Laneway Festival 2025 (Feb 16th, Sunday. Not my favourite day for a festival, but hey, we make it work) in Perth was a sweaty, sun-soaked sensory banquet. A full-course meal of summer in all its glory. The air was thick with the scent of sunscreen and armpits (mostly mine; sincere apologies if you were within sniffing distance), with a side of dust and the occasional whiff of mystery vape. The sun grilled us to perfection, the ground was a crunchy layer of stomped cups and spilt drinks, and every gust of wind felt like a half-hearted attempt at seasoning rather than actual relief. A festival feast best served loud, messy, and with zero regrets.
Accessibility is a big deal for us at Unruly Folk, and it was great to see Laneway getting it right. I spoke to a few disabled festival-goers in the accessible section who were really happy with the facilities and had no complaints. They had an elevated area that was fully undercover (thank goodness, in 36-degree heat) next to VIP, with good views and an exclusive toilet. It’s so important that people are actually taken care of at events like this, and it was great to see it done properly.
Other festival observations: Access to shade and water was thoughtfully planned. Big thumbs up. Billboards about safety, like the “Slip, Slop, Slap” rule, drug awareness, and consent reminders, were a nice touch.
Upon arrival, everything seemed well-organised, with road closures and a drop-off point that was easy to access. Maybe I got lucky, but traffic was minimal, and it was smooth sailing.
Mariae Cassandra opened the ‘Good Better Best‘ stage. At just 17 and from Perth, this was a massive moment for her in a hometown show. Fantastic performance, and if she’s pulling that off at 17? The future is looking bright. Homegrown talent at its finest.
Skegss brought their signature surf-punk vibes, making the crowd bounce despite the brutal heat. The Aussie lads know how to have a good time, and the crowd ate it up.
Olivia Dean was one of my favourites of the day. She put on a beautiful show, repping London but immediately confessing she was not made for Perth heat. Same, girl. She urged us all to stay hydrated and look out for each other. Practical and wholesome. Her vocals were buttery smooth, rich, and full of warmth. She was absolutely giving Diana Ross in a stunning silver dress, exuding elegance and powerhouse energy. “This is my first time playing Perth!” she said excitedly, and the crowd gave her a massive welcome. Safe to say, she won everyone over. “Okay, love you, bye.”
Olivia Dean is having a massive year. She just released ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be‘ for the ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy‘ soundtrack. Perfect timing, considering the film just smashed UK box office rom-com records. A win for Olivia, a win for Bridget, and a win for all of us who love a good cry-laugh over a British woman’s questionable life choices.
Remi Wolf unleashed an ADHD-fuelled whirlwind of a performance. Ridiculously fun, wildly unpredictable, yet completely in control. One minute, she was (consensually) smacking her bandmates’ butts; the next, she was tearing across the stage like a human ping-pong ball. She owned every second, had us all singing along, and made the whole thing feel like a party we never wanted to end. I loved it. Remi is a true entertainer in every sense of the word.
Djo pulled huge numbers, and the crowd entered sardine mode. He even did a cheeky little “beep test” mid-gig, placing his guitar down to run from one stage to another. Joe Keery might be famous for Stranger Things, but on stage, he’s just Djo, completely at home and thriving. While his massive hit ‘End of Beginning‘ naturally got the biggest reception, his entire catalogue is full of gems. The staging had a retro style, complete with a small old-school TV on stage.
Joey Valence & Brae brought unrelenting, high-energy fun, delivering throwback hip-hop at full-throttle. Their set clashed with Djo’s, but so many people were hyped for them that I made sure to stop by. If you weren’t moving during their set, you were probably unconscious from the heat. Pure, unfiltered fun.
Clairo’s stage presence was effortlessly cool, turning a huge festival set into something that felt surprisingly personal—like a quiet serenade in the middle of the madness. She and her band strolled on stage, sat down, shared a drink, and eased into the set like they were settling in for a jam session rather than a massive festival performance. It was understated, lovely, and totally in step with the mellow, ’70s-inspired sound of her most recent album, Charm. Dressed in sunglasses and headphones, she had the air of someone lost in the music, letting the dreamy instrumentals and soft harmonies do the heavy lifting. Her band was fantastic, giving every song a warm, vintage glow while the crowd swayed, sang along, and soaked up the joy of it all.
Beabadoobee was a dream. Her alt-rock sound washed over the crowd, and they were there for every bit of it. Her voice was gorgeous live—delicate yet commanding—and her setlist was full of fan favourites. Her presence was magnetic: cool, calm and collected. She killed it.
Barry Can’t Swim turned the entire festival into a dance break. His mix of electronic, house, and jazz influences had everyone moving, and for a moment, it felt like we were transported to a sunset set at some European beach festival. His energy was infectious, and the beats were impossible to resist. Absolute vibe shift in the best way possible. Oh, and there were LASERS. Can’t go wrong with a good light show.
The moment Charli XCX stepped on stage, it was clear who the real headliner was. The crowd, decked out in brat green, fully embraced the ongoing brat summer. From the moment she opened with ‘365‘, it was an hour of high-energy, unapologetic pop mayhem. Charli had full authority, throwing out classic one-liners like “Come on, I’m fucking Charli XCX, bitch!” and reminding us of her Melbourne performance with Beabadoobee and Clairo on ‘Sofia‘—but, of course, not here. “Didn’t do it for you though, did I?” she teased. “I’ll come back, I promise.” Her set was everything you’d expect: hypnotic beats and a party that made you forget how much your feet hurt. By the time ‘I Love It‘ closed out the night, we were all collectively reborn as Brat disciples.
All in all, an absolute blast of a day with incredible performances, thoughtful accessibility, and only minor heat-induced existential crises. Laneway 2025, you were a sweaty, wonderful mess. Let’s do it again.
Stay unruly.
