Saturday saw Brisbane’s live music venue and record store, The Foundry, taken over by 4ZZZ’s very own 60s aficionados, the Nowhere to Run DJ’s, for their latest Club Night in 2016. Spinning vinyl only, the very hip trio of Sarah Gardner, Glenn Porter and Anthony Gebhardt banged out roaring 60s tunes all night long, right from go to a Go-Go. Cue psychedelic light instalments, winged eyeliner and babydoll dresses as we step back in time to enjoy the best music the decade had to offer.

Clambering up the dark stairwell of the Foundry at 8.30pm, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I mean, it is not yet 9pm on a Saturday and most places don’t kick off until a little later. Not this crowd. By 9pm the room is half full and a real groove has set in. To my surprise, there’s even a few brave souls on the otherwise empty dancefloor. And why wouldn’t there be. With serious RnB tunes crackling over the speakers it’s hard to keep your shoulders in check. Before long, everyone is bopping away to the sweet sounds being pumped out by the well versed DJ team. Even the security guards get in on the action, rubber necking as they walk by. The crowd is mixed in age and a turnabout the room demonstrates the diversity of those present, as Mods, Sharpies, Rockabillies, Squares and a few Hippie types groove along together. 

From Northern Soul to Mod and Beat sounds and everything in between, the Nowhere to Run team have it covered. When it comes to the lesser known but well-loved tunes of this swinging decade, look no further. Diehard 60s shakers get down to the smooth sounds of Jimmy Norman, Etta James and The M.V.P.’s. Whilst, popular tunes from The Kinks, Edwin Starr and Barrett Strong receive rounds of applause from the crowd. Vibing off one another’s selections, the three DJs sub on and off the decks providing seamless but subtle changes in the night’s playlist.  What’s more, their impressive and wide reaching 60s music knowledge feels all the more authentic with the use of an old school telephone as mixing headphones.  

Infamous 60s moves the Monkey, the Jerk and the Twist become an absolute must on the dancefloor as the night and the tunes kick on well into the midnight hour. Couples take the opportunity to jive uninterrupted in dark corners whilst the rest of us sweat it up, front and centre before the stage. No hip is left un-gyrated with even the charismatic hosts jumping on to the dancefloor to soak up the atmosphere. 

Much like their regular radio spot on Sunday afternoons, the Nowhere To Run Club Night does not disappoint. Not only is it free entry but it is truly a unique and relatively rare showcase of 60s music and culture in Brisbane. If you’re looking to do the Watusi or just Pony or Monkey around, or not even sure what that means, the next gig these guys do will be well worth checking out. 

- Belinda Wych