7 This That Festival Acts You Should Know About

Newcastle’s This That keeps proving that it’s ahead of the curve. While every year it delivers big names on the bill (Alison Wonderland and Zed’s Dead are on this year’s lineup), It also bring together some of the best new talent in the country. Last year, it hosted acts like Sampa The Great, Koi Child and Jess Kent who all went on to have huge years and this year we have a feeling that it has predicted the new wave of Aussie talent once again.

We’ve put together a list of seven artists we reckon you should know about ahead of This That. And even if you can’t get to Newcastle for the festival, these acts should be on your radar anyway.

Tigerilla

If anyone’s going to change the sound of Aussie electronica, it’s Tigerilla. The Adelaide producer has released two of the most wonky, forward-thinking songs of the past year with ‘TULIPS’ and ‘MerryGo’ getting him off to a phenomenal start. His sets bring that same sort of energy on-stage, giving off a colourful vibe with plenty of groovy beats to bust some moves to. If you wander into Tigerilla’s set at This That you better be prepared for a boogie.

MUTO

MUTO is an Aussie beatmaker who has been quietly gathering together a really strong discography over the past year or so. He’s been teaming up with great local vocalists like Deutsche Duke and Emerson Leif, pairing their soulful vocals with his experimental, haunting beats. He’s the sort of producer who is going to take you to a totally different place with his set, similar to what producers like ODESZA do. It’s unsurprising then that ODESZA hand picked the producer to play on their European album tour.

Golden Vessel

Golden Vessel is one of a handful of exciting producers coming out of Brisbane right now. He’s been on the radar for a while, but a trio of excellent releases this year have put him firmly at the forefront. This is vibe-heavy music, the type that leans back into the beat and creates a steady groove. He’s also picking some of the best vocalists in the country to work with, like Brisbane superstar Mallrat and Brisbane jazz-infused duo OKBADLANDS. He’s also signed to The Kite String Tangle’s record label so is obviously already impressing the right people.

Kuren

Kuren is a young gun now based in Sydney who has made some huge musical leaps this year. He’s racked up close to a million plays on his 2016 single ‘Home’ with Ben Alessi but with a debut album on the way, he’s starting to take on vocal duties himself. His latest single ‘Mastercraft’ is all him, from the production to the vocals and while it’s a brave move, it’s one that’s paying off. His Splendour In The Grass set earlier this year was a highlight of the weekend and, by all accounts, he just keeps getting better. His album is slated for release later this year and if you’re lucky you might get a taste of it at This That.

Kinder

Repping for the local artists, Kinder are a pair of producers from Maitland who may just be the coolest DJs on the scene right now. Kinder have played This That for the past two years already so they know exactly what the crowd wants. You’ll also never see them playing to an uninterested audience because their diverse taste, from Peking Duk to Fleetwood Mac, means they’re always ready to shake up the vibe. They’re currently working on their own EP and if you’re lucky This That goers might just get a sneak peek.

https://youtu.be/zo1W59ntrmM

Winston Surfshirt

Winston Surfshirt are the Aussie band most likely to make it big right now. The Sydney groovers are blending funk, rock and electronica and have landed in a sweet spot that’s on the same wave as current funk masters like Anderson .Paak. It’s going to be an exciting time for Winston Surfshirt when they hit the stage at This That because their debut album Sponge Cake will be out, meaning you’re going to know plenty more songs in the set. If you need an idea of what their live show looks like too, you should check out their Like A Version from a few weeks back.

Godlands

If it’s innovation you’re looking for at This That then look no further than Godlands. She’s been playing clubs and festivals for a while now but this year she released her own track ‘Finally’, showing that she’s ready to take it to the next level. The anthemic track puts her in the zone of artists like RL Grime and Slumberjack but it sounds like she’s pushing boundaries. It’s innovative and textured but still has a mighty drop ready to blow the top off festivals. Godlands knows how to go big at a festival and if you’ve never seen her before, This That is the perfect time to start.

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This That 2017 will go down at the new location of Wickham Park on Saturday, 4th November. Head here for tickets.

This That 2017 Lineup (Alphabetical)

Alison Wonderland

Carmada

Colour Castle

Crooked Colours

Elk Road

Godlands

Golden Vessel

Hucci

Kinder

Kuren

Luude

Motez

Muto

Paces

Poolclvb

Tash Sultana

The Presets

The Preatures

Thundamentals

Tigerilla

Winston Surfshirt

Zeds Dead