Ten Must-Attend Events to Check Out at MoVement Sydney 2016

Supergroups pop up every so often, from Broken Social Scene to The Postal Service, Empire of the Sun to Atoms for Peace. The rhyme or reason behind such team-ups varies, from longtime mates Doing a Thing to visionaries wanting to branch out from their superstar band. Now, a new supergroup has formed, dubbed Mind Gamers. Picture this: French producer Sebastien Tellier, John Kirby (Blood Orange, Norah Jones, Cypress Hill) and Daniel Stricker (Midnight Juggernauts, Kirin J Callinan). Expect some trippy, out-of-this-world business.

What the heck does that mean? You’ll just have to find out at MoVement Sydney, where Mind Gamers will make their very first live appearance as a group. They’ll be supported by Shags Chamberlain (Ariel Pink) Presents: The Crystal Machine, breakthrough talent Zuri Akoko and Siberia DJs.

Yep, it really has been that long since Heaps Gay rolled the party train into Sydney. And, as you might expect, the good folks will be capping off their third year with an absolutely massive bash, which happily coincides with MoVement Sydney. Expect DJs, burlesque, drag, live performance and a whole lot of surprises.

Plus, to fit everyone in, they’ll be taking over the entire Imperial Hotel (yep, the now-closed palace itself). Among the epic lineup, you’ll find Melbourne’s CC Disco!, local rappers Kimchi Princi, futuristic electro producer Donatachi, glamorous burlesque queen Lillian Starr and live band the MAGDA Szubanskis, who do covers in drag. Grab your tickets online before the event for just $15 a pop.

Lovers of #ladyDJs, here’s one for you. FBi Radio has long been a supporter of grrrls who are keen to #takecharge and get the dancefloor started. But, that can be easier said than done in a genuinely male-dominated electronic music industry.

So, in collaboration with MoVement Sydney, FBi treated five trainees to masterclasses and mentors, in order to even up this industry with killer new female talent. And now, you — and your dancing shoes — get to sample the results. For free.

Head on down to FBi’s Alexandria HQ on Wednesday, October 19 for an all-ages party, where you’ll hear Melbourne synth-poppers GL, alongside upcoming DJs Ebony Boadu, Ella Haines, Elizabeth Gale, Holly O’Neill and Katrina Stevens. Just don’t forget to RSVP online.

Yep, it’s 60 or so moons since Astral People launched themselves onto Sydney with a founding party at Tone. Since then, they’ve tripled their management roster and toured more than 50 international acts. And, to mark their fifth birthday, Astral are asking you to join them at a mammoth gathering at the Oxford Art Factory, happening as part of MoVement Sydney.

A bunch of favourite friends and family members will be along for the ride, including beatsmith Wave Racer fresh from Coachella 2016, young rapper Baro, lo-fi jammer Mall Grab and techno act Cliques. Check out the rest of the lineup over here.

Ever wanted to get into the Guinness Book of Records? Here’s your chance. Stoney Roads is hoping to host the biggest, longest ever back-to-back DJ relay. So, on Friday, October 21, more than 150 DJs will be gathering at 107 Projects to add their tunes to the marathon.

The aim is to keep the music going, non-stop, for a minimum of ten hours straight — and, chances are, much, much longer. The good news is the event will be kicking off from 10.30am, so, even if you’re not a night owl, you’ll still be able to get in on the action.

For DJs who’d like to get involved, it’s not too late to register. RSVP online for a free ticket.

Get a head start on Halloween at Insert Coin(s) Spooktacular. Invading the Oxford Art Factory on Thursday, October 20, this horror show will bring with it blood-soaked pinball and thousands of Elm Street-worthy arcade games, overseen by the soon-to-be-released Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

Delivering ’70s and ’80s party anthems to soundtrack your scares will be DJs Levins (The Rhythm of the Night/Halfway Crooks), Glenn Be Trippin and Martin Novosel, founder and manager of Purple Sneakers.

Meanwhile, your energy lapses will be taken care of by Woofy’s Hot Dog Cart and fistfuls of free candy. Bearers of best Halloween costumes will score prizes.

Hodor is no longer holding the door (still raw). Returning to Sydney for MoVement Sydney, the gentle giant is appearing as his real-life self Kristian Nairn, king of the Rave of Thrones. This hours-long party, which was the first announcement in the MoVement program, is coming to the Enmore for one night only.

Prepare to see the theatre as you’ve never seen it before — transformed into the halls of Westeros and soundtracked by deep house collected from seven kingdoms. Fancy dress is mandatory. Long before Nairn hit TV screens everywhere, he was a DJ and performance artist. Just some of the big names he’s worked with include Scissor Sisters, Mylo, Calvin Harris and Alphabeat.

Don’t spend the entire MoVement Sydney festival making moves to everyone else’s music — learn to create some sounds of your own. At this free, two-hour master class, presented by Work-Shop, DJ Samrai will show you how to scratch. The event is designed for total newbies, so don’t worry if you feel like a total ignoramus. The only thing you need is your curiosity.

DJ Samrai is one of Australia’s most hard working DJs. He’s a three-time nominee in the Australian Dance Music Awards’ Best Turntablist category and holds loads of national titles. When he’s not nabbing trophies, he holds down club residencies, plays festivals and tours with big names, such as The Black Eyed Peas, Ozomatli and Method Man.

Make a list of the rare ’70s and ’80s classic vinyl titles you’ve long been hankering after, dust off your own collection, and get yourself to Cafe Lounge on Saturday, October 22. From midday, DJs and collectors will be gathering at the Liquorice Pizza Vinyl Swap-Meet to spend four uninterrupted hours immersed in records.

Show off your own cracking collection, flog your best ones for a small fortune and haggle till you get a good price for a rarity. While you’re wheeling and dealing, party starters Rimbombo, whose members hail from Sydney and London, will be providing you with a soundtrack.

Since UK-based Steve Spacek first landed on the scene in the noughties, as frontman of band Spacek, his music has held no regard for boundaries. Rather than focusing on a particular genre, he put his energies into exploring overarching elements, like melody, mood and swing. Most recently, his solo work has been plunging into the potential of new technologies, like iPhones and apps.

Presented by Charades as part of MoVement Sydney, Steve Spacek will be hitting Civic Underground late on Saturday, October 22. Providing support will be Melbourne’s Prequel, Lauren Hansom and U-Khan. If you can get there before 11pm, you’ll score free entry. Otherwise, nab your tickets over here.