On Sunday of the Queen’s birthday long weekend, Vivid Sydney took their creative lighting installations to a new level combining with them with some top dance music artists for an ultimate audio visual experience at Curve Ball. After the success of its debut in 2016, the guys from Fuzzy who take care of Field Day, Harbourlife and Listen Out have brought back the festival to Carriageworks for a massive warehouse dance party.
Starting the festival off on the right foot was the amazing industrial venue that was basked in beautiful, coloured lights along with a range of artistic projections that only added to the chill vibe. The big open space saw groups of people in every corner taking part in their own mini photoshoots for social media. Once everyone got their perfect Insta shot, including me, they would move into the big, bustling crowd for a boogie.
Brisbane based electronic pop band Confidence Man got the party started with their hits like “Bubblegum” and of course “Boyfriend” making everyone ‘get down’. Janet Planet in her white baby doll dress with matching frilly shorts danced in synch on stage with Sugar Bones, while Reggie Goodchild and Clarence McGuffie jumped around in the background while wearing what can only be described as their black beekeeping masks. Making the crowd go wild to finish Sugar stripped down to his tiny shorts while shaking his hips showing true confidence in his moves and music.
Choosing a handful of her hip-hop hits Tkay Maidza was a highlight of the night. She is an artist that genuinely looks like she always enjoys herself performing to a live crowd and the audience definitely responds. Large cheers erupted when she asked the question ‘Who is getting drunk tonight?’. Even bigger ones when she said ‘Who is already drunk? Then let’s dance!’. From her Switch Tape record, “U-Huh” and “M.O.B” had her and all of us dancing up a storm.
Not knowing a lot of Motez’s music I somehow ended up getting pushed into the mosh. Despite getting a vodka red bull split down my chest from an overzealous fan I left the set sticky, sweaty and a new fan of the talented DJ’s skills.
Only managing to catch the end of their set as festival bathroom lines sadly don’t speed up for anyone I could still tell that Client Liason are touring as their sound was tight. Currently on tour with their debut album Diplomatic Immunity, the Melbourne indie band brought it. The boys are so unique with their synth pop beats and matching 90’s Australiana inspired suits. While Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller are the stars of this show, my magic moment was seeing their bassist, Triple J ‘Hack’ heartthrob Tom Tilley, in the flesh killing it.
To finish the night off with a bang SAFIA was brought in and they did not disappoint. The electronica, indie, pop band from Canberra performed their top tracks. Lead singer Ben Woolner’s voice sounded even better live on their song “My Love Is Gone” and was amazing when it was combined with the lasers to make a light show that matched every beat of “Counting Sheep” showing how successful this festival was.
Definitely a part of Vivid Sydney I would recommend people checking out in future.
Photo by Anna Warr Photography.
———-
