I jet-set from brisk Bris-Vegas to arrive on the red-eye in Australia's balmy Top End. Note, balmy midnight turns bitey, soon after sunrise.
The real reason behind my interstate jaunt is not to escape brisk Brisbane weather. Yew! It's my maiden voyage to BASSINTHEGRASS (BITG) 2024 at Darwin's famous Mindil Beach last Saturday (18 May)I'm rearing to mix it up with the young and youthful who are bound for the largest Northern Territory live music festival. With festivals in the southern states suffering industry complications and broader economic issues, causing cancellations, I figured now is a great time to check out how the NTers put on a bash.
BITG has been going strong for 21 years this year. . . I join punters on a free bus ride that drops us right at the BITG entrance, just before midday. I am won over by the ultra-fast entry process. Even with a camera bag search, BITG is already scoring points with me.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
The published set list boasts 35 staged performances for punters to experience. I am resigned to the fact it will be impossible for this solo reviewer to see and hear everything on offer today. All hope to experience just may exceed my physical stamina and my review word limit. It might pay to curate a BITG 'best of' ARIA-flavoured listicle. . . just in case.
The first stage I see is the BASSMENT stage (BASS). It's a 360-degree shebang with a mirrored crocodile hanging from centre stage – a perfect symbol of Darwin's wild side! No plain old mirror ball here, folks.
What goes hand in hand with music? Food and drink! Off further afield is a street of food vans with multinational savoury and sweet cuisines and smoothies, slushies, homemade lemonade and snow cones to-boot and a good spread of bars. Market stalls are also here for a little shopping therapy along with refresh and recharge stations to keep you hydrated and connected.
I stop here for a quick fix of beats from Madison behind the decks, which is enough to get my legs pumping to dash to NT's own Elephant Town, who has the honour of kicking off BITG 2024 on the Tropical Stage (TS).
I notice a smattering of punters are in front of the stage braving the strong midday sun. Lead singer Pedro Luiz points out how freaking hot it is on more than one occasion; also much to his delight, he is giving a shout-out to fans wearing Elephant Town tees.
I notice during their rocking set, including 'Dancing Through The Rain' and 'Henry's Song', that Charlie Dann (bass), who is still in high school, has the best stage presence of them. Not taking anything away from the talented musicianship of the other band members; they are tight and sound sic! But I secretly want Dann to infect them with his rock-star edge! Elephant Town are worth checking out.
Mr Chrisy Mertas - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Nhulunbuy's Mr Chrisy Mertas, a four-piece surf-punk band is first on the Palm Stage (PS) and they have a crowd of staunch supporters at the barrier from their first song. I am surprised that Matt 'Aris' McLean is exclaiming how hot it is before introducing song two 'Diazepam'.
Much like Luiz from Elephant Town, I would have thought both would be used to hot temperatures. I am told many punters here are from Arnhem Land and other Darwin bands with a squad of about eight from Nhulunbuy having road-tripped 13 hours to support their NT friends.
Another in the crowd, a band member from another band, tells me how the band name originated from the words 'Merry Christmas' being rearranged and that the Arnhem Land music scene is going off right now. What makes it even more special is this mutual artist support I am witnessing from a small town – clearly with a big creative heart.
Mr Chrisy Mertas are progressing with a high energy, punk-infused set that showcases other crackers from their debut album, 'Cookers Paradise' as more punters are drawn closer to the stage.
Back over at the TS, opening with 'Gray', Melbourne's Lotte Gallagher is quick to capture the hearts of punters arriving early to see her. Gallagher's soaring vocals and cool stage presence is captured on mobile by her mum in the crowd with a heart full of pride showing through her smiling eyes.
Continuing her set with the punchy rock-pop vibes of 'Adam', the first song she released, Gallagher does stop to introduce her drummer and school mate before getting on with the job at hand and winning herself a bunch of new fans in the crowd.
The Lunar Experiment at BASS is followed by Hello Bass then Dameeeela who all keep the beats up high and deep greeting punters as they arrive through the gates. Although Dameeeela prefers a sunset spot, I don't think it matters what time of the day or night she gets to showcase her stuff, as this diva is a curator of sounds that punters can readily dance their butts off to – and they are doing just that while Coterie are giving it up next on the PS.
