Charlie Bucket Takes Us Through 30 Years of W.A. Dance Music Ahead of In The Pines 2023

After recently unveiling a stacked, multi-generational lineup of W.A. talent (that we got Noah Dillon and Mitch from The Love Junkies to have a chat about here), anticipation for the 30th edition of local community radio station and institution RTRFM’s flagship In The Pines festival is rising.

In exciting news for punters who prefer the dance floor to the mosh pit, this year will see the festival expanding beyond their usual boundaries of the Somerville Auditorium at UWA, with 10 local DJs & producers taking over Riley Oval in a throwback to the two stage vibe of the 90s.

While a wide range of bands and artists will be playing in the Auditorium, the likes of 2 Lubly, Ben Taaffe b2b Ben Em, Charlie Bucket, Ewan Jansen (live), Jxnior, Nora Zion, Rok Riley and Yikes will be mixing up a storm.

To celebrate In The Pines bringing the DJs back in its 30th year, we asked RTRFM presenter, Boorloo-based veteran DJ and all around legend Charlie Bucket to take us through 30 years of West Aussie dance tunes - check out his selections and more info about In The Pines below!

Charlie Bucket

1. Rhibosome - Impulse

A Walylup classic. Originally released in ’99 on offworld sounds. Still remember seeing their set at Vibes on a Summer's Day. Legendary stuff. Big, funky, fun disco vibes with the classic Ann Sexton You're Losing Me sample, which coincidentally was a big anthem at the Funk club back in the day too.

2. Ta-Ku - Day 2

Taken from the 50 Days of Dilla beat tape on HW&W recordings in 2012. Very special beat tape from TA-KU aka Regan Mathews. As a serious Dilla head myself I was intrigued when this tape dropped. There were a lot of producers influenced by the Dilla detroit bounce style at the time, but few could pull it off as authentically whilst still keeping it their own as Reggie. Really I could have picked any track of this tape but this one always stood out in particular to me.

3. Grace Barbé - Fatige (GUM & Ginoli Remix)

Perth's very own tropical queen Grace Barbe being remixed by Gum and Ginoli (Tame Impala/Pond). What a banger!!! Originally released in 2013 on the awesome Welele! record, Fatige receives the Gum & Ginoli treatment and it's the perfect balance between organic tropical sounds & electronic dance music. Not even sure what genre you would call this but it's dope!!! Fatige means “Fatigue” in creole which is literally the opposite of how I feel when this comes on!!!

4. Diger Rokwell - Take Flight

Released on the 2015 EP Seeds, Take Flight is a psychedelic journey into the world of Diger Rokwell aka Ash Hosken. Swirling fuzzed out guitar and fat rolling basslines are simmering over heavy funk breakbeat drums. Ash came up through The Community crew who I always had a lot of admiration and respect for. Lovely guy too.

5. Charlie Bucket - One Life feat. Blitz the Ambassador & Rashaan Ahmad

Ok not sure what the rules are here but it's my list so deal with it haha!!! This track meant a lot to me. Afrobeat inspired hip hop with Ghanian MC Blitz the Ambassador and Crown City Rockers MC Rashaan Ahmad. Fun fact - Blitz is now a very successful movie director and even directed a Beyonce video!!!

6. Shy Time - Doin' It

Big one from Shy Time aka Jasmine Maree from 2018. Boogie loops, synth stabs, catchy hooks. Super fun vibes on this dance floor sure shot!!

7. Canyons - Apples & Pears

Released in 2008 on Hole in the Sky Records. Very cool summery Brazilian samples tastefully reworked with percussive breakdowns and smooth chords. A winner from the Canyons aka Leo Thomson and Ryan Grieve.

8. Paper Plane Project - Don't Hold Back

Paper Plane Project was comprised of Mason Kimber and Nick Bennet, two very cool cats with exquisite taste in music. Don’t Hold Back is taken from their second EP Pacific Connection released in 2011 on Cardboard City Records. A tasty instrumental with an 80’s boogie feel, nice horns and smooth chords. A slight departure from their more hip hop orientated previous releases. I wish they had kept making music together!

9. Guy Contact - Euphoria Simulator

Does what it says on the box!!! Nice work from Perth's progressive king Guy Contact aka Callum Chute. Dreamy pads, squelchy acid basslines and warm vibes from 2021.

10. Grievous Bodily Calm - Sync Step

A heavy electronic jazz dancer from the Perth 5 piece from 2020. Excellent playing on this. These guys are making serious waves at the moment and I am here for it!!!

    - Charlie Bucket, March 2023

In The Pines 2023 - Sunday, April 30, 11am - 10pm

Somerville Auditorium & Riley Oval, UWA - Tickets

Angie Colman / Datura 4 / Dave Johnstone from Ammonia / Drea / Flewnt / Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse / Grievous Bodily Calm / Humbug / Kill Devil Hills / Maatakitj / Noah Dillon / Rabbit Island / Rachael Dease, Smol Fish / Sooks / Spice World / Split Seconds / Sugar Army / The Love Junkies / Web Rumors ex Machina

2 Lubly / Ben Taaffe x Ben Em / Charlie Bucket / Ewan Jansen (live) / Jxnior / Nora Zion / Rok Riley / Yikes