IT doesn't really matter who plays at the Meredith Music Festival near Ballarat each year because it's just own of
those festivals where you have to go no matter what.
But I guess it kinda matters this year because it's the 20th anniversary. Sure - all the regulars and people in the know will be going anyway to rock out in the Supernatural Amphitheatre, but they'll be hoping for a line-up that borders on the mystical and/or mythical to welcome Aunty Meredith into her third decade.
Well, it looks like the organisers have out-done themselves again, with a smashing list of esteemed veterans you can't miss and up-and-comers set to be your new favourite band.
Drum roll please...
The Dirty Three, Washed Out, Little Red, Girls, Neil Finn, The Clipse, Custard, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Reverend Horton Heat, Panthu Du Prince, CW Stoneking, El Guincho, The Heatwave, DJ Harvey & DJ Garth, Sally Seltmann, The Dead Salesmen (duo), Those Darlins, The Field, Broadcast, Jeff The Brotherhood, Hoss, Rat Vs Possum, Cloud Control, Combo La Revelacion, City Of Ballarat Brass Band, and The Fall.
Pretty cool, eh?
The Dirty Three is a perfect choice, given they've played at Meredith three times before, including their fabled greatest MMF show ever back in 2004 when they got Mother Nature to put on a stellar sound and light show (also known as a once-in-a-hundred-year thunderstorm) during their set.
Washed Out promises to be a perfectly chilled introduction to the festival on Friday night, while the return of Little Red to the Amphitheatre will please fans of old-timey rock'n'roll. Girls is one of those buzz bands with a killer back-story - the main dude was raised in a cult - and a raved-about album to match.
We loved Paul Kelly last year, as he stole the show out from under the feet of some disappointing mega-hyped upstarts (I'm looking at you Animal Collective). Expect Neil Finn to do the same - never underestimate the power of a mass sing-along in the Meredith twilight.
Rap royalty The Clipse will bring the noise for Friday night's party for the first time, but personally I'm more excited about the reformation and return of the mighty Custard - possibly the most under-rated Aussie band ever to strap-on guitars.
If you want to party and dance 'til it hurts, look no further than Sharon Jones and her Dap Kings. They don't just play funk, they are funk, which we all found out in the best way possible on their last visit to Meredith.
Diversity is king at MMF and this year is no different - there's the high priest of psychobilly Reverend Horton Heat, an intriguing blend of techno/nature/noise/silence promised by Pantha Du Prince, former Mailors Flat delta blues time-travelling castaway CW Stoneking, the modern spicy tropicalia of El Guincho, London's finest dancehallers The Heatwave, and the disco/garage/house of DJ Harvey & DJ Garth.
The artist formerly known as New Buffalo - Sally Seltmann - has a killer new album out to go with her moniker and she's bound to be a favourite, but if new is not for you, then you'll welcome the return of The Dead Salesman, who graced the stage of the very first MMF and are reforming for their first gig in 10 years.
Little Darlins promise punk-meets-Patsy Cline, The Field will bring mind-bending avant-garde electronica, poppy Poms Broadcast will make their Australian debut, Jeff The Brotherhood hope to enthrall with their minimalist and primal rock, and legendary rockers Hoss will reconnect with Meredith after being intertwined throughout so much of the festival's history.
Almost all done...
...psychedelic freak-outs abound with Rat Vs Possum, Cloud Control make great pop and quickly winning a big following, Combo La Revelacion returns to Meredith for the 15th straight year, and The City Of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band will kickstart Sunday as per usual.
And then there's The Fall. Last time they were in Australia, Meredith Music Festival didn't even exist. There are few bands as cultish as them. They pretty much define 'post-punk', but that's not even enough. Influential, erratic, ever-surprising. Much like Meredith, I guess. Fitting.
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