STRAWBERRY FIELDS FESTIVAL 2019

add more acts to line-up

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ALÁRÌÍYÁ · AMADOU SUSO & CAZEAUX O.S.L.O. · BRIGGS · CASSETTES FOR KIDS · CHIBCHA · CHILD · CINTA T · DAN BENTLEY · DANIKA SMITH CHOIR · DIGITAL AFRIKA · DOPPEL · ELLE SHIMADA · EMELYNE · GABRIEL LCR · GOOD LUCK OMEN · GRACE FERGUSON · HANDSDOWN & LEIGH BOY · HELENA HAUFF · HONEY · JULIEN DYNE · KUZICH · LADY ERICA · LANEOUS · LUKE VECCHIO · DJ MANCHILD · MATT KATSIS · MISS GOLDIE · MESSY MAMMALS · NOMADIC RHYTHMS · PAUL GORRIE · PIETRO · PHILOSOPHIA · POOKIE · RARA ZULU · ROI PEREZ · SKOMES · SUI ZHEN · SPACE BUOYS · SQUID NEBULA · THE JOURNEY · THE REGIME · ZEITGEIST FREEDOM ENERGY EXCHANGE · ZRETRO

PLUS:

THE ROOKIES JAZZ SHOWCASE
Adriana · Barney McAll · Claps · Details · DJ Friday Young · I Hold The Lions Paw · JK Group · Karate Boogaloo · Sophie McAllister · The Rookies · Uncomfortable Science

STILL HERE SHOWCASE
Allara · DRMNGNOW · Kee’ahn · The Merindas · Soju Gang

FINAL RELEASE TICKETS ON SALE NOW

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Just when you thought the already stellar line-up for Strawberry Fields 2019 couldn’t get any bigger, the festival today announces an avalanche of new artists that will be making their way to the banks of Tocumwal NSW this November, with an additional 60 artists added to the line-up!

Featuring an abundance of international and local DJ’s, soul artists and funk queens, afrobeat and everything in between – this year’s Strawberry Fields festival will be one to remember. Hitting Australian shores for the very first time Hamburg born and raised Helena Hauff will take to the stage as one of the most highly anticipated acts the festival has ever seen.

Final release tickets are on sale now, with over 90% of the tickets already being snapped up, so you better get in quick! With the line-up’s  latest additions, tickets will no doubt be gone very soon. Gather your crew and get ready to hit the road and bring in the Summer.

Alárìíyá, meaning ‘party people’ in Nigeria’s Yorùbá language, is best known for their high energy party vibes delivering a sweet blend of afro-jazz funk rhythms. Delivering original compositions in English and Yorùbá, captivating audiences and creating positive vibes at every show. Get your dancing shoes on, and let Alárìíyá awaken your spirit with blazing horns, driving rhythms and punchy lyrics to keep you dancing all night long! This is Afrobeat at its finest.

The transatlantic slave trade built the wealth of new nations by robbing others. People, resources, and life itself was made expendable and often laid to waste to fuel the endless pursuit of power. Like millions of other people of African descent, musicians Cazeaux O.S.L.O. and Amadou Susoare products of this bloody history. Ghost stories live in their DNA and are resurrected in song. Amadou wields the legacy of his family’s triumph in his hands with the Kora, an instrument built to speak to the soul, to transport and unfold a rich and unbroken tradition of the work of a Griot to keep the knowledge of his/her people whole. Cazeaux O.S.L.O. like many African Americans uses his relationship with music and language to understand his African origins and their creative energies that have survived slave ships, plantations and the brutal American experiment in the form of blues, jazz, funk and hip-hop. Their music collaboration is an attempt at reunification and repatriation between soul brothers. It is an exploration of possibility through free communion. It is a return. It is a bond unbroken. Black Bond.

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Rapper, actor and comedy writer Briggs will be delivering his brand-new single ‘Life Is Incredible’ to Strawberry Fields’ audiences for the very first time, with the promise of a new album out just in time for the festival! You know the Briggs story, indigenous kid from regional Australia (Victoria). If not, let me refresh your memory. From the moment Briggs dropped his self-released debut EP, it was obvious to everyone that this marked the arrival of a powerful and unique Voice on the scene. His indigenous roots and his rural upbringing in the small country town of Shepparton gave him a perspective like no one else. His latest single ‘Life Is Incredible’ has already been compared to Jordan Peele’s hit horror film Get Out, in that it starts pleasantly then throws a curveball that doubles as a social critique. His first new solo material since the 2014 critically acclaimed ‘Sheplife’, ‘Life Is Incredible’ is lifted from forthcoming album number four from Briggs due out late in 2019.

