Some hot tips for who to catch at this year's Laneway Festival

Header photo - Fremantle Laneway via St Jerome's Laneway Festival/FB

Laneway Festival has always been one of my favourites, especially when it comes to their ability of crafting an impeccable lineup that contains large international acts and small, undiscovered locals alike. Their prescience into what is going to be big in the music world by the time the festival rolls around, means that every time the lineup arrives, I go “hey, I only know a handful of acts this year – I might give it a miss” but then, months later, every act on the lineup has become one of the year’s biggest.

2017’s billing is no different in this sense. Naturally, there are the big names to attract those early ticket sales – Nick Murphy fka Chet Faker, Tame Impala, Mr Carmack and the like. But then, littered underneath those names, are relatively small ones who, in the time between the line-up announce and what it is often their debut trip to Australia under the Laneway flag, they get big. Think Tourist, NAO, Camp Cope and Tash Sultana in this year’s case. In case you missed it, this year’s Laneway Festival timetable dropped the other day, and in order to help you guys out, we’ve sorted through the big and small names alike to pick out our pick of the bunch – the acts we think that, come around February, will kill it at this year’s Laneway Festival.

NOTE: Set times and acts given in this article are taken from the Fremantle leg of Laneway 2017. To view the timetables for the other events on the tour, click HERE.

Jess Kent

12:00PM - 12:30PM, Ferris Bueller Stage

Jess Kent is an Australian-based musician who many tipped to be one of the breakthrough acts of 2016, especially with the release of her carefree bop Get Down in late 2015. Those people were absolutely right, with Kent taking control of 2016 with the release of her debut EP My Name Is Jess Kent late in the year and a stellar collaboration with Paces earlier on in the year. She supported Troye Sivan in the US and Coldplay back here, but now she’s primed and ready to kill that early-afternoon slot that previously has hosted names including Tkay Maidza.

Camp Cope

12:30PM - 1:15PM, Ferris Wheel Stage

If you haven’t heard of Camp Cope yet – where the hell have you been? The all-female alt-rock trio were basically non-existent this time last year, but with the release of their self-titled debut album back in April, the trio have gone on to become one of Australia’s most exciting names. They took out FasterLouder’s Album of the Year Award, were nominated for a J Award for the same category, and were our #2 album of the year. You’ll be lying to yourself if you say you aren’t keen to rock out to Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams live – one of 2016’s best songs, as meme-y as the title is.

NAO

1:15PM - 2:00PM, Ferris Bueller Stage

NAO is just sensational. The English songwriter and vocalist is one of my favourites at the moment, with her debut album –  the 18-track epic For All We Know – being one of my favourites of the year. She’s got an extensive repertoire, from originals to guest features and collaborations, with an invigorating stage presence that is sure to light up the Laneway stage early in the afternoon.

Bob Moses

3:25PM - 4:10PM, Future Classic Stage

Anyone lucky enough to grab tickets to RÜFÜS’ Bloom tour earlier in the year will already be familiar with the work of Bob Moses, but for everyone else, saddle up because you’re in for a ride. The Canadian two-piece is one of the most renowned live performers in the electronic music game, touring with the Laneway Festival off the back of the release of their album Days Gone By. Think brooding bass lines, pulsing riffs of piano and synth melodies, and a live presence that is unmatched by many.

Check our Instagram this coming Saturday as they document their time at Melbourne Laneway.

Tourist

4:35PM - 5:20PM, Future Classic Stage

Personally, London’s William Phillips, better known as Tourist, is my pick for the unmissable act of Laneway 2017. His debut album U is up there in my favourites of the year, with set-highlights including Holding On and, of course, Run, set to be highlights of the whole festival. His live show and stage presence is said to be darn amazing for anyone who didn’t catch him on his quick stint of east-coast shows earlier in the year and with a selection of world-class tracks and remixes to pick from, I can’t see how Tourist’s festival tour in Australia will be anything short of amazing.

Check our Instagram this Tuesday 24 January for a Tourist Takeover.

Sampa The Great

5:45PM - 6:30PM, Future Classic Stage

Immediately following Tourist on the Future Classic stage is Sampa The Great, an Australian hip-hop artist making some major waves with the release of impressive mixtapes across the past year or two. She’s known for her dominating, invigorating music with a controlling live show to match, incorporating her roots in impressive productions and rhymes that are sure to be translated incredibly well live.

Glass Animals

6:15PM - 7:00PM, Ferris Bueller Stage

For many, the wait for Glass Animal’s return to Australian has been a lengthy one, but it’s been well worth it. Now armed with their sophomore release How To Be A Human Being, which countless reviews say are their best work yet, the English rock group are set to electrify the Laneway stage with their celebrated live show that is full of energy and fun. Consider it a must-see.

Floating Points LIVE

7:25PM - 8:15PM, Spinning Top Stage

When talking about well-acclaimed acts in the world’s electronic scene, one act that immediately comes to mind is Floating Points. The English producer has been the source of a wide array of minimalist electronic productions that often turn into gradually-building epics that sometimes span up to 20 minutes. He’s been pretty quiet release-wise in 2016, riding off the back of his 2015, critically-acclaimed record Elaenia, but his set at Laneway is a rare opportunity to catch one of the best live performers in the electronic world before he disappears back into the studio recording his debut’s long-awaited follow-up.

AURORA

8:45PM - 9:30PM, Spinning Top Stage

She’s only 20 years old, yet, Norwegian singer-songwriter AURORA became one of 2016’s un-stoppable acts with the release of her debut album All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend. Despite what is set to be a tough match-up against Tame Impala and Mr Carmack on alternate stages, Aurora will still shine at Laneway – especially armed with her effortlessly-cool and chilled-out singles that have quickly seen her rise into one of 2016’s best break-out acts.

Full Fremantle Timetable:

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