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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt ON STREET SALE DATE Wed 10th of Oct BOOKING DEADLINE Friday 21st of Sept EDITORIAL DEADLINE Wed 26th of Sept ARTWORK DEADLINE Friday 28th of Sept CONTACT: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au t ph: 03 8414 9710
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FOR MORE UP TO DATE NEWS GO TO BEAT.COM.AU
UPCOMING
JULY
ONTOUR BROOKES BROTHERS [UK] Friday July 13, Brown Alley NIC FANCIULLI [UK] Friday July 13, New Guernica ALEX SMOKE [UK] Friday July 13, Brown Alley RICHARD DURAND [NED] Saturday July 14, Room680 DR. OCTAGON [USA] Saturday July 14, The Espy SKEPTICAL [UK], TALLAN [NZ] Saturday July 14, The Espy LADYHAWKE [NZ] Tuesday July 17, Billboard JAMIE XX [UK] Tuesday July 17, New Guernica LIL’ LOUIS [USA] Friday July 20, New Guernica CHEZ DAMIER [USA] Friday July 20, Brown Alley SVEN WEISEMANN [GER], BASIC SOUL UNIT [CAN] Friday July 20, The Liberty Social SKREAM [UK], PLASTICIAN [UK], JOKER [UK] Friday July 20, Billboard RENNIE PILGREM [UK] LEE COOMBS [UK] Friday July 20, Royal Melbourne Hotel THOMAS SCHUMACHER [GER] Friday July 20, Onesixone J PERIOD [USA] Saturday July 21, Laundry VAKULA [UKR] Friday July 27, Mercat Basement GIRL UNIT [UK], NGUZUNGUZU [USA] Friday July 27, Revolver Upstairs BARE [USA] Friday July 27, Brown Alley MAELSTROM [FRA] Saturday July 28, The Bottom End MIIKE SNOW [SWE] Tuesday July 31, Palace Theatre BRAWTHER [FRA] Friday August 3, Mercat Basement ALVIN RISK [USA] Saturday August 4, Prince Bandroom KATE SIMKO [USA], CHLOE HARRIS [USA] Friday August 10, Brown Alley JONWAYNE [USA], MONO/POLY [USA], KASRA [UK] Friday August 10, Roxanne Parlour HOME BREW [NZ] Friday August 10, The Espy DJ SS [UK], KENNY KEN [UK], SKIBADEE [UK] Friday August 10, Brown Alley PERC [UK] Friday August 17, Brown Alley JAMES LAWSON [UK], SKOL [UK], RIKSTA [US] Friday August 17, Room680 CHRIS LAKE [UK] Saturday August 18, Seven THE PHARCYDE [USA] Thursday August 23, The Espy JOCHEN MILLER [NED], RANK 1 [NED], LEON BOLIER [NED] Saturday August 25, Room680 RICK ROSS [USA] Thursday September 6, Festival Hall RED RACK ‘EM [UK] Friday September 7, The Croft Institute JOHN ‘00’ FLEMING [UK] Friday September 7, Brown Alley TIEFSCHWARZ [GER] Friday September 7, New Guernica OCTAVE ONE [USA] Friday September 14, Mercat Basement ROGER SHAH [GER] Saturday September 15, Room680 HERNAN CATTANEO [ARG], FRITZ KALKBRENNER [GER] Friday September 21, Brown Alley RICK WADE [USA] Friday September 28, The Croft Institute PAUL OAKENFOLD [UK] Friday October 5, Festival Hall PARKLIFE: JUSTICE [FRA], PASSION PIT [USA], PLAN B [UK] + MORE Saturday October 6, Sidney Myer Music Bowl ROBERT HOOD [USA] Friday November 9, TBA STEREOSONIC: TIESTO [NED], AVICII [SWE], CALVIN HARRIS [UK] + MORE Saturday December 1, Melbourne Showgrounds TERRENCE PARKER [USA] Friday December 21, TBA FALLS FESTIVAL: SBTRKT [UK], COOLIO [USA] + MORE Saturday December 28 – Tuesday January 1, Lorne
Stereosonic: The Lineup Lands
REAL TALK I don’t know about you but my quality of life has definitely dipped since SBS decided to axe Letters and Numbers. On a similar note - do you remember that children’s game show from the ‘90s where if your team lost one of the kids would get covered in slime or milk or something similar? Yeah? What the fuck was with that. That shit gave me nightmares, man. Tyson Wray
The lovely folks behind Broken Beat Assault and the Operatives are doubling up again for another lineup that celebrates the best in leftfield beats. Southern Californian MC and Stone’s Throw signee Jonwayne, whose quirky take on production resulted in the spectacular Jonwayne Fucks Disney mixture, alongside Los Angeles beats freak and Brainfeeder favourite Mono/Poly, whose productions can be found anywhere from Warp Records compilations to mixes by tastemakers Flying Lotus and Mary Anne Hobbs, make up one half of the headline acts. On the flipside, a selection of drum and bass’ finest courtesy of Critical Sounds - founded by genre visionary Kasra ten years ago and since then blossoming into something truly spectacular. The label head himself alongside faithful stalwart Sabre are signed up - alongside a bevy of Melbourne’s favourites, including JPS, Safire, Nam, and heaps more. Roxanne Parlour, Friday August 10.
Jochen Miller, Rank 1, Leon Bolier: Trance Takeover
Trance fans are sure to keep warm this winter with the slew of all-night sessions in Melbourne’s clubs packing out the coming months’ touring list - and here comes what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest club tours this winter. A regular fixture at many of Holland’s cooler, underground venues, Jochen Miller’s authoritative approach to kicking out the jams is one that’s seen him expand his operations into international territory in recent years, culminating in being signed to David Lewis Productions DJ agency - home to fellow A-List spinners including Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz and Gareth Emery. They’ll be adeptly supported by fellow trance fixtures Rank 1, who since being catapulted into stardom by debut release Airwave, have consistently found themselves topping charts and in demand for remixes by everyone from Freddie Mercury and Ferry Corsten, to Marcel Woods. Rounding off the lineup is DJ Magazine favourite and production genius Leon Bolier - huge. Catch them all at Room680 on Saturday August 25.
Home Brew: Fermenting
Don’t know who New Zealand hip hop crew Home Brew are? That’s weird. You should ask NZ Prime Minister John Key or the University Of Auckland about them - after causing a bunch of people with their knickers in a twist to lose their shit over a music video poking fun at idiots who drink-drive, the group’s propensity for irreverence and cheeky laughs is sure to appeal to Australian crowds. Having recently released their eponymous debut album to critical acclaim and finding it debuting at #1 on the New Zealand music charts, throwing a 48-hour party to celebrate in an old brother, then having their controversial pop up store shut down early, it’s high time we got in on the action, hey. Catch Home Brew at the Espy on Saturday August 10.
Maelstrom: Bass Face
The latest and greatest bass music wondered to emerge from the European music scene, Maelstrom’s short career thus far has set the stage for an international takeover. Drawing support from fellow electronica kingpins Laurent Garnier, Boys Noize, the Crookers, the Parisian’s latest EP Generation was a decidedly original and fun take on everything from house to techno and bass, and was quickly snapped up by Gessafelstein’s label Zone. He hits The Bottom End on Saturday July 28.
Falls Festival: Late Night Antics
Last year’s Falls Festival, held in the laid-back and idyllic surrounds of Lorne and bringing a lineup that featured names such as CSS, the Scratch Perverts, Crystal Castles, PNAU and more was certainly a worthy pilgrimage to make for any dance music aficionado. The 20th anniversary of the festival, set to take place over the weekend closing out 2012, is looking just as good, if not better, with the first part of the lineup being drip-fed to us this week. British Aaron Jerome’s post-dubstep project SBTRKT was a massive hit with the Laneway crew earlier this year, easily justifying his headline spot with his sophisticated and slick take on postdubstep, alongside turntable technician Sampology who’ll be bringing a very special Falls anniversary live AV show along with him, hip hop maestro Coolio, and loads more to come. Falls hits Lorne from December 28 - January 1.
