Live Review: Lights Out Arts Festival

An excited buzz filled the Bakery's interior as it played host to the very first Lights Out Arts Festival. Running to coincide with Earth Hour, the event engaged not just with a display of fantastic local music, but also with local fashion stalls and fine art. Sunny kicked off the night on stage, and although the number of audience members was tiny, the good-vibes indie rock sounds were a great start to the evening. Bedouin Sea took up the reins next, delighting the growing crowd with a sweet blend of harmonic indie-pop. Since adding a couple of extra members to their group, they have fleshed out their sound and undoubtedly gained a number of new fans throughout their performance, particularly with their most recognised song, Drunken Kings (And Shiny Things), a standout tune for the evening.

Alt.rockers Tired Lion put on a fantastic performance, no doubt brimming with confidence after playing Homebake and becoming recognised on triple j's airwaves. Vocalist Sophie Hopes' vocal delivery was supreme, and really shone through during crowd favourites For The Wolfman and Bright Eyes. Following their set, the lights went out for Earth Hour and Mt Mountain took to the stage. Assisted only by strings of lights climbing their microphone stands, the darkness seemed to suit the group as they entertained the audience with something a little different to their predecessors; a heavy, psychedelic sound that was much appreciated on a bill that had so far been dominated by indie rock.

FOAM followed on in darkness and a visibly large number of people flocked to the front of the stage to admire the band's grunge-drenched tunes. The prominence of head-banging did not go unnoticed, but once the lights were back on and Bastian's Happy Flight appeared, the dance moves were out in full force. The band have mastered their crazily infectious '80s synth-pop sound, and everyone was having the time of their lives. New tune Come For The Early (Stay For The Late), was certainly a standout, as was their closer My Love's (Not Good Enough). The vastly popular Brow Horn Orchestra were last to perform, and as always, performed brilliantly. Although Nic Owen's ability to course through the venue while rapping was marred by microphone issues, the band's sheer unrelenting energy was a triumph, even considering the calibre of groups that had presented before them. The night was a phenomenal success, and here's to hoping that LOAF returns for another go next year.