In partnership with Beyond The Valley
After a day dominated by international acts, Beyond the Valleyâs third day shone a spotlight on Australiaâs pop and indie darlings. The calibre of performances was top tier, a true testament to the prowess of the countryâs music scene and artists who have become masters of their craft.
- READ MORE: Australiaâs Beyond The Valley is a bucket-list festival worth flying across the world for
There were theatrics aplenty, eye-capturing costumes, incredible vocals and even some slapstick skits on the festivalâs Valley Stage â read on for some of our top moments of the day.
20-year-old Budjerah shone like a seasoned performer
It was late afternoon when young Bundjalung artist Budjerah took to the Valley Stage, bringing with him a captivating presence well beyond his 20 years.
Hailing from Fingal Head in New South Wales, the singer has been making waves over the past two years for his soulful voice, even taking home the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2021 ARIAs. Itâs easy to understand why while watching his live show: Budjerahâs soaring voice and genuine gratitude were both endearing and impressive.
His set comprised a number of crowd pleasers, from his Ed Sheeran collaboration â2stepâ to a cover of Temper Trapâs 2008 hit âSweet Dispositionâ, which he initially covered with Gretta Ray and Ngaiire for ABCâs The Sound last year. However, it was his audience interaction during âReady For The Skyâ that really shone, with the small but passionate crowd of people singing the lyrics back to him.
San Cisco remain Aussie festival favourites
Most punters were seeking cover from the intense sun prior to San Ciscoâs set, but that changed as soon as the Perth bandâs name appeared on the screens flanking the Valley Stage. People flocked in droves down to the moshpit to see the indie band, who have played at countless Australian festivals over their 13-year musical career.
Like a well-oiled machine, the band launched into âSkinâ from their 2020 album âBetween You and Meâ, adding on an extended outro for the live version. The outfit have their setlist down to a T, transitioning smoothly through a mix of old and new cuts â like 2012âs âAwkwardâ and âFred Astaireâ and 2020âs âWhen I Dreamâ.
The crowd was electric throughout the entire performance, singing along to every word at a volume almost loud enough to drown out the band – proving that San Cisco remain Australian festival favourites.
Confidence Man brought the party
Confidence Manâs live shows are like no other. They pull out all the stops and give 110 per cent no matter how big the crowd, the setting or how many shows theyâve played back-to-back for days with little to no sleep.
The experience at Beyond the Valley was no different. Multiple outfit changes revealed an elaborate array of costumes, including Janet Planetâs signature light-up cone bra and Sugar Bonesâ matching LED shoulder pads. They whipped out a pair of black shades for âC.O.O.Lâ and their comically oversized black suits with motorised shoulders for âToy Boyâ. The theatrics continued throughout the set with Sugar spraying the crowd with a champagne bottle and later spitting out fake blood, and Janet pouring beer over her head.
As the intro to Cascadaâs âHeavenâ played out around the stage the audience went wild, joining in for the outfitâs cover of the song. If you ever get the chance to see Con Man live, make sure you do.
Flight Facilities powered on despite tech difficulties
Taking the Valley Stageâs sunset slot were Flight Facilities. Itâs been seven years since the duo last played the festival, having performed over the New Yearâs slot back in 2015. During that time, theyâve released a number of singles and a second studio album, acquiring a growing fanbase who were eager to see the pair play.
They were joined by the lovely Owl Eyes for cuts like âArty Boyâ, âMoveâ and âHeavyâ, while Ric Rufio jumped on vocals for a cover of Modjoâs âLady (Hear Me Tonight)â. At one point, he leapt off stage and onto the barricades to offer front row punters a chance to sing into the mic, everyone clamouring over each other to make their voices heard.
Though it wasnât obvious to the crowd, Flight Facilities paused to reveal they were having technical difficulties onstage, prompting everyone to sing DJ Otziâs âHey Babyâ while they smoothed things out. At the end of their set, they thanked the audience for their patience, closing out the night with a âHappy Birthdayâ singalong for Owl Eyes and one half of the duo, James Lyell.
Lime Cordiale brought slapstick to the valley stage
At first, the funk-tinged, pop-rock of Lime Cordiale might seem better suited to a daytime slot, but the pairâs engaging performance was the perfect nightcap. Dressed in â70s-style embroidered, rhinestone suits, the outfit had rockstar swagger, with Louis Leimbach channelling some Alex Turner energy throughout their rendition of âMoneyâ.
Really, Lime Cordialeâs set had it all. The animations projected on screen during their songs were bright and fun, including melting ice-creams and icecaps for âAddicted To The Sunshineâ and a short, cowboy-style shootout clip as an interlude. There was also plenty of banter, including a skit where they poked fun at their German last name and donned thick accents, and later a slapstick brawl between the two brothers.
Beyond The Valley 2022 runs till Jan 1, 2023 at Barunah Plains in Victoria â find more details about the line-up and tickets here
The post Beyond The Valley 2022 day 3: outstanding performances from Confidence Man, Lime Cordiale and more appeared first on NME.
