Following his triumphant capital city tour, chart-topping artist Illy is set to bring his energetic live show to regional Australia this August through November. The newly announced Good-er Life Tour will visit 27 locations nationwide. In Victoria, the tour will take him to Torquay, Warrnambool, Frankston, Bendigo and Mildura. The tour comes on the heels of Illy’s critically acclaimed #1 ARIA album Good Life and its recently released deluxe edition. “The capital city shows were absolutely life-affirming,” Illy shared. “We’re performing at our peak right now and can’t wait to bring that energy to regional fans.” Known for seamlessly blending…
Author: Melbourning
This winter will mark a significant moment for Australian art and environmental conservation as the Wama Foundation prepares to open its doors on July 5, 2025, in Budja Budja/Halls Gap. The sprawling 16-hectare precinct will house Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art, alongside the Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden and Jallukar Native Grasslands, creating a unique space where art, nature, and conservation intersect. The Centre will launch with End & Being, a major exhibition by acclaimed Western Australian artist Jacobus Capone. The work documents Capone’s physically demanding performance on Europe’s Bossons Glacier, confronting the urgent realities of climate change. “Capone’s exhibition…
Melbourne’s iconic trams will be transformed into moving works of First Peoples art with the next round of Art Trams to hit the tracks. Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins joined RISING Senior Curator Kimberley Moulton in unveiling the first of six Art Trams, celebrating First Peoples artists past and present and honouring the enduring strength of First Nations women. The first Art Tram showcases Wurundjeri Elder William Barak’s Corroborree, a 1897 painting of women in possum skin cloaks that was acquired and returned to Victoria in 2022 by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation with support…
Docklands will transform into a radiant winter playground when the Firelight Festival ignites Melbourne’s school holidays from 4-6 July, featuring giant glowing sculptures, a floating light display, and fiery performances across three dazzling nights. This free, family-friendly event brings warmth to winter with immersive art, crackling fire pits, flame jets, and nearly 40 food trucks serving up sizzling street eats and sweet treats. In a Melbourne-first, internationally acclaimed Tasmanian artist Amanda Parer will unveil her monumental inflatable sculptures Man and Fantastic Planet – large-scale illuminated works that play with light and scale to provoke wonder. Adding to the spectacle, the…
South Yarra is channelling the vibrant energy of Sesame Street through a major new exhibition by acclaimed Melbourne artist David Bromley. Titled In Your Neighbourhood: Bromley x Sesame Street, this landmark show marks the first time the beloved children’s program has collaborated with an Australian painter. The exhibition features over 50 original works that reimagine iconic characters like Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird through Bromley’s distinctive artistic lens. Created across 18 months in his Windsor and Daylesford studios, the collection includes large-scale paintings alongside ceramic pieces and even surfboards – all infused with Bromley’s signature style and the playful spirit…
Melbourne Theatre Company is transporting audiences to the vibrant chaos of the Chinese afterlife with Legends (of the Golden Arches), a wildly inventive production playing at Southbank Theatre’s The Lawler until June 28 as part of the RISING festival. Created by dynamic duo Joe Paradise Lui and Merlynn Tong, this genre-defying show blends riotous comedy with poignant cultural exploration as two best friends plunge into the underworld during a spiritual showdown. Drawing from their own family experiences, Lui and Tong craft a visually stunning journey from Singapore’s streets to Chinese Hell’s neon-lit depths. The production dazzles with shifting projections, pulsating lights,…
After five years of planning and development, Seafarers Rest Park is set to open on Wednesday, 19 June 2025, marking Melbourne’s first new riverfront public park in two decades. Located on the north bank of the Yarra River in Docklands, between the heritage-listed Mission to Seafarers building and Seafarers Bridge, the 3,500-square-metre park is a key feature of the $600 million Seafarers Precinct redevelopment led by Riverlee, in partnership with the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government. The park will pay homage to the area’s rich maritime history, and will feature open lawns, rope swings, timber seating reminiscent of…
After sold-out UK tours in 2024 and 2025, international music icon Leo Sayer is bringing his electrifying live show back to Australian stages with a limited run of dates. The Grammy-winning artist, who became an Australian citizen in 2009, will perform his impressive catalog of global hits on 29 August at GAC Story House in Geelong, and on 30 August at The Palms at Crown in Melbourne. With a career spanning over five decades, Sayer remains one of pop music’s most enduring performers. Audiences can expect energetic renditions of timeless classics including You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, When I Need You, Thunder…
The Ballarat Winter Festival is set to bring even more warmth and excitement to Victoria’s coldest season when it returns from 5 to 27 July 2025, featuring an impressive new Spiegeltent and a delicious Hot Choc Showdown among its expanded offerings. This year’s festival introduces Ukiyo, a dazzling 7.5-metre-high Spiegeltent – meaning “floating world” in Japanese – which will become a centrepiece of the celebrations. Positioned opposite the iconic ice-skating rink at the intersection of Sturt and Armstrong Streets, the tent will host multiple daily shows from 5–20 July, with family-friendly matinees and evening performances for mature audiences. “The Ballarat Winter…
Kimono, a significant new exhibition exploring the enduring beauty and global influence of Japan’s most iconic garment, has opened at NGV International. This comprehensive showcase brings together more than 70 exquisite kimonos spanning from the Edo period to contemporary designs, alongside 150 related artworks including paintings, prints and decorative objects. The exhibition traces the kimono’s evolution from traditional Japanese dress to its profound impact on international fashion. Highlights include seven newly acquired Edo-period kimonos featuring intricate seasonal motifs, Australian-exclusive contemporary designs by Kyoto-based artist Jotaro Saito, and works by fashion luminaries including Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen. The…
Some of Australia’s finest musicians are uniting to celebrate the timeless music of John Lennon this July in a must-see Melbourne concert. The Words & Music Of John Lennon: Give Peace A Chance tour brings together Magic Dirt’s Adalita, Diesel, The Church’s Steve Kilbey, The Preatures’ Isabella Manfredi and Jebediah’s Kevin Mitchell for an unforgettable night at Hamer Hall on Saturday, July 5. Backed by an all-star band led by musical director Ashley Naylor (Paul Kelly, Even), the lineup will perform Lennon’s greatest solo hits including ‘Imagine’ and ‘Give Peace a Chance’, plus beloved Beatles classics like ‘Come Together’ and…
Get ready for an extraordinary transformation of Melbourne’s city centre as the RISING festival returns for 12 days, from 4-15 June 2025. This year’s festival promises an exciting program featuring more than 100 events and more than 610 local and international artists. Immerse yourself in a diverse range of experiences, from interactive exhibitions and captivating installations to live music, dance, theatre, and film, all taking place in Melbourne’s iconic and hidden spaces. Highlights of RISING 2025 include: Last year, RISING attracted more than 680,000 attendees, providing a significant boost to local businesses, jobs, and the Victorian economy. The festival also…