Field Day

Bobbysix.com's Editor headed to Field Day at Sydney's Domain on New Year's Day. Here's what he thought:

Right, let's make one thing clear before we start. If you're expecting a snobbish rant about the people who attend Australian music festivals, a la my Homebake diatribe last month, you're gonna be disappointed. Sorry.

Sure, there were the shirtless wonders in attendance, flexing their sizeable muscles, and there were girls with their arses falling out of the bottom of their tiny shorts, but the vibe of Sydney's Field Day was refreshingly chilled and the aggression that you will often experience at other one-dayers was joyful in its absence. Admittedly, many of the crowd looked like they belonged at that awful outdoor gym at Bondi Beach, but they were friendly enough to have come straight from an episode of Father Ted.  

Maybe everyone was hungover/on pills/both but, regardless, as I wandered the sun-drenched festival site (ruing my decision to wear jeans and astounded by the fact that I had just paid $6 for a bottle of water), people were notably smiley and chatty. I actually made a few new friends. And anyone who knows me will tell you, I generally dislike people.

And so, amid a lovely atmosphere, a bunch of worldwide musical talent set about starting 2012 with a bang. Cloud Control were an early highlight, with their lovely-as-ever indie-pop. What a fine band they are. Soon after, Gotye - seemingly making his 2,467th festival appearance of the summer - played to a huge crowd. Despite its familiarity, Somebody That I Used To Know remains a brilliant song, and the crowd filling in for Kimbra made for one of those really special festival moments. The overall sound in his set (aside from a glitch at the end) was a zillion times better than at Homebake too. The best performance of the afternoon, though, certainly came from Metronomy (pictured below). With their infectious electro/guitar pop and their charming demeanour, they are surely the perfect band for a sunny afternoon. Radio Ladio, with its singalong chorus of "R-A. D-I. OHHHHHHHHH," is a belting way to end a set too. 

As the sun set, the massively overrated Crystal Castles were typically uninspiring. Sleigh Bells are hardly the best band in the world, but, for my money, they piss all over this too-cool-for-school duo. Still, there was always excellent DJ Anna Lunoe to enjoy on one of the other stages instead. 

Headliners Justice ended the festival. Bobbysix.com is reviewing their Melbourne sideshow later this week so I won't go into too much detail here, but let's just say that their light show was hugely impressive and, no matter how many times they play it, D.A.N.C.E. sounds fucking brilliant. 

And so, as the night sky smothered The Domain and the temperature dropped considerably, even the most chiselled of blokes pulled on their singlets (I was now pretty happy to be wearing long pants) and boogied to some French electro. What an excellent way to ring in the New Year.

Review by Bobby Townsend.

Field Day tickets - on sale now.

Have you heard? New Year's Day is the new New Year's Eve? With the weak long-since having crawled into their beds, it's when the rest of us push on like mad fucks. And where do we continue the party? At Sydney's Field Day of course.

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming festival at The Domain, so, if you wanna start 2012 with a bang, you're best advised to get hold of one asap. The line-up includes two of the hottest properties in dance music, Calvin Harris and Example, who join French electro-maestros Justice, along with the dubstep stylings of Modestep and a bunch of local talent including Flight Facilities, The Aston Shuffle and Cloud Control. Also on the awesome bill are the likes of Crystal Castles, Metronomy, Moby (DJ set), Gotye, Anna Lunoe and heaps more.

Check the full line-up at the Field Day website, and book your tickets with our good friends at Fuzzy. We'll see you there. Let's party like it's 2012. Which, of course, it will be.

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project 2011

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project took place around the world on Saturday night. While Madonna had herself a boogie (above) at the event in The States, in Australia, Anna Lunoe and Italian DJ Alex Gaudino took the party to Melbourne.

Guadino, who has recently collaborated with Kelly Rowland and is a leading name in the dance music industry, exclusively told Bobbysix.com, "When the idea first came up, I was curious. Then when I found out more about the concept, I was honored to be able to “represent” Italy along with other artists taking part. I think it’s an original and exciting framework for music and culture. Really great."

Here are a few shots from Melbs:

Melbourne goes Italian for the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project

Last month, Smirnoff revealed that Australia will be swapping nightlife experiences with Italy as part of a unique global experience in which 50 countries celebrate the best of their local nightlife. Now, more deets have been released, and it turns out that Melbourne will host the Australian Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project on 12th November, with a one-of-a kind Italian themed event taking place at Peninsula, on the Harbour Esplanade in the Docklands.

While Aussie groups Nervo and Bang Gang Deejays jet over to Italy, Melbourne gets ready to experience a real taste of an Italian festa, with over 2,500 guests expected to attend. Junior Jack & Kid Créme and Alex Gaudino will headline the Italian-inspired event at Peninsula and the warehouse space will contain several different zones, constructed especially for the event. Each room will represent an element of Italian nightlife – offering Australian fans a chance to “travel” from historical Rome, to an 80s disco in the Alps, to fashionable cocktails in Milan, in just one night.

