Now or Never festival has announced a second wave of programming featuring innovative electronic artists and experimental installations.
The Melbourne festival, running from 21-31 August, has added seven new events that push the boundaries of contemporary sound and digital art. The expanded programme includes intimate conversations with electronic music pioneers, rare instrument activations and immersive installations that blend technology with artistic expression.
Among the standout additions are conversations with boundary-defying composer Laurel Halo and electronic music innovator Moritz Von Oswald, both presented in partnership with MESS. The festival will also feature Radical Trajectories, a rare activation of experimental analogue instruments hosted by audiovisual artist Robin Fox at Melbourne Recital Centre.
Now or Never festival
- When: 21-31 August 2025
- Where: Various venues across Melbourne
- Cost: Some events are free, others ticketed
Check out our gig guide here.
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The programme expansion demonstrates Now or Never’s commitment to showcasing cutting-edge electronic and experimental music. Laurel Halo’s conversation with MESS co-founder Robin Fox will explore her distinctive soundworld that drifts between ambient, jazz and avant-pop territories. Meanwhile, Moritz Von Oswald will unpack his creative process and technical evolution as one of electronic music’s true innovators.
Visual arts feature prominently in the new additions, with Art in the Age of Hybrid Media bringing together New York’s Team Rolfes and Barcelona’s Hamill Industries to reimagine screen-based performance. The World Came Flooding In, presented with MIFF, offers an immersive installation and creative VR documentary exploring intimate stories during natural disasters.
Local talent receives representation through Namazu, the Narrm-based ambient duo presenting For Those In Peril // Hold Back The Night. This site-responsive work transforms sound into ceremony and terrain into score, exemplifying the festival’s commitment to experimental Australian artists.
For more information, head here
