In a significant first for Victoria's music scene, Heavy Congress is bringing sound system culture to the Yarra Valley.
Heavy Congress has been bumped to November 1, 2025, at Rochford Winery due to visa dramas and slower ticket sales than anticipated. Rather than just a reschedule, organisers are sweetening the deal by giving all current ticket holders free entry to the Jamaican Music and Food Festival on December 6 at Seaworks, Williamstown.
The postponed Heavy Congress promises to deliver on its original vision—a massive 10-hour bass extravaganza featuring 12 of the southern hemisphere’s most formidable sound systems, complete with DJs, MCs, and proper sound system culture. Those after refunds can sort that through Eventbrite, but punters are encouraged to hold onto their tickets for this double-event offer.
With the extra prep time, organisers are promising an even more colossal experience when November 2025 finally rolls around. The delay might sting for those keen to get their bass fix sooner, but scoring two massive events for the price of one seems like a decent consolation prize for the patient.
Heavy Congress
- Venue: Rochford Winery, 878 Maroondah Hwy Coldstream
- Date: Saturday November 1, 2025
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The pioneering event will showcase Melbourne’s thriving sound system community, which now accounts for more than half of Australia’s 50-plus active systems. Event founder Stick Mareebo points to Melbourne’s reputation as the nation’s sound system capital as key to selecting the regional location.
“In the age of digital music streaming and corporate-controlled radio, the sound system represents a fresh and dynamic alternative to the mainstream – it’s all about taking control of how the music is made, shared and consumed,” Mareebo says.
The lineup brings together an impressive array of established crews including D.I.Y. HiFi, Dub Divination, Echo Chamber, El Gran Mono, Goody’s HiFi, Heartical Hi Powa, Housewife’s Choice, Solidarity, System Unknown, Tribe Sound System, Tuff Tone and Virus.
Sound system culture, which originated in Jamaica in 1941, has found fertile ground in Melbourne’s music landscape, particularly through the city’s underground venues and street-level music scenes. The movement emphasises community connection and grassroots power through massive speaker setups and live performances.
The festival will feature DJs, MCs and live acts across styles ranging from reggae and dub to electro, techno and champeta Africana. Rochford Winery, known for its history of hosting major outdoor concerts, provides a striking backdrop for this celebration of bass culture.
Get tickets here.