Australia’s ambassador Anna Lunoe will play host on the night and is calling out to fans of nightlife to get involved in the biggest event of the year by applying for free tickets to the event via the Smirnoff Australia Facebook page. It's gonna be frickin awesome.

Meanwhile, Palaisozak in the Italian city of Turin will be transformed into an Australian beach party for 3000 people, complete with palm trees and deck chairs, with Nervo and Bang Gang Deejays performing from a specially constructed lifeguard hut. Italian radio DJ and Smirnoff ambassador Max Brigante will MC the event. 

Keep an eye on the B6 for more updates closer to the event. 

Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project - Australia gets Italy, England swaps with Jamaica, USA goes Dutch

Last night, we hit up the announcement party in Sydney, where it was revealed that Australia will swap with Italy as part of The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project – a one-of-a-kind global experience in which 50 countries celebrate the best of their local nightlife. Junior Jack & Kid Créme and Alex Gaudino will headline the Italian-inspired Australia event, while Aussie group Nervo and Bang Gang Deejay’s will fly over to Italy as the Italians receive the best of Australia’s homegrown nightlife, as voted by Australians.

With the goal of helping 10 million people discover, share and swap unique nightlife, the Australian team is already gearing up to be part of larger-than-life events worldwide. Once all of the suggestions are in, Australia’s ambassador Anna Lunoe will help select the ones that best represent Australia’s vibrant and varied nightlife. These ingredients will be packed into a crate for Italy to experience when the world swaps nights in the epic finale on 12 November. Supercool Anna (above), who played an Italian-tinged DJ set at the launch last night, says: “I can wait for this event. I’m really looking forward to welcoming Junior Jack & Kid Créme and Alex Gaudino, and seeing how they recreate the Italian nightlife experience Down Under. I’m also super excited to see the best of Australia’s nightlife come alive for the people of Italy to enjoy. We have had some awesome suggestions so far on what makes Australia’s nightlife truly unique, so we expect the event on 12 November to be a one-of-a-kind experience in both countries.” Fans can continue to submit their suggestions for what best characterises nightlife in Australia, via the Smirnoff Australia Facebook page and also enter the competition to win tickets to be at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project event in a top-secret Australian location.

Meanwhile, good old Blighty was picked to swap with Jamaica, meaning that they'll be some Jamaican vibes vibes going down in London Town while a representation of England (overpaid footballers and an unhealthy obsession with the weather? Yeah, it's the same joke we made this time last year, sorry) will be heading in the other direction. Brits head here to submit your ideas and to keep up to date with the latest news. Another really interesting exchange is sure to be between the United States and the Netherlands.

Talking of the US, Madonna will attend the New York celebration to help handpick the overall global winner of the online dance competition alongside her choreographers Rich and Tone. Finalists will compete in front of Queen of Pop (which is a pretty scary prospect if you ask us) for the winning spot. The winner may get the opportunity to join Madonna on her next tour as one of her dancers. For entry information and to win the chance to be there, visit the Smirnoff Facebook page.

The confirmed nightlife swaps are:
GREAT BRITAIN with JAMAICA
IRELAND with THAILAND
BRAZIL with GERMANY
CANADA with VIETNAM
USA with NETHERLANDS
DUBAI with MEXICO
VENEZUELA with CYPRUS
ARGENTINA with TURKEY

Madonna joins the party as The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project goes massive!

We've been in transit for a few days, so it was an amazing surprise to arrive back at Bobbysix Towers to find the biggest parcel we've ever received waiting on our doorstep. In fact, it wasn't even a parcel, but a crate (see further down the page) filled with all manner of goodies relating to the latest installment of The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project.

Included in the crate was a globe, which will come in handy as this year's project is taking the party to all corners of the earth. If you thought 2010's event, which saw 14 countries swap nightlife, was ambitious, then, twelve months on, things are set to go MASSIVE. This time round, the audacious goal is to get 10 million people to discover, share and swap the most original nightlife experiences in, get this, 50 countries. Five-zero.

Oh, and if that weren't big enough, then they've only gone and got Madonna on board. No biggie. She's only, like, the biggest female pop star of all time. As part of the Nightlife Exchange Project, she'll be on the lookout for a new dancer to join her next tour.

As well as submitting ideas on what makes their country's nightlife special, fans can enter an exclusive dance competition online. Madonna will attend one of the selected Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project experiences where finalists will compete in front of her for the winning spot. The winner may get the opportunity to join the queen of pop on her next tour as one of her dancers. "What attracted me to the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project is the combination of participating in the celebration of nightlife around the world and the opportunity to discover the world's best unknown dancers," said Madonna. "The best dancers are always in the clubs looking for the most original experience, just like Smirnoff is doing."

