Last time we talked to the City Sharps, they joked that they’re in the festival just for the “experience”… of winning. Well, now they’re on their way! They’ve already breezed through the first round, and now are gearing up for the semi-finals in Melbourne. Don’t miss your chance to see them! They hit the stage on the 19th at The Espy. Before the show, they take the time to share a bit of their story with us, and let us in on what’s in store for their semi-final gig.

FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T GET TO SEE YOU IN THE FIRST ROUND, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHO THE CITY SHARPS?
The City Sharps were formed out of necessity, after a revival of interest in this unique Australian sub-culture. Four of its old sons, who were acquaintances, decided they were unhappy with all the new bands struggling to capture the magic riffs, recording techniques and tricks that created the 70′s sounds, and were not too impressed with the limited ideas and constant “covered up rip-offs” or "inspired by someone else’s” beats and rap nursery rhymes that make up most of the top 40 lists these days. With all these symptoms, no wonder the music industry is in a sick state. These four Sharps got to work immediately, sculpting real life tales and lateral to extreme solutions, into everyday stories poised to create discussion or argument that can only be appeased by vigorous dancing.

WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO YOUR ONSTAGE PERFORMANCES?
Let everything build up, like boiling chocolate, more pressure, temperature, pressure, hotter, hit the stage, explode . . . and everyone gets covered in chocolate.

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FIRST ROUND FOR YOU?
Great people, cool gig, played good, people liked our music and got through, very high light night.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST ROUND AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM IT?
Confirmed for us that Emergenza was the real thing, most of the other bands were cool enough to talk with, and a real nice group of people follows these shows.

SO HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE EMERGENZA FINALS?
For us, any step closer to allowing the largest collection of people to hear and hopefully dig our music is a step in our future.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO BETWEEN GIGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COMPETITION?
We've been recording our third collection of songs, four new ideas for the world… haha.

HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO PROMOTE FOR YOUR UPCOMING GIG?
Pray, vegetable sacrifice, Facebook, phone, every muso & non-muso we know, a forehead tattoo & my friend the gossip.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT THIS ROUND IN THE SEMI-FINALS?
Going through to the next round, ‘cuz we're bringing the “circus” to the Melb final.