The organisers behind Melbourne Festival surprised music fans with both their excellent taste and a killer lineup with their late July announcement of the music component of this October’s program.
Returning to deliver its annual assembly of local and international art, this year’s music program features some truly exceptional international acts that festival organisers have managed to lure to Australian shores.
Most notable among them are Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, both taking a break from Sonic Youth to deliver solo shows to Melbourne audiences with support from Kieran Ryan and The Laurels respectively.
Another ace international/local pairing comes with the return of punk provocateurs Shellac, playing a rare live performance at the Hi Fi Bar for their first Australian show since their 1993 tour with Fugazi; with support from My Disco and Black Level Embassy.
Now, Melbourne Festival has announced another round of artists that they’ve secure as part of their Festival Hub program, a performance space that features an intimate theatre set-up, a rooftop terrace and an outdoor kitchen – all wrapped up in a location under the Yarra’s Princess Bridge.
Topping the list of names added to the Hub’s program is the former face of Culture Club, Boy George, who will be bringing his world-renowned DJ set to bear on Melbourne punters – and considering his ties with fellow gender-challenging artist Antony ‘& The Johnsons’ Hegarty – may even sneak a performance (or at least a spot in the crowd) at the latter’s symphonic performance of Swanlights at Hamer Hall.
George will also feature at a special event for the Life, Art and Leigh Bowery: In Conversation With Boy George, which sees the 80s icon discussing his fondness for avant garde icon Leigh Bowery alongside Australian singer and actor, Paul Capsis.
Capsis will also be appearing at a separate event for the Melbourne Festival, joining a host of new additions to the October program that includes performances from the singer who makes cowboys cry, Lanie Lane, neo-chanteuse Sophia Brous, Prince’s own personal record-spinning DJ Rashida.
Other highlights include a range of free live music performances to be held late in the evening from the likes of the bombastic Bombay Royale, Flap!, The Trons, The Renovators, C!rca, Eddie Perfect and more.
The full program and details – including a bevy of new arts features, performers, musical acts and much more – of the Festival Hub lineup will be unveiled tomorrow on the official Melbourne Festival website, the festivities run this October 11th to the 27th.
MELBOURNE FESTIVAL // HUB PROGRAM ADDITIONS
BOY GEORGE
PAUL CAPSIS
LANIE LANE
SOPHIA BROUS
DJ RASHIDA
BOMBAY ROYALE
FLAP!
THE TRONS
C!RCA
THE RENOVATORS
EDDIE PERFECT
+ many, many more.
joining the Melbourne Festival lineup that already includes:
ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS // THURSTON MOORE // LEE RANALDO // SHELLAC // BILLY BRAGG // THE LAURELS // MY DISCO // THEESATISFACTION // BIG FREEDIA & THE DIVAS // GROUSE PARTY DJs // BERMUDA FLOAT // PURO INSTINCT // NO ZU + More
