RISING Festival Has Unleashed A Massive Program That Will Captivate Melbourne This Winter
Third time's the charm.
In 2020, RISING festival was cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2021, they had to cancel again, after just one night of operation. And now, it’s a new year, and they’re coming back stronger than ever, with a massive program of art, music and culture. Discover 225 events, all ready to enchant you through the winter nights, and fill the city with electricity and magic. Of these events, 22 are commissions and 14 are world premieres. A whopping 801 local and international artists are ready to transform Melbourne into their canvas.
Throughout the mammoth program, you’ll see some familiar names. A Miracle Constantly Repeated by Patricia Piccinini will continue its run in Flinders Street Ballroom, and The Wilds is coming back with some tweaks here and there. But, heaps of the events on the program are brand-new, and ready to amaze.
“In such tumultuous times, the privilege and necessity to gather, dance, sing and celebrate artistic expression is not lost on us,” said RISING Co-Artistic Directors, Hannah Fox and Gideon Obarzanek. “Melbourne is back and we’re over the moon.”
RISING will run through Melbourne, from June 1 to 12.
Some highlights of RISING 2022 include:
The Wilds
The Wilds is taking over Sidney Myer Music Bowl and transforming it into an otherworldly wonderland. Immerse yourself in a moonlit forest, filled with inflatable sculptures, intriguing soundscapes and towering projections. Go ice-skating around the Bowl, while a nocturnal choir belts out 80s and 90s hits. Feast on snacks from some of the best restaurants around Melbourne, and enter The Lighthouse, a glasshouse bistro that will glow through the night.
Learn more about The Wilds here.
Golden Square
Discover three levels of art, performance, parades and rooftop bars at Golden Square. Taking over a Chinatown carpark, this experience will explore contemporary art, culture, identity, religion and more. Blackhearts & Sparrows will serve up some “new-wave wine”, and there’ll be heaps of cocktails to try too.
More info here.Fart Fabulous
This multi-generational queer celebration is a farty party filled with circus, drag, dance, visual art and live music. In this hilarious event, you’ll remember that bodies of all shapes, sizes and genders are farty, valid and messy.
See more here.Monochord
Over the waters of the Birrarung, or Yarra River, you’ll soon see a powerful beam of light. This laser, almost a kilometre long, will flicker and move to sound and music, and remind us about the invisible lines that connect us all.
See more here.Still Lives: Melbourne
Artists Luke George and Daniel Kok work with five Australian Rules players to capture a moment in time. Bound by rope, these players are transformed into living sculptures, for spectators to witness and interrogate.
Learn more here.Sampa the Great: An Afro Future
Phenomenal rapper Sampa the Great is performing her first show in Melbourne in over two years. See her perform over two nights at The Forum, along with singer KYE, neo-soul talent Mwanjè and DJ C. FRIM.
See more here.Hijra’h
Explore history, culture and gender fluidity with renowned Indonesian dancer and choreographer Rianto. Explore the island Sulawesi, and journey the line between traditional and contemporary culture, as well as male and female concepts.
Learn more here.First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams 2022
Six trams around Melbourne will feature designs by First Peoples artists. These travelling works will become a rolling exhibition of First Peoples’ identity and culture. Each piece will respond to the theme, “Unapolegetically Blak”.
More info here.That’s just scratching the surface of all the wonderful things to discover at RISING Festival. Browse through their website for more events. Pre-sale tickets are available from midday on March 21, and general tickets go on sale on March 25.