Platform Hip Hop Festival

WEEKS OF HIGH-POWERED HIP HOP CULTURE | PRESENTED BY CARRIAGEWORKS | 12 MAR – 2 APRIL 2011

CarriageWorks’ PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL returns for an awesome, intense and epic four weeks in March 2011, with a massive line up that includes international stars and interstate champions alongside the amazing Sydney hip hop artists who have blasted the Platform stage since 2008. 

PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL presents the best hip hop music, dance, street art, photography, film and hip hop theatre, with a particular emphasis on our fresh Australian flavor, punctuated with serious players from the international hip hop stage.  With everyone from legendary household names like Rahzel (AKA the Godfather of Noyze) (USA), Supernatural (USA) and DJ JS-1 (USA), to phenomenal talents like B*Boy Blond (Korea), Poe 1 (USA) and B*Boy Storm (Germany), and the awesome young Redfern City Rockers, PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL is a haven for hip hop heads from all over Australia.  In 2011, PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL will be one of the biggest hip hop events Australia has ever seen.
Now in its fourth year, PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL has established itself as an all-encompassing showcase of mind-blowing DJs, MCs, beat boxers, breakers and graffiti artists from all over Australia. Crews and audiences in their thousands converge at CarriageWorks and turn this monolithic building into a creative platform for the best emerging and established hip hop artists.

There are a hoard of experiences, activities and events to take part in, most of them free, some of them ticketed – with no price over $35.  PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL is a unique, fun and family-friendly environment for hip hop lovers, and it’s also the perfect festival for novice enthusiasts to get involved and find out what it’s all about.
Check out Platform’s youtube clip for a teaser of what’s to come -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVICvCtL_uo
It’s time to discover the incredible energy and awesome talent of PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL - live, loud and Sydney-style. 

THE FESTIVAL - EVENT LINE UP
PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL takes place over four massive weeks, with ten key components.

FUNK IT UP ABOUT NOTHIN’ | INTERNATIONAL HIP HOP THEATRE FROM CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER | 16 – 26 Mar | $25/19.50
Funk It Up About Nothin’ is an audacious, hilarious, outrageous hip-hoptation based on the Bard’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing; a feisty, urban take on a story as old skool as love itself.

PLATFORM PRESENTS ‘THE MAGNIFICENTS’: RAHZEL, JS1, SUPERNATURAL & MORE! | MASSIVE LIVE GIG | Sat 2 April Doors 7pm | Tix fr $29
RAHZEL, JS1 and SUPERNATURAL: The world’s greatest beat boxer and the world’s greatest freestyle MC, accompanied by the legendary Rock Steady Crew DJ meet live on one stage.  Expect a full bag of tricks from this powerhouse of international talent, plus top shelf local supports.  A massive 4 hour concert. Full line up announced soon.

FLEXING SKILLZ ALL STARS VS SKETCH THE RHYME | WHERE HIP HOP MEETS IMPROV | Fri 18 Mar | All tix $15    
The very best of Sydney’s simmering underground culture of hip hop performance hit the stage - this is where hip hop meets spoken word, theatre sports and sketch art.  An all star cast from previous Platform Hip Hop Festivals will meet everyone’s favourite artists from Sketch the Rhyme.  All elements of hip hop will be mixed up and shouted out in a one-off improv competition, judged by the crowd. Hosted by Morganics, with live music and much more.

FREE HIP HOP CLASSES | FOR ADULTS AND KIDS | Sat 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar & 2 Apr 11am | FREE
Always wished you could do a headspin? Haven’t tried popping since the 80’s? This year, PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL will bring hip hop dance skills to the masses with free classes on Saturday mornings.  Styles will include Popping, Locking, Krumping, Breaking and Beat Boxing and will be taught by friendly local hip hop experts. Designed for adults and kids of all levels of ability.

FREAK THE TECHNIQUE | FULL DAY OF FREE EVENTS + PLATFORM’S COLOSSAL BREAKING BATTLE | Sat 19 Mar fr 12pm | Free
A massive day of free hip hop entertainment - welcome to Freak the Technique. From 12pm until late, Sydney’s best graffiti artists painting live, breaking battles for kids and up & comers, MC’s rocking the mic, Beatboxers battle it out, DJ’s playing all day on the music stage, all forms and styles of dance will be on show – popping, locking, power moves and more… Last but not least, the shakedown and finals of PLATFORM’s Freak the Technique Breaking Battle – expect massive moves and death defying tricks as the best crews from all over Australia battle it out for a heaving crowd and international judges: B*Boy Blond (Korea), B*Boy Storm (Germany), and POE 1 (USA). 

PLATFORM FILMS | Fri 1 Apr from 7.30pm | Free
A night of classic and new films created by hip hop filmmakers, including films by B*Boy Storm (Germany), Luke Mercado, and LC Beats.  Alongside the screenings, you can hear it from the artists themselves at panel discussions and Q&As.
GRAFFITI AND STREET ART WALKING TOUR | Sat 12 Mar, 26 Mar & 2 Apr | $10
Join veteran local street artist Mistery for a walking tour of the cultural canvas of Sydney’s inner west.

PLATFORM ROCKS THE BLOCK | STREET PARTY FEAT. INDIGENOUS ARTISTS AT THE BLOCK IN REDFERN | Sat 26 Mar 10am to 6pm | Free
Co-presented by CarriageWorks, Redfern Community Centre, part of Family Culture day
Before the block comes down, Redfern Community Centre and CarriageWorks have put together a monumental program of local and interstate indigenous artists for a full day festival of music, dance and celebration of hip hop culture, family and community.

PLATFORM EXHIBITION | 17 Mar – 9 Apr | Free
PLATFORM HIP HOP FESTIVAL will premiere a newly commissioned body of work by exciting Sydney photographer Nick Bassett.

HIP HOP MASTERCLASSES | WITH B*BOY STORM (GERMANY) | 16 – 17 Mar | $20
A unique opportunity to do professional Masterclasses with worldwide phenomenon and industry veteran B*Boy Storm (GERMANY). Storm will be teaching popping, hip hop choreography and breaking for intermediate/advanced/professional level.

DATES: Saturday 12 March – Saturday 2 April 2011.  Specific event dates and times vary.
VENUE: CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015 (Nearest Train: Redfern or Macdonaldtown)
MORE INFO: www.platformhiphop.com.au
TICKETS: www.platformhiphop.com.au. On sale soon through Ticketmaster 1300 723 038