The Laneway 2014 lineup details, dates, and venues have been announced by the festival organisers just as they are set to launch the American debut of St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Detroit in a just over a week.
First and foremost, the all-important Laneway 2014 lineup announcement has been confirmed for Tuesday 24th September, revealing the full list of bands that will be headed to Australia next January and February for the annual touring festival which promises “featuring tomorrow’s superstars alongside the best of the underground.”
There’s already a number of names expected to appear on the Laneway 2014 lineup following a series of bands letting slip of their place on the bill, reinforced by the fact that many of those already rumoured are playing Laneway Detroit on 14th September.
Ernest Greene, the electronic mastermind behind Washed Out, has confirmed he’ll be Down Under in “the first couple of months of next year.” British post-punk group Savages are also likely contenders, after drummer Fay Milton revealed that the band were “coming over in February next year… I’ve been to the festival before, it should be good.”
Scottish synthpop outfit CHVRCHES are also a likely lock. Following the completion of a three-date sold out tour of Australia earlier this year, the band were openly discussing their place in the Laneway 2014 lineup with media, 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
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 bands 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.
Organisers have also revealed the 2014 dates, including their international legs in Singapore and Auckland. For Australian audiences, there’s also a few changes to the venues for Laneway 2014.
The Adelaide leg will be relocating to the “historic site” of Harts Mill, Port Adelaide, moving away from its former home at Fowler’s Live and UniSA West Courtyards. Laneway Festival promoter Danny Rogers likened the new locale to Melbourne’s in its mix of industrial and greenery. “We searched super hard to find a site that we felt could match the experience that other cities have had with Laneway. Renewal SA, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and a team of locals have worked with us to find a site that ticks all the boxes,” says Rogers.
As previously reported, Perth has also undergone a venue change as part of a new five year deal that sees the festival relocating to the Esplanade Park and West End in Fremantle, located next to the Fishing Boat Harbour and Bather’s Beach, lending a seaside feel and breeze to the musical proceedings.
Laneway is bolstering its international presence, alongside its established Singapore and New Zealand additions, with the kick-off of Laneway Detroit on the 14th September, taking place at Meadow Brook Music Festival with a lineup co-headlined by Sigur Rós and The National, along with a lineup that includes Washed Out, CHRVCHES, Savages, Warpaint, Deerhunter, Solange, Youth Lagoon, AlunaGeorge, Flume, and Chet Faker.
Could more of those acts be turning up on the Laneway 2014 lineup for Australia? All will be revealed Tuesday 24th September.
Laneway 2014 Dates & Venues
Singapore: Saturday 25th January – The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay
Auckland: Monday 27th January – Silo Park
Brisbane: Friday 31st January – RNA, Fortitude Valley
Melbourne: Saturday 1st February – Footscray Community Arts Centre/River’s Edge
Sydney: Sunday 2nd February – Sydney College Of The Arts, Rozelle
Adelaide: Friday 7th February – Harts Mill, Port Adelaide
Perth: Saturday 8th February – Esplanade Park and West End, Fremantle