RISING festival has announced one of the best music lineups to hit Melbourne in years for its 2024 edition.
RISING festival’s 2024 music lineup presents a Melbourne extravaganza, featuring some of the greatest hip hop (Yasiin Bey FKA Mos Def) post-rock (Dirty Three), trance (Evian Christ) and synth-pop (Fever Ray) artists of all time.
They’ll be joined by contemporary musical pioneers. ONEFOUR, Yves Tumor, Sky Ferreira, Tirzah, Tinariwen and Snoh Aalegra – just to name a few – are among the most acclaimed boundary-pushing acts in the world at the moment, re-inforcing RISING’s reputation for curating lineups that place Melbourne at the forefront of creative expression.
Then, there is RISING’s annual celebration of the underground. Events like CRIP RAVE THEORY will expand Melbourne’s understanding of subcultures and redefine what artistic events can look like.
It’s a mammoth program that should be explored in full detail here, but consider the following a quick guide to the exceptional artists performing.
RISING festival: Melbourne’s 2024 music program
- Melbourne’s eclectic art, music and performance festival will feature 105 events and more than 480 artists
- Tickets on sale now. Subscribe to RISING for news here
- Book tickets to three or more eligible events in one transaction via the RISING website and automatically get 15% off the standard ticket price
ONEFOUR
- Saturday 8 June
- Festival Hall
- Tickets here
Aussie-Samoan Drill Rap quartet producing hard-hitting tracks. One of Australia’s most successful hip-hop acts, comprising members J Emz, Spenny, Celly and Lekks, their gritty lyrics and raw storytelling vividly depict the realities of life in their community.
Hear My Eyes: Hellraiser
- Sunday 9 June – 10 June
- Main Hall, Melbourne Town Hall
- Tickets here
Horror classic with an all new score and live laser show from Hieroglyphic Being and Robin Fox. Enter the world of Pinhead, a leader of the Cenobites, extradimensional beings who thrive on sadomasochistic experiences. The perfect film for a haunting live score.
Acid Brass
- Saturday 1 June – 16 June
- Melbourne Town Hall / State Library Station / Town Hall Station
- FREE
- Information here
Artist Jeremy Deller blends acid house music with brass bands to create a reformed Acid Brass. Catch these special performances daily throughout RISING at various high foot-traffic locations in Melbourne’s CBD.
Blonde Redhead
- Friday 14 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Tickets here
American alt/rock band with a huge back catalogue of transient shoegaze-y music. Known for their ethereal soundscapes, intricate melodies, and compelling vocals, the band navigates various genres, from dream pop to shoegaze.
CRIP RAVE THEORY
- Saturday 15 June
- The Substation
- Aisha Mirza, BAE BAE, Aquenta + more to be announced
- Tickets here
Founded by DJ Aquenta, CRIP RAVE THEORY is a disability-led party aiming to celebrate those who have traditionally been limited by the commercial standard of nightlife. The Substation is one of Melbourne’s best venues, with a Berghain-like ambience when in club mode and CRIP RAVE THEORY will be a chance for partygoers to show up as their fullest selves.
Day Tripper
- Saturday 8 June
- Melbourne Town Hall / Max Watt’s / The Capitol
- Tickets here
Day Tripper laces Melbourne Town Hall, Capitol Theatre, and Max Watt’s with a big old day party in the middle of the long weekend. It’s post-punk, acid house, minimal techno, ambient, hip hop, disco, video works, and contemporary dance. Prepare for a block’s worth of day tripping that splashes into adjoining arcades and laneways. All in one ticket.
Lineup
- Yasiin Bey performs MF Doom
- Asha Puthli
- Bar Italia
- HTRK
- JLIN
- MEMORIALS
- Surprise Chef
- Alastair Galbraith
- Richard Youngs
- WET KISS
- The Tubs
- Sarah Mary Chadwick
- Scott & Charlene’s Wedding
- POSSESHOT
- Polito
- Astrid Sonne
- Still House Plants
- CS + Kreme and James Rushford
- Pandora’s Jukebox
- YL Hooi
- DJ Emelyne
- Candela Capitan
- Clubble
- Amber McCartney
Dirty Three
- Friday 14 June – 15 June
- Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
- Sold out, but join the Tixel waitlist here
Australian instrumental post-rock act, returning to home soil for the first time in 12 years. Their improvised performances evoke intense emotional landscapes, ranging from melancholy to exuberance. With a dynamic interplay between members, their music transcends conventional genres, captivating audiences worldwide with its raw, emotive power. Check out their NPR Tiny Desk above, Rain Song is such a powerful example of their live presence.
Evian Christ
- Sunday 9 June
- Max Watt’s
- Tickets here
UK trance pop producer and songwriter who creates music that the eyes can see. Emerging from the UK underground scene, his collaborations with artists like Kanye West have further solidified his impact, contributing to West’s acclaimed album Yeezus.
Fever Ray
- Sunday 9 June – 10 June
- Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
- Tickets here
Gothic synth-pop with hypnotic vocals. Emerging from the acclaimed duo The Knife, Fever Ray explores dark, electronic landscapes with a blend of haunting vocals and experimental soundscapes. Her self-titled debut album in 2009 garnered widespread critical acclaim, cementing her reputation as a pioneer of electronic music.
