Jamie Stewart's Xiu Xiu are going to demolish The Substation with maximalist mayhem next month.
Experimental music legends Xiu Xiu are bringing their genre-defying sonic onslaught to Melbourne’s west for two exclusive performances this April. Led by the enigmatic Jamie Stewart, the American outfit has been warping minds for over two decades with their uncompromising blend of synth-fuelled pop, post-punk and neo-classical experimentalism.
Fresh from relocating from Los Angeles to Berlin, the band will be showcasing material from their 17th album, 13 Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, which pushes their artistic boundaries to new extremes.
Xiu Xiu at The Substation
- Saturday, April 5 (SOLD OUT)
- Sunday, April 6 (SELLING FAST)
- The Substation, Newport
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Artists at their creative peak
The latest Xiu Xiu offering marks a deliberate dismantling of past aesthetic notions, resulting in what the band describes as some of their most compelling and mesmerising music to date. Mixed by John Congleton (Chelsea Wolfe, Swans, Lana Del Rey), the album features recently released singles Arp Omni – a swelling, textural string-filled ballad – and Veneficium, a jolting, maximalist industrial prog-pop banger.
Supporting this sonic powerhouse is Naarm-based composer-performer Chloë Sobek, whose work explores the concept of more-than-human-music. Performing on the Renaissance double bass (the violone), Sobek’s practice blends maximalist aesthetics with musique concrète sensibilities.
At a Melbourne venue unlike any other
Presented by The Substation and Room40, these shows continue the venue’s reputation for hosting cutting-edge international artists. The Substation has established itself as a leading space for multi-arts and experimental practice in Australia, connecting Melbourne’s diverse western suburbs to global contemporary arts.
Xiu Xiu’s influence extends well beyond underground music circles. Their prolific output has earned praise from publications including The New Yorker, The Wire, Rolling Stone and The Guardian. The band has toured globally, performing everywhere from Kazakhstan to Lebanon, and prestigious institutions like the Guggenheim and Centre Pompidou.
Doors open at 6:30pm, with Sobek performing at 7:30pm and Xiu Xiu taking the stage at 8:25pm.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with The Substation.
