A mass exodus to the Gold Coast caused by a Brisbane public holiday, and the first day of a supposed heatwave, meant many (guests and acts) missed the midday ride to McLaren’s Landing for the second Stranded event in 2014.
At least the delays allowed the partiers to become familiar with the people who they would be Stranded with for the remainder of the day. Common phrases that could be heard from the packed marina included: “do you have SnapChat?” and “Have you been to Ibiza?”
Image © Jann AngaraMore than an hour after the schedule 2.30pm departure, and the boat is finally filled and ready for departure.
As it docks at South Stradbroke, photographers greet the bulk of today’s crowd who sway, skip and jump onto the sand to finally fill the dancefloor.
Image © Jann AngaraThe delay meant many of the earlier acts were missed including Adelaide emcee Tkay Maidza who was a strong selling point of the festival’s line-up. Nonetheless, everyone remained in good spirits, happy to be feeling the bass as they step onto the landing.
Image © Jann AngaraBrisbane’s own UV Boi welcomes the crowd and keeps energy levels high (although hydration levels are at a clear low) by giving a little dance performance from on top of the deck table.
The decision to push Sydney producer/ vocalist KLP’s live set to the sunset session was clearly a good call as the growing dancefloor cheered her entrance. She killed her pop/ R&B set while charming the crowd with her smiles and familiar Triple J House Party voice.
Image © Jann AngaraGold Coast’s Lyndon Kidd kept the movement continuous in the Boogie Shack with some deep house while people found shaded seats to have D&Ms with their just-met-new-BFFs.
The ‘local acts stage’ remains quite consistent throughout the event with dancers enjoying the open air.
The event headliner, The Kite String Tangle, clearly had the biggest crowd of the night. Fresh from London he croons and tinkers from his own space-control pad. While his sound is a definite drop in BPM from today’s other acts, it’s the first time during the entire festival where the crowd stopped to watch a performance instead of partying with their mates. His classic cover of Lorde’s ‘Tennis Court’ captured everyone’s attention. He then shared the stage with fellow Brisbanian Tiana Khasi for a sweet performance of their ‘Stone Cold’ track.
Image © Jann AngaraWhile the majority of crowd boarded the next boat out after TKST’s visually and audibly hypnotising set, there was still a lot of energy on the island for the remaining sets. UK’s Tiaki Nulight warps out, smoke in hand for some future garage with a hint of house and ragga which has the dancefloor stomping well into the night.
Image © Jann AngaraProducer Golden Features tops off the night with his signature faceless mark.
Spot on 10.30pm, the sound abruptly stops as partiers’ line up for the last boat ride to reality or (clearly for some) the after-party.