Local producer and DJ Cassettes For Kids’ stock continues to rise both locally and abroad, with music media outlet Finding Figaro’s throwing their praise behind him: “we’re tipping him for Australia’s electronic breakthrough artist of 2019.” During his infancy period of DJing, he was predominantly found in smaller Melbourne clubs giving him the experience required to delve into a range of genres. Nowadays, you can expect high energy house and disco, belting percussion with a hint of garage and a hint of electro, just for fun. Always a trusted selector, he has warmed dance floors for the likes of Denis Sulta, DJ Koze, KiNK, ANNA and many.

Chibcha is an almost extinct language from Colombia spoken by the indigenous Muisca; it’s also the producer alias name for Colombian born artist Oscar Jimenez (AMARU TRIBE). Oscar creates new musical genres and uplifting beats with traditional and electronic soundscapes. A celebration of his musical influences from his tropical homeland to sounds from all around the world such as Cumbia, Dub, Dancehall, Afro-beat and folk-tronica. Think of Manu Chao, Nicola Cruz, Bomba Estereo with a Colombian-Australian feel.

Child is a badass motherfucker from Australia who loves to boogie down. Co-founder of Strawberry Fields Festival, he has been performing live electronic music around the world for close to a decade. This ain’t music for no jive-ass turkey… This is some real techno shit that is made to tickle your sweet spot. Get down sugar.

A manifestation of incomparable soul. Breaking away from the family for a moment’s contemplation, Cinta, Matriarch of Sydney’s grittiest funk, hip hop collective (The Regime) revives the spirit of a time when soul held supreme. Her stories, swathed in melodies to make love to, come from the will to live, express and survive, against all odds. A remedy for freedom, etched into the dulcet tones of every note as Cinta tells tales of a wandering spirit.

Dan Bentley found his love for delivering a smorgasbord of beats to make a d-floor groove when he was a serial tune-picker at house parties. It was the beloved club Survivor that led him to discover his passion for disco, house and techno music. In ten years, not only has he helped birth multiple parties across hundreds of different days and nights, he’s also played for Four Tet, Seth Troxler, Sasha, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Detroit Swindle, CC:DISCO!, Mr G,  and Allen Alien. He’s an absolute highlight at Strawberry Fields Festival and has had the privilege of opening the Wildlands Stage for the huge crowd for the last two years.

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Danika Smith performs a raw, timeless style of folk music with undertones of jazz and soul. She is known for her tender topics, honey stick melodies and charismatic satire. But something’s shifting. It’s 2019, where women in music are being recognized and supported, so she feels it’s time to get experimental. Folk is heaven, no doubt, but curiosity, desire and the inner groove has unavoidably begun Danika Smith’s metamorphosis.

Digging deep into the depths of African rhythms & melody: synergized with club sounds. From Lagos to New York, Digital Afrika is pushing the frontiers of dance floor orientated Afro House. Based in Melbourne, the duo’s live show performance is an original and dynamic synergy of digital sequencers with high energy African percussion, instrumentation and traditional dance. Digital Afrika’s sound is a dance floor stimulator for any corner of the globe.

Doppel is a healthy blend of organic beeps influenced in equal parts by the unique textures of life on the Australian east coast, the surging sunset to sunrise sounds of global house and techno as well as everything in between jazz, metal and the blues. Representing rising Australian techno label Bassic Records and the legendary Open Records, Doppel has recently performed live at festivals Rainbow Serpent, Subsonic Music Festival, Earth Frequency Festival, Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Strawberry Fields, Dragon Dreaming & Bohemian Beatfreaks, as well as headlining clubs up and down Australia’s East coast & surrounding international waters.

Elle Shimada is a violinist, producer, curator, DJ and multi-instrumentalist from Tokyo based in Melbourne. With a unique sound, combining thickly layered string lines and heavy new-jazz influenced beats, the Elle Shimada Collective creates a cinematic and other-worldly atmosphere whilst keeping the dance floor pulsing with vivacious energy. Every show and event she puts on, aims to feature multicultural and diverse artists from various mediums of art. Her curations are politically charged peaceful protests, with emphasis on exchanging knowledge and energy between the stage, dance floor and community.

