Elie’s tale of a 3 day journey
Earthcore’s 10th anniversary bash was always going to be a bigger than life event. A line up of local and internationals of such diversity it makes you weak at the knees. That is, assuming you are open to a variety of sounds and experiences.

It’s a music festival with a slant towards the bohemian and a dose of the trippy. A camping adventure where your car radio is replaced with diesel powered generators feeding life into the countless bits of hardware pumping bass to the masses.

Arriving mid Saturday, the day couldn’t have been more appropriate. An abnormally generous Victorian weather graced the whole three days with plenty of sunshine. Unfortunately this meant there were plenty of flies! The signs at the front gate were suggesting “Beware of snakes in grass”, which was a little disconcerting! But as far as I’m aware there were no reported snake bite incidents. Phew!

The parking/camping areas were pretty much close to capacity at this point in time, giving an indication of a huge turnout. The Earthcore crew always make an extra effort to look after the punters, supplying free drinking water tanks for the whole three days. A satellite EFTPOS facility, with no extra fees attached. Constantly spraying water on the dusty dance floors and overheating dance floor punters. Two large fans in the semi-closed Sunny tent. The list goes on …

Having set up tent and scanned the area, I managed to catch the afternoon line up in the Sunny tent. A few early starters rocking the dance floor to some crazy tunes from our break beats aficionado and all round gentlemen, Lynt. Next up was Dan Mangan with a huge fan club dancing away to a great set that mixed some favourite new tunes and a few old classics for good measure. 7:00 PM it was time for Keltec to man the decks. Another one of our favourite Melbourne sons who knows how to switch a dance crowd on. This boy plays it all, with style.

The team from Israel known as Laroz had been recommended to me as a must see. So at this point I wonder down to the main stage to catch the live act duo. The recommendation was spot on for value. These guys played an amazing mix of jazz, funk and house at the start of their set. What an awesome sound to hear in the middle of the bush while the dusk sets in. I totally did not expect to hear this kind of sound at Earthcore, but then I again anything can happen at Earthcore. Their set then developed into somewhat of a break beat sound.

One of my many highlights for the evening was without a doubt DJ Food. DJ Food is a whole collection of DJ’s who have produced a variety of projects under the name DJ Food. This time round it was Strictly Kev representing with a DJ set. This guy played anything he wanted to and everything that I would love to hear in a set. In the same vein as a Robbie&Dexter show (The Avalanches). James Brown, Adams Family theme song, hip hop, etc … It all got a play and the main dance floor was a buzz with party revellers.

10:30 and it’s time for Nubreed (live)! The local favourites put on a show that was beaming with their usual breed of sound energy and a completely effortless command of a party crowd. It’s no wonder these boys popularity keeps on growing. It went down a treat with a now close to full dance floor.

I do love diversity, but I’m a techno boy at heart. So midnight was upon us and that meant Disko Pussy would grace the stage. This was another highlight of the night. Disko Pussy is in the top 3 list of this country’s best techno DJ’s. This opinion is not only a personal one, but one that is shared by many in our industry. Without sounding sexist, she puts most of the boys to shame at any party she plays at. I’m so glad that my techno fix at Earthcore was a case of “brought to you proudly by Disko Pussy”.

The Earthcore crew had a few surprises up their sleeve that came to life at the strike of midnight. A fifteen minute fire work extravaganza that put any new years eve shin-ding to shame. Plus a whole assortment of fire twirlers, jugglers and performing arts projects – like the oversized emu puppets walking thru the crowds.

3:00 AM and Robert Leiner aka Source (Sweden) took to the stage with what you might call a hypnotic techno set, or even old school tech trance perhaps? Personally I love this kind of sound and Leiner is an amazing DJ and producer. I was more than thrilled at the opportunity to hear him play.

During the later half of Leiners’ set, the masses from almost all arenas had flocked to the main stage in preparation for Infected Mushroom’s live set. The favourites of the event seemed to thrill one and all, but didn’t really do it for me. Their set was more than charged with sound and amazing production quality, but the harder sound they put out on the night wasn’t to my taste at all. But the kids loved it!

At this point I decided to retreat back to base camp for the next couple of hours, until James Holden’s morning set. Thank god for the Private Function crew who were my camp neighbours during Earthcore. Awesome hosts and great company!

We passed the time with the usual nonsensical intellectualism (yes, I know it’s an oxymoron!) that one does at an event. 9:00 AM Sunday and it was time for Mr. James Holden (UK).

