Thursday, Dec 29

Entering Tasmania's Marion Bay is a pastoral dream. Rolling green hills clad with black and white speckled cows and gumtrees lead down to an immaculate stretch of coastline.

The location of Tasmania's Falls Festival was, however, shrouded in a heavy mist this year, turning the scene ominous yet somehow magical. The drizzle did not dampen the spirits of festivalgoers with 2016's three-day tickets sold out. A Welcome to Country began the festivities for a few early birds while scores of cars and buses clogged the one road in until late in the day.

Local acts Mayhem & Me and Cuban Heel enjoyed their moment in the proverbial sun while a small crowd buoyed them through the rain. Respectively, their off-brand folk rock and alternative yet poppy rock (reminiscent of Catfish & The Bottlemen) illuminating the stage in the Thursday gloom. Launceston five-piece Dark Dunes entertained a meagre crowd with their electrifying rock while Jax & The Wayward presented a generic pub rock sound, playing songs from their EP Push.

Meanwhile, on the Field Stage, Teens and FLXW were powering through their sets with the weather showing little sign of improving.

Sydneysiders, Spit Syndicate impressed with chill hip-hop vibes as the sun began its descent behind the clouds and Adelaide-based artist Denni showcased an affected voice and promising beats and loops.

Northeast Party House impressed as always playing the characteristic high energy show full of party bangers while Client Liaison kicked things up a gear on the main stage, seemingly turning day to night with their retro '80s hits.

James Parry and Cardinels showcased Tassie's local talent with performances that drew faithful local fans to wallow in the mud as Grandmaster Flash's performance seemed confused: somewhere between DJ set and advertisement, the Grandmaster showcased his OG talents while letting everyone know about the Netflix show he inspired. The veteran beat master deferred to spinning tracks by The Jackson 5ive and The Bee Gees to keep the crowd interested.

Hot Dub Time Machine then kept the party going with classic tunes from years’ past, making sure everyone was jumping around and staying warm till the midnight hour. Many had already retired to their tents, conjuring dreams of the year that was and all the music still to come.

Friday, Dec 30

All the prim and proper peacocking of the first day was obliterated by the overnight deluge. The mountains of mud reinvented Falls as a wet and wild wonderland with partygoers sliding through the sludge. Somewhere far from the din of the festival, the pristine beach was packed, the chill waves rolling in in sets and crashing on the brown sugar-like sand.

Melbourne band City Calm Down provided a welcome introduction to the day's festivities as the sun beat down. Wandering bass lines met ethereal synths for a perfect beginning to Friday. 

For those not ready to brave the music, the comedic stylings of the faces of contemporary Aussie comedy were over on the Field Stage. The Aunty Donna boys were up to their old tricks while Jen Fricker's dry humour permeated through the now steamy day, the sets strung together by MC Ivan Aristeguieta.

Marlon Williams sung his ghostly blues with veracity and verve that made the mishmash of time, genre and space believable and even enjoyable, while Illy brought his particularly vanilla brand of hip-hop to the main stage, playing upbeat summer jams.

New York four-piece Parquet Courts took to the Valley Stage, with witticisms flowing in between indie garage rock tunes belted out at a rate of knots.

Triple J's favourite Novacastrians at present The Rubens ensured fans of a solid show over on the main stage while in the muddy field, those lucky enough were treated to some groovy gold, fitting for this year's theme.

Fat Freddy's Drop sampled songs off their four studio albums, bringing an A-game revellers would expect of these festival veterans. Serendipitously, blue skies turned to grey and the heavens opened as the band broke into the drop in crowd favourite, Shiverman.

Lemaitre kept things sweet and buoyant over on the Field Stage with bouncy electronic jams while Freo's own Pond played to a modest crowd in the Valley. The band scrolled through their prolific catalogue of psych-rock and fuzzy folk as fans kicked up mud puddles in the mosh below.

