Hilltop Hoods share their message to Top End festival-goers ahead of BASSINTHEGRASS on May 17

Hilltop Hoods have become a household name for Top End festival-goers, and it should come as no surprise that they’re ready to party in the NT again.

Hilltop Hoods are back in the Top End for another BASSINTHEGRASS.

Hilltop Hoods have become somewhat of a household name for Top End festival-goers.

Year in, year out the popular Australian hip hop group never shy away from making a headline appearance at the Top End’s biggest music festival, BASSINTHEGRASS.

Matt Lambert, better known as ‘Suffa’, jokes the reason they keep coming back is because “we keep getting asked”, but even he is unashamed to admit the Top End crowd is special.

“It’s one of our favourite festivals; we always get a huge crowd,” he said.

“The crowd is always up for it and it’s always in a beautiful location – just those factors alone make it a no-brainer.”

Hilltop Hoods member Suffa at Clarity Records in Adelaide with some of his favourite South Australian albums. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Despite a changing festival landscape across the country, Suffa said the Territory crowd were always up for a party.

“It’s no holds barred in Darwin, and that’s the festival energy I love, especially as a performer,” he said.

“I think Territorians would say that about themselves, and quite proudly.

“I’m not from there so I don't know if that’s because they don’t get acts coming through there as often or if that’s just how Territorians are; they’re just up for it.”

Suffa (back right) said he was excited to return to Darwin.

It was easy, Suffa said, to keep their shows fresh and exciting each time they returned to Darwin.

“Time takes care of that for us,” he said.

“Because as time goes on, we change things bit by bit.

“It’s just the cyclic nature of things, by the time we’re back there it’s a new show.”

Suffa said the group may be looser than the crowd. Hilltop Hoods pictured on Castle Hill in Townsville, North Queensland. Picture: Evan Morgan

After taking some time off to finish their new album, Suffa said he and the group were ready to surprise Territorians at this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS.

“We’re bringing the full band; this is only our second show of the year,” he said.

“We’re really excited … this is going to be us letting off a lot of steam because we’re done and back touring again.

“We may be looser than them (the crowd).”

Originally published as Hilltop Hoods share their message to Top End festival-goers ahead of BASSINTHEGRASS on May 17