Photos By: Monika Smith Photography

Review By: Monika Oberscheven-Smith

Notes By: Jess Miller

Under The Southern Stars like many festivals was rescheduled, rescheduled and rescheduled. I think people were a bit concerned with all the weather and water that this would be cancelled again but as luck had it the festival was going ahead.

The early bird crowd who lined up to enter at gates at UTSS were greeted by the sun cracking through the sparse clouds in the sky showing that beautiful blue sky after the Hunter Valley and most of NSW had been coping with the deluge of rain and flooding.

As we stomped through the muddy terrain and avoided the pools both small + giant scattered around the grounds of Maitland Showgrounds. Partons with chairs slung over their shoulders, bags on their backs and picnic rugs ready to go.

The entry to UTSS was really smooth with security at the ready for bag and ID checks.

Once we got into the grounds, we found one of the drier patches of grass and popped down our picnic rug as the patrons rushed to the front and set up their camping chairs up close to the stage.

Unfortunately, Electric Mary were not on the bill but to combat that the other bands set times were extended to make up for the lost set time.

***ROSE TATTOO*** *Images are copyrighted and remain the property of* ***Monika Smith Photography***

As Rose Tattoo walked on the stage the crowd erupted into utter elation at the sight and sound of a live music festival kicking off again. The roaring of the music screaming from the speakers made all of the people sitting down, jumping up and dancing around to the Aussie legends.

Angry Anderson hoisted his mic stand up in the air as if holding a trophy like he had won a grand prize as he walked around the stage with an absolute beaming smile on his face which amped up the crowd even more as they bounced around on the barrier, in their chairs and all throughout the crowd.

As their set went on the interaction of the crowd grew as a possible realisation kicked in that live music was most definitely back.

Swinging back around into an absolute Aussie classic the whole crowd started to yell sing along with Angry “We Can’t Be Beaten”. The people threw their arms around each other's shoulder and bounced around. With a cheeky drum solo to bring it all together nicely.

Angry threw his arms wide open as if to give the crowd a big giant hug as a nice cool breeze made its way over the crowd cutting down on the absolute humidity that hung in their air from the combination of the soaked ground but the sun shining down on us.

Their last few songs sat well with the crowd including a little added dedication to Elvis Presely’s Blue Suede Shoes.

***BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB*** *Images are copyrighted and remain the property of* ***Monika Smith Photography***

The crowd had grown a fair bit as the Rose Tattoo set finished, just in time for San Francisco, California’s Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as a psychedelic/ufo sound crept over the speakers accompanied them as they walked onto the stage the indie band was a little different style of band to the other acts on the bill but as a massive fan of their album Howl back in the day, I was pretty excited to photograph and review this band. Their sound transported us to somewhere a bit more atmospheric and electrified.

The lighting matched the flickering goodness of BRMC as the bands angsty psychedelic epic sounds bringing back those nostalgic 90’s teen vibes like a reminder of those Cruel Intentions or The Craft era.
As the sun beamed down on the stage as it hung high in the sky the band looked like Gods of rock basking in the sunshine. Hidden under a half scarf wrapped around his face as he sung into his mic it made it all feel really kind of spooky but to perfectly work with the vibe from this legendary band.

BRMC definitely have a much more chilled vibe as the crowd sat back eating food, having drinks and camped out in front of the stage. That didn’t stop the crowd from bobbing their heads while the swayed and enjoyed the sounds escaping from the speakers with the bass thumping in your chest and right down to your feet as the vocals danced in our ears.

What I loved the most was to see Leah Shapiro behind the drumkit as the only female on the entire line up. Effortlessly drumming to absolute perfection.

The crowd continued to grow as we assumed some people had finished work and headed into the festival joining the already gathered crowd.

This set built as it went along. I appreciate the thought that went into their set list to build as they went instead of changing tempo throughout.

***STONE TEMPLE PILOTS*** *Images are copyrighted and remain the property of* ***Monika Smith Photography***

All the crowd moved forward, especially those wearing their Stone Temple Pilot shirts to get towards the front of the stage. Soon you could only see a whole sea of people waiting for the rockers to make their way on stage.

