After two years of cancellations due to COVID, a cloudy-with-a-chance-of-rain forecast was certainly not going to get in the way of festival go-ers of the South-West attending Groovin The Moo Bunbury. With a diverse line-up of artists from around the world, the festival had something for everyone, including a particularly well-dressed family who were in cow costumes and had children on leashes. The crowds were out in full force to enjoy the music, the food, and the atmosphere.

Unfortunately arriving later than anticipated due to private charter bus issues (we don’t talk about that), The Chats were the first act I caught, and they certainly didn't disappoint. The Australian punk band had the crowd jumping with their high-energy set, and their signature mix of humour and catchy riffs had everyone singing (and screaming) along. Next up was Confidence Man, who brought their infectious brand of dance-pop to the stage. Janet Planet and Sugar Bones were a dynamic duo, delivering catchy hooks and infectious dance moves that had the crowd groovin’. All bus-induced anxieties evaporated while boogying to ‘Holiday’.

Nothing But Thieves followed, and they were easily one of the highlights of the day. They had the crowd singing along to every word, and their soaring vocals and driving riffs made for an electrifying set. I didn’t think I had ever listened to the British rockers before, however certainly recognised some of their best hits including ‘Forever & Ever More’ and ‘Impossible’.

GTM suffered a particularly difficult issue, in that there were too many good acts… where to next? Navigating around the fencing which blocked off 18+ bars from the underage crowds, I made my way over to Moolin Rouge for Eliza Rose. It was like a house party on steroids, as Eliza Rose delivered a set of solid house and garage classics that got the crowd moving. Her very own ‘B.O.T.A’ was a highlight, with strong Fergie remixes including ‘My Humps’ and ‘Glamorous’.

Festival favourites Ocean Alley were up next, and they brought a more mellow vibe to the festival. Their dreamy, surf-inspired sound were the perfect soundtrack to sit back and catch your breath, and tracks like ‘Knees’ and ‘Yellow Mellow’ had the crowd swaying in unison.

Food and drink were necessary at this point. Festival organisers did a great job with the site layout to ensure everyone had a comfortable and enjoyable experience. The variety of amenities and attractions, such as bars, food vendors, a chill zone, and market stalls, provided options for festival-goers to take a break from the music and explore the festival grounds.

Luude took things in a different direction, delivering a set of hard-hitting drum and bass that had the crowd convincingly bouncing. His remix of Men At Work's ‘Down Under’ naturally went off, and ‘Big City Life’ made me feel like I wasn’t in little-old Bunbury for a minute.  

Ball Park Music followed, and they were unsurprisingly one of the highlights of the festival. I planted myself at the Cattleyard stage in preparation for the remainder of the evening, but the convenient two-stage set up and the use of the spare screen to live stream to band next door made it feel like I was right in front of them. Their catchy indie-pop anthems had the crowd singing and dancing along, however, I was nearly brought to tears by a cover of Randy Newman’s ‘You Got a Friend in Me’. More Walt Disney Records covers please!

But the real star of the day was undoubtedly Fatboy Slim. The legendary DJ brought the festival to a close with an epic set that had the entire crowd on their feet, and perhaps slightly dizzy from the psychedelic scenes televised on stage. From the moment he stepped on stage, he had everyone in the palm of his hand, delivering classic tracks like ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’ and ‘Praise You’ with his trademark energy and showmanship, as well as some fun covers including Kanye’s ‘Mercy’ and Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

Overall, Groovin' the Moo, Bunbury 2023, was a fantastic festival that delivered on every level. The line-up was diverse and exciting, the atmosphere was electric, and the crowds were enthusiastic and engaged. I can't wait for next year's festival and am already counting down the days until I can experience it all over again.

Banner photo : Sugar Bones, frontman of Confidence Man, via @groovinthemoofestival by @f2.leo / @jordankmunns