Emelyne’s selections are a representation of a thoughtful ear. She’s always armed with a bag of versatility yet an inclination to present UK inspired selections, booming dub, bombastic broken beat & forward-thinking rhythmic productions. With a knack for keeping up to date with the newest releases but also jumping back into the past, she threads together little heard local and global sounds. Her adaptable sets have led to a series of support slots across Melbourne sharing stages with Yaeji, Mndsgn, Lone, Vivek, plus she’s also graced stages at Golden Plains Festival & Strawberry Fields.

Coming from Hip Hop Collective @TheStrangerSuite, self-produced Gabriel LCR has recently launched his career as a solo artist with his debut EP release, ‘Underpass’. The result is dreamy and lo-fi soundtrack with hard hitting drums over jazzy chords.  Gabriel LCR is a name that has hidden in the Melbourne scene for a short time now but with his debut release he is set to make an impact.

Good Luck Omen are a raw & vulnerable side of soul, jazz and r’n’b, powerful yet intimate and direct in their delivery. Comprised of honey dipped vocalist Kalala and guitar virtuoso Diego Villalta, the Narrm (Melbourne) duo bring a lustrous melding of tunes that will pierce you in the heart and smack you in the soul. The duo has established a sound that truly demands to be experience live.

Melbourne pianist, composer and sound designer Grace Ferguson’s current practice embraces improvisation and experimentalism and seeks to elaborate and evolve through the coalescence of narrative, movement and image. Grace has performed live for events presented by Spirit Level Records (CHANGES Festival 2019), Daisart Records, Bank Records, Six Piano Collective, Analogue Attic Recordings, Pitch Music Festival (2019), Abbotsford Convent, Assemble Communities and as a featured artist on local Melbourne Radio Station, PBS 106.7.

Victorian duo Handsdown & Leigh Boy have a musical journey spanning over the majority of the last decade, throwing parties of all sorts and delivering an uncompromising plethora of emotional, melodic and progressive techno to dance floors right around the country and beyond. Spearheading the Euphorie Bezirk clan and vivid members of the Recovery Collective family, parents to the notoriously debaucherous Disco 2000 party series and festival favourites – the duo have recently dosed us up at Rainbow Serpent Festival, Strawberry Fields, Babylon Festival, Subsonic, The Petting Zoo, The Pleasure Garden, elrow, Paradigm Festival, Esoteric, Carl Cox’s PURE as well as residencies for Tramp Saturdays, Bloom and Alter Tours and Events.

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Hitting Australian shores for the very first time, Hamburg born and raised Helena Hauff will hit the Strawberry Fields stage as one of the most highly anticipated acts on the line-up. There is a reason Helena’s profile and global standing has grown exponentially since the release of “Discreet Desires” in 2015, purely on the strength of her authenticity and her expertly curated DJ sets spanning acid, electro, EBM, techno and post punk. Gigging incessantly (and still lugging a box of records across the world) Helena’s reputation earned her an invitation to join the BBC Radio 1 Residency, she was the subject of cover features for Crack Magazine and DJ Mag, she played headline sets at Sonar (b2b with Ben UFO) and Dekmantel, has been declared “The Most Exciting DJ In The World (Right Now)”  by Crack Magazine and her ballistic BBC Essential Mix was voted the best of 2017.

Cosmic Disco meets ethereal House, acid boogie meets broken beat; 100% live and dripping. Honey have firmly planted their flag at the crest of the Disco-revival wave sweeping Melbourne, gathering a cult following of party people from their Northside Hive along the way. Their agenda is to bring you aboard Amber’s mothership of cosmic boogaloo, burn through as much disco-fuel as they can, and re-enter the atmosphere sometime in the early hours of the morning.

Julien Dyne is a multi-talented drummer, producer, DJ and visual artist. Best known for his solo output on labels BBE, Soundway and Wonderful Noise, Julien’s CV as a drummer and producer stretches as far as the Mizell Brothers, Lord Echo, Theo Parrish and Amp Fiddler. Julien’s fourth LP ‘Teal’ succinctly summarises his firm handle on a broad array of music idiosyncrasies – linking afrobeat, soulful house and percussive electronic eccentricities in one diverse, intricate, dancefloor-ready package.

