This is a long post, but scroll down for: an insight into the mind of the curators, set times for musical performers by day, our recommended songs and profiles with our favourite artists, our guide to the art installations that will take over Launceston for Mona Foma with an interactive map, and a few ideas for what to do while you’ve got some spare time in Northern Tasmania.
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What were they thinking?
First, read our Q&As with festival director Brian Ritchie, and Faux Mo co-curator Willoh S Weiland, to understand what the hell has happened to Launceston this particular weekend in January.
Do your homework
| Courtney Barnett on her formative years in Tassie, her teenage journals, and decompressing | Dazzle and virtuosity: Satu Vanska to play ‘marathon’ violin concerto with TSO at Albert Hall | The thinking behind Amanda Parer’s inflatable light sculpture Man | Why men and women experience performance piece an0ther so differently | Why Ben Landau is going to hum for 24 hours straight | Late-night party Faux Mo’s ‘deeply inclusive’ line-up | Free Mona Foma tickets offered to Amish with Pennsylvania billboard | Bhutan meets beats with hip-hop producer’s take on folk songs | Artists combine to create Cataract Gorge chairlift ride projection installation in the planetarium | Nakhane talks receiving death threats, queerness and Christianity, and James Baldwin | Artist’s cow pun-based ‘Moo-ral’ installed at Albert Hall | The plastic surgeon-turned-artist creating works of the human body | See Amanda Parer’s illuminated installation Man in the First Basin, Cataract Gorge | How the true-blue Workers Club became Launceston’s hippest party space | Carydakis does Coltrane for Mona Foma performance and tour | Pure Tasmanian steel forged from logging charcoal, Savage River magnetite | Cultural icon Neneh Cherry talks her broken politics |
I like going to see stuff where there’s a genuine sense of, ‘this is an experiment.’ People are doing something new, and I’m getting to see something that I wouldn't be able to see anywhere else.
- Willoh S Weiland
Music program
Friday January 18
10am: Morning meditation with Yirinda. Fairy Dell, Cataract Gorge.
A meditation led by hip hop artist Fred Leone and experimental bassist Samuel Pankhurst, who mix ancient and contemporary sounds to tell stories of Fred’s people, who come from the Butchulla and Garawa tribes of north Queensland.
5.30pm: Tasdance presents Yatra. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Tasdance and a group of Bhutanese locals use dance, music, narrative and moving image to tell tales about refugees and resettlement.
5.45pm: Sabu Orimo. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Japanese improvising shakuhachi player – a type of bamboo flute.
6pm: The Black Jesus Experience. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Melbourne eight-piece who also mix traditional Ethiopian music with modern hip-hop and funk grooves.
6.45pm: Tasdance presents Yatra. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Tasdance and a group of Bhutanese locals use dance, music, narrative and moving image to tell tales about refugees and resettlement.
7pm: Julia Holter. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct
Dreamy chamber pop from Julia and band, who will grace us with tunes from her latest record, Aviary. The music will flit between medieval chamber music, jazzy rock, ballads, robotics and radical hope, with influences from Sappho, a Nepalese Buddhist nun, Saint Augustine and Joan of Arc.
7.30pm: Dana Gringas, Group A and Sonya Stefan present an0ther. Earl Arts Centre.
The world premiere of this wild dance and experimental synth wave performance, set in a landscape of flickering television sets.
8pm: Les Filles de Illighadad. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Lead singer, Fatou Seide Ghali, learned to play her brother’s guitar in secret in her village in the remote Sahara, Niger. Her skill in creating hypnotic guitars, traditional percussion and rhythmic desert grooves, led to the creation of Les Filles de Illighadad, Niger’s only female led band.
9pm: Oneohtrix Point Never presents Myriad.
A grand, four-part performance of medieval folk, electronic dance music, R&B, and science fiction-esque visuals, by celebrated producer and composer Oneohtrix Point Never and the MYRIAD ensemble.
11pm: Sabu Orimo followed by Kuniko Kato. Albert Hall. (Free).
Japanese improvising shakuhachi – a type of bamboo flute – player Sabu Orimo, followed by world-renowned Japanese percussion virtuoso Kuniko Kato.
Saturday January 19
10am: Morning meditation with Aviva Endean. Fairy Dell, Cataract Gorge.
Meditate to experimental clarinet, brought to you by Australian Art Orchestra performer and composer Aviva Endean.
11.30am: Calvin Bowman. City Baptist Church. (Free).
