Paul Kelly, Cate Le Bon Lead Melbourne Festival 2016 Line-up

Legacy will come into the spotlight at the 2016 Melbourne Festival, with this year’s contemporary music program celebrating some of the most influential works in history with sets and collaborations from the likes of Paul Kelly, Cate Le Bon, Steve Kilbey and more.

Running from October 6 -23, the eclectic line-up will feature a star-studded tribute to the David Bowie with iOTA, Tim Rogers, Steve Kilbey, Deborah Conway and Adalita teaming up with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall (Oct 15 & 16) for their take on the music icons work in Nothing Has Changed.

Aussie wordsmith Paul Kelly will join forces with Irish-French singer Camille O’Sullivan to pay homage to W.B Yeats and other great Irish poets in Ancient Rain; a piece combining spoken word with new compositions at the perfectly intimate Arts Centre Playhouse for multiple nights.

Buried Country will see tribute paid to Indigenous musicians when Clinton Walker’s ground-breaking book, film and album are brought to live on the stage with an eclectic mix of singers and songwriters, while, saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Brad Mehldau share the stage for night night only to perform tunes from their new record, Nearness.

The Toff In Town will take on the role of the festival’s late night home base, hosting LA-based Welsh avant-pop songwriter Cate Le Bon, Welsh musician and dancer Gwenno – both adding dates to previously announced tours – Brooklyn singer Julianna Barwick, American star Grant-Lee Phillips and more.

More acts will be announced in the coming months, with tickets on sale this Friday, Aug 5, at 9am.

You can find the full first announcement, more details and tickets over on the Melbourne Festival website.