Summer in Hobart means one big thing - MONA FOMA (or MOFO for short, yo), MONA’s Festival of Music and Art.
Over its short life-span, MOFO has become an opportunity to feast upon some of the most exciting and innovative music, sonic and visual artists from around the world, right on Hobart’s doorstep.
Across the five days of the festival, artists from Australia and around the world create sound sculptures and aural pictures (like Robin Fox’s giant theremin at PW1, and Vicky Browne and Darren Seltmann’s interactive sound installations), as well as world-premiere musical performances by Michael Kieran Harvey and Tania Bosak and the Barefoot Orchestra, and evenings with Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer.
There will also be daily musical meditation sessions in St Mary’s Cathedral (with the likes of Bickram Ghosh, Adam Simmons, Josephine Truman, and Colin Offord); food, wine and beer demonstrations, along with music workshops and rehearsals, not to mention the MOFO Eastern Sho in Rosny Park, and a new ‘Generation Y’ video mash-up by digital mavericks Soda_Jerk.
David Byrne and St. Vincent conclude MOFO in style as they make music of extraordinary energy, originality and savor, backed by a synchronised dancing brass band.
Then in a special MOFO Encore performance, the freshly-announced Elvis Costello and the Imposters will take audiences through a Costello musical encyclopedia refresher course with a selection of classic hits. They're supported by Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, who last appeared at MONA’s opening celebrations in 2011.
To quote the festival guide, 2013 is going to be "awesomer" than ever before. You really need to come and discover it all for yourself this summer.
Visit www.mofo.net.au for the full program, and to book festival and single tickets.
- Glenn Saunders
