There’s no such thing as a perfect festival, right? I mean, one of your fave artists is always missing on the line-up. And there are some acts you can’t care less about.

Yet, some festival bills are closer to your own definition of perfection than others. Especially when they’re entirely made up by you.

And that’s what Silly Fest is for now – a wanna-be festival with a line-up that speaks to the Silly McWiggles taste in 2023.

PART 174 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Threads
• Spotify
• X
• LinkedIn
• TikTok

Here’s the thing.

In 2022, just for fun, I announced a fictitious festival called Silly Fest. I highlighted 12 acts (one for each month) that caught my attention that year and “booked” them for the event. In other words, I created my “dream festival line-up”, made up entirely of Aussie acts (which, honestly, is hard to come by in Oz these days).

A year has passed. Things have been happening on the Aussie music scene. So why not repeat the exercise in 2023?

Obviously, no promoter in their right mind would program all my chosen artists together at one event. After all, they all represent extremely different genres and energy levels.

But wishful thinking has never killed nobody. So, ladies and gents – hereby, I give you the Silly Fest line-up in 2023:

Now, let me also justify these wild choices. Because, unlike in 2022, many of the artists mentioned below have actually been occupying my airwaves this year.

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS

I doubt Amyl and The Sniffers need an introduction these days. The Melbourne-based pub rock band has gained both national and international attention in the last five years.

Already in 2019, they scored the ARIA Award for Best Rock Album on their home turf. And that’s two years before they even released the awesome second album, Comfort To Me, which I reviewed here. Plus, the fact that they’ve opened for Green Day, Weezer or Fall Out Boy cements their status on the punk rock scene.

You can’t deny their popularity is hugely owed to the singer, though. It’s Amy Taylor’s charisma and incredible stage presence that make the band’s shows so epic. Audiences around the world literally go crazy rowdy at the Amyl and the Sniffers’ gigs. Plus, their songs are short, sweet, and to the point, with easy-to-follow melodies and uncomplicated lyrics.

And I’m entitled to say that because I saw the group in Scotland in August 2023. So, if I were to stage the Silly Fest for real, they’d definitely take one of the festival spots.

ANGIE MCMAHON

It’s been a while since Angie McMahon dropped the song that put her on Australia’s music map in 2017. Like many other fans, I fell in love with “Slow Mover” because of the emotive lyrics and beautifully unusual voice. The artist’s vocals are always something I look forward to whenever she releases new music. Plus, I do have a soft spot for singer-songwriters from Melbourne.

It was no different with the album she revealed in 2023. I remember listening to the whole Light, Dark, Light Again for the first time, sitting by the sea at sunrise. And maybe the album reflects the life stage I’m in. Or maybe the songs are just very honest and true. But I feel like this LP is my story, too.

And yes, I’m aware Angie’s music might not exactly be suitable for a festival. It’s very tender and thoughtful. But wouldn’t it be great to just stop, truly listen for a while, and appreciate being together?

I’m sure all festival goers would benefit from that moment of reflection and slowing down. So Angie McMahon is definitely making the Silly Fest list this year.

DMA’S

What more can I say about the indie rockers from Sydney that I haven’t already mentioned somewhere on my blog or socials in 2023?

The gig I saw in Newcastle upon Tyne in July was one of my highlights this year – that’s for sure. Plus, I consider their fourth studio album, How Many Dreams?, one of the best Aussie releases in 2023.

In Australia, Tommy O’Dell, Johnny Took and Matt Mason sell out gigs in no time. They’ve been “adopted” by the audiences in the UK, too. And they can’t complain about invites to other parts of Europe, either.

It looks like DMA’S are still somewhat taken aback by their rising popularity, though. So, before they’re so big that they’ll only play stadiums or Coachella, I’d love (read = die) to have them as part of the Silly Fest.

DOM DOLLA

No festival should go ahead without a great closing party. That’s a fact. After all, someone’s gotta send punters off home in a good mood.

Australia has several cool electronic acts making waves overseas. But this year, I’d bestow the role of the Silly Fest DJ to Dom Dolla (real name Dominic Matheson).

The house music producer from Melbourne has earned it with all his 2023 ventures. He’s recorded a banger with Nelly Furtado, won the ARIA Award for Best Dance/Electronic Release for “Rhyme Dust” (with MK) and scored three number 1s on the ARIA Club Chart.

I wouldn’t really need any more arguments to make Dom Dolla the closing act for my Silly Fest 2023 edition. Would you?

EMMA MEMMA

This is actually not a joke. I’ve been to festivals that programmed children’s acts before. And trust me – everyone was singing along to their repertoire. Because deep down in our hearts, we’re all eternally kids.

But who better to invite to an Aussie music event if not an ex-member of the iconic group for the little ones, The Wiggles? Emma Memma is the moniker of Emma Watkins, who went solo as an entertainer in 2022. And her new gig has already earned her the ARIA Award for Best Children’s Album a year later.

There’s more to the concept than just singing, though. According to the website, “Emma Memma focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing.”

So I have no doubts that she’d be the perfect festival opener. Especially for the hardcore music festival fans that rock up to the party right after doors open at ridiculous o’clock, like noon. Or for the parents who want to introduce their kids to the idea of music festivals from an early age.

FANNY LUMSDEN

Before judging me, know that country music is one of those genres that have conquered many different markets in recent years. And Australia definitely has a rich, vibrant scene that goes way beyond Keith Urban‘s achievements.

Fanny Lumsden‘s music and career are a testament to that. Since releasing her first album in 2015, she’s made a name for herself as one of the most beloved artists.

