As Melbourne gears up to host Australia's first ever sound system festival - Heavy Congress at Rochford Winery - the timing couldn't be better to explore the burgeoning sound system movement in Melbourne.
This city’s sound system culture is a cornerstone of the vibrant musical identity, deeply intertwined with its multicultural roots.
A blend of reggae, dub, hip-hop, and electronic music, Melbourne’s sound system scene has grown from its global influences while developing a distinctly local voice. From its Jamaican beginnings to the rise of DIY setups and the expansion into electronic genres, sound system culture has played an instrumental role in shaping Melbourne’s underground music scene.
Heavy Congress founder Stick Mareebo explains: “Melbourne has become the undisputed capital of sound system culture in Australia and our city’s international reputation for embracing diverse subcultures has made it a natural incubator for this amazing movement. Australia boasts more than 50 active sound systems, with Melbourne alone housing more than half of them.”
Heavy Congress
- Venue: Rochford Winery, 878 Maroondah Hwy Coldstream
- Date: Saturday March 29, 2025
- Cost: $50 show only, $100 including bus transport to and from the event
- Time: 11 am – 9 pm
- Tickets here
Heavy Congress lineup
- D.I.Y. HiFi
- Dub Divination
- Echo Chamber
- El Gran Mono
- Goody’s HiFi
- Heartical Hi Powa
- Housewife’s Choice
- Solidarity Sound System
- System Unknown
- Tribe Sound System
- Tuff Tone
- Virus
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The origins: Jamaican influence and multicultural roots
Sound systems emerged in Jamaica in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a direct response to economic and social barriers that kept music inaccessible to most working-class Jamaicans. At the time, records and live music were expensive luxuries – few people could afford home record players, live bands were costly to hire, and radio stations predominantly played American pop music rather than local styles. In response, enterprising DJs and music enthusiasts began building large speaker systems that could serve entire neighbourhoods.
The journey of sound systems in Melbourne begins with the arrival of Jamaican music. In the 1970s and 80s, reggae and dub made their way to Australia, imported via records from Jamaica and the UK. With the migration of Caribbean communities to Australia, the influence of Jamaican culture began to take root. These new arrivals, along with travellers returning from Europe and the Americas, brought with them the tradition of portable sound systems— an essential feature of Jamaican music culture.
Melbourne, as a cultural melting pot, proved to be particularly receptive to these sounds. Its diverse population allowed reggae and dub to coexist alongside other genres, creating a thriving cultural environment. Early local reggae bands like Bluebeat and The Ska Vendors were pivotal in introducing these styles to live audiences, helping to build the foundation of Melbourne’s sound system scene.
“Sound systems are more important than ever as a unifying force…”
Rise of DIY sound systems: The 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s and 1990s, Melbourne’s underground music scene adopted a do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos that was fundamental to the growth of its sound system culture. Enthusiasts and music lovers began to craft their own sound systems, building large, often hand-made speaker rigs to host outdoor parties, warehouse raves, and community gatherings. These DIY sound systems not only became a tool for amplifying music but also created a space for experimentation, creativity, and collaboration.
Sound systems like Jah Trinity and Heartical Hi-Fi emerged during this period and became central to Melbourne’s reggae and dub scene. More than just about the music, these sound systems helped foster a sense of community. They provided emerging DJs and MCs with platforms to perform and build their own reputations. Over time, this grassroots movement nurtured the inclusivity and creativity that remain foundational to Melbourne’s sound system culture today.
Rise of new projects and collectives
Solidarity Sound System, in particular, has long been a symbol of social activism, using its platform to address political and social issues while also playing a pivotal role in the reggae and dub scenes. Founded on a love for late 70s and early 80s Jamaican roots music, Solidarity has evolved with UK sound system culture, focusing on UK dub and steppers music.
The creation of El Gran Mono and New Flower Sound marks an exciting chapter in Melbourne’s sound system evolution, with both projects embracing different aspects of sound system culture while remaining true to its community-driven ethos. However, these two aren’t the only collectives shaping the sound system landscape in Melbourne. Alongside these emerging projects, several longstanding collectives have been pushing the boundaries of sound system culture, each with unique contributions.
