A now Melbourne cultural mainstay, the mid-winter Gertrude Street Projection Festival (GSPF) will in 2015 celebrate its eighth year of staging inner Melbourne’s most visible and accessible free large scale arts festival.
The GSPF) celebrates projection art, music, and Melbourne, helping us see familiar spaces and buildings in new, inspired ways. It’s a collaborative, volunteer effort of artists and traders, residents and community groups all brought together by The Gertrude Association.
For 10 nights beginning on Friday July 10th, the Festival will embrace over 35 sites, as the length of Gertrude Street in Fitzroy will be illuminated by the visions of talented projections artists for the Gertrude Street Projection Festival. Buildings, laneways, footpaths and tree trunks light up with site-specific, curated projections.
Operating as the Festival’s hub this year is the relative new local favourite venue The Catfish (located at 30-32 Gertrude St in Fitzroy). Over the 10 night period The Catfish will host live art and music events while still providing the delicious beers and Sparrows Philly cheesesteaks they’ve rapidly become famous for.
In order to get prepared for the upcoming festivities, we’ve put together a guide to the events you can’t miss. Check it out below and for more info on The Catfish or GSPF visit The Catfish’s Facebook page or www.gspf.com.au
Opening Night Party
When? Friday 10 July, 8pm til late
Why? To celebrate the launch of the killer 2015 edition of the GSPF, the crew have curated a bunch of killer DJs who will be soundtracking the night. Featuring the who’s who of Melbourne (and surrounds) garage rock scene including The Living Eyes, The Pink Tiles and Chook Race the opening evening couldn’t get much better. Local artists Bloom AV and Netzair will be Vj-ing the event, and entry is free!
Tickets & Info: FREE
My Elephant Ride Video Launch
When? Sunday 12 July, 5pm – 7pm
Why? Melbourne psych rockers My Elephant Ride have recently finished their new video for their single ‘In The Water’ (recorded and mixed by Stu Mackenzie (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) – it was shot in the Himalayas and it’s stunning – trust us, we’ve seen it. To celebrate its release, the four piece will be playing a chill, dreamy Sunday afternoon set on Sunday 12. It’s also free so if you’re wandering Northside – be sure to pop in.
Tickets & Info: FREE
Club Catty : GSPF Edition
When? Thursday 16 July 8pm
Why? It’s no secret that Tone Deaf are big fans of the crew behind The Catfish’s ‘Club Catty’ series. Showcasing the best underrated talent in Melbourne, Club Catty has quickly amassed a sting loyal following with their regular gigs and ‘punter subscription service’ more info in the article we wrote here. For their GSPF edition of Club Catty, the crew have curated an impressive line up of experimental electronic acts like Time For Dreams, Premium Fantasy, Nausea and Halogen Lake. With visual accompaniment this will be a multi sensory experience.
Tickets & Info: $5 /$10, Facebook link
Dark Projection Series Featuring Terrible Truths
When? Friday 17 July, 8:30pm
Why? If you know a better local line up on Friday the 17th of July we’d like to see it, ’cause this is an absolute pearler. One of the showcase events of the GSPF is the ‘Dark Projection Series’. Teaming up with Terrible Truths, Vacuum (members of Primitive Calculators & Nun), Empat Lima and Astral Skulls to soundtrack the night, Catfish’s newly renovated band room transforms into a sphere of sound and vision. An absolute sensory delight awaits. And like many events it’s free!
Tickets & Info: FREE
Closing Night: Robot Party
When? Saturday 18 July, 9pm til late
Why? The final event on the GSPF calendar is the Closing Night: Robot Party, makes sense huh? To celebrate the end of the fest, the crew are bringing all forms of electronica into one space, celebrating the diversity of technological arts forms, ‘Robots’ encourages concepts associated with androidism and cyborgism where by the line between human, machine and digital data are blurred. Soundtracked by legends from It Records DJ, Stockholm Syndrome and Fallopian Tunes, it’s the perfect way to wrap up another undoable killer year.
Tickets & Info: FREE
The Gertrude Street Projection Fest runs from 10-19th July. For more info on The Catfish or GSPF visit The Catfish’s Facebook page or www.gspf.com.au
