Briefly explain what motivated you to conceive the multi-arts platform that is Fifth Floor?
Fifth Floor is a factory concept on wheels. After Melbourne we are heading away to travel and continue hosting parties abroad. The second Fifth Floor happening is taking place in an arts warehouse in Berlin. This will be the start of the travelling adventures. Through contacts in Berlin, we have now recently made connections all through the UK, with London ventures already in the works for later in the year.
Collaborating with like-minded creative movements abroad is exciting because there are no boundaries. Guerrilla warehouse spaces are everywhere, therefore there are limitless spaces to throw psych-parties anywhere our travels take us.
Excuse my ignorance but what is reference to “the first location of The Factory, the fifth floor of East Street, Midtown Manhattan?
Warhol’s original Factory location, the fifth floor of East St is an inspirational space. It was the place where all of his ideas of creative movement and future collaboration begun. Fifth Floor is a simple concept of travelling and hosting one-off happenings that bring creatives and like-minded people together. In the same way The Factory was all about connecting with others and hosting events of music and art.
What’s the story behind the September party in Berlin with UPF? Please go into more details of the creative relationship?
Unknown Pleasures Factory are a collective of creatives based in Berlin. UPF host psych-parties of a similar nature bringing live music and visuals together. We made contact with the founder Valentina Veil here in Melbourne a few months back. The similar perceptions of Fifth Floor and Unknown Pleasures Factory instantly created a strong connection between us. Travelling abroad with UPF and ‘House of Light’ [the UPF house-band] is now underway and the future plans after Berlin have a lot of momentum.
I know you can’t reveal the location of this event, but what is special about it: Musically? Visually?
The location is out. Tetris Warehouse is located on 36 Phoenix St in Brunswick. We chose the Tetris warehouse to launch Fifth Floor because Tanz and the crew that run Tetris are great to work with and the setup of the warehouse is second to none. Tetris looks incredible when lit up with visual projections! The main feature that is truly mind blowing about this warehouse is the roof. The roof is covered in large low hanging white sails. As people jive to the live music a world of psych visuals dance on the roof above their heads. The stage and bands will be lit by Thomas Russell aka Astral Projection, the walls and roof will be covered in visual art and the whole event will be one big swirling trip of projections and loud psych-garage bands.
Tetris events always pack out and once at full capacity the collaboration of music and psych visuals in this warehouse space is incredible. The warehouse is also licensed therefore you will not run out of drinks! Tetris is Melbourne’s best kept secret for live music and Fifth Floor will be kicking off this tripped out psych-party!
Briefly run through why you chose each band:
The Murlocs have a live show second to none, their nostalgic 60’s psych sounds will bring the party like no other!
Flyying Colours are an epic local shoe-gaze outfit with a truly massive sound! When the visuals of Astral Projection hits the warehouse stage with Flyying Colours, your head will be spun beyond this world. I can say first hand, the collaboration of Astral and Colours is a remarkable experience.
The Octopus Ride are a new two-piece outfit who label their music ‘psych-wave’. This show is massive for the guys in that they will be launching a 12” on white vinyl and this looks to be their debut live show! The sound of the record has a nostalgic lo-fi 60’s sound. The bands debut LP was recorded live to tape with Paul Maybury who produced King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s LP. Live these guys bring the energy of early Velvet Underground and Modern Lovers, well worth a watch.
Strangers From Now On bring a massive energy to every stage they hit. They have toured abroad, played ATP, hit almost every stage in Melbourne and this show will be a must see! In this warehouse space with the dark visuals and eerie vibes there music will be taking us some-place else.
Dan Trolley is the Lou Reed of today. His second LP is a gem and his gutter-pop sounds live are an experience well worth getting in early for!
Premium Fantasy are kicking off the night early at 7pm, their music is tripped out dreamy pop. Made up of big psychedelic, synth fuelled sounds that will start off the movement of substances and get everyone in early!
Briefly run through why you chose each visual collective?
Astral Projection is one the most remarkable visual artists of our time and he will be creating the stage visuals at Fifth Floor. When the world see’s what he does, he will be a busy man. He has created a movement creative energy waves through psych imagery unlike no other. The way Thomas Russell combines digital and analog visuals is something that cannot be explained and must be experienced!
12 Sandwiches use a combination of mediums. Multiple layered and projected 35mm slides, 16mm, 8mm, Super 8, digitally treated photography, X-rays and ink. He will making magic through-out the night.
Zonkvisions is a visual artists of extremes. He creates wild visual projections of another world and he will be projecting these tripped out visuals onto the roof of the warehouse the entire night.
Rarakin Collektive are a collective of sonic and visual artists from Melbourne. Through live performance and interactive exhibition Rarakin will be bringing a wild combination of visual art and sonic sounds live to the stage at Fifth Floor.
Finally, why should we come?
If you dig loud experimental music with psych visuals, free love and sexual people, then this is your jam.
JUST ANNOUNCED! The Fifth Floor party is happening at Tetris Warehouse which is located on 36 Phoenix St in Brunswick. See you there this Saturday August 3.
