, with their audience for the whole event. Singer Matt Caughthran ventured into the mosh pit to be surrounded by his fans who then helped him crowd surf back to the front. The crowd was mesmerized from this point on.
Lunchtime soon arrived, with horrifying lines at the food stalls. At this time of the day the staggering drunkards had started to present themselves, and their bottles of alcohol they had so secretly hidden down their pants. Understandable considering the prices for one can of alcohol, yet still baffling as to how they made it past security.
Matt and Kim put on quite a show. Being the most fun for the whole day, they had the audience at full attention as they released balloons into the crowd. This act made their set the most memorable for many as all the colours bled into the sky. Kim also walked onto the hands of fans to create a “10-second dance party”.
Seth Sentry was next to perform, opening with Float Away in front of a cartoon backdrop. Throughout his set the DJ accompanying him started to get a little out of control, trying to get more of the crowd’s attention. Sentry wore a hoody with the name ‘Rach Mullins’ on it - only to later say that he had a one night stand with this girl and that she had a hoodie with his name on it so she sent him one with hers. He shouted to everybody “send shit in (and) I’ll fucking wear it!”. Dear Science was a favourite of the crowd as was Room for Rent.
DJ Woody’s 90s Mixtape was a mash-up of hip-hop for each year of the 90s. The crowd was a little slow to get into it – considering most of them were only born in the 90s – but soon enough they heard some beats they knew and started welcoming the tunes. From OPP by Naughty by Nature to Insane in the Brain by Cypress Hill, it seemed to be just like the Yacht Club DJs style of mixing but a 90s hip-hop version, with the added bonus of 90s references on the video backdrop. Showing clips from Toy Story, Home Alone as well as various snippets from the music videos of the tracks he was ripping up. The greatest moment in his set was when he paid respect to the Notorious B.I.G., getting the crowd involved by yelling, “Rest in Peace”.
Lunchtime soon arrived, with horrifying lines at the food stalls. At this time of the day the staggering drunkards had started to present themselves, and their bottles of alcohol they had so secretly hidden down their pants. Understandable considering the prices for one can of alcohol, yet still baffling as to how they made it past security.
Matt and Kim put on quite a show. Being the most fun for the whole day, they had the audience at full attention as they released balloons into the crowd. This act made their set the most memorable for many as all the colours bled into the sky. Kim also walked onto the hands of fans to create a “10-second dance party”.
Seth Sentry was next to perform, opening with Float Away in front of a cartoon backdrop. Throughout his set the DJ accompanying him started to get a little out of control, trying to get more of the crowd’s attention. Sentry wore a hoody with the name ‘Rach Mullins’ on it - only to later say that he had a one night stand with this girl and that she had a hoodie with his name on it so she sent him one with hers. He shouted to everybody “send shit in (and) I’ll fucking wear it!”. Dear Science was a favourite of the crowd as was Room for Rent.
DJ Woody’s 90s Mixtape was a mash-up of hip-hop for each year of the 90s. The crowd was a little slow to get into it – considering most of them were only born in the 90s – but soon enough they heard some beats they knew and started welcoming the tunes. From OPP by Naughty by Nature to Insane in the Brain by Cypress Hill, it seemed to be just like the Yacht Club DJs style of mixing but a 90s hip-hop version, with the added bonus of 90s references on the video backdrop. Showing clips from Toy Story, Home Alone as well as various snippets from the music videos of the tracks he was ripping up. The greatest moment in his set was when he paid respect to the Notorious B.I.G., getting the crowd involved by yelling, “Rest in Peace”.
Coming onto the stage dressed in all white were Regurgitator. They are certainly still going strong, which was evident in their rocking set, opening with Everyday Formula. At one point they even played the riff from Guns ‘n’ Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine. The time came around for them to play their most recognized song, Polyester Girl and no matter where you looked around in the crowd, those that weren’t sitting down, were shaking their body parts in ways that aren’t normal. Closing their set with the song ! (Song Formerly Known As), they proved that their fans are not just the teens of the 90s who grew up with hearing them on Triple J, but now, a strong force of today’s younger Gen Ys.
