Overview
2023 is almost upon us, and the team at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art's (MONA) is getting ready in a big way. Already this year, the venue has locked in dates for the return of its sinister winter arts and culture festival Dark Mofo in June 2023; however, it hasn't forgotten about summer fest Mona Foma — which'll be back in February with some mighty impressive names on the bill.
The dates to get excited about: Friday, February 17–Sunday, February 19, 2023 in Launceston, and Friday, February 24–Sunday, February 26, 2023 in Hobart. The onstage talents to get even more excited about: Pavement, Bon Iver, Bikini Kill, Angel Olsen and Peaches, just for starters.
Graham Tolbert. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Foma.
Bon Iver has already locked in an Australian tour for 2023, and it includes Mona Foma's Hobart run — well, an early show on Tuesday, February 21, before the fest kicks off in the city properly that Friday.
Pavement already has an Aussie tour on the books for 2023 as well, and will play Mona Foma in Hobart on Saturday, February 25 with Missouri singer-songwriter Olsen.
Actually, the Hobart leg of the fest is looking incredibly enticing, because that's where Bikini Kill will pop up, too. Girls to the front, because the iconic Kathleen Hanna-fronted, Washington-formed, Riot Grrrl movement-instigating group will perform their first Australian show in more than 25 years. (Yes, either watching or rewatching exceptional documentary The Punk Singer, about Hanna, should be on your must-do list right now. Fun fact: when Hanna spray-painted "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit" across her pal Mr Cobain's wall, the name of a certain grunge anthem was born.)
Tarina Westlund. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Foma.
Peaches is also heading to Hobart, joining the Pavement and Angel Olsen, and Bikini Kill gig, as part of the MONA Sessions — aka summery evening gigs on the MONA lawns.
Launceston will get its own batch of impressive talent. Get ready to see Perturbator, The Chills and Kae Tempest in the northern Tassie city; again, that's just the beginning of the full lineup.
That complete program will be unveiled on Monday, November 28, with tickets for Bon Iver on sale now, and all other currently revealed gigs going on sale at 9am AEDT on Monday, October 24.
Hadley Hudson. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Foma.
"We are effusively launching back into international artists big-time in 2023," said Mona Foma Artistic Director Brian Ritchie, announcing the lineup so far.
"The intellectual, spiritual and partying life of Tasmania cannot help but be enriched by such a diverse range of artists as renaissance person Kae Tempest, provocateur Peaches and her raunchy mob, storyteller Angel Olsen, pioneers and forerunners Bikini Kill, venerable Antipodean philosophers, The Chills and the enveloping miasma of Perturbator. This in addition to already announced Bon Iver and Pavement, plus a whole lot more to come. Stay tuned."
MONA's summer event was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, but made the move to Launceston in 2019.
Mona/Adam Gibson. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Already keen to get booking? Fancy a Tasmania trip in the interim? Our Concrete Playground Trips Hobart getaway might also be of interest.
Mona Foma will take place from Friday, February 17–Sunday, February 19, 2023 in Launceston, and from Friday, February 24–Sunday, February 26, 2023 in Hobart. We'll update you when the full program is announced on Monday, November 28 — but head to the festival website in the interim for further details.
Top image: Debi Del Grande. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Foma
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