LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2025, MELBOURNE @ FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
Featuring Charli XCX, Clairo, Beabadoobee, Bicep, Barry Can’t Swim, Djo, Remi Wolf, Olivia Dean, Eyedress, SKeggs, STÜM, RONA., Hamdi, Joey Valence and Brae, 2Hollis, Fcukers, Ninajirachi, Julie, Girl and Girl, and The Vovos.
If there’s one thing you can count on at Laneway Festival, it’s a crowd-pleasing lineup that highlights the best of indie, electronic, and pop. If there’s another thing, Melbourne’s unpredictable weather throws a curveball when you least expect it. This year’s festival at Flemington Racecourse was no exception with blistering sets, guest duos, and an 8 PM downpour that sent half the festival scrambling while the other endured through for one of the best headlining acts in years. While we couldn’t see everything with a handful of overlaps and clashing sets, what I did see was quality.
Kicking off the day, local band The Vovos brought their signature garage punk energy, showcasing why Melbourne’s underground scene is as strong as ever. Their raw, no-frills performance was a fitting start for those arriving early and looking for something loud and fast.
Following them, Julie kept the indie and alt-rock vibes rolling. The Los Angeles band/art project became prominent in the new era of shoegaze after their hit debut single “flutter” in 2020. Julie, drowned listeners in distortion and melancholic melodies leaned into dreamy yet assertive indie rock. Playing plenty of tracks from their 2024 album “my anti-aircraft friend”, leading into what was going to be a huge day of great music.
The next act on the schedule was RONA. One of Australia’s up and coming producers, playing a prolific set at Boiler Room 2024, the Naarm-based artist graced us with an atmospheric electronic set at the undercover Dean Turner stage. The retreat from the sun was set to a groovy, bouncy treat that also added to the amazing local artists on this international line-up.
Our next stop was Fcukers, who brought a dose of chaotic, irreverent dance energy. Fcukers are blowing up over in the US at the moment, particularly with their hit “Bon Bon” which of course made the crowd go crazy at Laneway. If you like laid back but good times at house parties, ‘90s house music or a few thousand or so people tucked into a tent, Fcukers will be the soundtrack to the best festival of your life. Clashing with Olivia Dean and Skeggs, it was a tough choice to skip on some of those other bigger sets, but Fcukers were the underdog highlight of the day.
Bringing a sharp contrast to the early afternoon, Olivia Dean slowed things down with her silky-smooth blend of soul and R&B. A welcome moment of respite, her voice soared on tracks from her 2023 album “Messy”, and a few deeper cuts that the fans were all singing along to. When Dean tied up her set with “Dive”, the entire festival was arm-in-arm, belting every single word back to her. Her set felt like a breath of fresh air at the larger Good Better Best stage under the afternoon sun.
Without a doubt the “baddest bitches in the club” hit the stage soon after in the form of Joey Valence and Brae. The hyperactive hip-hop duo whose blend of Beastie Boys-era nostalgia and modern breakbeat had the audience bouncing. DJ Ewook opened with drum and bass reworks of Limp Bizkit and Skrillex tracks. The duo then delivered an intense set featuring “The Baddest”, “Hooligang” and one of the best covers of Charli XCX’s “365” to give everyone a taste of what was to come later in the evening. As someone who attended their headline show on Wednesday 12 February at The Forum, this set was a perfect selection of their catalogue for a crowd of people who may have been seeing them for the first time. By the end of “Punk Tactics”, JVB garnered plenty of new budding fans.
The mid-afternoon stretch saw Djo (the musical alias of actor Joe Keery) take the stage with a set that perfectly blended psychedelic rock and indie pop. “Roddy” and “End of Beginning” had the crowd swaying, but my standout was “Figure You Out” with Keery’s band and vocals on true display. Djo has an incredible ability to seamlessly shift between groove-heavy and deeply introspective moments.
Waiting eagerly on the neighbouring Never Let It Rest stage, Clairo followed with a sense of emotional intimacy. Fresh off the release of her chamber-pop-inspired album Charm, she delivered a carefully curated set that balanced old favourites with newer standouts like “Bags” and “Sexy to Someone”. Of course, everyone watching was singing along in harmony with the festival’s favourite vocalist. Special shoutout to her band who might’ve been the tightest of the day. The highlight? A surprise appearance from Charli XCX during "Sofia”, turning the track into an iconic moment.
Over on the Good Better Best stage, Beabadoobee dialled up the ‘90s nostalgia with her cradling indie rock. Riding high on the success of her 2024 album “This Is How Tomorrow Moves”, she delivered a seamless performance. Standing there, listening to everyone sing along to every word, you can tell how strongly her music about the messiness of adulthood was connecting with attendees. To tie off an impressive set, Clairo joined her onstage for another surprise duet with a gorgeous rendition of “Glue Song”.
At this point in the day, a cooler breeze and greyer clouds started to cover what once was a beautiful sunny day in Melbourne. As the sun began to dip, festivalgoers were hit with an unexpected torrential downpour right in the middle of Barry Can't Swim’s set. While some sought cover at the Dean Turner Stage, where 2Hollis and Bicep continued their performance under shelter, the dedicated persevered through the rain. Full recognition to Barry for his laser light show which kept many of us enduring what felt like a million ice-cold daggers with energetic dance tracks that provided warmth and motivation.
The reward? A Charli XCX performance that will go down in Laneway history. Kicking things off with the Shygirl remix of "365", Charli came out swinging unfazed by the chaos and endless sea of drenched fans waiting for the big moment of the day. What followed was a brat-packed setlist packed with brat favourites like "360" and "Von Dutch", alongside deep cuts like "Track 10". By the time she reached "I Love It", the crowd—soaked, exhausted, but ecstatic. While we didn’t get the rumoured Melbourne local, Troye Sivan guest appearance it seemed everyone was gossipping about, Charli’s set was still back to front a non-stop party. I’m sure everyone was even more thrilled after pushing through a typical Melbourne day for weather.