‘Until the revolution comes—and it will come in our lifetime as people begin to awaken from their collective slumber—I choose to create music of light and beauty through one carefully placed note at a time. It is a privilege to do so, but it’s also a protest.’ —Calvin Bowman, organ master and musical revolutionary.
1pm: Satu Vanska with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Albert Hall.
Plonk yourself in a bean bag in the grand old Albert Hall and soak up a repertoire of Finnish music — including a ‘fiendishly difficult’ concerto extraodinairre written by master composer Sibelius —starring violinist Satu Vänskä and her 292-year-old instrument, joined by the TSO.
2.30pm: Dana Gringas, Group A and Sonya Stefan present an0ther. Earl Arts Centre.
The world premiere of this wild dance and experimental synth wave performance, set in a landscape of flickering television sets.
2.30pm: Kuniko Kato. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
World renowned percussion virtuoso with be performing Bach, Reich, contemporary stuff, drums, and an enormous marimba—so large that Kuniko has to perform a kind of dance to play it.
3pm: Tasdance presents Yatra. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Tasdance and a group of Bhutanese locals use dance, music, narrative and moving image to tell tales about refugees and resettlement.
3.15pm: Sonja Hindrum, Karlin Love and Bruce Innocent present Skinmusic. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Sonja, Karlin and Bruce perform improvised, experimental music on invented leather instruments, percussion, and a fleshy, theremin-inspired instrument made from SCOBY – a gelatine-like food culture.
3.30pm: Bansheeland. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
All-girl Tassie heroines of stoner rock, grunge and psychedelia come home.
3.45pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
4.15pm: Mulatu Astatke and the Black Jesus Experience. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
A stripped-back performance from the father of Ethio-jazz. Now 67, Mulatu Astatke invented his own genre of music: a blend of African and Western-inspired jazz. He will be backed by Melbourne eight-piece Black Jesus Experience, who also mix traditional Ethiopian music with modern hip-hop and funk grooves.
4.15pm: Evan Carydakis Quartet. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Jazz off the leash. Evan and his musical mates do John Coltrane, the great American architect of free jazz. Last year at the Block Party they did A Love Supreme; this year, it’s First Meditations, a largely undiscovered Coltrane gem and formative record for the musician’s distinctive sound and style.
5pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
5pm: Jonathon Bree. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
New Zealand cult weirdo-gem will perform existential pop songs, sung in spandex. Influenced by Nancy Sinatra, Serge Gainsbourg, and orchestral pop of yesteryear.
5.30pm: Hanba! Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Polish punk fury with banjo, accordion, tuba and the occasional air raid siren.
6pm: Southeast Desert Metal. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
The most isolated metal band in the world, from Santa Teresa in central Australia, home to the Arrernte people.
6.15pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
6.45pm: Sabu Orimo. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct
Japanese improvising shakuhachi player – a type of bamboo flute.
6.45pm: Yirinda. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Hip hop artist Fred Leone and experimental bassist Samuel Pankhurst mix ancient and contemporary sounds to tell stories of Fred’s people, who come from the Butchulla and Garawa tribes of north Queensland.
7–8pm: Mulatu Astatke and the Black Jesus Experience. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Father of Ethio-jazz, now 67, Mulatu Astatke, invented his own genre of music: a blend of African and Western-inspired jazz. He will be backed by Melbourne eight-piece Black Jesus Experienc, who also mix blend traditional Ethiopian music with modern hip-hop and funk grooves.
8pm: Group A. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Spiky industrial noise, experimental synth, performance art, and DIY punk glamour from the Berlin and Tokyo underground.
9pm: Neneh Cherry. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
She needs no introduction. But the Swedish rap-pop icon from the 90s that turned her genius to slow-burn understated R&B will be performing the songs from across her diverse, 35-year career at Mona Foma.
11pm: Robin Fox + Ensemble Offspring. Albert Hall. (Free).
Lasers, electronics, amplified percussion and harpsichord. Audio-visual artist Robin Fox and new music mavericks Ensemble Offspring (Claire Edwardes and Zubin Kanga) will rework Greek composer Iannis Xenakis’ landmark, yet little known, Polytopes: large-scale architectural environments combining sound, light and colour.
Sunday January 20
10am: Morning meditation with Mindy Meng Wang. Fairy Dell, Cataract Gorge.
Mediation led by Mindy Meng Wang, a versatile Chinese/Australian musician, teacher and composer. Her cross-cultural life and professional experience create her unique style, which has been influenced by Chinese classical and western contemporary music. She excels in experimental and improvisation and her long-term vision is to create a deeper and reciprocal musical connection between West and East.
