Groovin’ the Moo returned to Bunbury on Saturday the 7th of May, for the last groove of 2016! As the rain subsided and the sun came out, thousands flocked to Hay park for the sold out festival.

After weather forecasts provoked some early concern, Bunbury once again delivered the goods, with beautiful blue skies complimenting the gorgeous green fields. Of course, with such a sensational collection of talent clashes were unavoidable, but nonetheless I’ve tried to catch as many acts as possible!

The day kicked off with local acts Verge Collection, futuristic electro duo Time Pilot and the Triple J Unearthed winners, indie rock duo Mosquito Coast. The likes of Sydney electronic trip hop duo Boo Seeka, the stunning vocals of indie pop singer-songwriter Emma Louise and the soulful future-folk artist Ngaiire kept the beats flowing, before Brisbane punk duo DZ Deathrays ramped things up with a zealous set. Perth’s very own hip hop legend Drapht got the crowd Jimmy Recarding, although it was the mesmerising duo Vallis Alps who stole the show with their dreamy electronic beats complimented by the hauntingly beautiful, almost enchanting vocals of Parissa Tosif, with their unique acoustronic combination delving into the souls of the captivated audience.

The festival had a distinct American feel to it, with multiple US acts to feature throughout the day. First up, another personal favourite, was dream pop New York-based duo Ms Mr who took to the main stage for their last show in Australia with an incredibly engaging performance. They were simply infectious, genuinely enjoying their time on stage and delivering a high energy set blending alternative dance-rock with Lizzy Plapinger’s Florence-esque vocals. They were followed by electronica trio SAFIA, whilst metalcore fans moshed under the tent to the heavy beats of In Hearts Wake. They were followed by the late inclusions to the festival, Jarryd James and What So Not, who certainly justified their addition to the line-up. In particular, Australian electronic producer Emoh Instead, formerly partnered with Flume, attracted huge attention, packing the Moolin Rouge tent to the brim.

US ‘schizoid pop’ duo Twenty One Pilots took to the main stage next, enthralling their rapidly growing fan base with a sensational set. With the highlight of the performance being lead singer Tyler Joseph shocking the captivated audience with daredevil expertise, quickly clambering up the towering main stage ladder and performing over his awed fans.

Synth-pop dance duo Client Liaison got the crowd groovin’ and Triple J Hottest 100 winners, alternative rock band The Rubens got the crowd moovin’ before the American acts took control. Electronic duo ODESZA entranced festival-goers with their ethereal beats whilst Detroit rapper, the lyrical genius Danny Brown delighted Hip Hop fans.

The main stage became the home for the indie folk rock genre, with Boy and Bear followed by international Iceland act Of Monsters and Men, before the girl-next-door DJ crush Alison Wonderland closed with motivational speeches about being yourself and overcoming adversity, with the odd song in between.

Meanwhile, in the Moolin Rouge tent, the masked enigmatic electronic dance producer Golden Features picked up the vibes before Melbourne Hip Hop artist Illy kept the party going with his rapping and epic choruses. Finally, it was left to electronic rock duo Ratatat to finish the festivities with an enrapturing performance.

It was a year that featured an incredible depth of amazing artists and had something for everyone, covering a huge range of styles and genres. Even on such a cold May night, the performances and captivating festival atmosphere were more than enough to heat things up. It was an absolute pleasure to attend Groovin’ the Moo as a reviewer once again, and as always the day certainly didn’t fail to disappoint. Now all we can do is eagerly anticipate the line-up release for 2017!