Well it’s a glorious, sunny Saturday in Sydney and after a three year wait, Good Things festival has returned. Thousands of emo’s, punks, metalheads and alternative rockers make their way to Centennial Park for the day ahead. As you walk into the festival you can feel the anticipation in the air. Merch lines are already packed with people grabbing a shirt from their favourite band and many flock to the stages to catch the first acts of the day.
Ukrainian metal band Jinjer helped set the tone of the day early. Playing a heavy and impressive set that surely gained many new Aussie fans. Following them on the main stage were Sweden’s Millencolin who are currently celebrating their 30th anniversary. Their passionate loyal fanbase was helping sing every word with obvious highlights being punk rock skate tunes ‘No Cigar’ and ‘Fox’. While they were playing, over on Stage 3 Electric Callboy were introducing Australia to a German metalcore neon dance party.
Back on the main stage Swedish power-metal band Sabaton brought the heat as fireballs shot from the stage as they played. This was the kind of spectacle that festival goers had been waiting for, providing an early highlight of the day. Keeping with the international metal theme Italy’s gothic metal band Lacuna Coil tore through their set on Stage 3. With dual vocalists Cristina and Andrea captivating throughout.
It was now time for Australian metacore favourites The Amity Affliction to take to the main stage. A huge audience amassed for their set as they kicked off with ‘Pittsburgh’. While there’s a lot of international bands on the bill, Amity proved why they are a metacore mainstay in the Aussie scene. Over on Stage 4 it was a welcome blast from the past to see Melbourne emo rockers Kisschasy. Playing their beloved album United Paper People (nearly) in full, it was a nostalgia filled special moment.
Next on Stage 3 were America’s Sleeping with Sirens. Featuring a familiar face on drums, Tonight Alive drummer and Good Things alumni, Matty Best. Matty clearly stoked to be playing for his hometown crowd in his new band. The crowd was packed to the brim as a high energy set ensued, with Kellin Quinn displaying his impressive vocal ability, even playing a few old favourites. Soulfly burst onto Stage 3 wasting no time thrashing away, with the iconic Max Cavalera looking like heavy metal Santa and giving us presents in the forms of guitar riffs. The band even featured Dino Cazares from Fear Factory on guitar and Max’s son Zyon was on drums.
On the main stage infamous punks NOFX were getting their set underway playing Punk In Drublic in full. With the band recently announcing they will be calling it a day soon, a rather large crowd was there to witness Fat Mike’s antics. I couldn’t help noticing that while NOFX were playing, The All-American Rejects drummer Chris Gaylor was on the stage near the drum kit. Here’s hoping the festival’s promoters spoke to him about finally bringing his band back to the land down under.
Over on Stage 4 pop punkers The Story So Far played at golden hour. Delivering a fast paced set with the mosh ready crowd on hand to witness stand out tracks like ‘Heavy Gloom’ and ‘Keep This Up’. As the sun was setting, Deftones delivered a heavy, yet ambient set on the main stage. Chino’s distinct vocal tone and screams were on full display in old school favourites like ‘Be Quiet and Drive‘ and ‘My Own Summer’. While over on Stage 5, badass Aussie alternative rockers Red Hook played a crazy good set including bangers like ‘Bad Decisions’. The band even included a surprise cameo from Short Stack‘s Shaun Diviney for their rendition of ‘Planets’ which pleased the hometown crowd.
The time had come for the headliner of the festival Bring Me The Horizon to close out the night on the main stage. Their set began with ‘Can You Feel My Heart’ as huge confetti cannons shot paper hearts into the air. The Sheffield metalcore lads played a 14-song set that leaned heavily on their newer material. Vocalist Oli Sykes had the crowd obeying his every word and the futuristic stage production was both bright and impressive. The band ended with ‘Throne’ cementing the band’s festival headline status.
As Good Things Festival Sydney finished, thousands of heavy music fans poured out of the parklands. Some nursing sunburns and inevitable hangovers, but the majority in appreciation to have music festivals of this kind finally return. With over 30 bands playing from many different countries, today proved after 3 years, Good Things truly do come to those who wait.
(Photos by Christian Ross)