J Period: Skipping Class
Cited as one of the world’s top DJs by the New York Times and a powerhouse producer and remixer, Brooklyn-based J Period is one of the music business’ most formidable figures with a diverse roster of achievements. A favoured remixer and producer for the likes of Grammy winners Kanye West, Mary J Blige, and John Legend and the Roots, he’s also toured with Lauryn HIll, Diddy, De La Soul, and established his acclaimed Best Of mixtape series, working with Nas, Big Daddy Kane, and other industry heavyweights. Not to mention scoring blockbuster film trailers for American Gangster and Street Kings as well as videogames including Tony Hawk: Motion, worldwide tours, and plenty more. Equal parts tastemaker, sound selector and viral marketing mastermind, J Period hits Laundry on Saturday July 21.
Managing Editor: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au Editor: Tyson Wray tyson@beat.com.au Sub-editor: Nick Taras Listings: club/promoter submissions clubguide@beat.com.au - now online at beat.com.au - it’s free! Production: Pat O’Neill art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Rebecca Houlden Cover Design: Pat O’Neill Advertising Senior Sales: ronnit@beat.com.au (03) 8414 9710 Taryn Stenvei taryn@beat.com.au Fashion and Beverages: Tamara Perenic tamara@furstmedia.com.au Ph: 03 8414 9732 Deadlines: Editorial Friday 2PM – absolutely NO exceptions. Club photos Monday 9AM (email only clubpics@beat.com.au). Advertising artwork Monday 12PM. Photographers: Callum Linsell Contributors: Rezo Kezerashvili, Miki McLay, Shane Scott, Simon Traspier, Brian Rotide, The Knowledge, Ellen Devenney, Dan Watt, Aaron Ralston, Birdie, Liam Pieper, Simon Hampson, Chad-Michael Michaelson, Mikolai, Reuben Adams, David Edgley. Publisher: Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond 3121 Ph 03 9428 3600 www.beat.com.au
EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS UP TO DATE
Reminisce: Trance Anthems
Ah, speaking of trance - what an illustrious history there is behind the genre. Kicking off in the early ‘90s and still a thriving source of inspiration for many across the globe, it’s fair to say that the genre still holds a place in many a clubber’s heart. Feeling a little nostalgic already? Getting ready to dig through your crates of vinyl and CD collections or flick through your iPod to dig out some of those old but still golden tunes? The sold out Reminisce Classic House at Prince back in February was labelled one of the best club events of the year, and it’s now the trance community’s turn go back in time, back to a place where all that mattered was the music. Join the rest of Melbourne’s enthusiasts in picking out your favourite anthems of all time, and join some of Melbourne’s most iconic trance DJs, including Papa Smurf, DJ Kat and Scott Alert in counting down Melbourne’s top 50 trance tunes of all time as voted by you. Feel the love! Billboard, Friday August 10.
FREE SHIT Lil’ Louis
According to an interview he did with Fabric quite recently, Chicago house veteran Lil’ Louis brushes off haters with an unparalleled sense of grace. “I already thought I was a star, so subsequently, I got a lot of bottles thrown at me, and subsequently fired from every club I played,” he said. But it’s easy to understand why criticism would be so easy to brush off for a man of such legendary status. A musician since childhood, Lil’ Louis started DJing in middle school, where he earned his nickname playing in clubs, then started his own and started throwing the city’s biggest parties. As one of the only DJs and producers from the Chicago house scene with hits that crossed over into the mainstream - no less than three number one hits on Billboard charts, including the phenomenal and still much adored French Kiss. Lil’ Louis formed consistent working relationships with major labels that only ended once he got tired of it, alongside collaborations with everyone from Jay-Z to Louie Vega and Donna Summers - legendary. Lil’ Louis plays New Guernica on Friday July 20. We have a double pass to giveaway.
Skeptical and Tallan With records of his making frequently found jammed in the crates of drum and bass luminaries such as dBridge, Alix Perez, Loxy and Doc Scott, it would be fair to say that Hertfordshire-based DJ and production powerhouse Skeptical is heading out-of-this-world. With a production career only just beginning to blossom, the list of releases to his name since dropping his first single in 2010 is nothing short of extraordinary. With labels such as Exit, Dispatch and Commercial Suicide, not to mention forthcoming releases on Metalheadz, Soul:r, and Samurai all wanting a piece of the 26 year old’s equal parts delicate and devastating tracks, we’re calling it - Skeptical is bound to be the next big thing in the scene. He’ll be joined by New Zealand’s Tallan. Notorious for pushing soundsystems to breaking point with his heavyweight stepper beats, the young producer has supported the likes of Foreign Beggars, Shockone, DC Breaks and is bound to bring the good times alongside Skeptical. They hit the Espy on Saturday July 14. We have a double pass to giveaway.
Dr. Octagon
DJ SS, Kenny Ken, Skibadee: Onwards
RESPONSIBLE:
4.
Broken Beats: Operations
Holy mother of God, it’s finally, finally here! After much excitement, a lively set of rumours abuzz across Australia around and a couple of accidental leaks, the Stereosonic 2012 lineup has finally dropped. Leading the charge is the very headline-worthy Dutch trance powerhouse Tiesto, with recent visitors Avicii and Calvin Harris both following closely and sure to tear up mainstages across the country again. Those of us who are looking forward to getting their bass-faces on won’t be disappointed, with everyone from Bassnectar and Flux Pavilion to Excision, Datsik and Caspa ready to tear things up. Trance fans won’t be disappointed, either - Laidback Luke, Markus Schulz, Aly & Fila, Orjan Nilsen and Dash Berlin are all tried-and-tested favourites with international audiences. More superstars abound, with Example, Diplo, Martin Solvieg, Infected Mushroom, Chuckie, Porter Robinson, Loco Dice, MSTRKRFT, Joris Voorn, Nina Kraviz, and plenty more all padding out the incredible lineup - get in there! Stereosonic descends on the Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday December 1.
It’s good to keep on top of what’s going on in music these days - but at the same time, it’s just as important to pay your respects to the scene’s pioneers and thank them for their role in shaping the landscape of the industry today. Three of the biggest names in old-school rave, jungle and drum and bass are coming to Melbourne soon for one massive night in, and you’d best be ready to be schooled by some of the scene’s most longstanding stalwarts, children! Leicester’s DJ SS leads the charge - originally a breakdancer, it was through some of England’s biggest raves in the early ‘90s that SS made a name for himself as a pioneer in drum and bass, as a DJ, producer, and the co-founder and head of Formation Records, not to mention over a hundred releases to his name under a plethora of alias. Joined by fellow legend Kenny Ken, whose career spans over 20 years and old-school MC Skibadee, it’s a veritable throwback to the heydays of ‘90s rave - catch them at Brown Alley on Friday August 10.
Women’s health is an important issue that we as a society shouldn’t be afraid or embarrassed to talk about - which is why we’re all beyond pleased to hear that the Octagonecologyst will be landing in town again soon for an appointment of the utmost urgency. Okay, so the alias of Kool Keith might not have an M.D., or any clue about medical practise, and look, maybe heaps of his patients die during rounds, but he’s got skills nonetheless - able to treat chimpanzee acne and moosebumps, and relocate saliva glands. That’s useful. He’s also rather well-renowned for pushing boundaries in the world of underground hip-hop - his ‘96 debut album the result of a visionary collaboration with the Jimi Hendrix of turntables, DJ QBert, and the hitherto-unknown producer by the name of Dan the Automator. Blunted has spent considerable time persuading Kool Keith to bring undoubtedly the strangest persona in hip hop history back to life - and the results are a series of world-exclusive shows, with Dr. Octagonecologyst being performed in full as a live production only Kool Keith could envision. It goes down at The Espy on Saturday July 14. We have a double pass to giveaway. Hit up beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
5.
