Add Category
Emily, 23, and Otilija, 22, both from Canberra came down here to see two acts specifically: “The OG Wiggles and Lil Nas X. He’s so sick,” said Otilija.
Jade, 31, from Hadfield is a pre-school teacher. “I listen to The Wiggles every day, they better do the Tame Impala Elephant cover, that’s what we’re here for. We like this more compared to a camping festival, it’s much more chill”.
The OG Wiggles delight audiences at Falls Downtown.Credit:Joe Armao
Her partner Brock, 34, of Glenroy agrees. “The selling point for us was the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, it was a last-minute decision.”
Both The OG Wiggles and Lil Nas X put on festival set masterclasses. The OG Wiggles played Wake Up Jeff, Hot Potato and their covers of The Chats’ Pub Feed and the Elephant in the room caused mass singalongs. They even interpolated some of Lil Nas X’s hit Old Town Road (surely a no no?) and segued into Big Red Car.
The OG Wiggles segue into a big red car.Credit:Joe Armao
Word came through later that the Grammy-winning American rapper was meant to enter the stage in said scarlet automobile but it fell through. Ethiopian-born Tsehay Hawkins (who replaced Emma Watkins as the new Yellow Wiggle) more than made up for his absence with spirited dance moves.
Lil Nas X gobbled up his headline set, thrusting his impressive torso around with a troupe of choreographed dancers. He sang his hits Montero and Industry Baby under swathes of pink and purple lights, the stage morphing from palatial stairs to ridiculous balconies.
Lil Nas X on stage at the 2022 Falls Festival in Melbourne.Credit:Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Earlier, Sydney rap outfit 1300 played to a meagre but eager crowd. “We’re doing Naarm-core today,” one member said. They asked fans to start a mosh-pit which didn’t eventuate, more to do with low numbers than the signs stating “NO CROWD SURFING, NO MOSHING.” Genesis Owusu, Dameeeela, MAY-A, Luude and DMAs all aced their slots while DJ Anna Lunoe veered too safe with her bass-heavy cuts.
Day two started brightly in full sunshine but with sparse numbers. Put it down to the tyranny of distance of house-to-bowl versus tent-to-stage. “Day for it,” noted Scooter, 33, of Abbotsford.
Genesis Owusu performs at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of Falls Festival.Credit:Joe Armao
Emerging First Nations artist and Kaytetye woman RONA. dropped a low-key, high-impact DJ set including her Shazam-friendly banger Feel It Too. Melbourne band Floodlights plied their Paul Kelly meets Eddy Current Suppression Ring rock’n’roll. Saturday night, UK’s perennially cool Arctic Monkeys are set to count in the new year for Falls Festival, for perhaps the first and only time at the bowl.
A cultural guide to going out and loving your city. Sign up to our Culture Fix newsletter here.