Tkay Maidza was a sight for sore eyes, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with her RnB infused electronic bangers, flags flying high and arms thrust firmly in the air while gumboots and feet squelched in the mire.

New Zealand's Broods and Ta-Ku impressed on separate stages, with poppy RnB tunes. Jamie T gave a punchy, harlequin performance while Golden Features featured over on the Field Stage. Special shout out to local act, The Surreal Estate Agents, the best of the bunch on the Home Brewed Stage for Friday. 

Welsh pop-rockers Catfish & The Bottlemen drew in a big crowd with songs like Cocoon made for stadium settings, while German electronic duo, Booka Shade closed Field Stage.

Over on the Valley Stage, Australia's own electronic duo were enjoying their return to the limelight - The Avalanches wowed with mind bending AV and brilliant dance tunes.

Then came the big show: festival goers from all around swarmed closer and closer to the stage, buzzing with anticipation for the multi-talented, Childish Gambino. Donald Glover and band played songs from the 2016 release, Awaken, My Love! with shades of Funkadelic and older songs all with a tenacity felt right at the back, suave grooves to bring us past midnight.

Many departed with Gambino but some stayed on for LDRU.

Saturday, Dec 31

The immense joy of burying 2016 and starting afresh was palpable. Tired bodies pushed themselves about the site with the crystalline ocean beyond reach for many. They could only gaze upon it like some paradise as the music beckoned once again.

Unearthed winner Maddy Jane begun proceedings with her all-too-Australian cry in the same vein as Lisa Mitchell and Casey Chambers, "relatable and honest".

Tired Lion erred on the lighter side of grunge, garage rock, a spark in the early afternoon.

Kingswood fed off the audience, giving themselves over to the crowd in an invocation to the sun as they sang You Are My Sunshine as British singer Shura brought back the sunshine indeed with tracks that seamlessly blended '80s sensibilities with pop music of today.

You Am I powered explosively through the afternoon with a minimal crowd showing generational shift for these Aussie icons.

Ry X played fervently yet tranquilly through the heat to a modest crowd with many too weary to oscillate between the two poles of the festival. His sound and aesthetic reminiscent of Bon Iver and Chet Faker would surely draw more fans in different circumstances, while Ball Park Music were a crowd favourite with the mood youthful and exuberant, scores of fans singing along and inflatables passed around whimsically.

Modern Baseball drew in an intimate crowd at the Field Stage and engaged the audience in a singalong. The depths of the mosh was given over to a circle pit for half the set. After Modern Baseball, REMI took to the stage to turn up the heat and he delivered with his characteristic come on: the two-step. His personality swelled and his music benefited from an eager crowd.

The Jezabels proved once again why they're festival favourites in this demographic, stirring the audience with haunting vocals and an overall tight performance.

Bernard Fanning gave a stunning performance of Powderfinger favourite, These Days he blended with Purple Rain in tribute to Prince along with other classics and songs from his new record.

Special shout out to roots, rock, reggae duo Sundaze who stole the show on the Homebrewed Stage on day three of the festival. Those boys really know how to groove.

Matt Corby was the perfect accoutrement to the setting sun over the Valley Stage, his unique voice undulating over the green hills and embalming the collective consciousness with good vibes.

DMA's combined their thuggish exteriors with a heartfelt humility that made their performance all the more uplifting, eclipsing their inspiration, Oasis.

London Grammar took most of the limelight from Dope Lemon yet the boys still rocked out, shrouded in a contrived haze evocative of that over Marion Bay on arrival.

Violent Soho rang in the New Year in typical Aussie fashion, slurping from stale sandshoes hurled up on stage in countdown shoeys. They also played with inebriated ferocity and a festive looseness matching the occasion. Alison Wonderland continued the trend, paying homage to fallen stars before helping the party people dance into the darkness.

If you blinked, through bleary eyes, you may have missed your favourite band or some unknown. But that is what festivals are for: to sample all you can and immerse yourself in the visceral smorgasbord of memorable music, mystical moments and magical meetings.