Caffeine-fuelled morning raves are popping up all over Brisbane – here’s where you can find them
What is a coffee rave? The new movement that is sweeping the nation is transforming local cafes into dance clubs, complete with DJs spinning uptempo bangers in the early hours. A number of caffeine-fuelled parties are popping up across Brisbane, offering locals the chance to enjoy movement and connection without any next-day hangover. We’re digging deeper into this new form of “conscious socialising” and chatting to some of the entrepreneurial groovers that are popularising coffee raves across the River City.
A new trend has been flooding our social media feeds of late. It seems like every time we swipe, we’re seeing footage of activewear-clad partiers cramming into cafes, coffee shops and bakeries, with DJs taking over espresso counters to deliver banger-filled sets to buzzing crowds of gyrating punters.
Yep, morning raves are now a thing and Brisbane locals are getting on board in ever-increasing numbers, swapping late-night revelry in favour of a new form of sunrise socialising. Brisbane is the latest city to get onboard the craze, which has already popped up in the USA, UK, Mexico, Austria, Canada, Argentina and the Netherlands. While coffee-shop parties have been done in the past, it seems as if they spiked in popularity over the past year. So, what has spurred this sudden enthusiasm for early starts and pumping beats?
Broadly speaking, coffee parties seem to be the latest trend to emerge from an overarching movement towards wellness-aligned recreation and conscious connection – a lifestyle that has become increasingly popular in the wake of COVID-era lockdowns. The rise of morning raves also reflects a growing trend among younger generations, who are drinking less alcohol than previous generations and adopting a sober-curious approach to socialising.
“I think the younger generations are shifting towards more of a wellness lifestyle, versus going out late, binge drinking and partying that way,” says Daniella Boughen who, alongside Cameron Stallard, is launching new monthly event series AM Social on Saturday May 3 at Fonzie Abbott in Albion. “[Cameron] was inspired by AM Radio over in Los Angeles. They throw these insane car park and cafe parties and he was really excited to bring that to Brisbane.”
“A lot of people that are hitting the ages of 25 to 35 feel like they still want to be able to go to things, but they might have extra responsibilities or have young families,” adds Konrad Lancaster, who has co-founded Caffeine Club alongside Josh Newton. “We’re at the age that we no longer want to go out and socialise in the nightclub scene, but we still want to have fun and we still want to be able to have a dance.”
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So far, Brisbane’s early morning parties have taken on various forms. Caffeine Club has recruited a rotating roster of local DJs to play open-air sets every Sunday morning at Joey’s in Kangaroo Point, serving mocktails, wellness shots and the all-important coffee until 10:00 am. Meanwhile, over in Bulimba, Darvella Patisserie recently threw a bakery rave inside of its Oxford Street shopfront, swapping glow sticks for croissants and Red Bull for flat whites.
Though each event is slightly different from each other, all coffee raves have the same thing in common – they all promote a sense of freedom and connection.
“I think the attraction there is just good music and good people,” says Konrad. “It’s just about having a dance and letting loose in a really cool and safe spot – listening to some loud music, having a dance and getting lost in the moment.”
Much like run clubs before them, morning raves are proving to be a much-needed boost to the local hospitality scene, which is grappling with the effects of rising operational costs and cost-of-living pressures. As consumers are looking to get more bang for their buck and more experience-based hospitality, cafes are eager to lure in custom by offering a high-energy, alcohol-free atmosphere that’s just as invigorating as a double-shot ristretto. Speaking of run clubs, Daniella believes morning raves are also a natural extension of the weekend jog gatherings, which endure as a popular feel-good outlet for those looking to foster new connections.
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“Run clubs have become the new way to meet people – I think many people are dating through run clubs now,” says Daniella. “What we’re ultimately about is just creating an environment where people can connect with those who have similar interests, but without that late-night kind of alcohol-fuel regret the next day.”
Whether we’re watching the birth of a new way to party or simply the latest viral trend, right now coffee raves are poised to only build in popularity. Konrad is optimistic about the continued growth of the movement locally, citing global trends in wellness and Brisbane’s own reputation as a morning city.
“Brisbane is the perfect spot for this kind of thing, because the weather’s great and the locations are great,” says Konrad. “People are busy, people wake up really early in Brisbane.”
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near its peak. I think it’s still very fresh in Australia, people aren’t quite aware that it’s happening. It’s definitely something that is going to just turn it all up on its head – I feel like people are going to be stopping the late nights and trading them for the mornings.”
Here’s where you can find some morning dance parties in Brisbane:
Caffeine Club: The first event to pop-up on Brisbane’s coffee party scene, Caffeine Club is currently working on its next event announcement. The gang is eager to build upon the momentum of its first events at Joey’s – expect more dates and locations to be revealed soon.
AMSocial: Launching at Fonzie Abbott in Albion on Saturday May 3 from 7:00–11:00 am, AM Social is a monthly coffee party featuring live DJs (this weekend will see Madan Miguel on the ones and twos), coffee, pastries, prizes and a pressure-free environment to dance, chat or kick back. AM Social will be popping up at a new venue each month to keep things fresh.
Rise & Rave: Also launching this weekend, Rise Bakery’s Newstead location at the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct will play host to Rise & Rave, a monthly event inspired by Europe’s early morning party scene. Expect hand-crafted coffee, artisan bites and live DJ sets between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Morning DJ @ Gather: Heritage Lanes’ own bistro and coffee spot is giving denizens of the inner-city a chance to feel the groove on Friday May 2, with a free event taking place between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. Jordan Burns spinning throughout the morning, while the Gather crew will be pouring coffee from Allpress.
Bar Technicality: The crew behind Darvella Patisserie’s bakery rave is doing it again on Saturday May 10. Unfortunately this event is already sold out, but keep your eyes peeled for more appearances around town.