On the Bright Side Perth festival review On the Bright Side Festival - Band The Strokes. Picture: Sean Middleton Source: PerthNow FIFTEEN thousand music fans came out of hibernation this week as the inaugural On The Bright Side festival provided the chance to dance away the winter blues. It's virtually unknown of for Perth to host a music festival post-May and pre-September, but this Splendour in the Grass spin-off proved to be the perfect winter tonic. Despite being a brand new event, On The Bright Side went off without a hitch. Well organised and well run, the festival proved to be a roaring success from start to finish. Pictures: On the Bright Side highlights Eight stellar bands comprised the line-up, but it was headliners The Strokes who pulled off the performance of the night after a four year absence from our shores. Despite having no fourth album to spruik as yet, the uber-cool New Yorkers were in career best form. If it's a sign of things to come then get very excited because the new album due mid 2011 should be a corker. Playing a varied set of material from their seminal debut Is This It, follow-up Room on Fire and 2006's First Impressions of Earth, the band were ferociously good. Frontman Julian Casablancas was incredible as he snarled his way through New York City Cops and who could resist singing along to Last Nite and Someday. It doesn't get much better. Mumford & Sons were also outstanding. Playing songs from their No. 1 debut Sigh No More as well as a few new songs, it is easy to see that months on the road have turned the West London four-piece into a fabulous live band. Fiddles, a double bass, guitars, keys, drums, it was all going on as the band powered through the title track Sigh No More and The Cave. Of course the big top erupted to the opening strains of Little Lion Man as folk started stamping and singing along. Fabulous festival fare. Angus & Julia Stone's quirky folk pop is not to everyone's taste, but it's hard to deny the aesthetically pleasing siblings have a charm all of their own. Julia Stone was simply bewitching as she spun in circles, holding up her gypsy style skirt, her long her fanning around her. The pair delighted the audience with songs from their two albums A Book Like This and follow up Down The Way including the beautiful and whimsical Mango Tree. Having recently released one of the best albums of the year in Infinite Arms, Band of Horses were a major drawcard for many. Having recently toured through the US with Pearl Jam, the band were on top of their game. The five-piece achieved a full rich sound that perfectly carried songs such as Factory and Compliments. In fact it was almost hard to believe we were at a festival the sound was so sublime. Many could do little more than stand mesmerised. Arts Vs Science were a stark contrast playing prior to Band of Horses. The fourth band of the day, the three-piece got up to their usual festival hijinks. Bashing their keyboards, dashing around the stage and taking masterful control of the crowd. New track Magic Fountain went down a treat alongside Flippers and Parlez Vous Francais? There's no keeping these boys down. Hot Chip seemed to take the Bright Side theme quite literally in Hawaiian shirts and white suits. Didn't anyone tell them it was winter? Not that you would know it from the clear blue skies and unseasonably warm day in the city. The likeable Londoners wowed the crowd with a surprisingly rocky set which at times employed dual drummers. One Life Stand from the album of the same name and Over and Over were highlights in a faultless 40 minute set. Bluejuice's infectious tunes provided reason to head to the festival early. The dual vocal punch of Jake Stone and Stavros Yiannoukas gives the Sydney act a unique edge and their playful approach on songs such as Triple J favourite Broken Leg, makes it impossible not to surrender to the good times. Those there from gates opening would have been treated to Queensland's The Middle East who opened proceedings just after noon. The Queensland seven-piece have been steadily gaining a stellar reputation after impressive performances supporting the Doves and at Laneway festival in February. So there were eight great reasons to dance away the doldrums at a fantastic festival. Organisers are keen to make On The Bright Side an annual event and we can't wait to see what they have in store for us next time. On The Bright Side The Esplanade, Perth Sat, July 24