Live Review: Sprung Festival

Melbourne boys Diafrix take over the main stage as the good-vibed Running It echoes appropriately into the clear blue sky. They have a few hands raised but most are cross-legged in their own picnic circles enjoying the sounds and soaking in some vitamin D at the first ever non-poncho Sprung.

Way before set time, the mosh is already building at stage two for everyone's favourite chubby boy. Young Allday comes out in his floral shirt and bucket cap and everyone is immediately yelling back “steezed out like a motherfucker!”, including the pink-banded underagers who can rarely enjoy the festival experience but have taken over Victoria Park, with some even knowing more songs than their can-holding elders. The music box sample of So Good gets everyone cheering and dancing to complete a perfect arvo set.

The main stage is now packed out for Elefant Traks boys Horrorshow, who get straight into their much-loved songs, including Did You Hear. MC Solo moves through his articulations seamlessly as all hands are raised. Not even a mid-set fixing of the folds interrupted their celebration of mature Australian hip hop.

Brass sounds from their guest trio almost starts calling everyone in for the Thundamentals , who instantly has everyone bouncing to Thunda Cats. DJ Morgs brings in the dubstep and d'n'belements as MCs Tuka and Jewson utilise the entire stage space, ensuring that everyone else is dancing along. “Make your fists into a peace sign!” has everyone following orders while Tuka's Die A Happy Man has all (even those lined up at the bar) singing along.

As usual, Funkoars are killing their long set with an energy and sound so explosive it gets the entire Victoria Park area hyped and shouting out “it's all good!”. Toilet paper rolls are being flung like streamers to and from stage, which hilariously calls for a “Brisbane, you guys are the shit!”. And as usual it's a Golden Era Roll Call party on stage as K21, cigar-smoking Briggs and barefooted Funkoar Trials own their mics.

With the sun now fully set, “Brisbane, what up? I'm Seth Senry!” has all hands up as the stage lights and are in full effect. Sentry has everyone all dreamy with Float Away, but then brings out the Nerf gun, continuing to engage with fans, even picking out the guy “with the most fucking excellent hair ever… dude smells like apples or something like that.”

That most familiar cheeky whine commands a roar with a “turn it up Brisbane, turn it up!” as Drapht finally takes the stage. Trials, who couldn't return “because he has gastro”, is sorely missed for short cut of The Paul The Dan, then hands are on shoulders for Rapunzel. He goes through all the favourites, which clearly is almost every track since the Pale Rider album, while Bitter Belief backs him up with matching energy.  

Headliner 360 comes out all denimed-up with smoke machines blasting and the strobes turned up. He hits the Falling &  Flying tracks (the last time we'll all hear, he claims, as he welcomes Utopia) with his casual ease and then continues with the dance party, spitting over MGMT and Tinie Tempah – including the still beloved Boys Like You, which has him thankfully saying  “we don't need Gossling, we've got you cunts!”