Culture Kings Goes to Listen Out
It wasn’t exactly the sun’s out guns out affair we expected, but Listen Out Brisbane 2017 didn’t disappoint. Despite the rain, wind and cold, festival punters still swarmed to The Sporting Fields at Herston to turn up to Getter, Bryson Tiller, Hermitude, What So Not and more.
Opening the festival was Aussie hip-hop up-and-comer, Mallrat. Sets from Kučka and Jai Wolf followed, but it was Touch Sensitive's set that really kicked things off, with tracks like ‘Lay Down’ and ‘Pizza Guy’ getting everyone geared up. He had a live band on stage for his set at Listen Out which consisted of Cat Hunter from Little May on drums, LA singer Harriet Brown hitting crazy-high notes and TS on guitar.
A huge highlight from the day was Little Simz who well and truly heated things up when we needed it. She played a selection of hits including ‘Picture Perfect’ which saw plenty of people run into the mosh just for that track.
People swarmed to the Atari stage when it was finally time for Mac Miller. He came on stage a little earlier than expected and played favourites including ‘Donald Trump’ which went off! He would often start a track and then stop a few bars in to speak just as people were getting pumped, leaving them wanting more.
Safia was another highlight of the day with a collection of tunes that got the crowd moving. Songs like ‘Listen To Soul, Listen To Blues’, ‘Make The Wheels Roll’ and ‘My Love Is Gone’ lifted everyone’s spirits as they embraced the wet weather. Bryson Tiller played a more lowkey set to an audience that didn’t seem to be really feeling it, with heaps of people leaving the festival, presumably just over the cold by this stage.
Despite Future’s last minute cancellation, Listen Out were able to fill his spot with Australian DJs Hermitude. But you could tell there were some organizational problems with their set as the sound was a lot lower than previous performers. Rounding out the day was What So Not who brought out all the stops to make sure those who stuck around for the end of Listen Out had a show to remember, peacock horse monster truck and all.
Catch all snaps from the day on Culture Kings' Brisbane Facebook page.
Photos by Todd O’Rourke.