Last Saturday, March 1, Brisbane hosted the first of the Future Music Festival events at the RNA Showgrounds.
At the Future Music Stage, 17-year-old Dutch DJ Martin Garrix repeatedly encouraged the crowd to “make some fucking noise” while mixing his own brand of thumping beats with samples of everything from Bruno Mars to Icona Pop to Linkin Park. Of course, his mega-hit ‘Animals’ made a welcome appearance.
On the same stage, Swedish duo Dada Life began their set with the promise that there were no rules here “except the rules of Dada Land”. While the rules of Dada Land were never properly explained, they seemed to involve wobbly, infectious synth lines, samples from Major Lazer and the Beastie Boys, a background visual involving an evil dancing Pacman cartoon, and throwing blow-up bananas into the crowd. All things considered, Dada Land seemed like a pretty fun place.
Dada LifeOpening with the slightly melancholy dance ballad ‘Last Chance’, respected American DJ Kaskade worked the crowd (and himself) into a sweat. His set had a cosmic feel, thanks to background images of planets and remixes of tracks like Axwell’s ‘Center Of The Universe’.
One of the highlights of the day was Australia’s own Knife Party. Now based in the UK, Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen were back in Australia, playing the dark and moody indoor Haunted House Arena. Spinning from the balcony of a house made of sinister red light, these guys didn’t slow down for a second as they hit the audience with relentless beats. Single ‘Internet Friends’ was naturally well-received, and the laser show made for a killer ending.
Compared with Knife Party’s manic energy, Deadmau5 seemed almost restrained as he opened his set on the Future Stage with some steady, pulsing synth. But the Canadian dance music sensation soon cranked up the energy levels. Performing in his trademark mouse helmet, with glowing eyes staring into the crowd, he began with some moody dark trance before a seamless transition into ‘Superliminal’. Playing more of his own music than anyone else’s – which is always a refreshing thing – he wasn’t afraid to slow the mood down sometimes and experiment with some unique sounds. And you couldn’t beat the show’s climax: a performance of ‘Fn Pig’ that segued into a thumping party version of ‘The Veldt’.
By Daniel Wynne
Future showcased an array of pleasurable live dance music that had everyone smiling, dancing, and having an all-round good time. Swedish DJ duo Dada Life played a mean mid-afternoon set filled with heavy electro-progressive house beats that had everyone within 500 metres gyrating and grinding against each other. Even some of the mature-aged festival goers were getting heavily involved in Dada Life's set.
Surprise highlight of the day was Iranian/ American producer Dubfire (former member of Deep Dish). He played a seamless amalgamation of techno and dub; it certainly wasn't a throw-down-and-dance-like-there's-no-tomorrow performance, but Dubfire grabbed everyone by the balls with his enchanting and magical music — which was definitely enhanced by the beauty of the sunset that we were blessed with that afternoon. Most of us just stood there, bopping our heads in awe, and mellowing out before the big night ahead.
The Foamarama tent saw a constant ebb and flow of revellers — no one could really last that long in the sea of foam, but Brisbanites Nado vs. London Hustle penetrated the tent with their jarred, glitchy, booming bass and trap tracks. Their remixes captured the crowd who were enjoying themselves as much as they could despite being slightly distracted by the soap that was invading their eyes.
By Keara Forde
It’s a year of firsts at this year’s Future Music Festival. First year at its new home at the RNA Showgrounds and the first in recent years to not rain!
Grammy’s champions Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis take the stage proving they’re just as popular with the punters. It’s hard to hear a muffled Mackelmore over an enthusiastic crowd but all is forgiven. With dancers, streamers, confetti and even a costume change there was never a dull moment especially when hits ‘Same Love’ and ‘Can’t Hold Us’ were unleashed.
MacklemoreNo strangers to Australian shores British drum and bass quartet Rudimental are in the country for the third time in twelve months. The group play hit after hit from their latest album, ‘Home’, to a massive crowd. With a helping hand from an array of amazing guest vocalists, tunes such as ‘Free’, ‘Not Giving In’ and ‘Right Here’ were the perfect soundtrack to watch the sunset.
RudimentalMelbourne dance kings Cut Copy play to a smaller, chilled crowd. A good mix of old and new tracks the lads even play a tribute to the late DJ Ajax. Tracks from their second album ‘Hearts On Fire’ and ‘Lights & Music’ still prove to be crowd favourites and go down a treat.
PhoenixFranz Ferdinand, Friendly Fires and Bloc Party before them, this year it's French legends Phoenix turn to carry the indie dance rock flag for this year’s FMF. Still coming down from their headline slot at last year’s Coachella, the Versailles natives prove why they are one of the worlds hottest bands. Sans R. Kelly this time they whip through hits from their latest album, ‘Bankrupt!’ alongside favourites ‘1901’ and ‘Listomania’. A great set concluding with frontman Thomas Mars descending upon the crowd to personally thank almost every indie rock enthusiast in the audience of an EDM dominated event.
By Al Emmett
Photos by Ben Knight & Lachlan Douglas
