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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
3.
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UPCOMING
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ONTOUR OCTAVE ONE [USA] Friday September 14, Mercat Basement SOLA ROSA [NZ] Friday September 14, Northcote Social Club LUKE FAIR [CAN] Friday September 14, Onesixone KENNY LARKIN [USA] Friday September 14, New Guernica JERU THE DAMAJA [USA] Friday September 14, Thes Espy ROGER SHAH [GER] Saturday September 15, Room680 ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD [UK] Saturday September 15, Prince Bandroom KENJI TAKIMI [JPN] Saturday September 15, Mercat Basement EQUINOX: LOGIC BOMB [SWE], TERRANOISE [ISR], CHROMATONE [USA] + MORE Friday September 21 - Sunday September 23, Goulburn Valley River FERRY CORSTEN [NED] Friday September 21, Palace Theatre HERNÁN CATTÁNEO [ARG], FRITZ KALKBRENNER [GER] Friday September 21, Brown Alley NARI AND MILANI [ITA] Friday September 21, Royal Melbourne Hotel ERIC CLOUTIER [USA] Friday September 21, Mercat Basement COMMIX [UK], FRICTION [UK] Friday September 21, Roxanne Parlour DOCTOR P [UK], COOKIE MONSTA [UK], FUNTCASE [UK] Saturday September 22, Roxanne Parlour OPTIV [SWE], BTK [BRA] Saturday September 22, The Night Owl SIS [GER] Sunday September 23, Onesixone SCISSOR SISTERS [USA] Wednesday September 26, Hamer Hall THE MOLE [CAN] Thursday September 27, Lounge RICK WADE [USA] Friday September 28, The Croft Institute SHARAM [USA], DIBBY DOUGHERTY [IRE] Friday September 28, Billboard DAS EFX [USA] Friday September 28, Prince Bandroom NICK SENTIENCE [UK] Friday September 28, Room680 TONY TOUCH [USA] Friday September 28, The Espy GIGAMESH [USA] Saturday September 29, Seven FUNKAGENDA [UK] Saturday September 29, Pretty Please TOMMIE SUNSHINE [USA] Saturday September 29, Prince Bandroom PAUL OAKENFOLD [UK] Friday October 5, Festival Hall FELIX DICKINSON [UK] Friday October 5, Mercat Basement ANDRE LODEMANN [GER] Friday October 5, Onesixone PARKLIFE: JUSTICE [FRA], PASSION PIT [USA], PLAN B [UK] + MORE Saturday October 6, Sidney Myer Music Bowl PUNKS JUMP UP [UK] Saturday October 6, Prince Bandroom MARK HENNING [GER] Sunday October 7, Revolver TOMMY FOUR SEVEN [GER] Friday October 12, Brown Alley RUDIMENTAL [UK], SLUGABED [UK], EMALKAY [UK], IKONIKA [UK] Friday October 12, Brown Alley AME [GER] Saturday October 13, Brown Alley MONKEY SAFARI [GER] Saturday October 13, Prince Bandroom STEVE AOKI [USA] Saturday October 13, Shed 4 BIG FREEDIA [USA], THEE SATISFACTION [USA] Thursday October 18, The Hi-Fi FUNK D’VOID [UK] Friday October 19, Brown Alley BIG FREEDIA [USA] Saturday October 20, The Tote STEVE RACHMAD [NED] Friday October 26, Brown Alley JAMIE JONES [UK], DJ W!LD [FRA], MARGARET DYGAS [UK] Sunday November 4, Brown Alley NICK CURLY [GER] Sunday November 4, Revolver Upstairs YOUSEF [UK] Friday November 9, Brown Alley. ROBERT HOOD [USA] Friday November 9, TBA MOULLINEX [POR] Saturday November 10, New Guernica ECLIPSE: PERFECT STRANGER [ISR], OLIVER LIEB [GER], ADAM FREELAND [UK] + MORE Saturday November 12 – Friday November 16, TBA SMOKE DZA [USA] Saturday November 17, Laundry Bar SUBB-AN [UK], MIGUEL CAMPBELL [UK] Sunday November 18, Revolver BOYZ II MEN [USA] Sunday November 18, Billboard STRAWBERRY FIELDS: JAMES HOLDEN [UK], TYCHO [USA], PREFUSE 73 [USA] + MORE Friday November 23 – Sunday November 25, TBA STEREOSONIC: TIESTO [NED], AVICII [SWE], CALVIN HARRIS [UK] + MORE Saturday December 1, Melbourne Showgrounds NICK WARREN [UK] Friday December 7, Billboard TODD TERJE [NOR] Friday December 7, The Liberty Social MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL: FOUR TET [UK], DJ YAMANTAKA EYE [JAP] + MORE Friday December 7 - Sunday December 9, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre TERRENCE PARKER [USA] Friday December 21, TBA FALLS FESTIVAL: SBTRKT [UK], COOLIO [USA] + MORE Saturday December 28 – Tuesday January 1, Lorne LET THEM EAT CAKE: KERRI CHANDLER [USA], THE GASLAMP KILLER [USA] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Werribee Park BIG DAY OUT: THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA], KASKADE [USA], CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] + MORE Saturday January 26, Flemington Racecourse
4.
