Can we have a music festival for people who are too old to go to music festivals but still want to go to music festivals? Obviously, we can't jump up and down like we used to so the music would need to be the sort of stuff where we can sway gently and pretend that we're dancing. Maybe start off with some Reb Fountain, then throw Wilco in there. Follow that up with Jenny Lewis and then Neko Case. Then, because Jenny is there, some Postal Service. Gomez have got back together and are up next, then The National. Elbow are the headliners. We could call the festival something like A Gentle Day's Journey Into Night. And alongside the merch tents and food stalls there would be places where you can get brochures for retirement villages.
Love this James but I think this was called 'Auckland City Limits' and they just didn't get enough people along to justify it. But maybe now is the right time to bring it back?
I'm more skeptical on Charli than some of my fellow gays but her set at that last Laneway she played is probably the best set I've ever seen at a festival - just full energy - and thank god, no live band. If your music is electronic you don't need a band!!
I'll support any festival that can get Phoenix back here. I missed Auckland City Limits but I saw them twice when I was in LA. A top 5 live band for me.
I loved that Charli XCX performance too but it was the most pure pop spectacle I've seen her do. The Powerstation set - think animal costumes, balloons, about 20 people on stage - is my fave of hers so far.
Phoenix! Would be so good! And Spoon! I almost went to that War on Drugs show just for Spoon. Alas, once was enough for War on Drugs for me.
Kind of feel like describing a Travis Scott concert tour as an out of control blood letting is a big yikes given the ten people who died at Astro World
I've commented this before but I really couldn't imagine anything less appealling than the concept of seeing any of these major label artists perform at music festival. In particular the list of indie bands seems to consist only of bands that are now very much worse at making music than they used to be - I'm not interested.
The Charli album is overrated and sounds very bad, in my eyes very bland and cynical music interested in legitimatizing a kind of self-absorbed mythologizing and self-crafting of celebrity - what's new?
There is exciting underground music all over the world, and the Spotify promoted artists have long overstayed their welcome. We need to be exposed to new music by brave promoters who are insistent that their taste can transform our culture; where are these people? Why is every festival made up of bland successful acts who push on constantly in this industry grind, the "Arcade Fire's" of the world who sink ever deeper into marketing campaigns over the music? Where is Animal Collective, Xiu Xiu, the true experimental guard of alternative music, and why do people only listen to the most bland variation of alternative rock now? Why would I want to see any of these "indie" acts when they willingly place themselves under the thumb of Live Nation?
Julian Casablancas father worked directly with Donald Trump. AG Cook is the son of a knighted architect. Fred Again is also the son of a knight. Clairo's father was an executive for Coca Cola, Converse, Starbucks, etcetcetc. We need to raise our standards for what is acceptable and real in this industry because ultimately it seems no one cares right now, and we are just supposed to like everything and tolerate everything.
Laneway has historically been a home to the indie-leaning artists, but now that festival has moved towards the mainstream there does seem to be a gap for something truly original and new and fresh.
Perhaps the risks are just too high to make it work when the industry is dominated by one massive behemoth?
Long gap in response sorry, but fundamentally I disagree with this idea that you cannot bring mid tier acts to New Zealand anymore because it is "too expensive". The mid tier acts that are being bought over by promoters are pretty universally bland, horrifically promoted and uninteresting and no one in the country understands the international youth culture on any level. No offense intended to Damien as I truly do respect what he has done for the industry, but the announced lineup so far at Meow Nui shows no divergence from the dire programming of the Meow bar itself; everything is about taste and curation, and it seems no one is capable.
Can we have a music festival for people who are too old to go to music festivals but still want to go to music festivals? Obviously, we can't jump up and down like we used to so the music would need to be the sort of stuff where we can sway gently and pretend that we're dancing. Maybe start off with some Reb Fountain, then throw Wilco in there. Follow that up with Jenny Lewis and then Neko Case. Then, because Jenny is there, some Postal Service. Gomez have got back together and are up next, then The National. Elbow are the headliners. We could call the festival something like A Gentle Day's Journey Into Night. And alongside the merch tents and food stalls there would be places where you can get brochures for retirement villages.
