Any complaints about Sydney’s nightlife vanish after a night at Carriageworks nowadays. It’s become the Inner West’s iconic warehouse-style venue, perfect for raves (as we witnessed with the The Works, kicked off by none other than Underworld)
And so it’s no surprise that to see South Korean DJ and effortless cool-girl Peggy Gou set up for a one-night set at the venue. Tickets, as epected, quickly sold out.
Gou’s set is vibrant and joyous, matching the energy of the crowd, pacing her beats well as she moves between hypnotic techno and uplifting house songs. She blends ‘90s hits such as “Freed From Desire” for a nostalgic touch, then propels the night onward with tracks like “KETTAMA” and Ewan McVicar’s “The Miracle Makers”, their pulsating basslines keeping the floor alive.
The industrial sprawl of Carriageworks proved a natural match for Gou’s set, its sparse, raw warehouse space amplifying the crowd’s movement and the music while complementing the lights and projections: a perfect blank canvas for her to light up.
Each transition was well-received, with the audience feeding off the dance-first pulse of Gou’s sound. When the opening beat of Gou’s most recognisable track, “(It Goes Like) Nanana”, kicks in, the room erupts, sparking a fresh wave of movement across the space. Gou thrived off this, pulling back to hear the crowd sing along.
The strength of the night lies in its accessibility. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Gou’s catalogue or the tracks she samples, her set is built for the dancefloor. In a city that is often criticised for its dwindling club nights, events and dancefloors, Gou’s set felt like a huge win.
The artist is no stranger to Aussie crowds, selling out venues across the nation with her headline tour in 2024, and performing at iconic festivals like Beyond the Valley and Wildlands (she definitely knows what a doofstick is by now). Her exclusive Sydney show, held the night before she took to the stage at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena for AO Live, was a welcome treat for the city’s dance fans.
With THE WORKS summer series now wrapped up, the precinct is yet to announce the next wave of talent set to take its stage. But based on the acts Carriageworks has delivered over the past few months, we’re eager to see what the venue has in store next.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Feature image: Peggy Gou / Instagram