Kuzich grew up in Perth, Western Australia, playing in bands with members of Tame Impala and Pond. Despite their psychedelic, rock leanings, he worked alone in the basement crafting his own abstract take on hip hop while his peers took centre stage. Touring internationally as a drummer for acts like Ta-ku, Joyce Wrice and Sampa The Great, the accomplished drummer and producer has now turned his focus to his own creations. Having released his debut EP in 2018 through Jakarta Records/823 and subsequent releases through Mandarin Dreams, Kuzich has new records waiting in the wings, as well as a featured track on the Brownswood-released Sunny Side Up compilation. Drumming, singing, and rapping – backed by the who’s who of the Melbourne scene – his live show is pure existential energy, taking from Sun Ra and Robert Wyatt in the same breath.

Emerging from Brisbane’s music-art bohemian West End in 2008, self-taught, prodigious musician Lachlan Mitchell aka Laneous, began his eclectic and colourful journey in music as the leading member of funk band KAFKA, stamping his trademark falsetto croon on an Australian music landscape that wasn’t quite ready for an artist whose standout influence was D’Angelo’s ‘Voodoo’. Regularly sought after to provide features for other bands and cover art for Hiatus Kaiyote albums Tawk Tomahawk and Choose Your Weapon, he works diligently to support his community. Witness your favourite musicians’ favourite musician at this year’s Strawberry Fields.

Melbourne based DJ and producer Luke Vecchio has been an exciting talent to watch over the past 3 years. His knowledge of music and its inner workings coupled with years of experience being on dance floors around Melbourne, makes him a danger behind the decks. Well known for his energy packed performances and ability to blur the lines between genres. Dedicating himself to the always evolving music around him, his sights are now firmly set on producing in an effort to transfer that signature atmosphere into playable media.

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DJ Manchild knows a thing or two about The Funk. He is on a lifelong mission to dig up that Funk and bring it to you. He travels the world yearly, scouring dusty basements and garages from Lagos to Tokyo to Mumbai and back for The Funk. Nothing will stop him in his pursuit of The Funk.  He happily gives up food for The Funk. He would gladly sell his body for The Funk. He will laugh in the face of danger and charge headlong into the jaws of ruin all for The Funk. DJ Manchild festival sets are the stuff of legend, his inventive mixing and left-field selections introducing crowds to unknown records in a way that has them feeling like they are old favourites.

A bluesman at heart, avid wanderer reflecting troubadour tradition, albeit delicately picked ballads to foot stomping slide guitar driven downhome blues swagger. Melbourne singer-songwriter & guitarist Matt Katsis features a ‘one-man-band’ approach through use of percussive elements of the acoustic guitar, kick drum, and tambourine, which has seen him take to audiences far and wide with the ease and merit that parallel’s his music.

Messy Mammals (originally comprised of vocalist/bassist Asha & producer/guitarist Fionn) evolved last year; from a warped-pop/electronica duo, to an exciting 7-piece live psych-pop band, with flavours of Jazz & RnB woven throughout. The band’s live shows are often described as “uplifting” and full of impressive musicianship, positive energy & creativity. With an EP release – as well as some exciting support slots and festival performances – planned throughout the remainder of 2019 and beyond, the hype surrounding this refreshing band is only growing.

Having collected 45’s for decades and DJ’d since the mid to late 90’s Miss Goldie has amassed one of Australia’s finest rare soul collections. She has been a resident DJ at Soul A GoGo for the last 10 years, supported the likes of Eddie Bo and Betty Harris, toured with Sharon Jones & The Dapkings and played festivals such as Strawberry Fields, Freedom Time, Big Day Out, Falls, Club CoCo for CC Disco and Waxo Paradiso just to mention a few. Miss Goldie is one of Australia’s pioneering female DJ’s and tastemakers known worldwide.

Geelong’s Nomadic Rhythms crew have been running outdoor parties at undisclosed locations for years. When not on adventure deep in the bush the Nomads can be found regularly spinning their out of realm sounds around Melbourne and Geelong. With record crates constantly loaded with an eccentric mix of left field finds don’t expect to know what your body is moving to on the dance floor just know you’re enjoying it and it feels damn good.

