Neither rain nor the winter chill could keep music lovers away from the first night of Unsound Festival 2025, which this year shifted to a new venue Lion Arts Factory. While the location change came with a few growing pains, the music remained bold, boundary-pushing, and unforgettable.

Opening the festival on Friday 11 July, the collaborative set from Nídia & Valentina Magaletti was an electric beginning. Magaletti’s driving, dynamic percussion merged seamlessly with Nídia’s propulsive beats, creating a thrilling dialogue between two masterful artists. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, swept up in the evolving rhythm and mutual energy. It felt less like a performance and more like an intimate musical conversation, setting the tone for the weekend.

Next up was a powerful performance from sibling duo Chuquimamani-Condori (aka Elysia Crampton) and Joshua Chuquimia Crampton, performing together as Los Thuthanaka. Dressed in spectacular outfits, their set was a sensory feast. The interplay between musicianship, lighting, and costume design brought a theatrical intensity to the stage, making their experimental soundscapes all the more immersive.

aya, the London-based producer and vocalist known for rave, techno, and deconstructed club music, drew the crowd in with a sharp wit and heavier-than-thunder beats. Widely regarded as one of the most mind-bending artists in the electronic world, aya did not disappoint. Their blend of chaotic rhythms and fast-paced humour made for a captivating, genre-defying set that had the audience both laughing and losing it on the dance floor.

Closing the night, psychedelic noise duo Yellow Swans recently reunited after a 15-year hiatus and delivered a meditative, droning performance that enveloped the crowd in waves of sound. Their set was less about spectacle and more about sonic immersion, drawing listeners into a distorted dream state to end the evening.

While Lion Arts brought a new atmosphere, the unique charm of the Polish Club was missed. The previous venue allowed for a more fluid movement. As an experimental festival with lighting and sound, it was missed that you couldn’t move around the space to gain a broad perspective of the acts. The Polish hospitality, pierogi, vodka, and the feeling of being in a shadowy European warehouse added a layer of cultural immersion that was noticeably absent.

Still, Unsound Festival Adelaide remains a singular experience. With its dedication to experimentation, interdisciplinary artistry, and truly global programming, it continues to draw one of the most dedicated and adventurous crowds in Adelaide. Here’s to the noise, the innovation and to the second night of Unsound.

UnSound tickets are still available for Saturday night here – https://www.illuminateadelaide.com/unsound-adelaide-2025/