The beloved rural music festival, Groovin The Moo is back at it again this year and the acts lined up for the new decade doesn’t disappoint.
The Groovin The Moo line up this year is a diverse and exciting one. With big artists like Gang of Youths and Tones and I being expected to headline the festival. Other big Aussie acts that are in the mix are Mallrat, Ruby Fields, and recently reunited sister duo The Veronicas. On top of that, there’s a blend of international acts playing like Blanco Brown, Kelis and Bhad Bhabie to name just few. The list below goes into detail which acts are worth checking out.
Supergrass
UK’s legendary indie Britpop band Supergrass have recently reunited since nearly a decade of calling it quits. Their rock licking boot kicking hit song ‘Alright’ will have people dancing around. The reason behind the sudden reunion was for the band members to play the hits together again. With frontman Gaz Coombes saying in 2019, ‘the positive vibe of playing together would be compromised by going into a studio for ages” and that “the idea is to play gigs, not create more music”. This would be a rare opportunity for Aussie fans to check out a band that captivated audiences in the 90s/2000s rock scene.
San Cisco
Aussie hipster favourites, San Cisco are a three-piece indie pop group hailing from Fremantle, Western Australia. The trio are a fun crazily driven mixture of guitar sounds, pop electronica and witty lyrical ventriloquism. Their Triple J Like A Version of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ is remarkable. In 2019 the band returned with new music and continue to do what they do best. With songs like ‘When I Dream’, ‘Too Much Together’ and their catchy hit ‘Awkward’ San Cisco provide the perfect singalongs to the ride up to the festival and at the festival. They are definitely one of the Aussie acts not to miss this year.
Gang Of Youths
Gang Of Youths have continued to shape what rock music can be in modern prevalent times. The band have achieved global success since
Rolling Stone have called them being the next U2. But Gang Of Youths are entirely on their own different level when letting audiences know what this band is all about. Frontman Dave Le’aupepe told Rolling Stone, “All people want in life is to feel they exist,” and this ethos is expressed by the band in their songs and in every performance.
Dave Le’aupepe’s Jim Morrison/Beyonce inspired dance moves are always a spectacle to see but his vocal ability in covering David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and his swooning vocals on ‘Achilles Come Down’ would leave you in awe. The band’s songs like ‘The Heart Is A Muscle’, ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Let Me Down Easy’ have powerful cathartic messages that shows a person going through life experiences of light and dark.
The Cat Empire
Say hello…again to The Cat Empire who are also performing at this year’s Groovin. If all else fails or you are not even sure who to see or you find yourself in the middle of nowhere (in the festival), The Cat Empire don’t disappoint. They are probably one of Australia’s leading ska rock bands since their debut album in 2003. The band’s musical fusion of ska, jazz, rock, reggae, funk and latin has the ability to break down people’s taste who stick to one particular genre of music.
Kira Puru
Triple J has described Kira Puru’s musical reputation as ‘Senorita, swagger and a troublemaker’. You think about those titles and imagine Puru as an empowering, unique artist. Mixing hip hop, disco and pop in her music, Kira Puru is one Australia’s youngest rising stars that has been dominant on the Aussie music scene.
On her resume, she has performed and supported with Illy, Paul Kelly, and Urthboy. ‘Molotov’ and ‘Say Something’ are two catchy tunes that aren’t to be missed live. Kira Puru’s talent for songwriting is seen in ‘Why Don’t We Get Along’ and also shows the fierceness in her vocal range reaching undeniable heights that few singers can attain.
The Sugarhill Gang
This legendary American hip hop trio should undoubtedly be the headliners of this year’s Groovin. 2019 marked the 40th anniversary of their acclaimed 1979 rap single ‘Rapper’s Delight’ and culled in the group’s reformation. The Sugarhill Gang’s other memorable hit ‘Apache (Jump On It)’ which gained further popularity through cult comedy show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air will have people replicating Will Smith’s hilarious dance routine.
WAAX
Probably one of the most underrated heavy hitting rock bands in Australia right now, WAAX deserves more recognition and surely will deliver a punching performance in this year’s Groovin. With their debut album Big Grief blowing people’s minds last year, WAAX have a list of bangers in their arsenal. Songs such as ‘Labrador’ and ‘FU’ (which the latter should have been high up in this year’s Triple J 100) will have you moshing around. WAAX led by the powerful Maz DeVita, is a band to see to let your hair hang down.
Darude
Because who wouldn’t miss out on dancing the night away to the classic 1999 dance trance hit ‘Sandstorm’?
Taking place across April and May, Groovin The Moo will be hitting the usual spots in Wayville, Canberra, Bendigo, Bunbury, Annandale and Maitland.
Check out the Groovin The Moo Official Line Up:
AJ TRACEY (UK) | BHAD BHABIE (USA) | BLANCO BROWN (USA)
THE CAT EMPIRE | CHANNEL TRES (USA) | CLAIRO (USA)
DARUDE (FIN) | DOPE LEMON | E^ST
GANG OF YOUTHS | HAYDEN JAMES | KELIS (USA)
KIRA PURU | MALLRAT | MANU CROOKS | MAXO KREAM (USA)
RUBY FIELDS | SAN CISCO | SLOWLY SLOWLY
SUGARHILL GANG (USA) | SUPERGRASS (UK) | TONES AND I
THE VERONICAS | WAAX | YBN CORDAE (USA)
With hosts;
JAWBREAKERS | MAI
More info and ticket info can be seen on the festival’s website which you can click here
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