It may feel like Laneway Festival only just finished its Australian run, but already the rumours are turning to the 2014 lineup. Earlier this month, Laneway Festival announced the lineup for its first ever American leg, taking place in Detroit this September with an impressive little swag of international acts, including headliners Sigur Rós and The National.
Some of the acts were also on the previously announced Laneway stage for London’s Field Day festival, with Laneway co-founder Danny Rogers saying, “we’re both honoured and super excited to have such a crazy amazing bunch of acts play our stage, some of whom might even pop up on one or more of forthcoming Laneway events around the world soon!”
Looks like that’s exactly what’s happened, with news that all-girl post-punk band Savages are likely the first band of the Laneway 2014 lineup to leak. Fay Milton, Savages’ drummer, has all but confirmed the band’s appearance as part of next year’s festival bill.
“We’re 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,” Milton told The Vine in a recent interview. In fact the British drummer has quite the connection to the Antipodes.
“I came to Australia and learnt to play drums in Melbourne: lived there for a few months, made a lot of great friends, it was about four years ago in Northcote. I still listen to 3RRR all the time. So I have friends in Melbourne, I’m looking forward to going back.” “We’re 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.” – Fay Milton, Savages
An Australian appearance for Laneway 2014 would mark three for three for the quartet and the touring festival, appearing on the lineup for Field Day in their native country, as well as the American Laneway this September. Savages are earning a reputable reputation for both their live show and their classic post-punk sound, tracing a lineage from darker, spikier 80s bands like Joy Division and Gang of Four, and in the anguished but svelte attack of frontwoman Jehnny Beth, comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux and PJ Harvey.
Their debut album Silence Yourself, released earlier this month through Remote Control/Matador, has also been turning ears (and the heads attached to them), including our Tone Deaf reviewer, who awarded it an 8/10 score, writing it “proves they’re worth the hype.” Adding, “while their desire for control robs them of some of the enthusiastic rawness usually associated with new bands, Savages are undoubtedly set for big things.”
Those looking for more likely bands for Laneway 2014 could do a lot worse than take another peek at the Laneway Detroit lineup, especially given Savages’ recent reveal, which features Aussies Chet Faker and Flume alongside Scottish synthpop outfit CHVRCHES, Deerhunter, Frightened Rabbit, Solange, Warpaint, Washed Out, Youth Lagoon, and more.
The first ever American Laneway proves to the strength in the festival’s growth. What started off as an alleyway street party in Melbourne back in 2004 has experienced enormous expansion into not only a national series, but also into international territory with the Singapore editions and New Zealand Laneway Festival circuit hosting shows in Auckland, while our Tone Deaf reviewer saying of the Melbourne leg this year that it is “fast becoming the most enviable date on the summer festival calendar.”
