Solstice Stage
Hermitude (Live, Elefant Traks, Sydney)Hermitude formed in 2001 with the musical partnering of Blue Mountains lads Luke Dubs (Luke Dubber) and Elgusto (Angus Stuart). They’d performed in jazz and funk bands together since 1994 (Dubs was 16 and Elgusto was just 11) as well as in the live hip hop of Explanetary (featuring a younger Urthboy), who released the In On the Deal EP with Elefant Traks in 2001.The offspring of musical families, Dubs’ father Keith Dubber was a trumpeter plying his trade in major musicals forover 40 years, while Elgusto’s father John Stuart is a composer and musician/engineer. Elgusto’s Uncle Hamish Stuart is one of Australia’s most in-demand drummers.
Hermitude continued the connection with Elefant Traks and their first EP – the vinyl-only Imaginary Friends (5 stars – 3D World, 2002) quickly sold out and was never repressed. Hermitude followed this up with their debut album – the critically adored Alleys to Valleys (2003) – the esteemed radio figure Tim Ritchie called it “One of the best hip hop/breaks releases I’ve ever heard” and Urban Hits commented on its “world class hip hop production”. National tours and various international support slots (Dizzee Rascal, RJD2 and DJ Krush) later, the second album Tales of the Drift (2005) was released and Hermitude exhibited the maturity and development of their musical vision. Their Cuban-influenced rhythms (Elgusto undertook percussion studies in Cuba as a teen) had blended elegantly with their formal jazz and classical background breathing new life into their instrumental hip hop sound.The first single ‘Fallen Giants’ took triple j by storm and sat on high rotation for months. “This album leaves the listener satisfied, reinvigorated and refreshed.” – Canberra Times.
By now Hermitude had established their reputation for brilliant studio productions with
an engaging and innovative live show – incorporating a confident, almost effortless
musicianship with a deft grasp of technology. In 2006 Hermitude embarked overseas;
performing in Malaysia, Norway and Spain as well as DJ Kentaro’s Japanese launch;
before landing the main support for Aceyalone and Abstract Rude’s West Coast USA tour.During these tours, Hermitude wrote the tunes that would make up their 2007 Rare
sightings EP release – culminating in a sold out national tour.
Their fifth release, Threads, comes out September 2008 – just as they depart for their
third tour of Japan, this time taking in Shanghai, China. The record is a dark and melodic opus featuring Jamaican reggae star Luciano as well as long-time collaborator Urthboy.
www.myspace.com/hermitude
Deviant Species (Ambivalent Rec, Uk)Deviant Species a.k.a. Santos De Castro
was formed in 1997. The first EP release 'Blind Summit' attracted much attention and secured Deviant Species a place in the South Africa 2000 Millennium festival where it billed along the main names in the Psy Trance scene at the time.
After 4 succesful EP releases the internationally acclaimed first album 'Hatch' came out.
One year later Deviant Species founded Ambivalent Records with the release of its second album 'The Quest for Balojax' (2001) which established the act as one of the luminaires of the genre.
In 2004 the much anticipated 3rd album 'In The Hands of the Randomiser' came out which received rave reviews all over the world.
New Deviant Species tracks will feature in the Ambivalent Rec forthcoming compilations AMBCD7 Further Ambivalent Tendencies & AMBCD9. He's currently working on an album with Ady (Scorb) under the name Squid Inc.
Santos was born in the Basque Country. Initially a drummer, he took permament residence in London in the 90’s where he joined industrial band Pig playing as the opening band for Nine Inch Nails in their Downward the Spiral tour.
www.myspace.com/deviantspecies
Neuron Compost (Gi'iwa - Bris)
The Neuron Compost liveset is a real-time interactive experiment in group shamanic trance-dance ecstasis. Utilizing his training and experience in meditation and energy dynamics, a space is facilitated whereby the participant is invited to move beyond genetic and social programming and actively engage the holistic Self. Through overloading the reasoning functions of the mind, this is music geared towards deep, esoteric exploration.
A passion for innovative sonic aesthetics, coupled with an intuitive insight into dancefloor dynamics, has recently seen Neuron Compost dj sets diversifying into down-tempo/ambient, IDM, dubstep, glitch breaks and minimal techno. The intention is to promote cutting-egde electronica whilst maintaining a coherent and emotionally engaging journey.
http://www.myspace.com/neuroncompost
Spoonbill (Live, Omelette Rec, Melbourne) After nearly two years of questing through the audio underworld, wrestling crocodile-headed samplers and taming fire-breathing speaker stacks, Spoonbill has returned to the earth's surface.
