THE SCENE Sydney’s creative scene clocked in for duty at SXSW’s opening night

On Tuesday night, SXSW’s music festival officially kicked things off for the week, and bringing with it the kind of energy that Sydney’s been trying to convince the world it still has. Taking over UTS Underground, Johnnie Walker’s Black Ruby House hosted the official opening party. It was part launch, part proof-of-life for the city’s creative scene.

Among the crowd of festival goers and media were the likes of Eitan Broude, Riley Hemson, Tait and Ash McGregor, as well as a mix of musicians, DJs and media types doing what they do best: looking effortlessly busy.

On the decks and stage: DJ Mowgli May, 2charm, Suichu Spica and other emerging artists, setting the tone with back-to-back sets that kept the basement crowd moving well past when anyone planned to go home.

The event marks the start of SXSW Sydney’s week-long program, which will host over 150 artist and see Johnnie Walker presenting the Walk to Austin Award later this week to celebrate the best emerging talent of the festival.

If Tuesday’s anything to go by, Sydney’s creative scene might finally be making its comeback. We say it’s damn well time.