NIC FANCIULLI
“I think the approach I took with this CD was I didn’t want it to be disposable, I want to put it on in ten years’ time and still say it sounds good. I don’t really want to follow the fashions or trends, so I think there is still a place for the mix CD if it’s done properly.”
BRUISIN’: BALANCING ACT Whether he knows it or not, Nic Fanciulli has become somewhat of a superstar DJ. We’re not talking TiestoOakenfold stadium-filler big, nor are we talking gimmicky Mickey Mouse mask or radical haircut big. Fanciulli belongs to a power league of big-hitting DJs who week-in-weekout pitch their brand of house and techno to clubs and festivals full of adoring fans – minus the “EDM” stigma.
Fanciulli may consider his Saved imprint to be slightly skewed toward house and tech house styles (or sophisticated tech house as described by one magazine earlier this year), but that hasn’t stopped a slew of techno sluggers releasing on the label including Dutch messr Steve Rachmad, Scott’s Gary Beck and Harvey Mckay and Swedish deuce Pär Grindvik and Staffan Lanzatti.
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COVER STORY
Saved houses an extensive roster of 15-plus artists, but for Fanciulli, there are two in particular he considers dignitaries: Rolando and Mark Broom. “They are two of my heroes. It was really nice to do collaborations with them, especially with Rolando because he is one of my heroes from Detroit, so to work with him was just incredible and we ended up having a great relationship afterwards,” Fanciulli says. In 2010, UK techno statesman Mark Broom released Acid House on Saved, his first full length in 15 years. “When Mark Broom did the album for us that was probably one of the highlights of running the label,” Fanciulli says. “His sound was changing at the time and he had already signed a couple of singles that we were working on, so I said ‘look let’s do an album’ and he said ‘I’d love too’ – and he did and it was great,” he says. Fanciulli’s remix and collaborative efforts have been as far flung as Kylie Minogue, Everything But The Girl’s Tracy Thorn to experimental trip hoppers U.N.K.L.E. But what may come as a surprise to some, working with those outside of house and techno music can be as easy – or difficult – as working with those in it. “I think we are all in it together and music is pretty much universal, everyone is in it for the same reasons,” he says while adding, “Working with U.N.K.L.E was great, I’ve known James Lavelle for such a long time and doing the mix for them was great, the same goes with Kylie; not many people do mixes and get a response back saying they really liked it”. Fanciulli and Saved are in no way only inclined to work with pop stars, seasoned producers and established names. The most recent artist to join the labels ranks is the young and widely unknown Parisian talent Clio. “He is someone I discovered a few years ago,” says Fanciulli. “He only did his first live show about a year ago which was for me in Maidstone, my hometown. I’m really interested in people that come up with different sounds. I think he has a really unique sound, it’s still really dance floor, but it’s really organic and really natural,” he says. Saved is prolific in its output, averaging 16 releases a year all inclusive since 2005. However, as conveyor belt as this may seem, Fanciulli instils a strong emphasis on maintaining quality control throughout Saved’s busy release schedule. “The main rule of thumb with everything is: if I play it and I like it I sign it. If I don’t play it, I’ll never sign it,” he says. “We don’t sign any records up to six months in advance. I don’t want to sign anything because things change. We are very lucky to have a lot of great artists that give us great music.” Fanciulli considers Saved to be more of a guilty pleasure than a business, but now with his brother Mark an integral part of the label, Saved could well be considered a family enterprise. “I’m very lucky that I have a great team, I have my brother running the label with me, I’ve got great management that help me run day-to-day life and that lets me concentrate on making music, DJing and being with my family,” he says. If Nic Fanciulli is a superstar DJ, he doesn’t act like one. He and Mark take the time out to listen to as many demos as possible that make their way into Saved’s inbox, which in some cases has resulted in a signing or two. “My brother and I listen to pretty much everything now. That’s how we discovered people like Clio and &ME – they sent us demos. I think if these kids have the time of day to send you something you have got to at least listen to it.” Both Clio and &ME appear on episode 21 of the Balance mix series, curated and compiled by Nic Fanciulli. Previous Balance mixers include Will Saul, Deetron, Agoria and Nick Warren, amid a host of others. But how important is the mix CD today when DJs are arguably offering just as exciting and high quality podcasts for free? Can the
mix CD survive, even still, is the mix CD still relevant? Berghain and Otsgut Ton luminary Ben Klock is known for taking the exclusive and unreleased route when selecting tracks for his commissioned mixes, while others such as James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (parts one and two of LCD Soundsystem), opted for obscure B-sides and rarities for their FabricLive.36 mix. Fanciulli’s says Balance 21 is all about longevity. “I think the approach I took with this CD was I didn’t want it to be disposable, I want to put it on in ten years’ time and still say it sounds good. I don’t really want to follow the fashions or trends, so I think there is still a place for the mix CD if it’s done properly.” Rolando’s 2006 mix From There To Hear And Now for UK imprint NRK Sound Division, was an inspiration, levelsetter and lesson of how a mix CD should be done says Fanciulli, offering some insight into how Balance 21 came together. “CD one was a different process to CD two. With CD one I really wanted to create a real organic sound, like I said, you can listen to it again and again, and then again in ten years’ time.” Work on Balance 21 started as early as September last year. “I started with 400 records and then every month it went down and down, within the last two months of mixing the CD, I was looking for a lot of new stuff that I could fit in between,” he says. “To be fair, on the first CD, only 40 per cent of it was exclusive and the rest of it was maybe stuff that went under the radar, stuff that people had missed, which was quite nice,” he says. Fanciulli dedicated Balance 21‘s second disc entirely to Saved and says “With CD two, the process was different, it was all from my label, I tried to get everything exclusive for that CD; new edits, new mixes, new tracks”. As Fanciulli readies his Australia tour to promote Balance 21, it has received a smattering of positive reviews. But since becoming a father two years ago, Fanciulli is aware of the balance he needs to keep with touring and family life. “I try and keep touring to a maximum of ten days now, so even when I come to Australia this time, I’m only coming for four days,” he says. Fanciulli’s busy touring schedule could have him in as many countries, in as many days, so how does he cater for his many audiences? “There are obviously different situations, like playing at festivals where you play differently because you only have one hour. The majority of the time when I play clubs, I play my own sound, but I play different records, certain records that will work; I get very bored very quickly so music goes through me very quickly. I could play a set in America and a set in Australia and maybe 60 per cent of the records are different,” Fanciulli explains. With DJs enjoying turning up to gigs with their entire record collection stowed in the one box – a laptop – it makes it much easier for them to vary their sets. “I don’t play vinyl, I collect vinyl, but everything I play is through Traktor,” he says. “I’ve lost so many record boxes and stuff like that in the past, so for me to now turn up with all my music is amazing, but for some people vinyl is their life and they will never go to CDs or a computer,” he says. Richie Hawtin made the infamous quote “Vinyl is a pain in the ass” – surviving the verbal onslaught from vinyl purists that followed –and although Fanciulli may be a vinyl lover at heart, he shares Hawtin’s sentiments. “You can’t get away from digital, digital is the future isn’t it? There’s no way of going back now.” James Manning Nic Fanciulli [UK] plays New Guernica on Friday July 13. His Balance 021 mix is out now.
