Harvest Rock @ Rymill & King George Parks, Adelaide 26/10/2025

“Music is magical. Music is medicine. Music can heal a broken heart,” soliloquised Jelly Roll deep into his headline set. Day two of Harvest Rock proved these words true.

But more on Jelly later.

After a wild Saturday of rain, music, storms, and a pause in festivities, Sunday rolled around with actual blue skies and sunshine to greet us. The venue site was worse for wear, but organisers did their best to troubleshoot the worst areas. It was appreciated.

The local contingent kicked off the day in true Radelaide style. Colter, TOWNS, and Coldwave laid the groundwork for what would become a truly delightful day of music.

The momentum continued as the extended Aussie squad — Folk Bitch Trio, Velvet Trip, and Anna Lunoe — took the helm, steering the festival into the ultimate Sunday sesh. Then the first international acts of the day, Julia Cole and Drew Baldridge, brought their own magnetism to the mix.

With the regret of Saturday’s footwear choice still living rent-free in my aching feet, I was grateful for the leisurely start. When Mild Minds gently stirred the crowd to life, it successfully reigniting the urge to dance. As the sun beamed, it was a treat to finally hear live renditions of tracks from his two albums, MOOD (2020) and GEMINI (2025).

As The Dreggs shared their signature brand of acoustic folk on the Harvest Stage, I was drawn, along with many others, to the Vines Stage. Iconic Australian dance outfit Sneaky Sound System wasted no time lifting the energy.

Miss Connie and producer/ DJ Angus McDonald powered through banger after banger, dropping classics like Shiver, Pictures, I Just Don’t Want to Be Loved, I Love It, Kansas City, and UFO. Miss Connie was pure energy. Her vocals were powerful, effortless, and pitch-perfect. Any lingering cobwebs Harvest might have carried into Sunday were well and truly shaken off after this set.

Taking it up yet another notch was English electronic duo Groove Armada. From the opening beats it was bliss for young and old alike. For more than an hour, they delivered a world-class DJ set. Masters of flow, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay had the massive crowd in the palm of their hands, weaving through a perfectly curated mix. Closing with Superstylin’, the first song they ever played live in Australia, twenty nine years ago to the day, was the ideal end to a sensational set.

A new addition to Harvest Rock, Amuse-Bouche, was touted as deliciously unpredictable, where culinary magic meets live entertainment. Wax vs Wok with Groove Terminator (GT) and Benjamin Cooper was exactly that. With GT on the wheels of steel spinning tunes and the executive chef of Chin Chin Melbourne cooking up an Asian feast, it was a chaotically entertaining thirty-minute feast for the senses.

Over on the Harvest Stage, YouTube sensation and former American Idol contestant Lauren Spencer Smith was giving it her all. She powered through IF KARMA DOESN’T GET YOU (I WILL), Lighting the Flame, Bigger Person, Narcissist, Best Friend Breakup, That Part, Flowers, Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson), Thick Skin, Pray, Fingers Crossed, and Sticks & Stones, much to the delight of punters. Her vocals were phenomenal, soaring with both strength and emotion.

Meanwhile, the dance-fest kept rolling with PNAU. Nick Littlemore summed it up best when he thundered, “Let’s fucking smash this!” Smash it they did. With a vibrant motion-graphics backdrop, the trio delivered a quintessential PNAU performance full of colour, energy, and good vibes. The setlist was stacked with favourites, including AEIOU, Go Bang, All The Time, Solid Gold, and Embrace. But it was the closer, the iconic Chameleon, that turned the parklands into one giant dance floor. For those three-and-a-bit minutes, pure joy radiated through the crowd in a shared moment of unity that will be remembered for years to come.

At this point, the curse of the festival clash reared its ugly head. As PNAU wrapped up, a mad dash ensued, with punters running across the parklands to catch the tail end of Shaboozey’s set. The country, Americana, and hip-hop artist wasted no time proving why he is a five-time Grammy nominee. But alas, it was all over in the blink of an eye for many.

Then it went from clashes to having absolutely no bands on any stage for thirty minutes. A curious scheduling choice. It did, however, allow us to peruse the food trucks, buy a drink, or head over to Amuse-Bouche to check out the live BLT Podcast.

Sydney indie-rock-pop duo Royel Otis scored the enviable 8:15pm to 9pm time slot on the Harvest Stage. Unfortunately, they had the unenviable challenge of competing with Ministry of Sound (MOS) Classical, which began at 8:20pm. Nevertheless, they showcased their undeniable talent in the short time I watched them. Songs Adored, Heading for the Door, Kool Aid, and Foam were fantastic and earned them at least one new fan.

But the dance vibes from MOS Classical were calling my name, and I had to answer. Turning the corner to see the impressive laser and light show glittering from the stage and hearing The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind), my heart skipped a beat. What followed was the highlight of Harvest Rock Sunday.

Led by conductor Vanessa Perica and DJ GT, the MOS Orchestra fused timeless anthems with orchestral brilliance. GT had promised to create “something memorable tonight,” and memorable it was. Reimaginings of Spectrum, Heads Will Roll, Right Here Right Now, I Need a Miracle, Right In the Night, U Got 2 Let the Music, and Sandstorm, among others, were spectacular.

Thousands of us danced as if it were our last day on earth. GT proclaimed, “We’re connected.” And indeed, we were. United by the magic of music and dance. Had the festival ended there, I would have left jubilant. But there was still Jelly Roll to see.

The sea of cowboy boots and plaid gathered in droves to watch the Tennessee country rapper. Jelly Roll’s set was a mix of original songs, cover versions, plenty of banter, and a motion-graphics backdrop plus fire! It was the spectacle festival-goers expect from a headliner.

With his backup singers Jazzy Jazz, Mrs Peaches, and Luke Bryan, Jelly sang up a storm with tracks including Liar, Take Me Home, Country Roads/Lonely Road, Need a Favour, I Am Not Okay, Bloodline, Son of a Sinner, Somebody Like You, and Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again. But it was his duets with special guests Shaboozey and Teddy Swims that stole the show.

For an artist of Jelly’s calibre, he appeared relatable and down-to-earth. His genuineness and appreciation for his fans made for an unforgettable performance. He proved music IS magical.

Thanks for the magic Harvest Rock.

Live Review By Anita Kertes