The crowd was at its peak when they surged forward, people got out of their chairs as their clapping and chanting as the band took the stage. Jeff Gutt stared out into the crowd and said “You look beautiful!”/

Followed by "Australia, this is the first time I've ever stepped foot on a stage in Australia, be gentle!” with ample amounts of energy you would see him for the rest of the set run all over the stage with no sign of tiring.

The whole band looked like they're loving being back on the stage. As always STP as always have incredibly nice harmonising between the singer and the guitarist. With a fun vibrant energy from the crowd who are lapping up every note cascading over them.

The crowd was at its most vocal once again sing yelling the lyrics back in the bands face while some of them threw horns up the band. Jeff Gutt hoisted his knee up on speaker to feed off the crowd's energy lapping up every second of it.

You can tell that the band knows what they are doing as they had a very polished set and you can tell from their years of experience have made for a tight and perfect set.

I don’t really know how to describe music. This has being stoned in the 70s vibe. I feel like I should be in a brown and orange room with lava lamps. Very seductive.

"That's a very beautiful sunset we have here very romantic. This is the first song I wrote with these guys so it has a very special place in my heart. It's called Meadow" said Gutt

As the song ended Gutt’s sunnies were thrown off stage as the sun disappears into the horizon.

Walked off stage before their set ended (cheeky set up encore?) Crowd was yelling for one more. They came back out "Good to be here we love you"

***BUSH*** *Images are copyrighted and remain the property of* ***Monika Smith Photography***

As darkness fell across the paddock and the temperature dropped but it has not killed the vibe. With everyone wanting to take advantage of what has become a rare event. It was time for BUSH!

Gavin Rossdale was never going to stop from bouncing around the stage as he delivered some solid vocals.

"I can't believe we’re here you know, it's beautiful to be here, thanks for coming out" he beamed as he looked out at all the people after such a long time away from the stage.

"I just can't believe we're here. It doesn't feel real even right before we came on stage i thought it's going to be cancelled!”

The last time BUSH came out 2017 been trying to come back ever since. They played “Blood River” as the crowd surged as one moving side to side, and jumping up and down.
The masses of energy were felt from the front of the stage all the way to the back of the paddock.

All I could hear from behind me as I shot was the crowd screaming and declaring their love for not only the band but in particular Rossdale.

You can feel the beat surge through your body as the song starts with 2 kicks then silence then 2 more kicks. Nothing beats that feeling of the music starting a concert and you get consumed by the sound. CONSUMED!

The whole band were incredible together as Rossdale tied it all together solidly.

Glycerine saw Rossdale take the stage with a couple light to highlight the BUSH singer in a singalong with the crowd in a surreal moment to be able to have something that feels so intimate with a singer in concert at a festival with people. Experiencing the same moment in a location with mass people for something positive and uplifting. Food for the soul. Everyone was just present in the moment savouring an experience many of us felt that we may never happen again.

***CHEAP TRICK*** *Images are copyrighted and remain the property of* ***Monika Smith Photography***

Cheap Trick were all dressed like fucking legends. Robin Zander had some epic pants on that I 100% wanted to steal. Love that they're all dressed amazingly

The entire band looked the happiest of all the acts from all of the bands from the day and they looked ready to rock out. Rick Nielsen threw out some guitar pics to the crowd however most of them showered down on us photographers and I was confused for a second as to what fell all over my head. The crowd on the barrier tried to get security and the photographers to pick them up and I managed to hand one to someone.

The band requested to turn on the lights so they could look out over all of the crowd, which made the crowd jump up, roar and wave their arms at the band to show that they were still full of energy and ready for Cheap Tricks set.

At this point most of the people who were in their camping chairs got up to sing and dance along to the beloved songs. Couples singing to each other in each other's arms. Pretty cute sight to see.

As the night slowly came to a close people faced in the giant puddles on their way in still rising in the high of the night. One woman even danced in giant puddle on the way out which was up to her knees as her friends screamed at her to get out or were buckled over laughing.

100% would recommend anyone considering heading to any Under The Southern Stars that come up in the future, well organised, and a great day out for you and your mates!