Groovin' The Moo Maitland 2015 Review

A killer line-up, awesome sound quality, sunny skies and a few token horses – Groovin’ The Moo Maitland had come around again for 2015 on the crisp morning of 9 May.

Once you realise you’re an adult and want to squash all the ‘twelvies’ in sight, you realise this is probably the best festival line-up available to under 18s, so you let them have their fun… just this once.

Click here for photos from GTM Maitland.

The Delta Riggs were one of the first acts up and definitely worth arriving early for. Performing their well-loved hits including ‘Supersonic Casualties’ and ‘The Record’s Flawed’ they had undeniably earned their place on the Groovin’ stage.

The Delta Riggs - Image © Matt Viesis

Progressive metalcore band Northlane proved they’re still worth seeing after showcasing new singer Marcus Bridge. Performing their classic hits from ‘Quantum Flux’ to ‘Dispossession’ as well as new track ‘Rot’ Marcus made his mark on a crowd who created a giant circle-pit in acceptance of the new singer.

Northlane - Image © Matt Viesis

A definite highlight of the day was the DMAs. All six of the boys put on an effortlessly cool performance. Dressed like complete dags – including tacky speed-dealer sunglasses, flannos and white-on-white tracksuits – they were flawless as always, with lyrics and a sound that were wonderfully inconsistent with their dress code.

DMAs - Image © Matt Viesis

One Day performed on the Triple J stage at midday with the sun shining down on them, the perfect act to get us grooving on into the arvo with tunes as catchy as ‘SDRO’ – I saw seven acts afterward but managed to walk back to the car with this song still stuck in my head!

Sticky Fingers started off slow but produced a quality set, finishing off with ‘Gold Snafu’ where the boys from One Day joined them on stage contributing original verses of their own to the song.

Sticky Fingers - Image © Matt Viesis

I was SO hyped for The Preatures, having seen them earlier in the year. After taking a few songs to get into the set with her usual energy, Isabella Manfredi blitzed it towards the end. Covering The Angels’ ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?’ – to which a young crowd (myself included) responded with “NO WAY GET FUCKED, FUCK OFF!” – The Preatures proved what a transcendent, iconically Australian song it has become.

The Preatures - Image © Matt Viesis

Carmada had the Moulin Rouge crowd getting their sweat on performing hits ‘Maybe' and 'On Fire' with Charli XCX just as they had performed them on Triple J's Like A Version only a week prior.

Charli XCX - Image © Matt Viesis

Ball Park Music kept everyone on their feet dancing well into the afternoon, a MUST after such a long day of partying. Kudos to the organisers of Groovin’, I probably would have been sitting down with a beer by then if Ball Park hadn’t kept my arms and feet instinctively flailing to ‘Trippin’ The Light Fantastic’.

Ball Park Music - Image © Matt Viesis

Broods had all the ‘boiz’ pushing to the front of the Moulin Rouge tent to get a glimpse of the beautiful Georgia Nott of the brother and sister act. I’m sure I caught a few of them drooling particularly during tracks ‘LAF’ and hit ‘Bridges’.

RL Grime blew up the Moulin Rouge tent following Broods, (figuratively speaking). Being the barricade bitch I am, I was no longer an individual, but now part of a huge mass of sweaty bodies losing their collective minds to the young prodigy that is RL Grime (Henry Steinway). With a set that was jam-packed with attitude and bass-heavy trap beats it made sense that all his Sydney shows had sold out.

Flight Facilities - Image © Matt Viesis

Flight Facilities concluded the night with a set that was exactly what the crowd needed. With ‘Sunshine’ performed on stage with Kurt Kristen along with his groovy dance moves, the crowd jived with whatever remaining energy they had leftover.

Owl Eyes then glided onto the stage with Flight Facilities to perform the likes of ‘Heart Attack’ and ‘Two Bodies’ faultlessly with her ethereal voice. During ‘Crave You’ she insisted that “all girls get on a guys shoulder” much to the security guards dismay, but boy did it make for a good photo! Groovin’ The Moo yet again delivered over ten hours of non-stop, quality music.

If you only have one day to spare and can’t make it to a multi-day festival, Groovin’ is for you… Provided you have the energy to see every act, as there’s noone worth missing!

Click here for more photos from GTM Maitland.

Written by Jessie Attwood