Flying first-class with Flight Facilities

Simply put, this was one of the more wholesome sold-out gigs I'd ever been to — with a surprise proposal to cement the excitement of the night. 

With Perth being the last Australian destination on their The Return Flight tour, Flight Facilities were ready to make their mark yet again, just as they had years before. For most, it was a way to catch the duo in all their glory instead of toppling around at Bunbury’s Groovin The Moo the next day.

True to style, the boys arrived decked out in pilot gear with Sydney singers Graace and Ric Rufio along for the ride. First to perform was supporting act Alice Ivy, whose talent had been unfairly masked by a terrible sound system at The Astor Theatre weeks prior. This time, however, the Melbourne producer was able to shine through with a performance boasting surreality and splendour. The dreamy soundscapes of 'Touch' and 'Chasing Stars' took turns to strike a chord with the audience, who had all eventually become entranced.

As for our headliners, it was an intimate set that was far from placid. While Flight Facilities' signature sound is more associated with being ambient, the live setting certainly had it erring on the side of techno. After moments of silence the duo opened with a robotic, warped announcement to ensure everyone was buckled up. Armed with a live guitar and drum pads beneath their fingertips, the duo then took off with tracks 'Stand Still' and 'Sunshine'.

These were definitely tasteful teases paving the way for newer, more exuberant choices like 'I Need You' and 'Arty Boy'. It was dance tracks such as these that lulled everyone into a groove, no matter how confident. Graace (Grace Pitts) and Ric Rufio reappeared flawlessly throughout, with the latter wow-ing audiences with a brief cover of Drake's 'Passionfruit' — a delightful surprise for all.

Above all, Graace stood out as a natural performer, emanating poised vocals and dance moves that could kill. While the electronic set flowed relatively well, it was the descent towards more mellow melodies — such as that of 'Claire De Lune' — that really made the show.

Generously, what followed was a miraculous encore, which had 'Crave You' stealing hearts as well as the spotlight. With many cheering on, it was a nostalgic moment for all who had come together to celebrate their love for Flight Facilities.