Live Review: Rock-It Festival

The return of Rock-It Festival began a beautiful day, turned tropical, turned stinkin' hot, and saw Abbe May kick off proceedings with her brand of ass-kicking blues. Soulful and sweet, a great start to the day. Emperors were the first to grace Kong's Rock'n'Roll Shack and played a loud, brash set of their pedal to the metal brand of rock. As the sun found its feet once again, Brisbane indie rockers Last Dinosaurs did their thing on the main stage, the former triple j Unearthed winners playing to a small but appreciative crowd, hitting the sweet spot with their catchy tunes. The electric swamp swagger of The Kill Devil Hills suited the confines of the Shack and Cockfighter, Cool My Desire and The Drought were highlights of a tight set – their first in six months. Alex Archer has always added a unique dimension to The Devils with his straining and emotive violin work, and it all added up to the day's first true winner in the Shack.

It's fair to say Lanie Lane dominated the main stage, looking resplendent in her 1950s-inspired get up, and her addictive brand of blues went down a treat as she slithered soulfully around the large stage. The Toot Toot Toots are a party band; their songs littered with tales of ruin and redemption. Fool's Gold and Let Lead Rip off this year's Outlaws release were highlights of a great set from the Melburnians – a first-class festival act. In one of their rare live appearances, Perth favourites The Panics played a solid set of their hook-laden indie tunes, the five-piece no doubt winning a few new fans amongst the young crowd. An unknown quantity to this reviewer, there's something disturbingly appealing about Brothers Grim. They play a hypnotic brand of 1920s, ball-tearing blues, and they shook Kong's to its very foundations.

Wading through the sea of singlets and sandals, it was apparent many had entrenched themselves in front of the main stage to catch the roots of The John Butler Trio. From Fremantle busker to main-stage marvel, there's not a lot John Butler hasn't accomplished and this day he was in fine form. Better Than and Used To Get High were well received numbers as Butler dominated the slide guitar. It was back over to Kong's Rock'n'Roll Shack, as Graveyard Train trembled the tent with their brand of chain-rattling horror country where resonator guitar, big drums and the hammer and chain combined for a devilishly awesome show. The setlist included the superb Life Is Elsewhere and foot-stomping single I'm Gone. Older tracks Ballad For Beezlebub and Tall Shadow rounded out an exceptional set, and one of the day's highlights. The train was then boarded by punk-rockin' outfit Royal Headache showcasing their fast riffs and frontman Shogun's soulful vocals. They closed Kong's Shack for the evening on a high note. Birds Of Tokyo drew a massive crowd for a rocking set, as they churned through radio favourites Plans and Silhouettic, along with a taste of what's to come with latest single This Fire, Ian Kenny and co reconfirming a rightful place atop the festival rock heap.

Having seen The Black Keys live half a dozen times now, the duo are a live favourite for this reviewer and they've come a long way in their seven-album, decade-long existence. The current radio darlings and headliners hit the stage to rapturous applause as the clock struck half past eight. They pack a mean, mean punch, as Pat Carney smashes the skins like a coordinated Neanderthal and frontman Dan Auerbach wails the blues like no one else. It oozes out of his soul and back through his fearless fretting digits. Lonely Boy and Gold On The Ceiling from their latest record predictably tore the place apart, but it was older favourites like Stack Shot Billy, Your Touch and Thickfreakness that saw them at their bluesy best. Akron, Ohio's finest came to play, and boy did they deliver. A fitting end to an exceptional day of music and a successful return for Rock-It Festival- Joondalup, you do it so well, cheers!