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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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WEDNESDAY11TH COQ ROQ Rocking Wednesdays at Lucky Coq are rotating DJs Lady Noir, Agent 86, Kiti, Mr Thom, Joybot and guests giving you nothing but the best new wave, punk, brit pop, bong rap and hair metal. Coq Roq takes place every Wednesday from 8pm with free pool downstairs from 9pm as well as drink specials. Roq out! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
SOUL ARMY With more flavour than a chocolate pizza, the Wednesday Soul Army throws down raw, uncut funk next to smooth soul grooves and rare blue jams. Bring that special lady because when the boys lay down the love it could be the difference between ‘we’re just friends’ to ‘let’s get it on’. PBS stalwarts Vince Peach and Miss Goldie accompany Prequel and Black Diamond Kicks weekly. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
WEDNESDAYS AT CO. Don’t have lectures tomorrow? Need a break from writing that last-minute assignment? Or simply just celebrating the end of hump day? Don’t miss Melbourne’s biggest mid-week party night – Wednesdays @ Co.! With free entry and discounted drinks for students all night long! Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
WEDNESDAYS AT LOUNGE Enter the middle of the week; for some it’s the beginning of the weekend, for others it’s a break from study, for those of us who are travelling, it probably has no real significance (unless you’re wanting to party with the hot European girls from the hostel...because any day is simply another day when you’re travelling). Your midweek stomping ground, featuring DJs Danny Silver, Manchild & Mu-Gen. Free entry. From 10pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
WEDNESDAYS AT THE ORDER Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass. The Order of Melbourne, 2/401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THURSDAY12TH BIMBO THURSDAYS Tigerfunk brings with him his full band of travelling gypsies, hipsters and middle class executives, all of whom are prepared to deliver the most excitement you can have this side of the weekend. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
DUBSTEP THURSDAYS It’s Dubstep, it’s Eurotrash, it’s new, it’s the vibe, it’s Thursdays, it’s weekly and it’s free. So get down to Eurotrash and get your wobble on. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
FREE RANGE FUNK Funk up your Thursday nights with Free Range Funk at the Windsor favourite Lucky Coq. Grab a couch early and enjoy one (or more) of their famous $4 pizzas from 7-11pm. Meanwhile DJs Who, Agent 86, Lewis CanCut and special guests tempt you into the night with their eclectic bag of treats. Setting the mood early is delightful jazz, deep soul, and funk. Later it’s fruity disco, choice house, and hipster dance drops. Free entry every Thursday. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
FUN HOUSE Celebrate Thursday night at Co. with club classics and dance floor anthems. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
THURSDAYS AT LOUNGE The Black Pancake Club is where disc-jockeys bring in their treasured record collections to share with yaw’ll. Expect undiscovered nuggets, lost gems, far out there covers, moog inspired themes, and a host of other eclectic delicacies and toppings for your black pancakes! Taste makers on rotation include Shags, LA Pocock, Slim Charles, Andras Fox, Richie 1250, Simon Winkler, Danielson, Ms Butt and Mike Gurrieri. Free entry. From 10pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
WONDERLUST Fate, karma, the yin and the yang, the balance between chaos and order or divine intervention? A new spiritual high has emerged from the cosmic energies of the universe and it’s called Wonderlust! As luck would have it you can come and experience the effects of this strange new phenomena every Thursday night at The Carlton! Carlton Club, 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne
NIC FANCIULLI
SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR
Last’s month’s entry into the esteemed Balance mix series came courtesy of Nic Fanciulli, and in traditional Fanciulli style - it was a work of genius, managing to perfectly tread the line between timeless and trendy. It’s a perfect entry point into the UK-based DJ’s history within the electronic music scene, extending over fifteen years and countless successful mixes and records. As head of longstanding imprint Saved Records, he’s been responsible for some of the finest sounds in international, underground house and techno - kickstarting the careers of many an upcoming artist as well as releasing enduring singles from other mainstays in the scene. As a producer, his back catalogue also extends to previous work with the likes of Underworld, UNKLE and our very own Kylie. New Guernica, 2/322 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
DJ CKass will take you on a musical journey to the retro sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s, followed by Top 40. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
PANORAMA
FRIDAY13TH BROOKES BROTHERS Since their first forays into the world of drum and bass in 2002, the Brookes Brothers, London-based bros Phil and Dan have catapulted into the forefront of the genre. Quickly picked up by DJ Fresh and Adam F’s genre-defining label Breakbeat Kaos after garnering attention from the wider community with their first few releases, the duo proceeded to establish themselves as an act to watch, gaining the support of DJs including Andy C, Zane Lowe and Pete Tong with their killer instinct for dancefloor-destroying productions, with an impressive resume that boasts collaborative efforts with Sub Focus and Culture Shock, a remix of J Majik & Wickaman’s ‘Crazy World’ that did what not many other drum and bass producers have ever managed to do and make it onto national daytime radio playlists alongside others for Fatboy Slim and Chase and Status, locking down a residency at Fabric and finally releasing their self-titled debut album in 2011 to much critical acclaim. It’s a level of success that not many other artists within the genre are able to achieve, especially in such a short amount of time - impressive work. Brown Alley, Cnr Lonsdale and King St, Melbourne
CQ FRIDAYS The weekend starts here! Get on down for after work drinks from 5pm with DJs Marcus Knight, Mark Pellegrini, Nick Van Wilder & DJ Anferny getting your weekend started right. 5pm til 3am. CQ, 113 Queen St, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS A journey of international music from all over the world; past, present and future rhythms incorporating afro, soul, funk, world and deep house elements! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
FREEDOM PASS Friday’s at Freedom with 2 premier clubs, 5 huge rooms, 10+ local and international DJs blending their unique sets across countless styles of tunes – vocal house, smooth R&B, electro and commercial top 40. Throw in a few sexy podium dancers, a worldclass lights show and drink specials, the Freedom Pass is your personal ticket to a night you won’t soon forget! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAYS AT LOUNGE “It might blow up but it won’t go pop” is the philosophy at Buhloone Mindstate and features Melbourne’s finest bands and DJs playing every Friday night, late. That’s just how we roll. We’re all about the late night boogie. Expect all things funk, hip-hop, soul, reggae, disco, boogie and house. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Start your weekend on a good note with Panorama Fridays at Lucky Coq. DJs Matt Rad, Mr George, Tom Meagher and Phato A Mano transform the upstairs area into one hell of a house party with Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Disco and House. Meanwhile, downstairs gives you a secluded wind down atmosphere with cult films as background visuals and quality cocktails to sip on. Let the new coqtail list wash away a crappy week! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY DJ Grandmaster Vicious spins Fitzroy’s finest mix of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, rock, new wave, hip hop, disco classics and cheese to please plus dance floor anthems from then to now. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
SATURDAY14TH EMPIRE Get ready for the mega sounds at Empire, Melbourne’s epic new Saturday club night with 5 places to party! Mega sounds from top acts Hed Kandi, Piero and Chris Luder plus resident DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, Nova, Johnny M, Matty G, Dean T, Joe Sofo, Marcus Knight, Dinesh, Chris Ostrom, B-Boogie and Sarah Roberts. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
EDEN SATURDAYS Stunning new venue in the heart of the city – one BIG Party! We bring you the best Top 40 dance, house & R&B in a state of the art venue you have to see! Eden, 163 Russell St, CBD
EUROTRASH HOUSE PARTY Put your hands in the air with some of Melbourne’s best party DJs, including including Mu-Gen, Lace em’ Tight and more. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
EY:EM EY:EM at Lounge features residents Boogs & Who, who will host Melbourne’s top purveyors of club music, showcasing both local and international DJs playing the most upfront club music. With rotating DJs Dave Pham, Sleep D, Bryce Lawrence, Louis McCoy, Caine Sinclair, Glyn Hill & Toby Mackisack. Expect nothing but excellent house music all night long. And remember, clubbing happens in the EY:EM. $10 from 11pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS It’s house, electro, dub, anthems, disco and funk with guest DJs Genetix, B-Two and Oohee rocking til the break of day. Doors open 10pm with $5 basics til midnight! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
