In a time of ever-increasing music festivals, with gigs spread over two weekends across the country, the idea of cramming as much as you possibly can into one such weekend, tied in with a ‘train’ concept running ‘express’ from one venue to the next, is tacky at worst, and novel, at best. Figuring that the reality was somewhere in between, a decision to attend the Sydney leg of this year’s Bacardi Express was made. With a line up that was never going to set too many hearts a flutter, but given the concept seemed appropriate, we were all aboard to Luna Park.

Walking in to the dulcet tones of David Bowie and Queen and their epic Under Pressure, we were wondering what truly lay ahead. As 9pm ticket over, our station master reported that Miami Horror had arrived. Unfortunately, and despite countless checks from the sound guys, it wasn’t right. We moved upstairs for a different taste, and it was more of the same. Nevertheless, the lads persevered, and certainly didn’t let it deflate their spirits – or egos – and bashed out an hour of power.

The crowd was fresh and young, and despite the occasional maxi dress rearing its ugly head, it was on the whole, kitted out nicely for the occasion. Probably not that surprising for this side of the Bridge.

Yves Klein Blue got up on stage and with a lead singer that looked ridiculously like one notoriously fringed ITMer, the crowd was lost. While the fringe surely was not to blame, the music certainly didn’t help. Hell, in an attempt to get the crowd going he urged the crowd. “Help me along I’m a bad singer.’ Quote. End quote. Hey, at least he tells it like it is.

In between the live acts, the music policy was seemingly ‘anything goes’. Fresh Prince, Rhianna, even some Temper Trap humming about their Sweet Disposition. Then, with a night that chugged along, but probably didn’t set the place on fire – the headliner arrived. La Roux.

Last time La Roux graced our shores for the Parklife tour in October 2009, performances – when they did happen – were cut short due to lead singer Elly Jackson suffering from a sore throat. Imagine the crowd’s groan of disgruntlement when she once again announced that we would have to go easy on her, as she had – you guessed it – a sore throat. Not entirely sure what this girl has been jamming down her throat on her visits down-under, but it needs to stop. Nevertheless, the 80’s revivalist did her thing, although her engagement with the crowd could’ve gone up a notch. That said, her percussionist – who looked like he’d taken a leaf out of the Eric Morillo playbook – as he got increasingly intimate with his equipment, more than made up for it.

The crowd got their favourites, and there was even a nice rendition of the Rolling Stones’ tune Under My Thumb, before finishing off with their biggest tunes – In For The Kill and Bulletproof. The night complete, the crowd departed, on the whole pretty chuffed with the way it all panned out. What it may have lacked in quality acts was certainly made up for with a pumping crowd. Mix the two together, and it is a pretty good result for a Saturday night.