The Best New Year's Day Parties in Sydney
Dust off that hangover, 2015 ain't waiting.
New Year's Day can be a tough one. Resolutions to vaguely commit to, missed midnight pashes to mourn, dusty bear heads to nurse. There's only one real cure for the escapades of New Year's Eve: the kick-on.
From indulgent seaside brunches to openair SBTRKT sets, mini-festivals at the pub to lavish Veuve-fuelled beach parties and soul-infused shindigs, Sydney's best New Year's Day parties are sure to erase those Poor Life Decisions of hours earlier and start you off on the right foot. The year 2015 waits for no one.
THE BAY BRUNCH AT WATSONS BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Oh. Yes. This summer, the Watsons Bay Hotel is bringing an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch our way. For hours on end, you'll be able to indulge while soaking up waterfront views and recovering from whatever shindiggery you've been up to the evening before.
Whipped up by executive chef John Pye, the menu is no ordinary buffet production but features the likes of house-made granola trifles layered with summer berries and vanilla yoghurt; hand-carved, glazed Kurobuta ham and cranberry sauce sliders; Belgian waffles with crispy American-style bacon and maple syrup; and banana flapjack pancakes with salted caramel sauce and Chantilly cream. For drinks, a bespoke Bloody Mary bar will have you covered, and there's also the option of bubbles, fresh mimosas and home-made watermelon lemonade.
More info here.
FIELD DAY
The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has quite the solid lineup locked in for its 2015 instalment. After significant hints at SBTRKT appearances post-Falls, the Young Turks favourite has been confirmed alongside Dillon Francis, alt-J, Jamie xx, Danny Brown, Cashmere Cat, Bastille, Joey Bada$$, Todd Terje, Milky Chance, Action Bronson and more thumbs up-inducing names.
Local legends aren't lacking with RüFüs, The Kite String Tangle, Kilter, Peking Duk, Thundamentals, Touch Sensitive and Golden Features will join the international crew. On the whole, the lineup seems to be stemming from surrounding Australian NYE festivals, as any self-respecting New Year's day festival should, nabbing significantly from Falls and Beyond the Valley. But when the good'uns are in town, why not bring everyone to the hangover?
More info here.
BONDI ICEBERGS' NEW YEAR'S DAY PARTY
There's only one real cure for New Year's Eve-induced hangovers: salt water, free-flowing Veuve Cliquot and one of Sydney's most ostentatious parties. The top spot for 'who dat, who dat' people-watching and jealousy-inducing Instagramming, Bondi Icebergs' NYD pool party is the Field Day for punters who want things a little more high-heeled and beachside. For a cheeky four hundy (yep, that's a casual $400 per ticket), you can compare New Year's resolutions with Bondi's chia-lovin' party people and throw back as much Veuve, Ciroc Vodka and head chef Monty Kulodrovic-crafted canapes as your NYE regrets require.
Hosted by Icebergs' Maurice Terzini and musically curated by Angus McDonald (one half of Sneaky Sound System), the lineup is a beats-heavy fusion of Sydney-born, California-based shindig starters Bag Raiders, LA disco kings Poolside, Spice Cellar's Murat Kilic, (of course) Sneaky Sound System, ARIA-nominated Nicky Night Time, resident Icebergs go-to Miss Annie and newcomers Slowblow, Marc Jarvin and Pink Lloyd, Valerie Yum and Sam Francisco.
More info here.
SOUL OF SYDNEY BLOCK PARTY
Plunge into 2015 with a big injection of soul love at the first Soul of Sydney Block Party for the year. We're talking an entire afternoon and evening of funk, New York disco, old school hip hop jams, early house beats and more. The main programming criteria: that the music gets you feeling mighty fine.
The location is top secret, though we do know it's an indoor/outdoor 'funk oasis' located within five minutes of the CBD. Most of the lineup has been announced however, with Simon Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Graham Mandroules, All Souled Out DJs, Superbreak, James Locksmith, Mike Who, Phil Toke, DJ Cman, DJ Naiki, Edseven, DJ Saywhut and others confirmed on the bill. To complement the soundtrack, there'll be live art from Billy Kid and Friends, live hair braiding from Eden Stylez and a Bboy/dance showcase.
More info here.
NEW YEAR'S DAY AT THE VIC ON THE PARK
As you'd expect, The Vic is forward rolling into the New Year with yet another free, all-day, mini-festival crammed with live music. If you're still jittery from the night before, you can get in on the action, but if you're on the comedown, there's ample scope for relaxing.
Leading the charge is raw, edgy, bluesy rock duo The Mess Hall. If you caught The Babadook this year, you'll be familiar with front man Jed Kurzel, as he was responsible for the creepy, creepy soundtrack. He's since been nominated for a Screen Music Award for Dead Europe. Also in the programme are self-described 'zigzaggers' The Delta Riggs; Adelaide outside rockers Bad//Dreems, fresh from their US tour; unmissable singer-songwriter Steve Smyth, currently gigging around the nation to promote new album, Exits; Davey Lane, who just launched Atonally Young; and High-tails, whose 'Bending Over Backwards' has been inspiring a good dose of triple j love these few months past.
More info here.
By Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
Top image: Field Day, AP Photography.
