Pitch Music & Arts Festival is set to kick off in Moyston, Victoria next weekend for it's annual affair. The lineup this year is monstrous, boasting a stack of forward-thinking international favourites and local legends making waves in their own right.
The festival prides themselves on booking outside of the box, and doing so with immense taste. Featuring a bunch of heavyweight international acts like Four Tet, Avalon Emerson, Sven Väth and heaps more, we've put together a list of a bunch of our Aussie favs that we think you should take the time out to go and dance to.
BEN FESTER
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The head Heavenly honcho's spent the better part of the last year putting on shows for Sydney, bringing in acts from around the world like Luca Lozano, RAMZi, Cale Sexton and heaps more. He's an expert crate digger in his own right too, supporting the likes of Motor City Drum Ensemble and Yappin's DJ Slyngshot, playing marathon sets including a 6 hour marathon for Freda's Vivid Sydney event Pleasure Cycle, and putting together mixes for the likes of Rinse FM. Alongside all of this, he co-hosts Sunset on FBi Radio with Kato every Thursday from 6-8PM too.
He's become a staple in the Sydney community, flooring dancefloors across town with his expert selection.
FANTASTIC MAN
Melbourne's Fantastic Man has spent the better part of the last few years bouncing between home, London and Berlin. Although he's never in one place for too long, that has never seemed to dampen his productivity as a producer. With a run of records out on labels such as Love On The Rocks and Fine Choice Records, his sound varies quite drastically throughout his catalogue, but one thing seems to remain the same - his penchant for club heavy, sunny psychedelia.
His music is floaty, yet never ambient, which is a tenuous line to be walking, but a balance that he achieves every single time. Listen to his mix for Resident Advisor's podcast above to get a taste of what to expect from him at Pitch Festival.
JENNIFER LOVELESS
Originally from Toronto, but since making the move to Melbourne, selector Jennifer Loveless is fast making a name for herself. She's become a staple on house and techno bills across town, and with a background in classical piano, she's an expert at fitting tracks together to build something captivating.
She's done the rounds supporting the likes of Steffi, DJ Sprinkles and more, playing at prolific clubs and festivals all around the country. Alongside her love for the club, she hosts a monthly show on Melbourne's Skylab Radio, is a member of local collective Cool Room and has been dabbling in live performance too.
MERVE
House aficionado Merve's been kicking it in the music industry for some time now. With a background in booking and artist management, the organic next step for her was to get behind the decks herself. Known for encompassing tribal, funk, house and techno within her sets, she's over the years become a bonafide weapon behind the decks.
She's supported the likes of such seminal acts as The Black Madonna and Motor City Drum Ensemble, and played festivals around the country like Golden Plains, Strawberry Fields and heaps more.
TONI YOTZI
She's arguably one of the most creative and innovative names in DJing here in Australia, so it's no surprise that Toni Yotzi is revered as one of Australia's most promising selectors. After making the move from Perth to Melbourne, she's only been on the up, playing festivals like Inner Varnika, Golden Plains and heaps more.
Check out her Pitch Festival preview mix above for a taste of the heat she's set to bring.
Photo of Ben Fester via Facebook
Photo of Toni Yotzi by Bec Martin
Photo of Merve by Jackson Grant
Words by CAITLIN MEDCALF
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