2.30pm: Yirinda. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Hip hop artist Fred Leone and experimental bassist Samuel Pankhurst mix ancient and contemporary sounds to tell stories of Fred’s people, who come from the Butchulla and Garawa tribes of north Queensland.
2.30pm: Kuniko Kato. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
World renowned percussion virtuoso with be performing Bach, Reich, contemporary stuff, drums, and an enormous marimba—so large that Kuniko has to perform a kind of dance to play it.
3pm: Ewah and the Vision of Paradise. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Hobart post-punk, tough noir rock, and shimmering new wave. Featuring former Launcestonian, guitarist and singer Emma Waters.
3.45pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
3.45pm: Hanba! Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Polish punk fury with banjo, accordion, tuba and the occasional air raid siren.
4.15pm: Sabu Orimo. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Japanese improvising shakuhachi player – a type of bamboo flute.
4.45pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
4.45pm: Nakhane. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Magisterial electro pop, choral soul, warped gospel, and dancefloor glam from South African singer, actor and author Nakhane.
5.45pm: Sonja Hindrum, Karlin Love and Bruce Innocent present Skinmusic. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Sonja, Karlin and Bruce perform improvised, experimental music on invented leather instruments, percussion, and a fleshy, theremin-inspired instrument made from SCOBY – a gelatine-like food culture.
6pm: Dylan Sheridan presents Vexations. Annexe Drama Studio, Inveresk Precinct.
Tassie composer Dylan Sheridan brings us a hypnotic, automated performance—he calls it ‘sound theatre’—using hacked, rewired and repurposed domestic objects such as clocks, smoke alarms and a toaster.
6pm: Striborg + the Australian Art Orchestra. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Black metal and ambient master Striborg will join forces with the Australian Art Orchestra for a blackwave extravaganza. Black metal collides with darkwave music, electronic influences and psychedelia. Plus guzheng, bass clarinet, trumpet and electric violin.
6.45pm: Sonja Hindrum, Karlin Love and Bruce Innocent present Skinmusic. Annexe Theatre, Inveresk Precinct.
Sonja, Karlin and Bruce perform improvised, experimental music on invented leather instruments, percussion, and a fleshy, theremin-inspired instrument made from SCOBY – a gelatine-like food culture.
7pm: Courtney Barnett. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Courtney Barnett is one of Australia’s most popular, and critically-lauded, musical exports; a slacker indie darling with ambling guitar lines and lyrical bombshells of wit.
8pm: WWWater. Traverser Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Charlotte Adigéry and her pals make weird, minimalist pop and electronica. Charlotte’s vocals are backed by slabs of synth, spiky electronics, and trance-y drums.
9pm: Pnau. Northern Stage, Inveresk Precinct.
Get down and go off as electro pop darlings Pnau storm the stage with a wild dance party laced with lasers and rapturous bangers aplenty. Featuring a star turn from New York singer Kira Divine.
Art Walk: Zoom In
Where to see all the crazy and cool creations popping up all over the city.
Anywhere and everywhere:
Mona Foma Soma – The UTAS architecture school has designed and constructed a mobile recording studio and performance space, to be unveiled at the festival and used throughout the year. Keep an eye out for it roaming the city, occupied by artists and filling Launceston’s urban landscape with sound.
Margie Livingstone’s Circumambulation – Margie and friends make art on the move, using paintings tied to their bodies, dragged through the beating heart of this fine town, which will then put on display at Sawtooth ARI.
Interweave Arts’ Mini Arts Trail: Take a map and go on a treasure hunt of sorts around the festival precinct. Along the route you’ll find a series of little see-through boxes with artworks, by local artists, therein.
While you’re here…
Don’t let your time in Northern Tasmania begin and end with Mona Foma. There’s so much to do! You already know about Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay, but here are a few other suggestions from the locals.
Find the tiny doors – the project of Launceston artist Lord Scabar.
Go on a trip to the North-East, where you can frolic in 50 acres of purple at Bridestowe, experience world-class mountain biking in a rainforest and search for glow worms in an abandoned tin mine at Derby, or go on a bushwalk to the 90-metre Ralph Falls.
Evandale is a heritage country town with historic buildings, a charming Sunday market and a providore for Tasmania goods if it’s not Sunday, and a fine art gallery. It’s also where the penny farthing championships are held – but that’s not til February.
Go on, do the tourist stuff – there’s the Harvest Market on Saturdays for the best coffee and fresh produce in Tasmania (not that we’re biased), the Tamar Valley Wine Route for drinking delicious sparkling wine in the sunshine, and the James Boag brewery tours if beer is more your thing.
Have a great festival!