If Madonna is seeking someone who slowly shifts their weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other while not really knowing what to do with their hands, then she need look no further than the dags at Bobbysix.com. Just sayin'.

The submission process for the dance competition runs until October 10th. To enter, hopefuls must submit a 60-second dance video. For details on the dance submission process visit Smirnoff's Facebook page (Aussies go here, Brits go here).

The 50 countries participating in the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project include: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. Better get that globe out. 

Exclusive Anna Lunoe interview!

DJ Anna Lunoe is the Australian ambassador for this year's Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project. We grabbed a few words with her about her role in the project, her ideal night out and who she would most like to swap lives with...

What was it about the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project that made you want to get involved?
Well, first things first I have kinda been living and breathing nightlife for over five years, so that’s a start. I first got involved with Smirnoff at last year’s exchange when I DJ’d at the Brazilian show at the Metro [in Sydney] and the concept definitely caught my imagination. Experiencing another culture is so exciting. I love the music that is coming out of the internet revolution; sharing sounds has led to such amazing innovation in music. Young artists are growing up being exposed to all kinds of music sub-cultures, and then going on to create music that is absolutely different from anything that has come before. So yeah, I'm a big supporter of that concept in general. Any way I can encourage it I will!

Can you talk us through the role you will be playing in the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project?
My role is to oversee the representation of Australian nightlife overseas, and also to help with Australia’s own celebration - plus I will definitely perform at the events of course! I really wanna encourage everyone to get involved on the Smirnoff Australia facebook page and tell us what how you want Australia to be represented to other countries too. My role is just to bring the awareness to the public, not to dictate what is or isn't special about Australian nightlife.

What would your ideal night out consist of?
My favourite nights out are with my friends when we happen to have nights off. We get a good dinner, then hit up our favourite spot where we know the music will be good and we can run amuck with a like-minded crowd. At the moment that’s at my friend Jimmy’s club, Goodgod (editor's note: this is also somewhere that the good folk of Bobbysix.com have, on many occasions, danced until we can dance no more). Usually on my nights "off" we throw impromptu parties down there. Believe it or not, my idea of a night out is still DJing. DJing is definitely a part of partying in my eyes! In the right environment it’s a blowing-off-steam thing for me, as well as a job.

What makes Australian nightlife unique?
This is tricky to pinpoint really but I think we have a real style when it comes to music. I feel like Australian dance music is pretty positive and uplifting as a general rule. It's a pretty fair reflection of our cultural landscape (most of the time!). The music is built for outdoor festivals. That’s how I feel anyway but I would very much encourage everyone to hit up the Smirnoff Australia facebook page and tell me what YOU think the scene is like.

Australia aside, where in the world would you like to have a night out?
Maybe somewhere in South America? Or Portugal would be amazing. I love the kuduru sounds coming out of there. Also, of course as a massive UK bass fan, I would love go out a lot more in the UK.

If you could exchange lives with anyone in the world for one night, who would you choose?
Annie Mac! She hosts a new dance show on the BBC in the UK and gets to DJ at all these ridiculously amazing festivals across Europe. She even gets to curate her own festival stages (Annie, if you are reading this through some wonder of the internet, life swap?)

Interview by Bobby Townsend

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project is back!

Last Year, Bobbysix.com ventured to India for an unbelievable adventure as part of Smirnoff's Nightlife Exchange Project. Well, the exciting news for anyone who attended one of the events that took place around the globe is that 2011 sees the Nightlife Exchange Project return - and it's set to be even bigger and better.

This time round, fifty - that's right, five-zero - countries are gearing up to celebrate the best one-of-a-kind nightlife experiences. This not-to-be-missed global nightlife celebration will bring together the best tunes, drinks, sights and tastes from around the globe at some top-notch venues worldwide.

Following Dan Single's turn last year, this time round DJ Anna Lunoe is the ambassador for The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project in Australia. Supercool and, may we say, hotter than hell, Anna says, “I’m really excited about being involved in this unique project and discovering what key ingredients make a fun night out for Australians. It’s also a fantastic platform in which to showcase our original Australian nightlife to the rest of the world.”

During 2010 Smirnoff asked a couple of million people from 14 countries across ten different time zones what represents an unforgettable night out, bringing the best ideas to life in a nightlife swap. The cultural exchange saw 80 hours of performances across the world, with 1,400 tracks played and over 50 artists and DJ’s performing.

This year, The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project is again searching the world for the most original nightlife experiences. You can get involved in the project by visiting the your country's Facebook page (Aussies, go here: Facebook.com/SmirnoffAustralia) to share your nightlife ideas.

Keep your eyes on Bobbysix.com over the next little while for news on how you can attend your country's swap, as well as up-to-the-minute info on what's going on and where. It's going to be awesome! To coin a Smirnoff phrase, Be There!