REVIEW: DJ QUESTLOVE on SYDNEY HARBOUR (Jan 4 2025)

Questlove, Sydney Harbour, and the funkiest crew in Sydney was such a dope night for everyone. Nights like this are why we love this city.”

Last night was special, DJ Questlove, THE ROOTS legendary drummer, DJ, Grammy Winner and curator of all things soulful, blessed the decks on Glass Island, turning a regular evening into an unforgettable musical lesson for all. Slotted to play for 90 Minutes, he ended up playing the whole night. He was joined by members of his band THE ROOTS who were partying, connecting with Sydney’s music heads.

His set was pure craftsmanship & his ability to mix short, punchy blends with long, soulful builds kept the energy flowing all night.

It was a night that reminded us of the power of live music to bring people together. His musical selections were dope too, dropping everything from James Brown, SOUL II SOUL, MJ, Sade flavoured with heavy funk, SOUL R&B & a touch of Arabic & REGGAE vibes made it a very enjoyable night of music.

As the boat glided through the calm waters of Sydney Harbour, past landmarks like the Opera House and under the towering Harbour Bridge, Questlove spun an exquisite mix of SOUL, JAZZ, FUNK, and HIP HOP that was a perfect soundtrack as we soaked up the beauty of our city at night.

A standout moment came when Gil Scott-Heron’s “Home Is Where the Hatred Is” poured through the speakers, its raw, heartfelt lyrics cutting through the night air. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the unmistakable intro to Sade’s “Hold On to Your Love” floated in, bringing a moment of pure bliss. The gentle rocking of the boat had dancers literally leaning on each other, creating a beautiful connection.

The night kicked off at 10:00pm & finished at 2:00am, & really felt like a music industry night. The crowd wasn’t just your average partygoers; it was more of melting pot of Sydney’s creative heartbeat. DJs, beatmakers, Producers, and Dancers were out in force, taking a rare night off to vibe with friends, share stories, and decompress after the New Year’s madness. There were fist bumps, hugs, and nods of respect as Questlove weaved his magic, reminding everyone why he’s so well known as one of the craftiest selectors to do it.

A huge shoutout to the Glass Island crew for making nights like this possible. It was our first time on this stunning floating venue, and we were blown away. Week after week, they’re changing the game, running multiple cruises featuring everything from SOUL and HIP HOP to REGGAE and HOUSE.

Their commitment to curating a space where music, culture, and community come together is unmatched.

If you missed last night, don’t sleep on the next Glass Island party. It’s the prime spot for music lovers, and last night proved why. Questlove, thank you for the vibes, the grooves, and the unforgettable memories.

Stay funky, Sydney. ✌🏽

Dust Tones presents Boom Monk Ben & Cheeba (Ninja Tune, UK)

Respect-Flyer-Website

Dust Tones is a weekly party mashing it up in true hiphop block party spirit.

Throwing down everything from hiphop, breaks, funk, dancehall, dub and soul. Every Friday at the Beach Rd Hotel Bondi from 8pm – 12am come check out international and local talent for free.

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Dust Tones presents: Boom Monk Ben & Cheeba (Ninja Tune, UK)

Boom Monk Ben (Solid Steel, UK)
Cheeba (Ninja Tune, UK) – A/V set
Mr Nice – A/V set
Edseven

Fri 5th March

Beach Rd Hotel Bondi (71 Beach Rd)

Free Entry, 8pm-12am

Boom Monk Ben (Solid Steel, UK)

Armed with Serato, two quick hands and the most diverse crate of dance floor fillers you’ve heard, the Boom Monk has developed a sound and style that is undoubtedly his own. Boom Monk Ben continues to be booked for some of the biggest and best electronic music events around and as his reputation grows the list of suitors keeps expanding. A frenzied fanatic of all things bass, the Boom Monk leaves no stone unturned and no sound unheard in his quest for dancefloor devastation. From hip hop, dancehall, funk and break beats to house, funky, electro, dubstep and drum and bass, as long as it makes him, us and you move on the floor then it will get put the through the blender in his inimitable style. The mighty Ninja Tune have been impressed enough to approach Ben to provide a series of ‘Boom Monk Zen’ mixes for their world famous Solid Steel radio show, which is broadcast in 30 countries world wide.


http://www.myspace.com/boommonkben

Cheeba (Ninja Tune, UK) – A/V set

Peel back your ears, stick matchsticks in your eyes, set your jaw to ‘drop’… Bristol’s, Detective of Perspective, DJ Cheeba is plugged in and here to turn the tables. With his trademark slick blend of classic breaks, hip-hop, electronica, rock, kid’s records, d&b, and in fact everything in between and beyond, Cheeba has the unrivaled technical ability, knowledge and humour to pull it all together like no one else. In 2008 Cheeba won the coveted ‘Solid Steel Mix of The Year’ with his, highly regarded, genre twisting mixtape ‘The Case of The missing Records’ and has since been invited to officially join the Solid Steel family alongside Ninja Tune legends such as Coldcut and DJ Food. Using standard turntables and Serato Video SL to enable video controlled by real vinyl records, Cheeba now has brought scratching and juggling both sounds and pictures into the mix with additional camera feeds and special FX for stunning live results.


http://www.myspace.com/cheebadop


Australian Music Tribute # 1: Classic Australian Funk, Hip Hop & Soul Music Videos

With Australia day just gone we though we should do our bit for the country &  put together a mix-tape of our favorite home grown music videos. Here is our selection of local Hip Hop, Soul & Funk videos that would go rock any Australia Day BBQ.

Ray Mann Three- Smile

Music video by The Ray Mann Three performing “Smile”. Directed by Louis Westgarth and Ray Mann. (C) 2008 Ray Mann. From the album “The Ray Mann Three”

The Avalanches – Since I Left You

Directed by Rob Leggatt and Leigh Marling.

The Cat Empire – Days Like These

Pnau ‘Journey Agent’

Pnau’s classic adventure in 50’s style and attempted substance. Directed by James Littlemore and art directed/illustrated by Stepahnie Anderson

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