Live Review: Mountain Sounds Festival

The day started off hot and steamy, with promising blue skies; contrasted to the hectic storms the parklands experienced the night before. People were sprawled out towards the front of the stage as Betty & Oswald started their groovy synth set — the first band to play the day as the festival cancelled the two opening acts on the Unicorn stage due to the effects of the terrible weather. Although they played quite a short set, the band managed to please the already multiplying crowd with their unique indie-pop, really glittering on Stuck In The City.

Bec Sandridge proved herself the ultimate star of the day, with her mesmerising stage performance and vocal talent. High Tide in particular cemented her as a force to be reckoned with. You're A Fucking Joke had the crowd dancing along to its ear-catching guitar riffs and vocal rounds. It's relatable and just, funny, and got everyone grooving/laughing/loving the vibes. Sandridge saved In The Fog, In The Flame for last, the song a flawless composition with its arresting highs and lows and catchy central melody.

The mosh filled to the brim for Skegss as the trio kicked off with their track Fun. The tune encouraged and matched the vibrant electricity flowing through the crowd. Not one person seemed bored or down, even as the sky started to look sad and rainy. They then transitioned into My Face, with lyrics like "show my fears my face" digging deep in contrast to the poppy and repetitive chord structure of the track. Eat It was a hit, and the crowd clearly enjoyed having a boogie to a song about eating all the food in the world. Skegss killed it, even in the rain.

We've never seen a crowd go more crazy than this one did for Dune Rats. Something about their DIY garage rock is just irresistible! Despite genre stereotypes the band always manages to put on a stellar show, and Mountain Sounds was no exception. The trio filled the stage with their cheeky antics and relatable tunes as they opened with Dalai Lama, Big Banana, Marijuana; a true banger. The three-phrase combo became a chant, everyone bonding over the most hilarious word combination to ever exist. For Scott Green, the grounds erupted with a explosion of chants yet again with an even more intense mosh. Everyone seemed to have a limb or two in there.

DMA'S, with their acoustic sounding grunge, shone brightly as the sky momentarily cleared. Their musicianship was flawless and they maintained the best quality of sound of the whole day. Some were disappointed they didn't play their Like A Version cover of Cher's Believe, but they still kept the crowd pumping with their hits Step Up The Morphine and Lay Down.

Hermitude hit the stage with their vibrating bass and booming electronica as the crowd danced into the falling darkness. With dynamic remixes and flowing interludes they managed to raise each and every heartbeat. One caveat, besides a Lion King cover their set was extremely similar to each and every other set they've played in the last year, which was a let down for loyal fans searching for something fresh from the outfit.

Rufus was the perfect act to conclude Mountain Sounds Festival; with their smooth frequencies and exciting yet beautiful melodies they seem universally appealing. Their stage presence was glorious and effortless, all three of the boys pranced around showcasing their multifaceted talents. Each of them seems to have mastered multiple instruments and electronic beats, which they mesh with endless chemistry and a faultless visual facade. Cuts from their new album were exhaustively polished and impressive, although it was Desert Night (one of their early releases) that most stood out, as if the song has matured with them, becoming the most enchanting of them all.