There’s nothing wrong with a Sunday sesh – we’re in Melbourne, after all. Music fans got a whole lot more to choose from this summer when Piknic Électronik announced its inaugural Melbourne season. First launched in Montreal in 2003, the event is heralded for its sunny, daytime vibes along with its knack for booking top-notch DJs and producers.
Following a rocky start to the season, which saw originally announced venue Old Melbourne Gaol pull out of its partnership, the party sampled a few different spaces around the city before settling into its home: the Paddock at Federation Square. Nestled behind Birrarung Marr in a never-before-used spot, the location provided the unique advantage of being able to watch the sun set over the city as trains shuffled in and out of Flinders Street Station. While the location may’ve taken a while to lock down, the lineup didn’t suffer, with organisers bringing in first-class talent throughout the entirety of the three-month season. This year featured an impressive array of players, ranging from the legendary A Guy Called Gerald to Nico Stojan, to the wonky Acid Pauli, alongside some of Melbourne’s most promising home-grown talent. The season came to a close fittingly, with Montreal’s Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts providing the send-off.
But before we get to the tunes, Piknic’s decor is well-worth noting. Striped beach chairs and umbrellas, and picnic tables set on Astroturf transformed an otherwise gravel enclosure into an inner city oasis. Multiple bars were positioned throughout the area, with reasonably priced options ranging from sunny cocktails to craft beer. And to top it all off, local food trucks were on hand to supply the eats for the day. This week featured an appearance from Mr Burger (kudos to those who survived the 30-minute wait time) and a jaffle stand. Organisers should be applauded for creating an atmosphere that utilised its surroundings, but still emanated the feeling that we were somehow escaping the bustling city.
Now let’s get to the music. As with the rest of the series, this week’s Piknic hosted some stellar local selectors. Ex-Quest and Safari kicked off the festivities, followed by Chilean-Australian producer Galambo and the wide-ranging sounds of Brendan Ruys. With the sun beaming over the paddock, Guillaume Coutu Dumont took the decks with his jazz-inspired tunes. His hour-and-a-half set traversed the breezier sides of techno and house, providing a soundtrack that was lent itself to both dancing and lounging.
As with most weeks, the Piknic finale sold out well before the event. With a 1,000-person capacity, the space felt overcrowded at times, with lines for the bathroom and bar putting punters out of commission for upwards of ten minutes. In the future, Piknic would benefit from expanding The Paddock, giving more people the chance to (comfortably) be a part of the Punchy Sunday phenomenon.
In its first season, Piknic Électronik proved it has a place in Melbourne, embracing our thriving musical culture and beautiful city. Even while several roadblocks popped up along the way, organisers managed to put together a Sunday event with a character of its own that will undoubtedly become a staple of many Melbourne summers to come.
BY LAUREN GILL
Loved: The vibe of the thing.
Hated: Long lines.
Drank: Pink Lady Cider.