Led by a distinct ability to carve colourful paths through dance floors and conjure up seriously funky, foot-stomping soundscapes, New Zealand born artist Philosophia is a master at crafting multidimensional sets that retain gravity long after her last track has been played. This cosmic cowgirl is renowned for sauntering through a kaleidoscope of various music styles, that always inevitably attracts a crowd of dusty stomping feet. Her Philosophy of music is deeply rooted in the more tribal realms, which are mixed through a psychedelic cauldron of funk, soul & filthy baselines. Bring your dancing shoes, or better yet, no shoes at all, for a few blessed moments of hypnotic groove, where cathartic release and a sense of play are pulled together by the same gravitational force.

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Pookie has been known for featuring in music and visuals that are forming the current presence of national artists reaching international success; Sampa The Great, Remi, Kaiit, Nfa Jones, Mwanje Tembo and fashion stylist Ntombi Moyo. With the new addition of live instrumentation, Pookie’s recent performances can be tagged as ‘communal ritual’, culminating a following of others connecting through her self-expression. The reality and base content of her lyrics parallel the experiences lived as an East African woman. Her music covers delicate content such as race, violence and femininity dynamically felt in the zealous energy of her production. Pookie is creating compositions of hard-hitting bass and soul vibrating rhythms laced with her complex yet simplistic euphonious cadence.

South African born, Melbourne based vocalist Rara Zulu delivers wholesome rawness and a unique tendency to pull you into a state of vulnerability through her music. Her sound is heavily influenced by Soul, R’n’B, and Hip Hop; made apparent in the rhythm and depth in her voice. Rara is brought to life by a live band, finding grooves in space and time created by instruments that provide the perfect landscape for a cascading serenade.

Israeli native, DJ and music enthusiast Roi Perez started playing records in Tel Aviv’s underground queer clubbing scene until his move to Berlin in 2013, where he continued his personal journey of establishing a coherent, creative and consistent musical language, constantly refining his skills, style and knowledge until the present day. Roi soon started playing Berlin’s busiest dancefloors – including Berghain’s Panorama Bar, where he holds a residency – and has since been playing worldwide. His long, eclectic sets offer a dynamic musical journey through genres and styles, where House and Techno music are weaved together with Disco and Electro, creating a hypnotizing, powerful yet playful musical experience.

Utilising their space gizmotings, Space Buoys take live improvised beat making to a whole new dimension. With guitar, bass, trumpet, the Space board, 2 keyboards and 3 vocalists all packed into a portable kit; this 5-piece crew are unforgettable entertainment in any environment they traverse.

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Squid Nebula is an amalgamation of discotheque grooves, jazz-infused harmonies and reggae-dub texture – A combination that sets this Melbourne- based quintet apart. Their magnetic live performances invigorate dancefloors, engulfing crowds in their cosmic musicality. Quickly making a name for themselves, Squid Nebula have been delivering performances at many of Melbourne’s most quintessential live music hubs.

Well-versed duo The Journey gravitate in the melodic techno and progressive house pool, opening things up on musically atmospheric note all while synthesising influences around them. Embracing electronic music’s poignant zest, they are delivering studio output supported by pioneers and humble music enthusiasts equally. Built to keep dance-floor hearts full, the Melbourne based producer, DJ and label pair have knelt to electronic devotees on one knee, warming up stages at the iconic Rainbow Serpent Festival, Pitch Music & Arts to Subsonic and Strawberry Fields Festival.

Groove space train The Regime uses its love conversion therapy for folks to throw their itchy daytime suits and ties into a giant bonfire (corroboree style), in liberation of their forcedly monotonous existence. Dancing naked around the corporate inferno, these souls proclaim their emancipation in joyous cries of funky-buoyant exuberance and fun-loving elation; finally giving sovereignty to the power of love.

Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange is the vision of 30/70 drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist. The project aims to create a live band experience that is closely aligned with an extended DJ set, heavily influenced by club culture. A continuous odyssey, sound and groove with the spirit of live improvisation. The main influences for this project include house, broken beat, and a good dose of 70’s jazz-funk in order to create a unique and cosmic pocket.

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A never heard before fusion of rnb, hiphop, soul and funk makes up the new and electric Zretro show. Led by the Zimbabwean born vocalist Zima Locke, he brings to the stage an incomparable delivery show casing his early background in gospel music and his newfound love for being an MC. Known now as the Zretro trio they are quickly becoming Melbourne’s freshest musical act.

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AMNPLIFY – DB