Best of 2013 Countdown: The Festival Awards!

With the main summer festival season just kicking off around the country once again, we are bringing you our top 5 favourite Australian festivals of the last year, as voted for by our contributors. Though the list is dominated by the larger national touring festivals, a number of the local state specific festivals racked up a number of votes, and we’ll look at them at the end of the article.

TOP FIVE FESTIVALS OF 2013

5. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS
LAST YEAR’S POSITION: 5

Despite the insanely muddy conditions and long lines and waiting times to get just about anywhere in or out of the festival, Splendour still boasts one of the greatest set ups of any festival in Australia. The lineup was the perfect mix of heavy-weight international acts, up-and-coming artists, Australian favourites and aspirational local acts that ultimately catered to wide range of interests. Across the three days there were minimal set clashes and plenty of alternative forms of entertainment for the creatives, clabbers and foodies alike. – Clare Armstrong

4. SOUNDWAVE
LAST YEAR’S POSITION: 1

Yes, it was the lineup that featured Metallica. For me though, Soundwave 2013 was all about Shirley Manson and Garbage. The vibe of the festival continued to be one of the more relaxed and friendly I’ve been to (ironic, I know), though the temperatures continued to rise throughout the day. Where there were disappointments (Blink, Linkin Park), there some awesome moments of live performance too from the likes of the aforementioned Garbage, Slayer, A Perfect Circle and Paramore.

Metallica were cool for the fact that they’re fucking Metallica, but I’ve never been a diehard Hetfield or Ulrich fangirl, so I can only register my appreciation from a surface level. Soundwave as a whole though, continues to be one of the dominating Australian festivals in terms of concept and execution and I’ll continue to go. – Sosefina Fuamoli

3. FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
LAST YEAR’S POSITION: NOT PLACED, BEST VIC FESTIVAL

The year the festival expanded into three cities, adding Byron Bay to the list, though we’ll let Clare Armstrong wrap up the event with her closing remarks of her Marion Bay, Tasmania review.

Overall, the eleventh Marion Bay edition of The Falls Festival was a resounding success. Tasmania is so oft forgotten by international and national bands alike when they book their tour dates, it’s important that the state’s music lovers have an opportunity to experience just a fraction of what other major city centres take for granted. I sincerely hope that this year’s low ticket sales are not the precursor for the festival’s end as it is truly one of the most relaxed, diverse, environmentally and family friendly festivals in the world.

2. ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL
LAST YEAR’S POSITION: 3

Everything about Laneway was just spot on from the line up to the variety of food and market stalls. Apart from the one person I saw in an animal onesie and the tree faller, there wasn’t a dickhead in sight. Not to mention the venue location and layout. Overlooking the Maribyrnong River, The Footscray Community Arts Centre provided green grass, shade and an excellent atmosphere over 4 stages. Laneway, I’ll most certainly be back. And never will I judge a suburb purely on their train station again. – Bridget Hustwaite

1. BIG DAY OUT
LAST YEAR’S POSITION: 2

As The Killers’ aptly put it, “Glamorous indie rock and roll is what I want” and it was certainly what Big Day Out 2013 delivered. Bringing together a collection of acts that went on to release some of the biggest indie albums of the year including Vampire Weekend, Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jagwar Ma and Sleigh Bells, the festival was the best place to catch an early glimpse of new material live. Throw in some big headliners, a stronger focus on providing a ‘gourmet’ experience for punters and well executed logistics and you’re looking at one of the best festivals of the year. – Clare Armstrong

AND THE REST…

Best NSW Festival: Byron Bay Bluesfest
Runner Up: Festival of the Sun (Pictured Below) and The Gum Ball Music Festival (Tie)

Best VIC Festival: Meredith Music Festival
Runner Up: Cherry Fest

On Cherry Fest: One of the best local festivals in Melbourne, for punters that like their music loud, hard and dirty. It’s large enough to create atmosphere, yet intimate enough to be enjoyable and full of down to earth punters who foster a dickhead free zone. – Anna-Maria Megalogenis

Best QLD Festival: Woodford Folk Festival
Runner Up: BIGSOUND

Best WA Festival: Southbound
Runner Up: West Coast Blues n’ Roots

Best SA Festival: Gorgeous Festival
Runner Up: WOMAdelaide

Best International Festival: Austin City Limits (USA)
Runner Up: Glastonbury (UK)

On Glastonbury: I think I’m still in denial over the fact that I even managed to get a ticket but holy smokes, it was basically the greatest 5 days of my life. Nothing, NOTHING can prepare you for the sheer size and awesomeness that is Glastonbury. Particular highlights include Mumford and Sons, seeing founder Michael Eavis casually driving around greeting punters, running into Jagwar Ma in the crowd oh and just these guys called The Rolling Stones… If you consider yourself a music enthusiast, put Glasto on your bucket list. – Bridget Hustwaite

Best International Industry Festival or Conference: SXSW (USA)
Runner Up: Music Matters (Singapore)

On SXSW: A must see event for any serious music lover, the calibre of artists playing on any night is astounding. The sheer number of big names and up and coming new acts is unfathomable. I was fortunate enough to see Prince, Stevie Nicks, Alt-J, A Tribe Called Quest, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dave Grohl, Rick Springfield, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Clutch and Billy Bragg. – Anna-Maria Megalogenis

RIP: Harvest Festival cancelling what would have been an incredible day of music was definitely one of the year’s biggest disappointments. We named Harvest our best festival of 2011 and it also made our top 5 in 2012, so we are very sad to have seen another amazing addition to the Australian festival season bite the dust. We were also sad to see Homebake fall a similar fate, another favourite in past years!

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.