Love this James but I think this was called 'Auckland City Limits' and they just didn't get enough people along to justify it. But maybe now is the right time to bring it back?
Maybe now that Laneway has upsized to Western Springs, ACL could downsize to Albert Park?
I think there's a retirement home near there too :)
😭😭 I was so excited when I read the headline as “Charli XCX to headline Laneway”
Oh no! Wasn't my intention to trick anyone...
Somene's just pointed out that Chapelle Roan has done an Insta Live saying she'll be here in Feb. Which sort of points to her headlining Laneway.
Also great!!
She also maybe seems already too big for Laneway maybe? Judging by the crowds she's getting overseas? Would still be a huge get tho.
I'm more skeptical on Charli than some of my fellow gays but her set at that last Laneway she played is probably the best set I've ever seen at a festival - just full energy - and thank god, no live band. If your music is electronic you don't need a band!!
I'll support any festival that can get Phoenix back here. I missed Auckland City Limits but I saw them twice when I was in LA. A top 5 live band for me.
I loved that Charli XCX performance too but it was the most pure pop spectacle I've seen her do. The Powerstation set - think animal costumes, balloons, about 20 people on stage - is my fave of hers so far.
Phoenix! Would be so good! And Spoon! I almost went to that War on Drugs show just for Spoon. Alas, once was enough for War on Drugs for me.
Spoon are way overdue a headline show here. I did go to the WOD show just for them and it was amazing.
Shh!
Kind of feel like describing a Travis Scott concert tour as an out of control blood letting is a big yikes given the ten people who died at Astro World
Good call Joanna. I'm going to change that now.
I've commented this before but I really couldn't imagine anything less appealling than the concept of seeing any of these major label artists perform at music festival. In particular the list of indie bands seems to consist only of bands that are now very much worse at making music than they used to be - I'm not interested.
The Charli album is overrated and sounds very bad, in my eyes very bland and cynical music interested in legitimatizing a kind of self-absorbed mythologizing and self-crafting of celebrity - what's new?
There is exciting underground music all over the world, and the Spotify promoted artists have long overstayed their welcome. We need to be exposed to new music by brave promoters who are insistent that their taste can transform our culture; where are these people? Why is every festival made up of bland successful acts who push on constantly in this industry grind, the "Arcade Fire's" of the world who sink ever deeper into marketing campaigns over the music? Where is Animal Collective, Xiu Xiu, the true experimental guard of alternative music, and why do people only listen to the most bland variation of alternative rock now? Why would I want to see any of these "indie" acts when they willingly place themselves under the thumb of Live Nation?
Julian Casablancas father worked directly with Donald Trump. AG Cook is the son of a knighted architect. Fred Again is also the son of a knight. Clairo's father was an executive for Coca Cola, Converse, Starbucks, etcetcetc. We need to raise our standards for what is acceptable and real in this industry because ultimately it seems no one cares right now, and we are just supposed to like everything and tolerate everything.
Animal Collective! When were they last here? I seem to remember a really crazed Powerstation show at some point....
I get this, and I agree there is a gap in the market that Damian from Meow Nui explained to me recently. It's just too expensive to bring those mid-tier acts here for a proper tour when the risks are so high: https://boilerroom.substack.com/p/ponekes-newest-music-venue-is-almost
Laneway has historically been a home to the indie-leaning artists, but now that festival has moved towards the mainstream there does seem to be a gap for something truly original and new and fresh.
Perhaps the risks are just too high to make it work when the industry is dominated by one massive behemoth?
Long gap in response sorry, but fundamentally I disagree with this idea that you cannot bring mid tier acts to New Zealand anymore because it is "too expensive". The mid tier acts that are being bought over by promoters are pretty universally bland, horrifically promoted and uninteresting and no one in the country understands the international youth culture on any level. No offense intended to Damien as I truly do respect what he has done for the industry, but the announced lineup so far at Meow Nui shows no divergence from the dire programming of the Meow bar itself; everything is about taste and curation, and it seems no one is capable.
Big yes to Charli XCX headlining Laneway and an even bigger yes to The Naked and Famous reuniting for ANY reason whatsoever.
Would also love a Waxahatchee set in the late afternoon Western Springs sun.
Would be so good!