CURVE BALL | MEDIA RELEASE 31 Mar 2016

Carriageworks today announced the line-up for Curve Ball, a new one day music festival being held on 11 June 2016 in conjunction with Fuzzy, the team responsible for some of Australia’s best music events. Curve Ball, headlined by ZHU, features a line-up boasting international and local acts who will transform the soaring ceilings and industrial grandeur of Carriageworks’ largest space into an immersive audio – visual experience, and feast for the eyes and ears with intricate sound design and video artistry.

Curve Ball is presented as part of a three-week long program and expanded footprint at Carriageworks for Vivid Sydney 2016 which also includes the premiere of projects by internationally renowned artist Björk as part of an extensive line up of music, exhibitions and food presented from 27 May until 18 June 2016. 2016 marks the third successful year the Redfern-based contemporary multi-arts centre has been involved in the annual Sydney event that celebrates light, music and ideas.

Carriageworks Director Lisa Havilah said: “Carriageworks has created a contemporary program for Vivid Sydney that moves across music, installations and food and which will activate the precinct over the full Vivid Sydney three-week period. National and international audiences will experience world premieres, Australian music and unique opportunities to engage with Sydney’s best chefs and creative leaders.”

Enigmatic producer ZHU returns to Australia with a spectacular new live show playing exclusively in Sydney for Curve Ball. Known for his global hit “Faded” (peaked #1 on single iTunes chart) and debut EP ‘The NIGHTDAY’ (peaked #1 on Australian album charts), he is also recognised for his popular tracks “Paradise Awaits” and “Superfriends”. His recent single “Working For It” is certified Gold in Australia. This not to be missed live show promises a visual and audio spectacle, delivering a highly stylised atmospheric experience.

Sydney’s favourite twins Cosmo’s Midnight are purveyors of electronic beats. Their latest track “Walk With Me” (feat. Kucka) has seen 3 million plays digitally. They’ve remixed an array of big names most notably Flume’s “Sleepless” and the AlunaGeorge “Superstar” remix with Lido. They’ve appeared at a number of Australia’s major festivals including Splendour In The Grass, Big Day Out, Field Day and Listen Out, as well as supported Alison Wonderland, Porter Robinson and Cashmere Cat.

Homegrown producer Basenji has received approving nods from Snakehips, Ryan Hemsworth and triple j. His debut single “Dawn” has seen over 1.4 million views and he was named FBI Click Producer of the Year in 2014. He’s featured on Boiler Room, played at Vivid Live and countless festivals around the country.

Sydney’s JOY. burst onto the scene with her debut single “Captured”, featured on Peking Duk’s live triple j Like A Version tracks and Young Franco’s “Close To You”. She’s also known for her tracks “About Us” and “Weather”. The songstress has played at Field Day and Laneway Festivals, as well as supported Tkay Maidza, UV Boi, Syvan Esso and Flamingo.

Nicole Millar has been best known for fronting some of the biggest electronic tracks of the last few years, including the colossal anthem “High” with Peking Duk, Golden Feature’s “Tell Me” and Emoh Instead’s (What So Not) “Out To Dry”, as well as performing live with RUFUS and The Kite String Tangle. She’s quickly becoming the go-to girl with silky vocals, and recently released her highly anticipated debut EP ‘Tremble’.

Coming off the back of supporting UK’s ODESZA and Carmada earlier this year, electronic producer Elk Road is best known for his remixes including Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” and Jaymes Young’s “Habits Of My Heart”. He has also recently released a new single “Not To Worry” feat. Governors. Now producing with artists from all around the world, Elk Road has created an original sound that clashes numerous cultures and fuses a dozen genres.

Having penned multiple singles for Miami Horror and Cassian, as well as collaborating with other Australian luminaries like Bag Raiders and Chet Faker, Australian singer/songwriter and producer Cleopold is penetrating both local and international markets with his hit single “Down In Flames” which has seen over 2 million combined plays on Spotify and Soundcloud. He’s featured Miami Horror’s “Colours In The Sky”, as well as remixed the track.

Australian duo Yuma X turned heads with their cover of Ghoul’s “Swimming Pool” claiming the #1 spot on Hype machine (seeing over 2.8 million Soundcloud plays). Other notable tracks include “Keep Me Up” and “Smoke Trails”. They’re set to go on the road with UK’s ODESZA and recently accompanied RUFUS on their sold out tour last year.

The announcement of Curve Ball adds further weight to the Carriageworks 2016 Artistic Program, which represents the most ambitious program to date for Australia’s leading contemporary multi-arts precinct. Carriageworks has undergone unprecedented growth over the past four years, welcoming more than 790,000 visitors in 2015. The 2016 Artistic Program brings together a risk-taking, culturally diverse line-up of more than 54 projects, spanning visual arts, dance, performance, film, talks and music which will support over 740 artists.