Media release – DarkLab, 26 March 2024

DarkLab’s midwinter programming continues to grow

  • Genesis Owusu: Saturday 15 June 2024, Odeon Theatre

  • An Evening with Marlon Williams: Sunday 16 June 2024, Odeon Theatre

  • Winter Feast week one: Thursday 13–Sunday 16 June, Princes Wharf 1

  • Winter Feast week two: Thursday 20–Sunday 23 June, Princes Wharf 1

  • Nude Solstice Swim: Friday 21 June, Long Beach, Sandy Bay

  • The MONA Gala: Friday 14 June, MONA

  • Namedropping exhibition: Saturday 15 June 2024–21 April 2025, MONA

  • Night Shift: Friday 21 + Saturday 22 June, 112 Murray St — Image

Despite Dark Mofo having a hiatus this year, the festival’s organisers have today made more announcements for what is shaping up to be a lively winter period in June.

Having already announced a performance by ARIA-award winning alternative rap artist Genesis Owusu amid the first weekend of Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast, there’s now more to look forward to this winter.

An exciting new announcement is Aotearoa/New Zealand sensation Marlon Williams, who will return to the Odeon Theatre on Sunday 16 June for An Evening with Marlon Williams.

This will be the first Australian solo tour of Marlon Williams in nearly ten years, featuring his most beloved songs. Williams draws on folk and country traditions – often compared to Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison, and Elvis – but what makes Williams so special is his unique ability to traverse genres on both his award-winning records, and in his renownedly captivating live shows.

It has led Marlon Williams around the world in recent years, featuring on Conan, Later with Jools Holland, and a film role alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born.

Following the release of his second album in 2018, Williams has become an in-demand collaborator, recording duets with Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, and Florence + the Machine, and duets with Lorde, Paul Kelly, Yo-Yo Ma, Courtney Barnett, Brandi Carlisle, and more.

As a solo performer he has released ten studio albums, collaborated with a wide range of artists (including Tim Rogers, Vika & Linda Bull, Gareth Liddiard, Emily Wurramara, Mike Watt, Robert Scott, Mick Thomas and Bernard Fanning) and toured extensively around Australia as well as through Europe, Japan, South East Asia and the United States.

“Dark Mofo is pretty much my favourite festival around. There’s really nothing else in the world like it,” Williams told the Mercury newspaper in 2023 when he last performed here.

Featured image above: MONA Gala 2022, image courtesy MONA/Jacob Collings.