The evening was themed Melbourne LIVE!, celebrating the city’s world-famous festivals, and was produced by DG global Creative Event Agency. With impeccable catering by Showtime Events Centre, the event site incorporated four unique venues surrounding a ‘pop-up’ inspired outdoor bar and entertainment space.
More than 2000 guests attended the event to kick off AIME 2013 in true Melbourne street style.
Live Arrivals – With a roaming band of mad navies entertaining guests with some good old sea-shanties, the red carpet area truly came alive. Pausing for photographs at the media wall, VIPs and guests were treated to a live festival atmosphere from the moment they arrived.
Cargo Culture – Paying homage to the site’s maritime heritage, the ‘pop-up’ Cargo Bar created a huge buzz and was the focal point for some serious networking. Built in, around and over a shipping container, Cargo Bar exuded an industrial maritime theme and provided the setting for a surprise finale. Celebrity emcee Tim Campbell certainly grabbed everyone’s attention appearing without fanfare atop the Cargo Bar container to introduce legendary Australian music icon Jon Stevens. His impromptu high energy acoustic set mesmerised the audience before the Yarra River literally erupted into the bursts of a spectacular fireworks display.
Meat Market – Senses exploded with the smell, sounds and sights in Meat Market South Wharf, where the Australian-style open grills took centre stage. Inspired by the Australian BBQ, Meat Market showcased Australia’s premium quality dry aged beef, pork and lamb. With live chefs working the central open kitchen, guests experienced the passion of Melbourne’s culinary culture as a sole pianist/vocalist added to the ambience. The Prawn & Oyster Bar, located in the Meat Market’s rear laneway frontage, featured a vintage wooden boat filled with ice, overflowing with Austalia’s finest seafood that was a gastronomic hit with guests.
Bohemian – The streets of Spain met the banks of the Yarra River as Bohemian came alive with the tastes and colours inspired by authentic Spanish street food. Bohemian proved a popular destination, with wooden crates and baskets of vegetables and herbs piled high outdoors, surrounding a lively Paella station, typifying Melbourne’s al fresco dining culture. Fiesta Flamenco provided a further touch of authenticity. Featuring beautiful costumes, electric footwork and the raw energy of guitar and song, this exciting dance and music duo celebrated the unique language and spirit of Flamenco.
The Common Man – Suburban chic best described The Common Man gastro pub experience. Serving an authentic selection of pizzas by the slab, The Common Man played host to popular pub duo Every Avenue, whose seminal acoustic set literally filled the venue to capacity. In fitting with Melbourne’s true pub culture, guests were also served traditional chicken parmigianas.
Showtime Events Centre – Set in a warehouse-styled wharf shed, Showtime served internationally influenced roving canapés, finger food and desserts, appealing to all palates from across the globe. The industrial chic ambience featured a stage backed with stacked crates, enhanced by an eclectic melange of retro industrial junk. Waiters were dressed in Melbourne’s traditional black, with white aprons cleverly stencilled for guests to identify the dishes served. A sumptuous and extravagant cheese station drew guests to taste a range of locally produced delicacies. Completing the range of live sites, Showtime’s stage featured local Melbourne rhythm and blues quartet Soul Nation, and later came alive as a pumping dance club as Collective LIVE played out the event.
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