REAL TALK Sometimes I still have nightmares about that scene in Signs when the alien walks out from behind the bush during the children’s birthday party. And by sometimes, I mean every second night. I’m also terrified of yabbies but let’s leave that for another week. Tyson Wray
Yousef: Broken Boundaries
The new decade sees Yousef consolidating his status as an international DJ, producer, club promoter and music aficionado with ever-greater impact, including the release of his second artist album Indigo Child, the follow-up to 2009’s impressive LP A Collection Of Scars And Situations. Harnessing his notoriety, he’ll head to Brown Alley to play his hugely expansive collection of creations. Having reworked Jamie T, Fourtet, Giles Peterson, Moby and Sven, Yousef continues to push further ground as a DJ, leaving a huge personal footprint on electronic music both behind the scenes and behind the decks of the world’s finest clubs. See him on Friday November 9 at Brown Alley.
The Mole: Under Cover
Rework and Lounge present an exclusive Australian first, The Mole. A prominent member of Cobblestone Jazz, Colin de Plante is detouring from his Asia Pacific tour for one show only in Melbourne. Deep house, techno and disco enthusiasts will relish the special performance by the dance music expert who emerged in the ‘90s. Going on to play sets at MUTEK 2004, create a collaboration with long time friend and band mate Mathew Jonson Dirt Road and a Boat From Soundwave all to critical acclaim, his new endeavours show he is still doing what he does best. With local support from Miza, Retza, Louk Syrylo, Matt Waters and Dave Pham, The Mole will take over Lounge in a blaze of techno glory on Thursday September 27.
Boyz II Men: 20th Anniversary
R&B originators Boyz II Men celebrate 20 years of soulful balladeering with another Australian tour. The most commercially successful R&B group of all time, no less, are known for their swelling acapella harmonies and hits such as I’ll Make Love to You and Mariah Carey collaboration One Sweet Day. They return to Australia for the third time to demonstrate their musical Midas touch. It’ll be one hot and sticky love-in fans will not want to miss out on. They hit Billboard on Sunday November 18.
Far East Movement: Cancellation
Far East Movement have rescheduled the Australian and New Zealand leg of their tour. In a statement by the band, responsible for hit song Like A G6, they said, “Australian/NZ fam: we are sad to announce that we have to postpone our upcoming tour of your countries. We had some last-minute issues with our working visas that are now preventing us from travelling over there to rock for y’all. We gotta shout out every single basshead that was gonna come out and party with us in New Zealand and Australia. We appreciate your support and are working hard so that we can come back and perform for y’all asap. Until then keep turning up the love and spreading that dirty bass. Much love, Far East Movement.” If you purchased your tickets online or over the phone through Ticketmaster you will receive an automatic refund to the credit card used to make the purchase. If you bought them from a retail outlet you will need to return to the point of purchase within five business days with photo ID for a cash refund.
London’s Mark Henning has risen up as one of the underground’s true players, recording for a volley of acclaimed international labels, and will appear at Revolver this October. Born in 1977 to English and German parents, he has spent most of his life in England, though has never forgotten his German roots and is now firmly settled in Berlin. Having released his debut album Jupiter Jive on legendary UK institution Soma Recordings in the summer of 2008 to great acclaim, followed up with eight EPs in 2009, his sound sits somewhere between house and techno with a healthy dose of funk, swing, darkness and weirdness. He continues to prove himself as a consistent producer of quality, quirky house music. He’ll play as part of Revolver’s Summer Series on Sunday October 7.
Nick Sentience: Grammatical DJ
Havana Brown: Crowned DJ Queen
Co. At Crown’s Saturday night party Sound Empire this week features some of our best Australian exports, including Havana Brown, The Potbelleez DJs, Jane Daffy and resident DJs Tate Strauss, Phil Ross, Matty G, Sarah Ross, Matty G, Joe Sofo, Finlo White, Dean T and Sarah Roberts. Havana Brown, the unquestionable star of the show, has had a stellar year with the release of hit single You’ll Be Mine, as well as having toured with Pitbull. Catch this lineup on Saturday September 15.
Mark Henning: Berlin via London
Having spent a decade at the top levels of International dance and club music, Nick Sentience is one of the most in demand DJs and Producers in the world. Starting his career producing dance floor hits as a house producer for the UK’s top selling label Nukleuz Records back in 2000, he formed a partnership there that defined an era of club music for the harder generation. With three critically acclaimed artist albums already under his belt; Universal Language, Dance Planet and Syncronized, Nick is now focusing on creating more dance floor monsters, which has seen him spend the past two years turning heads on the global trance charts. Nick Sentience plays Room 680 on Friday September 28 with Support from Nikki S, Paul Robertson , Danny Gilligan, local psy Favourite Imperfect Circle and upcoming producer Kade FX.
Nick Curly: Backing It Up Circoloco: Lineup Shakeup
Finely Tuned Entertainment have announced a line-up change to their Circoloco Halloween event, replacing Maceo Plex and Matthias Tanzmann with Crosstown Rebels labelmate Jamie Jones as headliner and DJ W!LD. Jones, well known for his long term stays at Ibiza and as one of London’s most in-demand DJ’s, his set at Future Music Festival earlier in the year left Australian crowds begging for more. France’s prince of everything deep, dark and sexy DJ W!LD has long served in the underground house scene. There has been no official announcement for fans seeking refunds, but Finely Tuned have posted their email on the Facebook event page for any complaints, queries or requests for refunds. Catch Circoloco at Brown Alley on Sunday November 4.
