The gates to the Victorian leg of the Hotter Than Hell tour opened (19 October), with a mass of flannel-shirt and skate-shoe wearing patrons swiftly rushing inside.
Any doubts regarding the weather were soon diminished, as the sun shone pleasantly over the site. Spirits remained high when Adalita reached the stage to kick off proceedings.As was a recurring theme throughout the festival, Adalita's experience and professionalism was evident from the first song. Her commanding and somewhat haunting vocals summoned fans to the front of the stage, setting a precedent for the rest of her set.
The live performances of Adalita's music were far heavier than her studio recordings; her guitar snarled in response to her evocative words, bringing a grungy vibe that resonated well with fans. Adalita's lyrics and vocals were at their most poignant during her performance of 'Savage Heart'.
As one of her newer singles (2022), the element of nostalgia was not present, yet the crowd swayed back and forth as if they were reminiscing; a true testament to Adalita's longevity as an artist.
Adalita - image © Rob Cuzens
The second set marked the emotional return of Little Birdy, coming together for their first performance in 14 years. Lead singer Katy Steele picked up right where she left off, her distinctive vocals as powerful as ever. Her stage presence was invigorating, prancing across the stage with the confidence of a seasoned frontwoman.
Little Birdy would have been excused for being rusty considering their long hiatus, yet the band were in sync from the start, further highlighting the professionalism of the acts at Hotter Than Hell. The heart-warming theme of the performance remained evident, with bassist Scott O'Donoghue seemingly overcome with emotion halfway through the set.
The band powered through to play crowd favourites, and a change of tempo towards the end of the set with ballads such as 'Relapse' (from 2004) left fans captivated. A stirring guitar solo from lead guitarist Simon Leach ended the set on a high, completing an extremely successful return for the band.
Little Birdy - image © Rob Cuzens
The festival patrons used the intermission to relax in the sun, enjoying the selection of food and drinks while chatting with each other. Aussie rockers Jebediah soon reached the stage and began their set with the hit song 'Leaving Home'.
Lead singer Kevin Mitchell grinned sheepishly as fans soon stormed to the main tent, the sound of their teenage years reaching their ears. Showing off their versatility, Jebediah quickly moved on to a personal favourite, 'Harpoon'. The change of pace was met warmly by the crowd, with fans packed tight together as they grooved to the stripped-back hit.
The set was a raging success from start to finish, Jebediah once again proving themselves as one of the premier bands of the '90s and '00s Australian alternative scene.
Jebediah - image © Rob Cuzens
The fourth set marked the return of the sole international act: US punk rockers Unwritten Law. Lead singer Scott Russo had complete control of the stage, his high-energy antics bringing the crowd to a near riot.
Quickly moving through hits and fan favourites, the band incorporated a cover of Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'. This song has a history with the band, as Russo's performance of the post-hardcore hit at a house party years before convinced Unwritten Law's band members to add him to their ensemble.
The hallmarks of a typical Unwritten Law set were all present; heavy, thrashing drums and guitar intertwined with Russo's energetic vocals and dancing brought a taste of the US skate-punk scene to eager Australian fans.
Unwritten Law - image © Rob Cuzens
The sun had well and truly set as the eclectic rockers Regurgitator reached the stage. The band's iconic crude humour shone through with not only their music, but their amusing animations projected onto the screen behind them.
Every fan onsite had made their way to the main tent to watch the final act of Hotter Than Hell, and the band rewarded them with a set filled with invigorating, genre-bending tunes.
Ground-shaking punk songs, slow synth ballads and even verses rapped over trap beats; Regurgitator brought it all. Newest member and local product Sarah Lim brought new versatility to the group, switching between guitar and keytar as the seasoned trio of Quan Yeomans, Ben Ely and Peter Kostic interacted constantly with the raucous crowd.
The band extended their set past run time with a mix of new and old songs, much to the delight of fans. The alternative rock legends teased the crowd with a brief cover of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman', and paid tribute to the late Michael Hutchence with the opening riff of INXS' 'Need You Tonight'.
As the night drew to a close, Regurgitator finished with their hit '! (The Song Formally Known As)'. The crowd celebrated the final moments of the festival as they sung along to Yeomans' iconic lyrics.
Regurgitator - image © Rob Cuzens
Credit must be given to the incredible work of the staff and crew to create a flawless festival, the satisfied fans leaving with smiles on their faces and nostalgia in their hearts.
- written by Robbie McLauchlan
More photos from the festival.
