You live in Canberra. You like dance music. You enjoy going out. Chances are, you would have boogied down to the tunes of Jeff Drake many times over. Along with Paul Azzopardi he’s the brains behind the long-running Friction night that has been rocking the ACT for yonks, and they’ve also been brining to the festival xperience to Canberra with the Foreshore Festival along with a host of other local events. Here the ‘Drakester talks to inthemix about Academy, playing at Friction, the upcoming launch of Back Alley Disco (BAD) in Canberra and other surprises that will be coming in 2008.
Who are the people that make up Friction? What is their history?
Friction is owned and run by myself and Paul Azzopardi, but the main team behind it all includes Ashley Feraude, Tim Galvin and Ryan Chaffey. Paul and I started working together on gigs in about 2002, and it has basically grown from there. My background is as a DJ, and Paul got into putting on events simply out of a love of music.
Before 2002 I was finishing my university degree in Brisbane and working as a DJ. Paul was putting on one-off parties and doing bits and pieces in Canberra, and slowly getting into promoting events. He was actually part of the Canberra Raiders juniors and was a pretty decent rugby league player! Over the years what we have done has grown and evolved into where we are today. Friction was voted the ‘Best Club Night’ in the ACT the past two years at the inthemix50 awards, which has been a great honour. Before that we were the only ACT promoters to have been voted into the ‘Top 20 Club Nights in Australia’ by Juice Magazine, back in August 2002.
A massive part of this success is the team we have around us who help make Friction what it is. We really see it as just a big family that enjoys putting on events and partying together. Now, with events such as Foreshore and our other work with Lexington Music, everything looks like it’s only going to get bigger and more exciting.
What can punters expect from Friction in 2008?
Other Friction activity including Friction Intimates, Foreshore plus some brand new events will be all happening in 2008. One of the most exciting is a concept event Friction and Lexington Music are putting together, unlike anything we’ve ever done before. Without saying too much it will involve a completely unique never before used indoor venue, and the event will come with its own heavy dose of mystery. It will feature loads of Australian and international talent including many that have never performed in Canberra before. The artists performing are nothing short of amazing so it will be a must see event!
What does Friction believe is special about the Canberra clubbing scene?
I think what makes Canberra special at the moment is the evolving realization that Canberra has things going on that are as good as in the bigger cities. Foreshore is a great example. Canberra now has a national quality summer festival in its own backyard. And in the words of someone that works on all the large scale Fuzzy events, Foreshore is up there with the best sites on offer in Australia for an event of this nature. I think Canberra sees this now, and has a genuine excitement about what is has going on!
So what is Friction’s relationship with Academy?
Friction and Academy have worked together for many years now, and the relationship is stronger than ever. It is sort of like your normal promoter/venue arrangement except that there is a lot more synergy and working together from both parties. We are both really involved in and committed to working towards the same goals so this makes for an excellent (and rare) arrangement. Academy is by far the most professional and on the ball venue in Canberra. It’s the only genuine nightclub that is focused on delivered great dance music in a great venue. We are really lucky to have such an open minded and easy to work with venue that embraces what we do. I guess this is a bit easier given the team at Academy are also our good friends, so it’s all ‘in the family’ so to speak.
How did Friction work with Academy to create BAD?
It was definitely a joint initiative between Friction and Academy, as with everything we do at the club. We have been delivering quality guest acts for many years now and have pretty much worked with all the best in the business. As more clubs and promoters are copying what we have done, we felt it was time to move forward and create something new and unique. The venue has been behind the idea 100 per cent, and has invested a great deal of time and effort into helping make this concept come to life. The changes they are making from their end and the freedom they have given us musically and conceptually will ensure that BAD meets expectations.
What has Friction got inspiration from to help create BAD?