On the back of one of his most successful years in 2011, polled popularly by Resident Advisor, releasing Cocoon’s biggest selling 12” and his residency at Space Ibiza’s Kehakuma, Nick Curly makes his debut Australian appearance at Revolver. His debut artist album Between The Lines shows undoubted success in dancefloor cuts, and though the somewhat slower feel of the album surprised some, the artist himself has always been ready to show a different face to his musical expression. His huge remix of Zoo Brazil’s Slob has just been released on Sci+Tec, as well Still Not Sorry on 8 Bit. Nick Curly appears at Revolver on Sunday November 4.
RESPONSIBLE: Managing Editor: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au Editor: Tyson Wray tyson@beat.com.au 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
Tommy Four Seven: T47
British born Berlin based DJ, producer and sound designer Tommy Four Seven is at the front of the new generation of techno artists creating trademark deep and uncompromising sounds. Tommy’s approach to music is unlike a musician. Instead, he prefers to sound design, recording and sculpting elements into deep, engaging atmospheres. An impressive example of this extraordinary production ethos is his debut artist album Primate, released on CLR in 2011. Catch him on Friday October 12 at Brown Alley.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
5.
ILLY HOME GROWN: BRINGING IT BACK As hip hop in Australia continues to experience a growth in exposure and popularity it has attracted a young audience who identify closely with the artists. The fact that home grown hip hop has become more openly proud of being Aussie on a mainstream level has improved its ability to be relatable. The youth audience who flock to the live shows and show their support can see someone not much older than them, talking about every day issues in a voice they can recognise. There are several artists being held up as the poster boys for this new generation of Aussie hip hop, with the most obvious example being the now ubiquitous 360. Obese Records, Australia’s flagship hip hop label, has been a part of much of that growth and has been establishing its next wave of artists in the wake of earlier successes such as the Hilltop Hoods. Now the likes of Skryptcha, Spit Syndicate and our subject here, Illy, are carrying things into the future. The Melbourne bred emcee is gearing up to release his third studio album Bring It Back, which finds him looking back to his roots. The stripped back production and unfiltered lyrics mark a change from 2010’s The Chase and while it may appear an interesting if strategic move after having a commercial success, the choice was a natural one. We catch Illy, real name Al Murray, the day after his birthday and as he prepares for the Melbourne stop on his Bring It Back Tour. While his voice shows signs of exhaustion, the busy performer sounds energised about the album and what he has coming up. “When I started putting together the album it wasn’t intended to be an album,” Murray reveals. “I was just making some tracks with mates that were a bit different from what I normally do. Gradually we ended up getting about half a dozen tracks down and I thought these tracks were good enough to make an album out of. So the process of making the album only really began probably six tracks in.” Bring It Back finds him working with a range of artists, from veteran Reason, who appears on the appropriately titled The Bridge, to fellow new schooler Pez, who drops by on Where Ya Been. The collaborators also happen
6.
“It’s been a process, it’s been a long one but it’s one I’ve taken because I know it needs to be done.” to be friends with Murray, which gives the album an authentic feel, rather than sounding like a group of people being forced to work together. As soon as the boom-bap heavy title track drops in you know you’re in for a different ride. “Told my label new plan I’ma take it to my roots with a new jam, after that resume programming,” he says on Bring It Back. Free of the pressure that would come with recording a traditional album, the process was refreshing for someone who has experienced such a boost in profile. “It took the pressure off, it was just making music for myself really. There was no intention of having a massively commercial album. I just wanted to make some music with my mates. People have been saying it’s a risky move but I don’t think it is. If you’re making music but not pushing yourself to try different stuff I think that’s a much more risky thing to do.” Murray took a similar risk when recording The Chase, as he focused more on hooks and production as opposed to trying to cater strictly to straight hip hop fans. As someone still looking to establish themselves he was relatively unknown on a national scale. “No one cared enough for there to be pressure. The Chase was the album that really made a lot of people aware of who I was and what I was doing.” Flash forward a couple of years and Illy is now one of the more prominent local acts. For those, however, who only know Murray for singles like the Gold selling It Can’t Wait and Cigarettes, new tracks like Say It To Me and Where Is My Mind Pt 2 showcase another side to the talented emcee. “It shows a different side and it’s a lot more in line with the local hip hop I was listening to coming up. I love the other stuff I’ve done. I write my own hooks so all the songs that have singers on them I’ve written. So obviously I’m fond of those songs but it’s been good to do something a bit different as well.” In some ways Bring It Back plays as a tribute to the Aussie hip hop he came up on and the artists that influenced him and he has enjoyed the chance to perform the new material to live audiences. “The shows have been really really good. COVER STORY
