A sparkling, sunny day set the perfect scene for Groovin The Moo at Adelaide Showground, with the event sprawled across a vivid green oval across two stages side by side and a huge tent in the background, ready to offer a line-up stacked with genre-spanning artists.
The festival vibe was strong from the get-go (21 April), with people dressed in eclectic styles from raver to rocker and everything in between, ready to party.BBNO$ clearly got the memo, bringing the upbeat vibes and bouncing around on stage with an onslaught of bright visuals and cracking party anthems that ranged from candy rave to dirty breakbeat (plus a cameo appearance by a Teletubby), it was a great way to kick things off.
A wander of the site revealed a smart layout, with plenty of bars, food vendors, a chill zone, and small selection of market stalls scattered around, offering options to take a minute away from the music without having to go too far. I also found the Hilltop Stage, where Mums Favourite had a small but dedicated crowd captivated with their indie-blues sound.
Image © JakeyVass Media
Confidence Man always bring kooky fun and high energy to the stage with Janet Planet and Sugar Bones singing and strutting up front, while Clarence McGuffie and Reggie Goodchild hang back shrouded in black to keep solid beats and synths pumping. It was a 'C.O.O.L Party' with everyone invited.
Nothing But Thieves quickly got everyone's attention, kicking off with 'Futureproof' and showcasing frontman Connor Mason's soaring voice as he moved from growls to falsetto heights over solid riffs and driving drums.
From start to finish they didn't drop the intensity and it is hard to pick highlights from a hit-filled list including 'Forever & Ever More', 'Welcome To The DCC' and 'Impossible'.
The festival setup was excellent, with no time wasted as bands switched between the triple j and Cattleyard stages. The unused stage's LCD screen was used to project the action meaning you could enjoy the experience wherever you were, and often the front row audience in front of the empty stage were as animated as those in front of the artists.
Skegss drew a happy crowd to their upbeat surf rock, with everyone jumping along to a fun set packed with great sing along tunes including 'L.S.D', 'Save It For The Weekend', and 'Valhalla'.
Next up at the Moolin Rouge, Eliza Rose was DJing the hell out of a set of rock-solid house and garage classics, occasionally stepping out from behind the booth to sing and join her two dancers up front, taking on Kylie's 'Can’t Get You Outta My Head' and getting a huge crowd reaction to finale, 'B.O.T.A.'.
Eliza Rose - image © JakeyVass Media
In a quick trip outside, I managed to catch the exceptional Amy Shark playing 'Adore You', 'Everybody Everybody' and a gorgeous version of Bic Runga's 'Sway' before tearing myself away to get in place for Genesis Owusu.
You come for the music, and stay for the showmanship with Genny Wu, and I was happy to see the Goons back on stage adding to the highly choreographed mayhem. There were no surprises in a set that ticked off festival faves 'WUTD', 'Get Inspired' and 'GTFO' to get the crowd worked into a frenzy.
Denzel Curry isn't really my jam, but it seemed ridiculous to be at a festival with such a highly anticipated artist and not catch at least a little of his set.
Curry jumped out on stage with a presence that had everyone with fists in the air from the front to the back of the crowd as he burst into 'Ain't No Way' and 'Walkin'. It was clear that fans were in for a treat, but I was ready to dance.
Denzel Curry - image © JakeyVass Media
I'm a self-confessed drum & bass obsessive so there was no way I was missing Luude's set, which moved through all the progressive, dirty, bouncy, jungly, filthy breakbeat sounds I love and made a single organism of the crowd as we danced hard. It was fun to hear remixes of t.A.T.u's 'All The Things She Said' and Men At Work's 'Down Under' thrown in.
alt-J were the major drawcard for me and a top of the bucket list band to see live, so I opted to get embedded, moving front and centre so I could be entirely swallowed up by the experience.
I got within a couple of metres of stage, eagerly holding my ground with fellow punters intent on the best experience, but after 15 minutes of jostling and realising there's only so much of Ginuwine's 'Pony' you can take up close with a bunch of strangers I moved back to the sweet spot between the sound desk and stage where you can see the band, dance, and get perfect sound.
Without a doubt they were worth it. Emerging silhouetted in front of a strobing screen, then backlit by spotlights or enhanced by entrancing visuals their unique, syncopated rhythms and soaring harmonies began to envelope us in their spell.
alt-J - image © JakeyVass Media
The set grew organically, layering gentle beauty with precision to entrance the audience as they played a set full of gold. From soaring through 'The Actor' and the sparseness of 'Tessellate', to the tear-inducing beauty of 'Taro' and thumping power 'Fitzpleasure' and 'Left Hand Free' it was a ride through the senses from start to end and I'm sure my spirit left my body a few times.
Finale 'Breezeblocks' was fitting, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want more. After all, when something is that good, it's hard to stop.
It took a hot minute to switch atmosphere from the embracing, sonic tapestry of alt-J to the four to the floor, big beat bounce of Fatboy Slim, but it was worth a little patience.
Before I knew it, the crowd had swallowed me up in its groove and there was nothing to do but dance and be 'Right Here, Right Now'. With swirling, smiling imagery, Norman Cook was his trademark, reliable and engaging self, and a safe pair of hands to soundtrack the end of a fantastic day.
Fatboy Slim - image © JakeyVass Media
After enjoying countless Big Day Outs at Adelaide Showground, it was bliss to be at another festival that used the space in a similar way. The side-by-side stages ensured a seamless flow of entertainment on the oval, and Moolin Rouge tent was a haven evocative of Boiler Room's past.
Groovin The Moo have hit the right mark in bringing together an interesting and eclectic line-up, scheduled to ensure the familiar is around the corner, but something new may just come up and surprise you in-between. Festival fulfilment guaranteed.
More photos from the festival.
