Images ©Richard Hedger
future festival Review
friendly fires
Azari & III
new order
FatBoy Slim
the rapture
tinie tempah
Future Music Festival Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney Saturday, March 10
After a week of bad weather leading up to the event, the rain and clouds cleared and made way for one hell of a day for Future Music Festival in Sydney. The sun shone down on almost 45,000 revellers who packed into Randwick Racecourse to take in some of the best dance and electronic acts on the planet. Last year’s inclusion of Ke$ha on the bill raised a few eyebrows and 2012 wasn’t without its wildcard act. Jessie J seemed to confuse many with her presence but put in an entertaining performance on the Las Venus stage for those there early enough to see it. While over on the neighbouring Flamingo stage, more early attendees took in the grimy-goodness of Professor Green. As the day rolled on, many who’d just experienced the massive dubstep sounds of Chase & Status found relief in
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indie-rockers The Naked And Famous. Frontwoman Alisa Xayalith was pitch-perfect as she performed ‘All of This’ and the crowd sang along enthusiastically until a good portion bailed in time to catch the most talked about act in dance music on the main stage. Whether you think he invented dubstep or ruined it, judging by the 30,000-strong crowd that watched Skrillex, he was the act most were at Future to see. Despite the patchy sound quality, he put on an exciting show. Confetti cannon, smoke machines, amazing graphics and a flaming Skrillex logo accompanied a set featuring ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’, ‘Bangarang’, ‘Cinema’, and a remix of Nero’s ‘Promises’. Another big act was DJ extraordinaire, Fatboy Slim. Disturbing and entertaining, Cook performed part of his set
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wearing a mask of his own face while censored nude images and Cook’s animated head flashed across the screens. The set may have left those who came to hear all his 90s big beat hits, disappointed. But Cook’s masterful mixing thrilled the rest. After dark, Swedish House Mafia was a popular choice with young revellers and pleased the crowd with their lengthy set, laser light show and pyrotechnics on the main stage. Meanwhile, those with more mature tastes took in the event headliners — 80s New Wave legends New Order, playing songs spanning their 30-year career. As the last acts finished and the cleaners moved in, dirty, sweaty patrons spilled on to the streets to wait way too long for buses back to Central. One thing’s for sure, Future 2012 will be remembered as one of the best yet. ~Emily Cones-Browne