Dark Mofo drops 2022 program preview featuring Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, the Winter Feast and nude solstice swim
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16.03.2022

Dark Mofo drops 2022 program preview featuring Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, the Winter Feast and nude solstice swim

Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021
The Burning, Dark Mofo 2019
Nude Solstice Swim, Dark Mofo 2021
Kim Gordon
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Resurrection: Two weeks of Dark Mofo has returned for 2022.

Tasmania’s truly epic dark arts festival Dark Mofo has officially returned to our calendars for 2022, promising another eccentric lineup of the bold and bizarre.

Delving into centuries-old rituals to explore the links between ancient and contemporary mythology, humans and nature, religious and secular traditions, darkness and light, and birth, death and renewal, the captivating midwinter two-week festival unlike any other will be ‘resurrected’ this June, today dropping a program preview of this year’s event which is extending to 8–22 June 2022.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Exploring “the ideas of rebirth, reincarnation, and new life”, week one of the festival (8–12 June) will focus on art openings and performance, while week two (15–22 June) will focus on the classic Dark Mofo signature events, art, and music, marking a return to form for Tasmania’s premier winter event.

“We’re beginning a new era of Dark Mofo, exploring the ideas of rebirth, reincarnation, and new life,” Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael said.

“We’re privileged to have some internationally renowned artists confirmed for this year, alongside exciting locals. It feels like the cultural world is re-emerging post-covid, and so will the festival.”

Week One highlights include the launch of the festival’s full art program, including influential video and new media artist Bill Viola (USA), as well as the photographer, sculpturist, and multi-channel video artist Doug Aitken (USA).

There will also be a special ‘Mona Up Late’ opening of three new major exhibitions: Jeremy Shaw (Canada), Fiona Hall (lutruwita/Tasmania) and AJ King (lutruwita/Tasmania bigambul/wakka wakka), and Robert Andrew (Brisbane Yawuru), and this year the event will see the return of its exclusive and infamously debaucherous costume event, this year titled The Blue Rose Ball.

As for week two, highlights include celebrated musician, composer and producer Nils Frahm (Germany) playing a number of world premiere shows titled ‘Music For Hobart’. He will also perform at the Opera House as part of VIVID Live, with the festivals working together to secure exclusive Australian performances.

Other major international artists feature as well, including performances by the devastatingly beautiful, classically-trained multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota (USA), the visual artist, writer, actor and a founding member of the post-punk experimental rock band Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon and band, performing songs from her 2019 solo release ‘No Home Record’, renowned space rock band Spiritualized^ (England), an exclusive appearance from rock band Deafheaven, plus a full band rock set from Chelsea Wolfe and a solo piano set from Emma Ruth Rundle (USA).

Dark Mofo 2022 also welcomes back its signature events including the City of Hobart Winter Feast on the waterfront, plus Night Mass: Transcendence taking over the In The Hanging Garden precinct, the nipaluna/Hobart’s community cultural event Reclamation Walk, and the Nude Solstice Swim welcoming back the light after the longest night.

Held in the lead-up to the winter solstice, it can often be confronting, disturbing, thought-provoking, or just plain weird, but definitely something worth checking out if that’s what you’re into.

Dark Mofo runs from June 8 to June 22. The full Dark Mofo 2022 program will be announced in April.