Media release – MONA FOMA, 16 November 2023

MUSIC, ART, LAWNS, BOATS: MONA FOMA 2024 UNLEASHES 17 DAYS OF SUMMER MAYHEM

MONA FOMA, MONA’s summer festival of music and art, returns for its sixteenth edition from 15 February to 2 March 2024. Running across two cities over three weekends, Tasmanians and visitors alike will immerse themselves in MONA FOMA’s one-of-a-kind experience. This year’s program includes unpredictable art, world premieres, and a thrilling array of Tassie exclusives—in unexpected and well-loved venues.

Brian Ritchie, Artistic Director, MONA FOMA, says: “MONA FOMA wrangles over 500 performers and artists from places as far flung as Nigeria, Taiwan, Rajasthan and Launceston into a veritable orgy of creativity. If you can’t find something to do, then you’re dead—but then you wouldn’t be reading this. So, buy tickets, except for TISM, which is free. One of the most reclusive bands (only three gigs in twenty years) for free in amongst the most unique water feature of any urban environment, qualifies as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Carpe diem.”

Program highlights include:

  • Queens of The Stone Age return to MONA for their first ever gig on the museum’s lawns – with more tickets to be released on 21 November.
  • A free one-day concert at Launceston’s stunning Cataract Gorge featuring TISM, Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, Mulga Bore Hard Rock and FFLORA x Grace Chia.
  • Paul Kelly taking audiences on a live journey through his 2022 compilation: Time.
  • Courtney Barnett in collaboration with Australian drummer Stella Mozgawa.
  • Songwriter Darren Hanlon and percussion virtuoso Bree van Reyk join forces with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
  • Barcelona-based producer Filastine and Indonesian neo soul singer Nova deliver live music and a meditation on the climate crisis from the deck of a sailing ship.
  • Nigerian multi sensory artist Emeka Ogboh continues his global conversation on migration and belonging with an immersive work revolving around gin in his first Australian commission.
  • The world premiere of artist Justin Shoulder’s ground-breaking performance work Anito.
  • French-Korean siblings and viral musical sensations Isaac et Nora (14 and 11 years old respectively) leading a family project with Latin-American songs learned by ear.
  • In his Australian debut, Taiwanese visual artist Yahon Chang uses brushes as big as he is on a vast floor canvas to create his work.
  • Wayfinder by Australia’s leading contemporary dance company Dancenorth featuring music by Hiatus Kaiyote and design from visual artist Hiromi Tango.
  • A weekend of MONA Sessions featuring international artists Mogwai (SCO), Lonnie Holley (USA), Irreversible Entanglements (USA), Holy Fuck (CAN), Shonen Knife (JAP), Wednesday (USA), Michael Rother + Friends play Neu! (GER) and Shruti Sessions (IND) alongside Australian artists, Little Ugly Girls, Kutcha Edwards and Australian Art Orchestra, Eleanor Jawurlngali Triad and Koi Kingdom.
  • The return of MONA FOMA’s late-night crowd favourite Faux Mo, this time converting The Granada Tavern into an autonomous community; a temporary state of party.

Yahon Chang.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

MONA FOMA FIRST WEEKEND IN NIPALUNA / HOBART

Following their highly anticipated tour announcement, Queens Of The Stone Age return after a six-year hiatus to bring their trademark swagger to MONA’s lawns.

Ex-Tassie megastar Courtney Barnett brings her sell-out tour to Hobart, playing at the Odeon. Divided into two sets, the show will start with Courtney and collaborator Stella Mozgawa performing instrumentals and improvisations from their atmospheric soundtrack-album End of the Day, before getting stuck into a set of hits, favourites and deep cuts from Courtney’s rich back catalogue.

For two exceptional nights, the Odeon will play host to music legend Paul Kelly who will take audiences on a live journey through his 2022 compilation: Time. Over a two-year period, Australia’s favourite troubadour released a series of themed compilations. Time was the first. These albums see him draw from his vast catalogue and trove of unreleased recordings for MONA FOMA audiences.

Also at the Odeon, two of Australia’s hidden gems, songwriter Darren Hanlon and percussion virtuoso Bree van Reyk join forces with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for a special performance of Hanlon’s reworked hits and Bree’s original compositions promising a feast of collaboration and songwriting craft.

Across both weekends, a 70-tonne sailing ship will commandeer Franklin Wharf and Bellerive Waterfront for a unique cultural floating intervention—Arka Kinari—by Filastine & Nova. This multimedia spectacle set aboard a traditional schooner will use live music and cinematic visuals to spread resistance to the carbon economy, resilience to the impending floods, and re-engagement with the great ecological commons of the sea.

Nigerian artist and migrant Emeka Ogboh invites audiences on a global exploration of belonging through his project Boats. This immersive exhibition at Detached features a collaborative gin, crafted with Tasmanian expertise and native botanicals fused with those from West Africa. This sensory journey delves into the essence of migration—you’ll taste the gin (and snacks) amidst a ‘symphony of intellectual conversations’ and music from an accompanying sound installation. Emeka will also be working with MONA’s Executive Chef Vince Trim, adding West African flavours and dishes to MONA’s restaurants throughout the festival (where they’ll also be paired with the gin).

Justin Shoulder’s ground-breaking solo performance Anito will have its world premiere at the Theatre Royal. Drawing from queer club culture, installation, visual arts, theatre and dance, elaborately costumed performers transform into ‘creatures ‘animated by their own gestural languages accompanied by a live soundscape.

