The Thousands

If William Street is the fashionable, popular kid in class (you know – the one with the light-up sneakers and the best texta collection), then Beaufort Street is the dignified quiet achiever. Or, to go for a different metaphor, it is the border collie at the dog beach: poised but good-natured, fun-loving and ultra-capable. Playing host to pivotal local culture establishments (RTR, Planet, the Scotto) Beaufort does its thing without the fanfare. Local music website and touring heroes, Life Is Noise, honoured Beaufort Street for the first time last year with a mighty bang-up party. Now the sequel is here - Die Hard style – and frankly, we’re stoked as a goat.

For the ears, treasures are teeming. Scattered across the stages will be garage-punk analgesics The Painkillers, guttural blues-rockers The Growl and atmospheric indie-disco wunderkinds Scenic. Much-loved experimental popstress Rabbit Island, crafty post-rock devils The Silent World, gypsy-surf-party-people SmRts and impossible-to-ignore Hayley Beth will likewise keep our cochleas catered to. That’s not all though (shut up! we know!) – killer decksmiths like RTR’s Adam Trainer and Jo Lettenmaier, the {MOVE} DJs and supreme turntablist Zeke will keep us dancing in the street (literally, the council is closing off the street).

Eyes-wise, look out for doorway character cutouts courtesy of Brendan Niness, knitted street art by Beaks on Beaufort, Victor Hugo‘s 365-day Holga photo project, and Before I Die‘s blackboard bucket-list installation. There’s a huge vintage market and the best of the street’s threads will be on display at the STM Fashion Stage.

There’s even a goddamn Dog Show, where all pooches great and small can get in on the action! After all, every dog has its day – and this Saturday is fully dedicated to Beaufort Street, one of the hardest-working hounds in town.