Live Review: This That

'MUSIC FESTIVAL THIS WAY!' - a drenched sign hand-written with a sharpie informed, reiterating what the footpath of empty VB cans had already suggested. A muddy Wickham Park held host to Saturday's This That Festival in Newcastle and, despite the impending doom of rain, the young, excited crowd could not be deterred.

The intimate, three-stage set-up encouraged an assortment of characters, collectively linked through their Novocastrian, knock-about demeanour and the ample glitter that decorated their bodies; friendly, welcoming, and rearing to go.

We turned up for HUCCI but got Kuren as the former was delayed due to a flight cancellation. Hence their swapped sets to the crowd's confusion, but not their dismay. Kuren slotted in nicely, playing an innovative set fit with live drum pads and glaring synths, keeping the crowd well-enthused with his undeniable passion.

A very cool Winston Surfshirt graced This stage with his eponymous band, seeming just as happy to be there as his joyous, long-haired fans, who spent the set doing their best to mimic the frontman's effortless, chic conduct. Funky beats were communicated through soothing combinations of horns and electric bass guitar, warming up the chilly crowd with sultry, summer vibes and unique blends of genre. As the band enjoyed beers and ciggies on stage, only amplifying their chill aesthetic, Be About You radiated some sweet, feelgood vibes through the poncho-clad crowd who "braved the rain" - a feat Surfshirt eagerly applauded, "YE YE YE!"

Despite the now-bucketing skies, fierce, fun frontwoman Isabella Manfredi of The Preatures rocked away the damp, throwing water on the already-drenched, ecstatic crowd. As the punters screamed along to Better Than It Ever Could Be and Is This How You Feel?, they promptly forgot about desperately trying to stay dry and were able to lose themselves in the rain.

Elk Road thumped through That tent - the perfect way to prep the punters for the night of EDM that awaited them. Following his well-received appearance on triple j's Like A Version covering Flight Facilities' Crave You, the track bounced to the crowd's overwhelmingly positive reception, fists pumping in the air.

Colour Castle graced the Other stage with constant, move-your-body beats that energised the late-afternoon crowd into a happy state of anticipation. The intimate group seemed to all be vibing the same thing - a carefree atmosphere and colourful tunes.

As the light of the dark day began to fade, Tash Sultana - with her side-stage posse and loop pedal in tow - eagerly engaged the enthralled crowd with her unique vocal timbre, slow instrumental builds and definitive use of layering. "This is the first time I've played in Oz for a very long time," she explained, "and boy is it good to be back." Crowd-favourite Jungle simmered through the air, as her admirers relished in its ambience.

Motez's fresh take on the future (no pun intended) of the Australian electronic music scene set his slot aside from the rest, with his individual flavour of synth-driven, fast-paced dance tracks keeping the hungry crowd on their twinkling toes. With an enormous, bright orange tiger lit up by his side, Motez blasted Down Like This, satisfying the punters with his Baghdad-meets-Adelaide electronic speciality.

Dynamic duo Zeds Dead brought the heat we'd been waiting all day for. The set kicked the party into overdrive with an exciting display of fast EDM beats and deep bass woofs that perfectly pulsated through the packed tent, intermittently relieved by soaring synths and blasts of confetti. Always a pleasure, never a chore.

Carmada brought the house down with their whomping set of drop after drop that tore through the sticky cavern. Just when we thought the bass couldn't go any lower, it did. A remix of Kendrick Lamar's HUMBLE. stole the show and could only be described as phat, while Carmada classic Maybe tugged on the heartstrings of the duo's OG supporters. To demonstrate his excitement, one enthused punter decided to scale the vibrating tent and ended up hanging from the roof of That stage. As the crowd below cleared the way for his fall, and security promptly waved him down, he dropped - thankfully, still with a smile on his not so intelligent dial.

Alison Wonderland wrapped up the night with an absolute bang and the firecrackers to match. From her humble beginnings to her now international superstardom, Alison Wonderland (real name Alex Sholler) blew everyone away, and it was not hard to understand just how she has achieved so much. Through humility and honesty, she lit up the sky, performing songs about depression and addiction - tracks with real meaning tackling important issues through the unifying medium of music. Sholler can be proud of the recognition she has so deservingly acquired over the years, paving the way for young women in Australian electronic music, and making sure that no one feels alone.

The satisfied punters were spent. This That delivered an impressive string of artists, that offered no mercy to rest or rain. A warm festival with the booming music to match; Newcastle had everyone feeling real good.