We’ve played some places that we haven’t played before which has been good and we’ve had some of our biggest shows. We had our biggest show in Sydney, our biggest show in Perth. I really can’t complain considering the tour was planned around an album release date that ended up getting pushed back. We’ve basically done this really great tour off the strength of the single [Heard It All], which is awesome and a massive relief as well.” Despite the differences between Bring It Back and his previous work he has found the reception and energy from the live crowds hasn’t been too different at his recent shows. “It’s been very similar, which is great because we didn’t really know how it would go. The love is very much still there and it’s reciprocated.” Now selling out shows nationally Murray has come a long way from the up and comer who dropped his debut mixtape in 2007. Before signing with Obese Records he used to hang out at their record store headquarters as a teen. “I was going there from about 17 to 21 and then I signed with Obese at 23. I wasn’t there religiously but the trips to the store were definitely something everyone used to do from time to time, go pick up CDs and hang out. It’s awesome to have a place like that.” Like most of his contemporaries he has had to work his way up and has put in the hard yards. “I had to build it up, I had to do a lot of shows, a lot of touring, a lot of work to get where I’m at. It’s inevitable that if you’re gonna stick with music and if you’re gonna make any headway that that there’s a lot of work involved. It’s been a process, it’s been a long one but it’s one I’ve taken because I know it needs to be done.” Even with his status now as one of the leaders of the new school the humble emcee tends to shy away from the plaudits and labels bestowed on him. “I just do my thing. People like my music, that’s good and that’s all I can really hope for.” Acknowledging that his style may be unique compared to others, he ultimately believes that he carries similar beliefs and principles throughout his work. “I guess I’m younger than a lot of the more prominent dudes and I guess my music does sound a bit
different but I’m mates with a lot of those dudes, like the [Hilltop] Hoods, Drapht, Bliss N Eso. So I wouldn’t say I’m too fundamentally different but my music might be. It’s up to other people to make that call. I don’t really care too much about it.” With Bring It Back ready to be released Murray is now focused on what he considers the official follow up to The Chase. “We were working on it before Bring It Back was put together. I was just recording tracks for the fun of it and at that time we were working on the follow up to The Chase, so we’re about to get stuck back into finishing that off.” The yet-to-be-titled album will be produced almost entirely by fellow ARIA chart topper and producer extraordinaire M-Phazes, who has been working with Murray dating back to his earliest work. He is clearly excited about how the project is coming along as well as his progression as an artist. “I really want to focus on this next album as soon as I can and push myself with that. I’m quite excited about the potential for that one. Some of the stuff we’ve put down is really really solid. There’s a bit of pressure with that but I don’t let it get to me too much. I’m able to take the pressure and work with it rather than let it freak me out.” The music industry can come with many trappings and excesses, however for Murray his sights are firmly set on developing his craft and continuing to remain a productive recording artist. “I don’t have too many goals beyond wanting to keep making music and keep touring and have people keep listening to my stuff.“ Andrew ‘Hazard’ Hickey Illy’s [AUS] album Bring It Back is out on Friday September 21 through Obese Records. He plays at Pyramid Rock Festival which takes place at Phillip Island from Saturday December 29 - Tuesday January 1.
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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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SATURDAY15TH CLUB SODA
WEDNESDAY12TH 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
HUMPDAY ANIMALS 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
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.
as DJs Same O, David Bass and James Hurt spin bass laced tunes ‘til the early hours of the morning. Noise Bar, 291 Albert Street, Brunswick
THE BLACK PANCAKE CLUB 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 and Richie 1250. 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
FRIDAY14TH BUHLOONE MINDSTATE “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
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
CQ FRIDAYS
LAUNDRY WEDNESDAYS
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
Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass. Laundry Bar, 50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
THURSDAY13TH 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
SLOW HOUSE THURSDAYS Slow House Thursdays is just what Brunswick has been missing. Get down to the latest Thursday spot at Noise Bar, find a space with your bros and get into the groove
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
FREEDOM PASS Fridays 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 world-class 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
FRIDAY NIGHT LOFT PARTY Kitty Schmidt couldn’t find quality dance music in Fitzroy so she’s decided to open up her bedroom doors. Living above Melbourne’s stalwart lesbian/gay Libation Bar, she’s now throwing a monthly party in her boudoir. Come into her renovated upstairs loft, cocktail bar, dance floor and smoking terrace. With quirky house, deep disco and erotic electronica being spun by Marvin Roland, Mr. Pyz and Kitty Schmidt DJs. Libation, 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
PANORAMA 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
Taking place each and every Saturday night in Melbourne’s CBD on the corner of Lonsdale St and King St, Club Soda plays host to a fresh, new concept – local/national/international DJs weekly, un-paralleled entertainment, performances, and disco tomfoolery. Don’t let the bubbly name fool you, Club Soda is your weekend’s thirst quencher – changing people going out for convenience, whilst not leaving the sour taste of an empty wallet on Sunday morning. Our doors open for you every Saturday at 9.30pm, and stay open until you should go home. Brown Alley, Cnr King & Lonsdale St, CBD
EDEN SATURDAYS Smashing it every week at Melbourne’s hottest looking venue! Top 40 dance, house and R&B 9-3am, then electro from 3am - 5am. DJ Ontime, DJ Ryza, Scotty Erdos and Azza M. $15/$20, free entry after 4am. Eden, 163 Russell St, Melbourne
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 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
SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR 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
