This event is part of the 2025 Rising festival.
Music, art, food and reality-rifting lasers—it’s all alley-bound and ready to be found at Night Trade.
Night Trade is back.
A miscellanea of RISING mischief where you can sample the festival for free. It’s returning to The Capitol, pulsing down Howey Place and surrounding laneways.
Head here for a drink at the microbars, a feed at the local eateries or grab the mic for a bout of karaoke with Mummy’s Plastic. Look out for Saeborg. The Tokyo-based artist is half human, half toy, encased in latex. They’re calling on their Saedog for Night Trade. Tongue out. Paws wobbling.
We’re setting up the Night Trade Stage down the deep end of Howey Place. In week one, Nyege Nyege Collective are over from Kampala, Uganda to to make full use of our custom Heartical Hi Powa sound system. These seminal promoters of African electronic music are bringing five afro-galactic artists: MC Yallah, Kampire, DJ Travella, Lady Hash and Hemedi. Old Plates DJs (the brainchild of DJ Manchild) will be supporting, keeping the atmosphere apt with Future Roots, DJ Jumps and Business Partner.
Local label Music in Exile are soundtracking Night Trade opening night, inviting DJ Kgomotso who’ll likely mix soulful jazz, house and kwaito. Also, LUNA, a Colombian DJ and broadcaster with eclectic sensibilities. Zjoso, a DJ of West African heritage, known for his deep cuts in UK funky and low-slung house. Ethiopian-Norwegian artist Olana is performing his joyous reggae-infused tunes too.
In week two expect jungle juggling and dubbed-out boom bap from the Brooklyn-based Blazer Sound System, and a takeover from Disco Mediterranea featuring Mzrisk, Kobra3000, Sisterdeep and Navy Blue.
Get your perception bent upstairs in the Capitol Theatre where there’s a laser-soaked installation by Shohei Fujimoto, called intangible #form. The theatre’s ceiling already looks like it’s been hatched from a sci fi—Fujimoto pushes it further, transforming the whole place into a sensory ocean of lasers where light and space blur into the intangible.
There’s plenty more to be announced. But for now, just know, whether you’re in for a sojourn or the full so-journey, Night Trade is here. Its neon heart throbs for you.
