East Perth Power Station: The Heartbeat Of Perth Festival 2025
"I hope that WA will take ownership over this because it’s really exciting for us and our industry," said Perth Festival's Artistic Director Anna Reece of the revived venue.
Emily Wurramara, Alter Boy, Electric Fields, Peter Garrett (Credit: Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, Kane Hibberd, Supplied)
Perth Festival 2025 is set to be a landmark event, not just for its ambitious program but for its transformation of one of the city’s most iconic yet dormant landmarks: the East Perth Power Station. Under the new leadership of Artistic Director Anna Reece, the festival is breathing new life into this historic site, turning it into a vibrant hub of music, culture, and community.
The East Perth Power Station, a relic of industrial heritage, has been silent since its decommissioning in 1981. For decades, it has stood as a symbol of Perth’s past, its towering facade a silent witness to the city’s evolution. But this year, the Power Station is set to roar back to life, not as an electricity generator (that would be too expensive) but as a beacon of artistic expression and cultural celebration.
Introducing Anna Reece: Perth Festival’s Artistic Director
Anna Reece is the new kid on the block, serving as the ninth face of the Perth Festival and the first WA-born Artistic Director the festival has had. Coming into our interview straight from a walk-through of the revived venue, Reece’s insights of a year’s worth of planning had been conjured into something not only tangible but monumental.
The artistic leader of Perth Festival and former Fremantle Arts Centre director has had a colourful career in the arts, including spearheading Darwin Festival, the sister equivalent of Boorloo’s endeavours up in Northern Territory. Reece was also the producer behind the 2015 Perth Festival Giants installation, filling the main streets of Perth with 6-11 metre tall marionettes.
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When asked about her decades of experience with events, Reece expressed gratitude for overseeing a festival that she grew up with.
“I love seeing this shift where we are employing people closer to home who understand our communities, the Country we're on, and the incredible artistic sector of Australia.
“And I think when you know that, when you start in a role like this, you've got all these shortcuts, and you've got great relationships and understanding. So hopefully, it means that this festival resonates more deeply, you know, with the West Australian community, but hopefully the Australian community more broadly.”
Four Decades Of Perth History
The Power Station’s history is as rich as it is rugged. Once the lifeblood of Perth’s electric supply, it has since become a canvas for urban explorers, graffiti artists, and even the occasional underground rave following its official closure in 1981.
“[There are] decades of people who’ve had legal and illegal experiences at the Power Station,” Reece says with a laugh. “It's a site of expression. There's nascent graffiti there, but it's this site that's been dormant since the 1980s right on the edge of the city, right on the river. It's just been waiting to kind of come back alive.
“Yeah, it's just like Perth doesn't have that many iconic music venues. And I think the thing about this space is that we're not building it from scratch, you know, we're creating this fantastic venue on the top of Country, dwarfed by this, like, incredible historical facade, like being exposed, being very industrial, and, yeah, you know, it gives it character.
“It gives it a connection to this place versus just, you know, a pop-up stage and a screen in the middle of a park. Yeah, so I hope that WA will take ownership over this because it’s really exciting for us and our industry.”
This year, the festival will activate the Power Station’s exterior facade, transforming its sprawling grounds into a dynamic music venue. The main stage, nestled between the station’s towering outer walls, promises to be a breathtaking space—industrial yet intimate, historic yet alive with the energy of contemporary performance.
“It’s like London Printworks or Shine Nightclub in Belfast,” Reece explains. “It's so full of character, so it kind of feels like you're inside, but you're also under the stars.”
After all, Berlin’s famous Berghain, now the gem of its city, was once a power plant, too.
Casa Musica: A Celebration Of Sound And Community
At the heart of the Power Station’s revival is Casa Musica, a free music program that runs from Wednesday to Sunday throughout the festival. Inspired by the piazzas of Southern Europe, Casa Musica is a celebration of music as a universal language, bringing together artists from across the globe and closer to home.
“I grew up in Fremantle, in WA, which is full of Italian and Portuguese people,” Reece shares. “Casa Musica is kind of inspired by those southern European communities that have made WA homes, so those Portuguese and the Italians and the idea of the Piazza and people watching as you go to different countries around the world, not necessarily just Southern European, but that, that simplicity and that joy of just music in the street.
“And that feeling of spontaneity… you suddenly turn the corner, and you walk into a town square, and it's full of people, and it's music that's brought everyone together.”
