Music
Beat Street
BEAT STREET 30TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING + BREAKDANCE COMP
Set in New York, and featuring everyone from Grandmaster Melle Mel, Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa through to the Rock Steady Crew, this seminal hip hop drama stars a young Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis + Saundra Santiago and was produced by Harry Belafonte. Arthur Baker headed up the music department (who could forget his Breakers Revenge from the soundtrack?) so it’s little wonder the film’s music and moves made an indelible mark on budding hip hoppers the world over, not least here in Australia where it found an enthusastic cinema audience. Released in 1984 (not a bad year for music films, given this is our second 30th anniversary retrospective screening for 2014) Beat Street inspired many local DJs, breakers, MCs and graff artists and so we thought it was a fun (and cheap) way to wind up a really successful screening year for Groovescooter following a load of sell-out cinema screenings in 2014 and some memorable Q&As.
We’re happy to have skilled turntablist DJ Frenzie (Groove Therapy) live on the wheels of steel for the night as we also invite breakers to strut their stuff after the film. Winners in the breakdance competition will take home some great prizes, plus we’ll have DVD and vinyl giveaways for those not quite up to busting their toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes for the judges. Speaking of judges: Rosano Martinez (aka El Assassin) of groundbreaking Aussie crew Westside Posse/Sound Unlimited/Renegade Funktrain (who performed with the film’s Rock Steady Crew at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion back in 1984) and local B-girl CATWMN (aka Catherine Tsang whose floor skills see her performing in competion both here and in Singapore) will be casting their eyes over the floor and deciding who takes home the prize booty.
BEAT STREET SCREENING
7 PM, WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER, 2014
PLAY BAR
BASEMENT, 72 CAMPBELL ST SURRY HILLS
TICKETS: $5 ON THE DOOR (On-line ticketing has closed)
PRESENTED BY GROOVESCOOTER, EASTSIDE RADIO
FUNKDAFIED + PLAY BAR