Aussie Battlers
Battle City is back again for another year and it’s shaping up to be the biggest and best yet. It is Queensland Music Festival time again and as always, a veritable buffet of music styles will be on display for locals to lap up. One of the most unique events is Battle City, which DJ Bacon - event DJ and co-ordinator - promises will be off the proverbial hook.

“In the eight years it's been running we've seen it grow from a small event held in King George Square to the major event it's become in recent years.”

DJ Bacon (The Notorious P.I.G), is a local who has recently returned after a sojourn in Melbourne and says that he got involved with Battle City over six years ago. “I was DJing for Gravity Warriors back in 2003 and when the event started I fell into the role of DJ, since then it's grown into what it is today - it’s actually one of the biggest and longest running events of its kind in Queensland,” he says.

Bacon, aka Scott Barker, says that taking on the role of event co-ordinator for this year's battle has only made him more passionate about the event. “I've always loved being involved as the DJ but getting to take on more responsibility this year has given me a deeper insight into what goes into staging an event of this size.”

Barker, who has his musical roots in funk and hip hop, says that the event will have a funky, soulful soundtrack for dancers to battle to. “There will be lots of funk and up-tempo beats with a hip hop backbone, lots of James Brown and Bongo Band and all those original funk bands that the hip hop dudes sampled in the beginning.”

In previous years the standard of competition has been quite high and this year, Bacon promises, will be no exception. “Last year 16 crews of four entered. I think there was even one crew who were all 13 or 14 years old, it's good to see the younger generation get involved as it also acts as a showcase for other artists as we try to incorporate all the elements of hip hop culture into the event.”

To get involved in this free, open air, all ages event, head to the Turbot Street underpass to register for Battle City before 6pm on July 24.