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Nude Swimming, Diamantes, and UK Garage: This Was Subsonic Festival

We went along to the iconic dance festival in Monkerai. This is us reporting back.
All photos by Voena.

If you've been reading the news you might've seen that Subsonic Music Festival happened the weekend before last. However, if you'd be reading that aforementioned "news" you would also have been tricked into thinking that Subsonic is merely a police meet where baffled constables voiced their disappointment that people take drugs in the 21st Century.

Believe it or not there was actually music taking place over the weekend, performed by musicians who work hard at their craft and love what they do. While the big names obviously delivered in spades (Ben UFO, Deadbeat & Tikkiman, Lawrence and Honey Dijon were all highlights), it was the locals that really stole the show. Armed with a local knowledge and chops cut in some of Sydney's finest haunts, these five DJs proved you don't have to look far to find the heat.

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Honey Dijon

Adi Toohey: Pizza Lab, Friday Arvo

As the sun set on an absolutely scorching first day at Barrington Tops, Adi Toohey (Rimbombo/FBi Radio) took to the (thankfully) undercover stage at the Pizza Lab, which housed more than a few local winners throughout the weekend. Toohey, who's made a name for herself through her regular Saturday night show on FBi Radio as well as through he numerous sets across town and through the parties she co-run's with Rimbombo delivered the perfect mix of upbeat house intermixed with a connection to 80s and 90s tips that have been accessed by many but perfected by few. Taking from the likes of DA Rebels and Kerri Chandler, Toohey built up a serious energy in a criminally cut short set, culminating in an Aussie classic that was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Amp.Rose vs T.Hanks: Pizza Lab, Friday Night

Post Pluto Collective are quickly making a name for themselves as some of Sydney's finest proponents of deep house from up and coming producers from the Harbour City and abroad. Label head Amp.Rose and T.Hanks (the producer responsible for the gorgeous PPC002 release, Cafe Bohemian) played a two hour B2B set at the Pizza Lab that touched on the many directions deep house can take. The boys took control at 1am on Friday night, so needless to say they faced stiff competition on other stages, with cross over coming from the likes of Move D and Deadbeat no less. Regardless the pair held a solid crowd with a fantastic blend of refined jazz rythyms, brighter Motor City chords and a consistent grasp on the dynamics of the house tip without it ever getting close to samey.

Jordan Peters

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Jordan Peters: Pizza Lab, Sunday Night

Jordan Peters (Immersion) took to the stage of The Pizza Lab at 11pm on Saturday after a day where Tech House reigned supreme at most stages within the festival grounds. It was a welcome relief when one of Sydney's finest techno DJs delivered 90 minutes of dark, deep and powerful techno that was refreshingly fast on a day where the BPM didn't stray to far from the 120 mark. Peters' dynamic and hard hitting set masterfully interlocked shadowy and hypnotic tools with more expansive tracks that held the attention of everyone in the room. The set remained playful however, with Peters evoking old school rave with Underworld's "Dark and Long (Dark Train)" and slamming it into Daft Punk's "Revolution 909" to close. Well played sir.

Oscar Mike vs Gilsun: River Stage, Saturday Night

Sydney's Gilsun has been a mainstay in the Sydney scene and Subsonic circus for quite some time, and his latest project Oscar Mike sees the versatile DJ expand his palette further into the wider realm of harder atmospheric techno as well as UK Bass and Dubstep. Stepping up to the plates at the height of a somewhat chaotic Friday, Gilsun unleashed a stonking set that put the River Stage's immaculate sound system to the ultimate test. Starting with big room techno that touched on the edges of electro while maintaining dubbier undertones that befitted the transition into the darker edges of the night. Gilsun rounded off his set with some earth shattering dubstep and UKG cuts that acts as a brilliant precursor to Champain Lyf's set that was to follow.

Ben Fester

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Ben Fester: River Stage, Sunday Arvo

At the 2014 edition of Subsonic Ben Fester (Heavenly/FBi Radio) stole the show with a midday set that will go down in lore as one of the all time greats (you can actually listen to it here). This year Ben returned to the scene of the crime to treat a packed crowd washed in the midday sun with set mixed with percussive rhythms, wonked out house beats and a knack to expertly fit in a curve ball like few selectors know how. Fester's skills as a DJ are common knowledge by now, but he still finds a way to surprise even his most ardent followers, pushing through the toughest mix with an agility that is hard to find anywhere else, all the while transmitting that Selectors' necessary energy for a sun-drenched crowd.

A special mention must go to House of Mince who were curating the River Stage on Sunday, Sydney's best party taking hold of one of the best stages in the land. It was by such a wide margin the best and most welcoming atmosphere all weekend, and the curation from start to finish on point (Claire Morgan into Honey Dijon was the stuff of legends).

Check out the full gallery below.

All photos by Voena.