SOMETHING IN THE AIR
New Zealand’s hottest music outfit of the day kicks off Darwin Festival opening weekend, with a massive concert at Fort Hill Parklands.
WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
COULD THIS BE your new favourite band? If you haven’t heard of L.A.B yet, don’t worry, you’re gonna know them well. And soon.
In just a few short years, they’ve climbed the ranks to become one of New Zealand’s most successful bands of all time, their tune ‘In The Air’ the biggest track in the country to date, holding the record for longest at top spot in the Official NZ Top 40 Singles Chart.
L.A.B combines an eclectic mix of reggae, electronic, blues, and funk to create a sound entirely their own, proving to be a recipe for success, with appearances at all major festivals in NZ, and going on to sell-out a bunch of shows in Australia and the US.
Miharo Gregory plays keys and features on vocals, and says they’re keen to make the trip across the ditch to perform on Territory soil for the first time.
“We're all super excited to come to Darwin! For most of us, it's our first time coming to the city at all, let alone playing there as L.A.B, so it's always an exciting feeling to be able to play somewhere new,” he says.
“We've heard amazing things about the Darwin Festival, and we're honoured that they invited us to come and perform there. We're also just super excited to grab a bit of sunshine and get out of a particularly wet winter here in NZ.”
An L.A.B gig is one for the memory bank, their shows critically acclaimed for being an entertaining live experience. Gregory hopes Darwin Festival audiences walk away with a smile on their chops.
“We really just hope that fans enjoy themselves and have a good time watching us play. For us, playing live is what it's all about,” he says.
“As much fun as it can be creating in the studio, nothing beats the feeling of walking on stage in front of an audience. We have so much fun playing live ourselves as a band, and we just hope people have a good time enjoying that alongside us.”
Being the first time for the band on Territory soil, they’re keen to make the most of it, and encourage anyone out there to slide into their DMs with any hot tips.
“We've got a little bit of time before the show, and I think the first thing we'll be doing is sampling some of the local cuisine – if you've got any recommendations, please send us a DM! We've heard that Darwin has killer laksa, too, that's definitely top of the list,” Gregory says.
“Often times with touring, you are in and out, and don't get to spend any time in the city where you are playing, so this is a treat to be able to explore a new place. The visual art aspects of the Festival look particularly fascinating, too, so that's something we'll try and catch and soak up.”
We concur. If you want art, food, and culture – without the winter chill – Darwin during August is the place to be.
Supported by local acts Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and Juran, Gregory says the night’s set to be a hit for live music fans.
“People who love live music will enjoy the chemistry, energy, and musicianship of the band. [We’re] looking forward to sweating up a storm on probably one of the hottest stages we’ll play on!”
L.A.B
WHEN SAT 9 AUG | 5.30-10.15PM
AT FORT HILL PARKLANDS
COST $89-$140
INFO darwinfestival.org.au
Image: Phillip Mountfort
