What do you get when you combine a sunny Sunday afternoon, a boatload of party people, the beautiful Melbourne harbor, and 4 1/2 hours of pumping tunes from an all-star DJ lineup? Melbourne’s brand Sonic Textures seem to have designed the perfect experiment to find out, today they were throwing a boat cruise party featuring their characteristic blend of underground dance grooves.

Germany’s Boris Brejcha, and Melbourne local star Kasey Taylor, fresh from this year’s Rainbow Serpent Festival, were joined by Gavin Martin, Jonny Mac, Punkz on Junk, Thad Lester, and Benzai, playing on two floors of the Victoria Star. This lovely vessel features everything necessary for a nautical dance party: a full bar, two decks surrounded by balconies and benches to enjoy the brisk sea breeze and city views, and two dance floors for revelers to boogie (once they have found their sea legs!). There were pizza slices to snack on upstairs, and cramped but clean toilets downstairs. The party (and music) began half an hour before departure, when the boat opened for boarding.

I arrived eager for the forecasted 28 degree sunny day, a good dance, and a refreshing beverage or two. Gavin Martin opened the party upstairs with funky rhythms, while Benzai started out slightly more chilled on the downstairs level. As they arrived, my fellow party goers slowly checked out the Victoria Star, and began buying drinks. Before long, the gates closed, the engines revved up, and we began to move out into the harbor! I watched the first part of the voyage from the upstairs balcony, enjoying the sea breeze and music as we journeyed past massive container ships and docks. Then the massive West Gate Bridge went past overhead, and we came out into the bay.

Brejcha’s set started out sort of minimal techy, with the top floor of the boat packed full of dancers and slightly stuffy. I found myself a spot dancing outside on the top level, the big windows letting the music pump out to the balconies. He tore up the party with awesome dirty techno buildups, while we watched jetski’s frolicking over the bay beside our boat. Downstairs, Thad Lester was playing was deep progressive house set. A little later, Johnny Mac took over on the lower level, keeping a slightly slower pace of chunky beats, while upstairs Kasey began pumping out impressive buildups and keeping the crowded deck boogieing.

Around 4pm, Punkz on Junk began tearing up the lower level with a unique dirty techno sound unlike anything I’ve heard before. Though I had come to hear Brejcha and Taylor, Punkz set ended up being my favourite of the cruise. Standout tunes were Tokyo Tea and D-nox & Beckers Cars and Girls, as well as Stardust. I spent the final hours of the party downstairs, enjoying the less crowded dance floor and loving the crazy music! All too soon we were going back into the harbor and eventually the music had to stop. We were herded, sweaty and exhausted off the boat and on to after parties or to relax.

Although I had been to a boat party once before, I found myself incredibly impressed with the lineup and organization the afternoon’s cruise. The type of music; funky progressive and deep techno, worked amazingly with the settling of bright sunshine and our boat gliding briskly through the bay. My fellow punters were also wonderfully friendly, fun, and energetic. I definitely plan to attend a Sonic Texture’s event again, and suggest keeping your eyes out for other boat parties, they are the best way to spend an weekend afternoon!