
The Best Local Acts At Sugar Mountain 2016
Best Local Acts At sugar mountain 2016!!!
Melbourne’s annual music and arts festival, Sugar Mountain, returns this month with a stellar roster of home grown talent straight outta Melbourne! Taking place throughout the grounds of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Arts Precinct on the 23rd January, be sure to check out our top picks of this year’s unmissable local acts at the festival.
Alpine
Things have been a little quiet on the Alpine front of late, but the dreamy pop six-piece will be making a triumphant return at this year’s Sugar Mountain, showcasing tracks from their latest offering Yuck – a record that it is anything but! Singing about a multitude of first world problems, from awkward dates and plastic vanity to lust and egos pitted against egos, be sure to be amused while at the same time in awe as you dance the night away to the indie pop smith’s infectious and catchy as hell sound. Hailed as ones to watch by the likes of The Guardian, Rolling Stone and Vice, you do not want to miss this!
Total Giovanni
This tracksuit wearing party band proudly parades their love of synthesisers, nudity and oddly enough, gardening, throughout their highly energetic and rather eccentric live shows. With sets that move from smooth boogie to shamanic disco and heartbreak house, this dynamic five-piece are renowned for whipping up revellers into a cataclysmic frenzy and we won’t be expecting anything less at this year’s Sugar Mountain. Don’t miss the boys as they throw themselves across their stage and invite you all to liberate your minds and bodies through group-sweat and musical one-percenters – it needs to be seen to be believed! Known for tearing up festivals and club shows across the world, make sure you get your spot down the front to witness some feel good jams and down-right shameless revelry up close and personal. You will not be disappointed!
Pearls
Glam rockers Pearls are a rabble rousing trio who combine shoegaze-ish melancholic pop with twangy, hypnotic reverb-drenched Americana. The band formed in 2012, when singer, guitarist and main songwriter Ryan Caesar decided to leave the band Children Collide and take up arms with his then-girlfriend Ellice Blakeney (drums) and her workmate Cassandra Kiely (organ/singer). The three-piece quickly released their self-titled EP in the same year, garnering them some rather notable critical acclaim from the likes of Nylon, Spin, Vice / Noisey, Beat, Tone Deaf and more. Last year’s full length Pretend You’re Mine has already spawned the instant classic Big Shot, and in turn heralded them as bridging the gap between T-Rex, Bowie and Kasabian and Suede. If that doesn’t peak your interest, we’re not sure what will!
City Calm Down
This new wave, post punk four-piece are loved by the likes of the NME, Rolling Stone and Triple J and we think you’re going to love them too! Influenced by the likes of Joy Division, New Order and The Horrors, City Calm Down’s hauntingly beautiful sound will have you caught up and captivated by the intensity and energy of their live show while humming their songs for days to come after. Their long anticipated debut In A Restless House has just recently been released, so their Sugar Mountain set will be the perfect opportunity to hear their latest offerings in the perfect setting. Don’t miss out!
Laila Sakini
Laila Sakini is one hell of a busy lady. In between DJing and throwing parties for the club nights Day Care, Food Court and Girls Club and playing in electro outfit Perfume Production, Laila can be found gallivanting around the world and donning headphones behind the wheels of steel at anything from fashion launches and gallery openings to restaurants, magazine parties and more. If that all didn’t keep the talented performer completely occupied, Laila is also in high demand producing music compilations, soundscapes and mixes for brands such as Pet Shop Girls, Lucy Folk and i-D, to name but a few. Be sure to catch this eclectic Melbourne native as she endeavours to keep the crowds moving with one of her infamous and much loved party sets.
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