Reviewed on Sunday November 13
As always, Newtown Festival proved why the suburb is still the breeding ground of Sydney’s emerging music scene. It is one of the few festivals that boasts a vibe that is both deeply cool and family-friendly.
The atmosphere this year, as you might expect, was a little politically charged. Most people walked through a Trump protest rally to enter the festival, and it was a topic of murmured conversation right across the vast Camperdown Memorial Rest Park. Still, there was music to be played and artisanal food to be eaten.
The programming represented the diversity of Australian music and talent, hopefully exposing the substantial crowd to lesser-known gems. Kicking things off early were King Tide and their notoriously groove-inducing beats. It was good to see a fair crowd at what might be one of the most underrated acts in the country.
Baltic Bar Mitzvah put on as excellent a gypsy-inspired set as you are likely to find anywhere. Meanwhile, All Our Exes Live In Texas hit their achingly good harmonies near-perfectly on the main stage. A little while later, L-Fresh The Lion pulled a huge crowd for a frantic (and occasionally windy) set. It’s safe to say no one else sounds like him, which is perhaps what makes him an excellent embodiment of Newtown Festival as a whole.
The Griswolds got down on their knees (literally) to deliver a massive closing set. You’d be forgiven for forgetting it was only 5:30pm by the time all of this had gone down, but luckily the street party continued nearby thanks to the occupants of one terrace, who had managed to install a DJ on their balcony.
It was comforting to see and experience the irrepressibility of Newtown on a full Sunday of celebration. It seemed like the kind of day out a lot of people needed – one filled with love, a touch of insanity, and of course music.
Photo: Adam Scarf
