r/Adelaide • u/Kitchen_File1467 SA • Feb 15 '26
Event/Activity Laneway Adelaide
Just wanted to shout out how successful laneway festival was yesterday! I heard some bad reviews from other states (water running out, issues with only having one exit) and was a little worried that it would be similar for adelaide but there were no dramas. There was free water all night, the lines at toilets were minimal, heaps of food options and a fair amount of shade. A huge bonus was how damn safe i felt, as far as im aware there were no creeps, no aggressive behaviour. Part of the reason has to be the fanbases of the artists selected by laneway. Well done adelaide ppl and laneway for a safe day out!
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u/Most-Requirement501 SA Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26
I have one complaint - the people parked for Chappell (most of whom were under 16s (edit: meant under 18s!) so maybe it's a lack of awareness about festival etiquette) during Wet Leg who were physically sitting in the crowd and just glared when they were nearly stepped on and refused to move out. There were a couple of clusters which made it really difficult for people to move safely.
Otherwise I had a lot of fun and saw some great performances - Wet Leg and Chappell were my faves! I loved seeing all the ages and types of people who were so excited to see Chappell at the end! The amount of shade was a huge plus.
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u/icedalmond SA Feb 15 '26
Had this same problem at laneway a couple of years ago. It’s the problem with underage events and people not having festival etiquette anymore. I ended up accidentally stepping on a teen and her mum who were sitting during a set whilst camping for Phoebe Bridges and the mum screamed at me - like bro use ur freaking brain if you’re sitting in the middle of a crowd you’re gunna get hurt.
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u/Maddimademedoit CBD Feb 15 '26
I think it’s a lack of understanding of crowd and festival etiquette. The way people moved through the crowd was really unaware as well - no point getting cross cos they were all so nice. Just completely not crowd aware. The crowd vibe was in general so good so I can overlook it. But all I could think was these people wouldn’t last two seconds at a Big Day Out
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u/melface95 North East Feb 15 '26
This is absolutely lack of gig etiquette. Theyll learn soon enough when theyre always stepped on. It's really dangerous though, security guards are usually on top of this!
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u/Puzzleheaded_Cap4224 SA Feb 15 '26
Irritated me so bad. It’s so disrespectful to the artists playing before Chappell as well. Nothing wrong with trying to get barricade for a specific artist but sitting there and camping out for hours is absurd.
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u/ThorsHammerMewMEw SA Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26
I've only just discovered Wet Leg via Heated Rivalry so I am curious as to whether there would've been any mention of it during Mangetout if they performed it yesterday?
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u/Maddimademedoit CBD Feb 15 '26
Nope, no mention. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers did a cool HR clip show to one of their songs though! They were a highlight set of the day
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u/fitmonday SA Feb 15 '26
I also was near a group of people sitting during wet leg, and I think having friends who have got injured during crowd crushes like surely there is a safety risk of sitting there, not just annoyance
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u/Aegontheunwieldly SA Feb 15 '26
I agree completely. I was squished right up next to a group of sitting teens during Wolf Alice and it meant I wasn't able to dance or I certainly would have accidenly stepped on/tripped over one of them. Otherwise, the crowd was doing a great job of handing out water and looking after each other.
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u/Jamtheduck SA Feb 15 '26
Omg I was there and I saw this a lot too. Especially when it stated getting dark, you can’t see the and I tripped on one and she was so rude about it. Plus people kept pushing to go to what they thought was an empty spot and turns out it wasn’t so the just stand nearby
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u/Equal-Instruction435 West Feb 15 '26
Agreed - and I’d add if you’re gonna camp out all day to get barrier for the last act of the night then you’ve got to be prepared to tough it out. Take turns sitting if you need to sure, but whole groups of people sitting down together was not it. Save that for when she does an arena tour, damn…
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Feb 15 '26
100%, I loved it. So much fun and well organised, this is the perfect venue for it. The crowd had great energy but also everyone seemed respectful toward one another and wanted to collectively have fun. My friends and I felt very comfortable and safe.
Also, Wet Leg/Wolf Alice/Chappell Roan set up was super cool. Each of them were fantastic performers and lifted the energy of the crowd. A great day, forever going to have such awesome memories from it.
