Sister act Haim to rock festival in Australia

MENTION Haim, those three prodigiously talented sisters from California, to a post modern music fan and you are usually met with a gushing exclamation of adoration.

Even before they became regulars on buddy Taylor Swift’s Instagram feed or a sought-after photo opp on that sweeping staircase leading into the annual Met Ball, Este, Danielle and Alana were embraced by critics and music fans for their debut album Days Are Gone.

Darlings of alternative radio for their undeniable, sunny pop melodies, they became queens of the festival stages in Australia with their ferocious live performances.

These young women made pop look like a rock band, all blistering guitar and drum solos, their long hair flying all over the place, moshpits provoked into sweaty, heavy masses.

Eldest sister Este remembers performing at the Laneway festival in 2014 – the year Lorde also made her mark as a main stage event – and almost melting in the summer sun.

“That was a big moment for us, something we always look back on as being one of the best times. But yeah, it was very, very hot. We were sweaty that day,” she said, laughing. “I loved it.”

The sisters continued circumnavigating the globe as their record peaked at No. 1 in the UK, No. 2 in Australia and No. 6 in the US, kept afloat on the airwaves by the ear candy of singles including The Wire, If I Could Change Your Mind and Falling.

These young women who had served their apprenticeship playing parties and fetes in Rockinhaim, the band fronted by their parents Moti and Donna, were now having dinner with their hero Stevie Nicks and hanging out in U2’s inner studio sanctum.

Apparently Simpsons fans Bono does a fine Smithers impression.

“We have been the biggest fans of Stevie Nicks since we were little; I remember my dad introducing us to her music and going to see her in concert and thinking she is magical,” Alana said.

Haim perform at Splendour In The Grass in Byron Bay from July 21 to 23.