Mofo’s offerings to suit all tastes
AN eclectic range of unexpected world premieres, Australian exclusives and challenging performances and installations have been announced for Mofo 2018, as Mona’s acclaimed summer festival expands into Launceston for the first time.
Mofo 2018 will feature 11 days of cutting-edge music and art in Launceston (January 12-14) and Hobart (January 15-22) as the event starts to transition from its Hobart home into Launceston, where future festivals will be held while construction occurs at Mona’s Berriedale site.
The inaugural “Mini Mofo” weekend in Launceston will feature an Australian exclusive performance of Monumental by Canadian contemporary dance company The Holy Body Tattoo, complete with a live score performed by Canadian post-rock group Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Grammy-winning Australian star will team up with the Ondioline Orchestra for the Australian premiere of a tribute to the late French electronic composer and pop visionary Jean-Jacques Perrey, and Mini Mofo will culminate in a free Launceston Block Party in the QVMAG Courtyard on the Sunday, with artists to be announced in December.
The State Government yesterday confirmed it is investing $1 million in Mofo 2018, including $650,000 in new funding to support the move north.
Premier Will Hodgman said the funding included $100,000 for Mona to “create a Launceston legacy” which could include infrastructure and business improvements that help local events or cultural organisations.
“There’s no doubt that Mofo’s northern exposure will also create great opportunities for other local events, artists and performers to collaborate and leverage off the icon,” he said.
Launceston stakeholders have also thrown their support behind the move north, with the Junction Arts Festival, the University of Tasmania, the Launceston City Council, Tourism Northern Tasmania, the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, Northern Tasmania Development and local arts practitioners all welcoming the announcement.
“We fully expect the North to embrace Mona Foma and for those already in the arts sector in the region to take full advantage of what a festival of this magnitude and reputation can bring with it,” Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said.
“The obvious collaborative opportunities for everyone in the industry — and for the wider business community — will bring even more vibrancy and economic positivity to the region.”
Mofo’s big “Weekend at Walshy’s” will feature dozens of per- formances on-site at Mona from January 19-21, with highlights to include performances by Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Philadelphia punk-poet Moor Mother, Chicago singer-songwriter and poet Jamila Woods, Argentinian rap/folk fusion trio Femina, and Norwegian black metal masters Mayhem.
Others on the bill include “the Tunisian Björk”, Emel Mathlouthi; Violent Femmes frontman Gordon Gano; avant-garde poet Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and collaborator Edley ODowd; former Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra conductor Karim Wasfi and oud player Rahim AlHaj; Barcelona-based producer Filastine and Indonesian neo-soul singer Nova; US performance artist Breadwoman; mezzosoprano Eve Klein; and Mofo favourites including pianist Michael Kieran Harvey and the Southern Gospel Choir.
Several events will then be held in and around Hobart, including the world premiere of a collaboration between the Violent Femmes and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra at the Federation Concert Hall on January 22.
Events will also be held at Contemporary Art Tasmania, Moonah Arts Centre, St David’s Cathedral and Hobart Town Hall; while Faux Mo, Mofo’s late-night after-party, will take over MAC2 at Macquarie Point from the 19th to the 21st.
“Mofo is a celebration of unique creativity and personal expression ranging freely across music, visual art, dance, spoken word, architecture and more,” curator Brian Ritchie said.
“The messages range from pure abstract form to blatant protest and a few stops in-between — even the food, wine and beer are idiosyncratic.
“We’re bringing artists from all over the world to Tasmania. Some are visiting for the first time. Others have moved here as immigrants or refugees. Some of our artists are world-famous exponents of their vision and others come from the margins of society, even from cultures where they would not have been allowed to create until recently.
“Mofo will give everyone an equal platform and a chance to be heard.”
Tickets go on sale from www.mofo.net.au on Monday at noon. The remainder of the program will be announced on November 28.