Launceston’s indoctrination into the cult of Mona kicks up another gear this weekend.
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The first of the Mofo Sessions in the lead-up to Mona’s summer festival will take place at Design Tasmania on Sunday.
The free fortnightly gigs will feature a mix of local, interstate and international artists, starting with electronic producer Akouo on Sunday and harpist Emily Sanzaro on July 29.
Mofo executive producer Shelley McCuaig said the “whole Mona experience” would be brought to Design Tasmania for the Sunday sessions.
“Design Tasmania is a beautiful venue and it really suits this intimate concert series to be able to get up close and personal with a range of wildly eclectic musical acts and have a new experience,” she said.
“It’s a great chance for us to get to know Lonnie audiences, Lonnie artists and to bring a bit of a taste to Mofo before the festival comes here in January.
“We’re so excited about bringing Mofo here in January and it’ll be great to make its new home in Launceston.”
Design Tasmania chief executive Karina Clarke said the regular Sunday soirees would have a capacity of about 200 people.
“The acoustics in this space are just incredible and the layout and the structure of the space itself is really going to lend itself to a great ongoing community event,” she said.
“The performers will work with the space and with the different exhibitions that are on display.
“We have quite a sophisticated audience, but getting a younger group through is really important for us and something we’re really excited to help support and grow.”
It’s fabulous Mona is coming and they’re going to help extend [the city’s arts scene] and put an edge on it that everyone's waiting for.
- Design Tasmania chief executive Karina Clarke
Ms Clarke said Mona’s presence in Northern Tasmania was a massive coup for Launceston.
She said Launceston was ready to successfully host an event of the magnitude of Mofo.
“It’s fabulous Mona is coming and they’re going to help extend [the city’s arts scene] and put an edge on it that everyone's waiting for,” she said.
All of the Mofo Sessions will start at 2pm and will feature bars stocked with Moorilla wine and Moo Brew beer.
The free sessions will run fortnightly at Design Tasmania until April 2019 and are all-ages events.