Shore Thing 2013 | Bondi Beach, NSW | Music Photography

It’s just past the half-way point of 2014. So I think it’s only fitting that I gather my things together and share my New Years Eve 2013!
…Only 6 months late.

For the second year in a row, I was a part of Fuzzy‘s new years eve festival, Shore Thing. For those of you who haven’t heard of Shore Thing before, it’s one of the only events of it’s scale and size to be held right on the world famous Bondi Beach. Top international artists, huge production and setup, 12,000+ crazy people partying to bring in the new year – and of course fireworks!!

This year was headlined by a rather well known guy called Skrillex. And he was to bring his huge, specially built and shipped Mothership Spaceship for the festival.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Skrillex. I saw him do a live show in Canberra 3 or 4 years ago for Warehouse Festival and it didn’t do anything for me. In saying that…the crowd down there were going MENTAL over this guy! Absolutely crazy, and he really did have a stage presence that not everyone has. He knew how to get a crowd going, and keep them there.
But this year. This year changed things for me.

The gates opened at 8PM on the dot. The crowds were already lining up, hanging to get their new years celebrations started.
With DJ’s Vengeance and Alvin Risk opening things up nicely till around 10PM, it was time for UK duo Jack Beats to come and get the party started. And they did just that! Had the crowd jumping around in general chaos throughout their set.
Just before 11PM, it was time for local heroes / superstars What So Not to warm up for their record label boss, Skrillex. In the last two years or so, Harley (Flume) and Chris (Emoh Instead) have exploded both individually and as a duo making up What So Not. Massive international tours, insane (ie. sweat dripping from the roof, insane) club tours through Australia and of course being signed to Skrillex’s record label OWSLA.
They didn’t disappoint. Throwing down some original tunes from themselves, some exclusives and a whole bunch more.

Then it was onto the main show. With a few minutes before midnight, the stage goes dark, a huge Mothership is wheeled out & connected and the countdown begins.
Midnight drops, fireworks go off on Bondi Beach behind the huge stage and Skrillex does what he does best…gets people moving!!
HIs stage show was one of the best I’ve seen from a DJ. The Mothership, lasers firing off into the sky with massive fog cannons going off to perfectly matched drops. Ohh and some fire cannons too, just for good measure. It was great to watch, and even better to photograph.
But the big surprise for me, was the music. It wasn’t the old heavy-dubstep-bang-your-head-at-the-drop kind of thing from Canberra. It was lighter, but still right on-point.
A summer/beach set, maybe? Skrillex style.

So I bought in the new year holding my camera, taking photos on Bondi Beach. Not a bad thing, if you ask me.
After all that, it was back upstairs. Time for a drink on the balcony before heading home, getting some rest before new years day….another adventure!

Here’s some of my personal favourite shots from Shore Thing 2013. The rest of the photos can be found on the Shore Thing Facebook Page.

The huge crowd jumps for Alvin Risk at Shore Thing 2013, on Bondi Beach

Two girls arrive early to Shore Thing 2014.

What so Not plays a massive set at Shore Thing 2013, warming up for Skrillex.

Jack Beats preform at Shore Thing 2013, Bondi Beach

Chris “Emoh Instead” – one part of What So Not – greets the crowd while playing at Shore Thing 2013

Both members of What So Not – Flume & Emoh Instead – play just before midnight at Shore Thing 2013

Skrillex brings in the new year with fireworks and a massive DJ set on the beach at Bondi Beach.

International DJ & producer Skrillex plays Shore Thing 2013

Shrillex’s stage was a custom-built space ship specially flown in for the show.

The crowd goes absolutely insane when Skrillex brings in the new year at Shore Thing, Bondi Beach.

More lasers, more smoke, more fire! Skrillex doesn’t do things in halves.

This would be the last time Skrillex was to use this Mothership stage, promising to come back bigger & better next tour.

Bring able to photograph such an amazing stage show was pretty amazing.

The stage setup for Skrillex was one of the best I’ve seen – massive smoke cannons and lasers & lights all over the place!

The signature hair-flick of Skrillex going mental while on top of his Mothership spaceship.