Coterie - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Punters amass with many coming to get some of the cool melodic reggae-rock of this Perth band. It's a little after 2pm, the sun still high in the sky beating down on our heads and their songs 'Sunkissed World' and 'Cool It Down' couldn't be more apt right now.
With grooving jams, well-known covers and encouraging crowd participation, Coterie are giving raucous fans and soon to be fans a blistering set ahead of local legends King Stingray. Just like Coterie, this is a band that is a must to be experienced live.
The front of the TS is packing in nicely with King Stingray fans as the band set the stage ablaze with 'Looking Out' and 'Camp Dog', with drums and stringed instruments joined by the didgeridoo and bilma.
Huge cheers and shouts of encouragement are made all the way through their nine-song set list ending nicely with 'Let's Go'. I wonder if this is a deliberate lyrical nod to those who travelled here by car: "Central Arnhem Highway on my mind. When I think of you, I leave my troubles far behind."
Beats only exist to be discovered and BASS has been sounding off non-stop with duo Kinder who are holding their own and drawing in dancers of all ages. While BASS is going off, Middle Kids are bringing their flavour to the PS.
Hannah Cameron's sweet voice reaches those almost impossible highs in 'Highlands' before taking us on a rhythmic ride with 'Never Star' with its catchy hook. Looks like the estimated 14,000-plus crowd is going to be bang on as I see the crowd has swelled even more and its still early. Middle Kids finish off with the uplifting and breezy 'Stacking Chairs'.
Northlane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Now we prepare our earholes for the contrasting sounds of Northlane, one of Aussies best heavy hitters. Marcus Bridge with a huge presence fronts Nic Petterson (drums) and Jon Deiley and Josh Smith (guitars) who are now hammering the ears of BITG punters!
In full sun, Bridge strips off his jacket then his arm sleeves early in the set before he himself is 'Carbonized', and never falters in his performance. I'm loving the crowd reaction to this genre change and it is a powerful peak moment of the festival. Two songs down and Northlane test out latest single 'Miasma', which is lapped up by the crowd who also get nuts for the rise and fall of 'Afterimage'.
Petterson up the back in the shade can still be seen sweating as he unleashes a fury on the tubs and Deily and Smith deal out killer riffs and solos with squinting eyes. Despite minor tech hiccup, everything they offer up gets a roar from the crowd. I trust Northlane has whetted the appetites of dormant metal fans at the Top End. Horns are raised!
Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir followed Kinder on BASS and I am glad I made it back for a quick squizz. Before me dolled up to the nines in extravagant costumes, is a dancing choir with exquisitely vocalised harmonies atop Sunshine's superb mixes.
Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir - image © Clea-marie Thorne
This spectacle is simply to die for! They are definitely outshining the mirrored croc above their heads. These glamourpusses are providing sensory overload – a truly out of body experience where you let go and dance like nobody is watching. I indulge if only for a short while and the buzz of freedom to familiar beats is real.
Aussie grassroots indie artist Ziggy Alberts is another first time BITG artist that is giving the enthusiastic crowd ambient and chilled-out mellow tunes. Alberts shares his story as an independent artist and fans cheer for his resolve and success.
Fans know his stuff and sing loudly along to 'Runaway' and 'Love Me Now' that gets a full crowd sway underway. Albert's new song 'New Love' (played live for the first time) is embraced by the crowd and as the song builds momentum, heads are nodding and feet get stomping as they take in the ambiance of his music.
Condoms, toilet rolls and broken pluggers have been tossed around the mosh pit during the day, but I now see a first – push-up bra inserts have just crash landed at my feet as I exit. I laugh.
Artists performing on BASS continue to do a banging job of blasting 360 degrees of gripping beats and the booming bass vibrations invade your body and it's really hard not to stop every time to join with other punters who are dancing with wild abandon. The vibrations are reverberating in our chest in-sync with the music from the likes of Mood Swing & Chevy Bass, Sam Divine, Young Franco and Mashd N Kutcher.
Mood Swing & Chevy Bass - image © Clea-marie Thorne
I past many jovial souls to get to my place at PS again for Jet where I see the Cester brothers, Nicholas (vocals), and Chris (drums) with Cameron Muncey (guitar) and Mark Wilson (bass) already on the stage erupting in good old fashion rock & roll in fine form - perfectly tight.
