A rhapsody of creativity and connection in the heart of the Grampian Plains, Pitch Music & Arts returns for its eighth edition, spanning four days from March 7 to 11. The highly anticipated event boasts a lineup of acclaimed local and international artists.
As we all know, choosing the right shoes for a weekend of dancing and wandering across unpredictable terrain is essential for any festival preparation. Your footwear needs to match a variety of outfits, but more importantly, it must support and carry you across dust, mud, uneven ground, and hours of stomping.
Discover more about Australia’s musical talent in FJ’s Music section.
To celebrate this year of art and music, gorpcore brand Merrell will release its limited-edition Pitch Music & Arts Hydro Moc AT Cage at 12pm (AEDT) on February 25. Designed to move seamlessly between raw landscapes and expansive stages, its water-friendly EVA foam cage upper provides a secure lock-in with an external heel sling and toggle lace closure, allowing festivalgoers to dance freely and comfortably for hours on end.
Featuring custom elements by Melbourne-based creatives Bugskin, a multifaceted label redefining upcycling by repurposing discarded vinyl, the collaboration is available in two colourways – Black and Coyote. Curious to know how the performers approach their footwear, we asked six artists from this year’s Pitch lineup about their go-to festival shoes.
Jennifer Loveless
Footwear of choice: Herrensauna x Buffalo Source collaboration Trakker boot
Originally from Toronto, local dance scene icon Jennifer Loveless delivers live performances that are experimental, fluid and emotionally charged. She weaves musical language through narratives that reflect her love of nature and community, showcasing her keen eye for nuance.
For Jennifer, the Herrensauna x Buffalo Source collaboration Trakker boot has been her go-to for every festival, long-haul club weekend and beach-to-park rave. “Durable AF, ridiculously comfortable, and they go with most of my outfits,’ she says. As all well-loved shoes should be, hers are completely beaten up – “and they look fab that way.”
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(@jenniferrloveless)Lady Shaka
Footwear of choice: Adidas Respect M.E Remix Boots
Born in Aotearoa and now based in London, Lady Shaka is a multifaceted DJ, music producer, and interdisciplinary artist whose work reflects and intersects with her queer identity and her connections to whenua (land) and moana (ocean).
Lady Shaka’s first love was hip-hop, shaped by the beats of Timbaland and Nicki Minaj lyrics, who made her feel like that girl. However, no one embodied that feeling for her quite like Missy Elliott. “She was, and still is, a trendsetter, a lyrical genius, an innovative woman way ahead of her time, and completely in her own lane,” Lady Shaka tells us.“Her influence shaped not just my taste in music but my swag, my attitude, and my love for hip-hop culture.”
Because of this, her festival shoe – the Adidas Respect M.E Remix Boots by Missy Elliott (now discontinued) – is more than just footwear, it’s a piece of her childhood. “Every time I see these boots, I feel that nostalgia rush back. They remind me of who I was and who I still am: a kid who fell in love with hip-hop, thanks to Missy Elliott.”
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Ed Kent
Footwear of choice: Isamu Katayama Backlash Engineer Boots
At just 23 years old, Australian DJ and producer Ed Kent has been making a name for himself for over a decade. With an uncompromising approach to his craft, he has played at renowned institutions around the world, including Manchester’s revered Warehouse Project and Berlin’s RSO.
When it comes to festival footwear, Ed’s go-to choice is a “nicely worn-in pair of boots.” His current favourite is a set of Isamu Katayama Backlash Engineer Boots, “which I’ve found to be sufficient in resisting everything a festival can throw at you.’ He also notes that slip-on styles are ideal: “It ain’t much fun having to lace up between barefoot areas and campsite visits,” he says, making the Engineer Boots a perfect choice.
While Ed admits he “can’t go past a good heel,” he prioritises comfort and mobility while performing: “I move around a lot and have too much respect for my knees – I’ll stick with something flat(ish).”
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Kuzco
Footwear of choice: Marc Jacob 6-inch Kiki pumps
Kuzco is a Meanjin (Brisbane) born Australian/Maori club DJ, keyboardist and producer known for her invigorating electronic and dance music. Her sound weaves elements of electronic, pop, bruk, and house together, forging her own unique sound.
Her individual style also translates into her colourful and exciting outfits. Although Kuzco has “always been a little impractical when it comes to festival shoe attire,” she never has any regrets about wearing her Marc Jacob 6-inch Kiki pumps: “They inspire me to embrace my performance persona and as a short gxrly, I really appreciate the height. After all, how often do we get to be impractical?”
Kuzco’s stage presence includes going all in for the theatrics of the performance, although the transition to Crocs post-set is “always very humbling,” she says.
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Naycab
Footwear of choice: A pair of black Hokas
Naycab is a Gunai/Kurnai, Gunditjmara, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta writer and DJ. Their sound is grounded in place, and in the relationship between DJ as performer, and audience as community. Blending techno, house, and acid genres, Naycab is committed to championing Black and queer producers. They’ve supported international acts such as INVT, Jyoty and Saliah, as well as local legends like Dameeeela, DJ PGZ, Bertie, and Sleep D.
For Naycab, the perfect festival shoe depends on several factors: Where is the festival? How far apart are the stages? And what’s the weather doing? “At one of my first gigs, I wore open-toed sandals, ended up in the pit, and got trampled. A man helped me up, and we ended up pashing,” they recall. “We didn’t end up together – some dalliances are just novel, place-based experiences, and that’s okay – but he could have been the love of my life. Had I been wearing a sensible shoe, we wouldn’t have pashed.”
These days, their festival shoe of choice is a pair of black Hokas,“in case I need to run away from my enemies.”
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Stev Zar
Footwear of choice: Fake Prada riding boots
Stev Zar emerged from Melbourne’s club scene, shaping her fast-paced, ever-evolving sound through its diverse spaces. Now based in Naarm, she blends fierce percussion, bass-heavy club, experimental electro, and southside rap with acapellas and cinematic scores—chaotic yet rooted in the present. With a focus on body euphoria, she uplifts trans bodies and challenges audiences to move beyond genre. Beyond DJing, she’s also a producer and curator, leaving a lasting mark on the scene.
Stev is a firm believer in utility and comfort, which is why she opts for her fake Prada riding boots, which “always protect me from festival terrain whilst providing breathability with their wide leg design.” The key to the perfect festival shoe is not only comfort and durability, but, of course, versatility. Stev’s fake Prada books for example are easily paired with baggy shorts or a flowy skirt, “depending on what mood you’re in, although I’m in need of a new pair as someone stole my left boot at a party a few weeks back – RIP.” As is in every wardrobe, “flat leather knee highs are a staple.”
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To get your hands on the Pitch Music & Arts Hydro Moc AT Cage, sign up to the waitlist here.
This article Six artists playing Pitch Music & Arts share their festival footwear of choice appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-02-19 09:42:00
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