SOUND EMPIRE Co. At Crown’s Saturday night party Sound Empire this week features some of our best Australian exports, including Havana Brown, The Potbelleez DJs, Jane Daffy and resident DJs Tate Strauss, Phil Ross, Matty G, Sarah Ross, Matty G, Joe Sofo, Finlo White, Dean T and Sarah Roberts. Havana Brown, the unquestionable star of the show, has had a stellar year with the release of hit single You’ll Be Mine, as well as having toured with Pitbull. Mega sounds from 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
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
SUNDAY16TH 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 A Mano 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
MONDAY17TH 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
TUESDAY18TH BIMBO TUESDAYS Bimbo Tuesdays 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 the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colourful 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
FRITZ KALKBRENNER SUOL MATES: BERLIN BROTHERHOOD Fritz Kalkbrenner has just gotten off the plane and is running low on time and options. “I’ve actually only walked in the door from the airport just now,” he says in a flurry, looking around his studio for a forgotten piece of gear for his live show. “I went to Ibiza in Spain yesterday to play a show, and I had to rush back to Berlin for a hometown show tonight. At the moment things are quite intense because my second album is coming out soon, but it’s a very interesting time for me too. I think that the intensity will be good for my music; at least I hope it will!” With the release of 2010’s debut album Here Today Gone Tomorrow, Kalkbrenner established himself as a rare commodity: an artist able to simultaneously weave his down-tempo and sustained crooning with crisp house beats. It was undeniably fresh work, marked by the influence of American contemporaries like J Rocc and Roy Ayers, while retaining its own individual style thanks to the richness and power of Kalkbrenner’s voice. The young German singer, musician and producer’s current run of European dates marks the live return of his distinctively soulful vocals and hooks to the dancefloors of the continent and beyond. He admits to the slightest of jitters about the release of his new mixed album Suol Mates on independent Berlin label Suol. “It’s definitely not as painful as last time I released
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an album. I think this time around I’m just a bit more curious, as I’m waiting to see what [people] think of the choices I’ve made – the album features many more live instrumentations, with live guitar play and many more vocals than I’ve done before. I can honestly say I have no fear, but I am curious to see how people react.” In the past, Kalkbrenner has collaborated heavily with his brother Paul and childhood friend Sascha Funke; his first recorded appearance was on the single Forms & Shapes on the latter’s 2003 debut album, Bravo. At the moment, however, it seems necessary to keep it separated. “Right now we’re all doing similar projects, but we have agreed that we will not work together because we are all just relentless in our work ethic. We would send each other crazy!” Kalkbrenner says. They’ve still retained an element of collaboration, though. “We do meet in the evening to have a beer and show each other’s production off. But we only discuss the results of what we’ve made, because we made a conscious decision to craft our albums without the influence of the others in the group. “There is always room to argue when two producers come together,” he continues. “My brother will mean well, but then he’ll be asking, ‘What about extending this break a bit longer?’ or ‘What ESSENTIALS
about changing the kick-drum ratios at this point?’ It can get to be a little bit much, but both of us appreciate each other’s contribution. Ultimately we have been in the game long enough to know when to call the other one out on any bullshit, which is good.” And if he ever needs another opinion, there’s always a host of producer friends dotted throughout his city. “Most of my male friends are producers themselves; it seems everyone I meet in Berlin is fascinated by the process of music production, which is fine – but sometimes I just need to get away. Sometimes I
threaten to my friends that I’m going to move to the Belgian coast,” he laughs, “but this time I’ll just come to Australia instead!” Benjamin Cooper Fritz Kalkbrenner [GER] plays the Strawberry Fields Launch Party alongside Hernan Cattaneo [ARG] at Brown Alley on Friday September 21.
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HERNAN CATTANEO MASTER AT WORK: IN THE HOUSE Argentina’s Hernán Cattáneo has been in the DJ game for close to two decades, but even after all this time, nothing can touch the thrill he feels when he get behind the decks. “The best part no doubt is the set,” he tells me. “Arriving at the club or festival, feeling the anticipation, thinking what you are going to play and then delivering the music, watching the faces, the reactions...” He trails off. “Sometimes you wait for weeks thinking how some tracks will work at one specific event and when that happens, you are not thinking about the 14-hour flight, you just think, ‘This is why I do this.’ Travelling the world is great, but it’s all about music, really.” When Cattáneo first heard house music, it was via a stack of vinyl records a friend brought back from an American trip. In those days, a DJ was limited by a record case, but now it’s possible to carry thousands of tracks digitally on a device that fits into your pocket. When faced with this level of choice, I ask Cattáneo if he ever feels overwhelmed when planning his sets. “Well, you don’t get all those thousands overnight, so it’s all about organising properly in your mind – and in your folders!” he says. “In my opinion, the more options the better the time. You feel a bit overwhelmed when listening to thousands of new tracks every week to only find ten great ones, but that’s what DJs do.” International travel is a big part of Cattáneo’s job description as a DJ – in the weeks prior to his next Australian visit, he’ll be playing in Greece and the UK, then after that, it’s off to Bulgaria, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and then – why the hell not? – Japan. Playing to so many different crowds with so many divergent tastes, you might assume that Cattáneo tailors his sets to the country he’s in at the time, but he assures me that he stays true to himself no matter where in the world he ends up. “Some places are better to play than others,” he says, “but there’s no way I can change my style or my way of playing. Australia is one of the places where my
