The Bacardi Express; it’s a pretty daunting concept, right? Sleeping, eating, traveling and living in the close quarters of a heritage train with five cooler-than-your-average bands as they pull in and out of four cities around the country, playing four enormous shows in just 48 hours. Add to that it’s put together by none other than mega-brand Bacardi and you can appreciate just how huge the annual Bacardi Express tour is. With full knowledge of just how little sleep we would be getting on this jazzed-up party train, inthemix climbed aboard the Southern Aurora steam engine for the Bacardi Express 2010 tour, shadowing this year’s choice selection of acts including international electro headliners La Roux, Art vs Science, Miami Horror, Cassette Kids and Sampology as they rode the rails from Brisbane down to Sydney via Coffs Harbour and Newcastle for an epic run of shows.

Aside from the obvious highlights on board the Bacardi Express locomotive such as sitting on some late night groove sessions in the band jam room and responsibly enjoying the drink service, what was easily the greatest triumph of the Bacardi Express was the reaction from fans. Opening the doors with free tickets for all, the crowds at every stop on the tour were positively mental, and with good reason too, because when is the next time that an act like La Roux will be dropping in on Coffs Harbour? Probably never. And the fans recognized this, showering the superstar lineup with their unending energy and adoration at each show. Each time Art vs Science took to the stage the reaction threatened to blow the roof of the venue, it was exhilarating to watch.

No surprise, the bands went just as hard as the fans and by the end of the tour voices were hoarse, eyes were bleary and bodies ready for a decent night’s sleep. But even that wasn’t enough to stop the whole crew from busting out a giant, all-in cover version of Boom! Shake The Room complete with an inter-band dance off to cap it all off. Unforgettable. And although we’re still recovering from the mammoth tour we can’t wait for next year.

Check out all the action from the tour with ITM’s Bacardi Express photo collection!