Heavy Congress 2022

Heavy Congress was a collaboration with the Sound System community of Melbourne that celebrated the thriving culture in the city. The project resulted in an epic live gathering of ten systems, representing multiple genres, at the Forum Theatre, as part of Rising festival in 2022. The largest of its kind anywhere in the world, the live show pioneered a new format, baptised the audience in bass, produced a 7-inch record and presented a film on the history of the culture in Australia.

The team:

Lead artist and producer: Jason Maling

Stick Mareebo (Stick Mareebo Productions)

Chris Gill (Northside Records)

Lauren Mullings (Cleverb!tch Ltd)

Anna Schoo (Field Theory)

Graphics and Art Direction: John Warwicker

Set Design: Chantal Marks

Photography and Film: Francesco Vicenzi (Organic Photo)

Heavy Congress 2022 Sound Systems:

Fiona Bourne, Anitra Hayday & Yasmin Rupesinghe (Housewife’s Choice)

Derek Marr aka Stryka D (Heartical Hi Powa)

Adrian Hough (Adrians Wall)

Tom Noonan & Josh Gallagher (El Gran Mono)

Gee & Jason (System Unknown)

Monkey Marc, Phil Boutle & Rich Allen (DiY HiFi – Solar Sound System)

Chris Virus (VIRUS Sound System)

Jay & Matt (SubTemple Sound)

Lucrecia Quintanilla (General Feelings)

Joe Lorback (Solidarity Sound)

Heavy Congress: Convergence of Sound System Tribes - Article by Moses Iten