Freedom Time NYD 2019

Overview

Got your New Year's Eve plans sorted? How about New Year's Day, then? Every year, on the first day of January, party-goers with stamina flock to Coburg Velodrome for Freedom Time, a one-day multi-stage festival filled with acts from both home and away. The organisers have teamed up with Wax'o Paradiso and Skylab Radio to curate a variety of genres, from progressive funk and '80s-influenced pop to ambient and future soul.

Among the artists travelling from abroad to usher in 2019 are DJ Donna Leake (UK), who's done quite a bit of time at London's renowned sushi-meets-electronica venue Brilliant Corners; Dam-FUNK (US), whose devotion to progressive funk has been total since the 1990s; and DJ duo Alex Rita and Errol (UK), whose mixing visits jazz, soul and broken beat.

From here in Australia, look out for future soul band Hiatus Kaiyote, who've scored two Grammy nominations; Sydney-based ambient duo Angophora; and, also hailing from Sydney, 80s pop god Donny Benet.

Image: Duncographic.