music works the best, so I can really play long sets the way I like and play as deep and melodic as I want.” Cattáneo has a new Renaissance Masters compilation coming out at the end of this month, and he tells me that a reasonable chunk of his set will be devoted to material from that. “There are a lot of our own productions, remixes from other artists, and of course new producers from around the world like I always include in my sets,” he says. “This compilation follows the path of my previous one, Parallel, where I did one slower CD and another more up-tempo one. Some club tracks work wonderfully when you pitch them down to 100bpm, so I’m very excited to show some of those off.” Cattáneo is known for talking at length about some of the great DJs who’ve inspired him over the years, like Sasha and Digweed – not to mention Oakenfold, who signed the DJ and producer to his Perfecto imprint when he was just a youngster. I’m curious to know, however, if there’s anybody in the present musical landscape that Cattáneo looks up to. “Of course,” he tells me. “The evolution and dynamics of music brings new people all the time. Guy Gerber, Guy J, Henry Saiz – these guys are all high in my list of favourites, and I would say they really understand the idea of melody like very few others.” Where club music is concerned, there’s no doubt that the dubstep sound remains in ascendancy. As someone who came of age before the dubstep era, Cattáneo tells me that he likes listening to certain tracks and producers, especially on the more subtle and hypnotic side of things, but that house remains his true love. “It’s always been about that groove for me,” he says. “When I first heard the Chicago house sound, I got locked into that rhythm, and I really never looked into anything else.” Travelling is such a big part of the life of a DJ that the time spent in hotels and taxis and airport lounges can really start to build up – I ask Cattáneo what he actually does to fill all this downtime, and he tells me, perhaps with
DOCTOR P DR. DUBSTEP: SOUND SURGERY Dubstep producer Doctor P has become a huge name on the scene over the past few years since the release of his massive single Sweet Shop. Chatting to the man himself ahead of his set at the Big Ape Showcase on Friday, September 21 at Roxanne Parlour, Doctor P has just finished up a massive run of dates in the U.S and he’s a little tuckered out. “It was pretty full on, I had one day off in three weeks,” says Doctor P, aka Shaun Brockhurst. Brockhurst explains that time off isn’t really an option at this stage in his career. Running Circus Records with label mates Flux Pavilion, DJ Swan-E and Earl Falconer, plus keeping the fans happy and touring like a madman doesn’t really allow for a lot of relaxing. “I always do shows at the weekend, but I spend most weekdays at home. My time at home is spent making music, doing interviews and running the label, so I don’t really have down time. If I did have down time I would probably spend it sleeping!” Brockhurst began his music career studying music production at university in the UK. He then worked under a number of different aliases and collaborations, starting
out in the drum and bass scene under the moniker DJ Picto before rapidly doing an about turn, realising that dubstep was the direction to head for. “I was never truly a part of the drum and bass scene. I had a few small releases and never really did any gigs. It was when I found dubstep that I felt my music became what I wanted it to be, and I think other people felt the same. My dubstep became way more popular than my drum and bass!” Some producers draw inspiration from others in the scene, some have routines they follow when creating music, but Brockhurst says that he leaves it all up to fate. “I just start making music and see where it takes me. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t! It’s difficult to find true inspiration, it always comes when you least expect it.” Dubstep has almost been flooding the non-mainstream market over the past 18 months or so, and more and more artists are turning to the genre. Brockhurst reckons it is simply a case of good timing. “The music industry has been due for a revolution for a while, I think dubstep is what everyone was looking for. Who knows where it will
tongue-in-cheek, that, “Apple make so many wonderful things, you never have to feel bored.” These days, Cattáneo is a family man, and by necessity, he spends less of his time on the road so he can spend more with his children. I’m curious to know what the future holds, and if he thinks there will come a point – in the next 10 or 15 years, say – when all the time in hotel bars and airport lounges will come to feel like a bit too much. “You can
never plan so much ahead,” he answers, “but you can [check] with me in five years time, for sure.” Alasdair Duncan Hernan Cattaneo [ARG] plays alongside Fritz Kalkbrenner [GER] at the Strawberry Fields Launch Party at Brown Alley on Friday September 21.
go, or what it will turn into. All I know is that it’s way more interesting than most chart music.” On that note, Doctor P’s leads 100% through his dubstep picks for the year. “Brown and Gammon is a favourite of mine. His music is so strange, but it works on lots of different levels. I’m also a fan of people like Koan Sound, and Feed Me, they are masters of what they do.” Doctor P is an extremely busy dude, and this year has undoubtedly been a hectic one. He’s heading to our shores later this month to headline the Big Ape Showcase, which will also feature fellow dubstep heavyweights Cookie Monsta, Funt Case and Slum Dogz collective, which Doctor P has been a part of since his DJ Picto days. But despite all the touring and collaborations, Doctor P has one simple idea in mind for 2013. “I would like to spend some time making music. It doesn’t sound like a big request, but it’s become almost impossible to find the time over the last year or so.” Chloe Papas Doctor P [UK] plays alongside Funtcase [UK], Cookie Monsta [UK] and more on Friday September 21 at Roxanne Parlour.
