Reviewed by Nicola Woolford, photos by Josh Geelan
Music enthusiasts young and old flocked to Oakbank Racecourse on Saturday for Groovin the Moo – enlivening the countryside with offerings from a unique blend of indie rock, electronic, and hip-hop artists.
Though also attracting attention from international bands, most of the performers were home-grown Australians. The crowd saved a little extra applause for the local Adelaide artists.
Oakbank gave a convincing impression of dead winter as rain cascaded down upon the racecourse and the temperature crept towards zero. The conditions did nothing to detract from the enthusiasm of the crowd, however. People wore mud-spattered clothes with pride, and many younger members of the crowd defied the laws of physics by not freezing to death while dressed in delicate shawls and lace mini-shorts.
I felt for the Oakbank racecourse itself, for hundreds of squelchy footsteps fast transformed its once beautiful and lush grass into a colossal mud pit. Despite this, the sell-out crowd pushed through the challenging conditions, intent on having a fantastic day.
Many patrons entertained themselves between sets by partaking of the show rides, amply stocked bars, or sampling from the many varied and greasy food trucks –staples of any decent music festival.
The festival included a heartfelt though somewhat ramshackle ANZAC Day service, complete with The Last Post and a stammered reading of The Ode of Remembrance. After the service there was a thirty-minute wait before the first band, either for quiet reflection or a chance to buy drink tokens.
Adelaide artists Jesse Davidson and Timberwolf opened on the main stages (Channel [V] and Triple J, respectively) and fast captivated the crowd. Davison’s sultry voice, infectious beats, and genuinely enthusiastic attitude were a great start to the festival. Timberwolf echoed the audience’s sentiments exactly – “Hey Groovin the Moo, how good does it feel to be here?” – before the beats began and he started to howl.
A few paces and yet a world away under the Moulin Rouge tent, the crowd was packed tight as they sought shelter from the near constant drizzle. The tent played host to some of the more alternative bands on offer. One of the earlier acts, The Dancing Accountant quickly jived off the stage and into the mosh pit. The crowd kept beach balls and a giant inflatable clown fish bouncing above head, which seemed at odds with the weather yet perhaps suggested the sheer excitement of the event.
Around 4pm the sun crept out from behind heavy grey clouds to perfectly illuminate the racecourse, and was met with spontaneous and genuine cheers from the crowd for a few seconds before it retreated again. It was a surprisingly unifying experience.
Afternoon favourites included the irresistible Meg Mac, talented hip-hop troupe One Day, and an energetic performance by Saskwatch in the Moulin Rouge tent. The Preatures and You Me At Six heralded the end of the day on the main stages.
Crowds poured out of scarce covered areas like clowns from a Volkswagen to hear Ball Park Music, playing as the sun finally admitted defeat and set over the racecourse. The band explained that it was their “first time in Oakbank” and commiserated with the audience over the weather. They played favourites new and old, also treating the crowd to a few choice covers that included a tongue in cheek rendition of I’ll Be There For You.
Hermitude and Charli XCX demanded the crowd’s attention, despite the night-time downpour. Hut Dub Time Machine served as a fitting nostalgic dinnertime soundtrack, followed by the incomparable Broods. Wolfmother performed with little preamble or stage banter, but their music was more than enough to engage the crowd.
The Hilltop Hoods held the honour of final act on the main stages. They gave an energetic performance, making sure we knew where their hometown loyalties lie. After swaggering onto the stage, they asked “Oakbank, are you wet? Are you tired? Do you care?” To which the crowd answered a resounding “no”. They taught the audience to sing along with Won’t Let You Down, which sounded haunting and beautiful in the crisp night air.
Flight Facilities tempted the tired crowd for one last set in the Moulin Rouge tent before beginning the pilgrimage back home, happy and humming with musical energy.
Groovin the Moo is perhaps the only festival that makes ponchos fashionable. Despite the sleet and spittle, the day was worth suffering through in order to experience talented and varied bands in a friendly and wholly Australian setting.
See the full photo gallery from the day here.
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