HOMECOMING
BROOKES BROTHERS Since their first forays into the world of drum and bass in 2002, the Brookes Brothers, London-based bros Phil and Dan have catapulted into the forefront of the genre. Quickly picked up by DJ Fresh and Adam F’s genre-defining label Breakbeat Kaos after garnering attention from the wider community with their first few releases, the duo proceeded to establish themselves as an act to watch, gaining the support of DJs including Andy C, Zane Lowe and Pete Tong with their killer instinct for dancefloor-destroying productions, with an impressive resume that boasts collaborative efforts with Sub Focus and Culture Shock, a remix of J Majik & Wickaman’s ‘Crazy World’ that did what not many other drum and bass producers have ever managed to do and make it onto national daytime radio playlists alongside others for Fatboy Slim and Chase and Status, locking down a residency at Fabric and finally releasing their self-titled debut album in 2011 to much critical acclaim. It’s a level of success that not many other artists within the genre are able to achieve, especially in such a short amount of time - impressive work. Brown Alley, Cnr Lonsdale and King St, Melbourne
In the grand tradition of past Saturday nights at the Prince of Wales, it will regain it’s rightful place on the pantheon of Australian dance music playing host to the best and most exciting EDM locally, nationally and internationally. Local residents include Generik, Oskar, Swick, Tranter, M.A.F.I.A., Streetparty DJs and Clip Art, and scheduled guests The Aston Shuffle, Tonite Only, The Swiss, Luke Million, Parachute Youth, Louis La Roche, Alvin Risk and more. In addition, Homecoming has prepared a veritable roster of exciting drinks and cocktails to fuel the fun, including Fresh coconut cocktails, Dr. Pepper, Electric Lemonade, Tecate, Thai-style Buckets and Bubble Cup cocktails. Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
HOT STEP Google Hot Step and you’ll get a bunch of Vietnamese game reviews and Balkanese dances on YouTube. But that’s nothing like what you can expect to find within the confines of Bimbo on a Saturday night. Developing thick and heavy but altogether groovy, enjoy an eclectic mix of fairy floss funk, doom disco and monk movement minimal every week. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
STAR SATURDAYS Star Saturdays - smashing it every Saturday! Phil Ross, Scotty Erdos, DJ Ontime, LC, Nick James, Dane Gains, Ryan Hamill, Deja, Phil Isa, Nixon, Azza M, Scotty Nix, DJ Ryza, C Dubb, Alex-J, G-Funk, Dylisco, Achos, Az, Shaggz and guests. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS DJ Marcus Knight & DJ Xander James drop sexy house, dance and drum and bass all night from 8pm. Free entry. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
TEXTILE Saturdays at Lucky Coq tick all the boxes so start your night early and stay til close! Famous $4 pizzas from 7-9pm (that’s dinner sorted) then from 9pm spread over two levels with DJs playing hip hop, funk, disco, house and electro. Rotating guests on both levels keep the tunes fresh. Free entry. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
WEEKEND The brain child of the creative kids at 360 Agency and Seven Nightclub. The Weekend is here to put a smile on your dial every Saturday night. We want you to join the family. Dancing from 10pm weekly. Seven, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne
SUNDAY15TH SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE The perfect Sunday soundtrack with DJs Askew, Peter Baker, Booshank, Paz, Miss Butt, Junji, Disco Harry and guests. They will be laying down disco, afro beat and deep house til 3am. For lovers of good music - South Side Hustle. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
STAR BAR SUNDAYS The original and still the best Sunday in Melbourne. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
SUNDAE SHAKE Our Signature serve. Each and every Sunday we play host to a self professed vinyl junkie caught between the golden years and boogie wonderland. A mouthful? Perhaps. Phato Amano perfectly sets the mood for an audio-adventure that redefines the dance floor weekly. Our Sunday aficionados Agent 86 and Tigerfunk stir up a full cream shake to the flavour of your liking. Forget everything you thought you knew about losing yourself to the grooves. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
MONDAY16TH IBIMBO Have you always wanted to be a DJ but been cruelly cursed with tone deafness and a general inability to version excursion? Well Bimbo Deluxe saves the day once again.. All you need is an iPhone and you’re set. Just download the free ‘remote’ application from the app store, log into the Bimbo DJ wireless network and you choose which song plays next. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
TUESDAY17TH BIMBO TUESDAYS Bimbo Tuesday’s have long been the discerning DJs midweek breath of fresh air. An opportunity to indulge in, and to each parade their individual takes on music. A night where by the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colorful array of sounds that warm your midweek blues. From 8pm, free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
COSMIC PIZZA NHJ and friends host every Tuesday night upstairs at Lucky Coq. Playing uneasy listening, freaked out bass jams, romantic comedy disco, tropi-jazz, soundtracks and shit you won’t hear on the other nights. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
SKREAM IN SKREAM: WE TRUST There was a time, not so long ago, when the term ‘dubstep’ referred to a style of music a tad more refined than the soundtrack to a Transformers sex party. Instead of high-pitched whining noises and over-the-top oscillations blasted in giant stadiums to huge crowds of sweating, muscle-bound brosteppers, it was dark, dingy music confined to dark, dingy rooms, where the air was thick with fog and the sweet stench of saliva from countless covert spliffs passed between pale hooded figures. It was in this shady realm that Skream (né Oliver Jones) first took to the turntables. Having become interested in music production “at about 13 or 14, after watching [a friend] making a tune on a PlayStation”, Jones began making hundreds of tracks in his bedroom, while working the now-legendary Big Apple Records in Croydon. Having a job in a record shop, he got used to listening to a lot of different style of music; he describes himself as having been influenced by techno, house, drum and bass and especially garage; the first record he ever bought was a Booker T vocal remix of Bizzi’s Party by UK garage producer Bizzi. Surprisingly enough, Jones also admits he’s a “huge disco fan”, although you’d be hard pressed hearing any influence in
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sub-heavy floor-destroyers like Rutten and Exothermic Reaction. When the “dark garage” Jones and his peers were producing began to emerge as a genre in its own right, when the first talk of this thing called ‘dubstep’ began to circulate BBC Radio 1 and the UK music press, the name Skream was right at the head of the charge. With his 2005 release Midnight Request Line already cemented as one of the early defining tracks of dubstep, Jones released his first album in 2006, the excellently-titled Skream!, and was met with near-universal acclaim from fans and critics alike. As dubstep exploded in popularity across the UK and abroad, Jones found himself a highly in-demand producer and remixer. He gained crossover appeal with some high-profile releases, such as his remix of La Roux’s In For The Kill. When some of his older fans reacted strongly to these commercial outings, Jones took to Twitter and defended himself against the backlash. To his credit, he has largely resisted the temptation to take the sugarsweet pop path; last year, he turned down an offer to produce UK starlet Cher Lloyd’s Dub on the Track, saying in a previous interview, “... the track is fucking awful. They asked me to do it ESSENTIALS
originally, they offered me so much money and I was like, ‘Fuck that, I’m not doing it...You’d have to pay me a lot more because I’d have to give up my career, that’d be it!’” Today, a good chunk of Jones’ time is taken up with Magnetic Man, his collaboration with fellow Croydon producers Benga and Artwork. The dubstep supergroup have an album currently in the works, the follow-up to their self-titled 2010 album which was massive crossover hit. On top of that, Jones has just finished work on Skreamizm 7, which is due for release within a month or so. Aside from that, he has a myriad of other commitments, including his show on BBC Radio 1. “Benga and I was approached to start a monthly show on Radio 1 a year or so ago,” reveals Jones, “which was called In New DJs We Trust, alongside DJ Chuckie, Heide, Toddla T, Andy George and Jaymo. We’d all rotate a weekly show, i.e. Toddla T one week,
Benga and I another, etc. The show went amazingly well and next thing we know we was being offered a full-time show every Friday night taking over from Judge Jules... it was crazy!” Crazy indeed. Just like things will get crazy when Skream hits Australia later this month, with dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. He’ll be accompanied by his long-time partner in grime, MC Sgt. Pokes, as well as two other London dubstep/garage heads Joker and Plastician. So you’d best put on your bass face and ditch your drainpipe jeans for some lowriders, because you know it’s gonna get low. MG Skream [UK] plays Billboard The Venue alongside Plastician [UK] and Joker [UK] on Friday July 20.
