Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine playing Laneway Festival, Melbourne Australia

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Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine Take To The Laneway Streets

by Paul Cashmere - February 3 2010
photo by Ros O'Gorman

The Laneway Festival may have been plagued with logistic problems last year and suffered a last minute line-up when Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen missed his flight from London but the Laneway Festival has proven to be the laid back alternative for music fans.

The Melbourne Laneway Festival was moved to the inner suburban Footscray location. Despite some sound problems on the main stage, it was a very relaxing way to take in a day of live music.

Mumford & Sons were obviously the hot act of the day due to last weeks Triple J Hottest 100 triumph. They were brought to a halt four songs and 20 minutes in when the P.A. crapped itself but they did come back to finish the set. Those down the stage end of the street who did get to hear were suitably impressed when they played ?ÇÿLittle Lion Man?ÇÖ and ?ÇÿThe Cave?ÇÖ.

Florence and the Machine grabbed the biggest crowd of the day. It was great timing too. As Florence and the Machine were on stage at Laneway, across the planet back in the UK they had the number one album in that country.

Warren Ellis and The Dirty Three enthralled the crowd. An open air Festival was an unusual way to absorb The Dirty Three but the placement of the influential Aussie band included in this line-up gave a good percentage of the crowd an education into who and what The Dirty Three are.

If there was such as thing as a buzz band it was The XX. They drew a decent crowd in the slot where Midnight Juggernauts were replacing Echo & The Bunnymen.

Meantime, down the other end of the river Melbourne indie fav Eddie Current and the Suppression Ring copped a good-sized audience following a long and steady build-up of a fan base through regular Melbourne shows.

Bridezilla likewise had a good crowd earlier in the day, while down by the river Sydney?ÇÖs Philadelphia Grand Jury showed Melbourne audiences what they are capable of and have been doing north of the border for the last two years.

Laneway works. It is casual and not such a big day out. Here?ÇÖs looking forward to 2011.

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