Tame Impala had their audience so engulfed in the video backdrop and the soft coloured lighting paired with their psychedelic sounds - it was reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s concerts. Their track Elephant had the crowd awake and engaged from their trance, only to have them back in that state by the final song Half Full Glass of Wine. All in all, a great performance.
Flume attracted the largest gathering of people in the Moolin Rouge tent for the entire day. Security turned the photographers away from the pit as paramedics were pulling people out of the crowd left, right and centre. It did get quite warm under the tent as opposed to the freezing cold everywhere else. As soon as the sun set, you could tell it was close to winter.
The Kooks were difficult to see, as they had a long metal step at the front of the stage (for singer Luke Pritchard to walk back and forward on). You couldn’t really see the rest of the band either. Perhaps a stage design malfunction? Who knows? It certainly wasn’t a good idea. The British rock band played their catchy songs energetically, particularly Ooh La and She Moves In Her Own Way to finish the performance off with everybody’s favourite, Naïve. Everybody was singing along.
Tame Impala had their audience so engulfed in the video backdrop and the soft coloured lighting paired with their psychedelic sounds - it was reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s concerts. Their track Elephant had the crowd awake and engaged from their trance, only to have them back in that state by the final song Half Full Glass of Wine. All in all, a great performance.
Flume attracted the largest gathering of people in the Moolin Rouge tent for the entire day. Security turned the photographers away from the pit as paramedics were pulling people out of the crowd left, right and centre. It did get quite warm under the tent as opposed to the freezing cold everywhere else. As soon as the sun set, you could tell it was close to winter.
The Kooks were difficult to see, as they had a long metal step at the front of the stage (for singer Luke Pritchard to walk back and forward on). You couldn’t really see the rest of the band either. Perhaps a stage design malfunction? Who knows? It certainly wasn’t a good idea. The British rock band played their catchy songs energetically, particularly Ooh La and She Moves In Her Own Way to finish the performance off with everybody’s favourite, Naïve. Everybody was singing along.
The final performance of the ginormous day on the main stage was The Temper Trap. With their amazing lighting display during their opening song, Love Lost, along with frontman Dougy Mandagi’s spectacular falsetto being just as good live as is recorded, everybody knew they were in for a great time. Also playing hits such as Fader, Rabbit Hole, Trembling Hands, Soldier On, Down River, Science of Fear and Drum Song. Easily the best choice of songs to perform for any band at this year’s GTM in Bendigo. Closing off their amazing performance with the song Sweet Disposition left everybody happy and relaxed to head home on their merry ways.
Although the cold of the night was too much for some, as well as some having too much to drink throughout the day, the smiles on everybody’s faces was enough to satisfy any parent that had doubts about their offspring attending a music festival. When you compare such festivals as Big Day Out, Future Music Festival and even Soundwave, many say that there were timetable clashes or dramas with people being drunk or on drugs. Not GTM. There are still the odd few that take things too far, but that doesn’t reflect on the overall level of enjoyment people have at a smaller scale festival. Commendations and congratulations go to the organisers of Groovin’ the Moo Bendigo for putting together the best day of the year that Bendigo holds.
Although the cold of the night was too much for some, as well as some having too much to drink throughout the day, the smiles on everybody’s faces was enough to satisfy any parent that had doubts about their offspring attending a music festival. When you compare such festivals as Big Day Out, Future Music Festival and even Soundwave, many say that there were timetable clashes or dramas with people being drunk or on drugs. Not GTM. There are still the odd few that take things too far, but that doesn’t reflect on the overall level of enjoyment people have at a smaller scale festival. Commendations and congratulations go to the organisers of Groovin’ the Moo Bendigo for putting together the best day of the year that Bendigo holds.