Groovin' the Moo 2014: Top 5 Acts to See this Weekend

The regional festival has become a staple on the University of Canberra’s culture since its inclusion in the festival’s tour in 2010. Featuring a plethora of national and international artists from a range of genres, Groovin’ The Moo has become a worthwhile and enjoyable investment for any student clawing their way to the end of the year’s first semester.

GTM 2014 will bring a host of musicians to the University of Canberra meadows, including rock bands Kingswood, Parkway Drive and Karnivool, hip-hop artists Illy, Allday and Thundamentals, electronic dance artists Wave Racer, Peking Duk, The Kite String Tangle, Robert Delong and What So Not, as well as indie bands Vance Joy, Loon Lake, Cults, The Jezabels, Architecture in Helsinki, and heaps more.

As this is one of the best-received lineups to date, it is naturally difficult to pick-and-choose which acts are must-sees. Thankfully, we’re here to help you make your choice. Here’s our top 5 list, in order of appearance.

When: 3:50 p.m.
Where: Moolin Rouge Stage

On January 26 2014, Triple J revealed in their Hottest 100 countdown that the once-small grunge band Violent Soho had cracked the top 20 songs of 2013, as voted by listeners. ‘Covered In Chrome’ played, and the country was filled with the resounding bellows of thousands of young Australians shouting “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” in unison. This weekend, the Brisbane boys will bring their energetic show to Groovin’ the Moo and liberate Canberrans with the heavy rock anthems ‘Saramona Said’, ‘In The Aisle’ and ‘Dope Calypso’. Be prepared for a raging mosh pit protesting freedom, anarchy and camaraderie — it’s a gig that no self-proclaimed rocker will want to miss.

When: 6:15 p.m.
Where: Triple J Stage

New Zealand indie band The Naked and Famous have been a favourite of Australia’s since they released their hit singles ‘Young Blood’ and ‘Punching In A Dream’ in 2010. Nowadays, the Auckland group are touring their 2013 album In Rolling Waves, which charted in Australia with the help of the magical ‘Hearts Like Ours’. Combining dance-like synth-rock with running male and female vocals, The Naked and Famous are recognised for their ability to craft enormous electronic sounds while retaining intimacy with acoustic instruments. The result is a performance that is emotional, euphoric and engaging, carrying a message that is reflective of a new generation of musicians and listeners. It’s the perfect band to dance to with a few close friends, as the sun sets on the meadows.

When: 7:55 p.m.
Where: [V] Music Stage

Dizzee Rascal (a.k.a. Captain Rusko) has been playing the rap game for a few years now, but Groovin-goers shouldn’t dismiss the UK rapper as too old to throw a good party — if anything, it just means his catalogue of mosh pit bangers have grown in numbers. From the guiltless ‘I Don’t Need A Reason’ to the classic big beat ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’, as well as club thrashers ‘Dance Wiv Me’, ‘Bonkers’ and ‘Bassline Junkie’, the Mercury Prize-winning MC is expected to rock the house when he returns to the University of Canberra this weekend. Any self-respecting hip-hop fan should know that Dizzee’s exuberant charisma is integral to his energetic performances, and the fat grime beats that accompany him only add to his love-him-or-love-to-hate-him demeanour. Skipping Dizzee Rascal at a music festival would be a sin.

When: 9 p.m.
Where: Triple J Stage

Sydney-based electro-rock duo The Presets have had a strong presence in Australia since they launched their critically-acclaimed album Apocalypso in 2008, breaking into the mainstream listener base with dark, electric dance tracks like ‘This Boy’s In Love’, ‘Talk Like That’, and the hugely popular ‘My People’. Not only that, but their live show has been heralded as a definitive act in the dance scene, and this has only helped to raise The Presets to international recognition. The band has played all over the country since they launched their debut album in 2005, and with ‘Goodbye Future’ currently dominating the airwaves, talk of an all-new live routine, as well as signs of a fourth album on the horizon, there’s every reason to check out what Australia’s favourite electronic musicians have been up to.

When: 9:30 p.m.
Where: Moolin Rouge Stage

The 22-year-old twins from the UK made a splash on the dance scene in 2013 when they dropped their debut album, Settle. Sporting a mix of house, dubstep, garage, synthpop and a wealth of other electronic genres, Disclosure were reputed for the unique sound ingrained in their dance floor tunes like the light love-song ‘Latch’, the bouncy disco track ‘White Noise’, the oddly uncomfortable ‘Confess To Me’ and the so-strange-it-actually-works ‘When A Fire Starts To Burn’. The duo already left their mark on the University of Canberra refectory when they shook the campus October of last year, but GTM attendees should trust Disclosure to put on an incredible second show for UC when they round up the festival on Sunday night. Expect a huge flock of festival-goers who just want to get their groove on, and with good reason.

Andrew Nardi