Skylab’s ‘Front Left Cup’ is a celebration of community outside of the club

Skylab Radio is, in many senses, a very visible heart of Naarm/Melbourne’s vibrant music culture. Not only across ‘dance’ music, but involving musicians, personalities, local brands and venues of all kinds in its celebration of what makes its hometown, and Australia more broadly, truly special.

Skylab’s commitment to its community has been evident in many different ways since the station’s inception in 2018. From collaborations with local artisans and brands, to takeovers of beloved venues both big and small, regular events and giveaways to its subscribers, Skylab is a soft and supportive presence for many a Naarm music lover.

This weekend however, that sweetness hits the bench.

The ‘Front Left Cup’ is a yearly initiative, run by Skylab in partnership with Ultra Football and Bodriggy Brewing Company, that sees labels, venues and community organisations from all over Naarm compete to see who the biggest head(er)s are.

On the pitch.

The event, featuring 12 teams in total, will raise money for the station and act as a day filled with music, food, and community spirit (above all else).

To get the advantage on placing a bet ahead of this weekend, and of course to get a read on the history and purpose of Front Left Cup, we sat down with the Director of Skylab, Simon TK, who very generously took some time out of his busy training schedule not only to chat, but to give us a playlist too.

*(move over FIFA)

Q: Where did the inspiration to kick off ‘Front Left Cup’ come from?

S: It was actually somewhat accidental. A few years ago Skylab released a football kit in collaboration with local label R.SPORT who specialise in bespoke small-run sportswear. The initial ‘Front Left Cup’ was actually just meant to be a community football game at Ultra Football to celebrate the launch of the kit.

The response was so great that we knew we had to keep going with it. broadcast radio culture is incredibly strong in Naarm/Melbourne. And this conversation can’t be had without acknowledging the Reclink Community Cup. A community (AFL) football tournament which pits our beloved broadcast radio stations 3RRR and PBS against musos.

With that event being such a community stable, the blueprint was already there, and after such a warm response from people after the first Front Left Cup, we just sort of fell into running a smaller version of it for our section of the dance community.

Q: What is it about football, particularly coming from Victoria (a notoriously AFL heavy state), that brings these different parts of the scene together?

S: As an online radio station, Skylab’s DNA comes directly from pirate radio culture in the UK, as opposed to more traditional forms of FM frequency broadcast radio. It makes perfect sense for us to play football/soccer, given the close ties it has with UK music culture. The cup is a nice mix of community sporting energy, football fashion (all the teams have their own custom kits), and a healthy dose of pitch-side grime, dubstep and UKG.

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Q: Have there ever been any rivalries between teams?

S: The most famous rivalry is between arch nemesis venues Skydiver Records and Milney’s Bar. Tensions ran high last year as an already spicy relationship was tested when the semi-finals went to penalty shootouts. This year most teams are focused on dethroning the mighty Bodriggy Brewers, who might be the event’s sponsors but made some enemies at the inaugural cup.

Q: Who are the favourites this year & why?

S: This year the cup has some new additions, and though there is talent wherever you look, we hear that Butter Sessions are playing to win, and there have been eyewitness accounts of Capers Bar having actual training sessions, which is unconventional bordering on illegal.

Q: Are there any people in the community who stand out as star players? Why or why not?

S: There are players ranging from first-timers to people that actually play in leagues. Because we all hail from the same community and there is a lot of overlap between venues, labels and stations, needless to say the draft pick this year has been brutal, with some players fielding offers from multiple teams, causing controversy at best, and at times heartbreak.

Q: What impact do you think doing things outside of music has on Skylab’s musical influence?

S: We are first and foremost for the community and by the community. So, we love doing things like merch collabs and events like the FLC. One bit of feedback from last time was how nice it was for members of the music scene to be able to connect in an all-ages setting outside the club.

Q: Skylab is a community oriented institution. What is the Front Left Cup able to provide that Skylab’s regular programming isn’t?

S: Skylab is just one of 12 teams participating in the cup, many of the teams either have their own venues, or run events where people connect. Normally Skylab listeners can come into Quiet Time, the venue where our studio is, and have a drink and listen live, but what’s different about the Front Left Cup is that it has all these music people, venue people, hospos, centralised in the same place, not scattered across their respective venues. The Front Left Cup is about taking it from the URL to the IRL!

Q: Front Left sees Skylab collaborating on a tracksuit, yet another piece of merch made with local designers & brands. What is it like getting to work with people from your city, often with entirely different creative pursuits?

S: It’s incredible, but also we wouldn’t want to have it any other way. With all our merch we steer away from fast fashion, or anything too ‘merch-y’. From our latest tracksuit with R.Sport, to our recent collaboration of Bugskin bags made from up-cycled advertising materials, to working with legendary local artists like House Arrest, we like to make things that will last in collaboration with very talented people!

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Front Left Cup takes place this Saturday, October 5, at Ultra Football, 200 Gipps St, Abbotsford VIC 3067.

Entry is all-ages, family friendly and absolutely free. RSVP here.

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ’s Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.