INTO THE MOSH 126: LANEWAY | SYDNEY | REVIEW

Words by Hudson Reed.

Laneway 2026, where do we even begin?

Well, we actually begin at 1.29PM, arriving at the festival almost an hour late. Things happen; friends take long to get ready, and the trains run slow here in Sydney, especially when it rains. So unfortunately, Laneway starts with myself and my friends missing Blusher, The Belair Lip Bombs, Cavetown, and walking past Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers on our way to view Gigi Perez. 

Fortunately, I have had many chances to see a few of them, specifically Blusher opening for Aurora as well as at Sydney’s own Fair Day, and they were incredible as always. The Belair Lip Bombs have been an incredible band, who have performed at Bigsound in Brisbane while I was up there interviewing and photographing various musicians. And, Teen Jesus was an incredible act I managed to catch in Melbourne a while back, and may I just say that show was incredible. (And reminded me to re-purchase ear protection as I am always caught lacking). 

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

Upon arrival at the Never Let It Rest stage, I proceeded to grab myself a drink, coming back just as Gigi came out to begin with Please Be Rude. Throughout this set, mainly during At The Beach, In Every Life, I had a  sudden realisation; I personally have never heard a Gigi song before in my life, and goddamn was I missing out. Nodding my head and tapping my feet throughout the set, and after dropping some film off to a fellow photographer, I was struck with the notion that this just might be the Noah Kahan for the lesbians (with positive intent). It was also at this point of realisation that Sailor Song came on and I was hit with the fact that I had in fact heard a Gigi Perez song before. 

Gigi Perez at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

Now festivals are notorious for friends texting each other “Where are you?” And “I don’t see you.” As well as reception being absolute trash. The best part though, is running into friends who you do know and haven’t seen since Falls Festival back in 2022/2023. So, your friend who you came with has joined their friend, and you have now split paths to stay with your friend, with the hopes of  meeting up back at the YSL Beauty section. This does not happen. 

What does happen is, you stand in the middle of the field trying to find them for ten minutes as they try to find you and proceed to describe exactly where you’re standing, but you fail to find each other until you get home that evening.

At this point, you’ve almost missed the entire Alex G set, who you keep getting  confused with A.G. Cook because letters and names and the ghost of Laneway past (XCX) is haunting you. But, Horse and Immunity play, and you finally have time to catch your breath from running between stages due to the sets being so squished together. You really have to be decisive about who to see.
For Benee, I decided to admire her from afar. She is brilliant, and I remember the TikTok explosion from years before, but I sat and listened amongst the trees, just soaking in what unfortunately may be my very last Australian Festival experience for quite some time. This was also in anticipation of Lucy Dacus playing five minutes after Benee starts her set, which truly sucks but I’ve now got bragging rights to having seen two thirds of Boygenius (Julien Baker, you elusive icon.)

Benee at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

The whole time at Lucy Dacus’ set, I was nestled between the trees with Mr. Falls Festival, soaking in both the notes filling the air as I discussed life and existence and how much I missed my friend. This really set the perfect background for Ankles, as the talk got so emotional that it was almost hopeful. As the discussion hits a crescendo, so does Lucy’s set as you hear a lovely cover of True Blue of all songs. (Julien Baker, I will see you, yet).

Now for the emotional part of the evening, which is one but many; The song  fades, I hear one note and actually turn to my friend and say this: “I am so sorry, but can we pause this conversation because this song is just… ugh.” 

Night Shift has taken me back to a failed relationship, where I was doing late-night work when my ex partner would be home, and he would be doing late-night work while I was home. Who had the nine to five, I couldn’t tell you. Mainly me. But who took the night shift? Also mainly me.  

(But I’d take it again, however, that’s mainly for my therapist Stephanie to hear about three years on. Maybe I should write a review for that!)

For this next part, I mainly stayed where I was, as I was familiar with Mister Role Model and his entourage of Sallys, but again, not well enough educated with his work to push to the front. I do blame TikTok for the musical attention span and the rollout of catchy, thirty second clips, but I also do have a part to play in not exploring every single trend that does catch my interest. I will say, Look At That Woman is extremely fun, but that’s not the TikTok trend I’m speaking about.

I’m an emotional little gay man, what can I say? Gay yearning is real, and Heated Rivalry proves it. (Don’t let me get ahead of myself, that's another two performances away.) 

Role Model at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

Now comes the part of my TikTok trend knowledge: Sally When The Wine Runs Out, is a song that I know, but as stated by myself in a video I took I “did not know the fucking words.” This was said right before I started singing along with “Don’t let me think I’m enough/Then disappear when the wine runs out.”  

At this point, Sally was introduced, and it was none other than THE WIGGLES. I genuinely thought I was back at Falls Festival because they were performing  the year I was there. What was going on?!

