As I climb the stairs to dance music heaven, the walls of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are already shaking. It’s early in the day, but Warehouse Winter Musical Festival is heating up.
In its third year, Kick’s Entertainment has managed to attract the masses, with a string of impressive dance, electro and funk acts, both international and home-grown.
The AIS has allowed a full scale takeover, being divided into three main stages – the Arena, Club and Terrace stage. Each stage holds a different atmosphere, but all present heavy hitting, heart-stopping beats.
First to catch my ear is Scottie Fisher, who performs on the Red Bull Terrace stage to a handful of dedicated early-beat enthusiasts. My ear is still adjusting to the decibel level but Scottie presents a strong early morning set.
Representing Australia in the Main Arena are the masked dance superstars, Bloody Beetroots. Performing with live instruments and a fiery energy, they ensure the Arena is quickly packed with sweaty, and by this stage alcohol injected patrons. Songs like Warp 1.9 make me worry if the roof of the arena will stay intact; such is the ferocity of the Beetroots drummer and the dancing festival go-ers.
Perhaps the only let down of a day jam-packed with 33 acts is LMFAO. Billed as a 6-piece band, the group instead comprise of one DJ, two rappers and several seemingly pointless dancing hype-men. Apart from their comedic choreographed dance entrance, the set is a bit of a let down and in my opinion not worthy of late-night billing.
My favourite act of the day hails from Brooklyn, New York, a 3-piece grime and dub-step group by the name of Kid Sister. M.C. Kid Sister, lead rapper and vocaliser of the group, energetically fronts her brother on turntable.
It’s an engaging set, which did what few other acts – captivated the crowd. For me this is the difference between a good performance and a bad performance, regardless of genre. The fat beats and downright dirty and engaging performance is alone well worth the ticket price.
Warehouse Winter Music Festival 2010 was an ear-busting bonanza of beats from far and wide, and thanks to Kicks Entertainment, Canberra was lucky to host such dance royalty. I can’t imagine how this festival could possibly get any bigger, but I do hope that next year brings an equally impressive event, in scale and talent.
