- The Astral People Vivid Live party is always one of the most anticipated yearly events in Sydney, made all the more special by its home in the two-level studio of the iconic Opera House. Speculation abounded this year surrounding the "secret guest" Astral had hinted at on social media. Those in the know simply smiled and said "Daft Punk wrote a song about him." As Giorgio Moroder took the stage, the crowd let out a roaring cheer that held for a few minutes—some in awe of seeing the Italian disco pioneer in the flesh, some just excited to see a 74-year-old man behind the decks. Moroder played a set of upbeat disco, wearing a rainbow bucket hat given to him by an audience member, and urging everyone to clap along.
Meanwhile, Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 were hanging around in the foyer, talking to fans and interacting with the crowd. The décor looked coincidentally similar to the cover of Bok Bok's latest release, Your Charizmatic Self, with the vast expanse of glass and artfully arranged plants. The duo played a pulsating back-to-back set that embodied their club constructions manifesto: gritty, stripped back and minimal, tantalizing the already electric crowd with hints of hip-hop. The foyer was filled with the coloured lights of Vivid and scented vaporiser smoke, spreading the smell of peach and mint through the crowd. Tempos stayed firmly between 130 and 160 BPM for the second half of the set, with tracks like KW Griff's "Bring In The Cats" and Lil John's "Shots" bringing the dance floor to new peaks.
I was curious to see if Chicago acid house pioneers Phuture could follow up such an unfaltering performance, especially after a more than 20-year absence from the scene. As it happened, they blew the last hour and a half of the gig away with explosive acid house and techno. Strobe lights complemented the resounding bass, and the crowd (despite having thinned slightly) was in full force as Spanky repeated "Phuture" into the mic. When the crowd left the party, they were faced with waterfront harbour views of Sydney, a perfect complement to the honour of seeing so many great performances in one night. These are the kind of gigs Sydney lives for.
Photo credit: Daniel Boud