At this point, Sally was introduced, and it was none other than THE WIGGLES. I genuinely thought I was back at Falls Festival because they were performing  the year I was there. What was going on?! 

And then, like a fever dream, maybe it was one too many Suntory 196’s, but I saw Lazarus. For those who aren’t too biblically inclined, Lazarus is a prominent figure in the bible who was “dead,” but Jesus literally says “I will  wake him up.” Who also sleeps, and may or may not be part of The Wiggles? 

Jeff. 

Role Model managed to wake up Jeff.

After that, I did a little strut past Geese, knowing nothing about them (I’m sensing a pattern…) I actually got a little scared. I rocked up to the stage, took a few minutes, and decided that unfortunately this was not for me. To be frank, I should have given them more of a chance, but I did hear from my friends who are avid Geese fans that they were incredible. I will give them a try again when I know exactly what I’m walking into.

Geese at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

This gave me ample time to make it to PinkPantheress. I had heard rumours of the “Crushgate” happening at Laneway a day or so prior, but I chose not to believe it. When I tell you I was on the outskirts of her performance and was still packed in like a sardine, I am not exaggerating.  

This does not change how incredible her performance was, and hearing my  favourites such as Stateside, Tonight, Stars, Boys A Liar, and the famous Illegal. 

(Which, side note; there is an instagram you have to check out, called  @pink_hops_on that sits in my brain every day). 

I found myself screaming along even though I was getting a little bit scared that we might not make it out alive to see Wet Leg. (I told you to give me two performances).

Personally, I am still so confused as to why Pink did not get a bigger stage,  however she will continue to grow, and as a fan of “to hell with it,” I will  continue to cheer her on even from the (state)side.

Finally, Wet Leg was performing. I did unfortunately miss one of the few songs  I knew (Wet Dream at the Love on Tour shows was something different. I still  hear those claps to this day), but at least the gay yearning from the boy aquarium was achieved. Hearing mangetout really gave me flashbacks to certain fictional ice hockey players, and all in all Wet Leg was a joy to hear live again, especially on a smaller stage. 

Ultimately, I was here to yearn. In case you haven’t figured that out yet. I was  singlehandedly placed on this earth to soak in all forms of yearning, and put that into action. So seeing Wolf Alice for the first time as a 2017 Tumblr user was like the modern equivalent of seeing, like, Florence and The Machine. I was in awe absorbing songs I both knew, didn’t know I knew, or knew I didn’t know. Ultimately, Don’t Delete the Kisses hit just as I thought it would, and  Stephanie (my therapist, catch up) will be hearing from me yet again.

Wolf Alice at Laneway Festival. Photo: Matthew Waddingham.

Finally, time to breathe. I can catch my breath, go grab my last drink, and find a decent spot to sit around until the queen of Fortnite herself comes on. Chappell Roan is in my holy trinity of incredible musicians, and I’m collecting them like infinity stones. To put it blunt, we had Charli last year, Chappel this year, and one day we will get Sabrina in this country. 

The lights go down, cheering goes up, and the energy rises. I’m glad at this point I was not wearing my ugly jeans as I really felt like a “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.” Knowing every word, not missing a beat, she’s there on stage and the crowd goes bonkers. I could sit here and list every single song she performed, and yarn on and on about how amazing she was and is, but there was one song that stood out for me. We all know HOT TO GO! has the iconic dance, but there was something else I was waiting for. 

Exhausted from my arms flailing about like a drowning rat, my 11-year-old Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock on the Wii playing soul lit up as I heard that  riff I had mastered so many moons ago, Barracuda.

Hearing this song live, even if only a cover, changed my soul. I lit up, singing every word so loud I swear people around me were getting annoyed. But I didn’t care, I was happy again, and Stephanie (reminder: therapist) will be hearing about this for weeks on end. 

We move through songs, hitting beauties like The Giver, Red Wine Supernova, and My Kink Is Karma, until we are here on the last song of the  night. 

Pink Pony Club, as a queer individual, has been a safe space. Singing every word in clubs for years, having lived moments of it, and a riveting guitar solo that made me think of those who came before me, and those who are to come,  gave me hope. Not just for music, but for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. We have come so far, and we still have so far we will go. 

Just like that, it was over. The walk home (yes, I did walk from Laneway all the  way to Potts Point. I needed to get my steps in), was a haze. And I woke up the next day and 100% called out of work because there is no way to do anything but just… recover from it. 

All in all, Laneway was a 10/10 this year. Even as someone with little knowledge on most bands performing, I still found myself enjoying every single minute.

I also did my usual thing of handing out Pokemon cards to people I thought would like them, so if you received one please enjoy it. As miss Roan has said, ‘it’s just in my nature, cause baby, I’m a giver.’ 

To more festivals, to more music, and until next time. 

Hudson.