DANGEROUS BEATS
Dangerous ideas deserve a dangerous soundtrack. Charlie Villas, Luke M De Zilva and Aunty Jonny take over the Carriageworks Foyer each evening across the main Festival weekend.
No ticket required. No RSVP needed. Just turn up, grab a drink and give your brain a rest while your body catches up.
- Fri 21 August – Charlie Villas
- Sat 22 August – Luke M De Zilva
- Sun 23 August – Aunty Jonny
Charlie Villas
Charlie Villas is a DJ, music curator, and event producer known for their infectious energy and genre-spanning sets that move seamlessly across disco, house, soul, and global sounds. Originally from the Philippines, now residing on Sydney/Gadigal Land, drawing on both community and club culture to shape her sound.
Her career has taken her to dance floors around the world, including London, New York, Paris and Tokyo, as well as performances across the country. A fixture of Sydney’s queer nightlife, playing at beloved parties Heaps Gay and Loose Ends, she holds residencies at venues like Caterpillar Club and Razz Room, and has played at festivals including Dark Mofo, Sydney Mardi Gras and played a run of shows during NY Pride 2025.
Charlie has collaborated with global brands such as Adidas, Gucci, FENDI, and Tiffany & Co., and performed at major cultural spaces including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Gallery of Victoria where they soundtracked landmark events; the Archibald Prize opening and the NGV Gala.
Luke M de Zilva
Luke M de Zilva is a Sydney/Gadigal-based musician, experimental composer and the presenter of Surfacing on fbi.radio. He has performed at, and created works for, the likes of Dark Mofo, the Art Gallery of NSW, NTS Radio, Sydney Festival, Phoenix Central Park, the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani and the University of Technology, Sydney. Luke has performed his solo and compositional works throughout the UK and Europe, and was an Artist-in-Residence at Bundanon Trust in 2025.
Aunty Jonny
Jonny Hawkins, Aka Aunty Jonny, is an ungovernable creative force of Sydney’s nightlife. They believe in the party as a ritual and cast songs like spells. A familiar face dancing in the crowd and on the stage of places queers called Church, their love for rare disco, house and techno is infectious, potentially dangerous – Jonny is the person your mother warned you about. A regular at Club 77 and Loosends, they’ve played Club Mince, Bad Dog and Tropical Fruits, with appearances all over Australia. If you haven’t seen them play four times, you’ve only been to three parties. Their signature sound is governed by Big Joy, Deep Beats, Curiosity and Forgotten Classics.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.