Bands/Music/Arts

‘More pumping than a municipal waterworks’ – that was the best compliment Escape Ferocity’s warehouse parties ever got, from a guy recovering from Boris Brejcha in Fyshwick in 2016.

Canberra seemed happy with the basics: Boris pounding a warehouse, shortly after Max Cooper rinsing minds over the lake. “But they were basic, for today” says Dave Caffery, one of the guys behind the party imprint.

Fast forward nearly a decade and they have a fresh warehouse for Winter. Dave also runs Dionysus, which is managing The Vault – a jaw-dropping warehouse venue at Dairy Road. It was on show at their collaborative party called Too Many Crews (pictured) on 25 May and attracted about 700 people.

Some things change with wrinkling years – we’re told to expect more comforts this year: no portaloos, stunning projections, fresh cocktails and more ambitious setlists.

Some things don’t change: they’re welcoming Max Cooper to Fyshwick. Now a world-leading AV artist is playing a live 3D AV set on July 13 with six projectors and a mind-rinsing sound system. That’s the day after Skin on Skin in the same venue, and the promoters are leveraging all the big production for a family rave (at 82 dbA) with the additions of (massive) bubble machines and a balloon drop!

They laugh that the wrinkling years are justified by the new progeny of their audience, who aren’t being left out.

And though The Vault may be gone (demolished, in fact), Escape Ferocity has Grouch welcoming Spring in a gorgeous lakeside park. Originally booked to double-headline Escape Ferocity’s party with Bebetta at Black Mountain Peninsula, Grouch caught Covid on the day of the party and postponed. Now at a new (and more central, but secret) park by Lake Burley Griffin, the international hero of bass music and progressive psytrance is finally making the trip.

Dave says it’ll be a beautiful event, with lots of careful decisions to make the experience light and welcoming to embrace Spring. Grouch will play his ‘Grouch In Dub’ live dub repertoire before his distinctive prog, over a 3 hour performance, supported by top local deep house and techno producers.

Super-underground doof pioneers, Renegade Psychedelic Gatherings (RPG), is presenting a second stage “practically hovering over the water, ideal for about 20 people” says Adam Van Appledorn, RGP’s founder and an authentic driver of outdoor parties in Canberra for about 20 years.

“Rattle the pipes, dance that shit out – we’ll take care of you,” says Dave. And you can take that man’s word to The Vault.

Here are their upcoming parties, more at www.escapeferocity.party:

13 July, 2-5pm: Bangin’ Beats and Bubbles with top production adjusted for little ears (tell fellow ravers with kids, this is a rare party, 2-5pm).

13 July: Max Cooper plays a live 3D AV immersive party from the future.

26 October: Grouch graces the lake for a lucious day party, while RPG run a stellar little stage at the edge of a pier.

A brutalist venue heats Canberra’s Winter with markets, performances and warehouse parties… until it is demolished

A world of creativity and celebration awaits as The Vault unveils its winter line-up at Dairy Road in Fyshwick. Curated by Canberra’s cultural events company, Dionysus, a diverse new program will use a concrete warehouse as a canvas for immersive experiences, from world-class parties to live performances and markets.

The Vault is a brutalist, pillar-free bunker with no windows and a 1000-person standing capacity. It was built to secure vast amounts of coins, and has now secured a trove of creative experiences.

The Vault’s program is internationally informed and designed for Canberra, blending performance, projection, immersive experiences and the odd nod to Fyshwick’s dirty secrets.

“We want to support the cultural landscape – not with events that are ‘good enough for Canberra’, but good for any city in the world,” Dave Caffery, Dionysus Director, states.

From June 7-9, indulge your senses at Oozy Boozy, a new cheese and wine market showcasing the best offerings from the Canberra wine region and international cheese merchants. Including Raclette, caviar and other delicious condiments and take home some rare goodies.

Prepare to feast your senses at Sound and Fury: Carnal. Art. Party. With their 23rd rendition and the sexiest- party-you’ve-ever-been-to on 15 June. This isn’t just a party, it’s a full-blown sensory experience, bathed in high quality production and intimate artistic direction.

To round out June, award-winning Australian Dance Party presents The Dataset, A dance between two bodies, light, sound, and AI, The Dataset imagines a world where we physicalise the data that forms us and interrogate its purpose and power. 27 – 29 June.

Then slide right back on into the ‘80s in the July school hols with the Roller Disco. Hosted by Rollerfit, The Roller Disco caters for shaky starters and smooth gliders with disco parties, group lessons, and kids specials. Day or night, opt for a rolling boogie, or sip on something at the candy bar. 5-6 July

And now we’ve reached the biggest party weekend in Canberra’s winter: 36 hours of epic events. On 12 July, Decibel Creative and Stay On Sight present Skin On Skin, one of the strongest names to emerge in underground dance music over the past five years, recently playing on Cochella’s main stage.

Then, on 13 July, it’s all Banging Beats and Bubbles for a kid-friendly rave experience, designed for parents and little kids who like to party to proper dance music.

Finally, experience a party from the future when underground powerhouses Escape Ferocity presents Max Cooper from the UK. 13th July.

Rug up and get down to the Winter Market on 28 July, in collaboration with Southern Harvest Festival and the Truffle Festival. Peruse the huge number of food stalls packed with artisan condiments, local wines, smooth olive oils and winter favourite – truffles.

Sydney’s iconic Heaps Gay joins the line-up on 10 August, bringing their signature larger-than-life parties and showcasing the best of Australia’s queer multi-disciplinary talent alongside international favourites.

Local crews Dragon Dreaming, Turning Tables and Sunburn also have plans to transform the space into wild new parties. And Dave says a new projection program involving imagery from the James Webb Space Telescrope combined with big, bassy audio will fill the upcoming school holidays.

The Vault’s program exemplifies Dionysus’ ongoing commitment to fostering arts, music, performance, and culinary experiences in Canberra. “We are hoping it will be a highlight in Canberra’s cultural memory, and inform future programs,” says Dave.

The Vault will run to September 2024, when the building is expected to be demolished as part of the Dairy Road precinct development. Located at 1 Dairy Road Fyshwick – see thevault.place for more.