St Jerome's Laneway Festival started off in 2004 as a concert series just outside a small Melbourne bar in an alleyway. The initial concept was called "Summer Series" where bands would perform on a stage every Sunday throughout the summer. Before they knew it, in 2005, the first edition of the festival was born with a sold-out crowd, ready to get down and party!
Laneway Festival now takes place in 5 locations across Australia, and the festival has extended its domination within the area as well in places like New Zealand and Singapore.
The Sydney iteration of the festival is an amalgam of widespread influences that are bound not to fit any specific genre. And that's the beauty of it!
With "The 1975" headlining the festival, it's easy to understand why Laneway is such a sought after event in Australia. To add more spice and flair to the occasion, the festival also features the eccentric Charli XCX, the golden voice of Ruel, or the smooth rapcore lyrics of Earl Sweatshirt.
Laneway's got it all, and it never ceases to impress when artists are finally announced.
For their 2020 edition, the Sydney festival site is changing. After a decade of hosting the gathering at the Sydney College of the Arts and Callan Park, the new festival headquarters will be at the Domain. The area is chosen to be more central, has bigger stages, and offers a whole different experience for Lanway attendees.