Asia TOPA unveils Club 8, a pop-up nightclub at Arts Centre Melbourne blending art and nightlife for nine unique nights between 20 February and March 8, 2025.
Arts Centre Melbourne will transform into a pop-up nightclub as part of Asia TOPA’s bold new Nightlife program, bringing a fresh fusion of club culture and contemporary performance art to Naarm/Melbourne. From 20 February to 10 March 2025, the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts returns after a five-year hiatus, celebrating the region’s dynamic arts, culture, and ideas.
Asia TOPA 2025
- Asia TOPA is the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts
- It’s Australia’s leading triennial festival of Asia-Pacific contemporary performance
- It’s a joint initiative of Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sidney Myer Fund
- It’s happening in Melbourne from February 20 – March 10, 2025
- You can follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram here
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Club 8: a late-night destination for innovation
Central to the Nightlife program is Club 8, housed in the Leaper Family Pavilion on level 8 of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building. Club 8 will host nine unique nights of cutting-edge DJs, immersive art happenings, and experimental performances, showcasing the Asia-Pacific’s most vibrant artistic communities.
Jeff Khan, Asia TOPA’s creative director, described Club 8 as “a radical gesture,” highlighting the significance of placing a nightclub within Melbourne’s arts precinct. Khan said, “For next year’s Asia TOPA, we wanted to honour the energy and creativity of nightlife communities across the Asia-Pacific. Clubs are made to be experienced communally: bring your crew and kick on with us.”
Drawing inspiration from Chinese numerology, Club 8’s name celebrates the number eight as a symbol of luck, prosperity, and success. The space will also feature curated food and drink menus, ensuring the atmosphere is both culturally rich and socially vibrant.
Nightlife program highlights
Asia TOPA’s Nightlife stream extends beyond Club 8, with a city-wide program of free concerts, food-and-art festivals, and late-night gallery events. The opening weekend includes free performances at Fed Square and Bunjil Place, and NGV Friday Nights will offer a unique blend of iconic art and DJ sets curated by Asia TOPA.
Opening Nightlife – Thursday 20 February 2025
Club 8 kicks off with performances from drag artist Scarlett So Hung Son (Scotty So), music icon Rainbow Chan, and Aurora Sun Labeija, blending ballroom culture and performance art.
INAMO Kiki Ball – Friday 21 February 2025
Co-curated by Naarm/Melbourne’s Kianna Oricci and Mirasia Silky, this ballroom event celebrates Femme Queen liberation with performances from two iconic Australian ballroom houses.
Shapeshifters – Saturday 22 February 2025
Headlined by performance artist Phasmahammer and electronic musician PANELIA, Shapeshifters highlights artists who transcend genres and cultures.
Aari? Aray! – Thursday 27 February 2025
Featuring hip-hop artists Fateeha, Miss A (Morobeats), and Réjizz, this event celebrates the energy of dance collectives from the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia.
乒乒乓乓 pin-pin-piàng-piàng – Friday 28 February 2025
Harrison Hall and Cloudy Ku curate a genre-fluid night, merging Asia-Pacific innovation with Melbourne’s rave culture.
BLAX: ACT ONE – Saturday 1 March 2025
YIRRAMBOI curates an evening of First Nations self-expression with DJs Soju Gang, Katayanagi Twins, and nudibranchia at the helm.
The Prey and The Ruler – Thursday 6 March 2025
Curated by ROOM40, this event explores extended sound practices and creates sonic worlds rooted in Naarm/Melbourne.
Club 4A: Night Vision – Friday 7 March 2025
Sydney’s Club 4A brings South Asian musical traditions into the present, blending dance, vocal performances, and hybrid art forms.
THE B_B – Saturday 8 March 2025
Betty Apple and Betty Grumble unite in a transcendent dance ritual exploring digital mysticism and collective empowerment.
Free opening weekend events across Melbourne
The Nightlife program kicks off with several free city-wide events, welcoming audiences of all ages to celebrate Asia-Pacific culture.
Asia TOPA x Fed Square Live – Friday 21 February 2025
This free concert features Eastern-fusion contemporary music from local and international stars, including Shio, Tam Tam, and a yet-to-be-announced global headliner.
NGV Friday Nights: Asia TOPA – Friday 21 February 2025
Visitors can enjoy Yayoi Kusama’s work alongside DJ sets and curated food experiences.
Bunjil Place Opening Party – Saturday 22 February 2025
A family-friendly event featuring food, performances, and the new commission Bunyi Bunyi Bumi.
NongKrong: Sarapan – Sunday 23 February 2025
Fed Square transforms into a space for sarapan (breakfast) and performances, with contributions from local and regional artists.
Asia TOPA is a triennial event celebrating the creativity of the Asia-Pacific region. Its 2025 edition includes three public programming streams: Performance, Nightlife, and Knowledge. The Knowledge program, featuring artist talks and workshops, will be announced in January 2025.
A joint initiative of Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sidney Myer Fund, Asia TOPA is supported by the Victorian government, Playking Foundation, and the Australian government. For more details, visit asiatopa.com.au.
Beat is an official media partner of Asia TOPA.
