Words by Zac Farr.

Photography by Josh Ma.

There is something special about the crowd at Spilt Milk, Canberra. Young and old, people from all walks of life, from all random areas of the East Coast gathered on the Ngunnawal peoples land, where the idea of a ‘meeting place’ takes a whole new meaning. All different cultures coming together to embrace each other’s creativity, whether it is the performers on the stages, the art we were surrounded by or the food that hit the spot. Every time each art form, culture and people group was embraced, loved and able to meet. The mixed genre festival creates an atmosphere that pleasers all, enabling Australian musicians to thrive whether they bring wonderful alt-rock vibes like the Pacific Avenue, or accumulate the most wonderful sets to rave the night away like the Dom Dolla. The milk was spilt generously this year and boy, are we grateful. Journey with me as I take you through the acts I got to vibe to and find out how many bottles of milk they spilt off the wall. 

Pacific Avenue having just released their first album, Flowers, really showed why they were nominated for the ARIA’s Best Rock Album this year. Their performance was on point, the band was in sync and was able to go from beautiful solo’s to having the Angove Stage crowd echo their anthems such as Leaving for London and Easy Love. They truly let their alt malleability shine when they performed the same cover of ABBA’s Dancing Queen they nailed on triple J’s Like a Version. With 99 bottles of milk on the wall, our very own Pacific Avenue spilt a solid 77 all over our die hard dancing faces. 

Coodjinburra man, phenomenal writer and spectacular performer, Budjerah dominated the Basquiat stage bringing his crazy vocal range and all the joyous happy energy. His heartfelt set with new single, Ready For The Sky, taking us to new heights. Although so young, he was able to let his emotion seep through his tone to really hit the heart, strengthening quite powerful lyrics. His ability and dynamic emotional and technical range is quite impressive for 21, hence why our guy smashes a whole 82 milk bottles off that wall. 

MAY-A Yes, yes, yes. Australian indie-pop queen came out and I think everyone was shocked by the sheer presence she brought. She owned every line, creating a space for us all to really feel the pain she sings about in tracks like something familiar, but also find the joy of understanding it’s okay to fall. Irrespective of the mix being a little all over the place, MAY-A and her band had some of the best engagement I have seen and her dedicated fans showed up because at times there, she was drowned out in the best way possible by the crowd as their heartstrings lead their vocal chords. MAY-A let us feel the things, sway, groove and let loose. She alongside her wonderful band, smashed the heck out of 80 bottles, spilling all the milk.

Cub Sport took us to a heavenly place of tranquil bliss. The passion from Tim, Zoe, Sam and Dan is evident in their ability to write songs that capture the harshness of life in the most beautiful way. They all gel so well together as a band, flowing from spacious sounds that leave room for mediation to lines where you cant help but let the hips sway. The band’s graphics showed us deeper into the lives of the band while playing Hawaiian party and high for the summer all to celebrate the one and only Zoe as it was her birthday. The band showcased a surreal sense of inclusivity to all as they created a space for all forms of sexualities to be celebrated and party together. Cub Sport drenched themselves in a least 87 bottles of milk.

With the barricades holding back a sea of pink, PEACH PRC didn’t just serenade us with her divine voice but also showed us what a true pop performance is. She was in sync with her dancers, slayed the pole and brought the wonderful colour of pink to life. She showed us that God is Freak, smashing every line, swinging so much sexy into every corner of the performance. Josh turned Canberra into a choir as our girl led them in sending all those crappy ex’s back to where they belong. (Would highly recommend the song). Peach PRC, you are marvellous. Please don’t ever stop blessing us with your presence. She took a crazy 79 bottles of that spilt milk wall.

Ruel was high quality, top-shelf milk. He brought his A game and showed off his mature vocal range and diverse sonic palate. From Dazed and confused to Painkiller, he really came to please the people. He represented the Australian pop scene well by connecting with his band to achieve a well-rehearsed, on-point performance that tugged at the heart strings forcing you to belt the lyrics that cant escape our head. Ruel took the milk bottle wall by storm smashing at least 78 bottles of milk.

Lime Cordial, Lime Cordial, Lime Cordial… thank you! Their set was cut short due to the weather, but this did not stop them from putting on the most spectacular four-song set of the evening playing only BANGERS. Without any announcement, they came out pumping TEMPER, causing the masses to flock the stage as they rushed out from their hidey holes. The energy was fantastic, they smashed out Robbery and Money, having all heads bopping and left us with the spectacular tune, Inappropriate. Without taking the weather and short set into play, our very own smashed all 88 bottles of milk off that wall.

If you want to feel the things; settle down in a random field in Canberra where Dermont Kennedy has a guitar, has just written some of the most beautiful, poetic songs and has a microphone in front of him. Although eclectic, his voice captures the depth to which his words take you. He’s wrapped lyrics and melody together to lasso your heart and mind together. I saw tears roll of faces, hands gripped, loved ones held all while letting Dermont sing the most lovely and saddest tracks over them. Dermont methodically and magically took 84 bottles of milk off the wall.  

The British dance icon Chris Lake, brought all the house, accumulating a wonderful set to bring that sundown and start up the night. It was quite an experience having Chris share tracks that capture summer in a bottle, while having the golden rays of the Canberra sunset peak through the Basquiat tent. Chris has adapted well to read the room and adapt the Australian shift to more DnB as he sped up his usual speed and mixed in some of the lovely hits we’ve been hearing on the Aus scene. Chris has mastered the decks, utilised his wisdom and shared with us some very lovely tunes. He smashed 70 milk bottles off that wall. 

Aren’t Ocean Alley just spectacular. They are wholesome, phenomenal musicians and as their discography grows, their performances just keep getting better. It is evident that Australia loves them a lot. We filled the field and outsung the speakers as they gave us all the ‘confidence’. They own their indie-surf-rock vibe which brings such a relaxed and kicked back vibe, ultimately bringing everyone closer together. The thing I loved most was how much they were enjoying being there. They had smiles from cheek to cheek and their joy became infectious. How can you not love a band that is just giving everything and purely loving every second being on stage? Ocean Alley chugged a cheeky 82 bottle of milk off that wall. 

The Dom Dolla returned home to the spilt milk stage and gave himself his very own homecoming party. From his graphics and lighting team to his perfectly placed set, no one missed a beat. Dom’s opener was next level, sharing some new IDs that I reckon had the Shazam servers scared. He was smooth, quick and groovy. It felt as though the atmosphere he created took me into the stories we’ve all heard from the OG ravers where the focus has nothing to with Dom and everything to do with dancing in the moment and letting the perfectly-timed bass and drum samples take us to the most surreal places. Thank you Dom for doing us proud, coming home and bringing the most wonderful of sets. Dom mixed all the milk, spinning 93 bottles of milk off the wall.

Fireworks. Shoeys. Tears. Crawling. 

Post Malone was marvellous. His stage presence made it feel as though we had all gathered in a small little library and he simply just shared his heart. He played all his bangers from white Iverson to congratulations, lighting up the sky and bringing a freedom to the masses. He punched through the heart with hits including I fall Apart, letting us in on the intimate details of his wonderful heart. He encouraged the masses, both with the most lovely of speeches and his tones that opened up his soul as he sung. It is evident Posty gives his all and for that we are truly grateful. Posty walked into the milk store and robbed the place, taking all 99 bottles off that wall and spilling them all over our blessed faces.  

Spilt Milk 2023, you kicked butt. Irrespective of weather and unforeseen events, you handled things with such grace. The good vibes flooded the fields and walking out to the buses filled with the most diverse groups of people coming together with their different love and appreciation for music is something quite spectacular to see.