Night Out at So Young All-Dayer

Photo Credits: Pippa Dale

Six bands, one stage, thirty degrees, countless drinks: So Young All-Dayer brought indie fans one of the most stacked line-ups of the summer. It was a hot one! The wonderful So Young Live team hosted this day of music that saw 6 incredible ‘upcoming’ bands take to the stage and show exactly why they do what they do.  

On one of the hottest days of the year, hundreds of indie-music fans crammed into Papillion, and despite the heat, brought the energy! The day began with The Heart Shaped Aces, an extremely special set: their international debut. The room full of early comers got to hear their infectiously catchy hooks and melodic tunes such as sidewalks, an earworm of a song. Being away from their Aussie roots, they joked about still feeling at home in the heat, but they certainly got the crowd ready for all the rest the day had to offer.

Following was the highly anticipated Saint Clair – who are really making a name for themselves with their recent releases Too Young To Notice and Gretchen. Opening with the high energy ballad of Something To Be Said, Saint Clair are going places with their assertive sound. Toby’s touching vocals, especially in Gretchen, were the perfect soundtrack to the high-ceilinged splendour of this renovated church venue. With stain glass windows and a balcony layer, it was a perfect venue to host Saint Clair’s beautiful, emotive sound. 

After catching some air or a bite to eat at the all-day barbeque outside, we all piled back in to see Brooki’s set. Prior to any music releases, Brooki are rocking stages all over with their memorable, hard-hitting tracks like Amber and 16. They adorned Papillion’s stage with their sultry style, incredible playing and immersive stage presence. This set’s grungy guitar riffs and Sarah’s incredible vocal range hit everyone from the barricade to the balcony. Having this much traction soley off live shows and word of mouth, big things are set for this Irish band. 

Following, the growing Little Grandad. Their country-esque soft riffs and melodic vocals were stunning. These talented boys are no strangers to the stage – Little Grandad have established themselves through their mass of live shows. You can really feel the passion they have for their music while performing – an authenticity you can’t render. A particularly wowing moment was when Ned played his guitar and trumpet simultaneously in their much-loved track Unmasked. The talent for their craft was undeniable. They closed with their recently released Babe, We’ve Run Out Of Time. A song of changing tempos, beautiful lyrics and nostalgia – a wonderful track to finish their moving set. 

Then; the energy ramped up with the north. From the opening riff of Can’t Sleep to the closing rings of Soundtrack Your Soul, the north proved their worthiness of their place on this stage. Impressively, a new guitar player in place of the usual Kobi – who’s seamless integration (and nailed guitar solos) allowed the north to be as polished as ever. Billy’s unique rasp on songs like Wallow, against the impressive falsetto of Tubes packed in a captivating range of talent in their set. Not to mention Sian’s incredible, punchy and energetic drums. Their strong sound and effortless coolness places them as one of the most fresh and exciting bands around. You can tell they are all having just as much fun playing their music as we have listening to it.  

The room heated up all the more with Basht.’s mental set. These Irish boys sent the crowd into action with mosh pits opening almost every song: the energy was tangible. The best part to witness was the several crowd surfers – ecstatic faces elevated above the crowd, having their moment. Basht., with their upcoming debut album played a mix of released and unreleased, sending the crowd particularly wild with their most recent single – Keira Knightley – but playing their more known favourites, such as closing with the anthemic Wild Horses. The perfect set to fully ready the crowd for the headline to come. 

Finally, the main event, the one and only Gurriers. No one does it like Gurriers. This established Irish band immediately filled the stage with their swagger and high energy. They opened with the title track of their upcoming sophomore album Nobody’s Coming To Save You: immediately firing up the anticipating crowd. Flying through their unique and unrivalled tunes such as Des Goblins, Party Lines and Erasure– each was met with as much unfiltered raw energy from the crowd as the next. Even unreleased tracks such as the boundaryless Nothing Happens Twice commenced insane mosh pits and several crowd surfs. Every single person in that room was involved and immersed in Gurriers undeniable presence. The energy only increased towards their final tracks, leaving the crowd sweaty and hot but simultaneously wanting more. Gurriers set was phenomenal and their incomparable sound makes them unparalleled.  

And with that So Young All-Dayer came to an end. With such a generational line up of music, for anyone in attendance it was a day to remember. The sheer talent packed into one stage tells us these bands are not staying ‘upcoming’ for much longer.