Live Review: Volumes @ Oxford Art Factory, The Cliff Dive, Brighton Up Bar

As the sun set and the wind kicked in, it was time to begin Volumes.

Oxford Street was filled with keen loiterers jumping between the venues and stages, eager to catch some raw and enchanting up-and-comers as well as some seasoned performers. Each stage held its own unique identity. Oxford Art Factory's main stage was always filled with dancing, moshing and camera flashes. All of the bands, and the DJ sets in between, kept people hanging for more. The Gallery bands clashed with the main room, although at this smaller stage it was easier to lose yourself in dance and the booths along the walls gave the sweaty masses respite. Cliff Dive was incredible. As you walked up the stairs it seemed just like any other venue, but to enter you had to drift through streamer-like projectors with Visions promotions flowing from them. The glitter and decorations made the small space a standout - it was totally Instagram-worthy. Brighton Up Bar was equally busy - the small venue packed with loiterers, the bar deep with punters and the stage filled with talent.  

To start, Brisbane's Hatchie graced OAF's main stage, opening with glittering pop tune Try. Her vocals were soft and soothing, the overall vibes dreamy and magical. Next, Body Type filled the Oxford Art Factory to the brim. The all-girl band's new single Silver was inescapable, cementing them as a force to be reckoned with. Their shimmery guitars and monotone-yet-intricate melodies hooked ears and kept us bopping for the whole set. 

Moving to the Gallery stage, Party Dozen mesmerised the crowd. Every pair of eyes was glued to the duo as they created their passionate, genre-mashing tunes. The mix of percussion, sax and electronic ambience filled the room with curiosity and their performance was deeply emotive, every action executed with complete artistic purpose. The climaxes were intense as drummer Jonathan Boulet hyped up the mood while the saxophonist Kirsty Tickle built on the powerful sound. Although they're extremely experimental, melodies were easy to follow and super-catchy. The tracks all had a grunge element, although there were also hints of jazz and experimental electronic - like nothing we'd ever heard before. 

Straight Arrows then took the main stage, all their guitars sparkling with red glitter!  Petrified was the clear standout with its repetitive guitars and steady drumbeat. These guys got feet stomping and heads banging. The vocal was pretty linear, although with this band's expressive facial expressions and engaging banter it was hard to look away from the stage. They snuck in some reminders to enrol to vote - yelling, "Let us marry!" before ploughing into another track.

Moving over to Cliff Dive, Wallace brought deep R&B vocal melodies to her synthy electronic melodies. Some of her tracks even had groovin' reggae vibes! Her set was excellent, although most people were talking, drinking and laughing, immersed in the vibe rather than the music itself.

The Ocean Party were another electrifying standout on the night and the rotating vocalists kept things interesting and refreshing. The band's chemistry was really tight and they all seemed like they were having a great time, which the crowd responded to. Piano lines and a bit of surprise saxophone finished the already-thrilling set with a bang.

Gold Class hit Oxford Art Factory with undeniable presence and the crowd lapped them up. Frontman Adam Curley's performance was next-level, wrapping the microphone lead around his neck and whipping it around. His style was sultry in contrast to the heavy, rock-driven tunes they played. Curley casually took his shirt off and strolled off into the crowd, hitting every note.

The crowd went absolutely crazy for Jack McAllister (aka Willaris K). His stage presence was electric and his contagious beats were impossible to resist — no matter where you looked, everyone was dancing and having a wicked time. Towards the end, all in the room tripped out to one of his unreleased tracks — a certified banger.

To end, Jonti filled Oxford Art Factory with chilled-out electronica, in direct contrast to McAllister's set, although the crowd went just as wild. Jonti's tracks were so nuanced; it was hard to fault them. The mechanical sounds mixed with sweet, aerodynamic beats were unique and enthralling. A flawless performance.