Le Currents Festival
27th December 2020
Riverside Park, Taupō, New Zealand
Review by Bridget Herlihy with photography by Doug Peters.
When you picture the archetypal Kiwi summer, chances are music is in the mix and no doubt the music festivals set to take place across Aotearoa in the coming weeks and months will be well patronised as we try to leave behind the collective hangover of 2020 and start the new year on a high note. Shaking off the post-Christmas food coma, hundreds congregated in picturesque Taupō on Sunday to bask in the first of the summer festivals – a day of music and sunshine.
Touted as a celebration of arts, music and culture, Le Currents is the new kid on the summer festival block. The brainchild of event creators 116 Limited (Bay Dreams, Soundsplash, Storm The Gates etc.), Le Currents is in-part inspired by Kiwi music festivals of yesteryear, such as the iconic Sweetwaters. Situated at River Side Reserve near the Taupō CBD, the festival brought together a line up of some of Aotearoa’s best indie musicians on the main Riva Stage, while an assortment of DJs played and kept the punters moving throughout the day at the smaller La Danse stage.
As people trickled into River Side’s ampitheatre, Molly & the Chromatics, the first act of the day, appeared ready to kick proceedings off well in advance of their scheduled start time, which speaks volumes about their punctuality and enthusiasm. They admirably warmed the crowd up with a set bursting with infectious original jazz-infused reggae tunes that were fitting for a mellow sunny Sunday afternoon vibe. Its no easy feat for an opening act to get dozens of people on their feet and dancing, but they did it with style.
Christchurch-based There’s A Tuesday were next up on the bill. The four-piece indie band delivered a set of upbeat guitar driven songs that quickly brought a crowd back to the front of the stage from the line to the bar. Melodic harmonies from front women Nat Hutton and Minnie Robberds sent a dreamy vibe across the amphitheatre. The winners of Smokefree Rockquest in 2019, it is evident that There’s A Tuesday have continued to hone their live performance skills, with the growing crowd eagerly lapping up their set, which included ‘Piñata Head’ and tracks from their debut EP ‘Dance With Me Before We Cry’, which dropped in November.
Whoever chose the music to play over the PA between acts clearly had tastes as eclectic as the crowd, playing everything from Icehouse to L.A.B, to Cold Chisel and Dragon. In the latter stages of the day it became evident that someone was clearly a big fan of The Exponents and Foreigner. While channelling a bit of nostalgia, it was also a sonic homage to Kiwi music festivals that took place long before a majority of the crowd had even been conceived.
Next up were The Butlers, and the renowned purveyors of surf-rock from Christchurch wasted no time cracking into doing what they do best. From the moment they started playing they had the crowd entranced; even the ominous grey clouds and light precipitation couldn’t dampen the spirits of the throngs soaking up every note they played. Heavy bass lines, soaring guitars and smooth sax were skillfully interwoven to produce a sound that is on the most part genre defying. Mid-set brought a brief mass sing-along to a cover of the bridge of The Exponents’ ‘Why Does Love Do This To Me’, which was met with squeals of excitement. Another sing-along came as the band played fan favourite ‘No Good Nina’, illustrating that the band is certainly making waves and building quite the following.
As the sun appeared again, and several hundred late-comers patiently queued at the gate to get into the venue, Soaked Oats took to the stage. The self-proclaimed sludge-pop band from Dunedin delivered an impressive and very tight set of original material to the steadily growing crowd. As the unofficial indie capital of Aotearoa, Dunedin was definitely well represented on stage throughout the day, and Soaked Oats embody tones of the classic Dunedin guitar-based pop/rock sound, while at times with a contemporary edge. Charismatic front man Oscar Mein, who at times appears to subtley conjure vocals reminiscent of Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus, took to the barrier to interact with the crowd during the last song, ending the set in a memorable fashion.
Also hailing from Dunedin, Summer Thieves may have lived up to their name, as just before they kicked off the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped to a chilly 13 degrees. Opening with a guitar solo started things off on just the right note, and it a sign of things to come. The five-piece delivered a high-energy set of guitar-based rock infused reggae, which was without a doubt a crowd pleaser. They were quickly followed by fellow Dunedin-ites Marlins Dreaming, who also delivered a well received set of original prog-pop/rock tunes that kept the crowd on their feet and dancing as the late afternoon temperatures plummeted further.
With the smell of patchouli wafting through the air, it was The Beths‘ turn to entertain the masses. Throngs of people came running from the La Danse stage and the bar as the band appeared on stage, opening with ‘I’m Not Getting Excited’ from their latest album ‘Jump Rope Gazers’. The four-piece kept the momentum going throughout their performance, never missing a beat. Front woman Elizabeth Stokes’ vocals and guitarist Jonathan Pearce’s licks soared over the trees, and was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the day’s festivities. A cover of Elemeno P’s ‘Verona’ saw a majority of the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. The Beths are at the top of their game; if you haven’t had the good fortune of seeing them live, make it a priority to do so ASAP. You will not be disappointed.
The final act of the day were Mako Road, a band that really needs no introduction. Originally from Christchurch, the four piece have continued to go from strength to strength, selling out shows across the country, and establishing a large and dedicated fan base. Their ska/folk/reggae/pop influenced tunes provide a well suited soundtrack to the archetypal Kiwi summer, and an appropriate choice to close out the Le Currents festival. Playing a set of hits both old and new, the crowd lapped up every second of their set as the sun set over the River Side Reserve.
Suffice to say, the 20/21 Festival season is markedly different. As the border remains closed, very few international performers will grace our shores this summer. Yet Le Currents is proof that a line up featuring 100% Kiwi artists can make for a very good festival indeed. Aotearoa has an abundance of established and up and coming acts, not to mention all of those musicians waiting to be ‘discovered’, it is quite special to be celebrating these tones of home for a while.
Were you there at Riverside Park for this magnificent indie festival? Or have you seen any of the acts perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: [AD] Le Currents provided passes to Ambient Light to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission.
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