Ministry of Sound Classical Is Seeing Out Spring and Welcoming Summer 2025 with an Orchestra-Meets-Dance Music Festival
Cassius are headlining in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, while Sneaky Sound System are doing the honours in Brisbane.
Dance music hits. An orchestra. Combine the two and Ministry of Sound Classical is one end result. For a few years now, this event has been giving Australia what no one probably knew they wanted when Ministry of Sound first started as a London club night back in 1991: tunes that usually fill dance floors performed by classical musicians.
If you're a fan of making shapes and you're fond of getting nostalgic, then Ministry of Sound keeps indulging — sometimes by throwing huge 90s and 00s parties that nod back to raves three decades back and club nights at the turn of the century, and sometimes via this orchestral tour that gives bangers from the past 30 years a new live spin. In Australia, the latter is returning before 2025 is out, seeing out spring in Brisbane and Melbourne, then welcoming summer in Sydney and Perth.
This year's run kicks off at Victoria Park in the Sunshine State capital on Saturday, November 1, with Sneaky Sound System headlining. Conducted by Vanessa Perica and with DJ Groove Terminator on backing duties, the Ministry of Sound Orchestra takes pride of place, of course.
Then, Cassius is heading Down Under from France to front the fun on Saturday, November 29 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne — as well as on Saturday, December 6 at The Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, plus on Friday, December 12 at Kings Park & Botanic Garden in Perth.
Other than the orchestra, the lineup varies per city, spanning both international and Australian names. Judge Jules is on the bill in Melbourne and Sydney, for instance, while Tall Paul is also joining in in Sydney — and so is A.Skillz, who has a date with Perth as well. Dirty South is another talent with a date with Brisbane. John Course, Kid Kenobi, Mell Hall and Minx are on the roster, too, plus local names at each of Ministry of Sound Classical's 2025 stops.
As for vocalists, expect Reigan, Karina Chavez, Rudy, Lady Lyric and Luke Antony.
Ministry of Sound Classical is calling 2025's run a summer dance music festival — even if half of its dates are the month prior — which means that a curated food and bar lineup is also on offer. Sydney will score three stages, while Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth will also feature a silent disco.
As for the soundtrack, the event surveys tunes that've packed dance floors over Ministry of Sound's existence — so you just might hear classical renditions of Basement Jaxx, Darude, Röyksopp, Robin, Underworld, Moby, Fisher and more played by its orchestra.
Ministry of Sound Classical 2025 Dates
Saturday, November 1 — Victoria Park, Brisbane
Saturday, November 29 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Saturday, December 6 — The Entertainment Quarter, Sydney
Friday, December 12 — Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth
Ministry of Sound Classical 2025 Lineup
(varies per city)
Cassius
Judge Jules
Sneaky Sound System
Tall Paul
A.Skillz
Dirty South
John Course
Kid Kenobi
Mell Hall
Minx
2025's Ministry of Sound Classical tour will pop up across Australia in November and December. For further details and tickets — with presales from Tuesday, June 17 at 12pm AEST, then general sales from Wednesday, June 18 at the same time — head to the tour website.
Images: Ruby Boland, Ashlea Caygill and Jack Dullard.
- Where to Find the Best Steak in Sydney
- A List of All of the Wes Anderson Films, Ranked
- The Eight Best Coastal Spots for Whale Watching Across Australia
- It's Eurovision Time: Here's When You Can Watch 2025's Song Contest (with Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act Hosting Australia's Coverage)
- The Best Glamping Sites Around Australia
- Eight Unexpected Natural Wonders to Visit Around Victoria