Root Down Festival at the RAH may not have been a roaring success in terms of numbers, but the quality of acts showcased on Saturday was truly impressive, particularly the South Australian contingent and the crown, which included members of the Hilltop Hoods soaked in the great sounds.
Argus & the Liar are an exciting group performing contemplative RnB and Hip Hop fronted by a brother and sister duo. The live band over the samples bring some jazz and soul vibes reminiscent of early Tribe called Quest and De La Soul.
Playback 808 is a fresh young hip hop collaborate with a modern West Coast influence. With members from diverse ethnic backgrounds and different genders they are great example of how varied our music scene can be. This crew wasn’t the only hip hop on display.
K21 is a solid Aussie hip hip style rapper from the Golden Era stable run by the Hilltop Hoods and whilst his style is definitely reminiscent of earlier Australian hip hop he was still a confident skilled performer. Meanwhile, the second stage saw a few highlights scattered throughout with chilled out electronic outfit Hartway impressing with their sophisticated rhythms, lush ambience, complex chords rounded off with live sax, while later in the night Kuji Koo deserve serious attention for the fantastic uptempo party vibes and remixes.
The talented multi-instrumentalist Abbie Howlett wowed with ethereal sounds and her incredible vocal range. In some ways similar to Tash Sultana her schtick involves live looping with complex textures and layers and big live vocals over the top. Some of her more unique vocal effects created an extra welcome complexity to her show and for a one person act, she’s definitely someone worth checking out.
A day or so after releasing his album, Timberwolf’s whole band was sharp, slick and punchy. Against that tight rhythm section and lush synth, his vocals were able to soar. His guitar sound was piercing and rich, rounding out the sound, particularly on Whiskey Jar. Hold You Up and album title track, Icarus sounded great. But new track Vulnerable Heart sounded simply sublime and it would be great for this to be released as a single and receive the acclaim it deserves. This performance lifted the entire event to another level, despite the modest turn out.
The eclectic and exotic Willow Beats from Victoria, always put on a great show. This uncle and niece duo combine very sharp production with well honed vocals and a worldly sound. With the singing very much on point and the beats and guitar ambience very rich, the overall effect was, as always, very impressive. A few more danceable rhythms wouldn’t go astray, but that’s a subjective point.
Following this exceptional duo, arguably Adelaide best electronic act, Luke Million put on yet another bang on performance. With synth, vocoder and drum pads and consistent disco electronic beats, his performances on Right to Feel the Night and a range of other great tracks were fantastic. But nothing beats a good keytar solo and this is the type of thing that sets Luke’s sets apart. Finishing on the crowd pleaser Arnold was a perfect way to end a day with a lot of top notch performances.
There were plenty of things to love about Root Down with the vast majority of performances without fault and some like Argus & The Liar, Kuji Koo, Timberwolf and Luke Million standing head and shoulders above the rest. Hopefully the event returns next year with a little more promotion behind it and the attention a great line up deserves.