The initial inspiration came from wanting to raise the bar on what is expect for Canberra clubbing. Friction has for many years worked with all the best acts, so it was time to broaden the approach. It’s about embracing and making good use of the venue changes and adding a little bit of excitement back into the mix. Canberra crowds deserve to have a rock solid night out each and every week and that is what BAD will offer. And then when we do have guests it will just add some diversity to an already strong nights entertainment.
Is Back Alley Disco (BAD) comparable to nights at other venues?
One of the early motivations for creating BAD was the fact that many nights similar to what Friction at Academy does were popping up at other venues. So, given that these types of events were available loads throughout Canberra we felt it was time to do something new and fresh. And so BAD was born. BAD’s main points of difference are that is the only place you can find all the best DJs in the ACT as residents, so it’s the cream of the crop week in week out. It is also the only place you will find international quality production. The only place you can catch the actual biggest and best guests from Australia and internationally. The only place with a dedicated theme and set up only available on one night!
Will Friction at Academy stop now that BAD is on every Friday?
Friction at Academy every Friday, as a brand and concept, will be replaced by BAD We needed to create a separation between Frictions club stuff and our large scale events. With this in mind we came up with the new name that doesn’t incorporate Friction in the title.
What can punters expect from BAD in 2008?
Back Alley Disco is unlike anything else on offer in the ACT, including what Friction at Academy was last year. BAD is going to have a unique entry to the in the back alley. The position of the stage for BAD nights will be different, and it will have its own specific DJ booth and set up. Specific décor will dress the room differently and change the way the room looks and feels to create a genuinely fresh and exciting experience. Friction has always been about intimate parties and the changes we are making will have a massive impact in this area.
Musically we have recruited the absolute cream of ACT talent as residents so that the club will, week in week out, be the best thing on offer, regardless of if a guest is playing or not. With the list of residents including Aston Shuffle, Karton, Chris Fraser, Steve Lind, Tim Galvin and loads more, the one thing BAD will have is guaranteed top quality entertainment and music every single week. In true Friction style we will still have all the hottest guest performers and star artists, but the resident DJs that play and party at BAD every week will be the heart and soul of the night.
How often will BAD be getting guests?
While the main focus of B.A.D is on the experience and the resident DJs, we will of course, as we have always done, have the best guests coming to play at BAD. You can expect a blend of the biggest names and brands as well as lots of unknown names that are very exciting and fresh musically! There will be guests a couple of times per month generally.
What kind of music styles and atmosphere is Friction intending to focus on with its residents and guests?
Friction has always been diverse in the music we support and promote and BAD is a good way to roll this into one night. The basis will be ‘party music’ in that it’s fun and aimed at rocking dance floors. We will be showcasing the current hottest sounds as we’ve always done, but this will be mashed in with cooler tech sounds, party starting b’more mash ups, ghetto inspired bootie records like Sinden and Switch plus doses of electro, tech-house and house. The DJs have the freedom to rock the place in the way they want so expect surprises!
Friction has always been known for staging crazy loose parties and BAD will definitely be in that style. It will be about punters dancing on stage; off stage; DJs getting crazy and playing crazy shit; promoters getting on the dance floor with the crowds and generally just an ‘anything goes’ attitude. It’s not about fashion or posing, it’s about having a good time!
Tim Galvin said “Sinden is real pumped and has heaps of exclusives and stuff especially for this show,” on the inthemix forums. What else can you say about the launch and Sinden?
When Tim was interviewing Sinden they spoke about the night and concept and Sinden was right into it. He loved the idea and was totally excited about playing the launch party! Sinden musically is exactly where BAD is at so he will do an amazing job of establishing the musical direction of the night. The launch will be the first chance to see and experience the new look and feel. It will also be the first chance to show off the new residents who are all primed for a massive night. Along with the residents playing on the night most of the other resident DJs will be coming down just to party, including myself – am making the trip down especially to party at BAD.
BAD featuring international guest Sinden and a hot lineup of local DJs will be launching on Friday 15th of February at Academy, Canberra.
