Rufus Wainwright, Amanda Palmer (pictured), Paul Kelly, Mavis Staples, The Necks, Blind Boys of Alabama, Weyes Blood and Kate Tempest are among the big names joining the already announced Highway to Hell, Yeasayer and Aldous Harding as part of next year’s Perth Festival contemporary music line up.
With the Chevron Gardens making way for the all new Chevron Lighthouse – billed as the pulsating heart of a new entertainment and community precinct called the City of Lights, powered by human energy at the Perth Concert Hall – expect most of contemporary music acts to play there. Check out the full Chevron Lighthouse line up below.
Offering free music, great food and drink options along Market Alley, even those who don’t have a ticket to the Main Stage can enjoy the Festival vibe and top local talent at their Free Stage which is accessible to all.
But that’s not where it ends. While Chevron Lighthouse is an outdoor venue, inside Perth Concert Hall transforms from an Indigenous ceremonial ground, into a classical and fine music space, and a rollicking Kabarett Haus curated by the cabaret performer Meow Meow. The siren extraordinaire kicks off the Kabarett Haus season with her uproarious night of musical mayhem, Pandemonium, accompanied by Pink Martini’s Thomas M. Lauderdale and the WASO conducted by Festival Artistic Director Iain Grandage. On following nights, she welcomes Rufus Wainwright, with his intimate new show especially created for Perth Festival, and the return of punk cabaret queen Amanda Palmer.
The music program continues with Australian music legend Paul Kelly, composer James Ledger, Alice Keath and Seraphim Trio performing the song cycle Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds; while Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse will perform their Noongar children’s songs and lullabies in Koorlangka.
And another to add to the must-see list is The Necks, brining their special longform-improv show – you’ve never seen anything like this, and neither have they. They’re hitting newly revamped The Rechabite on February 19 and 20.
Here’s the Chevron Lighthouse program and dates:
FRI 7 FEB Briggs’ Bad Apples House Party (AUS)
SAT 8 FEB Spinifex Gum (AUS)
SUN 9 FEB Ngaiire + Emma Donovan & The Putbacks (PNG / AUS)
THU 13 FEB Treme Brass Band (USA)
FRI 14 FEB Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (AUS)
SAT 15 FEB Moon Duo (USA)
SUN 16 FEB Kate Tempest (UK)
THU 20 FEB [to be announced]
FRI 21 FEB [to be announced]
SAT 22 FEB Yeasayer (USA)
SUN 23 FEB Weyes Blood (USA)
THU 27 FEB Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King & Mondo Freaks (USA)
FRI 28 FEB Aldous Harding (NZ)
SAT 29 FEB Blind Boys of Alabama (USA)
SUN 1 MAR Mavis Staples (USA)
Chevron Lighthouse runs Friday, February 7 to Sunday, March 1 at the City of Lights, Perth Concert Hall. For further info and tickets head to perthfestival.com.au.
