Introducing Highly Contagious: A new event curated by and featuring Gut Health + Sneaks (USA), Vanessa Worm (NZ), Frenzee (GR) and more for Brunswick Music Festival.
Today, Naarm’s operators in the outsider underground – Crown Ruler and Slow Clap – are proud to present Highly Contagious: A twilight musical mass held at Estonian House for Brunswick Music Festival, curated by sonic explorers of hypnotic dance-punk Gut Health.
Held Saturday 9 March at Brunswick’s brilliant Estonian House, Highly Contagiousis dishing up a veritable feast of globally acclaimed international talent and local crowdpleasers, including the long-awaited debut from one of post-punk’s most crucial voices Sneaks (USA), New Zealand electronic enigma Vanessa Worm, and Greece’s savage punk instigators, Frenzee. Alongside these heaters, DJs Lori and Cease and Desist (DJ Daddy) will elevate the event to euphoric levels with their fine selections.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
By way of backstory, Highly Contagious was an underground music zine created by Adam Markmann of Gut Health, alongside active members in the Naarm/Melbourne music community Fergus Sinclair and Rowena Lloyd. Gut Health has decided to resurrect Highly Contagious for Brunswick Music Festival and beyond. Remember the name, you’ll see it again.
In the meantime, get acquainted with the performing outfits below.
Gut Health
Sonically daring. Visually adventurous. Hypnotic art-punk with an edge. Six-piece ensemble Gut Health has emerged from the Naarm/Melbourne underground as one of Australia’s most compelling new acts, who are swiftly gaining some serious global attention.
Sneaks
Merge Records mainstay Eva Moolchan, aka Sneaks, comes to Australia for the very first time. Astrological assertions alongside poetry filtered through a riot grrl spirit, Sneaks’ music is a kaleidoscopic tumble into the interpretations of individual listeners – all set against a backdrop of thumping bass lines and infectious beats.
Vanessa Worm
Equal parts vocalist, producer and performer, Vanessa Worm is an artist who has captured the imaginations of tastemakers like the Public Possession DJs, Animals Dancing, JD Twitch, and Tim Sweeney. Her music sits somewhere between the attitude and snarl of New York post-punk, the D.I.Y innovation of the South Island’s ‘80s Flying Nun scene, and the commanding dancefloor power of house, techno and jungle.
Frenzee
There’s been an eruption of punk in Greece of late, and Crete-based siblings Apollonia, Adonis and Nick Xylouris have lit the spark. Hair-trigger tight, pulverisingly mean and all parts lean, the firing collective synapses bonded by blood and hours of repetition are on full display where Frenzee is concerned.
Gut Health Upcoming Shows
Saturday 10 Feb
Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Tuesday 13 Feb
The Drive, Adelaide
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Friday 16 Feb
MONA Lawns, Hobart
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Sun 18 Feb
Look Out Festival
Torquay Common, VIC
w/ QOTSA, The Chats, Spiderbait, Pond
Sun 18 February
St Kilda Festival
w/ Mo’ju, RVG, 1300 and more
Sat 24 Feb
Look Out Festival
Broadwater Parklands, Southport QLD
w/ QOTSA, The Chats, Spiderbait, Pond
Monday 19 Feb
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Wed 21 Feb
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Sun 25 Feb
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Mon 26 Feb
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Mon 26 Feb
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
w/ QOTSA + Pond
Sat 9 March
Highly Contagious, Brunswick
w/ Sneaks (USA), Vanessa Worm (NZ), Frenzee (GR)
Sun 10 March
Panama Festival
w/ King Stingray, The Beths and more
Sat 23 March
Jerkfest, Geelong
w/ Uranium Club, R.M.F.C, Tee Vee Repairmann and more
Highly Contagious is held on Saturday 9 March at Estonian House in Brunswick, and tickets on sale now via Brunswick Music Festival.