When asked about sound system culture in Melbourne, Tom, one of the founders of El Gran Mono, shared: “Melbourne has a unique blend of sound systems, each bringing its own flavour to the table. From established systems like Folly Hi-Fi and Exodus Hi-Fi to newer collectives like Echo Chamber, it’s clear that there is a shared ethos of community and collaboration.”
These collectives are not just about the music—they are about building and sustaining communities. Whether it’s Solidarity Sound System fostering social change or Adrian’s Wall Sound System creating intimate live experiences, each collective adds a layer of depth and meaning to the city’s already rich sound system culture.
Why sound systems offer “a completely immersive experience”
El Gran Mono and New Flower Sound trace their beginnings to founder Tom’s time in Ethiopia. “My journey with El Gran Mono started in 2013. I had been living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and upon returning to Australia, I was still eager to travel and collect records. A friend in Colombia introduced me to picó sound system parties, which turned into a completely immersive experience. Inspired by what I experienced, I teamed up with DJ and collector Johnny El Pajaro to bring that culture to Australia.”
“New Flower, on the other hand, was inspired by vintage club systems such as Giant Steps, Spiritland, and Japan’s Jazz Kissa culture. The name ‘New Flower’ is the English translation of ‘Addis Ababa,’ symbolizing something old being reborn, much like our approach to sound system culture.”
For Tom, each project serves a unique purpose in Melbourne’s musical landscape. “For El Gran Mono, it’s about continuing the legacy of picó sound systems from Colombia, not replicating but evolving them with integrity. New Flower is more flexible, focusing on vintage high-fidelity sound and creative collaborations.”
The rich Melbourne music scene has profoundly shaped both projects.
“I’m inspired by those pushing the culture forward, not just repeating the same shows.
“Melbourne is filled with innovative artists, and having a sound system allows us to collaborate and elevate the scene.”
Looking to the future, Tom sees sound systems playing an increasingly vital role. “We’re in a bittersweet era where we can instantly connect globally but are also overwhelmed by digital noise. Sound systems provide a real, shared experience that people crave. I believe they will remain a unifying force in Melbourne’s future.”
Above all, Tom hopes these projects create lasting impact. “First and foremost, we want people to have a great time. But beyond that, we want them to feel connected, inspired, and part of something real that cannot be replicated digitally.”
Melbourne’s sound system culture is a testament to the city’s ability to blend global influences with local innovation. What began with the arrival of reggae and dub has blossomed into a dynamic movement spanning genres, generations, and cultures. With collectives like El Gran Mono, New Flower Sound, and many others, Melbourne continues to push the boundaries of sound system culture, fostering a sense of unity, creativity, and community.
As Tom beautifully puts it: “With so much noise undermining communities, sound systems are more important than ever as a unifying force. They create real, in-person connections that transcend the digital world.
The importance of Heavy Congress
After a triumphant debut at RISING 2022, Melbourne’s landmark sound system gathering Heavy Congress is breaking ground as Australia’s first regional sound system festival. The event brings together 12 crews – made up of DJs, MCs and live performing artists – each wielding colossal custom speaker stacks and bombarding the audience with bass in a bid for the crowd’s seal of approval.
No two sound systems are the same, with each built for its own unique sound, shape and place in the community. Whether it’s reggae and protest music, classic dub, electro and techno, or champeta Africana pumping from the intricately designed speaker stacks, Heavy Congress represents a movement that has spread from its Jamaican, Colombian and Afro-Caribbean roots to sprout subcultures across the globe.
It will also be highly accessible. For those needing respite from the bass, food trucks will serve up Caribbean cuisine alongside local offerings. Bus transfers are available from several key locations across Melbourne for festival attendees. Pickups will run from The Fat Goat in Upwey, Southern Cross Station in the CBD, Preston Train Station in the north, and Caulfield Train Station in the south-east.
Heavy Congress – and Melbourne’s sound system culture more broadly – isn’t just about music—it’s about people, stories, and the power of sound to bring communities together. Find out more here.
This article was made in partnership with Heavy Congress.