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WEDNESDAY20TH COMPRESSION SESSION Reggae at E55 every Wednesday night. Resident selectors play stricly vinyl. Free entry. 8pm. E55, 55 Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD
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available to graze on whilst trying our delicious cocktails from the classics to contemporary, beer on tap and a wide range of beers, wines and spirits. Every Friday evening DJ Jumps of The Cat Empire will take to the decks at the bar spinning his rare afro Latin funk vinyl collected from around the world from 6.30pm until late. Papa Goose Cocktail Bar, 91-93 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
SWEET NOTHING FRIDAYS DJ Marcus Knight and DJ Xander James spin hip hop, R&B and house tunes all night from 8pm. Free entry and early drink specials. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
RHYTHM-AL-ISM Start the weekend early with Fusion’s Resident DJs. Music for your funkin’ soul. Special guests every week! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY22ND FAKTORY This is it. Faktory Fridays are open for business at Melbourne’s home of R&B, Khokolat Bar. Where else? Damion De Silva, Ken Walker, Durmy, K Dee, Simon Sez, Yaths and Jacqui Dusk spinning all night long. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
LIKE FRIDAYS Like Fridays at La Di Da serves up RnB and Electro House across two rooms giving you a fun filled end to your week. DJs Dinesh, Dir-X, Sef, NYD, Shaun D, Shaggz, Broz and more. 10pm-5am La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
LIGHT The buzz is Light at RedLove every Friday. Hitting out that R&B flavour of old, new and everything in between! RedLove Resident DJs Stel, Harvey Yeah, TMC and Ripz on the wheels of steel from 6.30pm. If you don’t know, now you know! Check it! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THE LOOSE GOOSE The Loose Goose is focused on providing a wonderful array of cocktails and offers a great CBD location to lounge and relax in while overlooking busy Flinders Lane. A small plates menu is
THE NICE UP Tom Showtime presents The Nice Up. All flavours of hip hop, ghetto funk and reggae niceness provided. Sailor Jerry nice up the cocktails, Dos Blockos nice up the $5 beers. Fridays done proper. George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda
be landing in town again soon for an appointment of the utmost urgency. Okay, so the alias of Kool Keith might not have an M.D., or any clue about medical practise, and look, maybe heaps of his patients die during rounds, but he’s got skills nonetheless able to treat chimpanzee acne and moosebumps, and relocate saliva glands. That’s useful. He’s also rather well-renowned for pushing boundaries in the world of underground hip-hop - his ‘96 debut album the result of a visionary collaboration with the Jimi Hendrix of turntables, DJ QBert, and the hitherto-unknown producer by the name of Dan the Automator. Blunted has spent considerable time persuading Kool Keith to bring undoubtedly the strangest persona in hip hop history back to life - and the results are a series of world-exclusive shows, with Dr. Octagonecologyst being performed in full as a live production only Kool Keith could envision. Saturday July 14, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
UPCOMING HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE
All new experience, same great location with a fresh koat of Khokolat. Restless Entertainment reloads your favourite Saturday night party. Damion De Silva, K Dee, Jay Sin and weekly guests playing R&B & ol’ skool sounds strictly for the urban elite. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
After stunning Harvest Festival-goers late in 2011, Chi-town brothers Hypnotic Brass Ensemble have announced their welcome return to Australia. Born and raised in Chicago, the eight siblings which make up Hypnotic Brass Ensemble have gone on to captivate audiences worldwide with their impeccable blend of jazz, soul, funk and hip hop. Support on the night comes from our very own soul-proponents Saskwatch, plus Judge Pino & The Ruling Motions. Thursday July 26, The Espy, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
REDLOVE SATURDAYS
RICK ROSS
RedLove Saturdays is all about solid classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s and into the ‘00s! Dropping beats of retro pop, disco classics, old school funk, and certainly some of that old school r&b and house to kick! RedLove Resident DJs Phil, HB Bear and Da Gato bringing down the house every Saturday night. If you’re looking for quality service, music to rock, sumptuous drinks and just a cold hard good time; look no further! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
After cancelling his planned visit for this year’s Supafest, Rick Ross is set to make do with an Australian tour this September. Rickay Rozay has established himself as one of the biggest titans in modern rap, guesting with the likes of Kanye West and Diddy and building the Maybach Music Group empire in the process. The tour comes after the long-awaited release of God Forgives, I Don’t. Thursday September 6, Festival Hall, 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne
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DR. OCTAGON Women’s health is an important issue that we as a society shouldn’t be afraid or embarrassed to talk about - which is why we’re all beyond pleased to hear that the Octagonecologyst will
HOME BREW Don’t know who New Zealand hip hop crew Home Brew are? That’s weird. You should ask NZ Prime Minister John Key or
the University Of Auckland about them - after causing a bunch of people with their knickers in a twist to lose their shit over a music video poking fun at idiots who drink-drive, the group’s propensity for irreverence and cheeky laughs is sure to appeal to Australian crowds. Having recently released their eponymous debut album to critical acclaim and finding it debuting at #1 on the New Zealand music charts, throwing a 48-hour party to celebrate in an old brother, then having their controversial pop up store shut down early, it’s high time we got in on the action, hey. Saturday August 10, The Espy, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
THE PHARCYDE Los Angeles hip hop outfit The Pharcyde have been kicking it together for two decades, now. Doesn’t feel like it, given their enduring reputation for cutting-edge, forward-thinking beats and rhymes. Go on, have a listen to Bizarre Ride II: The Pharcyde again, 20 years on - its sense of timelessness is a rare thing, with classics such as Oh Shit, Otha Fish, Ya’ Mama, and hit single, Passing Me By guaranteeing the record its rightful place in bestof collections by everyone from Pitchfork to the Source. It isn’t often a group with their cheeky self-deprecating and incisive humour come along - and set to make a return to Australia soon, we can guarantee this is one gig you definitely don’t want to pass you by. Thursday August 23, The Espy, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
ILLY Laying relatively low since absolutely smashing it last year with his sophomore LP The Chase, Illy has announced his return to the stage in preparation for his third LP. As well as showcasing his massive hits, none moreso than the ubiquitous It Can Wait, the tour will be the first chance for fans to hear material from the upcoming album. The first taste of the new record comes in the form of Heard It All, a single which is already gaining traction on national radio. Friday September 7, The Corner Hotel, 57 Swan Street, Richmond
BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY Grammy Award winning hip hop legends Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are returning to their “second home” Australia, having already sold out over 20 Australian performances in the past. Having reformed for a upcoming performance at Rock The Bells in August this year, the group have created their fair share of interest regarding the possibilities of a new album, and have been introduced to a new generation of hip hop fans thanks to the likes of Drake and Wiz Khalifa expressing their admiration. Thursday September 20, The Espy, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
DR. OCTAGON KEEP MOVING: KING OF THE OCTAGON He is the man and myth behind albums like Spankmaster and the 1996 masterwork Dr. Octagonecologyst. He has penned such lyrics as “In my real world, orangutans dance for Thanksgiving with skeleton bones and skunk tails.” But when we spoke to Dr. Octagon (aka Kool Keith) he spoke in serious tones about his inspiration and where he wants to go in the next chapter of his career. Fresh from a recent trek to Europe, the veteran MC is gearing up to hit Australia to perform his aforementioned classic 1996 album in full. First order of business for Keith though was finding out how cold he could expect the weather to be and if he should pack his thermal underwear and a bubble goose jacket. With that out of the way he told us, in his trademark drawl, “I love Australia, it’s like a second home.” Taking a break from promoting his new album Love & Danger, which dropped last month, he’s clearly looking forward to the visit. “Always happy to go where I feel welcome and Australians are [the] coolest people I have met travelling.” The upcoming shows Down Under will mark the first time he’s ever performed the album live. Rather than a cash-in, he says the idea to perform the album was actually proposed to him on Twitter. “I loved the idea and my manager Tobias worked with Way-2-Fonky to put the whole thing together. It’s an exclusive too, never done this before in full and probably never will again.” The fact that many of his Aussie fans have expressed their admiration for the album probably helped too. Along with Dr. Octagonecologyst, the other album always
