Live From Big Day Out Sydney
We'll bring you coverage until our phones die
It's an absolute scorcher at the first leg of this year's Big Day Out at Sydney Showgrounds, with temperatures 'feeling like' they were over 40 degrees by midday.
We'll be bringing you updates throughout the day as long as our phones stay alive and our water bottles full.
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House Vs Hurricane opened up the Orange stage and gave it a new coast of sweat. Sharing this stage could be like putting on a sweaty head-band for bands coming later today.
Me on the Blue stage, following Royal Headache.
The overarching theme of today so far is the heat. It's innescapable when you're not under shade. There's a few mainstage punters braving the sun.
Deep Sea Arcade had a deserving spot on the Green Stage after years of plugging away. The Sydney indie outfit have developed a more relaxed and confident stage presence. Cruisy vibe good for early afternoon crowd and the applause getting louder with every song. Previously single Girls the highlight. If nothing else, this proved they are able to hold their own to a festival crowd in 45 degree heat.
Over at Every Time I Die, the sweat's not just confined to the stage either. A typically energetic set for the American post-hardcore stalwarts is met by a tight group of energetic moshers.
That said, they don't have the following or cross over potential to justify their main stage slot. Solid performance as always with a well mixed set of old and new. It's an admirable effort getting the crowd to “open up the pit” but it proves to be not enough. Enthusiastic performance, they were obviously hoping to sell themselves on it, but it's just wrong place wrong time.
2pm update: There is a massive crowd out, even at this early stage, but most are keeping to the stands with the free water. It's a pretty run-of-the-mill festival demographic, and the heat's keeping everyone relatively well behaved at the moment.
Against Me! hit the Blue Stage with their usual abundance of energy. The set is clean, no real bells or whistles, but enough grit to give the sweltering crowd what they want. Laura Jane Grace and the guys were having a ball and so was the crowd, but the back-to-back of Every Time I Die and Against Me! Hasn't won over the masses yet.
Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace
The only ones really benefiting from the heat are the Boiler Room acts and people look for shade. That's not to say it's cool in here.
In an indoor Converse essential stage Hunting Grounds did their usual floor tom tricks between teenage angst indie/punk sentiments. Triple j is obviously doing wonders for them but it would be interesting to see what they could come up with beyond the level they're currently operating at.
Grinspoon doing everything they need to and sticking to their festival-pleaser set that works every time. Champion, Hard Act To Follow and Chemical Heart are all there, but the day seems to be slowing them down.
Gary Clark Jris like a more disjointed The Black Keys live, the amount of soul in his voice carries through even in the festival environment.
Band Of Horses are the event's highlight so far – absolutely smashing it. Their set is upbeat and the backdrop of a lake is almost refreshing. Looks fucking cool, too.
5pm Update: Having made it through the peak of Sydney's hottest day on record (even the server at theMusic HQ melted), the on-and-off rain is proving a God-send. Seen a few people getting treatment for heat and dehydration in the first aid tent, but night should bring some relief. Band Of Horses really getting people in the mood as well.
There was virtually a stampede to Childish Gambino, you could feel the buzz. Came out on stage with a freestyle that obviously ended in the word 'Australia' before dropping Freaks & Geeks second, which exploded. The crowd finished every line for him, and are chanting back the chorus' at him throughout the set. He's finding it hard to get the balance of a 'full band' sound right, but when it clicks the vibe goes through the roof.
We've met Compressorhead:
It just wouldn't be a Big Day Out without veteran snapper Tony Mott.
Needless to say, spirits are high:
6pm update: The rest of the Sydney office who have been tied to a desk are on their way in. Phones are dying and the light is getting low. The live coverage of the first day is signing off and we'll bring you the full report soon!
Sally-Anne Hurley and Matthew Cheetham are on the ground, with photos from Cole Bennetts.
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