The Presets team up with Hermitude @ Triple J's Beat The Drum concert / Photo: Ashley Mar

Beat The Drum – Sydney, The Domain 16/01/15

By Sarah White

Dusk. The sun fading behind the cityscape, the bats flying overheard, and 25,000 people listening, captivated to Daniel Johns performing Smells Like Teen Spirit. A slow, heartfelt version of a song that defined a generation, covered by a singer whose diversity and creativity epitomises Australian music.

Too much, you might say? If you were there, you wouldn’t argue. It was the moment of triple j’s 40th birthday celebrations last night in the Domain, Sydney.

There were other stunning moments. Briggs and Trials paying tribute to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Isabella Manfredi from the Preatures donning a Chrissy Amphlett jacket and smashing out Boys in Town with Mark McEntee. The crowd losing it as Vance Joy played his Hottest 100-topping Riptide.

Impressively, it seemed like the action never stopped; changeovers were short and there was always something to watch on the stage or screen. You felt like you couldn’t move from your post lest you miss something important.

You Am I, who thanked the station for “giving a couple of kids a chance”, teamed up with Courtney Barnett for Mr Milk, and with a crowd-surfing Adalita for Jewels And Bullets. They played back-up for Joelistics on the rapper’s Say I’m Good.

Watch: You Am I + Joelistics and Adalita @ triple j’s Beat The Drum
You Am I with Joelistics and Adalita 'Say I'm Good' live at triple j's Beat The Drum

Interspersed between these moments were highlights from triple j’s 40th anniversary doco, Sounds Like Teen Spirit. Old footage from the very beginnings through the last 40 years, coupled with interviews with former and current presenters, and commentary on the important role Double J and then Triple J — and now both — have played in giving a voice to Australia’s youth and promoting Australian music.

The best part? As a single stage event, we all experienced the same thing. We knew it was simulcast across the nation. Friends played with friends on stage. Everyone was at the same party. There was a sense of connection and community — a perfect reflection of triple j’s effect on Australian youth culture. When the Presets performed My People, you felt it.

Watch: The Cat Empire and Owl Eyes cover Kylie Minogue @ triple j’s Beat The Drum
The Cat Empire and Owl Eyes cover Kylie Minogue 'Confide In Me' at triple j's Beat The Drum

In front of a crowd which seemed to grow impossibly larger with every act, the Cat Empire made hearts melt with their cover of Kylie Minogue’s Confide In Me, fronted by Owl Eyes. The divine Megan Washington provided vocals for The Presets This Boy’s in Love — magical.

Hilltops closed out the night. It was a killer set, with all their mates — Illy, Drapht, Seth Sentry, Horrorshow, Tkay Maidza and Thundamentals — joining them for what they called the “most unfortunately named song of 2014”, Cosby Sweater.

Happy birthday, triple j. It was an incredible show. As triple j Mornings tweeted, “I don’t want this to ever end. Ever.” Can’t we do this every year?

Gallery: Beat The Drum – Sydney, The Domain 16/01/15 / Photos by Ashley Mar

Beat The Drum - Sydney, The Domain 17/01/15

  • 01BeatTheDrum 1

    01BeatTheDrum 1

  • 01BeatTheDrum 2

    01BeatTheDrum 2

  • 02KLPBeatTheDrum 3

    02KLPBeatTheDrum 3
    KLP

  • 02KLPBeatTheDrum 4

    02KLPBeatTheDrum 4
    KLP

  • 02KLPBeatTheDrum 5

    02KLPBeatTheDrum 5
    KLP

  • 03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 6

    03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 6
    Nina Las Vegas

  • 03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 7

    03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 7
    Nina Las Vegas

  • 03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 8

    03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 8
    Nina Las Vegas

  • 03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 9

    03NinaLasVegasBeatTheDrum 9

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 10

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 10
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 11

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 11
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 12

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 12
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 13

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 13
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 14

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 14
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 15

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 15
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 16

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 16
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 17

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 17
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 18

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 18

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 19

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 19
    Ball Park Music

  • 04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 20

    04BallParkMusicBeatTheDrum 20

  • 04BallParkMusicWithDaveFaulknerBeatTheDrum 21

    04BallParkMusicWithDaveFaulknerBeatTheDrum 21
    Ball Park Music with Hoodoo Gurus' Dave Faulkner

  • 04BallParkMusicWithDaveFaulknerBeatTheDrum 22

    04BallParkMusicWithDaveFaulknerBeatTheDrum 22
    Ball Park Music with Hoodoo Gurus' Dave Faulkner

  • 05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 23

    05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 23

  • 05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 24

    05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 24
    Briggs and Trials

  • 05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 25

    05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 25

  • 05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 26

    05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 26
    Briggs and Trials

  • 05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 27

    05BriggsandTrialsBeatTheDrum 27
    Briggs and Trials

  • 06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 28

    06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 28

  • 06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 29

    06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 29
    Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 30

    06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 30
    Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 31

    06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 31
    Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 32

    06VanceJoyBeatTheDrum 32
    Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 33

