Back again for another year and ready to tackle the high expectations set by previous incarnations, Melbourne Music Week kicked off at its new flagship venue – the Former Royal Women’s Hospital in Carlton. As the sun went down over the beer garden, eager fans descended the stairs to the newly transformed basement for the sold out opening night party.
Fittingly, it was an all-Melbourne lineup, with Dorsal Fins, The Harpoons and Gypsy & The Cat all helping to christen the new space. First up were alt-pop outfit Dorsal Fins, whose nine members crammed onto the stage and quickly brightened the basement with their infectious energy and enthusiasm. Their blend of blissful psych, blaring horns and lovingly awkward on-stage banter brought plenty of joy and set the bar high for the rest of the night.
Next up were sultry yet sunny crooners The Harpoons with their genre-bending mix of R&B, pop and soul. Slick percussion combined with singer Bec Rigby’s soaring vocals; tracks like Can We Work This Out provided the perfect opportunity for crowd members to cosy up to their date; while the final two songs – Ready For Your Love and Unforgettable – transformed the space into a giant dancefloor, which continued to expand throughout the night thanks to DJ sets from Misty Nights.
After a short hiatus, headliners Gypsy & The Cat returned with a stack of fresh songs from new EP Hearts A Gun. Old favourite Jona Vark was an early highlight, with its airy synths and catchy harmonies, as was new single Evolution. Getting into the spirit of MMW, the band invited a few famous friends up on stage, including members of Client Liaison, Midnight Juggernauts and City Calm Down – much to the delight of the crowd. The high-energy set was a welcome return from the local lads and the perfect end to a thoroughly enjoyable night of bright and breezy performances, carefree dancing and plenty of local pride.
BY KELSEY BERRY
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: The venue.
Hated: Myself for bingeing on KFC for dinner.
Drank: Cider of some sort.
