5 Laneway Acts You Need To Get To Know

What most people don't realise is that not only are festivals an optimal way of seeing a bunch of bands you've been dying to see all in one jam-packed day, but it's also a really sweet way to discover acts you didn't know you'd love. 

With that, we thought we'd take you through five Laneway acts announced this morning that we reckon you'd love if you saw. Go on, wander to some other stages while you're eating that Chiko roll.

The goon sax

Aside from the fact that the trio are still in high school and sat some exams on the morning of their BIGSOUND set and run of press obligations, The Goon Sax are supremely talented and are already supporting bands like Crayon Fields and Totally Mild. They recently signed to Chapter Music, too, so expect big things from these young jangly indie rockers.

Shamir

The Las Vegas native is all about the quirky beats and party-starting energy and even before his 20th birthday, Shamir has landed himself a signing with renowned label, XL Recordings. With debut album Ratchet, he scored four-and-a-half stars from us and our Album Of The Week (and we don't give them out easily). Laneway will be his first trip Down Under so we're sure he'll be extra levels of awesome.

Banoffee

Apart from the fact that her pseudonym reminds us of delicious pie, Banoffee (a.k.a. Martha Brown) is just releasing her new wave/R&B EP now and it was co-produced by long-time collaborator, Oscar Key Sung. She's already graced festival stages at Golden Plains and Sugar Mountain and been featured on the pages of Vogue for her style — fashion hits close to home for the creative Brown, as she also recently released a line with Melbourne label Pageant. Banoffee has also recently enjoyed being nominated in the Best Song and Best Female Artist categories at The Age Music Victoria Awards last year.

Japanese Wallpaper 

Another youngster to grace this list, Aussie electro upstart Japanese Wallpaper first won the triple j Unearthed High competition in 2014, before proceeding to win the heart of Zach Braff and finding himself on the Wish I Was Here film soundtrack. The 18-year-old's astronomical growth has seen him most recently sign to international booking agency, Coda Agency, home to Sufjan Stevens and Mark Ronson.

high tension

There's no way High Tension weren't going to make this list. The first band on Laneway promoter Danny Rogers' lips when asked who he saw and loved at BIGSOUND, he says "they absolutely blew my head off" so we reckon High Tension's incredible BIGSOUND performance may have had something to do with their inclusion on Laneway next year. If you're looking to have your face explode by Karina Utomo's wicked scream (who wouldn't?), bring some earplugs. BONUS: High Tension and Cosmic Psychos interviewed each other and it was a real spectacle.