In an exciting new collaboration, MONA FOMA will be teaming up with Street Eats @ Franko Summer Pop-Up to create an unforgettable night in Franklin Square. Known for its hyperactive inner-city night food and drink market, Franko will feature an electric line-up of musical acts including Ajak Kwai, Kylie Auldist and エミエミ (emi emi), promising to keep attendees fed, refreshed and grooving all night long.

Wayfinder, Dancenorth.

MONA FOMA SECOND WEEKEND IN NIPALUNA / HOBART

MONA Sessions, a summery showcase of live music on the MONA lawns returns for 2024. The line-up includes Mogwai (SCO), Lonnie Holley + Moor Mother + Irreversible Entanglements (USA), Holy Fuck (CAN), Shonen Knife (JAP), Wednesday (USA), Michael Rother + Friends play Neu! (GER), Shruti Sessions (IND) and Isaac Et Nora (FR & KR). These international artists are joined by Australian performers including Little Ugly Girls, Kutcha Edwards and Australian Art Orchestra, Eleanor Jawurlngali Triad, and Koi Kingdom.

For one very special matinee performance, singing French-Korean siblings Isaac (14) and Nora (11) are set to delight audiences at the Hobart Town Hall on Sunday 25 February. These remarkable young prodigies, who have become a viral phenomenon, will celebrate the spirit of Latin American songs that they have learned to play by ear.

Throughout the weekend, various MONA FOMA artists will be dipping into MONA’s Frying Pan Studios to jam, record, or just have a quiet sit in the vocal booth. Visitors to the museum can make their way to the library for a sneak peek through the viewing window—who knows who they’ll see (and hear).

With music by Hiatus Kaiyote, design from visual artist Hiromi Tango and the community of Gurambilbarra, Townsville, Wayfinder, is the latest creation by Australia’s leading contemporary dance company, Dancenorth. Performed at the Theatre Royal, the work features 70km of salvaged wool and an inflatable stage.

The combination of a spectacular location, PW1 (Princes Wharf 1) and an expansive 20 by 15 metre canvas will set the stage for a truly extraordinary experience. Here, audiences will witness senior Taiwanese artist Yahon Chang wielding a brush, sometimes as large as himself, across the canvas in real time. Fusing Tai Chi, meditation, kung-fu and calligraphy with contemporary expression, the mesmerising performance brings Chang’s vision to life with every stroke and gesture.

A first for MONA FOMA, The Shruti Sessions will see musicians from the Hindustani traditions mix with Rajasthani folk musicians and Australian players in an open session of exchange, workshopping and collaboration—mixing old, new, and the unexpected. There’ll be food, community, and general cross-cultural vibes. This Indian/Australian Summit will be a unique opportunity for masters of diverse Indian music forms to create new compositions together, marking a milestone in global music collaboration.

MONA FOMA’s beloved Morning Meditations will feature sets from various Shruti Sessions artists—also at Moonah Arts Centre.

The Granada Tavern, located just across from MONA in Berriedale, will transform into the vibrant new home for the return of festival favourite, Faux Mo. The makeover will morph the tavern into a party paradise, an autonomous community, a self-contained state of revelry and celebration for ages 18+. Across two late nights and one sun-soaked Sunday session, punters are invited to become a citizen of Granada alongside international, national, and local delegations of party royalty, and dance denizens. A ticket to this hedonistic party includes the freedom to explore many wondrous attractions and multiple non-stop stages of music, dance, and excess.

The Faux Mo line-up includes: Holy Fuck (CAN), Mama Snake (DK), Chaos in the CBD (NZ), Emeka Ogboh (NGA), Chela, Pookie, Soju Gang, m8riarchy, Grace Chia (HOB), Denni (HOB) and Donna Hayze, to name just a few.

Further programming in Hobart includes a rotating cast of local DJs under James Turrell’s Armana at MONA, a not-day club within the museum, a free Music in Exile concert on the MONA lawns, RAWspace: a collaboration between MONA FOMA and Theatre Royal, and of course ART (the museum’s full of it).

MONA FOMA THIRD WEEKEND IN LAUNCESTON

In a thrilling crescendo, the festival concludes with a one-day extravaganza in Launceston that sees MONA FOMA unleash a free, high-octane sonic experience—set against the stunning backdrop of Cataract Gorge.

Revellers are invited to kickstart the day with the cherished festival tradition of Morning Meditations delivered by Tasmanian ensemble Where Water Meets.

As twilight descends, fans and newcomers will be in for an unforgettable experience as legendary band TISM takes the Launceston stage—having performed only three times in the last two decades—an incredibly rare outing for these confounding cult icons.

Also on the line-up will be rock heavyweight Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, teenage glam rockers from the NT, Mulga Bore Hard Rock and a stunning collaboration with FFLORA + Grace Chia—all set against the breathtaking landscape of Launceston’s natural wonder.

MONA FOMA tickets are available at 10am on Tuesday 21 November.

MONA FOMA is in nipaluna / Hobart from 15–25 February and in Launceston on 2 March 2024.

There will be Auslan interpretation at Faux Mo on Friday 23 February, MONA Sessions on Sunday 25 February, and at The Gorge on Saturday 2 March. There will also be a tactile tour of Anito on Saturday 17 February, and audio description at Wayfinder on Saturday 24 February.

Images courtesy respective artists and MONA FOMA.