Cronulla, the "place of pink shells", is a beachside suburb, approximately 30 kilometers south of Sydney's central business district in the Sutherland Shire, an area which serves as the backdrop for the classic 1981 coming-of-age film Puberty Blues, for which much of today's laid-back, relaxed audience would have been the perfect cast, as the Sounds of the Suburbs festival is aimed at Sydney's beautiful young people, people of 18 to 24. Squeezed into Wilbar Alley behind the quintessential Space 44 gallery that transformed a home into a live music and art venue, and the Mexican restaurant/bar El Sol, the fourth installment of the boutique but thriving Sounds of the Suburbs a festival was held. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Sounds of the Suburbs is a laneway festival filled with Sydney's newest and brightest indie artists, the odd touring band, Mexican food and culture located in Sydney's southern suburbs. Summa summarum: all the key ingredients for a great DIY festival. 2016's all-day indie bill spanned multiple stages, one of which was open to anyone who brought a device and plugged in whatever they wanted, and was complemented by an art room showcasing works by locals with creative, as well as Mexican food from El Sol and Italian wood-fired pizza. Unfortunately only Budweiser was served on the beer front and while one was drooling over the excellent selection of tequila displayed at the back of El Sol's bar, only sangria and rum were served. Sacre bleu! Featuring DZ Deathrays (fresh from an immensely successful Australian tour with Violent Soho), surf-inspired Guantanamo Baywatch, Peter Bibby, Alex Lahey, Verge Collection, Big White, Wild Honey, James Crooks, Tees, Pist Idiots, Baxter, Wash, Amyl And The Sniffers, Heads Of Charm, Red Wine Roses, The Cloacas, The Moving Stills, MVRKS, Mini Skirt, Uplifting Bell Ends and Stay At Home Mum. The incarnation of this year's festival program was not only eclectic, but even if you don't know the headliners, the names alone made you want to check it out. For the most part, the bands gracing the main stage played frenetic, condensed sets, the lion's share of them featuring an electric combination of lo-fi riffs. along with an energetic and unusual stage presence, which did not fail to elicit boisterous and at times reckless responses from the willing and sold-out audience. Inside Space 44, in a more intimate setting bands like Wild Honey channeled their alchemy. Sounds of the Suburbs is a unique festival that has not simply found, but created its own unique niche. Having gotten progressively bigger and better every year, it wouldn't be surprising if it evolved into a mainstream festival.