Live Review: Arno Faraji @ Friday Night Lights

Since winning the triple j Unearthed High competition in 2017, hip hop trailblazer Arno Faraji has emerged as one of Perth’s hottest exports. A cool, calm and collected flow combined with skilled production has seen him earn spots at festivals like Groovin The Moo and support slots for artists like Tkay Maidza, Cosmo’s Midnight and Rejjie Snow. Following the release of two strong singles in 2019, he hit Claremont Showground on Friday night as part of his debut national tour.

The event also served as season-opener for Centenary Warehouse, and upon entering the venue it was immediately clear it was an impressive set-up. The spacious outdoor area saw groups huddled around heaters, while food trucks and a bumper car arena rounded out the perimeter. Inside the main warehouse, arcade games and ping pong tables could be seen as the night kicked off with DJ sets from DJ Sara T and Kelz & Yira, the latter of which brought boundless energy to their set and seriously lifted the energy of the space.

A criminally short showcase of three local artists followed, with Prince$$ Khanya, MALi JO$E and Alex Parkman receiving only ten minutes each to show their skills. Of the three, youngster MALi JO$E proved a standout. Gracing the stage in a casual ensemble, the 17-year-old charmed the audience with his crisp delivery and effortless style. After recently being announced as a triple j Unearthed High finalist for 2019, the Year 12 student seems poised for big things as he looks to follow in Arno Faraji’s footsteps.

After a lively Afrobeat-heavy set from Bun Dem, it was time for Arno Faraji to hit the stage. The hometown hero quickly had the crowd vibing heavily as he rattled through hits like the TONTON collab, Tree’x, and last year's Bless (What It’s Like). Joined on stage by a posse of hypemen - as per Faraji tradition - the feelgood performance was broken up by Olé Olé Olé chants and even involved a shoutout to MALi JO$E who was front row in the crowd. Closing with the stellar 2019 single Scalin', Faraji’s skill on the mic was made clear.

Despite the enjoyable set, the massive capacity warehouse venue appeared to be mismatched for the event, with the majority of the space left sparse throughout the night. Not to be discouraged, a well-curated DJ set from MOWGLI had those in attendance dancing until the night wrapped up.