After a turbulent 2024, the dizzy energy and excitement of Pitch Music & Arts was so back over the long weekend. Celebrating its eighth year, the festival came to life in Moyston in the grassy foothills of the Grampians. Four days. Three electrifying stages. A stellar line-up.

Day one kicked off with sets from emerging local talents Miki, Kimboclat and Mikalah Watego. Berlin-based producer and DJ Southstar took the crowd into the night at the brutalist-style main stage, with Melbourne duo 6 Sense closing it out with a high-tempo yet groovy set.

The Pitch Black stage returned with a new design this year, featuring the festival’s first ever 360-degree multi-level dance floor – and the energy was, as expected, pumping. Belgian talent Pegassi commanded the decks from 1am, flashing his high-energy track 227kg.

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The Resident Advisor stage, back again with its signature red orb, had some great moments. Italian DJ Gabber Eleganza performed his Hakke Show for the first time outside Europe, featuring gabber dancers stomping to the genre’s trademark overdriven kickdrums. Italian acid techno duo 999999999 drew massive numbers and were one of the weekend’s best acts, dropping a hard-hitting remix of Tove Lo’s Habits and rounding out the night with The Obsessed’s Free Yourself. German duo FJAAK followed with three superb hours of storming techno and UK garage.

Day two’s highlight was undoubtedly revered English DJ Joy Orbison. Making his Aussie debut at the main stage, he dropped the low-slung Flight FM – a track that’s conquered dance floors around the world. Colombian trance DJ Funk Tribu followed with a groovy, supercharged energy into the early hours of the morning.

Matching group costumes were rampant this year. We saw it all: soccer teams, schmick suits, fairy floss pink wigs, Minions, Teletubbies, chefs dressed in aprons and toques. A group of brides decked out in puffy white gowns and veils had their first dance.

For others, nostalgic Y2K looks reigned supreme, taking over from the boho chic and western themes of years past. Beckham soccer jerseys were paired with ruffled miniskirts. G-strings peeked out from oversized denim jorts. Chunky retro belts sat low over micro booty shorts. Cowboy boots were out and furry mid-calf numbers were in. Sheer lacey silhouettes billowed in the dusty wind.

And like Salomon and Crocs before it, dad-shoe brand Merrel has muscled its way to cool status, spotted in and around the d-floor – including Pitch’s sold-out, limited-edition collab with the footwear brand’s popular Hydro Moc AT Cage style.

But the accessory of the year? Walking canes – yes, as in the ones for the elderly. They’ve seemingly replaced doof sticks as the carry of choice, perhaps after last year’s backlash and Pitch’s subsequent post about doof stick etiquette.

Maybe it was the lack of naff puns scrawled on corflute, but the vibes were immaculate for days three and four. Special surprise guest Yasmin Gardezi took over Pitch Black and Lady Shaka’s mix of jungle, reggaeton, dancehall and ’00s pop got everyone smiling for nearly two hours. Even the heavens couldn’t resist joining, as the rain poured down to Fleetwood Mac. It was banger after banger, including hits from Azealia Banks, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

At night, Anetha and DJ Gigola tore up the main stage with hard techno while a rare back-to-back with Daria Kolosova and SPFDJ closed the RA stage. The weekend ended soulfully, with house and golden-era disco courtesy of fashion icon Honey Dijon, then a three-hour set from Amsterdam’s Job Jobse, concluding with Armand Van Helden’s I Want Your Soul – one of the best.