WAVE Festival

Overview

What do Horrorshow, electronic producer The Kite String Tangle and poet Luka Lesson all have in common? They're not usually on the Queensland Symphony Orchestra bill. Of course, that's what makes QSO's new WAVE Festival so exciting — as unexpected musical collaborations always are.

Taking place over April 20 and 21, WAVE will see Brisbane Powerhouse echoing with the sound of cutting-edge music, with the festival blending classical sounds with something that's anything but. As QSO music director Alondra de la Parra explains, "our music sound-world is infinite, and we want to share the exhilaration of live orchestral music in all its shape-shifting glory."

Luka Lesson, composers Heather Shannon (The Jezabels) and Gordon Hamilton, and conductor Sarah-Grace Williams join forces to kick things off, taking chamber orchestra to new places. They're followed by Horrorshow's turn in front of the instruments — but if you don't already have a ticket, you'll have to cross your fingers that their sold-out gig releases more. Last but not least, Brissie's own Danny Harley — better known as The Kite String Tangle — will perform his first-ever orchestral show. Whichever session you head along to, one thing is certain: you haven't been to a festival like this.