The lineup is as diverse as it is impressive. From the head-bopping sounds of Habibi Funk to the celebratory melodies of Réunion Island and South African artists, Casa Musica is a testament to Perth’s multicultural fabric. The program also shines a spotlight on local talent, pairing emerging artists like ICONICS, a blind First Nations musician, with established acts like Emily Wurramara.
“The idea is to kind of really show or showcase musicians and culture and stories from around the world but to also really recognise that WA is a migrant state, and we want to celebrate all of those incredible cultures that make this place so culturally rich and diverse, and we want people to feel welcome at Perth Festival,” Reece says. “We've got incredible acts from South Africa and Réunion Island. We have this wonderful Italian artist reconvening the Italian Women's Choir of Fremantle.”
First Nations At The Forefront
The opening night of the Power Station is a celebration of First Nations music, headlined by the fittingly named duo Electric Fields. “The opening night of the East Perth Power Station… I love that for many reasons. It's a big night of First Nations music - Electric Fields opening the old electric power station!” Reece says with a grin, buzzing for the countdown to the event.
The night also features Lubly Dae, a collective of First Nations DJs, who will bring their unique sounds to the Casa Musica stage, as well as local Walyalaup/Fremantle musician Boox Kid, and Gunai/Kurnai & Yorta Yorta artist, DJ PGZ.
This focus on First Nations culture is a cornerstone of Perth Festival 2025. The festival’s Noongar Advisory Circle, established five years ago, ensures that Indigenous voices are not just included but central to the festival’s programming.
“We've had very long-term relationships with people like Dr Richard Wally, Carol Innes and Barry McGuire, who worked within the organisation or were always there to really provide us with guidance,” Reece emphasises. “It was only about five years ago that we created a more formal structure.
“So, we have our Noongar advisory circle, and that operates like a board. So they meet six times a year, and because we have six Noongar seasons in Western Australia, we discuss all kinds of things, and they're extraordinary.
“You know, they do guide us. They support and care for any First Nation staff that we have working within our organisation, and we have a number of First Nations staff now, which is terrific and essential, but they also really hold us to account [and] work really closely with us to make sure that every visiting artist who comes to Perth festival is welcomed to Country.”
A Festival For Everyone
At its core, Perth Festival 2025 is about accessibility and inclusivity. With over 65% of its program free to the public, the festival is committed to breaking down barriers and inviting everyone to experience the transformative power of art.
“Music is the gateway,” Reece says. “Music was my experience. Like, music is the gateway into more arts and culture.
“I grew up in Perth. I listened to music from around the world; I saw it live at Perth Festival time, and it expanded my mind and my love for music - that's how you generate new audiences and engagement. And if we don't have to charge a ticket, [we can] get everyone involved, get everyone excited, and then you can draw them into the theatres and those more traditional spaces.”
As the sun sets over the Swan River and the Power Station’s facade lights up with music and laughter, it’s clear that this is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the enduring power of Country.
Mark your calendars and head down to the East Perth Power Station from February to March, with the venue’s events kicking off this Friday 7th, February. A festival for truth-tellers and mischief-makers, Perth Festival 2025 promises to be an unforgettable experience.
More information on the free installations, as well as ticketed events, are available via the Perth Festival website. You can find out more about the East Perth Power Station here.
PERTH FESTIVAL
EAST PERTH POWER STATION SHOWS
CASA MUSICA
Friday 7 February - Lubly Dae & Friends
Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 February - RTRFM x Casa Musica
Wednesday 12 February - East Meets West
Thursday 13 February - Emily Wurramara
Thursday 13 February - Iconyx
Saturday 15 February - Zukhuta
Wednesday 19 February - Salama
Thursday 20 February - Cassis
Friday 21 February - Habibi Funk
Saturday 22 February - From Be-Bop To Hip-Hop
Sunday 23 February - Kavisha & The Continentals
Wednesday 26 February - Bad Whip
Thursday 27 February - Gemma Farrell Quintent
Friday 28 February - Lindigo
Saturday 1 March - Kankawa Nagarra
Sunday 2 March - The Joy
MAIN STAGE
Friday 7 February - Electric Fields
Saturday 8 February - Röyksopp (DJ set)
Sunday 9 February - Ibibio Sound Machine
Saturday 15 February - C.FRIM
Friday 21 February - Moktar
Saturday 22 February - Maara + RAMZI
Sunday 23 February - Alter Boy: The Complete Collection
Wednesday 26 - Thursday 27 February - Nils Frahm (Music For Perth)
Friday 28 February - Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos
Saturday 1 March - Jordan Rakei
Sunday 2 March - Maribou State
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
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