Live Review: Hyperfest

The loss of Soundwave and BDO – WA's biggest all-age festivals – has been rough news for the underage music fans of Perth, especially given the distinct lack of all-age venues around the city. Perth's only youth-oriented arts and music festival however is not one to be overlooked with HyperFest 2014 showcasing some of the best homegrown talent on offer.

Lights Of Berlin kicked off the Mainstage with a fun pop-rock set while alternative outfit Spilt Cities got things started over at the Zoo stage. The graffiti art that continued throughout the day had already begun when Indigo took to The Nest with their indie-folk charm and Ratking, back at Zoo, pulled the biggest crowd of the morning, demonstrating Perth's loyal hardcore following thanks in part to everyone's favourite all-ages venue, HQ. The raw vocals and gritty guitar tones of punk duo Lionizer gave off a Distillers-type vibe while The Georgians played a funky and enthusiastic set complete with a Calvin Harris cover and '90s hip-hop references. The Southwicks were forging big, cinematic sounds over at The Nest with strings, synths and a glockenspiel and The Love Junkies hit the Mainstage “straight from the burning centre of rock'n'roll,” as the MC promised. Apache pulled a serious crowd thanks in part to the eccentric antics and impressive falsetto of frontman Tim Gordon while Aveira Skies at Zoo fuelled the most acrobatic circle pit of the day with guttural growls and furious double-kicks. Closure In Moscow cut a striking image on the Mainstage, decked out in printed blazers, bowties and fabulously fluorescent yellow hair with The Church Of The Technochrist and Sweet#hart making for major standouts. After multiple failed attempts to enthuse the crowd, I, Said The Sparrow forged ahead regardless at The Nest, dragging Alex of Vice Versa on stage to join the party.

Jackie Onassis took to the Mainstage ten minutes later than scheduled as the crew scrambled to take away backline in lieu of decks. Despite the controversy, there's no denying that DJ sets can pull a crowd; especially on this occasion. That said, Special Occasion was the very catalyst that finally broke the wall and got the crowd interacting. A friendly audience member offered up their sunglasses to Benjamin Hannam of Glass Towers during their danceable set comprised of indie riffs, funky bass lines and catchy melodies. Shortly after, audiences were swaying and singing in unison to indie-pop favourites, Cub Sport. Over at The Nest, local hip hop act Mathas wove fiercely intelligent and entertaining stories for the small but enthusiastic crowd and Scalphunter at Zoo were engaged in sweaty, smoky displays of old-school punk complete with ripped denim vests and a vintage microphone.

Allday seemed to be the act the young crowd was waiting for as Claude Monet and Girl In The Sun pulled the remaining stragglers away from games of mini-golf and ping-pong. The Billy Idol lookalike security guard was in hot pursuit of Statues frontman Jayme Van Keulen as he climbed on top of the Portaloo to scream towards the Mainstage in what would have made for a great battle of the bands moment against headliners Spit Syndicate. The Sydney-based hip hop duo performed hits Amazing and Beauty In The Bricks on the Mainstage and called Jackie Onassis back on stage for Holiday before finishing on a high note with crowd favourite Folly.

This year's turnout and the fantastic, diverse line-up of local and national acts should indicate that HyperFest is here to stay, and for good reason. First of all, HyperFest provides a safe and friendly environment for young people to be exposed to great local music; secondly, the local acts get more exposure and experience performing in a festival environment, and thirdly, everybody gets to experience this without the bother of drunken fools, secondhand smoke or shirtless dickheads – by all means, a winning combination.