April 13, 2012
10:00 pm	to	11:30 pm

This is a one off event, and actually seems pretty interesting for those that live in Melbourne. Any one that’s lived in Melbourne for more than a few years knows of the bells due to their weekly cacophony. It would seem that a couple of goth/industrial bands, A Dead Forest Index and Forces, have taken it upon themselves to make them sound less crap. Here’s the (modified) copy:

The Federation Bells is an installation of 39 computer-controlled harmonic bells, originally created in 2001 by Anton Hassel and Neil McLachlan to mark the centenary of Federation. Now, after more than a decade, the bells have been given a new lease of life, with innovative striker mechanisms, new computer controllers and new lids. The result is a remarkable improvement in the bells’ dynamic sensitivity, timing and tone.

On Friday 13th April, the bells will be re-launched in an eerie late night event. Two of Melbourne’s most progressive musical outfits, A Dead Forest Index and Forces are creating new musical works for the re-invigorated Federation Bells, to be triggered live alongside voice, guitars, drums and loops. Starting after 10pm, this event is part of City of Melbourne’s Late Night Programming and is one of those rare events that is destined to become one of 2012’s talking points.

Forces (vocalist/producer, Alex Akers and percussionist/programmer, Thomas Henderson) have been winning over audiences in clubs around Melbourne and beyond with their minimal electronic and Goth-industrial dance sounds. The duo has penned new tracks infused with dark timbres specifically for the Federation Bells, and will be making full use of the metronomic hammers that have recently been installed.
A Dead Forest Index is one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets. Brothers Adam and Sam Sherry combine evocative vocals with ethereal, acoustic instrumentation to create an original sound that is at once startling and haunting, For Friday 13th they will combine with Morgan McWaters (The Emergency) playing the Federation Bells live.

The Federation Bells can be found on the Middle Terrace of Birrarung Marr, between Federation Square, the Yarra River and the MCG.

As with all gothy performances, there is also an official afterparty at  The Liberty Social

Generally speaking we don’t promote events at DV8 for internal reasons among the few people that contribute to this site and the management of club CBD (the venue that runs it). We have been assured that this one’s different, but none of us are willing to go check it out for review purposes. So if any of you go, by all means, shoot us a review (positive or negative, we don’t care, it’s your opinion that matters as we can admit ours is already biased).

Here’s the marketing copy, slightly rearranged:

Cyberia, Melbourne’s Newest night, is here to satisfy the need of any alternative electronic music lover.

On level 2 at Dv8, we are here to present you with a night so powerful, so enjoyable, you will wonder how you lived without it. For the Launch night, the theme will be GREEN! The entirety of level 2 will be glowing neon green, so much so we wont even need normal lights, just UV! What will you see? The entire floor glowing green, so bright, you will think you are at a rave, except for people who like things different!

Featuring all your favorite electro-industrial, dubstep and various electronic music from all of your years of memories, What will you hear? Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Skrillex, Combichrist, Aesthetic Perfection, Faderhead, Pendulum, Aphex Twin, Apoptygma Berzerk, FGFC820, and so many more! Present [sic] by DJs Aiman, X13V and Zydrate

You will be presented with glow sticks and fingerlights upon entry, coloured in the theme of the night, to ensure everyone can glow a little bit green, regardless of wether or not you wore green to the event. There will be glowing plastic tubing as streamers, glow sticks scattered around the Level, plus a glow stick to each patron who enters the floor! And of course, there will be prizes for those who make the maximum effort, they are as follows:

• For the best dressing Man+Woman, you will be present with a prize to the value of $100 EACH!
• To the best best dancer, you will be presented with a prize to the value of $50!
• We will also have promo cds from various industrial artists to give away thruout [sic] the night.

Disclaimer: This event is not connected to the person of the same name.

Drink Specials: $5 Toxic shots, green vodka shots!
Entry: $15, or $12 on guestlist

May 15, 2010 10:00 pm

to

May 16, 2010 4:00 am

For over a decade now, the man behind Cyberball has been running a few irregular BDSM/Fetish costume theme nights. Achtung is one of those, with a uniform (particularly militaria) bent to it.

By and large I’m a fan of these events provided they’re in a good venue. Sadly, this one isn’t, being held at Inflation, 60 King.st, Melbourne, with $15 entry fee.

There are a lot of things that Dark Events does right. They’re good with promotions. Find nice DJs. Are ok at not pissing off too many of what I like to call the “fractional scenesters”. It’s just the venue thing seems to be a real bugbear. Since the Paladin effectively became closed down, and goths are effectively persona non grata at what it’s become, it’s been hard for Dark Events to become situated at a venue that is cost effective for the promoter, and not a massively overpriced, understocked shit hole.

DJs include Schism, Doctor D, Robert Cyberman, Iggy D, and Onya Box.