Posted by Danni Le Toullec on October 24, 2011
The inaugural música /TUMBALONG festival took a line-up gamble which paid off in Sydney last weekend, with a fresh crop of international and local electronic and indie acts.
With the one stage, limited capacity and most people keeping their clothes on, this boutique festival was a welcome change from what has become a stock standard festival package. A day spent running from stage to stage, crying over timetable clashes and losing your friends left, right and centre.
Bon Chat, Bon Rat, a Sydney-based trio, played tracks from their self-produced (and mixed) debut EP to a crowd that lazed on the grass in the hot afternoon sun. The trio’s hypnotic electronica complimented the atmosphere of the festival, with the lofty melody of tracks like ‘Blackbird’ carrying through the air.
Emerging artists Mitzi, a four piece hailing from Brisbane, Australia, brought their disco inspired beats and addictive grooves to the stage with stand-out tracks, “All I Heard” and “India”. More...
musica/tumbalong, sbtrkt, ghostpoet, mitzi, bon chat, bon rat, electric wire hustle, lunice, tiger and woods, sydney music festival, electronica
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on September 9, 2011
Smirnoff hosted an intimate event for Sydney's media and bloggers in a secret location in Darlinghurst tonight. The evening was to announce Australia's swap country for the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project 2011.
Following last years' eve of Brazilian themed festivities, this year Australia will be treated to a taste of Italy for one night of cultural swapsies. Junior Jack & Kid Créme and Alex Gaudino will be flown in to headline the event, while Nervo and Bang Gang Deejay’s will fly over to Italy to rep the Australian music scene.
The event is part of Smirnoff's ongoing global social experiment, which provides people all around the world with an opportunity to see how their foreign counterparts get down and dirty. Fourteen countries across the globe - including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and Venezuela - exchange their local nightlife for one evening of debauchery on 12 November 2011. More...
smirnoff, eau de vie, behind bars, max greco, smirnoff nightlife exchange project
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on August 2, 2011
For the second year running, Splendour in The Grass took over the humble town of Woodford, Queensland for a weekend of sun-soaked, dust-ingrained shenanigans against a stellar soundtrack of live music.
Whether your outfit of choice was a full blown cow, penguin, panda or dog outfit or just a furry animal beanie, you would have fitted right in with this years' peculiar theme of animal dress.
If you wanted to be a bit more stylish, there were some awesome pop up stores dotted around including Aje, Maurie and Eve, General Pants Co. as well as the Mo'rockin Wine Bar, Strongbow booze boat and some delicious food from Grill'd, Govindas, Hungarian Langos, dumplings, German Bratwurst, obligatory festival Gozleme, corn and about twenty million more.
But we're not here to talk about food, are we? We are here for the tunes, so here goes...
Day One
After lining up for twenty minutes to get into the main gates from the campsite (daily festival-fail), we took in the massive festival site as we bee-lined to the Amphitheatre for Jinja Safari. The Sydney band’s playful folk pop was the perfect accompaniment for the sunny Friday afternoon. Marcus Azon closed the set by crowd surfing to the back, jumping to the ground and leading the audience in a run around the valley. More...
illy, jinja safari, splendour in the grass, woodford, kanye west, james blake, the hives, pnau, thievery corporation, gomez, foster the people, friendly fires, pulp, coldplay, cloud control
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on July 20, 2011
A breath of fresh air is coming to the Sydney Spring festival scene in the form of the inaugural música /TUMBALONG festival.
The boutique event will be held in Sydney’s Tumbalong Park on Saturday 22nd October and will feature a carefully selected line up of nine artists, most of which will be performing in Australia for the first time.
Masked UK export SBTRKT has been tearing up the London dubstep scene for the last couple of years. Following the release of his addictive debut XL, which featured vocals from Sampha, Jessie Ware and Yukimi from Little Dragon, he is fast becoming one of the most watched artists of 2011.
Fellow Brit Ghostpoet has also exploded out of the UK underground scene with his unique beats and sleepy smooth lyrical style.
música /TUMBALONG festival will also host local talent with Mitzi, Simon Caldwell and Bon Chat, Bon Rat. The line up also includes Baths (US), Electric Wire Hustle (NZ), Lunice (CAN), and Tiger & Woods (ITA).
As we've come to expect from música, the focus will be on quality over quantity. The event will be hosted on one main stage for a smaller audience than Sydneysiders have come to expect from festivals.
Tickets are on sale on July 26th.
música, Baths, Bon Chat, Bon Rat, Electric Wire Hustle, Ghostpoet, LUNICE, Mitzi, SBTRKT, Simon Caldwell, Tiger & Woods, tumbalong park
Posted by KB on July 5, 2011
In line with their vision of providing Sydneysiders with a fresh take on culture, artist-run initiative Serial Space is presenting their inaugural mini-sound festival, Next Next, from July 7-9.