the topic of discussion is his 1988 opus Critical Breakdown with group Ultramagnetic MCs. “It really depends on who you meet and talk to. All sorts of folk enjoy different projects I’ve worked on but it’s all love.” The possibility of seeing Critical Breakdown performed in full is there if everything aligns. “If the fans want it to happen and the rest of the group can get together to make this happen then I’m down.” As with everything he does, Dr. Octagonecologyst was a result of Keith’s environment. Recorded in California, alongside Dan The Automator and DJ Q-Bert, he believes that such a conceptdriven album couldn’t have been made in his native New York. “There’s too much going on, you might see a fight in the street and it’ll change your whole vibe.” At the same time the intensity of New York has worked in his favour, as it did with his suitably graphic follow-up album Sex Style. “[inspiration] all comes from the same place, it comes from me but depending on the project it can be someone or something completely different.” Even with his reputation as hip hop’s concept album king, the rapper (real name Keith Thornton) is looking to head in a different direction. “My last two last albums I was in jail, I was in prison lyrically,” he says with conviction, pun intended. “I’m getting into a variety of new beats, doing my own production. I like to move forward and not focus on the same thing.” Never one to stick to formula over the course of his solo career, which kicked off with the Dr. Octagon project,
Keith has also recorded under the pseudonyms Dr. Dooom and Black Elvis. While his creativity has never been in question, he believes he had become somewhat pigeonholed with this musical schizophrenia. “I opened up Pandora’s box in the wrong way. I’ve met people that want me to write a whole song about a hat or a rapper that wants me to write about [baseball player] Derek Jeter for three verses.” He’s also looking to cut down on collaborations, saying, “everyone that works with me gets more recognition than me. I made them stars.” Concept albums do have a place however and he believes many of today’s rappers are following in his footsteps. “They’re making music that is conceptual and characterised. With movies today people wanna see concepts like Batman and The Avengers. It’s the same with music, you damn near gotta put a movie poster out for your album.” With no one to appease, Keith is excited about the idea of switching things up and doing it for himself. “I rapped for other people,
while still retaining the same impact. “It was just fun working with Sean and just a pleasure to work with someone who’s truly professional and just knows what he’s doing,“says Saunders. “He’s a musician himself so he just knows how to get the right sounds.” At Carey’s request, Whitehouse also redefined their sound, the result being an album full of funky bass lines, solid beats and hip hop flavours with Saunders’ spoken word vocal style up front. “The guys are so talented; like the musicians that are in the band they got it straight away,” he says of the band’s time in the studio. “Like we we’re able to just reinvent ourselves at the drop of a hat. We just turned, flipped the script and came up with this new sound that we’re really digging and audiences are digging it as well so it’s been good.” There’s no doubting that it’s Saunders’ lyrics and vocals that are the focal point of the album with the frontman tackling a number of issues that throughout the history of this country have continued to plague the Indigenous populations. “I guess a lot of these tracks, yeah they’re politically charged. They’re really sort of [a] social conscious,” he muses. “We’re trying to get people to feel or think what it might be like to be Aboriginal in this country. So I’m giving a perspective, its mine but it’s something I think a lot of Aboriginal people share.” Although Whitehouse clearly have some pretty strong views and opinions, according to Saunders the band is not looking to
ram it down people’s throats. Instead, their music is designed to spark awareness and to get the listener to think about the issues with this method also being used with the album’s cover art. “The cover of the album and the name of the album The Funky Intervention, if you look at the cover; it’s protest art,” says Saunders. “We’re making a parody on the whole Northern Territory intervention and the good thing about satire, like good satire and parody is you get people to laugh at something that’s fairly serious and then later on think about what they’re laughing at. “It’s like that’s what we’re trying to do with our music,” he continues. “Because if we get too sanctimonious and get up there and spit diatribes, like political stuff at people and bash them around the head people are just going to tune out, people don’t want that anymore. So we’re trying different angles, get people dancing and laughing and then later thinking.” Australia too has had a long tradition of protest songs yet Saunders believes that it has perhaps been in decline in recent
I rapped for mass appeal. I never wrote anything for myself.” For Keith, he sees it as perfect timing for a fresh start. “The industry is in a shitty state at the moment if you’re not willing to be proactive, for those who are it’s more open than ever.” With over 14 albums under his name, just counting solo projects, Keith is showing no signs of slowing down. “To be the best you have to be able to prove it consistently and undoubtedly. I have so much finished music though I could take a break, think for a while and still be able to put dope music out.” Ultimately it’s all about pushing forward and continuing to evolve and grow as an artist. “What keeps me motivated is seeing how others let their work ethic slip, you stop moving and evolving you die. If you want to be a shark you got to keep moving.” Words to live by. Andrew ‘Hazard’ Hickey Dr. Octagon [USA] performs at The Espy on Saturday July 14.
WHITEHOUSE THINKING: MUSIC Music has always been a vehicle for social and political change. Throughout history, protest songs have been used as a way to rally the masses, educate and most importantly, to make people think. In line with this tradition, Newcastle’s hip hop crew Whitehouse have used protest music to address the social issues confronting Australia in the 21st century with a focus on our Aboriginal communities. “I guess I’ve always been into conscious music,” says Grant Saunders aka Sonic Nomad when reflecting on what first drew him to protest music. “I mean I grew up on Bob Marley and the first sort of hip hop track that turned me on was The Message. I was only a teenager back then and it sort of inspired me big time to start writing stuff that affects our people. I think hip hop, when it started, in essence, was really giving voice to the voiceless and empowering those who are constantly disempowered by the system.” Being an Aboriginal Australian immediately gives Saunders credibility when it comes to speaking out about the injustices and divide that has continually surrounded his people. The release of Whitehouse’s debut album A Funky Intervention earlier this year was not only a chance to get their music out to the masses but also a way to spread their message. Bunkering down in the studio with ex-Thirsty Merc guitarist Sean Carey saw Saunders’ normally aggressive vocal delivery be toned down
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times giving way to more accessible forms of music. Yet with a number of new bands, particularly sprouting up from the hip hop community, he believes that there is certainly enough room in the current Australian musical landscape for both types of music. “[Protest music] hasn’t been in this country, not since Midnight Oil, since we’ve really had some proper protest music and it’s always had a place,” he muses. “People have through various art forms, not just music, [such as] art to parody and to challenge social regimes, political regimes. Ever since people who started becoming democratic and political there was always artists that were outspoken and gave an alternative viewpoint and put it in a way that was digestible for audiences.” James Nicoli Whitehouse [AUS] hit Laundry Bar on Friday July 13. A Funky Intervention is out now.
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WHERE TO NEXT?
