16 November 2022 – Riverstage Brisbane – words by Gabrielle Ross – pictures by Nicole Matthews
It was a warm evening as music lovers flooded the grassy hills of the Brisbane Riverstage eager to fill their Thursday night with a fun and exciting variety of funky grooves and electronic house dance music!
Setting the vibe for the evening was Toro y Moi with his funky psychedelic, chillwave sounds! The American singer and songwriter had punters already on their feet dancing to his unique grooves that were being sent out into the soundscape. Toro y Moi’s groovy dance set included songs like ‘Ordinary Pleasure’ ‘Say That’, ‘Rose Quartz’ and a fantastic cover of ‘Girl Like You/Doin’ It Right’! While Toro y Moi’s funky beats were more laid back than the energetic house music yet to come, yet his set really embraced the chill atmosphere and set the fun tone for the evening!
Next to grace the stage was Channel Tres and he did so in absolute style! With three backup dancers the rapper from Compton, California introduced the crowd to his fantastic and groovy set filled with his signature blended style of Detroit techno, West Coast Rap and Chicago House. Channel’s silky smooth voice flowed out in waves out into the soundscape as he and his dancers grooved along with perfectly timed dance moves to a jam packed set that included songs like ‘Jet Black’ and ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. Music lovers just could not get enough of Channel as the crowd danced with elated enthusiasm and in awe of his impressive stage presence. Finishing on his most popular song, ‘Top Down’, an unbelievably smooth dance track, Channel Tres left the audience hungry for more soulful dance grooves! Many fans will be eagerly awaiting his return to Australia.
Music lovers were going wild as Flume (Harley Edward Streten) entered the stage, accompanied by a lighting set up that mimicked sparks and a digital projection of a race car tire that warped and moved as Flume created an electronic engine revving introduction, sending the crowd into overdrive before launching into his first song ‘Holdin On/Drop the Game’. The audience sang along and dove, bodies first, into a wave of jumping and dancing!
Flume flowed into ‘The Difference’ and was joined onstage by Toro y Moi who brought his soulful vocals and energy to the stage, the audience soon joined in, singing along to every word.
Guest vocalists were the theme for the evening, with KUCKA joining Flume on stage for ‘Smoke & Retribution’, ‘Hyperreal’ and ‘Voices’ along with MAY-A for songs ‘Never Be Like You’ and ‘Say Nothing’. The presence of the live vocalists was a welcome breath of fresh air in the atmospheric electronic dance soundscape and vibrant lighting scene.
The use of visual elements throughout Flumes show added that extra layer of psychedelics to the energetic atmosphere. Flume’s entire set was accompanied by a giant white arch that would move and expand throughout the stage, creating light and shade to compliment each musical soundscape, it became a projector screen and a light tunnel, the possibilities of this stage set were endless!
The only moment of stillness from the crowd that evening was for the song ‘Is It Cold In The Water?’ Flume dedicated the track to his good friend Sophie as he reminisced back to when they last played at the Riverstage in 2016. The stage was bathed in a multicoloured pink, blue and purple lighting scape, the atmosphere breathtaking, as the audience waved their hands in the air.
Flume ended his energetic set on ‘Tennis Court’ and ‘Helix’ before thanking music lovers ‘Thank you and until next time!’ and exiting the stage through the iconic arch, but the crowd was begging for one one dance! Finally after a few minutes Flume returned for his encore! Creating another unique electronic introduction Flume then played his latest single ‘Slugger 1.4 [2014 Export.WAV]’ much to the delight of music lovers, who threw themselves into their psychedelic dances once more. Flume finished his iconic dance set with the song ‘Rushing Back’.
A fantastic end to the evening, dance music lovers left the Brisbane Riverstage, high on good vibes and fantastic electronic house and dance tunes.