Good Morning
- Thursday 6 June
- Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
- Tickets here
Melbourne’s own indie-jangle heroes. Reminiscent of early Mac DeMarco. With the ability to blend elements of jangle pop, folk, and bedroom pop, their understated yet emotive sound creates a sonic landscape perfect for lazy afternoons or contemplative evenings, earning them recognition as one of Australia’s most promising indie acts.
Library Up Late X Rennie Ellis – Melbourne Out Loud
- Friday 7 June
- Victoria Gallery, State Library Victoria
- FREE
State Library Victoria’s latest exhibition; Life Through the Lens of Rennie Ellis, with a backdrop of music and dance party curated by MzRizk. Expect a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the Australian experience, from street scenes and nightlife to social issues and subcultures.
Moktar: Town Hall Takeover
- Saturday 8 June
- Melbourne Town Hall
- Tickets here
Egyptian-Australian DJ known for his club music mixes that blend with traditional Arabic instrumentation and sampling. Riding high from an acclaimed set at Meredith, he can blend folktronica and electro to Ugandan rap, Takht, techno and house.
Night Trade made easy by Up
- Saturday 1 June – 16 June
- Capitol Arcade
- It’s free, learn more here
The festival’s pulsing hub and nightly social club Night Trade, made easy by Up, returns in 2024. This time, it delves deep into Melbourne’s hidden history as it sprawls across the network of laneways underneath the Capitol Theatre and connects through to Howey Place – the original home of Melbourne’s most eccentric and ambitious book shop and the first queer club in the city. Amongst the neon haze, discover installations, exhibitions, dumplings, micro-bars, interactive art, music and dance.
At the centre of Night Trade is a career-spanning exhibition by British Turner Prize-winning conceptual artist Jeremy Deller titled In the Future Everybody Will Be Cancelled for 15 Minutes.
Those who want to dance with somebody can head down Presgrave Place and enter the Night Trade Stage Door, the festival’s late night club.
ONE SONG HISTOIRE(S) DU THÉÂTRE IV – Miet Warlop
- Thursday 13 June – 15 June
- Melbourne Town Hall
- Tickets here
The brainchild of Flemish artist Miet Warlop, it’s one song performed over and over by a squad of musicians. At the same time, they run an obstacle course of balance beams, treadmills and trampolines—until they almost collapse from exhaustion.
SHOUSE: COMMUNITAS
- Saturday 15 June
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Register for the workshop here
YOU are the band. A coming together of music-lovers to create music, led by club anthem-iers SHOUSE. In a free, Australian-exclusive world-premiere, the international dance-floor phenomenon will conduct a rapturous coming together of a choir of hundreds to sing, dance and make sound vibrations for vibration’s sake with Communitas beneath the hallowed vaulted ceilings of St Paul’s Cathedral.
SHOUSE have received over 1,600 registrations for Communitas, with places limited however, if you participate in their free workshop it will guarantee your entry to the event on 15 June. No music experience is required, register here.
Sky Ferreira
- Tuesday 4 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Tickets here
Singer/model/actress whose career is somewhat mysterious but seldom emerges with a pop banger not to be sniffed at. Distinctively haunting vocals and edgy production.
Snoh Aalegra
- Wednesday 5 June – 6 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Sold out, join Tixel waitlist here
This up-and-coming RnB star was mentored by Prince…need I say more? Aalegra’s music combines elements of R&B, soul, and jazz, creating a lush sonic landscape that is both contemporary and timeless.
Tinariwen
- Friday 7 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Tickets here
Rock pioneers of the Tuareg people who write music heavily rooted in culture. They epitomise the spirit of desert blues with hypnotic rhythms and poignant lyrics. Formed in the 1980s, their music reflects the struggles and aspirations of the Tuareg people, blending traditional North African melodies with modern electric guitar-driven rock.
Tirzah
- Thursday 13 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Tickets here
Angelic, minimal beats that ooze elegance and class. Her unconventional song structures and avant-garde sensibilities push the boundaries of contemporary pop music.
Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def)
- Sunday 9 June
- PICA (Port Melbourne Industrial Centre for the Arts)
- Tickets here
Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) celebrates the 15th Anniversary of The Ecstatic. A multifaceted icon within American culture, as a rapper, his lyrical prowess, social justice and introspective themes have left an indelible mark on hip-hop.
Yves Tumor
- Tuesday 11 June
- Forum Melbourne
- Tickets here
Art-rock experimental producer who creates sonic, visceral soundscapes. Yves sprawls plunderphonics, noise, dream-pop, sinister R&B and field recordings with a flow that follows emotion, and not stylistic structure. Most importantly, the grim brilliance is also a highly listenable pop experience.
24 HOUR ROCK SHOW
- Saturday 8 June – 9 June
- The Capital – RMIT
- Tickets here
Another Jeremy Deller creation, a 24-hour marathon of music docos. Rock and world history intertwined: obscure gems alongside Rolling Stones, Björk and David Bowie. Delve deep into Wattstax and Glastonbury, follow Johnny Cash to death row or watch Hell’s Angels at Altamont.
RISING is taking place across Melbourne from June 1-16. For tickets and more information, head to their website here or follow them on Instagram here.
This article was made in partnership with RISING.
