Grounded in the fundamentals of hip hop, Section 8's new six-month long event series Level Up aims to bring mercury-busting energy to the concrete stage of Section 8.
A collection of sampling, breaking, MCing, DJing and beatboxing joints will showcase the dynamic creative communities of Melbourne on the second Sunday of each month, riding the city through the balmy summer. To really get things going, there will also be a drink menu available across the entire six-month series courtesy of Coopers, Jameson, Chivas Regal and Headline Acts.
Kicking off the showcase on Sunday 13 November is the city’s beloved Northside Records owner and radio host of Triple RRR’s Get Down, Chris Gill. Alongside fellow vinyl hustlers Wax Museum Records, Natural Selection, and Sky Diver, Section 8 will be christened with two 30-minute sets from each store.
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It is fitting that Level Up is starting the series with a vinyl selection – what would hip-hop be without the funk? The wax spinning and scratching and the bodies below moving to each break? According to Chris Gill, expect each store to bring the funk and the fury, and perhaps a crate to sell to the people. Says Gill: “The Record Store Showcase is about the four record stores flexing on the story, the journey of music; where it comes from and where it’s going. There is no limit to what we can all play but we will be playing records as we like to reflect that the stores can show all elements of the music journey.”
“It’s about battling, it’s about supporting, it’s about showcasing, it’s about the funk! Hip Hop has evolved from a super freaky and sunny niche style of life into the world’s most popular music form, which is now the world’s most popular culture.”
Next on the Level Up roll call is a Vox/MC Battle, ushered in and cooled down by hosts HDSNJMSJR and Now Here This. Sunday December 11 will open the floodgates to local MCs and vocalists, giving them space to roam free and perform in front of a live audience swell. The stage is open to rappers, poets, and vocalists, and boasts a free-recording session for the winning MC. In keeping with the roots of hip-hop, the winner is voted by the people, for the people.
Following close behind on Sunday January 8 is the Improv Battle, an open-access competition for vocalists, supported by the Section 8 in-house band Milk Bar. Milk Bar, led by Jono of the Jonquil Quartet and Good Mood Melbourne, boasts a flux of local musicians, DJs, and MCs to ground the competing vocalists as they take the stage. The crowd-voted winner takes home a free-recording session to explore their art from stage to studio.
Street-dance legend Rennie Harris described hip-hop dancing and breaking as a battle – “You never see the dancer’s arms go down. They’re always up in a fighting position. It’s going to war.”
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Expect the same energy on Sunday 12 February at the Level Up Dance Battle. Inviting the local dance community to show you what they got, a league of pre-selected qualifiers and DJs will be taking to the floor, anchored by Section 8 regular DJ Naru and her BTTB crew. Prizes will be distributed throughout the night, with dance qualifiers held across the preceding Mondays for dance creatives that want to enter, at DJ Naru’s Section 8 residencies.
Sunday March 12 brings in the Beat Battle to Level Up, with eight pre-selected beatmakers challenged to flip one sample using their own unique style. Beatmakers will be bestowed a sample pack from local music extraordinaire Nikodimos and challenged to flip the samples and fight beat to beat. The judging panel for the evening boasts Spell, Walla C, Foura, and Sadiva, with the winner taking home a mixed bag of prizes, including a software license to hone their art. Live beat performances from the judges as well as DJ sets will carry the Beat Battle into the night.
Closing the Level Up series on Sunday April 9, the Vinyl Release Launch Party will showcase an exclusive press of Section 8 vinyl. The record, with 8 tracks of exclusive unreleased tracks pulled from local talent, will have its debut to an evening of DJs, live acts, and performance art. The record aims to reflect the energetic and diverse collection of music that the fabled Section 8 holds. Expect a dynamic night of music and creativity in the swollen shipping container cavern that is the legendary Section 8.
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The six-month series is littered with 10k worth of prizes, including cash prizes, an Ableton mentorship, a Pro Tools license, dance classes, studio sessions and more. The culture and rich history of hip-hop would not be if it weren’t for the people that showed up and showed down.
Let the wise words of Chris Gill guide you this summer, “Your job as a punter, as someone who likes music, is TO BE THERE. Music is nothing but a vibration and you are nothing but a vibraphone. Come and play and be played.”
Sunday November 13 – Record Store Showcase featuring Northside Records, Wax Musuem, Sky Diver and Natural Selection.
Sunday December 11 – Vocal/MC Battle hosted by Here This Now.
Sunday January 8 – Improv Battle hosted by Milk Bar.
Sunday February 12 – Dance Battle hosted by DJ Naru and BTTB.
Sunday March 12 – Beat Battle with Judges Sadiva, Foura, Spell and Walla C
Sunday April 9 – Vinyl Release Launch Party of Section 8’s exclusive vinyl pressing.
Music is nothing but a vibration and you are nothing but a vibraphone. Come and play and be played. It’s going down second Sunday from November 2022 to April 2023. 3pm- late, free entry. 27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne 3000. All the info you need is right here.
