Dogapalooza - Burnley Park, Melbourne 09/10/16

On Sunday, Melbourne played host to one of the most adorable events on the live music calendar. After a sold out run in 2015, the teams at Oscar’s Law and One Little Indian Enterprises brought together music lovers and dog lovers alike for Dogapalooza, to raise much-needed funds and awareness for their cause – to end puppy farming in our country, and support local animal shelters. #AdoptDontShop

The gale force winds were no match for such a great cause, with Burnley Park filled with picnic blankets, doggie treats, food trucks and canines great and small. And while the winds may have been hard to compete with, the amazing Aussie artists who donated their time to the cause found the only real competition came in the form of the man’s attention-stealing best friends. There were awards for the Best Hipster Dawgs and itty bitty rocker jackets that boasted old school band logos like The Rolling Bones and Muttellica. There was a Pug dressed as a fairy and a Daschund as a banana. There was a Westy in a Bow Tie and a Bulldog in a flower crown. An adoptable little buddy by the name of Alan Rickman and more varieties of ‘oodle’ than I could count.

Not to be completely outdone by the cuteness, some seriously fine Aussie talent entertained the crowd with some A-grade local tunes, complete with a bunch of puppy love declarations, using celeb power to implore the crowds to support this worthy cause.

The line up boasted Sam Loh’s, Leah Flanagan and The Little Stevies, with surprise guest Jordie Lane smashing the penultimate set after spending some time soul searching in the hills of LA. We heard tracks from the new record, and a particularly gorgeous cover of You Are My Sunshine which highlighted the perfect harmonies between he and fellow stage mate Clare Reynolds. And then, like she was sent in a tour bus from the Gods, was Thelma Plum. With a mix of old and new tracks, the funky riffs and sweet, edgy vocals cut through the terrible weather like few could, the little doggy themed anecdotes the cherry on top of this heartwarming little sundae.

Dogapalooza is so much more than a great cause. 2016 proved again to be a little gem of a music festival; an absolutely perfect Sunday and a brilliant cause to boot! If you weren’t able to get down yesterday there are still plenty of ways you can lend your voice to Oscars Law. If you love our furry friends, visit www.oscarslaw.org to see how you can help!

Dogapalooza – Burnley Park, Melbourne 09/10/16 / Photos: Nikki Williams