Sydney girl/boy duo Lucy and Jake, aka Yumi X, played the support act, with their subtle electronica sounds providing the perfect introduction to the night. Along with a very crowded and already sweat-filled room of a few hundred eager fans. The room was decorated with intimate glowing red bulb-like fairy lights hanging from the ceiling and a David Bowie tribute lit up on the wall next to the bar.
Singer/songwriter Hayden James followed through with a surprise DJ set, off stage towards the back of the room near the sound guy. This was a little awkward and confusing at first, with half the crowd facing the back of the room and the other half still facing the main stage that was still being set up for the main act. It pretty much continued for the length of his set, which was unsurprisingly energetic, playful and uplifting. He spun Disclosure’s ‘Jaded’, his very own classic summer dance anthem ‘Something About You’, and Flume’s infectiously catchy newbie ‘Never Be Like You’.
Bursts of applause were heard when local Sydney trio RÜFÜS took to the stage, kicking off their set with a massive bang they played ‘You Were Right’, off their latest album Bloom. Accompanying the band’s on stage performance was a spectacularly well-timed flashing multicoloured light show. “It’s nice to be back here, I think the last time we were here was three years ago for the Atlas tour”.
They played ‘Like An Animal’, just before the nine-and-a-half-minute crowd favourite ‘Innerbloom’, the last track off their recent album. It sounded just as lush and wistful live and was easily one of the highlights of their set. That was of course, until they decided to end with the delicate beauty that is and always will be ‘Desert Night’. They nailed every component of the track with an exceptional attention to detail, ending with that incredible drum solo courtesy of James Hunt.
RÜFÜS have managed to create not only music that is highly danceable and no doubt popular, but also highly emotive. These boys have well and truly evolved, and just about perfected their live sets.
Rating: ★★★★☆
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