Mountain Goat Valley Crawl’s 2018 return was nothing short of amazing! The festival hosted a range of outstanding emerging and established acts over seven venues (Barbara, The Brightside, The Zoo, The Flying Cock, Black Bear Lodge, The Foundry and Crowbar) resulting in a night of unadulterated musical pleasure. Personal standouts were Brissy based acts Zapéd and Austen, Melbourne’s King IV, and Ninajirachi from NSW’s Central Coast.

Zapéd

Opening the Mountain Goat Valley Crawl at Barbara was Brisbane based vocalist, producer and composer Zapéd. The set’s lush production exuded passion which was further harmonised by the melodic vocals. This lavish soundscape gradually progressed into a subterranean resonance where driving beats and sweeping synths took hold. Zapéd is an artist who translates emotion and profound reflection into all of his tracks, and live performances. I’d highly recommend keeping an eye on him in 2018.

Austen

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Austen, the Brissy based artist’s euphoric electro pop is on the level of BANKS or Lorde. Austen’s performance at The Flying Cock was stunning. The addition of live drums, and keys added to Austen’s already robust live performance. The magnetic demeanour Austen possessed throughout set instantly hooked the audience. Her trademark introspective, mature, and brooding take on pop bewitched fans old and new. With the vocalist going from strength to strength throughout the past year, it’s only a matter of time before Austen breaks onto the global stage.

King IV

I’ve been waiting so long to catch King IV live, so when the opportunity rose to see her live at Barbara as part of Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, my inner fan boy came calling. If you like UK’s FKA Twigs or Canadian musician Grimes, you’d love King IV. King IV is the amalgamation of punk’s attitude, the boisterous nature of bass, and the compelling aura of witch pop. The power and ferocity of King IV was executed in style. The live production, vocals, and demanding stage presence was deliberate and calculated in its execution. King IV’s control allured the crowd into a euphonic trance, captivating the audience with every note, dance move, and progressive beat. The Melbourne based artist is a must see sensation! I can’t wait to witness what else King IV has up her sleeve for 2018, I can assure you I’ll be watching.

Ninajirachi

Since wrapping up high school, NSW Central Coast based DJ and producer Ninajirachi solidified her position in the electronic scene with her dynamic take on production. The young gun boasted an ornate set at The Zoo featuring buoyant bubble gum pop, playful PC, and charismatic compositions. Ninajirachi’s role in evolving the electronic scene has been paramount in her success. The artist is breaking the boundaries of conventional club music, with her high energy production. It was a treat to see the next generation of producer slay the stage at Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. 2018 is set to be a great year for Ninajirachi and electronic music as a whole.