Laneway Festival's Remarkable Evolution
Laneway Festival's transformation from a humble Melbourne alley gathering into a celebrated national institution is a testament to its enduring appeal and commitment to musical discovery. This year, the festival proudly presents international sensation Chappell Roan as a headline act, marking another milestone in its storied history.
A Legacy of Launching Stars
The phrase "I first saw them at Laneway" has become so commonplace among Australian music fans that festival organisers could easily print it on merchandise. Co-founder Danny Rogers acknowledges this with a laugh, reflecting on the countless artists who have made their Australian debut at the festival.
Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Lorde, Fred Again, and Haim are just a few of the memorable acts that Laneway first introduced to Perth audiences. Among these breakthrough performances, one artist particularly stands out for Rogers.
"The one that immediately comes to mind is Billie Eilish," Rogers says of the American singer's 2018 appearance. "She was only fifteen at the time and had to be accompanied by her parents. She played a two o'clock afternoon slot and she was amazing. Seeing her grow and evolve has been really cool."
Chappell Roan's Australian Debut
This year's festival marks a significant coup with Chappell Roan's first major Australian tour. While the Pink Pony Club singer performed intimate shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in 2023, Laneway represents her proper introduction to national audiences.
Rogers, who maintains constant vigilance for emerging talent, was among the fortunate few who witnessed those early performances. "Our touring partners brought Chappell down for that small run of east coast shows and I got to see her then," he recalls. "It was my first real introduction and she obviously blew up after that."
Given her current industry stature, Chappell Roan could have easily staged her own national tour, making her Laneway appearance particularly significant. "We have been in talks with her for a while," Rogers reveals. "She wanted to play, we wanted her to play so it all came together."
The Festival's Cultural Impact
Laneway's reputation as a music lover's festival has cultivated positive standing throughout the international music community. Artists frequently express their enthusiasm for the event, with Djo (the musical project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery) notably praising Laneway during a Coachella interview.
"You see that sort of thing quite regularly," Rogers observes. "Artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Haim, Clairo, Olivia Dean have all told people how great Laneway is. I think that talks to them, coming here and feeling part of something that they identify with culturally."
From Humble Beginnings
Laneway's journey began twenty-one years ago as a "very small party" in a Melbourne laneway. Today, it stands as Australia's most prominent touring festival, visiting Auckland, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
Rogers and fellow co-founder Jerome Borazio have come a long way since hosting the first instalment for approximately 1,400 people. "It was very scrappy and chaotic and totally exhilarating," Rogers remembers. "We were learning everything on the fly."
The festival's ongoing success stems from gradual evolution and strategic growth. "For the first five or six years we built it gradually, adding a new city every year or so," Rogers explains. "That has allowed us to focus on great programming and not getting caught up in the feeling that we need to book huge headliners all the time."
Western Australia's Special Place
Perth joined the Laneway circuit in 2009, initially hosting events at Perth Cultural Centre before moving to Fremantle's Esplanade Park and Wellington Square. This year, more than 25,000 people are expected at Arena Joondalup for the festival's largest Western Australian show to date.
As the tour's final destination, Perth holds particular significance. Festival Director Jessie Parker describes the atmosphere: "By the time we get to the end of the ten-day run in Perth it really does feel like the last day of school camp. Everyone is usually exhausted because we do Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth back-to-back from Friday to Sunday but you can feel everyone just rallying."
Rogers adds that Western Australia has witnessed some memorable end-of-tour celebrations. "What happens on tour stays on tour but there have been some pretty epic parties there," he notes. Following the final Perth show, the team traditionally visits Rottnest Island to unwind and reflect on another successful festival season.
Overcoming Challenges
The festival's journey hasn't been without obstacles. In 2023, catastrophic weather struck Auckland just two days before the show, forcing cancellation despite the entire site being prepared. "We had artists like Fred Again, Phoebe Bridgers and Djo who were literally in the air and they had to turn around," Rogers recalls.
Parker acknowledges that some factors remain beyond control. "Weather is one of the main things we can't control, no matter how many apps we have open," she says. "And touring the country and New Zealand adds a whole other level of intensity because you are then at the whim of airlines and traffic as well as weather."
Memorable Festival Moments
Laneway's history is rich with memorable occurrences that have become part of Australian music folklore:
- Romance blossomed for Charli XCX and now-husband George Daniel when they played the same Laneway bill in 2020
- Tame Impala first performed while gates were still opening in 2009, returning to headline in 2017
- Billie Eilish played her first national touring festival at Laneway with a 2pm afternoon slot
- St. Vincent won her first Grammy after performing on stage in Perth in 2015
- Charli XCX's 2020 flight was delayed by strong winds, forcing her to circle the site mid-air before landing just seventy minutes before her set
- The festival has consistently championed Perth's Spinning Top Music label roster, including Tame Impala, Pond, and Methyl Ethel
- In 2024, Perth received an epic twenty-minute fireworks display when other cities couldn't accommodate Stormzy's planned finale
As Laneway Festival continues its national tour, it remains committed to its founding principle: celebrating the next generation of music icons while providing Australian audiences with unforgettable musical experiences.
