Pulse Radio Australia Day Party Guide

Australia Day: Our national holiday and quite simply a great excuse to party, get drunk and enjoy the sun (well, fingers crossed on that last part). There is an absolute plethora of great parties and events happening around the country on Australia Day Eve and then the day itself, and we've gathered a cream of the crop list of what's happening in Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia Day Eve

Keen for some debauchery after work on Thursday? Well there's plenty of parties hosting some fine DJ talent around the traps in Sydney to let yourself go at. As part of the Sydney Festival for 2012, Mad Racket are hosting Chicago house legend Peven Everett for their night at Keystone Bar, with their after party happening at Spice Cellar with Simon Caldwell, Ken Cloud and others. Whilst up the road in Kings Cross at Goldfish another Chicago house legend will be hitting the decks - the one and only Derrick Carter. Difficult choice to be made there. Or just go to both!

Also happening on the eve of the 25th is one for the younger peeps. Just up the road from Goldfish, French house maestro DJ Falcon and new man on the scene Deathface from the USA will both head up the same bill for Fake Club.

Down in Melbourne there will be two shindigs on offer. First up is the smalltown party at Prince Boardroom with techno and pop man Matthew Dear in DJ mode with local legends Tornado Wallace and Mike Callander in tow. Second up is the launch of the Stray boat party; a night time event featuring a stellar lineup of international and local DJs such as A+B, Caltec, Mr. Pyz and Mike Buhl.

Australia Day

The biggest party on the 26th will undoubtedly be the Agwa 012 Yacht Club featuring Matthew Dear and Pete Herbert and the after party at the Burdekin, which tickets and set times have just been annouced for (see here).

At the Sydney Showground will be one of the nation's longest running and favourite music festivals, The Big Day Out, boasting a line-up that includes Royksopp, Girl Talk, Shockone, OFWGKTA, Tonite Only (our interview here), Miss Kittin, Nero and Das Racist. You can check out our BDO Artist Preview Feature here.

Over at Ivy there are two events happening, with Experience Entertainment hosting a live DJ set from Taboo of Black Eyed Peas fame at Ivy Pool (info here), whilst in the courtyard Swerve Productions are bringing Yolanda Be Cool, Nadastrom, Bombs Away & Starfuckers for their party. Tickets here.

Holding down the beach area for Australia Day shenanigans is the Green Beats Party at Coogee Bowling Club, with an all local line-up including PeeWee Ferris and recent Guinness World Record holder Smokin' Joe Mekhael. Then nearby in North Bondi, Javi Sampol and France's Djuliano are headlining the joint rooftop party of Wildlive and Rooftop Productions at Hastings Pde, info here.

And how about  maybe taking part in an Australia Day flashmob?? No, seriously, there's one happening.

Also don't forget that if you're throwing a BBQ or house party on Thursday, there's the Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown - counting down the best tracks of 2011 as voted by you. If you forgot to vote, it's too late now, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy what is considered an Aussie tradition and tune in to have the countdown as your party soundtrack. Check out what The Aston Shuffle chose as their top ten.

So that just about wraps it up. Whatever your decision, just remember one thing...enjoy!

Listen to Matthew Dear on Pulse Radio

Listen to Miss Kittin on Pulse Radio

Listen to Derrick Carter on Pulse Radio