It’s on!
Groovin The Moo‘s cricketing tradition has hit a peak this year, with four huge acts from its 2017 lineup — Violent Soho, The Smith Street Band, The Darkness and Architects — agreeing to go up against each other in a (hopefully) friendly exhibition match at this year’s festival.
The idea for this year’s mini cricket comp came when Soho threw the challenge out to The Darkness back in January…
@thedarkness hey dudes, you fancy a game of cricket during @groovinthemoo ? #ashes2017/18
— Violent Soho (@violentsoho) January 30, 2017
…and then The Smith Street Band frontman Wil Wagner joined in the fun, coming up with a plan for who would play against who:
@violentsoho @groovinthemoo @thedarkness I look a bit like peak era Shane Warne, reckon I could get a bowl?
— The Smith St Band (@smithstband) January 30, 2017
@violentsoho @groovinthemoo @thedarkness Soho and Smithies -vs- Darkness and @Architectsuk ?? #ashes2017
— The Smith St Band (@smithstband) January 30, 2017
The Soho boys were into it, of course…
@smithstband @groovinthemoo @thedarkness @Architectsuk yes!!!
— Violent Soho (@violentsoho) January 31, 2017
…and so was the festival…
@violentsoho @smithstband @thedarkness @Architectsuk GUYS. This IS happening. You’ve got 3 months to train.
— groovin the moo (@groovinthemoo) January 31, 2017
…before they realised how just momentous an occasion #Ashes2017 would be:
@groovinthemoo @violentsoho @thedarkness @Architectsuk has GTM ever had 4 bands headline the main stage, playing cricket instead of music?
— The Smith St Band (@smithstband) January 31, 2017
Architects’ management team have since confirmed to Music Feeds that “the band is in”, while Frankie Poullain from The Darkness has reportedly told Alastair McGibbon from Geelong’s Forte magazine that his band are also up for a hit:
Oi @smithstband and @violentsoho – just got off the phone w/ Frankie from @thedarkness. The challenge is accepted – the cricket match is on!
— Alastair McGibbon (@geekscribblings) March 13, 2017
It’s still unclear what the bands cricket teams will be playing for, but it’ll probably just be bragging rights for the entirety of this year’s Groovin The Moo tour, and they’ll all be winners anyway, even if they lose.
High fives all round!
Groovin The Moo kicks off in Wayville, South Australia in late April, before heading to Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo, Canberra and Bunbury. Head here to see the full lineup, and here to see all the festival sideshows.
