The Red Bull Music Academy did what any savvy springtime sailor would do and took to the high seas for a very special event: Sky High featuring Peven Everett. This ragtag ship of fools revelled in the perfect occasion to bring in a new season. Let me tell you, the boat wasn't the only thing that was rocking.
Adi Toohey got things rolling as the seafarers eagerly awaited take off. The local FBi favourite had everyone moving as they ate their overpriced nachos and drank their Red Bull-infused mixers.
Up on the top deck, Boogie Monster ensured there wasn't a cold fish to be seen; only revellers basking in the sunshine and the disco and '80s grooves. We row-row-rowed to the DJ's samples of smooth sax, high tones and rhythmic percussion.
Midnight Mutants played a spirited live set to a meagre audience downstairs leading into Adi Toohey's second set. The mild crowd nodded their heads from port to starboard, vaguely vibing the master class Toohey was laying down.
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As the sun set over the glorious harbour and Sydney wrapped its second day of a new spring, Melbourne native Janette Pitruzzello aka DJ J'NETT served up a tasty seafood cocktail of unique disco and dance tracks leaving even the saltiest customer satiated.
While J'NETT powered through her sweet and soulful set above, others got down Sydney's own dance band, The Posse. The local four-piece wowed with a live set filled with wave upon wave of hypnotic synth, edgy guitar licks and hi hats and snares that harangued the senses.
The main feature, however, was the infectious bass lines and the slippery and silky smooth Korg keys. The boys saved their most contagious tune for last. The instrumental band was red hot under a red, dying sun. In Focus proved a keen and summery song that would have raised the roof were it not for the party up on deck - J'NETT still smashing out the bangers. All aboard the soul cruise.
Toohey treated dancers to yet another instalment of her intermittent set as the roadies and revellers prepared for the main event, Chicago's savant of sound, Peven Everett. The wondrous Sydney skyline shone like it always does, providing the perfect backdrop for the live set from the Big Kahuna himself. The audience cast their nets wide hoping to snare the boogie but would have to wait, as nothing but the background music made a ripple.
Instead we were harpooned by Harry's house DJ CC:Disco! playing below deck while Mike Who told us who he was in the rarified air upstairs. Both kept the party going while the audience waited for Peven to make his presence known.
Then came the big splash from the catch of the day. Only 94 minutes after he was due to start, multi-instrumentalist Peven Everett took to the stage and had us hook, line and sinker.
Everett and his four accompanying musicians blended soul and house perfectly in a live set that kept the room afloat even as the crowd struggled with their sea legs. The 42-year-old showed no sign of slowing even though according to the artist he hadn't slept in several days. Not a fog horn was heard over the ineffably smooth Stuck, and when Everett and band kicked into tracks from his new album every soul forgot we were anchored.
