RISING’s Day Tripper took over Melbourne Town Hall and Max Watt’s for eight hours of live performances and organised chaos. With four stages and a packed schedule, the day required some planning, though that plan quickly became flexible. My best friend and I spent most of it moving between buildings, joining queues, and trying not to get absorbed into the Town Hall backrooms.

We started in the Main Hall with Chicago percussionist Kahil El’Zabar. His performance drew from spiritual and avant-garde jazz, led by layered percussion and a steady groove that filled the enormous room. El’Zabar had a calm command over the set, even as the musicians moved through loose and improvisational passages. It was an unexpectedly absorbing start to the day.

At Max Watt’s, Western Sydney hardcore band Homesick gave us our first proper punk show. I loved it. Their sound was abrasive and heavy, and the atmosphere in the room was insane. The band played with a level of force that made the crowd feel involved from the beginning. People in the pit were moving, yelling, and throwing themselves into it. I had never seen that kind of performance live before, and it immediately made me understand the appeal. Homesick were easily one of the biggest surprises of the day.

Max Watt’s then filled to the brim for Chanel Beads. The New York group were the only act on the lineup I already knew and loved, so seeing them live was one of my main priorities. On record, their music is hazy and fragmented, with vocals and melodies buried beneath dense electronic layers. Live, the songs felt heavier and more immediate. Hearing some of my favourite tracks in a packed room was easily one of the highlights of the day. Their set was gorgeous and strange. I left loving them even more.

Back at the Town Hall, we caught part of Ecstatic Mob in the Portico Room. The performance was loud and driven by collective movement. It was one of those sets where the energy of the room mattered as much as anything happening in front of it. We could not stay long because we wanted to get into Ketamine Sofa, so we joined the line for the Yarra Room.

Then the fire alarm went off.

The entire Town Hall was evacuated, though nobody seemed especially concerned. Everyone walked downstairs very nonchalantly and gathered outside while firefighters arrived. My best friend and I took selfies in front of the firetrucks, and I chainsmoked Manchesters while we exchanged theories with strangers about what had happened. My guess was that somebody’s vape had set off an alarm. One person suggested that the evacuation was probably just part of the performance. With no clear idea of how long the evacuation would take, we went on a small 7-Eleven detour. Before we knew it, the Town Hall was letting people back inside. Shoutout to the RISING team and venue staff, who managed the whole interruption smoothly, and had everyone back inside without much confusion.

We returned in time for Discovery Zone in the Supper Room. Berlin-based artist JJ Weihl performed dreamy electronic pop that felt slightly detached from reality, which suited the mood after the evacuation. Her synths, processed vocals and visual presentation gave the performance a retro-futuristic quality. The Supper Room felt contained and intimate after standing outside among fire engines and confused festivalgoers.

Kae Tempest closed our day in the Main Hall. Tempest’s performance centred on their delivery, moving between spoken word, rap and music with complete control over the room. Their writing covers personal identity, politics, isolation, and community. The crowd listened closely because Tempest made every line feel immediate. There was anger in the performance, along with warmth, and a strong sense of hope. Their ability to hold such a large room through language alone was impressive and gave the day a satisfying ending.

Day Tripper worked because there was always another room to enter and another sound coming through the walls. We missed things and changed plans throughout the afternoon, but that felt built into the experience. Even the fire alarm became part of the story. By the end, Day Tripper had become one long, unpredictable journey through RISING’s strange little maze.

Photo credits Shannyn Higgins.