Photography & Words: Darren Chan
At Hastings Foreshore Reserve, it was a sunny 28 degrees with a nice sea freeze. The perfect weather for the Spring Loaded festival.
Screamfeeder kicked off the festival playing some memorable tunes “Hi Cs” and “Dart”. Local favourite The Fauves brought their melodic alt rock style with songs like “Dogs Are The Best People”.
Custard then took to the stage. That familiar voice of frontman David McCormack (surely it couldn’t the fact he also plays the voice of “Bandit” in Bluey) lead the band through their string of 90s hits that were the youth soundtrack of many people there – “Apartment”, “Music Is Crap”, “Girls like That”, “Pack Yr Suitcases” and “Anatomically Correct”.
Despite a recent personal tragedy, Killing Heidi shifted the festival up another gear as they delivered an energetic and upbeat performance. The crowd sang along all the songs they wanted to hear from tempo shifting “Superman/Supergirl”, “I am”, “Mascara”, and finishing with “Weir” with a “fake” chorus that fooled everyone for a moment.
Punk rock veterans Frenzel Rhomb entertained the crowd with a relaxed demeanour. After the first song, singer Jason Whalley’s belt broke, and the crowd enthusiastically responded by throwing belts on the stage. They effortlessly punched out the classics “Never Had So Much Fun”, “You’re Not My Friend”, “Russell Crowe’s Band”, and “I’m Shelving Stacks” injecting some dry humour between songs that kept the crowd laughing. Great fun.
Alternative rock icons You Am I didn’t disappoint fans delivering their 1 hour set with swagger and their trademark sound to a huge crowd of fans. How can you not rock out to “Berlin Chair” and “Cathy’s Clown”?
With a few years since their last performance, the crowd gave a huge welcome to headliner Grinspoon as they came onstage. In a theatrical manner, frontman Phil Jamieson wound the crowd into a frenzy with the band opening with “Dead Cat”. The band delivered a powerhouse set with absolute precision, including “Hard Act to Follow” and ”Lost Control”. They finished the set with their most recognised song “Chemical Heart” complete with pyro. The only way to complete an alternative rock festival.
Photography & Words: Darren Chan
