Live Review: Bad Friday

When a festival, in this day and age, makes it to ten years, you know you’re doing something right. From the ashes of the Annandale Hotel, the Rule family have been supporting, promoting and giving local music a platform on Good Friday in the appropriately named, Bad Friday festival.

Despite plans to move the event to Marrickville's Fraser Park, council hoops and logistics meant that shifting it back to Railway Parade was the only option, but the venue has its charm. It may be on a road, in between a huge brick wall and line of industrial buildings, but it’s very Marrickville, very inner west and reflects the ‘underground’ nature that the festival was built on.

Holiday Sidewinder was the first act on the main stage and the homecoming of the ex-Bridezilla singer, in her solo form, was a joyful way to start. Performing a selection of her glistening pop singles, the singer jumped down to the barrier, providing some prime photo ops for the early punters.

Both main stages were at opposite ends of the Parade and the walk between the two started easily enough. At the Carla Flanagan Stage, Georgia June were putting in a bid to be your new favourite band. The lead singer, also Georgia June, bounces around the front of the stage singing about past loves, how much better your jumper looks on her and how to prove yourself. It’s high energy and fun indie-rock and a great start to the stage that would introduce us to a number of great new acts throughout the day.

The airy Britpop sounds of PLANET went very well with a mid-afternoon drink, presuming you’d either topped up your wristband early or were prepared for the extended wait on the top-up lines. Their set shows off their skill at writing meaningful songs that swell and swirl around you. The crowd also had swollen at this stage to listen to a really solid set from these up-and-comers.

The Buoys (not to be mistaken with boys) were damn fun. Jangly, fast-paced indie-rock for the most part, featuring some guitar parts that soar and lift the crowd with them. The four members were smiling and clearly enjoying a sunny Friday afternoon playing in front of an appreciative audience.

By 2.45pm, a lot of people had turned up all of a sudden and it appeared to be to support Lime Cordiale, a band that has truly exploded in the last year. Despite Marrickville being a fair way from the beach, we were all transported there with the band’s chilled vibes and the refreshing harmonies of brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach. A cover of Hall & Oates’ Rich Girl scored a surprisingly big reaction, but hey, it’s a killer song. 

Lime Cordiale @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

To the strains of Temper Temper, we started the trek to check out the other acts on at the same time. 100 were ripping through a dark, fuzz-filled set at the Carla Flanagan Stage. Their post-punk Fugazi aura was quite a contrast to what was happening at the other end of the festival. On the Smirnoff Stage, hip hop act YIBBY was nailing his set as well. A good group were on hand to take in the flow of the 20-year-old future star.

The site was starting to get packed by 4pm and navigating around the narrow geography was really becoming a challenge. While Tropical Fuck Storm were ripping up the main stage, Christopher Port was laying down his electro-beats at Smirnoff and Scabz were destroying the Carla Flanagan Stage. Right in their element, the three girls – self-proclaimed as the "shittest band in Newtown" – performed their fun and frantic tracks about the Metty (Marrickville Metro), Brett Lee and a song related to a certain beer from down south. Their lead singer was not afraid to climb on things and scream expletives. It was a vibe.

Back at Smirnoff, Haiku Hands were running a bit late, but once they kicked off you could hardly squeeze in to see them. With no raised stage and a bottleneck to enter, the stage probably wasn’t the best designed, but the band gave it their all with their choreographed dance-pop style that is so infectious and full of fun. Every festival needs to be injected with some Haiku Hands. Their live show will fill your heart and soul with joy.

Back at the main stage, which at this point you were taking your life in your hands to get to, were DZ Deathrays. The much-loved trio were tearing it up to their big tracks and then gave a new track a go: “Let’s hope we don’t fuck it up,” declared the group. They fucked it up, but it was a sweet teaser of upcoming music. Like People really got the audience popping off though.

DZ Deathrays @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

Again, the Carla Flanagan Stage came through with the goods, giving Baby Beef a chance to crawl into your hearts. Their music is a mix of eclectic ‘80s pop mixed with grunge, alt-rock, sugar-pop and whatever else you can think of. Their version of No Doubt’s Don’t Speak has to be heard to be really appreciated.

We caught a trancey slice of Luen as we dodged and weaved our way back to the main stage to see The Jezabels perform an outstanding set. Hayley Mary never fails to prove what an impressive frontwoman she is. Endless Summer was very suitable for the temperate weather, but also to let us sing our lungs out. Mary even brought her mum up for a dance which was one of the sweetest things of the day. A huge set from a much-loved local act, right in their element.

The Jezabels @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

Jungle, as the only international act on the bill, were a huge drawcard and their set did not disappoint. They are a force of nature with their catchy beats and three-part harmonies that defy explanation. The throbbing crowd, who by this point were primed for a huge time, grooved along with the many members on stage and sang heartily along with Busy Earnin’ and massive finale, Time. 

Jungle @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

One last trip down the other end of site saw RVG performing and it was worth the effort to get there. Their live show was raw and exciting, even more so with the promise of new music just around the corner. There’s something about Romy Vager that entices, hypnotises and enthrals. An excellent booking for the festival.

RVG @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

By this stage, we were all pretty ready to find a cosy spot near the main stage and catch the headliners. DMA’S, born of the inner west and much-loved throughout the country, shook off the cobwebs and generated a huge swell of love in the crowd. Songs like In The Air and The End become huge singalongs with Tommy O'Dell pointing the mic out to the crowd, who answered in the best way possible. Final track, Lay Down, with its hooky guitar riff and even catchier chorus was a wondrous way to finish a welcome return home for the band that consistently prove they deserve their status in this country.

DMA'S @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

While KIM from The Presets and an Avalanches DJ set wrapped up the day, weary legs were struggling to keep us upright and for many, any sort of sitting vantage point was taken to wind out the festival.

The Avalanches @ Bad Friday. Photo by Simone Fisher

Despite the heavy police and security presence, the positivity of the day, the responsiveness of the audience and the quality of the music were the champions. Bad Friday has become an institution for promoting local music and should be celebrated more than yearly. If anything, it proves that festivals of this kind should thrive with the sheer numbers of amazing acts in NSW and beyond. What may be deemed as 'bad' by some is, in fact, very, very good for the people and community as a whole.