KENNY LARKIN DETROIT HOUSE: NATIVE NOISES Detroit’s Kenny Larkin only releases music rarely, but when he does, he makes it count – his early singles, tracks like We Shall Overcome and Integration are regarded as techno classics, and his remixes are some of the most sought-after in the business. Larkin was born and raised in Detroit, but missed out on that city’s first wave of techno – while Derrick May and Juan Atkins were releasing their first singles, he was serving in the military. On his return, he established himself as a producer, crafting tracks that used the hard-edged futurism of the Detroit sound as a basis for innovative and exciting tracks. Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva were among the first to spot Larkin’s talent, signing him to their Plus 8 label, and he has gone on to release tracks with imprints like Warp and Buzz. Like any successful DJ, touring is a big part of Kenny Larkin’s lifestyle. This month sees Larkin coming to Melbourne to play, fresh off shows in Berlin and Ibiza, and when he’s done working magic down under it’s off to shows in France and Switzerland. It’s a pretty hefty itinerary, and I’m curious to know just how much time Larkin actually spends on the road in order to make a viable career of playing records. “I travel all year,” he tells me, “but as I sit here right now, I have been on the road nonstop since May. All this travelling is nice, but also has drawbacks. I like to be home so I can work and take care of other things that are impossible on the road.” Over the last two decades, there have been a lot of changes in terms of technology and the way music is made and played – the shift from analogue to digital being a big part of this, allowing pretty much anyone with a laptop to drag and drop samples around on a screen and instantly share their creations online. From
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Larkin’s perspective as a DJ, the biggest change has been the demise of turntables. “People got rid of all those and started using computers and controllers as a substitution,” he says. He’s not exactly sad about this, but it definitely means embracing a whole new worldview and way of working. “I actually have given up turntables for a number of reasons,” he says, “so I am no longer a disc jockey. I prefer the term music jockey, since I am not using discs anymore.” Club music can be a fickle business – DJs and producers who were big stars a decade or even just five years ago can find themselves forgotten. Todd Terry, the superstar producer of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s recently acknowledged that youngsters on the scene are seldom familiar with his history, and whenever he plays shows he is always conscious of trying to win them over as new fans. Kenny Larkin has a similar attitude. “No one is exempt from this,” he tells me. “We all have to stay relevant by reintroducing and reinventing ourselves, over and over. Even all of the big artists are constantly staying relevant by releasing music all of the time. Fans forget easily – I go to gigs, and I’m sure that the kids don’t have a clue who I am. The idea is to make an impression on them with what you are doing now instead of relying on what you did in the past.” In recent times, house has mutated into the mainstream, and become almost synonymous with pop – as one of house music’s key innovators in the early ‘90s, I’m curious to know just how Larkin feels about the dominance of dance beats on the contemporary charts, and the various hip hop-house crossovers that have taken over the airwaves in recent times. “No comment!” he says with a laugh. “That’s my reply. Everything is pop music today, FEATURES
even hip hop. I call it pop hop.” With that in mind, I ask him what he actually does like – some of the stuff he listens to and enjoys at present, be it artists, labels, or just individual tracks. “I rarely listen to dance music at home,” he admits. “The music that I do listen to on a regular basis is mainly jazz, or world music. Basically, I like to listen to anything that’s not on the radio!” Larkin will be making his way to Melbourne soon to play a show at New Guernica, and I ask him the obligatory question of what we can expect from his show there. “Amazing music with soul!” he says, in cheerful yet circumspect fashion. Before the interview, I checked out Larkin’s rider on the Cadenza website and saw that it contains fruit juice and still water – nothing stronger than
that. I take it, therefore, that he likes to take a professional approach and not drink behind the decks? “I don’t drink at all, besides a glass of red wine every now and then,” he tells me. It’s safe to assume, then, that Larkin’s shows don’t end with him carried out on a stretcher – unlike a certain dubstep DJ who will remain nameless but whose name may or may not rhyme with Brusko – it’s less about hedonism than it is quality, old-school sounds. Alasdair Duncan Kenny Larkin [USA] plays at New Guernica on Friday September 14.
