MATILDA @ THE BAY
Matilda @ The Bay
Matilda @ The Bay transformed the Boorloo’s Sunset Heritage Precinct into a vibrant dancefloor. Set against the backdrop of Matilda Bay, this unique and effortless event took party goers from day to night whilst capturing the essence of the local creative community.
The organisers couldn’t have chosen a more evocative setting, where nature’s tranquillity met the echoes of history. The abandoned Sunset Hospital provided a hauntingly atmospheric backdrop, beautifully contrasted by the natural beauty of the bay. At the heart of it all was the industrial stage—a striking creation of repurposed milk crates and solar LED lighting strips. Its raw, unconventional design was a bold contrast to the natural backdrop, yet somehow it all came together in a seamless harmony. The atmosphere was secluded yet alive, sleek yet organic, every detail carefully curated to captivate and inspire.
With no marketing or public promotion, the event relied solely on the power of word-of-mouth—a gamble that paid off. What emerged was a vibrant celebration of creativity and connection proving that when passion and collaboration meet, magic can happen. The day began in classic WA summer style, with open decks and snags on the barbecue, inviting Boorloo’s emerging talent to set the tone. Local DJs delivered diverse sets that echoed over the bay, starting with Toby Jon’s groovy house rhythms following with Friend of a Friend’s house-tech breaks at sunset. Digby then joined Friend of a Friend for an upbeat B2B, setting the tone for Cosmic Girls, an inaugural B2B by organisers Ess and Tiph. Their dynamic set, opening with Sully’s 5ives and weaving through global house and ambient tech, earned praise for expertly controlling the dancefloor’s energy. The night was closed out by fishfingers, who brought his signature funk-house blend. His infectious grooves sealed the evening, leaving the crowd in a euphoric state. The lineup masterfully balanced hard-hitting breaks with moments of calm, giving the crowd space to dance, breathe, and take in the bay air.
On Sunday morning, we spoke to the event organisers who brought Matilda @ The Bay to life with just days of planning. "It was a pretty tight turn around to source a sound system, operational support, to get local DJs at such short notice, to design and build the stage and our structural installations. [...] There were a few surprises, on the day we realised the street lights around the precinct don’t always come on but last minute we did manage to set up light projections into the trees which worked really well. The police really just came along to check everything was in order and said they were actually really impressed with how the event turned out, to carry on and enjoy the party”. We were also pleased to see the signature Of Angels and Legends disco ball tethered to the Ancient Fig tree - icing on the cake.
Matilda @ The Bay proved to be a bold and dynamic celebration of music, design, and the magic of spontaneity - a testament to what’s possible when passion and precision collide in the right setting.
We had the chance to ask the artists some rapid fire questions
Toby Jon
What inspired the formation of Toby Jon?
Georgy: Both of us have been friends for a long time now and Sam is a huge reason why I started DJing years ago, pretty much taught me everything I know so after having our time doing solo shows throughout the years we both felt we were missing something/wanted a new challenge so it was only right we formed a duo!
What is the best thing about being in a duo?
Georgy: I think the best thing about being in a duo is having someone there to share the fun and excitement with whether it be on stage, at home or in the studio. Solo life can be quite boring & lonely at times so having someone you’re always on the same page with helps a lot! Also knowing if something goes wrong (because it always does) someone’s right there who’s got your back
Friend of a Friend
What has been the most fun part of your new EP release URS ARE MINE?
Seeing some idols of mine show it love even before it’s proper release, like Skin on Skin, sim0ne, fasterhorses and Testpress - or, or, or, when you make a track and you think you’ve done a good job mixing it, then it sounds fucked when you listen to it in the car
What track have you got on repeat right now?
Close to the edge by Rua Dj
@friendofafriend.wav
Digby
We know you love a good B2B with friends - who is your dream B2B?
Definitely with Boots and Nick Dart.
What can we expect from you in 2025?
Stoked to be on support for Ryota and opening for 6sense, but overall just keen to get dance floors moving as best I can :)
@digby.marhsall
Cosmic Girls
Tell us a little more about the name Cosmic Girls.
We wanted the name to capture the surreal - the multi-genre, interplanetary journey we want to take people on on the dance floor. It was amazing to have so many people tell us they really enjoyed the rise and falls in our set.
What’s next up for Cosmic Girls?
This was our first performance as a duo, we literally played for the first time together the day before so what’s in store will be a surprise for both of us!
@tiphkatselas
@ess.demo
fishfingers
What made you want to get into DJing?
I got into djing kinda by accident. One of the homies had decks which I used to mess around on. I had the idea I might be alright at it so bought myself a small set right before covid. I ended up mixing the whole lockdown because there was nothing else to do.
Who is your dream artist to see live?
Dream artist is kinda tricky because I ticked off so much of my bucket list at BTV but would love to see Job Jobse
@fishfingers____