James blew everyone away at last years event and he pretty much doubled that this time around. Holden is a producer who loves to use the most unusual of electro sounds, coupled with layers of ambient scapes. He also slots moments of driving tech beats to create both interesting sets and the most amazing production work to come out of the UK’s progressive house scene.

Earthcore had come and gone and it was now time for me to rest up, then head back home. Happy 10th birthday to the EC crew who really outdid themselves again… much respect!

Cosmica’s account of the 10th anniversary bash
With the months of waiting over, Earthcore’s 10th Anniversary Bash began for most with the almost religious journey to the site where the action took place. The anticipation for most could be felt at various car stops along the way, with Earthcorians purchasing as much ice as possible for the heat that lay ahead.

My wife and I arrived on Friday evening, just before Dusk, and quickly found a place to Camp to join the myriad of others already camped for the nights events. Two stages were operating that night, with some variety for those wanting to party the extra night away. I spent the night primarily at the PSYPNEUMATIX RENEGADE FLOOR, with some quality psychedelic trance being played by the likes of Pi, and Elad. I missed most of Tipper’s set, but from what I heard, the small crowd were well entertained.

The music was supposed to finish at 3 AM, however with all of the makeshift stereo systems pumping out tunes all over the camping area, it gave the perception that the music just kept cranking all night. Waking up at 8 AM to the scorching sun made everyone realise that sleep was going to be hard to come by, and escaping the sun was the main aim for everyone at the Party. The River proved a Godsend to many willing to brave the murky, muddy waters. I decided to rest up until the main action when the sun went down, and was not disappointed when seeing Laroz pump out an eclectic variety of funky house. They were soon followed by DJ Food, who warmed up the crowd a little more with an amazing variety of Hip Hop, Trip Hop, House, Jazz all fused into one.

At 10.30, Nubreed hit the mainfloor and did not disappoint! Their unique deep sounds prevailed on the main floor, mastering the crowd with effortless ease. The large bouncing ball proved a treat with those wanting more of a birthday party atmosphere. Disko Pussy followed the boys and showed many why she is considered one of the forerunner Techno DJ’s Melbourne has to offer.

At this stage I decided to take a breather, and wandered the various stages, enjoying a soundscape of variety of differing musical genres being presented at the various floors. I soon realised that the PSYPNEUMATIX RENEGADE FLOOR was simply too far to keep walking to throughout the night. My one and only visit to the Pharmacy stage was to visit DAVE the Drummer at 1.30 AM. He was literally banging the tunes out relentlessly to the crowd, who were soaking up the frenetic tunes. Apart from the dust being whipped up at the front of the floor, this man delivered what many came to see, and it was a privilege to see him in action.

At 3 AM it was time to head back to the main stage, to see Robert Leiner in action. The deep, dark tech house this man was pumping out was pure quality, and added that extra bit of Swedish class to the evening. During his set, fireworks were being shot into the skyline, and a huge Birthday Cake brought out for all to see. The fire twirlers added an extra dimension to the party, often the crowds gathering around the twirlers to see their amazing skills.

Towards 4.30 AM, the crowd amassing to see Infected Mushroom was simply huge, and they came out with a superbly honed, professional delivery of their finest tracks. The crowd was going ecstatic at this stage, and the main floor spilled out onto the Marketplace and beyond. I estimated there to be 8,000 people on the floor just to witness the lads from Isreal. As lasers pierced the dawn breaking sky thunder clouds rolled in and nature added its own amazing lightshow, the time was impeccable, one could almost say mother natures fate!

After such a mind blowing experience, it was time to venture back to camp for a well earned rest, and to await the next act with anticipation. The man from the UK, James Holden graced the decks at 9.00 AM, and filled the main floor with beautiful, soulful sounds ranging from electro, progressive and analog tune blending mastery that everyone had come to witness. He raised expectations to a new level that morning, those having witnessed him the year before getting a second dose of his magic. All of the Earthcorian faithful were out to play at this time, the same familiar faces letting lose with not a care in the world for just those few hours in the morning that only Earthcore can provide.

At 10.30 AM, with the heat starting to rise again, and the prospect of having to deal with hot weather too much to bear, my wife and I decided to make the long trip home, to get to a warm shower, a cosy bed and some videos.

Thanks Earthcore for another amazing event!