Following on from a number of leaks and some rather unsubtle hints from the festival’s organisers themselves, another artist has let slip that they’ll likely be returning to Australia early next to appear as part of the 2014 lineup for the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival.
Washed Out have indicated they’re making plans to return Down Under in “the first couple of months of next year,” as Ernest Greene, the electronic mastermind behind the chillwave/dreampop favourites tells Tone Deaf in a soon to be published interview.
When asked if Washed Out had plans to head to Australia to promote their latest album, the recently released Paracosm (which “should be regarded alongside the year’s best records” according to our review), Greene replied, “Yeah I think we’ll put something together for like early next year. So we’re excited about it.”
When pressed on Greene’s proposed tour dates coinciding with the Laneway Festival, which takes place in February, the Washed Out linchpin responded, “I don’t know if we’ve confirmed anything or the exact time of when we’re coming over but its definitely going to happen at some point, probably in the first couple of months of next year.” “I don’t know if we’ve confirmed anything or the exact time of when we’re coming over but its definitely going to happen…” – Washed Out
“It’s a long journey to get to Australia but its always a pleasure,” added Greene of an impending visit. “I think every time we’ve been, its been like Winter here in the States so its Summer down there with you guys so its always like a breath of fresh air getting off the plane and going to the beach.”
A Laneway 2014 lineup slot would make sense given that Washed Out were last in the country as part of the 2012 edition of the national music festival, where they also played co-headlined sideshows with fellow Laneway artist Toro Y Moi.
Further compounding the likelihood of Washed Out’s appearance on the Laneway 2014 bill is their presence on the lineup of next month’s Laneway Detroit. The Australian festival’s debut American leg also features Scottish synthpop outfit CHVRCHES and British post-punk group Savages, both of whom have all but confirmed their appearance on the Australian Laneway 2014 lineup.
CHVRCHES, one of the most blogged about bands of the year, have just finished a three-date sold out tour of Australia, openly discussed their place in the 2014 lineup in interviews with media (including with Tone Deaf and on their Triple J Breakfast slot), while Laneway organisers all but confirmed their addition with a rather conspicuous tweet.
Psyched for @CHVRCHES‘ sold out Australian shows this week! Don’t worry if you missed out on tickets, they’ll be back soon *hint hint
— Laneway Festival (@lanewayfest) July 31, 2013
Meanwhile Savages also seem like a lock, after drummer Fay Milton revealed that the all-girl group were “coming over in February next year… I don’t know if our festival has been announced actually, but I’ve been to the festival before, it should be good.”
The rumour mill for the Laneway 2014 lineup also began spinning in earnest thanks to festival organisers revealing their list of the Top 5 International Breakthrough Bands of the year. “We’ve been keeping busy putting together the line-up for Laneway 2014,” tease organisers in the post. “So whether or not any of the following acts make the cut is anyone’s guess. Is that a line-up hint? We’ll let you be the judge.”
Considering last year’s similar breakthrough list eventually roped in Japandroids and Jessie Ware for the Laneway 2013 lineup, it’s likely that at least some of the band’s mentioned in this year’s version – including the likes of New York’s HAERTS and electronic prodigy XXYYXX – could turn up on the 2014 bill.
Our Tone Deaf reviewer said of the Melbourne leg in February that Laneway is “fast becoming the most enviable date on the summer festival calendar,” and from its humble origins in the streets of alleyways of Melbourne in 2004 (giving it its name), Laneway Festival has grown to international proportions.
As well as its Singapore and New Zealand editions, as well as Amercia’s Laneway Detroit, Laneway has also outgrown its Western Australian leg, moving from its regular home at the Perth Cultural Centre to a new site in Fremantle in a new five year deal that starts with next year’s edition.
