When the Fennell Street neighbours decided to host an old-school street party, they enlisted some festival-savvy friends to bring to life a dream of live punk rock bands, brewed on-premises booze and tasty food.
The suburb of Port Melbourne has undergone a lot of change. This edgy area that was once home to the Painters and Dockers Union — the most powerful criminal organisation in Melbourne in the '70s — now boasts a fashionable beachside ambience.
But move away from the waterfront towards what is primarily an industrial area and you will find Fennell Street — one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets and the best indication of the change that is a-brewin’ in this city.
Fennel Street, Port Melbourne is inhabited by a small community of handsome businesses that would fit in on any uber-hip street. This creative hub comprises Salford Lads Club – an exceptional café that offers indoor and outdoor dining and some of Melbourne best coffee, Uncle Rocco’s Barber Shop where Fab Sfameni, a third generation barber, specialises in cutthroat blade shaving and beard taming, The Globe International warehouse and offices and the Matilda Bay Brewing Company where you can hang out at the bar while watching them brew craft beer and cider. They also serve great meals.
Ausmuteants opened proceedings with their interesting mix of synth/ punk/ disco and the sound that screams loudest is Devo meets Chrome. Next up, Spinning Rooms blew my mind. I knew they played ATP Festival with Television so I made sure I was early to see them and I wasn’t disappointed with the Spastic Stooges-style saxophone.
I had heard and read so much about Bits Of Shit’s frontman — he's a madman and his crazy antics were a definite highlight of the day — search YouTube for the footage as you need to see this guy to believe it. Straight outta Collingwood, Batpiss played an exceptionally fierce, angry punk set — really laying in the boots, and the crowd loved every second.
Drunk Mums reminded me of a younger Oh Sees with wild peroxide mullets and Bez from The Happy Mondays going positively apeshit on the tambourine. Perfect!
The Straight Arrows from Sydney were as great as ever and a perfect addition to this epic line-up. Harmony were a genius change in pace and it was awesome to be able to experience them outdoors. The Murlocs were another perfectly programmed choice in the late afternoon and a just-right mix of old and new was another highlight.
The Meanies threw it down, and reminded the kids they had been doing this shit for 20-odd years. When Link went all-Joe-Cocker, climbed the stage and spun around a pole we witnessed classic Aussie punk pock at it’s finest — check the 9-minute mark in the vid above.
I guess the best band to headline a party at a brewery are the Cosmic Psychos and they didn’t disappoint one bit. Ross Knight’s banter about how great Port Royal was spot on — calling it a "rip snorter" and his sentiments echoed through the crowd. If you haven’t seen the Psychos' documentary ‘Blokes You Can Trust’, watch it now!
The experience of seeing local bands on a real outdoor stage with a great PA, pub-priced drinks, delicious food (I ate two Huxtaburgers) plus a good crowd of like-minded people who genuinely seemed to be there for the music is just what Melbourne needed. Even the security were nice!
Overall it was the boutique but non-wanky experience at Port Royal that really made it a killer day — a perfect combination of music, food and drinks all served with a great attitude. Bring on Port Royal 2015.
