Perth's summer festival season exploded into life as hip-hop titan Kendrick Lamar headlined a massive Spilt Milk event at Claremont Showground on Sunday night. The US superstar, riding high from his Super Bowl halftime show earlier in the year, delivered a powerhouse performance that left thousands of fans in awe.
Lamar Lights Up the Night with Grand Spectacle
Emerging on stage just after 8:30pm amidst a dramatic cloud of smoke, Kendrick Lamar launched his set with 'Wacced Out Murals'. The energy from his recent Super Bowl spectacle was palpable, transferred seamlessly to the Perth crowd who last saw him perform in the city on December 1, 2022.
The show quickly escalated into a sensory overload. Pyrotechnics lit up the stage as Lamar, dressed in sharp streetwear, a cap, and glasses, commanded attention. The spectacle reached new heights with fireworks bursting into the night sky during tracks like 'Squabble Up', while a troupe of talented dancers brought dynamic movement to the stage.
His 75-minute show was packed with highlights, including a deafening crowd singalong to the 2017 anthem 'Humble'. Lamar engaged directly with the audience, stating, "Perth is one of my favourite places in the world, it's good to be back." He took fans on a journey, throwing it back to 'day one' with his 2012 hit 'Swimming Pools (Drank)'.
Innovative Visuals and Supporting Acts Shine
Beyond the pyrotechnics, Lamar's production team set a new standard with captivating graphics on massive LED screens. The visuals were far from generic, featuring creative art with a live superimposed Lamar, mock interviews, and a humorous clip with SZA arguing over a takeaway order before their song 'Luther'.
Lamar closed his fiery set with the chart-topping Drake diss track 'Not Like Us', which has dominated the ARIA singles chart. His performance capped off a huge day of music that began at 10:30am.
Earlier, the main stage was owned by rising star Doechii. The 27-year-old Grammy winner, making her Perth debut, stormed the stage after 7pm in a red bikini and denim shorts, her crimped hair flying. She instantly connected with the crowd, leading an "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi" chant before delivering high-energy performances of 'Denial Is A River', 'Alter Ego', and 'Anxiety'. Her confident stage presence and flawless dancing proved why she's a star on the rise.
A Festival That Kicks Off a Huge Summer
The three-stage festival catered to all tastes throughout the afternoon. American singer Sombr was a fan favourite, while Dominic Fike kept the crowd dancing despite some playful on-stage mishaps. The full line-up was a who's who of talent, featuring ScHoolboy Q, Sara Landry, Chance Peña, The Rions, Mia Wray, Ninajirachi, Genesis Owusu, Rebecca Black, Rum Jungle, and Nessa Barrett.
This year's Spilt Milk firmly established that Perth is not missing out on world-class live music. The festival served as the explosive starting pistol for a killer summer of gigs in the city, with international heavyweights like Chappell Roan, Lorde, and Ed Sheeran still to come.