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MOTOWN THURSDAYS Kick start your weekend with Melbourne’s newest Thursday night! Motown Thursdays caters to all true music lovers. Join us on an eclectic musical journey of soul, funk and disco through to early R&B. A live Soul Band features some of Melbourne’s most talented musicians; Carmen Hendricks, Laurent Soupe, Duncan Kinell and Aaron Mendoza just to name a few. DJs keep the records spinning into the early hours; residents are Reg-e, Lee Davies, Kalepe, Dinesh, Suga, Rubz and Alwin Rafferty. Join us around a big, shiny disco ball or two, for free entry, soulful tunes, drink specials all night and a dance floor full of friends! Fashion Lounge, 121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
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
FRIDAY14TH 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 R&B 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. 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
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
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
SATURDAY15TH KHOKOLAT KOATED 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
REDLOVE SATURDAYS 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
SHAKA SATURDAY The newest R&B Superclub Shaka Saturdays grand opening is set to hit Melbourne over two massive weeks. The northern suburbs newest, freshest club playing all of your favourite R&B, hip hop, old skool and reggae. Shaka Saturdays is showcasing Australias newest and favourite R&B DJs, including DJ C-RAM bringing video mixing to Melbourne and special guest hip hop band Yellow Cake. Set at one of the most amazing venues Melbourne has to offer with two levels, good music, great ‘Shaka’ atmosphere and cheap drinks, we are hoping to pack it out and create a night for people to remember. Level 2 The Club, 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote
JERU THE DAMAJA HIP HOP MAGE: NEW YORK CITY Jeru The Damaja is a living embodiment of a time and place, that time being the mid-’90s and that place being New York. While many long-time hip hop fans get a warm fuzzy feeling when they pop on some anthems from ‘back in the day’ the man born Kendrick Jeru Davis has managed to both represent and transcend his origins. “That’s called skills bro, that’s what that is,” Jeru says with a chuckle. Discovered as a hungry young rapper by hip hop deities Gang Starr, debuting on their 1992 cut I’m The Man, he quickly developed a rep thanks to his intelligent no-nonsense lyricism and his unwavering commitment to the culture. “I was rapping for years at that point but Gang Starr, both [DJ] Premier and Guru, are definitely the ones that gave me my chance. I can’t forget that.” Now a hungry older rapper, he was known for openly calling out commercial forces like Diddy and his Bad Boy Records and others who he saw as watering down the culture. Since dropping the undisputed classic albums The Sun Rises in the East and Wrath of the Math, along with anthems like the minimalist Come Clean, he has consistently dropped solid if overlooked independent projects and continues to tour prolifically. His hip hop journey now brings him back to Australia for the second time only in his 20 year career, including a stop at the Espy this Friday. Describing his last experience as both “crazy” and “beautiful” it’s clear that Australia made an impression on him. “The reception and the people were excellent, everything. Australia’s a great place for hip hop.” He tells his Aussie fans to expect an authentic hip hop experience. “It’s going to be just live energy, it’s gonna be incredible and we’re gonna have such a great time.” While relatively softly spoken in conversation, Jeru’s passion is still evident. As we endure a fuzzy connection he talks excitedly about his latest work. “I’ve got two projects at the moment. I’m working on a global project with a bunch of Polish MCs and producers. Then I’m also working on my own solo project,” he says from his home in Brooklyn. The process of working with his Polish brethren was an organic one, as their shared passion for music brought them together. “It’s not over the internet, I actually know them and I’ve been to Poland in the studio and we did the tracks.” A cultural union between Poland and Jeru’s native land, the unique project also features some of Jeru’s American counterparts, including fellow veterans O.C, Ju Ju of The Beatnuts and Lil Dap of Group Home. Interestingly he achieved some of his most recent success on the Polish charts, appearing alongside veteran group Slums Attack on the track Oddalbym. Even if your Polish is rusty or non-
URBAN
existent, the track is an instant head nodder and serves almost as a homage to his past work. Jeru is proud to serve as a global ambassador for hip hop, something that he takes seriously. “I like to show that hip hop is global and that’s what I’m doing. I’m showing that hip hop is everywhere in the world, it’s not just in America or English speaking countries, it’s also in some countries you’d never even think of.” As the expansion continues it has been five years since his last solo project, 2007’s Still Rising. “Man, I’ve just been doing a lot of touring and I’ve been working on my photography. I’m looking at becoming a great photographer.” This is yet another side to an artist who has been more known for creating imagery with his words. He is approaching it with the same dedication as he has his music career. “I’ve been working on the photography for some years now. It’s not just a hobby thing, I’m trying to do it in a more professional way and I actually have some exhibition stuff that I’m working on.” Ahead of his return down under The Damaja has been spreading the hip hop gospel in places as geographically and culturally spread apart as Russia and Akron, Ohio. “I’m pretty much all over the world spreading the hip hop,” he exclaims. “Russia is off the chain. They’re very receptive, they love hip hop music.” Despite the geographical divides Jeru is pretty confident in his MCing abilities and the support of his fans. “Any place that Jeru The Damaja rocks is pretty good. People like how I rock and they come to see real hip hop. So I think wherever I’m at I get the same reception.” The universal language of hip hop is enough to bridge any gaps there may be and ultimately it’s about the shared passion between artist and audience. “If you are into the music that is what is going to come across. It doesn’t matter where you’re at. It’s always said there’s only two types of music, good music and bad music. That’s what matters.” His travelling has allowed him to feel the appreciation fans outside of his home country feel for hip hop. “I think some people [in the US] totally overlook hip hop because they’re so used to it and they’re so used to having everything, so we just don’t appreciate it as much.” His Aussie audience will be more than ready to show that love back. Andrew ‘Hazard’ Hickey Jeru The Damaja [USA] plays The Espy on Friday September 14.
15.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548
Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693
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 Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555 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
Level 2 The Club 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote, 9482 3241
Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333
Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick
Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899
Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226
Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230
Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500
Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877
Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916
Some Velvet Morning 123 Queen’s Parade, Clifton Hill, 9486 5192
29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922
Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660
The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142
Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821
303 303 High Street, Northcote
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
Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda
Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288
Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793
Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459
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
Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999
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
Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666
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
Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899
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
Bar Oussou 653 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9384 3040
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
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
Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544 New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464
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 Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599
Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066
Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092
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
16.
VENUE DIRECTORY
Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770
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