Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
In 2009 and in conjunction with Sunset Events, the festival touched down at the Perth Cultural Centre in Western Australia for the first time. But it was the events of Melbourne that would alter the course of Laneway.
A rapidly expanded site, shifting regulations, wild hype and high temperatures contributed to the Melbourne show very suddenly (and publicly) outgrowing itself. Overcrowding and long queues soured an otherwise strong musical showing. And while a realignment of stages in Adelaide was deemed a success by the growing crowds, Sydney’s Macquarie Park location also began showing signs of its limitations.
Danny Rogers (Laneway co-founder): “We pushed the boundaries, and we ended up pushing ourselves over the boundary on the full. It was a big lesson. If we were going to stick around then we had to have these moments that harden our resolve and our determination.”
Jerome Borazio (Laneway co-founder): “As horrible as that period of time was, I feel that was a turning point. Now our ethos is we just want to keep improving the event: from artwork to food to sound quality. We need to keep paying attention to our audience and raising the bar.
David Chitty (Sunset Events): "After following Laneway's success in Melbourne from 2005, and later spreading further to other eastern states, Sunset Events were really excited to be involved in the inaugural Perth Laneway Festival in 2009. That event proved very successful and we have proudly helped deliver each Laneway Festival in Perth since."
Line-up: Architecture In Helsinki, Born Ruffians, Buraka Som Sistema DJ/MC Set, Canyons, Cut Off Your Hands, Daedelus, El Guincho, Four Tet, Girl Talk, Holly Throsby, Jay Reatard, John Steel Singers, Mountains In The Sky, No Age, Pivot, Port O’Brien, Stereolab, Still Flyin, Tame Impala, Tim Fite, The Drones, The Hold Steady, The Temper Trap
