Dark Mofo Unveils 2021 Line-up Featuring Thurston Moore, Confidence Man & More

Dark Mofo has announced its 2021 program today with a stack of big names joining in. 

Former Sonic Youth member and solo artist Thurston Moore leads this year's music line-up, joined on the bill by international acts like Circuit des Yeux (USA), The Dead C (NZ), Wobbly (USA), Om (USA), Gavin Bryars (UK) with the the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara (Canada). 

They're joined by local acts Confidence Man, Lo!, Tangents, A. Swayze & The Ghosts, King Stingray, Misery, Black Cab, Slag Queens, The Amenta, Drug Cult, Grace Cummings, Chloe Alison Escott, Shoeb Ahmad and All Saints Compline Choir. 

“The sub-theme for last year's festival was Death. When the festival was killed by Covid in March, we were left disoriented, confused and with a sense of loss for a program that was stillborn. The subsequent isolation of lockdown caused further anguish," said the event's Creative Director Leigh Carmichael.

“We, like the rest of the world, found ourselves in the midst of a long dark night. It seems that in moments of despair, when all else fails, we journey inward. A journey that is sometimes referred to as The Dark Night of the Soul. The darkness representing the fact that the destination is unknowable. The only light along the path is that which burns in the soul.

“It is within this context that we present our 2021 festival, and pray it brings a glimmer of light in these uncertain times. We invite you to come to the cross.”

This year's art highlights include the Pope Alice Close Encounters where the "In The Hanging Garden’s Cathedral venue will be transformed into X-Cathedra; the festival home of our Patron Saint, Her Divine Holiness Pope Alice", Alex Podger's Memorial "that invites Tasmanian residents to have the ashes of their loved ones placed into a handmade firework shell, to be launched above Hobart's Derwent River", Paradise Lost the "first major exhibition about Thomas Griffiths Wainewright (1794–1847): the renowned London critic and suspected serial poisoner who was eventually convicted of forgery and sent to Hobart" and more. 

Dark Mofo runs from 16-22 June across Hobart. Head to theGuide for all the info.