It’s that time of year when leading Sydney tastemakers Volumes put together another crackingly wholesome party. These folks launched their annual festival in 2015, set across three inner-city venues, and have brought together the likes of Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Nicholas Allbrook, MOSSY, Slum Sociable, Scott and Charlene’s Wedding, and an absolute hot pot of distinctive emerging artists that you had no clue you needed to have a clue about. Expertly curated for the last three years now, it’s an all-immersive dream for music lovers that hinges on the dynamics between music, art and technology.
The Oxford Art Factory, Cliff Dive and Brighton Up played host to this year’s extensive lineup, which saw the return of World Champion and Gold Class, and also featured Sunscreen, Body Type, Gauci, Hideous Sun Demon, Willaris K, The Ocean Party, Straight Arrows, Moaning Lisa, Publique, The Goods, Hatchie among many, many more.
The lineup may be packed but clashes are amazingly few and far between; getting from one venue to the next is a breeze. It’s honestly one of the most enjoyable festival experiences you’re likely to have. If you happened to miss out, Volumes also curates a bunch of other parties from time to time, including this year’s FREEDOM gigs – a four part series of free events to celebrate Oxford Art Factory’s 10th birthday. We suggest you get the heck around those.
For now, peep some of the action from the weekend.
The Ocean Party
Gold Class
Gauci
Publique
The Goods
Willaris K
World Champion
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl and Echoes
It’s that time of year when leading Sydney tastemakers Volumes put together another crackingly wholesome party. These folks launched their annual festival in 2015, set across three inner-city venues, and have brought together the likes of Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Nicholas Allbrook, MOSSY, Slum Sociable, Scott and Charlene’s Wedding, and an absolute hot pot of distinctive emerging artists that you had no clue you needed to have a clue about. Expertly curated for the last three years now, it’s an all-immersive dream for music lovers that hinges on the dynamics between music, art and technology.
The Oxford Art Factory, Cliff Dive and Brighton Up played host to this year’s extensive lineup, which saw the return of World Champion and Gold Class, and also featured Sunscreen, Body Type, Gauci, Hideous Sun Demon, Willaris K, The Ocean Party, Straight Arrows, Moaning Lisa, Publique, The Goods, Hatchie among many, many more.
The lineup may be packed but clashes are amazingly few and far between; getting from one venue to the next is a breeze. It’s honestly one of the most enjoyable festival experiences you’re likely to have. If you happened to miss out, Volumes also curates a bunch of other parties from time to time, including this year’s FREEDOM gigs – a four part series of free events to celebrate Oxford Art Factory’s 10th birthday. We suggest you get the heck around those.
For now, peep some of the action from the weekend.
Sunscreen
Moaning Lisa
Hatchie
Hideous Sun Demon
Body Type
Straight Arrows
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Birthday bashes are usually a helluva time, but they’re oh so irresistible when a whole bunch of stellar bands are on the bill. Sydney’s beloved Oxford Art Factory is celebrating it’s 10th Birthday this year and to commemorate it, they’re throwing a party called FREEDOM; a four part series of free events curated by music/art collective VOLUMES.
Off with a bang, the first instalment brought together the likes of Body Type, Imperial Broads, Pearls, Felix Lush and The Gooch Palms. And with Round 2 rolling in, things are heating up nicely with Aegean Sun, Sloan Peterson, Crocodylus, Betty & Oswald, Tropical Strength, Flowertruck, Julia Why?, and none other than The Lemon Twigs in the headline spot.
The Twigs have been making waves lately with the release of their debut LP Do Hollywood. Brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario are delightfully off-kilter and boast some intricate arrangements and delectable melodies on their latest record. Their look and sound are fairly removed from this era; it’s like Keith Moon, Pink Floyd and Procol Harum all entered the room at the same time and this is the result. They were in the country for Splendour in the Grass and their sole Sydney sideshow was a slammin’ free gig alongside some of the best talent going in Oz right now. We were stoked to say the very least.
Check out the shots below.
Crocodylus
Betty & Oswald
Tropical Strength
Flowertruck
The Lemon Twigs
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
The clouds are finally beginning to clear up over Sydney’s nightlife, and as the ground thaws and we head closer toward summer and festival season, the timing couldn’t be better. The announcement that our lockout laws have been reviewed, with new rules permitting some Sydney live music venues to return to its natural, lockout-free habitat is a huge win for those who have been campaigning and protesting since they were first implemented in 2014. The ruling was formally announced last week, and it couldn’t have been better celebrated than by the multi-venue weekend event Volumes, which took over Oxford Art Factory and Cliff Dive on Friday, August 26, adding Brighton Up Bar and the Burdekin to the bill throughout the 27th too. The whole weekend had a special feel to it, whether it was because of the new ruling, because it’s nearly the end of winter, or perhaps just the general atmosphere of the event, which boasted a sublimely, well-curated lineup of on-the-pulse local talent.
