Figure Eight

I'm staying in Sydney at a warehouse which is run by the party-production crew Figure Eight. They focus on "sustainable" events, meaning they run solar to power their sound system. The crew has been together for about 4 years in different incarnations. This is the second warehouse they've worked/lived out of. Figure Eight started as just a sound system playing free parties and has turned into a family, living and working together along the aims of having fun and living in a sensible way in an nonsense world. They focus more on sustaining their lifestyle than getting rich. Just how I like it.

The warehouse is huge, two floors - they rent out sections to a Sustainable Energy Cooperative, an underground hiphop label (the biggest in Aus), and a recording studio. 15 people live here, quite a few more hangout and work here as well, so the place is always full of people and activity. Large sections of the warehouse are devoted to party supplies: sound equipment, decorations, musical gear and a fabulous costume collection. The Kitchen is smallish, a table that sits 5 comfortably, 3 fridges and a wee oven/range top. They share one shower and 4 toilets (3 work), and a laundry machine.

The library hosts books on radical politics, ecology, and conspiracy theories along with classic literature and art books. Dubstep is the music of choice it seems, jungle also being popular, although people listen to just about everything. American culture has a large noticeable impact in music and literature.


Everyone is friendly and cheerful, (i'm sure that's not always the case, but it has been for me). They share resources, skills, ideas and laughs. Most of the people involved seem to have traveled internationally. Europe and the States are frequent destinations. There are close ties to people who live in other warehouses (its quite a scene here) nearby. They are also supportive of the squatting scene which struggles, but seems to be doing well here in Sydney.

The crew ranges from artists, musicians, radicals, students and 'munters'- those who are dedicated to "destroying their mind and body through drugs and harsh living". They are mostly in their 20s, although there are older people involved. The whole project has a decidedly anarchist feel to it. Weekly meetings lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours address any household issues that pop up, from cleaning being neglected, to buying groceries and up coming events they plan to work on. It is a polished bohemia - artsy, free spirited, and relatively clean. It is also frequent host to travelers. Bicycles and dumpster diving are staples. A few of the participants in the project collectively own a few vehicles, but most daily activity is done via walking and public transport - a benefit of big city life.

The gender mix is just a bit sausage heavy, but not too bad. Everyone seems to get along well. At evening time, they come together to enjoy a beer and the occasional spliff.

I feel right at home.

getting set up

Got in this morning at 6:45. an hour to get bags and go through 2 customs checkpoints. another hour walking around the airport trying to find internet access or somewhere (anywhere) to go. I finally found 3 free internet computers and dropped a line to each of my contacts in OZ. Then I decided to head towards the suburb where the artist space I was hoping to stay at was located. I knew the name of the town, just not the address.

I was told the train was better than the bus for getting there, so I headed to the train terminal at the airport. It was going to be $20 for a train ticket to the city, or, i could spend $45 and get an unlimited 1 week train/bus pass, to take me wherever I wanted to go in Sydney, so I shelled out the 45. I got on the train and figured out my transfers to get me where I wanted to be. My first real view of Sydney was from this subway car... and i was fucking impressed.

The City has great old architecture, and a very multi cultural feel. Impressive, artful graffiti everywhere. The walls are alive with free expression and rebellion. The train dropped me off in Merrickville and I started wandering the streets, trying to find a free WiFi signal.. no such luck

after 45 minutes of wandering, I found and internet cafe, $5 for 1 hour... paid. got online and had a message from my contact at the artist warehouse that I was hoping to stay at. The owner of the cafe let me use his phone, I made the call and touched base with Matt who said he'd be by to pick me up in 10 minutes... I finished a quick post and went out to the street corner.

He drove up and I jumped in. My first time in a right-side-driving car, cruising on the left hand side of the street: truly one of the most terrifying experiences of my life... I was constantly expecting to get in an accident because we were driving the wrong way, but everyone seemed pretty accustomed to it and we arrived safely at the warehouse.

The place is huge, 2 floors... these people really have their shit together, they have tons of music/light gear, a huge room for costumes, 15 bedrooms, 2 offices, kitchen... the whole deal, a collection of classic Ford Mustangs (all right-hand-drive) and rent out a small part of their space to the largest underground hiphop label in OZ - sweet. They just got done throwing an event last weekend and had a bunch of gear to return. I helped them load it in the truck, then followed my new friend Matt to a video gig he was doing at the Sydney Opera House.

2000 young people were converging for a Flash Dance Mob to bring awareness to global warming. They danced for 2 minutes on the steps of the Opera House as people filmed for the internet.



I met a few of the warehouse-mates at the opera house and we all came back to the space together. Matt and I went out for burgers and came just came back.

I think I'm gonna grab a quick nap before we head out to party tonight.

I'm really liking it here already.

Wednesday we head 2 hours north to the festival spot to start getting that ready.