HiFi 125 Swanston St, Melb, 1300 843 4434
The Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 4090
Highlander 11a Highlander Lane, Melb, 9620 2227
Revolt Elizabeth St, Kensington, 03 9376 2115
Hoo Haa 105 Chapel St, Windsor, 9529 6900
Revolver Upstairs 229 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5985
Horse Bazaar 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 2329
Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555
Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Rooftop Cider Bar, Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, 9650 3884
Jett Black 177 Greville St, Prahran
Room 680 Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9818 0680
John Curtin Hotel 29 Lygon St, Melb, 9663 6350
Roxanne Parlour Lvl 3, 2 Coverlid Pl, Melb
Khokolat Bar 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 039642 1142
Royal Derby 446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 2321
La Di Da 577 Lt Bourke St, Melb, 9670 7680
Roal Melbourne Hotel 629 Bourke St, 9629 2400
Labour In Vain 197A Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 5955
Ruby’s Lounge 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, 9754 7445
Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick
Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333
Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226
Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899
Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500
Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230
Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916
Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877
The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142
Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821
29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922
Corner Hotel 57 Swan St, Richmond, 9427 9198
Love Machine Cnr Lt Chapel & Malvern Rd, Prahran, 9533 8837
Spot 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9388 0222
303 303 High Street, Northcote
Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288
Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793
Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda
CQ 113 Queen St, Melb, 8601 2738
The LuWOW 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 5447
Star Bar 160 Clarendon St, South Melb, 9810 0054
Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459
Croft Institute 21 Croft Alley, Melb, 9671 4399
Mercat Cross Lvl 1, 456 Queen St, Melb, 9348 9998
Station 59 59 Church St, Richmond, 9427 8797
Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999
Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 7871
Mink 2 Acland St, St Kilda, 9536 1199
Stolberg Beer Café 197 Plenty Rd, Preston, 9495 1444
Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666
Cushion 99 Fitzroy St, St.Kilda, 9534 7575
Miss Libertine 34 Franklin St, Melb, 9663 6855
Sub Lounge & Restaurant 168 Elizabeth St Melb, 0411 800 198
Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899
Damask 1/347 Burnswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 4578
Misty 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melb, 9663 9202
Sugar Bar (Hotel Urban) 35 Fitztroy St, St Kilda, 8530 8888
Bar Open 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 9601
The Drunken Poet 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797
Mockingbird Bar 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 0000
Temperance Hotel 426 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9827 7401
Baroq House 9-13 Drewery Ln, Melb, 8080 5680
Der Raum 438 Church St, Richmond, 9428 0055
Musicland 1359A Sydney Rd, Fawkner, 9359 0006
Thornbury Theatre 859 High St, Thornbury, 9484 9813
Bendigo Hotel 125 Johnston St, Collingwood 9417 3415
Ding Dong Lounge Lvl 1, 18 Market Ln, Melb, 9662 1020
Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544
Tiki Lounge 327 Swan St, Richmond, 9428 4336
Bennetts Jazz Club 25 Bennetts Ln, Melb, 9663 2856
Dizzy’s Jazz Club 381 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 1233
New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464
Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770
Bertha Brown 562 Flinders Street, 9629 1207
Double Happiness 21 Liverpool St, Melb, 9650 4488
Night Cat 141 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 0090
Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 267 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 2448
Big Mouth 168 Acland St, St.Kilda, 9534 4611
E:55 55 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9620 3899
Night Cat 279 Flinders Ln, Melb, 9654 0444
The Tote Hotel 67 Johnson St, Collingwood, 9419 5320
Billboard 170 Russell St, Melb, 9639 4000
East Brunswick Club 280 Lygon St, East Brunswick, 9388 2777
Noise Bar 291 Albert St, Brunswick, 9380 1493
Town Hall Hotel 33 Errol St, North Melbourne, 9328 1983
Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 8600
Edinburgh Castle 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Northcote Social Club 301 High St, Northcote, 9489 3917
Trak Lounge 445 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 9826 9000
Birmingham Hotel Cnr Smith & Johnston St, Fitzroy
Electric Ladyland Lvl 1, 265 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5757
Old Bar 74 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 4155
Tramp 20 King St, Melb
Black Cat 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6230
Elwood Lounge 49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood, 9525 6788
One Twenty Bar 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melb, 9654 8808
Blue Bar 330 Chapel St, Prahran, 9529 6499
Empress 714 Nicholson St, Nth Fitzroy, 9489 8605
Onesixone 161 High St, Prahran, 9533 8433
Trunk 275 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7994
Blue Tile Lounge 95 Smith St, Fitzroy
Espy 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 0211
Order Of Melbourne level 2, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 6707
Tyranny Of Distance 147 Union St, Windsor, 9525 1005
Boutique 134 Greville St, Prahran, 9525 2322
Eurotrash 18 Corrs Ln, Melb, 9654 4411
Palace Hotel 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Two of Hearts 149 Commercial Road, Prahran
Brown Alley King Street, Melb,9670 8599
Eve 334 City Rd, Southbank, 9696 7388
Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, Melb, 9650 0180
Union Hotel Brunswick 109 Union St, Brunswick, 9388 2235
Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9387 6637
Evelyn 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 5500
Palais 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 5348 4849
Veludo 175 Acland St, St Kilda, 9534 4456
Builders Arms 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Ferntree Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully, 9758 6544
Palais Theatre Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 9525 3240
Victoria Hotel 380 Victoria St, Brunswick, 9388 0830
Cabinet Bar 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne, 9654 0915
Festival Hall 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne, 9329 9699
Papa Goose 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, 9663 2800
Wah Wah Lounge Lvl 1, 185 Lonsdale St, Melb
Caravan Music Club 95 Drummond St, Oakleigh
First Floor 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6380
Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 8667
Wesley Anne 250 High St, Northcote, 9482 1333
Caseys Nightclub 660A Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9810 0030
Forum Theatre 154 Flinders St, Melb, 9299 9800
Pier Live Hotel 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston, 9783 9800
Westernport Hotel 161 Marine Pde, San Remo, 5678 5205
Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets 80 Smith St, Collingwood, 9415 8876
The Fox Hotel 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood, 9416 4957
Pony 68-70 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9662 1026
Willow Bar 222 High Street, Northcote, 9481 1222
CBD Club 12-14 McKillop St, Melb, 9670 3638
Fusion Lvl 3, Crown Complex, Southbank, 9292 5750
Portland Hotel Cnr Lt Collins & Russell St, Melb, 9810 0064
Windsor Castle 89 Albert St, Windsor, 9525 0239
Chaise Lounge Basement, 105 Queen St, Melb, 9670 6120
The Gallery Room 1/510 Flinders St, Melbourne, 9629 1350
The Prague Hotel, 911 High St, Northcote, 9495 0000
Workers Club 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 8889
Chandelier Room 91 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, 9532 2288
Gem Bar & Dining 289 Wellingston St, Collingwood, 9419 5170
Pretty Please 61c Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Workshop Lvl 1, 413 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9326 4365
Chelsea Heights Hotel Cnr Springvale & Wells Rd,
George Basement, 127 Fitzroy St, 9534 8822
Prince Bandroom 29 Fitztory St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
Yah Yah’s 99 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9419 4920
Chelsea Heights, 9773 4453
Gertrude’s Brown Couch 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, 9417 6420
Prince Of Wales 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
The Vine 59 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9417 2434
Cherry Bar AC/DC Ln, Melb, 9639 8122
Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 0055
Public Bar 238 Victoria St, North Melb, 9329 6522
Chi Lounge 195 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne, 9662 2688
Grandview Hotel Cnr Heidelberg Rd & Station St, Fairfield, 9489 8061
Purple Emerald Lounge Bar 349 High St, Northcote, 9482 7007
Co. Lvl 3, Crown Complex, 9292 5750
Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066
Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092
Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599
Grind N Groove 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville
Red Bennies 371 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9826 2689
Commercial Club Hotel 344 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, 9419 1522
Grumpy’s Green 125 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 1944
RedLove Lvl 1, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 3722
Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660
Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548
Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693
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