Thrashing triumphantly through a set list that is captivating the all-but-packed venue now, Jet are inciting pumping fists and boisterous sing-alongs. Fans shoulders are rocking from side to side to a new song as well as their blistering classics 'Cold Heart Bitch', 'Rollover DJ' and 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl'. Jet let it rip and fans let loose. The end.
Over at BASS Vassy is taking it down a notch for the hardcore dancers with an acoustic version of 'Secrets' giving a little reprieve and cool down time. Punters also get to shake a booty to Darwin's own J-Milla before Sydney collective, The 046 close out the BASS stage with a blast, but I am not sure I can make it!
Bliss N Eso on TS are lit from the minute they hit the stage with their rapping and well-honed vocals. With a crowd that is stacked in tight, MC Bliss and Esoterik have them eating out of their hands obeying the request to do the two-arm hand pump to 'My Life'.
The crowd keep pumping arms and jumping on the balls of their feet as BnE pour out their spirited energy to fans. BnE rarely stay in the same spot for long as they prowl and stalk the stage while spitting bars to a fuelled set list. The lively set includes 'Addicted' that has the crowd erupting with glee. BnE end the dynamic show with a band selfie asking for Islands in the sky and a chant of "peace, love and unity!"
Bliss N Eso - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Indie-rock royalty The Jungle Giants are now showing the crowd why they are a giant Aussie force with much cred on the international music scene. Sam Hales (vocals, guitar), Cesira Aitken (guitar), Andrew Dooris (bass) and Keelan Bijker (drums) are turning the crowd into a sea of heaving bodies.
With just the first song, like the ocean, just a stone's throw away, fans keep this movement constant with a relentless endurance, especially those punters with other adults or wriggly kids riding on their shoulders! Punters need a pat on the back too – artists are up there for a set; the crowd is here for all if not most of all the sets!
Macklemore the headlining act for TS has brought a spiffy stage set up and an entourage of musicians and dancers with him including our Tones And I, who is breaking out the opening number with them! Not to upset the long-time fans, Macklemore is quick to take them back to the beginning and gives them 'Thrift Shop' for song two of the set.
For a hot minute (and hot it would be) Macklemore dons a faux-leopard mink remarkably like the one he wears in the video made for the song. Luckily the temperature has dropped, or we may have a poached Macklemore. That thought dissipates as I watch almost 14,000 people singing along to 'Thrift Song' – and I can tell you, "This is f...ing awesome!"
Macklemore introduces us to all his squad including special words for guest Tones And I and a Perth-born member who moved to Darwin and fought a crocodile at the age of 12. True story? I don't know. But Macklemore is just as brave going from the barrier into the crowd. I wasn't sure if he'd surface tbh!
Everyone is dancing and singing with all the energy they can draw on and 'Can't Hold Us' gets a rowdy sing-along and fans only get a reprieve during the slower songs like 'Same Love' given from the very heart of the artist.
Macklemore - image © Clea-marie Thorne
While it is not yet the end of BITG, it is a perfect show to wrap up on the TS and one that brought the BITG crowd to its knees with hit after Macklemore hit. I was not sure if Macklemore would leave the stage or us. His show was a moment for him and for us, that is for sure.
Chris 'Emoh' Emerson aka What So Not gets the final slot and is closing out the festival from the PS. This headliner is not only commander of his desk, he is commander of the BITG legion before him.
As the chill start to his remix of Rüfüs Du Sol's 'Innerbloom' plays, he rhetorically asks "this is pretty much the Australian anthem, isn't it?" then just before the intro climaxes he is stepping out from behind the desk to ask us "Are you still with us, Darwin!?" and motions for our hands to pump up and down before screaming "Let’s go!", and in an instant the mosh area was agitating in-sync to the music like an old-school washing machine – minus the suds.
As the set progresses, I realise I am not well versed with What So Not, but I join the fans and get to hoofing some more. Yew! His set is cranking and in no time, it is painting an invisible energy in the night air.
