Following a successful debut earlier this year that drew crowds of more than 300,000 into the Melbourne CBD, the 24 hour creative arts and music festival White Night has already confirmed it is returning for 2014.
Today, the first details of the all-night festival’s music program are announced, including the return of the main music stage, which will see The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl returning for a second year to program proceedings at the free event’s main music stage.
Riebl curated and headlined with The Cat Empire at last year’s White Night concert on the steps of Flinders Street Station – featuring Bombay Royale, Eagle & The Worm, World’s End Press, Hiatus Kaiyote – but for 2014 the main music stage will relocate to the ‘Northern Lights’ precinct along Swanston Street.
Other music-related details for White Night Melbourne 2014, running from 7pm Saturday 22nd February through to 7am Sunday 23rd, are scarce (and rather confusing) at this stage with no bands or artists officially revealed as yet, but music still plays a strong part of the 24 hour arts festival.
Another main music stage will be erected at the Bourke Street Mall, with an outdoor J+R&B stage gathering bands playing jazz to rhythm and blues for crowds of all ages, programmed by Julie O’Hara, who has performed and liaised with big bands, gypsy swing, traditional jazz, R & B, swing bebop and other styles for almost 20 years. The first details of the all-night festival’s music program are announced… which will see The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl returning to program [music] proceedings
White Night Melbourne coincides with the closing night of RMIT Gallery’s free music exhibition, Melbourne, Music + Me, celebrating 40 years of Melbourne’s rock history through the lens of Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group. Over at the Arcadian Reverie, an ensemble of international and Aussie artists will take over an urban park with performances, lights, film and sculpture.
Above The Sound Of Many Voices is a video and sound installation created by Josephine Telfer with composer John Phillips, described as “a personal interpretation of the natural world creating another reality.” I Could Have Danced All Night returns for another dance-filled extravaganza featuring 12 different dance styles to keep everybody moving into the early AM hours.
ACMI will present a number of exhibitions in its two main galleries, including Spectacle: The Music Video Exhibition, the multi-channel video work The Calling, special soundtrack event Vladmaster ViewMaster™ Experience, and Title: Sequence. ACMI’s lightwell will also be transformed into the LightLounge, featuring projections and music from VJ/DJs.
En Masse is described as “part concert, part film, part installation,” a collaboration between Australian recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey and UK filmmaker Marc Silver, with further creative collaboration from Big hART’s Scott Rankin. Classical music lovers will be delighted by Rachmaninoff Live, a Hamer Hall-hosted performance from piano virtuoso Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff.
Aside from the music features, White Night Melbourne 2014 will offer over 80 events and activities, ranging from arts, theatre, film, and street art taking place in and around the CBD, involving its most iconic scenery and landmarks well into the early hours, with a 2014 programme rife with intriguing events as it spreads across 11 precincts, ranging from the National Gallery of Victoria on St Kilda Road, to the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne City Baths and the Melbourne Museum.
“The inaugural White Night Melbourne was an extraordinary success,” said Artistic Director Andrew Walsh “Melbourne really is a 24-hour city, and a capital of art and culture.”
Walsh adds that the 2014 edition will offer Melbourne residents even more to see and do; “From live music and fashion to all-night synchronised swimming, film screenings and a continuation of the glorious projection programme, there really will be something for everyone,” he says.
Further details of the full White Night Melbourne 2014 program – including the list of bands and artists performing – will arrive in the coming weeks, but for the time being, details are available at whitenightmelbourne.com.au
White Night Melbourne 2014
7pm Saturday 22 February to 7am Sunday 23 February 2014
whitenightmelbourne.com.au
