As festivals start to return in Australia, it's likely that they'll feature heavily Australian line-ups. While the likes of Flume and Tame Impala have already headlined festivals in Australia before, it's time that some different artists make the step up to headliner status - especially given the unique set of circumstances presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
We've had a look at some artists that we think would be perfect choices to make the step up to headline a festival, and what makes them a great choice. With Falls Festival announcing that this year's edition will be an all-Australian affair, we're expecting to see some of these names feature at the top of the bill, as well as other line-up announcements in the near future.
READ MORE: 10 Artists We Need To See An Australian Tour From ASAP
Tkay Maidza
Tkay Maidza continues to bring out hit after hit, and her music lends itself perfectly to putting on a party - just look at her latest song Shook. We'd love to see Tkay playing a festival-closing spot, to get the party going one last time, because her energy is that infectious.
Who wouldn't want to see her play the lines of M.O.B, Awake and the track that started it all, Brontosaurus, live? Tkay is one of Australia's best live hip-hop performers - so it's about time she's given the chance to shine at the top of a festival bill.
ONEFOUR
While they might only have a few songs out, there's no doubt that ONEFOUR are one of the hottest artists in the country. They've played a handful of live shows - so what better opportunity to unveil a huge live show than as a festival headliner?
The hype around the Mount Druitt hip-hop group is huge, so a festival headlining spot for ONEFOUR would be memorable for both the group, and anyone lucky enough to be in attendance. If you're not convinced of their star potential, then their collaboration with A$AP Ferg, Say It Again, shows they can go toe-to-toe on record with some of the best in the game, and there's no reason to think that live it would be any different.
Thelma Plum
2019 was a huge year for Thelma Plum, with the release of her debut album, Better In Blak. The title track from the album came in at #9 in the Hottest 100 for 2019, and Better Is Blak is full of hits that would make the perfect soundtrack for an evening set.
Homecoming Queen and Made For You (which features guitarwork from Sir Paul McCartney) were two of Australia's most-loved tracks of 2019, as well as Better In Blak, so hearing them live on a festival mainstage would be a fitting treat.
Client Liaison
Client Liaison pride themselves on elaborate stage setups, so they're all ready to go if the opportunity to headline a festival comes around. Dancers, props and fireworks all combine to make one hell of a spectacle - and on a huge Australian stage, the band will come into their own.
Remember when they brought out Tina Arena at Splendour In The Grass 2017? Festival organisers, you know who to call if you want to see a repeat of that - the song might be called A Foreign Affair, but it'll be an all-Australian extravaganza when Client Liaison take to the stage.
DMA'S
DMA'S love touring Australia, and Australia love it when they tour. They've received acclaim globally for their stage presence. Whether it's in a tiny venue, or some of the biggest festival stages the world has to offer, the band brings it every time.
Their music sounds perfect in a night-time outdoor setting because those songs are just perfect for group singalongs, so how about Saturday night at Splendour in the Ampitheatre? Delete, Step Out The Morphine and Lay Down are all guaranteed crowd-pleasers - and that's not to mention their cover of Cher's Believe, which was one of THE moments of the festival when they played it at Splendour In The Grass 2018. You know it makes sense.
Stella Donnelly
Ever since Stella Donnelly released her debut EP, Thrush Metal, back in 2017, she's been touring relentlessly, and with good reason. Her songs consistently inspire huge singalongs at whatever festival she's playing, so why not turn that into a headlining set?
She might even play her cover of Love Is In The Air - which is always true at a festival, especially on the dance floor. That's not to mention Boys Will Be Boys, Lunch and Old Man - Stella puts on a stellar show, and already, her discography is more than worthy of a headline slot at an Aussie festival once things start to return to normal.
Ball Park Music
Ball Park Music have gained a reputation as one of Australia's best live bands over the last decade, so why not give them the chance to prove it? Their output has been prolific ever since they begun, so they've racked up a huge setlist's worth of hits, such as She Only Loves Me When I'm There, Fence Sitter, Tripping The Light Fantastic and many, many more.
They've played pretty much every festival in Australia, and are seasoned festival veterans. Playing a headline set won't be as daunting to them as it might be to some of the newer artists on this list - after all, we all want to be feeling like It's Nice To Be Alive given the events of the past few months.
Sia
Sia last toured in 2017, but now that she's gearing up for a new album Music out soon, what better time to put on a huge homecoming show than in 2020? She's already got experience playing huge festivals, such as her performance at Coachella in 2016, so bringing her arena-sized live show to a festival stage like Splendour or Falls wouldn't be a huge stretch. We'd love to see Chandelier played on a huge Australian stage - and we hope she brings Maddie Ziegler to dance like on her last Australian tour.
PNAU
PNAU have been around since 1999, so you know they've got their live show down to a science. Having worked with Elton John, there's little doubt they've learnt a thing or two about headlining huge stages from the Rocketman, so why not give them a chance to show it off?
If you want your festival to Go Bang, and don't want people to disappear into the night like a Chameleon, and you want to get a festival-sized party going, then call in PNAU - you know it makes sense. Their costume and light show has to be seen to be believed - and at Splendour In The Grass 2018, their set was one of the most talked-about.
Golden Features
You'd be hard pressed to find someone better at filling a dance floor than Golden Features. Over the past few years, Golden Features has been touring the world, hidden behind a mask - which just adds to the mystique.
A cameo from The Presets might even be on the cards - two iconic Australian dance acts in the one set? Sounds good to us. Raka and Paradise dropping as the clock hits midnight at Falls on New Year's Eve would be a good way to salute 2020 (and what a year it's been already), and start 2021 off right.
