Student talent on display at City campus Laneway Festival

Live@MediaStreet, which featured 18 music performers as well as student Design Stalls, drew  a crowd of more than 500 students.

The stage was set with a full sound system and lights, and music students worked behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly – a hands on experience that the Media Street facilities will continue to offer students.

The event kicked off with Birdhouse’s bass-heavy tunes, with students gathered around the stage and on the balconette walkways above.

Students got their retail fix without leaving campus by exploring the student run Design Stalls just outside the concert space.

A variety of crafts were on offer including jewellery, art prints and terrariums, as well as sustainable pieces like the bags and accessories that Cesar Marulanda, a Bachelor of Industrial Design student, had made from recycled plastic.

“It’s been very nice being able to show fellow students what I do,” he said.

“The traffic has been great as students have come or gone from class, and [the stalls] have been a great way for people to be aware of the new media space.”

As classes finished for the day, the space quickly filled up in time for indie-rock band Soft Corporate.

Troy Sheehan, Soft Corporate vocalist and RMIT student, impressed onlookers, alternating between the keyboard and guitar.

Osaka wrapped up the afternoon with a high energy performance, treating students to the synth-like guitar and distorted vocals from their new EP Manoeuvres.

The Media Street precinct offers students experience in creative industries, away from unpaid internships.

Now in its final stages, the new Media Precinct will be able to host fashion shows, product launches, and – as Live @Media Street demonstrated – live music.

The event also gave students a chance to get familiar with the Swanston Street entrance and the new spaces available in the updated building.

Patricio Munoz, an RMIT VCE student, used Live @ Media Street as an opportunity to explore the new spaces on campus.

“It’s wonderful. It’s got all the things we need and that a student requires. I didn't mind the old library, but modern is always better; technology gets more advanced and therefore it benefits everyone in the end. [The building now] feels more welcoming and friendlier,” he said.

“I find these sorts of events are great; it’s very interactive and it brings everyone together to see the architecture of the new building.”

The New Academic Street’s inaugural Laneway Festival was an overall success, with student attendees and stallholders alike using the precinct’s fresh aesthetic as the backdrop for a number of social media check-ins.

Open across Levels 2, 3 and 4 of Building 12, with Media Portals opening this month, Media Street is set to give students ample opportunity to refine their skills beyond the traditional classroom environment.  

Story: Nikki Russian