SOLUNE brings her instrumental project Mad Vantage to The Night Cat for a Melbourne International Jazz Festival commission on 20 October.
The performance marks a major milestone for Selene Messinis, who has spent the past 10 years as an in-demand collaborator working with Thndo, Parvyn, Gordon Koang and NO ZU.
SOLUNE has appeared at WOMADelaide, RISING, Strawberry Fields and Mona Foma, building a reputation for her distinctive sound that blends synthesisers, distortion and electronics. Her solo career launches this year with Mad Vantage, ahead of a debut studio album release later in 2025.
SOLUNE’s Mad Vantage
- 20 October
- The Night Cat, Melbourne
- Tickets here
Check out our gig guide here.
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The commission represents her second major compositional work, developed through the 2025 Melbourne International Jazz Festival Take Note program. SOLUNE draws on Greek and Middle Eastern modes from her ancestral roots, creating complex rhythmic designs layered with rich harmonic soundscapes. The project fuses nu-jazz and prog-metal, with comparisons drawn to Tigran Hamasyan, Plini and Hiromi while maintaining a singular voice that honours ancient musical traditions.
Mad Vantage features Xani Kolac on violin and effects, Kumar Shome on guitar, Ben Finnis on eight-string guitar, and Tim Cox on drums. Opening act AXIS performs at 8pm, with Xani Kolac on electric violin, Stella Anning on electric guitar, Clio Grieg on electric bass, and Freyja Hooper on drums. Doors open at 7.30pm, with SOLUNE’s Mad Vantage taking the stage at 9.10pm. Tickets are $40.
For more information, head here.
