These days it’s pretty hard to imagine The Presets playing to 200 or so people in small clubs around the country, but prior to the release of their game-changing 2005 debut Beams, that’s exactly what Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes were doing. Crafting what would become some of the most important songs of the golden era of Australia’s electro-pop scene, the duo used venues like Club 77 to road test new music and expand their abilities as performers.
Now they’re heading back there for the first time in 17 years for the first installment of Smirnoff’s Origins series which aims to pay homage to the iconic venues and legendary artists that have played them. “We’re thrilled to head back to Club 77 to play at Smirnoff Origins, a venue that was so special to us coming up in Sydney music,” Hamilton says. “Live music venues like this play such an important role in supporting up-and-coming musicians and we’re on the lookout for an emerging artist to open our Smirnoff Origins show so we can pay it forward and create an opportunity for the next generation of artists.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfsbqFbCtC0
Origins is much more than a nostalgia trip, with nurturing young talent also being a big part of the pie; The Presets will hand-pick an emerging artist to open their show at Club 77. The chosen artist will also receive a $5,000 performance fee, double gold tickets to Splendour in the Grass 2023 (valued at $1,200), their very own feature in Rolling Stone magazine (valued at $20,000), and Smirnoff Advertising support worth $30,000. To enter just msg Smirnoff on IG with a Spotify, Soundcloud or YouTube link to your music before December 19th (Ts & Cs here).
Smirnoff Origins shows will pop up all along the Eastern Seaboard, with the next show to be announced in Brisbane in January 2023. Stay tuned!