The City of Darebin and Darebin Arts are gearing up for the return of their iconic FUSE Festival, running from 31 August to 14 September 2025. Across two vibrant weeks, Darebin will come alive with a dynamic mix of live music, cultural celebrations, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and immersive art experiences, featuring both free and ticketed events.
Kicking off the festival is the much-anticipated Ganbu Gulin: wudhanu yuwanguth (“One Mob” in Woi-Wurrung language), held Sunday 31 August at Darebin Arts Centre and Ray Bramham Gardens.
Curated by Northern Kaantju, Girramay, and Badu Islander Ethan Savage, the event reflects “how as one mob, we are many – the outcome of our ancestors and the model for the next; from our Elders to the next generation, and to those who are new in our community,” he explains.
Ganbu Gulin will feature live performances by Wurundjeri dancers, singer-songwriter Emma Donovan, indie-rock band Doe Eyes, hip-hop artist Torres Green, and more. The day includes cultural ceremonies, native planting, and children’s workshops, welcoming new citizens through a shared celebration of voice, culture, and ceremony.
The festival also lights up Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre from 5–7 September with the FUSE @ Northcote program, spotlighting Australia’s leading puppet companies. Highlights include Tarutharu – The Kaurna Skink, a 27-metre luminous puppet weaving Kaurna stories, and the giant Cochlea sculpture by Snuff Puppets, sharing real stories from trans and gender-diverse communities.
Other standout events include Rock-A-Bye-Baby on 4 September – a kid-friendly Afro-disco show – and A Night Under the Stars with storyteller and musician Watty Thompson on 6 September, bringing community spirit and music together under the night sky.
FUSE Films screens a diverse selection at Thornbury Picturehouse on 2 and 10 September, showcasing Indigenous voices and multicultural narratives, including works by local filmmakers Isaac Winzer and Jazz Money.
En Masse, a life-sized projection installation exploring individuality and community, runs outside Northcote Town Hall from 4–10 September. Meanwhile, Enki, a unique fusion of jazz, electronics, and Iranian folk music, performs at Bar 303 in Northcote on 6 September.
Darebin FUSE Festival fosters creativity across the municipality with signature curated events, FUSE Fund projects supporting independent artists, and an Open Access program inviting local creatives to activate the city with unexpected delights.
With its rich blend of art forms and cultural connections, FUSE Festival 2025 promises an inspiring journey through Darebin’s vibrant artistic landscape.
For full program details, visit arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/Fuse.
