Sun Cycle kicked off 2024 with a bang for revellers in Melbourne's inner north, with the New Year's Day party bidding farewell with one last dance after announcing just days prior that this year was its fifth and final event.
Produced by three festival masters: WAT Artists, Untitled Group and Crown Ruler, the one-day event welcomed crowds back to the Coburg Velodrome for its last hurrah. Fans were disappointed to learn it wasn't returning, but were clearly still keen to party nevertheless.
There was a stacked line-up on hand for the occasion, with international names like Erika de Casier, Overmono and Jayda G topping the bill. The genre diversity of the event's music programming was showcased on the mainstage, with punters taken on a journey through hip hop, funk, jazz and R'n'B as local veterans and up-and-coming stars like Miss Kannina, VV Pete and Mildlife soundtracked the afternoon.
But for those seeking faster BPMs for their arvo boogie, the second stage (aptly named Body Heat) was the place to be. Back-to-back killer sets drew in crowds who were keen for a dance, despite bigger names on stage elsewhere. DJ Fart In The Club attracted listeners for their name alone, but kept them moving with nostalgic remixes and cheeky choices that were true to their moniker, followed by a ripper set from Lady Shaka and Stev Zar.
Back at the mainstage, master of dancefloor fillers Jayda G got the party started as the sun set. She deftly prepped the crowds for one of the most anticipated moments of the festival: a live set from Overmono. The British duo entranced the crowd with an incredible sonic journey that included all of their best tracks and some unreleased bangers.
In addition to the music, the festival's logistics ran smoothly, with food from some of the best local eateries and plenty of amenities available – including ample shade to compensate for last year's heatwave. There were even some fireworks as the music drew to a close, a finishing touch for the event's send-off. The discontinuation of the festival is certainly disappointing for many Melbourne music lovers, but anticipation remains to see what may take its place.
