The Melbourne Festival music program has been announced, with Okkervil River, Jello Biafra, Aesop Rock, Kimya Dawson, and scores more.
October’s cultural bounty, the Melbourne Festival, has assembled a diverse and fascinating list of artists for the 2011 programme.
Japan post-rock icons MONO perform with a 23-piece orchestra, then there’s US noise soundscape artists Lucky Dragons and Black Dice, Texan alt-country heroes Okkervil River, electro-rock act from the Congo Konono No. 1, Chinese retro techno act Sulumi and gritty solo artist Will Sheff.
There are some very special events as well, with the teaming of arty hip-hopper Aesop Rock and anti-folk Moldy Peach Kimya Dawson, joined by political Arab hip-hoppers The Narcicyst and Omar Offendum . And, of course, former ringleader of punk agitators the Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra, bringing his spoken word rants to Australian stages.
There are also some fine Australian artists in the line-up too, including Wintercoats, Roller One, Qua, Mike Noga, Geoffrey O’Connor, Jimmy Stewart, Rat VS Possum and kiwis Bachelorette.
The shows happen in the glorious olde world surrounds of the Forum and the cabaret club Toff In Town, as well as a special show by Okkervil River at the Meeniyan Town Hall.
Details and tickets can be found at the Melbourne Festival website.
The Forum
Friday 7 October - MONO (Japan), Wintercoats (Australia)
Saturday 8 October - Black Dice (USA), Lucky Dragons (USA)
Friday 14 October - Okkervil River (USA), Roller One (Australia)
Saturday 15 October - Aesop Rock, Kimya Dawson (USA), The Narcicyst (Iraq), Omar Offendum (Syria)
Friday 21 October - Konono No.1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Bachelorette (NZ)
Saturday 22 October - Jello Biafra (USA)
Meeniyan Town Hall
Saturday 15 October - Okkervil River (USA)
The Toff in Town
Sunday 9 October - Sulumi (China), Qua (Australia)
Wednesday 12 October - Lucky Dragons (USA), Geoffrey O’Connor (Australia)
Sunday 16 October - Will Sheff (USA), Jimmy Stewart (Australia), Mike Noga (Australia)
Wednesday 19 October - Bachelorette (New Zealand), Rat Vs Possum (Australia)
VIDEO: Check out our chat with psych-rock champs The Black Angels below.
