Simpatico: Nightshift at Metro West Shopping Centre

Finding Figaro has a knack for throwing parties in unusual locations, like Old Melbourne Gaol and Collingwood Children’s Farm. Now joining that roster is the “mostly vacant” Metro West Shopping Centre in Footscray, which will serve as the venue for one of the promoter’s most ambitious parties yet.

“It’s a super weird ’70s style shopping centre,” co-founder Nico Faust tells Broadsheet. “It’s really eccentric, there’s always a random shopping trolley in there … or hallways that lead to nothing.”

The team is hosting a range of international and local DJs on November 15. NTS resident Anu and “goddess of rhythm” Karen Nyame KG will bring bassy, percussive sounds, and Aotearoa’s Eden Burns is going back to back with Melbourne’s own Andras for a dubbed-out house set.

Fan-favourite and all-round icon Moopie is also joining the lineup, alongside Hannah D , Suki and Footscray local Babycino. Local Ex Ponto will round out the bill with a live set blending audio and visuals.

The party will take place over two levels, with punters being able to take the escalator up to the mezzanine and watch the main dancefloor from above. There will also be a second stage inside one of Metro West’s empty storefronts and a bootleg karaoke room hidden away as well.

Art gallery TROU resides in the shopping centre, and it’s teaming up with fellow tenant Khartoum City Cafe to bring North and East African flavours to the dancefloor.

Metro West had long been on Figaro’s radar as a possible venue, but the Footscray-based team didn’t think it would be possible until they were approached by Maribyrnong City Council, whicj asked them if they wanted to throw an event there.

“We’re really lucky. A lot of councils aren’t supportive, but this one really is,” Faust says.

Although the venue is certainly novel, throwing a party there won’t be without its challenges, even for a team this experienced.

“Trying to balance making it still look really good, and trying to maintain the weird, eccentric energy of the building, while also delivering production that we're really happy with is probably the main challenge,” Faust says. “But I think we’ll get there.”

“We're putting a lot of energy and time into it as well as a way to celebrate how weird and fun and vibrant Footscray is.”

@findingfigaro