We began in the small Gallery bar, where 30/70 kicked off our weekend.
Perth’s Koi Child came next, in the main room. Absolutely one of my favourite bands to watch live, it’s nothing short of a carnival on stage when it’s horns out all around, delivering raucous and jazzy hip-hop with finesse and funk. Their self titled album is certainly one of our favourite Australian releases this year, and they bring it to life with bright, infectious energy.
Charles Murdoch took the stage shortly after. I haven’t caught Murdoch live since last year, before the release of his beautiful debut album Point back in December. While his recorded sounds make for sublime headphone music, he takes it to a whole new level on stage.
Later on, I got to catch an act I’ve been wanting to see for some time: the hip-hop/R&B duo of Silentjay and Jace XL. The pair, of which both also work with the brilliant Hiatus Kaiyote, have released one of the smoothest mini-albums in recent memory with Sacrifice. The front room of Oxford Art Factory was absolutely packed, and although the room isn’t really the easiest live music venue sound and vision-wise, it nevertheless fit the music really well. They were followed by a newcomer who’s grabbed our attention, Christopher Port, and Alba who, as we recently found out, played a special part in the growth of local vinyl label Plastic World.
Click here to check out our review and photos of Volumes day 2
All Photos: Danielle Hansen / Howl & Echoes
Sydney’s multi-venue festival Volumes is kicking off this weekend, taking place on Friday August 26 and Saturday August 27. The Friday night events take place from 7 pm in both rooms of the Oxford Art Factory and neighbouring Cliff Dive, while the Saturday events kick off at 3 pm, and will also spread out to two rooms at the Burdekin, as well as Brighton Up Bar.
The full schedules for both days are now available, so it’s time to get planning. Luckily the venues are all super close to one another, meaning that even if there are clashes, it shouldn’t be too hard to see at least a part of any set you’re keen on!
Here’s the set times and below, find a full list of all art, food, music and more that you’ll be able to indulge in.
VOLUMES FESTIVAL 2016
THE ART
Wifi Over My Body, Zender Bender, Danny Wild (Low Flung), Sam Whiteside (Voena), Gina, Tablou Collective
THE FOOD
With thanks to Do Darlo
Cinema Hibiki Den, Zambrero, Grill’d, Mad Pizza, Ogalo, Trovata Mediterranean Restaurant, Lord Roberts Hotel, Arch Cafe, Our Kebabs
THE MERCH
Volumes Festival and ROLLA’s JEANS have joined forces with Rolling Blackouts CF, Mossy, Jaalaand California Girls to design and create a run of exclusive limited edition band merchandise to be sold at the event.
THE MUSIC
Buzz Kull, Corin, Felix Lush, GUSSY, Jaala, Kato, Kimchi Princi, Low Ton, Makeda, Morning TV, Privacy, Thhomas, Rebel Yell, Wax Witches, BV, Dro Carey, Koi Child, Charles Murdoch, Rainbow Chan, Alba, Silent Jay x Jace XL, HTMLflowers, DEER, Milwaukee Banks, 30/70, Christopher Port, Lupa J, Jaysways, Body Promise, SIDECHAINS DJs, Melty, Spirals, Godriguez, Nicholas Allbrook, Slum Sociable, Fishing, Mall Grab, Donny Benet, Mossy, Rolling Blackouts CF, You Beauty, Cliques, Marcus Whale, Habits, Zero Percent, Good Boy, Orb, Unity Floors, Terrible Truths, The Harpoons, Hubert Clarke Jr, Null, Babicka, Leo James, Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Darts, Summer Flake, Angie, Scraps, 100%, California Girls, Good Morning, Solid Effort, Us The Band, Xanga, Nite Fleit, Andy Garvey, Adi Toohey and Playful Sound.
+ Paradise Music DJs, I OH YOU DJs, Strange Yonder DJs, Thump DJs, Noisey DJs, Rice Is Nice DJs, Bedroom Suck DJs
Image: Supplied
Nicholas Allbrook, Slum Sociable, Fishing, Mall Grab, Donny Benet, Mossy, Rolling Blackouts CF, You Beauty, Cliques, Marcus Whale, Habits, Zero Percent, Good Boy, Orb, Unity Floors, Terrible Truths, The Harpoons, Hubert Clarke Jr, Null, Babicka, Leo James, Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Darts, Summer Flake, Angie, Scraps, 100%, California Girls, Good Morning, Solid Effort, Us The Band, Xanga, Nite Fleit, Andy Garvey, Adi Toohey, Playful Sound