With a morphing digital backdrop and random lights, the audible creations of What So Not influenced from a range of genres is mixed in a way that lifts our feet and voices, high under the night sky. Fan favourites are turning punters into his personal capering crew. Bloody dance-tastic all the way to the end.
What So Not - image © Clea-marie Thorne
It's been ripper festival a harmonious convergence of humans to bathe in the rays of the sun then the colourful lights from the stages while taking in the eclectic sounds from the 28 acts on the 3 stages.
For some of us, this has been 12 hours of musical bliss! And heck, that is not counting the seven rounds of duelling DJs at the silent disco. BITG has shown me that it is not only is it a musical melting pot of genres, worth more than the modest ticket price, it's a cultural and immersive experience you simply must do, at least once.
At this time of the year the sultry weather is totally bearable if you remember to slip, slop, slap, and suck regularly (on you water bottle, that is) – with plenty of seated shade areas and refresh stations about the place, you are totally sorted and supported to safely enjoy the festival during the heat of the day and well into the night.
I am making my exit with an afterglow that is radiating the music, art, and connection I absorbed at my first (and despite the heat – it won’t be my last) BITG!
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
Oops! I nearly forgot; my BITG festival listicle winners are:
• Best culinary taste of the day: A mouth-watering grilled prawn skewer with a side of crumbed scallops
• Best bevvie: Sunset smoothie watermelon juice with a hint of honey on ice – not just because it was given with love 😊 it was damn tasty
• Best new discovery: Lotte Gallagher – singing from the heart with a set of pipes that are climbing the scales fast, she is one to watch
Lotte Gallager - image © Clea-marie Thorne
• Favourite crowd sing-along: Jet 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl'
• Best cover: Coterie smashed it skywards with Dave Dobbyn's 'Slice Of Heaven' • Favourite crowd song interaction: Bliss n Eso 'Moments' – I swear it took the punters "from feeling invisible to invincible" as they sang along
• Best stage set and lightshow: While this is unfair to the artists playing while the sun was above the horizon and credit to the lighting crew who did a fantastic job, there needs to be mention of Macklemore taking this one out – spectacular
• Best dancing experience: With so many beats exciting our hips and feet all day long this was near impossible for me to call, but the winner is. . . Mood Swing & Chevy Bass – such a groove
• Biggest festival earworm: King Stingray's 'Milkumana' and what is even better is that I am told that in Yolŋu Matha language, the song title means to pass on knowledge through stories and song
• Best silent disco duelling DJs: Hmm, what a weird-ass experience when watching and not participating - they all win a prize
• Farthest travelling punter, I met: Is New Zealand or Albany farthest from Darwin? You choose, but a 13-hour road trip from East Arnhem land warrants a mention again
• Best accessory trend: Handheld fans – practical, lightweight, not just because punters randomly used theirs to cool off this wilting flower
• Worst accessory trend: The Helicopter Hat – dude thought he'd won the award above, sorry not sorry – let it go; in fact, just let it die
Jet - image © Clea-marie Thorne
• Best artist get-up: Hands down Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir; I'd love to see this on a larger stage showcasing the attire as well as the tunes (maybe BITG 2025? Nudge, nudge)
• Most friendly crowd experience: A friendly gent convinced me to let him take a photo of me. It took some conning but I gave in. It was a warm fuzzy moment and I have keepsake
• Most moving act: Ziggy Alberts and wins it with more than one song on his set
Ziggy Alberts - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Top three shout outs:
1: BITG organisers, staff, volunteers and vendors – thanks for running a well-oiled festival machine, offering up creative wares, tasty food and bevvies and it goes without saying great music of course.
2: NT Major Events Company for a very organised media experience. . . bonus.
3: BITG punters – you bunch of beautiful, wild untamed yet friendly humans. You are my kind of humans I've certainly gorged on the delightful music platter spanning several genres and a variety of experiences. I have covered my fair share of music festivals and BITG at the Top End is tops in all aspects.
I am truly in love with all the support for local and Australian artists to be on the line-up with the big international talent that fit right in with the party vibe exceptionally.
Darwin city – thanks for the sunshine, idyllic location, beautiful and easy-going folk everywhere I went and for hosting BITG – one ginormous, wild and extremely friendly party by the beach. Don't think about it, just do BITG 2025.
More photos from the festival.
