Melbourne’s winter arts calendar is heating up at Abbotsford Convent with a series of immersive experiences arriving as part of its WinterLIVE festival this June and July.
Kicking things off on 20 June is a special winter solstice sound bath led by Los Angeles based vocalist and sound meditation practitioner Odeya Nini. Set inside the atmospheric surrounds of the Convent, the session invites audiences into a meditative experience using voice, bowls, chimes and gong, finishing with a communal song circle designed to connect participants through sound and reflection.
In July, Laundry Sessions will transform the Convent into a multi-sensory after dark playground across two nights on 9 and 10 July. Rather than a traditional performance, the event unfolds as a journey through intimate site-responsive works spanning sound, film, installation and experimental live art. Heritage spaces across the precinct will be activated in unexpected ways, encouraging audiences to move through the experience at their own pace.
Also launching from 10 July is o to da te, a self-guided urban listening experience by legendary Japanese sound artist Akio Suzuki. Visitors will be able to explore specially marked listening points throughout the Convent grounds designed to encourage quiet contemplation and a deeper awareness of surrounding sounds.
Rounding out the program on 12 July is the only Melbourne performance from acclaimed Colombian experimental musician Lucrecia Dalt. Joined by First Nations collaborators J.WLSN and Liam Keenan, the intimate late-night set promises layered electronics, textured percussion and emotionally charged storytelling inside the Magdalene Laundries.
WinterLIVE continues throughout winter with music, art and immersive performance experiences across the Convent precinct.
