As one of the highlights of RUSSH’s year, there was no way a little bit of rain was going to deter us from enjoying every aspect and every artist at Laneway Festival 2026.
Whether it was loitering by the catering station to catch a glimpse of PinkPantheress, being behind Chappell Roan in cue for gelato (she chose Mapo Gelato's Chocolate Hazelnut flavour), or accidentally revealing a little too much to The Dare, RUSSH was ready to experience it all.
One of life’s greatest pleasures is being able to talk to artists about their art, so back to backs with some of the most engaging artists on the line up, is always a dream come true for us. Not to mention the team RUSSH festival fashion and street style, people watching with a Mary’s burger.
Jensen Mcrae
To start the day, Social Media Editor Samantha Corry in the iconic Alexa-inspired denim shorts and her Grandmother’s boots had the chance to sit down once more with her personal favourite, Jensen McRae. Effervescent and radiating excitement McRae, felt right at home in Australia, and even warmed by hearing hundreds of fans from a country she had never been to until today, singing and screaming her songs. She let us know she'd be singing Taylor Swift's Guilty As Sin as a cover in her set, which she said was "so fun to play. I was covering it solo for a while, but then I brought it to the band and it's so fun to play with all of them."
Djanaba
We next spoke with proud Queer Bundjalung artist, Djanaba, who is known for her anthemic electro-pop. Features and Production Editor Cassie (romantically decked out in vintage Chloé) got into the thick of it discussing Djanaba’s dancefloor energy. She let us know that she's on the precipice of releasing a remix version of her album, Did I Stutter? – featuring "lots of mob, and lots of queer artists".
Lucy Dacus
I (RUSSH's Music Editor) then sat down with Dacus and locked matching green eyes, forming a club, and possibly falling in love. Dacus was warm, open and vulnerable as we discussed the necessity to tell those we love that we love them – rather than wasting time concealing feelings.
Sunglasses in the club is something I thought I’d be discussing exclusively with The Dare, but Dacus and I discussed her love of glasses whilst dancing, as a way of closing your eyes and immersing yourself in the music, and concealing what you’re actually looking at. If she’s hijacking the aux chord at your party, she’s playing a lot of Lady Gaga.
Kitty Callaghan, in the festival’s most iconic Acne trousers that matched her red hair, was on the tools capturing photos and Polaroids when Dacus suggested that the RUSSH team form a band. I will be petitioning.
The Dare
Next up, we lured in The Dare with whom I playfully pulled out some alternative references other than LCD Soundsystem. He’s big into The Rapture, and I confess that I had a copy of Out of The Races and Onto Tracks on CD in my parent’s car (no, I’m not in my 20s... sigh).
Naturally, we needed to know if the RUSSH team was invited to Freakquencies party that evening, and how that party series came to be. Essentially, The Dare loved throwing parties during school, got into a lot of trouble doing it, but didn’t stop. His origin story is one of someone who is persistently naughty. If he could, he would invite the original studio 54 crew to the club, and of course David Bowie. But, you will get kicked out if you stare at the DJ and don’t get lost in the music. You’ve been warned.
Oklou
Oklou (pronounced ‘Okay Lou’ for those wondering) was – in the way all French women are – just effortlessly and unbelievably cool. She arrived eating ice cream with blue tipped nails and her hair being set for her performance. We discuss the influence of her classical background on her music and she reveals she is far more interested in melody than in lyrics. She is known for collaborating with Sega Bodega, PinkPantheress and many of the PC Music crew, but is interested in being a voyeur in the studio and would love to watch Caroline Polachek work.
Wolf Alice
Annoyingly, I forgot to ask Wolf Alice about the Angela Carter short story by the same name, so should the opportunity to speak to them arise again, we will get into books. However, with four albums under their belt now, I’m keen to know what they have learnt from the industry and their experience, and how to survive in an ever changing musical landscape. Singer Ellie Roswell explains that keeping things exciting for the band internally, and not solely thinking about their audience has played a key role in their development, along with exercising restraint. RUSSH noticed a lot of covers in Laneway’s artists sets, so wondered if Wolf Alice would consider doing something? However, bassist Theo Ellis, is finding fitting in their now large back catalogue of four albums hard enough, without adding covers. And would we really want to dilute the Wolf Alice experience?
Geese
Before wrapping the night with Benee, we’d been drifting from pit to pit – catching Australian icons The Wiggles stepping into their unexpected role as the latest “Sally” for Role Model, and managing to snap a little of Geese’s set from the photography pit in between. But never underestimate the power of accessories at a festival. Kitty’s Acne sunglasses – the ones that send her into full “bug mode” whenever she slips them on – were so coveted that Geese drummer Max Bassin made a beeline for the RUSSH team, eager to try them out and pose for a Polaroid.
Benee
When we sat down with Benee, it was a reunion of sorts – our Features and Production Editor Cassandra having spoken to the singer recently about some of her new album Ur An Angel I’m Just Particles, her upcoming tour AU/NZ tour dates, and a special project we can’t quite tell you about just yet. Benee was quick to inform us of her predictions for the rest of the festival (namely that there “ might be rain in Melbourne” and that she “might have a really good time”) and expressed her disappointment that she wouldn't be able to catch The Dare's set since they were clashing on the schedule. "It's alright though – I saw him in LA.." she commiserated.
After a fabulous encounter with Benee’s mother, it was time to stash the mics and capture the rest of the night on the ground. The anticipation for Chappell Roan’s set was beyond palpable and the guests of the festival had truly dedicated themselves to her aesthetic. It was everything they could have hoped for and more, including a castle, because what touring artist shouldn’t bring a castle? She is the Princess of the Midwest after all.
