Think young trendy underground, trying hard to not be trying hard; sort of hip, but a bit too mawkish to actually be hip and you'll start to understand the Format Collective crowd - they don't care what you think mostly. They are a mixed group and none of them are particularly concerned about being real cool, they just want to explore their particular bent be it music, computers, film making, video art, painting, cartooning or social speaking, and to get on with things like drinking alcohol and fornicating with their chosen partner. They are young, but older than their years and they are absurdly un-trendy for that is their main aim I think, to be but not to be.
If you consider underground publications photocopied and stapled together interesting artifacts then you will love Format. If you like post punk and alternative rock you will enjoy Format. If your idea of a big night is moshing on a small dance floor to a Melbourne underground band who are releasing an limited edition EP you have hit the jackpot here.
They are a combination art gallery space, band gigging venue and computer geek experimental group with free internet that is a bit intermittent but it's the thought that counts. They have had poetry readings, zine workshops, talk festivals where they discuss how young and different they are (while they still are young and different in some cases, and while they are no longer either in others but remain in denial about that).
They may have an obscure band in one night and a gallery opening the next night attracting many local geeks and inked freaks all in it for the cheap unpretentiously chilled out good time.
To an outsider, a newbie to their group it may seem like they are nothing but a gaggle of masturbators, and that would make some of them laugh out loud while others of their number would cross the road and never speak to you or of you again, preferring to pretend that you do not exist. I personally enjoy my Format adventures and go along whenever I can. I think the group who run it are a little odd, but I'm sure they couldn't care less, and they may well think the same of me - whatever any of us think we always enjoy a good peaceful time in a largish group with no violence or actual vomiting, that's got to be good! read more