Wildlands @ Ellis Park, Adelaide 5/1/2025
What an incredible day Wildlands 2025 turned out to be! Festivals in the city are always a treat, thanks to their easy accessibility, and today was no exception. The weather was perfect, and the music lineup was stellar.
I arrived just in time to catch Lola Young from South London, one of the artists I was most excited to see—and she didn’t disappoint. The crowd was noticeably larger than at the same time last year, with fans turning up early to witness her performance. Her 2024 album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, was one of my favourites of the year, and her opening track, Good Books, showcased her passionate, husky voice beautifully.
Lola’s sound is a blend of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Chrissie Amphlett, offering a unique combination of soulful power and catchy melodies. Her band was equally brilliant, and standout songs like Big Brown Eyes left a lasting impression. The track’s reggae, laid-back intro seamlessly transitioned into upbeat choruses, making it a crowd favourite. Another highlight was the mostly acoustic You Noticed, which was hauntingly beautiful.
She closed her set with the massive hit Messy. Initially performed as a stripped-back solo with just her and her guitar, the song gradually built into a full-band performance. With raw lyrics and over 100 million streams on Spotify, it’s no wonder the audience sang along enthusiastically. Lola’s star is clearly on the rise, and I hope she returns to Adelaide soon for a full set.
Next up were Sydney duo Royel Otis, a band I’ve been following for a while but hadn’t yet seen live. They were fantastic! Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic delivered an infectious set of indie guitar pop-rock bangers that kept the energy high.
Their performance of Adored was a standout, with Otis’s exceptional vocals and Royel’s jangly guitar creating a captivating sound. My personal favourite was the softer, mostly acoustic rendition of Til the Morning, one of my top tracks of the year. The duo also surprised us with two covers: a lively version of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder on the Dance Floor and a heartfelt take on The Cranberries’ Linger. Hearing the crowd sing along to Linger was a touching moment, despite the bittersweet reminder of Dolores O’Riordan’s absence.
They closed their set with Kool Aid, a killer tune from 2022, leaving the crowd energized and wanting more.
The festival organisers made a brilliant choice with Tinashe as part of the lineup. The US artist’s pop and alternative R&B style has gained her steady recognition over the past decade, and her connection with the Adelaide crowd was electric.
She opened with Getting No Sleep from her latest album, Quantum Baby, and was soon joined by four male dancers who performed intricate choreography throughout the set. Tinashe herself danced flawlessly while delivering pitch-perfect vocals.
Highlights included 2 On and the wildly catchy All My Friends, which had the crowd belting out the chorus: “All my friends are wasted.” She ended with the hit Nasty, a 2024 breakout track that has over 200 million Spotify streams, thanks in part to its viral success on TikTok. It was the perfect closer to an unforgettable set.
German DJ Marlon Hoffstadt, aka DJ Daddy Trance, brought a high-energy hour of trance and house music to the festival. His visuals were stunning, and his set featured hits like It’s That Time, We Want More, and I Got You, alongside a crowd-pleasing remix of Ida Corr’s Think About It.
Marlon even paused mid-set to remind everyone to stay hydrated on the hot day, a thoughtful touch. He wrapped up his performance with an excellent remix of Florence and the Machine’s Spectrum, leaving the audience buzzing.
American rapper Ice Spice took the stage on time, delivering a polished and professional performance. The stage design was impressive, featuring a giant anime-inspired figure of Ice Spice, complete with her previous hairstyle. Now sporting strikingly long red hair, she captivated the crowd with her signature style.
Her set included hits like Deli, In Ha Mood, and Did It First, as well as her viral collaboration with PinkPantheress, Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2. Her dancers added vibrancy to the performance, and the crowd was particularly animated during BB Belt, a song she introduced as being “for the haters.” She closed with Think U the Shit, ending on a high note.
UK drum and bass legends Chase and Status were a festival highlight. Known for balancing underground credibility with mainstream appeal, the duo delivered an electrifying performance, fronted by the charismatic Takura Tendayi.
Their set included massive tracks like Baddadan, Liquor and Cigarettes, and Disconnect. The crowd erupted when they played Backbone, their 2024 hit featuring Stormzy. They closed with Mixed Emotions and Program, cementing their status as one of the best live acts of the day.
Queensland-born DJ Fisher closed out the main stage with a high-energy set spanning his entire career. He treated fans to 2024 hits like Boost Up and Ocean as well as crowd favourites like Atmosphere. His visuals were equally impressive, particularly during Atmosphere, which featured Fisher suspended in a sea of blue.
He kept the party alive with special reworks of classics like Bob Marley’s Jammin, Bob Sinclar’s World Hold On, and Jennifer Lopez’s Waiting for Tonight. Highlights of the set included the unreleased track Supersonic and, of course, his iconic hit Losing It. Fisher wrapped up with Take It Off, leaving the crowd in high spirits.
Wildlands 2025 was an unforgettable experience. The stellar lineup, perfect weather, and vibrant atmosphere made for a fantastic day. See you in 2026!
Live Review By Richard De Pizzol