Fans love her. This year, she’s been warmly received outside of Oz as well (Glasto!). Her industry peers respect her, too. Fanny’s won several Country Music Awards of Australia, aka the Golden Guitars. The broader music business also recognises her talent. The ARIA Awards for her last two albums speak for themselves.

And because there’s nothing better than a good ol’ country music sing-along, she’d be a wholesome addition to Silly Fest in 2023. Don’t you think?

KYLIE MINOGUE

In all fairness, and against all odds, Kylie is the biggest surprise for me this year.

I mean, not that I ever doubted her ability to write melodic hits. Yet, I didn’t think she’d pull it off on such an epic scale with her new album, Tension. And with pretty much every single she’s released in 2023, every appearance she’s made on TV (i.e. An Audience with Kylie at the Royal Albert Hall in London) or every concert she’s played (like the Vegas residency).

Very few artists, let alone from a country as far away as Australia, have such a fulfilling, versatile and successful career spanning decades. Nowadays, it seems Kylie’s “in” no matter what she does. And that despite the early years when she was dismissed as a performer and treated with little respect.

So Silly Fest 2023 would surely save its headlining spot for the ‘Princess of Pop’. Period.

J-MILLA

While rap is not necessarily my specialty, I recognise a hip-hop talent when I hear one. And if you’ve listened to any J-MILLA tracks, you’d surely say the same thing.

But wait, there’s more to tell about the Darwin-raised artist. He’s also a passionate activist, working primarily with First Nations children. I’ve highlighted one of his musical projects with LIL YOUNGINS this year.

With catchy hooks and lyrics often painting a sombre picture of what life is really like for Aboriginal people in Australia, J-MILLA has become an unofficial spokesperson for the country’s Northern Territory. Thanks to his popularity on the mainstream Aussie scene, TikTok has live streamed the first-ever gig from a remote community in Wadeye, for example.

His energy at live performances is infectious, too. And that’s the vibe I’m after for Silly Fest in 2023.

LUCA BRASI

The melodic punk rock reps from Tassie have had an eventful year on many levels. In the good news department, they’ve released their sixth (!) studio album. Its title, by default, should be splashed across all entitled people’s social media accounts – The World Don’t Owe You Anything.

You might also know Luca Brasi from their take on Paul Kelly’s Aussie Xmas classic, “How to Make Gravy”, from 2017. But in March 2023, they added another rad rendition of a popular “blast from the past” to their catalogue. They covered Goo Goo Dolls “Iris”, also for triple j’s “Like A Version” segment.

In the “life sucks” department, the vocalist Richo’s 1-year-old son has been diagnosed with cancer this year. Naturally, the artist has decided to focus on his family and temporarily withdraw from actively participating in the music ventures. The positive plot twist in this story is their fans’ reaction to this sad news. To date (27 December 2023), nearly 167k AUD has been raised to ease the financial strain on the family.

And if a band can build such a supportive community around them, that’s all I need to know about them as performers, too. So Luca Brasi would secure a spot on the Silly Fest bill 100%.

MISS KANINNA

An artist manager who works with First Nations artists sent me a link to Miss Kaninna‘s first officially released song with a note: “You gotta know this name”.

She was sooooo right. I couldn’t stop listening to “Blak Britney” for a good few weeks. Because the beat just slaps, and the lyrics slay. Especially when the hip-hop/R&B artist from Melbourne mentions her upbringing, “The government said I would fail. But still, I prevailed.”

She might only have two songs out on the streaming platforms for now (and the second one summarises my current life approach – “Pinnacle Bitch”). But if they’re anything to go by, the “Miss Kaninna” era has officially begun. And we’ll surely be seeing more of her in 2024.

So how could I not have her on the Silly Fest bill?

NORTHLANE

Just a heads-up, Northlane is a heavy metal band. So they’d be playing one of the late spots for sure. And even if that’s not your cup of tea, let’s take a moment to appreciate the Sydneysiders’ place in the Aussie music industry.

While they’re considered metalcore reps first and foremost, Northlane incorporates elements of other genres, like nu metal, alt rock and even EDM, in their music. That experimental blend has been recognised by the industry. The band has won ARIA Awards for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album three times: in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

They are also a part of the UNFD (pronounced as an initialism [ /ˈjuːˈenˈefˈdiː/]) family (the independent record label from Melbourne is famous for signing heavier acts). They’ve shared stages with their local counterparts, i.e. Thy Art Is Murder or The Amity Affliction, and international stars, like Bring Me The Horizon or Of Mice & Men. They’ve appeared at the Unify Gathering, Download and Good Things festivals. And in November 2023, they dropped another thought-provoking single, “Dante”.

And because I like to mix things up, I’m sure they’d be an interesting addition to Silly Fest in 2023.

TKAY MAIDZA

I can’t believe how much things have changed for Tkay Maidza since I first saw her live.

That gig was in September 2018 at the Howler in Melbourne. I recall her play “Simulation” twice (by popular demand). After the show, she also hung out with those who stayed behind.

Today, the Zimbabwean-born Australian singer-songwriter and rapper lives in LA and has collaborated with artists like JPEGMAFIA or Flume. She’s recently dropped her second LP, the excellent Sweet Justice, and has nearly 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

She also plays amazing live shows where every little detail counts. And that’d be enough for me to consider her for Silly Fest.

So… how did I do? Would you attend a festival with this line-up? Am I missing any Aussie artist you’ve discovered in 2023?

I’m still hoping Silly Fest will be a real music event one day. But that will require heaps of work, pulling some strings and a miracle, to be honest.

So, in the meantime, here’s the Silly Fest playlist with tracks by the artists from both the fictitious 2022 and 2023 edition.

---