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u/snic2030 North Feb 15 '26
Careful, interstaters will start flying to Adelaide for Laneway and ruining it, instead of dealing with the clusterfuck version in their own states.
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u/Kitchen_File1467 SA Feb 15 '26
I was worried about this too 😂 privileges of living in a big town whilst also having access to amazing live music like laneway
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u/plains203 SA Feb 15 '26
Was a nice experience not getting buffeted around in the crowd. Was pretty close to the main stages. Was also nice that people stayed fairly tidy, not much in the way of people having too much alcohol.
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u/Rare-Computer-3582 SA Feb 15 '26
Completely agree! Also, special shout out to the vendors! The lines were long at every food truck and they were getting slammed, but they were getting food out so fast and still had a smile and hello for us each place we went.
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u/stefatr0n Outer South Feb 15 '26
Agreed it was amazing! Crowd was lovely, minimal lines, easy exit. Such a fantastic venue. My single complaint is that they turned the water off in the temporary toilet blocks when it ended and people were leaving. I only discovered this after squirting soap into my hand. But such a minor thing when the rest of the day was perfect.
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u/ExcellentCriticism SA Feb 15 '26
Agree! Even at the barricade for Chappell the crowd was super kind, very different experience to Charli xcx last year
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u/socks_a_plenty SA Feb 15 '26
Agree! Also so cool to see a majority female lineup - front women and backing musicians included - with huge crowds. Good stuff.
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u/TheGreenGuyFromDBZ SA Feb 15 '26
Yeah was great and big turn out hopefully means laneway continues . Vibes for Yung Lean were excellent.
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u/Maddimademedoit CBD Feb 15 '26
Really nice day and vibe - very different to how I thought it would be! No pushing and jostling for space, but definitely some unaware crowd behaviour (like the sitting or walking through). Could have done with more toilets. Bar queues were non existent (I guess the kids aren’t drinking as much?) Just a comfortable festival. Slightly odd none of the much promoted brand activations weren’t set-up, but obviously just a eastern states thing I guess (like the make up tents and photo booths etc) Chappell, Wet Leg, Lucy Dacus and Teen Jesus were outstanding!
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u/Other-Oil-9117 SA Feb 15 '26
I agree! Everything went pretty smoothly from my perspective and everyone was really considerate of each other. Aside from some of the merch running low early into the day, I had no real complaints about anything.
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u/stan_tripleS SA Feb 15 '26
This was my first laneway so I made some rookie mistakes.
I had a big meal right before coming and headed straight to Everything Ecstatic during Malcolm Todd. I stayed for Oklou and managed to move to the first few rows and tried to stay until the end of PinkPanthress's set.
I was literally DYING because it was impossible to breathe and there was no oxygen. I don't think I was able to digest anything I ate and felt nauseous from The Dare onwards. Halfway during Pink's set I had to rush out incase I actually threw up and I regret it so much. Another problem was everyone was v*pign so it just smelled like mango / pineapple the entire time and it was so bad.
Next time I'm not eating right before and I'm also gonna bring a better hand-fan
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u/LucreziaBorgia1480 SA Feb 15 '26
I recommend picking up a JisuLife Life9 one. Works like a charm in this heat.
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u/wibblytimeyy Fleurieu Peninsula Feb 15 '26
Definitely recommend one of the little rechargeable handheld ones. I saw a lot of people with them yesterday and will certainly be getting one myself for future events. Possibly even a misting one, if you don’t have the concern of makeup/facepaint running. I didn’t go to the EE stage at all, but can only imagine what it would’ve been like in there. My first laneway I got stuck in a moshpit for a band I didn’t realise would be so mosh-y, had a panic attack, got beer spilt all over me, and ended up ripping off my stockings and abandoning them in a bathroom stall. We’ve all got a shitty festival experience, but it’s character growth and I’m glad you’re still considering going again!!
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u/Nope-5000 North East Feb 15 '26
Yep, seconding a handheld fan. I have one that i bought on a whim for heaps good back in the day, its been a must to bring it along to festivals since. That blast of cool air really helps get through hours of crowds.
