We’re stoked to be able to announce the full suite of late-night sessions at Moonshine Bar, Sydney Festival’s pop-up club by the harbour and your after-dark haven on The Thirsty Mile.
From grooving house and techno to crashing, thrashing hyperpop to homegrown soul and hip-hop, we’ve assembled a deliciously diverse selection of Sydney promoters to bring their A-game and fill this unique space with killer sounds and quality crowds.
The Space
It’s a heritage-listed harbourside wharehouse spot your local yokel property developer would die for, but the lovely folks at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct have handed this incredible space over to us for the month of January.
Imagine high ceilings, enormous wooden columns and beams older than your grandma, and views of Sydney Harbour just outside.
Here's a video to show you the venue/vibe combo:
The Installation
Now imagine there’s an immense inflatable, snaking neon structure furled within the cavernous room.
Cause there is.
Art strangles architecture on a grand scale in Hi-Vis, the sinuous sculpture taking over Moonshine Bar. UK sculptor Michael Shaw uses the building like a mould to inform the geometry of his vibrant 46-metre-long installation. And you’ll be dancing around it, wandering through it, instagramming your little hearts out in front of it, if that’s your jam.
Club sounds, artsy surrounds. That’s a good night out.
The line-ups
But that’s all just set up. Now for the good stuff: the music. Peruse the fantastic line-ups of our fearless Sydney promoters, pick your aural poison, and have the best night ever.
Late Nights at The Thirsty Mile run from 10am – late.
Please respect the neighbours and leave quietly.
Please respect the music and rave loudly.
In order of appearance...
Wavyland: Ezekiel
The Thirsty Mile goes full throttle on Friday night with Sydney party crew WavyLand. Strap in for subversive sonics, as the collective maintains its unwavering commitment to underground music, booking Manchester native Ezekiel for this special night.
Ezekiel absorbs the sounds of electronic, heavy metal, techno, pop, punk and indie rock, transforming it into his own unique blend. Making his Aussie debut, Ezekiel channels the plurality of his generation and the bubbling underground scene.
MORE INFO
Astral people: Nabihah Iqbal (live)
Off the back of her critically acclaimed sophomore album DREAMER (Ninja Tune), Astral People & Kerfew are delighted to finally deliver Nabihah Iqbal’s arresting live show. Mixing sounds from dream pop, post punk and electronic music, the album is an intimate journey through snapshots and memories of Nabihah’s life, exploring personal identity and grief. Experience the magic as her recordings come to life for a very special live experience.
No stranger to Sydney Festival, Astral People has cemented its place in Sydney as a go-to crew for forward-thinking electronic music. The trailblazing crew is behind some of your favourite tours, one-off-parties and festival stages, and has built one of the largest independent management rosters in Australia.
Control Euphoria
Astral People: Silentjay & Setwun present Nu Dialects
Australia’s bubbling alternative soul scene is now at boiling point. Two linchpins of the movement – Melbourne’s Silentjay and Sydney’s Setwun join forces for Nu Dialects – a super collective bursting with some of the country's most compelling talent. This bonafide all-star gathering will include special guest features by Baro Sura, Agung Mango, CD, GLO, KHYA, MAMMOTH., Scruffs and many more surprises.
It’ll be a transcendent night at Moonshine Bar with a cross-section of those defining soul, hip hop and beyond. Expect seductive voices, sharp lyricism and a stirring soundtrack tipped by many influences. Nu Dialects is an affirming celebration of Australia's colourful underground – proudly individual, provocative and forward-thinking.
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Finely Tuned: Tornado Wallace & Fantastic Man
Finely Tuned is bringing you an evening of cutting-edge club sounds, featuring two of Australia’s finest exports – Tornado Wallace and Fantastic Man – going back-to-back by the water, from open to close.
From humble beginnings as part of Naarm/Melbourne’s burgeoning deep house scene, to becoming globe-trotting, sound-sculpting and club-rocking mainstays; the careers of Tornado Wallace and Fantastic Man have long been intertwined. As firm friends and now firmly recognised as forward-thinking 4/4 trailblazers, we can’t wait to host these two artists for an extended session all night long.
Closing Night Party feat. Mo Laudi
It’s the final night of the Festival – and we’ve saved something pretty special for you. Kick on late with our epic closing night celebrations featuring acclaimed South African DJ Mo Laudi (Ntshepe TsekereBopape) and guests.
Laudi is a true multihyphenate – a DJ, MC, artist, composer and curator – renowned for his contributions to Afro-electronic music in London since the early 2000s and, since then, in Paris. Having toured over 50 countries, he’s helped introduce Kwaito, Afrohouse, Amapiano, Gqom and Shangaan-electro to the global stage. As well as leading his own club night and label called Globalisto, Laudi has played alongside the likes of Major Lazer, Jamie XX, Carl Craig and Miriam Makeba.
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All events at Late Nights at The Thirsty Mile can also be found here.
If you love to dance, check out the incredible street dance series, Sculptured Riddims, also at Moonshine Bar.
