Fed Square's yearly summer takeover is back with Open Air at the Square bringing free gigs, films and performances throughout February.
Open Air at the Square returns to Melbourne’s CBD from 2-28 February, packing nearly a full month of live music, outdoor cinema screenings and cultural celebrations into the city’s central gathering spot. The program spans everything from candlelit concerts and silent films to street dance battles and New Orleans bounce parties, all completely free.
The live music lineup features some serious heavy hitters. We’re talking Tina Arena’s candlelit 50th anniversary show, Big Freedia, dancehall pioneer Sister Nancy, and Beatles songs reimagined as reggae — plus silent films scored live by local musicians. Here’s what’s on…
Open Air at the Square
- What: Free month-long festival of music, cinema and performance
- Where: Fed Square
- When: 2-28 February
- More info here
Three nights of music by candlelight
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The Candlelight Concert Series illuminates Fed Square across three evenings from 10-12 February, with Australian talent performing among thousands of flickering candles and the city skyline. Folk Bitch Trio kick things off on 10 February — the Melbourne folk group have built a loyal following with their sharp storytelling and three-part harmonies.
First Nations R&B artist Dean Brady follows on 11 February, the Kamilaroi and Tongan singer-songwriter who’s become one of the country’s most exciting voices in contemporary R&B.
Tina Arena rounds out the series on 12 February with her THANK YOU MELBOURNE show, marking 50 years in the industry. Arena remains one of Australia’s most successful recording artists, with over 10 million records sold worldwide. All performances will be Auslan interpreted with accessible viewing areas.
Global sounds and New Orleans bounce
New Orleans bounce icon Big Freedia brings a high-energy celebration of queer artistry to Fed Square on 27 February. Widely credited with bringing bounce music from the New Orleans underground to global audiences, Freedia has collaborated with Beyoncé, Drake and Kesha while becoming a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. Presented alongside All the Queens Men, the show promises bold, euphoric bounce music and a full-scale celebration of queer culture and community.
The following night, 28 February, sees three global acts unite for an evening of genre-bending sounds. François K is a legendary New York DJ and producer whose work has shaped house, garage and electronic music since the late 1970s — his remixes for acts like Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys and Kraftwerk are considered foundational to dance music.
Greek artist Σtella (Stella) brings her distinctive blend of synth-pop and new wave, having earned acclaim across Europe for her playful, off-kilter sound. Vocalist Ganavya rounds out the bill, the Grammy-nominated South Indian-American artist whose work spans Carnatic music, jazz and experimental composition.
A pulsating street party hits the city on 21 February with the return of Afro Caribbean Carnival. Jamaican dancehall pioneer Sister Nancy joins the lineup — her 1982 track Bam Bam remains one of the most sampled songs in music history, appearing in everything from Kanye West tracks to the opening of cult film Belly. UK jungle and drum and bass figure General Levy joins her, the MC whose 1994 track Incredible helped bring jungle music into the mainstream. Local sound systems round out the bill. Expect street food, colour and beats you’ll feel in your bones.
The Beatles Dub Club bring their reggae-dub reimagining of the Fab Four’s catalogue on 26 February. The UK outfit has torn through Glastonbury, Boomtown, Latitude and Green Man since their 2022 debut, blending the Beatles’ songs with reggae, ska, Latin, hip hop, dub, funk and house.
Garage Band returns on 7 February, giving musicians under 21 the chance to perform across multiple stages through workshops and mentorship with artist JOF (Joseph O’Farrell). The Irish-Australian artist has built an international profile through his genre-blending electronic productions and live performances. Applications are currently open for young bands wanting to take part.
Silent films, live scores and satire under the stars
The outdoor cinema program runs two distinct series throughout February. In Defence of Satire screens from 2-5 February with titles including Dr. Strangelove and The Player, diving into the absurdities of modern life through sharp satirical lenses.
Silent Cinema with Live Scores pairs classic silent films with original compositions from Australian musicians. DJ Lori soundtracks the newly restored For the Term of His Natural Life on 16 February — the Melbourne selector has become a fixture in the city’s electronic scene through her eclectic DJ sets and radio work.
Emelyne scores The Fall of the House of Usher on 17 February, bringing her experimental electronic approach to Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic tale. Sally Ford and the Idiomatics bring a new live score to Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times on 18 February, the Melbourne jazz ensemble known for their dynamic improvisational performances. Blue Grassy Knoll perform alongside a 100th anniversary screening of Buster Keaton’s The General — the group have spent over two decades crafting cinematic soundscapes that blur the lines between jazz, bluegrass and ambient music.
Mindy Meng Wang and Burkhard Dallwitz accompany Chinese silent cinema landmark The Goddess on 20 February to mark Lunar New Year. Wang is a virtuoso guzheng player who bridges traditional Chinese music with contemporary composition, while Dallwitz is an acclaimed film composer best known for his work on The Truman Show. All sessions include closed captions.
Street dance battles and cultural celebrations
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City Sessions brings street dance battles and showcases on 22 February as part of On&On Festival. One of Australia’s most anticipated street dance events, it draws crews from across the country and internationally for battles, showcases and live DJ sets.
Nongkrong – Pasar Senja celebrates Indonesian-Australian culture on 14 February, bringing together music, performance, visual arts and community experiences for a cultural night out on Valentine’s Day, with support from Garuda Indonesia of Nongkrong. The name translates to Twilight Fair in English.
With nearly a month of programming across music, film, dance and cultural celebrations, Open Air at the Square offers one of the most varied free festival lineups Melbourne has seen — and it’s all happening right in the heart of the city.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Fed Square.
