Valley Fiesta has grown from its humble beginnings, where it raised awareness about the live music scene in Brisbane, to become an annual event, a chance for local and national acts to get out and strut their stuff, and this year’s festival was no exception. From international acts Silversun Pickups and Limbeck, through to Australian hip hop stars True Live and Bliss N Esso, all the way down to local legends Tim Steward and Iron On, every act on this solid weekend of music gave their all to celebrate culture and entertainment.

Even though Friday night is the shortest of the three days, it also featured some of the headline acts, greeting Brisbane’s punters with some great hip hop and solid rock, with the DJ sets providing the party atmosphere.

On the Chinatown Mall stage, Grand Atlantic are slinging their rock wares. The sound setup isn’t quite suitable for their arena-rock music, but the crowd is appreciative. Unfortunately, it’s a sparse crowd, and the band have trouble generating energy. They play through songs from their debut album This Is Grand Atlantic, with frontman Phil Usher’s vocals getting more and more impressive as the set goes on, and Scott Mullane’s drumming keeps everything moving. They close with single Smoke And Mirrors, with a feedback-drenched intro from Usher – it’s everything good about Grand Atlantic encapsulated in three minutes of indie rock.

Part of Brunswick Street has been closed off for the Toohey’s Street Closure stage, and from the size of the space and the stage, it’s a wonder that the main acts weren’t up on this stage instead of the smaller Chinatown space. But funk act The Modes fill the space nicely – there might not be a lot of people here, but lots of them are dancing in the street. There are only four members of The Modes, which is less than you would expect from a funk band (especially with a lead singer who doesn’t play an instrument), but they’re making enough sound for eight. The real star is the guitarist, who easily slides between slap-happy chunky funk and wailing guitar riffs with aplomb and ease. Toward the end of the set, they announce that this will be their last ever
show, which is disappointing – losing a band this funktastic is not good.

Boomstar Loco take advantage of the fact that both the other stages are in changeover mode to play it up in front of a large crowd at the Brunswick Mall stage. They supplement their DJ-based dance music with live bongos and trumpet, and the MC moves through the audience, encouraging dancing, of which there is plenty. This is a great opportunity for the club-based Loco to play to a wider audience, and they definitely take full advantage.

Tim Steward starts out his set on the Chinatown mall with just himself and an acoustic, and does some of his older work, including a great version of Now I Don’t Feel So Bad. For a man with three separate musical projects ( Screamfeeder, The Whats and his solo work) the cover of Guided By Voices’ Gold Hearted Mountain Top Queen Directory seems a little wierd, but Steward does the track justice. After a few songs he is joined by a drummer, and the songs pick up tempo. He seems more at ease with the electric guitar than the acoustic, and finishes with Back To The Car. This Brisbane performer always seems completely relaxed on stage, but a long career playing clubs and pubs will do that to you.

Over on the Street Closure stage, even shenanigans with Tamil Rogoen’s violin can’t stop strings-driven hip hopsters True Live from kicking arse and taking names. Jazzy keyboard interludes from Thai Matus and a raw cello solos by Tim Blake contribute to the high-energy atmosphere, but it’s Ryan “Ryhno” Ritchie’s impassioned vocals that are the aural rocket fuel setting the crowd ablaze tonight, and his 90-second freestyle rap dedication to Brisbane at the close is an absolute showstopper.

Silversun Pickups are the Fiesta’s big international draw card, and this is reflected in the huge crowd, packed into every available space at the Chinatown Mall stage. They open with the interplay between bass and guitar that is Well Thought Out Twinkles, and cruise through songs from their debut album Carnavas. Unfortunately, horrendous sound problems plague the band until three or four songs in – the speakers mostly just crackle, and the vocals are almost inaudible. Once it’s sorted, the band really hit their stride – Little Lovers So Polite and Rusted Wheel are awe-inspiring live, delivered with an emotional intensity that few bands can match. Guitarist-singer Brian Aubert possesses an incredible voice, and knows how to work the crowd. He also has a genuine love for performing that shines through with every exclaimed ‘Thank You!’ and wave to the crowd. Lazy Eye gets the cheer it deserves, and Silversun Pickups wrap up their set, leaving more than a few fans wishing they’d played their own separate show while here in Brisbane.

Bliss N Esso wrap up the Street Closure stage with another set of infectious hiphop. They follow straight on from True Live, even borrowing the cello and other instruments (and their players) for their first song, hit single Up Jumped The Boogie, before getting back to what they do best – a DJ, two MCs, and a crowd that responds eagerly to every rap. The energy builds over the course of the set, and in turn Bliss N Esso deliver an electric performance.

Youth Group has attracted hordes of bright young things who cluster round the low-set Chinatown Mall stage and hang on every note and word from frontman Toby Martin. Typically, it’s Forever Young that gets the screams, but the highlights flow thick and fast as the Sydneysiders deliver a transfixing set.

Sorry comes across warm and summery, and Skeleton Jar sees Martin crooning deliciously – all closed eyes and feigned ecstasy. The crowd cheers mightily, but it’s the lovely bass of Patrick Matthews that really pulls you into the song. A couple of acoustic numbers follow, the band brushing gently up against country territory. Daisychains and set-closer Shadlowland are a wall-of-noise contrast. Dirtied-up in the best possible way, the sound features ample amounts of Sonic Youth-style guitar scraping from a sweaty-looking Martin that cascades over the crowd in an appropriately rock-out finish to the night.

By Liam McGinniss aka gumbuoy and Stephen Goodwin aka dsthenes

Check out photos from this year’s Valley Fiesta , and stay tuned to FasterLouder for reviews of the second and third day of Valley Fiesta 2007