Farmer & The Owl have truly established themselves as an Australian indie rock tastemaker in recent years. As a label, they’ve carved a raucous niche, with the likes of Hockey Dad, Totally Unicorn and The Pinheads fronting their pack of guitar-wielding hype-machines.
In its inaugural year as a festival, Farmer & The Owl undeniably delivered Wollongong dwelling music lovers the vastest array of acts a boutique festival could possibly offer. From 90s indie icons, to modern black metal luminaries, the humble, picturesque McCabe Park, could’ve rivaled Austin, Texas in its level of ultra-coolness.
On their first ever trip to Australia, emo-revival-turned-indie-purveyors Foxing stunned a crowd who were mostly unaware of Missouri natives. Dizzying soundscapes swept punters under a blanker of ethereal, powerful lead guitars, with post-rock atmospherics cradling frontman Conor Murphy intimate charisma.
Foxing – ‘Heartbeats’
Snail Mail proved why she shall be bestowed the title of Shredder Queen, tearing through tracks off her 2018 Lush. She launched into each track with a fervent passion, red Jazzmaster at hand, shining with rage and beauty. Snail Mail plays with a contrasting gentleness and frustration that harkens back to 90s icons like Sonic Youth and Liz Phair – her set was one of pure emotional freedom.
Locals Totty have come leaps and bounds in the last year. Having signed with Ratbag Records, the band are gearing up to take on the country with like-minded fuzz punks Skegss, and I may be reaching, but those beat-up Vans-wearing boys best be ready to be blown off the stage. Playing with equal parts slacker and skater energy, frontwoman Kell’s confidence has blossomed in the last year – Totty will undeniably own 2019.
Ensuring the energy was kept to an absolute high voltage setting, Amyl & The Sniffers rolled through with a healthy dose of okka-rock goodness.
TOTTY – ‘Uncomfortable’
Sending every single emo-kid into collective meltdown, Joyce Manor came through with a set filled with angst glory and power-pop hook-laden thrills. Taking crowd requests and stirring the festival’s most impassioned mosh pits, our heart’s are forever tattooed (only true fans will understand…) with the band’s gleaming positivity and unrelenting catchiness.
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Deafheaven provided the day’s most out of left field set. For a crowd mostly acquainted with indie rock and electronic, the band’s brand of highly emotional blast beats, death metal growls and shoegaze soundscapes went over like a total treat.
Dream-pop icons Beach House sent out the day in a haze of hooks and teen-gazed yearning, whilst Hockey Dad sent off the evening in a grunge-drenched storm.
Despite prevailing wars on live music and the impending threat of cancellation, Farmer & The Owl was an oasis for music lovers amidst a culture that often misunderstands and beats down the voices of the most creative and visionary.
