The renowned producer will be headlining NYD 2023 @ The Mills – Geelong’s inaugural New Year’s Day Party, presented by the beloved restaurant and bar 1915.
We’ve been back at it for a while, but there’s still something special about the return of gigs to Australia. No matter what kind of music you’re into, there’s no question that there’s something in the air when we hit the mosh.
One artist who’s had a triumphant return to the live stage is New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based DJ/producer Jolyon Petch, the artist recently announced as part of the new 1915 festival making its way to Geelong this new year’s day – NYD 2023 @ The Mills.
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“This year I’ve been doing a lot of touring,” Petch says. “It’s been great to get out into all the different states, cities and rural areas around Australia and see how everyone’s going.
“It’s great to see the scenes alive again.”
From electronic to metal gigs, people are happier when you’re in a crowd in this post-covid era; there seems to be something special about it all.
“In the first three or four months after, people were just so excited to be out again and be around other people and not having to be so away from everybody.
“I think a lot of excitement is still around and everyone’s super hyped to just be out and partying again.”
If you buy a ticket to a festival, from massive multiple-day internationals to one-day small festivals, there are always some artists on the lineup that you probably haven’t heard of. As part of this, artists – big or small – often change their sets and appeal to a broader demographic than their solo gigs.
“I’ll focus a lot on the remix, mash-up bootleg type things, unreleased bits and pieces, just stuff that people kind of know.
“Obviously for festivals, that’s the kind of music you want to amp the crowd up with, and then play some stuff they’ve never heard before. I’m producing a lot of my own music for my shows, and hopefully, when people hear me play and finish the set, I’ll get a whole heap of new followers.”
Petch’s work has been getting a great deal of attention lately, with his track ‘Dreams’ (featuring Reigan) recently being nominated for an ARIA award for Song of the Year alongside some Aussie heavyweights in Tones and I, Rufus Du Sol and Flume.
“Being nominated as an artist from the club scene alongside the main artists of Australia is a pretty big accomplishment,” he says.
“Coming out of the pandemic and having a track that blows up on the radio airplay charts was crazy.
“It’s crazy to think that I’m beating the likes of artists like Bruno Mars, one of the biggest artists in the world. It was an absolute privilege to be nominated alongside all these guys that are just killing it.”
On top of the great work from Petch, the 1915 NYD festival lineup will feature music from the Stafford Brothers, Groove Terminator and Dexter, with Petch recognising the event as an excellent opportunity to reconnect with his fellow artists.
“I haven’t caught up with the Stafford Brothers in years, and it just so happens that my brother’s going to be coming over for new year’s so it’ll be the Petch brothers and The Stafford brothers, which I’m looking forward to, so we’ll see who can drink each other under the table,” he adds with a laugh.
“It’ll be a good catch-up with mates who I haven’t caught up with for a long time, and it’ll give me a great opportunity to check out what they’re playing in their sets these days.”
Closing out the year in Sydney before heading to Geelong on NYD, the multi-platinum-selling dance artist will return to our region again in January, also hitting the stage at the Great Australian Beer Festival at Johnstone Park.
“Those crowds are great, they’ve been drinking for half the day, and I jump on for the closing set. I’m playing a lot of things that they can sing along to and they all love to participate.”
1915 Presents NYD 2923 @ The Mills is taking place at grand, all-occasions bistro 1915 in the former Federal Woollen Mills – a Geelong venue that is set to be the perfect home for the festival.
“It’s an old mill that’s been completely renovated, refurbished and looks the part. It’s going to be amazing.”
1915 Presents NYD 2023 @ The Mills is happening on January 1 2023 in Geelong. Grab your tickets here and come celebrate 2023 the best way possible and we’ll see you on the dance floor Geelong. Visit the 1915 website here.
