Catch them at Sweet Relief later this month!
Image: Grant Spanier
In a matter of weeks, Sweet Relief! will take over Brisbane’s Maritime Green, Northshore thanks to QLD Music Trails. Set to take to the stage, we caught up with The Avalanches' Robbie Chater to chat about festival, performing, new music and so much more.
The inaugural one-day party and springtime getaway from live music tourism series, QLD Music Trails, is coming to Brisbane’s Maritime Green, Northshore on September 16, 2023. The Avalanches will be joined by British hitmakers Groove Armada, Latifa Tee and Nina Las Vegas, vintage synthpop duo Cut Copy, international party DJ YO! Mafia, queer dance crew Pride Patrol and New Zealand, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Ladyhawke. POOF DOOF's Pride Patrol will be in attendance, boasting a stacked lineup of artists and performers. Sweet Relief! will also be hosting Australia's largest costume party, with mega prizes on offer for Best Dressed, judged by Osher Günsberg and drag superstar, Jimi the Kween.
You'll be hitting the stage at Sweet Relief in a matter of weeks, what can audiences expect from your performance?
We've taken songs off our three records and sort of remixing them together into a live performance with a whole heap of new visuals and a few surprises. A few music surprises, some new songs as well. So we're pretty excited
It sounds like it's gonna be fun.
Yeah!
What are you all most looking most forward to about Sweet Relief and which other acts are you keen to catch? It's such a great lineup.
It's fantastic, isn't it? I'm looking forward to a lot of the DJs actually. So that's what I'm looking forward to and catching up with some old friends. The Cut Copy guys are gonna be up there as well, we haven't seen them for a few years. So it should be in big party, I think.
It's gonna be so much fun, and such a great vibe. How important is the live show and performing for you? Not only in terms of like showcasing your art, but making an in-person connection with your audiences.
It's really important and after, you know, so long during lockdown where we couldn't play or connect with people. I mean, it's where the music really comes to life and what we do it for, you know? To be in the same room or a field with bunch of other people and sharing the music together. It just doesn't get any better doesn't it?
It certainly does not.
Never take it for granted.
The perfect answer. When it comes to curating your set list, which are the three songs that you love playing live the most? The ultimate three that you want in every set list.
[Laughs] I mean it changes all the time. I always love playing Since I Left You because it just reminds me of our beginnings, I guess. It's incredible to see a new generation of kids sort of knowing that song and that's really fun. We've got some newer music that we've never played before that I'm really excited to play I really love playing stuff like The Divine Chord. But
The festival also has the largest costume party, judged by judged by Osher Günsberg and drag superstar, Jimi the Kween, which is, I keep saying fun, but I guess it's fun [laughs]. What are some costumes that you would love to see in the crowd? And are The Avalanches going to dress up? I think you should!
[Laughs] I think we're going to actually, yes. Tony was messaging the other day with some costume ideas. So because he lives down in Melbourne, I haven't seen him for a little bit, so I think he's gonna surprise me and all you guys as well with the costume.
My gosh, I can't wait. It's gonna be so epic. You mentioned lockdown earlier, and I'm curious. Looking at performing like pre-2020 vs now, how do you think audiences are responding to live music in terms of that hunger towards having these experiences and what are your feeling towards it now? Having not been able to perform for two, three years,
It's just such a special thing. I mean, we's always say to each other before we walk on stage, let's just treat every show as if it's the last one we're ever going to do and really just be greatful to be doing it. Especially last summer in Europe playing and the energy was just absolutely incredible. It was like the sort of carefree abandon and it's just the real spirit. It's an incredible thing to be playing live at the moment and we haven't played in Australia much. Some shows in between lockdowns. So we're really, really excited to be doing it.
It's gonna be sick, it's gonna be so great. And so, you know, you mentioned.
it's gonna be fun!
Yeah it is! It's gonna be fun. My buzzword of the day [laughs]. You mentioned earlier that you guys are going to be playing some new music. It has been three years since your last album, are you working towards releasing anything in that vein?
Yeah, I mean, we're well on the way, we're a long way down the, the track with this new record and it's been a real good time to make actually. So we haven't put a date on it yet, but I don't think it'll be in the next few months
Working on this new body of work, what's been like your most memorable moment throughout this process so far?
I think for me it's just, what stands out is just sort of how much fun it's been and I think it comes off the back of doing a lot of DJing and kind of making a bit more like up tempos summer music and I think that's sort of been what stands out for me. I think the way it's flowed so easily. You know, it's good when you're not like banging your head too much.
SWEET RELIEF!
PRESENTED BY QLD MUSIC TRAILS, UNTITLED GROUP, BRISBANE FESTIVAL & BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL
MARITIME GREEN, NORTHSHORE, BRISBANE - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
(18+)
MUSIC LINEUP
GROOVE ARMADA - DJ SET (UK)
THE AVALANCHES (LIVE)
LADYHAWKE
CUT COPY - DJ SET
NINA LAS VEGAS
LATIFA TEE
YO! MAFIA
POOF DOOF PRIDE PATROL FEAT. JIMI THE KWEEN