About us

About kicks

Kicks is the amalgamation of two distinguished companies who will continue to search for the very best party locations, the most rewarding artists, the ultimate in atmosphere and deliver to you. Formally known as Friction and Lexington Music, Kicks is continually bringing Canberrans premier music events with a unique vibe and the latest talent in music.

History

Friction was born in early 2000 by two highly experienced promoters Paul Azzopardi and Jeff Drake. For eight years Friction continually supplied Canberra punters with a genuine clubbing experience in an otherwise barren Canberra club scene. Friction soon became a mutli-award winning company for Friction Fridays at Canberra’s premier club, Academy.

Ryan Phillips and Laurence Kain burst onto the music festival scene in 2006 introducing Canberra to the first Block Party and Sound Baked Sundays. This gave Lexington Music the energy and experience to create something bigger and better. It was just the start of the sun soaked outdoor parties to come.

The birth of Foreshore

The boys from Lexington Music and Friction collaborated in 2007 to throw the biggest youth music festival to be seen in the Nations Capital. Foreshore Summer Music Festival exceeded all expectations when a full house of 7,500 party peeps turned out to dance and sing in the greatest festival location in Australia-Commonwealth Place, in the parliamentary triangle, Canberra! Set on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin and on the first day of summer, the boys from Friction & Lexington Music had created what was to become Canberra best music event. Not even the rain and mud stopped the ecstatic punters from enjoying the local, national and international artists. All attempts at remaining clean had been abandoned and a semi-tribal feeling had taken on the shoeless crowd who were thoroughly enjoying the freedom! Fedde le Grand and Switch brought the international flair and local rockers Midnight Juggernauts and Muscles represented the home team. There was plenty to dance to. Sneaky Sound System nailed the closing set sending the inaugural Foreshore crowd home for a much needed shower before joining the afterparty!

Foreshore Summer Music Festival is now an annual event held at the very cusp of summer, expanding over three stages to 12,000 patrons drawn from all over NSW and the ACT. The festival showcases the latest in music and the beauty of our Capital city. Foreshore has hosted artists like The Presets, PNAU, Empire of the Sun, Deadmau5, The Bloody Beetroots, Sneaky Sound System, Midnight Juggernauts, Sasha, Crookers, Axwell plus so many more, it is easy to see why the festival is the winner of the ITM50 award for ‘Best ACT Event’ two years in a row!

Warehouse

Having thrown the biggest summer music festival, the boys from Friction & Lexington headed into the massive AIS arena to set up a soiree to warm the Canberra spirits and winter. Pulling together an enormous production budget, a 10-metre high ghetto blaster was built to symbolise the theme Technology and Warehouse Winter Music Festival was alive. 5000 excited Canberrans bounced, rocked and pumped over three arenas for the first time introducing the most up-font and diverse sounds of the year. As the show reached its climax and kilos of confetti rained down, Warehouse was a success.

Each year Warehouse Winter Music Festival warms the winter spirit for around 7000 music lovers. The festival takes on a new theme each year and has seen the likes of Armand Van Helden, James Zabiela, Laidback Luke, Dirty South, Art vs Science, Mix Master Mike, Bonde do Role, Hybrid, Utah Saints, Mr. Oizo, Kissy Sell Out, Riva Starr, Justin Martin, The Stafford Brothers and Timmy Trumpet, the Potbelleez, Ajax, The Aston Shuffle... the list goes on! When it is at the depths of winter you will know it is time to head to another world... Warehouse (ITM50 ‘Best ACT Event – Runner up).

The collaboration

The relationship between Friction & Lexington Music could not have been stronger. Ryan, Laurence, Paul and Jeff decided to work together exclusively year in year out on a number of projects. Since then, the companies have bought a range of artists, DJ’s and groups to Canberra creating fun and excitement for the young and the young at heart. Friction & Lexington Music have now put on the great charity event Block Party each January for 1700 kids, a great summer series at Old Parliament House, Sound Baked Sundays @ Trinity bar, side tours and many great one off events.

With all that in mind Friction & Lexington Music have not neglected the regular club nights at Canberra’s premier venue Academy. Alliance is the result of a juicy collaboration between Academy, Friction & Lexington Music. This great club night has lifted clubbing in Canberra and took out in its first year the ITM50 Award ‘Best Club Night’.

Taking on all that, Kicks is set to take on from where Friction & Lexington Music finished off.