... an elegant and quirky symphony of honey-scented grooves, jovial humour and joyous beat trickery, melding an ever-evolving array of styles into a distinctive ozzie blend. Call it quirk-funk or downbeat with bite, Spoonbill takes the listener firmly by the scruff of the ear and leads them into a shady forest of rhodes, horns, and deep double bass, then back out into an eccentric wonderland of glitched-out grooves infused with talkback radio and rowdy bush cobbers.
http://www.myspace.com/spoonbillsound
Ghettafunkt (Omelette Rec, Melbourne)From the Epicentre & outdoor parties in the Byron region, Ghettafunkt was born. Kicking up dust along the way, Peta manoeuvres herself through a collection of phatt moments in time, with her sound evolving into a multi layered exploration of glitchstepdubhopbreakfunk and newavegrindcrunk. Peta stands proud as an active festival promoter around the Byron region, creating the Superfreak, Freakreation and Free Creation festivals with Dj Ketamind, as well as a hearty discog of her own events over the past 10 years. Record label Gi’iwa Productions is another merit to Peta’s name, as a co-owner, Gi’iwa has been catering to people with diverse musical fetishism’s by releasing dis-co-ordinated psycho-funkadelic sounds for the past 7 years.
http://www.myspace.com/ghettafunkt
Opiuo (Live, Nz)Imagine a precisely blended concoction of tight irresistible grooves, chunk fueled bouncy beats, luscious brooding soundscapes, and a bowl of scrumptious glitch. Welcome to the musical world of Opiuo.
A self confessed music addict with a light hearted approach to life and art. Opiuo is at his best whilst hiding from the world, creating fun fueled music. Influences coming from everything, from life changing experiences, to mere cups of tea. Incorporating sounds as varied as jazz, reggae, funk, rock, psychedelia, and down right chunky goodness.
Originally from New Zealand, he now resides in Melbourne, Australia, where he has built an international reputation for his party fueling creations. Many of which have seen worldwide release, and some are being played by the biggest names in the business.
Stand up, shake down, and get ready for a right ol stomp.
www.myspace.com/opiuo
Mystic Beats (Live, Nnsw)Mystic Beats has been generating a following as a down tempo dance electronic outfit, fusing eastern influenced instrumentation with contemporary styles. Mystic Beats brings a live infusion with organic sounds into the electronic world. Originally composed electronic grooves merges with a smooth blend of sitar, guitar, Violin, vocals and percussion. Deep dub, psy soundscapes and conscious beats combined with soaring melodies and percussive grooves, create a unique inspired live performance. They’ve existed as a music collective since 2002. Playing extensively on the North Coast, Mystic Beats has also played at Exodus 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Symbiosis, CA, 2006/7, Burningman 2007, Peats Ridge Festival 2006/7, Super Freak 2007, Rainbow Serpent 2007/8, Freakreation 2008, Bali Spirit Festival 2008, Winter Solstice Cairns 2007/8. Mystic Beats are a collective of diverse musicians who bring together a wide variety of sounds. They all lead diverse, creatively focused lifestyles and play music to unify and inspire ourselves and others.
http://www.myspace.com/mysticbeats
Tristan Boyle (Live, Up Rec, Zenon Rec, Melbourne)Tristan has played at many festivals and events as either Phat Kontrollerz or Tristan Boyle. These include Rainbow Serpent (2005, 2003), Earth Dance (2004), Nimbin MardiGrass (2006), Winter Solstice (2004-2007), Earthcore (2003, 2006), Tribeadellic new years eve (2004, 2007), and many more.
Tristan looks forward to performing in other places around the globe, where he wants to captivate his audience and make the dance floor an truly amazing experience.
http://www.myspace.com/tristanboyle
Reality Pixie (Live, Vertigo Rec, Brisbane)The Reality Pixie project has been cultured and cured in the laboratory since 2003 resulting in a manic yet melodic blend of seriously psillycybin sounds that draws inspiration from a diverse decoction of magick,music and mythology.
The conduit for this musical experiment is "Mesq" from Brisbane, Australia. A musician for most of his life, Mesq has played drums in punk bands, performed solo acoustic works and studied classical voice over the years. With a keen interest in ecstatic trance and shamanism, Mesq found the Psychedelic Trance party a perfect medium to exorcise his creative aspect.
As a composer and DJ for Gi'iwa Productions and Vertigo Records Reality Pixie has performed at festivals and forest parties all around Australia, earning a solid reputation for his energy behind the decks and his tendency for emotional psychedelic journeys.
With releases on Gi'iwa Productions, Vertigo Records, Morning Monster Records and more on their way; Reality Pixie brings to you melodies and motifs inspired by the magickal creatures from the jungles of the mind.
www.myspace.com/realitypixie
More acts announced soon!