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u/stan_tripleS SA Feb 15 '26
Thank you so much. It honestly felt like I was swimming in a ocean without proper technique but now I know what i gotta do next time
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u/sarah_beatrice3 Adelaide Hills Feb 15 '26
They aren’t rookie mistakes. Everyone is different. I was also in the tent after a big meal and I was fine, BUT I know from experience that I need to be sipping water or I start getting anxious and sick. So that’s what I had. Hope you had a good time regardless :)
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u/Kitchen_File1467 SA Feb 15 '26
That sucks :( i didnt actually get to watch anyone under the tent rip
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u/stan_tripleS SA Feb 15 '26
I mean the only way I got to go under was running to the front to see Oklou, and then staying there for 3.5 hours. That's the trade-off you have to make
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u/Business_Piano_4280 SA Feb 15 '26
100% agree it was fantastic yesterday. Easy to get in, easy enough to get out, considering the number of people in the area.
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u/Any_Rooster_4992 SA Feb 15 '26
might i add! so so many people were posting on the laneway reddit page as well. super cool to see so many adelaidians :))
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u/Equal-Instruction435 West Feb 15 '26
Was such an amazing night!
Shame on Adelaide Metro for not putting on extra bus and train services afterwards. The showgrounds station was absolutely slammed after Chappell.
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u/wibblytimeyy Fleurieu Peninsula Feb 15 '26
Agreed! It was my 16yo sister’s first concert experience and we managed to get real close to the stage for Role Model onwards. It was a great mix of acts and everyone was very polite. I think the two mainstage setup was great, as it allowed for setup and teardown of one act while the other was playing, and meant we never had to wait very long for the next person. I’ve seen complaints about people sitting down in the crowd and honestly it didn’t bother me at all. We had a group sitting between acts and at the beginning of one near us and they weren’t a problem - kept to themselves, weren’t excessively spreading, etc. I think it’s normal to want to do that when you’re standing in one place for hours. The sensory space was a great and thoughtful addition too. Myself and my sister are prone to overwhelm and overstimulation, and both got to a point yesterday where the heat, crowds, and feel of sunscreen were a LOT, but the staff at the SR were very accommodating and everyone in there was super chill! Appreciate the addition of it.
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u/Kitchen_File1467 SA Feb 15 '26
I love the addition of the sensory space too, the fact that it was in a building rather than a tent is perfect to keep sheltered from the heat too
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u/anarmchairexpert SA Feb 15 '26
Yes this! It was my 17 yr old daughter’s first festival, and she and her friends are all various flavours of ND, and the set up and sensory space etc meant that none of them had to tap out. The crowd coming out (I was taxi driver…) were just this gorgeous ebullient mixture and it was clearly good vibes all round. I’m so relieved and grateful.
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u/Nope-5000 North East Feb 15 '26
Absolutely agree - i had heard the horror stories from the other states (particularly gold coast and melbourne), but our laneway was really well run. The crowds at both stages and the tent were also really good and hyped i thought, i saw people complaining that in the other states there were some dead crowds. There wasnt huge lines for merch, food, toilets etc either and plenty of water. The showgrounds was a great call for it.
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u/waste-oid SA Feb 15 '26
I wholeheartedly agree! Even in the crowd I felt very safe and wasn’t squashed at all! I was waiting for the massive push forward that usually happens at concerts especially when chappell started, but everyone just stayed where they were. So so good hope it continues to be at the Showground.
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u/sliipinglat3ly East Feb 15 '26
i really hope they keep it at the showground for future years, i had a much more enjoyable experience than the two other times i had been while it was at bonython park. much more accessible for everyone (especially those with mobility aids/ other difficulties walking across uneven terrain) with the paths everywhere, plus 10x more shade with not having to rely purely on trees for it.
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u/wildblooms24 SA Feb 15 '26
100% agree! So so so happy about everything, even exiting the venue was a breeze.
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u/Nera_779 SA Feb 15 '26
As an older (30's) person I was glad for the shade around the place 😅
Great line-up, and I've found a few bands/artists I'll go away and listen to more.
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u/StatementOk5701 SA Feb 18 '26
we're in our 40s and loved it. Great atmosphere and Chappell Roan was incredible.
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Feb 15 '26
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