“Charge Your UE Boom”: Angry Ravers Are Throwing A Dance Protest About Cancelled Defqon.1
They want you to "pop a phat hakk" in protest.
Back in May, Defqon.1 announced it was postponing its Australian leg “indefinitely”, following calls from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to have the festival cancelled after two drug-related deaths at the event last year. Now, punters are telling people to ‘pop a phat hakk’ and protest.
A Facebook event “Official Street Party Parade Defqon 1 We Are Here To Stay” has grown in support in the past few days, with more than 1,400 people now clicking ‘attending’. The event was created in June, but has gained more traction via a Facebook share by activist group/would-be political party Keep Sydney Open.
The event, scheduled for 14 September, Defqon.1 2019’s original date, proposes “true warriors” meet at Penrith station and walk up to the Sydney International Regala Centre, which withdrew its support in May, leaving Defqon.1 without a venue.
“[We will] party/hakk/gabba/walk as one to the Sydney International Regatta Centre and still celebrate regardless,” the event description reads. “Let’s take over the streets with (hard)style and make new memories that will last a life time.”
“We will be organising big speakers to play music through and if people could bring their portable speakers for that extra punch it would be appreciated. [Plus we’ll have] a suitable rest/dance stop for everyone to refill water bottles as it’s an estimated 1 hour and 15 minute walk from Penrith station.”
Defqon.1 was postponed amid growing pressure and restrictions upon NSW music festivals, which began after the two deaths at last year’s event. In a press conference the day after the deaths, Berejiklian specifically targeted Defqon.1, saying she “never [wanted] to see this event held in Sydney or NSW ever again”.
Between Defqon.1 and January, there were 5 drug-related deaths in NSW at music festivals, each prompting tighter restrictions and language by Berejiklian and the state government, while continuing to reject pill-testing as a harm minimisation tactic.
Meanwhile, medical officials and music and festival organisations point towards the ACT’s two successful pill-testing trials instead of festival-ending regulations.
Since last year, multiple NSW music festivals have been cancelled last-minute, including Mountain Sounds, Psyfari and Bohemian Beatfreaks. All organisers cite exuberant fees and regulations, prompting a coalition of festivals to take the NSW government to court.
In the lead-up to this March’s NSW state election, a coalition of industry figures formed ‘Don’t Kill Live Music’, an activist group asking demanding pill-testing and an end to Sydney’s lockout-laws. Their first rally was massive, mobilising thousands in Sydney’s Hyde Park. While it’s a safe bet this protest will be smaller in size, it’s got the potential to be just as loud.
“Charge your UE boom,” advises the event page, “clean your tns, pop a phat hakk, wear your defqon 1 merchandise and let’s all come together as 1 to show the government we won’t let this happen without a fight.”