A night in the life of a Sydney rave crew. A short documentary from Void Media, shot over one evening and directed by Tim Woolmer & Ryan Bell. following the boys from Big Ting Recordings we get an insight into their methods of involvement with the Channel 707 party on April 11th 2015 .
These events are gloriously decentralised in their creation, many hands have gone into the production of these urban adventures which offer an alternative to the strictly regulated and often unexciting mainstream and its alcoholic and hierarchical mono-culture.
Here in the post industrial dusty wastelands we witness the coming together of urban tribes to dance and party and then face the Police as they shut the party down. Safety concerns they say, but the danger and violence caused by their hurried shutdown caused more danger and unsafe situations.
With over 2000 attendees, Channel 707 occurred as a direct response to Sydney’s controversial lockout laws. Having lain dormant since 2011 it was great to see the energy of the Channel parties return to Sydney after a four year hiatus.
The NSW Police force however responded with force, putting a swift end to the party. At the height of hysteria surrounding “illegal warehouse parties” In the Inner West, this was a natural response from the NSW Public Order & Riot Squad and to be expected at some point.
Clearly there are tensions within Sydney that must be sorted by proper legislation and a full review of the Lockout Laws. Here’s hoping to a brighter future.
