Nightmares in Wax opened the Perth International Arts Festival music program last night with a DJ set that was filled with funk tunes and beautiful beats.
The British DJ, who has been putting out records for over 25 years, provided the perfect soundtrack to the start of the massive festival.
This year the Chevron Musical Gardens have moved to a new home in Elizabeth Quay, opening up next to the Fringe World fairground. The new space is larger than the previous home the gardens occupied at the WA Museum asd has a stunning back drop of the city skyline and Elizabeth Quay precinct.
Nightmares on Wax, aka George Evelyn, worked his way through a wide variety of music from Latin American grooves, to hip-hop, disco and funk sounds. Sometimes just a sliver of a tune would be dropped in, like a ‘Pump Up to Volume’ call out, while other songs deserved extended plays.
The crowd went ballistic when the smooth sounds of Luther Vandross’ ‘Never Too Much’ filtered through the speakers while other tracks like ‘Just My Love’ and ‘Funk Your Body’ by Mr Given Raw were less well known. A rare slice of James Brown funk featured with ‘Body Heat Pt2’, the flipside to the Godfather of Soul’s 1976 single.
Cez14’s ‘Mambo No 14’ gave the venue a Havana vibe, while Cherub Rock’s ‘Treat ‘Em Right’ was a hip-hop jam with a percussive beat that “pumped up the funky beat”.
Tonight the stage will be occupied by Jose Gonazales, Saturday night features Thievery Corporation, and folk balladeer William Fitzsimmons will be in the house on Sunday.
For tickets head to www.perthfestival.com.au
Graeme Watson