The festival kicks off on Thursday with a performance by The Splinter Orchestra, marking the end of their two week residency at the space. The 35 strong group are Sydney’s foremost improvisational ensemble, creating sound through creative use of traditional and experimental instruments.
If you’re still on the fence about the whole experimental music thing, then check out Friday’s Great Music Debate: That Experimental Music Is Boring - apparently based on “history’s most frequently though, but least uttered statements”.
The festival continues over the weekend with Boredom and Danger, a forum on the contemporary and historical practices in experimental music, and culminates in a live performance from electronic artist Ivan Lisyak, together with an installation from Emily Morandini.
For all the information on the program, check the Serial Space website.
Serial Space is at 33 Wellington St, Chippendale.
next next, serial space, splinter orchestra, ivan lisyak
Posted by kluster on June 19, 2011
Imagine the lineup of a lifetime, your ultimate festival, the music gathering of your dreams. Ok, so it might not be the stuff bill-postering the walls of heaven, and it’s far from perfect, but it’s one of the closest things we may get to it in our time on earth.
The Harvest festival lineup, announced by the folks who brought us Soundwave earlier this week, includes:
The Flaming Lips
Portishead
Bright Eyes
The National
Holy Fuck
Mercury Rev
Death In Vegas
The Walkmen More...
harvest festival, 2011, the flaming lips, portishead, bright eyes, the national, holy fuck
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on May 27, 2011
As light projections sprawl over the normally grey buildings that surround Circular Quay tonight, do not be alarmed. This isn’t a guerilla colour-obsessed artist working by night, it is in fact part of the exciting third annual Vivid Sydney 2011 festival which will be splashing light, music and colour all over the streets of Sydney from 27 May – 13 June 2011.
There are countless activities, performances and interactive light sculptures to fill your nights as well as a range of public talks and debates from leading creative thinkers around the world. Acclaimed French design collective SUPERBIEN have designed beautiful light projections which will be illuminating the Sydney Opera House.
As part of Vivid Sydney, Vivid LIVE invites a different curator to organize a program of events in the iconic Sydney Opera House each year.
This year, Stephen Pavlovic, founder of Modular Records, has gotten his hands on the line-up and done sweet sweet things to it. We have him to thank for bringing the likes of The Cure, Chris Cunningham, OFWGTA, Tame Impala, Bat For Lashes, The Avalanches, WU LYF, and Spiritualized to our shores. Following in the footsteps of Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Brian Eno, it is the first time ever than an Australian has curated the event.
There is also the The Sony Lounge, Vivid Sydney's own pop- up bar, which is set up along the Western foyers of Sydney Opera House. A rotating lineup of DJs will play each night until June 5. After sipping some mulled wine, you can wander around and check out more than 40 light installations or drop in to see the Fire Dance.
So, as the mercury goes down in Sydney, you have no excuse to be a couch potato! Get out there and nourish your cultural soul.
vivid sydney, vivid live, sydney opera house, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, The Cure, Chris Cunningham, OFWGTA, Tame Impala, Bat For Lashes, The Avalanches, WU LYF, Spiritualized
Posted by kluster on May 5, 2011
Half a decade ago bikes were an unusual site on Sydney’s inner city roads. Bikes not adorned by nylon-clad roadies, that is. These days they’re pretty much a fixie-ture (see what we did there?). Whether you’re of the opinion that rising numbers of riders are a result of increasingly bike friendly streets, or vice versa, matters not. The proof in the pudding is the bikes on the streets and the time is ripe for celebration. Enter Woop! The bike-lane worshiping event arm of I Heart Sydney Bike Lanes and Cycleways. They’re about to host a street-long, in-your-face-Alan-Jones bike festival to celebrate the completion of the Bourke Street bike lane. Read all about it.
Covered: IHSBL vs Alan Jones, Surry Hills street festival, 4400 on Facebook.
Kluster: Rolling festival, interesting concept. Tell us about its history, and how the idea came about.
Jackie Lau: We were so thrilled when the final bit of tarmac was laid on the Bourke St cycleway that we wanted to get out there and celebrate it en-masse. Although Bourke St is only a small piece in a much larger network, it's such a vital and symbolic one that we felt this should be acknowledged. At the time we had planned a much more casual ride with our Facebook fans but what started out as a loosely organised Sunday ride has turned into something much bigger and exciting.
And the association to the petition-beating I Heart Sydney Bike Lanes and Cycleways? What’s the connection there?
The I Heart Sydney Bike Lanes and Cycleways Facebook group was started by Jamie and myself one Sunday afternoon out of sheer frustration. We had endured a week of cycle-lane bashing led by Alan Jones who described the cycleways as one of the most disgraceful projects he has ever witnessed in all his time in public broadcasting. He then said he had a petition of more than 3000 signatures opposing the development and would be supporting legal action against the council.