    06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 33
    Bernard Fanning joins Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 34

    06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 34
    Bernard Fanning joins Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 35

    06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 35
    Bernard Fanning joins Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 36

    06VanceJoyWithBernardFanningBeatTheDrum 36
    Bernard Fanning joins Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithTomIansekAndBenardFanningBeatTheDrum 39

    06VanceJoyWithTomIansekAndBenardFanningBeatTheDrum 39
    Big Scary's Tom Iansek & Bernard Fanning join Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithTomIansekBeatTheDrum 37

    06VanceJoyWithTomIansekBeatTheDrum 37
    Tom Iansek with Vance Joy

  • 06VanceJoyWithTomIansekBeatTheDrum 38

    06VanceJoyWithTomIansekBeatTheDrum 38
    Tom Iansek with Vance Joy

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 40

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 40

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 41

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 41

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 42

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 42

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 43

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 43
    Gotye

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 44

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 44
    Gotye

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 45

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 45
    Gotye

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 46

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 46
    Gotye

  • 07GotyeBeatTheDrum 47

    07GotyeBeatTheDrum 47
    Gotye

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 48

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 48
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 49

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 49
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 50

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 50
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 51

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 51
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 52

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 52
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 53

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 53
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 54

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 54
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 55

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 55
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 56

    08ThePreaturesBeatTheDrum 56
    The Preatures

  • 08ThePreaturesWithCloudControlBeatTheDrum 57

    08ThePreaturesWithCloudControlBeatTheDrum 57
    The Preatures with Cloud Control

  • 08ThePreaturesWithCloudControlBeatTheDrum 58

    08ThePreaturesWithCloudControlBeatTheDrum 58
    The Preatures with Cloud Control

  • 09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 59

    09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 59
    Sarah Blasko

  • 09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 60

    09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 60
    Sarah Blasko

  • 09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 61

    09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 61
    Sarah Blasko

  • 09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 62

    09SarahBlaskoBeatTheDrum 62
    Sarah Blasko

  • 09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 63

    09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 63
    Sarah Blasko with Paul Dempsey

  • 09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 64

    09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 64
    Sarah Blasko with Paul Dempsey

  • 09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 65

    09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 65
    Sarah Blasko with Paul Dempsey

  • 09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 66

    09SarahBlaskoWithPaulDempseyBeatTheDrum 66
    Sarah Blasko with Paul Dempsey

  • 10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 67

    10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 67
    You Am I

  • 10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 68

    10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 68
    You Am I

  • 10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 69

    10YouAmIBeatTheDrum 69
    You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 73

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 73
    Adalita joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 74

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 74
    Adalita joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 75

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 75
    Adalita joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 76

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 76
    Adalita joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 77

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 77
    Adalita joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 78

    10YouAmIWithAdalitaBeatTheDrum 78
    You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 70

    10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 70
    Joelistics joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 71

    10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 71
    Joelistics joins You Am I

  • 10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 72

    10YouAmIWithJoelisticsBeatTheDrum 72
    Joelistics joins You Am I

  • 11PeterGarratBeatTheDrum 79

    11PeterGarratBeatTheDrum 79
    Peter Garrett introduces Daniel Johns

  • 11PeterGarratBeatTheDrum 80

    11PeterGarratBeatTheDrum 80
    Peter Garrett introduces Daniel Johns

  • 12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 81

    12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 81
    Daniel Johns

  • 12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 82

    12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 82
    Daniel Johns

  • 12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 83

    12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 83
    Daniel Johns

  • 12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 84

    12DanielJohnsBeatTheDrum 84
    Daniel Johns

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 85

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 85
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 86

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 86
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 87

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 87
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 88

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 88
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 89

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 89
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 90

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 90

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 91

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 91
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 92

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 92
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 93

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 93

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 94

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 94
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 95

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 95

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 96

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 96
    The Cat Empire

  • 13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 97

    13TheCatEmpireBeatTheDrum 97
    The Cat Empire

  • 14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 100

    14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 100
    Tkay Maidza

  • 14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 98

    14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 98
    Tkay Maidza

  • 14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 99

    14TkayMadizaBeatTheDrum 99
    Tkay Maidza

  • 15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 101

    15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 101
    The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 102

    15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 102
    The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 103

    15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 103
    The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 104

    15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 104
    The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 105

    15ThePresetsBeatTheDrum 105
    The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithHermitudeBeatTheDrum 106

    15ThePresetsWithHermitudeBeatTheDrum 106
    The Presets with Hermitude

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 107

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 107
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 108

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 108
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 109

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 109
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 110

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 110
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 111

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 111
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 112

    15ThePresetsWithMeganWashingtonBeatTheDrum 112
    Megan Washington joins The Presets

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 113

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 113
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 114

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 114
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 115

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 115
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 116

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 116
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 117

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 117
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 118

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 118
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 119

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 119
    Hilltop Hoods

  • 16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 120

    16HilltopHoodsBeatTheDrum 120
    Hilltop Hoods
Sarah White
Sarah White

Share article

Must Read
Related
X
Exit mobile version