After what feels like the longest train ride of our lives we arrive in Bendigo and are pleasantly surprised that a shuttle bus is waiting to take us to the festival site. We make our way to the main stage just in time to catch G Flip smash out an impressive drumming solo to get the crowd amped up.
G Flip. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Something Groovin The Moo does well is being consistent. If you’ve ever been before it feels like you never left because everything is in the exact same place, making the site easy to navigate. The only thing that changes is that the crowd gets younger and wears a little less clothing each year. They alternate the live acts across the two main stages, allowing enough time to set up so the next performer can begin without delay.
Thelma Plum starts off slow with some emotionally charged anthems and some awkward conversation. She’s been dropping a few really great new tracks lately, which she plays for us today including Not Angry Anymore and Clumsy Love that are some real crowd pleasers. We’re particularly excited when she announces she’s got an album on the way soon because fans have been waiting a very long time to hear it.
Thelma Plum. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
After visiting the Udder Mayhem bar for a drink and a bite to eat we try and catch a glimpse of Chris Lilley hanging out in the VIP. We make our way over the Moolin Rouge undercover stage to see Wafia perform some of her most popular tracks including I’m Good and Bodies. She mixes up her set with a superb cover of Frank Ocean’s Lost, before playing some of her party-starting collaborations for the audience to move along and dance to. Wafia’s soulful vocals mixed with electro-pop beats is just the fix we need at this time of day.
Wafia. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Over at the main stage, Jack River plays songs from her debut album Sugar Mountain. “This is a song about melting, although I don't think you’ll be doing that today,” she says as we get close with our friends during the bursts of cold wind. She shares her newest track, Adolescent, which she reveals is her anti-love song. Her cover of Tal Bachman’s She’s So High has become a regular part of her setlist and ties in so perfectly with her style, mixing the sound of the late '90s with gritty guitar-infused pop to lift up our spirits.
Jack River. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Norwegian pop singer Aurora captivates the audience from her very first note. “I’m cold and sweaty all at the same time, it’s a very strange thing but I feel nice,” she says in the sweetest high-pitched voice. She moves around the stage like a whimsical fairytale character and pours every bit of her heart and soul into her emotionally charged songs to celebrate love. Her mesmerising, magical and immersive set makes it one of the highlights of the festival.
Aurora. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
As the sun sets, the temperature drops to chilling temperatures and the merch stands are flooded with unprepared punters who try to get their hands on any bit of extra clothing to cover up their bare bodies. It’s time to enjoy a few throwbacks, Regurgitator tearing up the main stage with their back catalogue of '90s hits like Polyester Girl.
Regurgitator. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Then Coolio gives us the iconic Gangsta’s Paradise and we can die happy knowing we’ve heard this track live in all its glory. The hip hop superstar draws a huge crowd and proves he’s still as fly as ever after all this time.
Coolio. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Meanwhile, Crooked Colours ignite a dance party in the Moolin Rouge with their huge electro beats and seductive vocals. They’ve got an album coming out in a couple of weeks and every single new song is an absolute banger, so it’s something to get excited about. Their stage production is exceptional and really enhances their powerful sonic pace.
Crowd. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
Sofi Tukker have just flown over to Australia from the States after playing back-to-back weeks at Coachella and they bring a world-class performance with them. The stage resembles a tropical rainforest with plants draped over their instruments and amplifiers and they take us on a hypnotic fantasy journey with their jungle-inspired electro-pop anthems. Their tribal percussions and fiery guitar riffs conjure animalistic dance moves and infectious energy.
MØ ensures that the crowd sticks around in the Moolin Rouge with her electrifying non-stop hits. The Danish popstar knows exactly how to work an audience and makes a strong connection with her fans, who sing along to every word of her songs. She plays her latest triple j Like A Version – a cover of Dominic Fike’s 3 Nights that she’s reworked into groovy indie-pop.
MØ. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
We get a good workout in as we run over to the main stage to catch a bit of Nick Murphy aka Chet Faker’s set. It sees him explore some different interpretations of some of his best-known tracks, which include Talk Is Cheap and represent his evolved sound as an artist.
Everyone has been hanging out to see the youngest headliner of the festival, Billie Eilish. It’s crazy how quickly she’s skyrocketed to fame in the industry and she absolutely dominates the stage with her alluring sound, combining trippy production and captivating vocals. Her brother FINNEAS is by her side on the keyboards and together they generate a commanding stage presence backed by mesmerising visuals that flash on the screen behind them. The crowd goes absolutely wild for tracks including bad guy and bellyache as they jump and shout along. The only flaw is that the sound is bleeding across the stages and we can hear the thumping of Fisher's massive party going off to the right of us. For all those watching Eilish, we try and tune out to listen to the beautiful vocals on her ballads including ocean eyes and when the party’s over. Unfortunately they don't translate as powerfully in this setting and would be better suited to more intimate space. Nevertheless, her featherlight harmonies and husky vocal tones are out of this world.
Crowd. Photo by Lucinda Goodwin.
There’s a mass exit after Eilish finishes her set, which makes you question why she wasn’t the closing act of the festival, but for those that stick around there’s still plenty of fun to be had with more space to dance long into the night.