We couldn't understand what was so disgraceful about the City of Sydney finally taken action, where successive NSW governments had failed, to make this city a more accessible, enjoyable and safe place to live or visit! More...
woop! i heart sydneybike lanes and cycleways, jackie lau, bourke street, alan jones, surry hills, bikes
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on April 13, 2011
After an excruciatingly slow announcement on Triple J this morning, the 2011 Splendour in the Grass line up has finally been released and we can now reveal the artists in all their glory.
Now settled into their new home of Woodfordia (South East Queensland), the annual splendiferous event is back with a mouth watering line up of diverse music talent that will be spread across three stages, The Amphitheatre, Mix Up Stage and GW McLennan Tent over three days in July (Friday 29th - Sunday 31st).
The Global Village is also back with a great program of performances, workshops, stalls and delicious food for you festivalites to nosh on. For those that want to treat themselves, check out the Splendour Day Spa and get yourself lookin’ fresh.
Tickets go on sale at 9am AEST on Thursday 5 May. They will cost $390 (inc gst) Event + $120 (inc gst) Camping + booking fees, which gains entry to the festival for 3 days, from Friday 29 July to Sunday 31 July .
Enough chit chat, down to the music!
Splendour In The Grass 2011 lineup:
Coldplay (Only Australian Show)
Kanye West (Only Australian Show)
Jane’s Addiction
The Hives
Pulp
The Living End
The Mars Volta
Regina Spektor (Only Show For 2011)
Bliss N Eso
Pnau
Mogwai (Only Australian Show)
Dj Shadow
Glasvegas
The Grates
Devendra Banhart
Modest Mouse
The Middle East
Kaiser Chiefs
James Blake
Kele More...
splendour in the grass 2011, woodfordia, coldplay, kanye west, jane's addiction, the hives, pulp, the living end, mars volta, james blake, kato, modest mouse, the middle east, kaiser chiefs, mogwai, regina spektor, glasvegas, the grates, cut copy, eskimo joe, noah and the whale, architecture in helsinki, foster the people, bluejuice, the kills
Posted by Katy Hutcheson on March 25, 2011
Started back in 2006 the original gory, blood curdling, scream inducing Night of Horror International Film Festival was merely a short film festival when it first began. It has since spread its wings and is now pretty much the only place to be seen, dead or alive, for avid horror movie fans.
This year’s festival boasts 15 feature films, 70 short films and music videos, and a screenplay competition.
Competing with Wolf Creek for Australia’s scariest movie, try catching The Tunnel which is about an investigative journalist and her team’s harrowing journey through Sydney’s underground disused train tunnels. A sure heart stopper, The Reef, is a shark attack flick following unassuming swimmers in the Great Barrier Reef battling for their dear lives.
Not enough B&G for you? That's fine, we're not done yet. U.S movie, Dead Hooker In A Trunk, the name pretty much gives away the story, is on the schedule. As is Monster Mash-Up - expect plenty of vampires, killer insects and demons - and 80’s inspired clichéd horror, Blood Junkie. Do not miss the highly anticipated world premier of Midnight Son, with plenty of vampires lusting and blood, making TV series True Blood look like a kids cooking show.
The festival takes place from Thursday 31st of March with all the movie gore and guts finishing up on the 8th of April. All films will be shown at Dendy Cinema in Newtown, tickets are now on sale for the blood thirsty out there....
A Night of Horror International Film Festival, Movies, Vampires, Horror, Dendy Cinema, Newtown
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on February 15, 2011
It’s always a sign of a great festival when you spend most of the day feeling torn by which act to watch. With five stages and more than 40 artists at Good Vibrations 2011, friendships were made and broken as game plans went out the window and programmes were clutched under rain soaked ponchos.
In his flat cap, vest and chinos, Aloe Blacc (pictured below) brought out the soul of the Sydney crowd at the Mr J stage with his seductive tune ‘I Need a Dollar’. He broke out into some funky New Orleans-style jazz dancing for his band’s instrumental solos and without missing a beat, launched into a lively rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie jean’ and Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman, No Cry’. The charismatic crooner urged the crowd on saying, “This ain’t TV. This ain’t the internet. This is real life. Get involved!” More...
faithless, erykah badu, fat freddy's drop, nas, damian marley, ludacris, aloe blacc, miike snow, phoenix, rusko
Posted by KB on February 3, 2011
That festival that had such small beginnings has not only blown up in Australia (covering five Aussie cities at last count) but now has plans to take over the US.
Ahead of the first Australian shows (which kick off in Brisbane tomorrow), the folk at Laneway have announced they’ll be hosting a party at every music buff’s favourite festival, SXSW.
To be held on March 16, the party kicks off at noon and includes music from Cloud Control, Cloud Nothings, Foster The People, Givers, Hanni El Khatib, Huw Stephens (DJ set), Noah & The Whale, Royal Bangs, The Holidays, Twin Shadow and a special guest performer.
For more info, hit up the Laneway website.
laneway festival, sxsw, cloud control, cloud nothings, foster the people, givers, hanni el khatib, huw stephens, noah & the whale, royal bangs, the holidays, twin shadow