AAA Backstage Archive

Festival Review: Listen Out Festival Brisbane

To those of you walking around Southbank last Sunday, you may have been briefly mesmerized by the extreme dance music emanating from the tents outside the Queensland Performing area.

Well for those inside the event, the effect was multiplied greatly. Dance music festival Listen Out concluded it’s tour around Australia in Brisbane on the weekend and what a show it was. The festival included a handful of uprising Australian talent as well as a bevvy of well-known acts from abroad. 

Us Australians are renowned for our binge drinking habits, and the sweltering 32-degree heat only served to drive festival attendees towards the beer tents even more so.  Yet the numerous police and security personnel aided in stopping any alcohol fuelled savages from ruining the event. 

Beginning at 2pm festivalgoers were entertained by DJ’s Nick Woodward and Gurps, as well as Triple J’s unearthed Rattraps. Yet soon after it was time for UK based Laura Jones to take to the Atari stage. Playing a number of her remixed dance and house-based tracks, the crowd was thoroughly amped up for the rest of the night to come.  Rufus, the electronica trio hailing from Sydney turned heads with their selection of original and remixed dance tunes. What’s refreshing about this act is the use of actual instruments, such as a drum set, keys and guitar, to make a majority of their electronic sounds, as well as featuring some impressive vocals. Tracks ‘Take Me’ and ‘We Left’ received the loudest approval from the crowd. 

Listen Out Festival, Photo: Dean Swindell

Rufus, Photo: Dean Swindell

Rufus, Photo: Dean Swindell

Next it was over to the 909 Stage to catch John Talabot, the Spanish electronic mixer and producer. While the vocals were nothing special, the minimalistic nature of John’s set induced an almost trance like state within the audience. This was a brief and welcome respite and allowed for people to relax and chill out before the intense party music later on. 

Synth freak and multi-instrumentalist Touch Sensitive followed John onto the stage. With his audacious mix of funkadelic bass, syncopated drums and angelic vocals the mood within the festival was suddenly uplifted. Employing the use of a real bass guitar to create the bass line of his music, Touch Sensitive amazed the crowd with his ability to mix, strum and hit the drums set almost simultaneously. This blend of music attracted one of the biggest crowds at the smaller 909 stage for the day. 

Touch Sensitive, Photo: Dean Swindell

From the disco-electronica of Touch Sensitive to the pop infused dance music of Aluna George. The crowd responded well to the UK’s double act. Featuring Aluna Francis on vocals and the mixing ability of George Reid the audience was on their feet and moving about ecstatically by the end of the set.  Think destiny’s child, but the drummer took acid and started going mental on stage. That is the result when these two musicians combine. Technically speaking, Aluna’s vocals started to go slightly off-key near the end of the set. But one can forgive her for the level of expertise she displays when she is singing in such a high range for so long. 

Aluna George, Photo: Dean Swindell

Back at the Atari Stage, L.A music duo Classixx did not disappoint with their selection of grudge inspired dance music.  With a variety of catchy synth hooks and overwhelming drum and bass, it took all of about 5 seconds before the whole field was moving with dancing festival attendees. To be on the front barrier during their hit single ‘All you’re waiting for’ looked similar to a nightmare, as the audience was insatiable with energy.

Then it was time for the infamous Azealia Banks to take to the stage. The American Rapper, singer Songwriter caused a stir at the Listen Out festival in Melbourne when she spat the dummy and left the stage after just 90 seconds when a audience member threw a can at her. Yet this isn’t the first time she had done this, so the crowd was filled with anticipation on the weekend. Would she leave again? Or would she manage to perform the set?

Well thankfully she performed a flawless set. The ferocity of Azealia Banks live is unrivalled to many other rappers around today thanks to her winning combination of sex appeal, musicianship and showmanship. Immaculately performing the hit single ‘212’ at the end of the set, the crowd was positively pumping. 

Pictures: Listen Out Festival Festival

Azealia Banks, Photo: Dean Swindell

Azealia Banks, Photo: Dean Swindell

The common mistake with these festivals is that you may believe that once you’ve been to one, you’ve seen them all. Yet don’t be fooled, Listen Out isn’t a one show pony. While it primarily featured artists that lie within the electronica genre, each artist incorporates one or more styles of music into the drum and bass scene. The result? A dance music festival that doesn’t just feature everyday monotonous electronica. So if you aren’t a fan of dance music, or you hate music festivals in general. I implore you to try and get out there. You never know what you might find.