Perth Festival Unveils Massive 2015 Program

It seems Perth Festival have managed to outdo themselves with the announcement of the 2015 solid program, featuring an eclectic line-up set to consume the city for its duration.

The longest-running of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the diverse annual multi-arts celebration sees music from London Grammar, Sinead O’Connor, Spoon and more with theatre lead by South African puppet company, The Rabbits, featuring music from Kate Miller-Heidke and playwright Lally Katz, a range of ground-breaking films, writers and visual art running from 13 February to 7 March.

Here’s who will be providing the soundtrack to next year’s festival:

Sinead O’Connor, Rufus Wainwright, London Grammar, Spoon, Perfume Genius, Mr Scruff, The Antlers, The Budos Band, Daniel Rossen, Tinashe, G-Eazy, Chet Faker, Mogwai, J Mascis, Bombino, Parquet Courts, Neneh Cherry & Rocketnumbernine, First Aid Kit, Nick Waterhouse, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Sharron Van Etten, Tiny Ruins, Charlie Musselwhite, Lake Street Dive, Soil & ‘Pimp’ Sessions, and Sunnyboys

The Perth Writers Festival runs from 19-22 February and will see US author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) return, a closing speech from TED speaker Bryan Stevenson, telling tales of courage and mercy from his time as a US justice lawyer, and others in conversation.

The highly anticipated Film Festival delivers Russian masterpiece Leviathan alongside Girlhood, Leviathan, Sydney Film Festival 2014 winner Two Days One Night, and a range of the other hits, running from 24 November at Somerville and ECU Joondalup Pines.

As to be expected, they’ve rolled out nothing but the best theatre on offer, and compelling retelling of John Marsden and Shuan Tan’s classic picture book will see playwright Lally Katz team up with Kate Miller-Heidke and a slew of other talents to produce operatic delight The Rabbit.

UK Company brings paper creators to the festival for The Paper Architect, which will draw punters in for an evening of miniature theatre for an Australian premiere, and South African puppeteers Handspring Puppet Company (known for Warhorse) work their magic in Ubu And The Truth Commission, which is a multi-dimensional adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi.

Visual art is also in fine form with Kaleidoscope, the first exhibition since 2004 from Perth’s own Tracey Moffat, captivating work from influential Tokyo-born, New York-based Mariko Mori and more.

Highlights from the stellar music program

They need no introduction, but we’re doing it anyway – Spoon has achieved all sorts of accolades over their 20+ years together. They’re known for their mind-blowing performances, and now they’re making their way over to Perth as part of the Perth Festival. They’ll be performing at the Chevron Festival Gardens stage on 12 Feb.

As a DJ, Mr. Scruff covers all bases, including blues, funk, hip hop, Latin, Drum & Bass and breakbeat. He’ll be doing all he can to keep the decks white-hot and the dancefloor jumping when he plays Chevron Festival Gardens on 14 Feb.

Rapper, producer and songwriter G-Eazy’s debut album These Things Happen climbed up to number three in the U.S charts earlier this year, a testament to the nostalgic nature of his hip hop based beats and samples. The energetic entertainer makes his way over to Perth as part of Perth Festival next year, playing 18 Feb at Chevron Festival Gardens.

Chet Faker has been here, there and everywhere in recent years, his smoky vocal stylings becoming an instantly recognisable trademark. His debut record landed a number one spot in the ARIA charts, and it has seen him play all over the world. The electro-soul musician touches down in Perth as part of Perth Festival, playing two shows on 20 & 21 Feb at the Chevron Festival Gardens.

Parquet Courts have produced two of the most outstand indie-punk albums of the last couple of years with 2013’s Light Up Gold and this year’s effort, Sunbathing Animal. They played Laneway Festival earlier on this year, but this will be the first headlining show they ever play in Perth. Fall under their spell 27 Feb, Chevron Festival Gardens.

Neneh Cherry & Rocketnumbernine is a pioneer of ‘80s & ‘90s pop, and she’s made a triumphant return this year with her first album in 17 years, Blank Project. The bold record contains elements of rich vocal melodies and avant-electronica, and marks the platform for her return to the country as part of Perth Festival. She’ll be performing two shows at Chevron Festival Gardens: 28 Feb & 1 Mar.

A soul man through and through, Nick Waterhouse brings sounds of the ‘50s back with modern-day energy and cool. Thick sax intros, remnants of RnB and Chicago-influenced blues are a go. Catch the star on the rise when he performs as part of Perth Festival on 7 Mar at Chevron Festival Gardens.

The UK’s London Grammar have quickly become one of the biggest indie-pop acts around the world, thanks to their debut album, If You Wait. Vocalist Hannah Reid is towering in her delivery, and the trip-hop beats created Dominic Major and Dan Rothman are as sophisticated as they are mesmerising. They sold out a bunch of shows last time they were in the country, so make sure you grab your tickets quick smart when they play Red Hill Auditorium, 5 Mar, as part of Perth Festival.

Following the release of Familiars – their fifth studio album – Brooklyn’s indie-rock luminaries The Antlers have revealed that they'll be making the long-ass trip to Perth to take us on a musical journey through soaring sounds that retreat under a canopy of electronic trappings. They hit the ground running 15 Feb, Chevron Festival Gardens.

Six years after their last headline tour of Australia and five years since their Harvest Festival appearances, sonic-architects Mogwai finally return to Australia for a headline tour. Over 20 years, the band has been at the forefront of illustrative instrumental music, releasing eight influential studio albums including this year’s Rave Tapes, and will be taking you on journeys through darkness and light with wave after wave of sound. They play Chevron Festival Gardens, 23 & 24 Feb.

In a Western Australian debut, Bombino is going to be bringing his desert-blues-rock jams to Perth. Debuting at number one on the Billboard World Albums and iTunes World Charts with Nomad, Bombino’s performances are hailed by punters around the world for their energy and full-tilt rock. Get in on the action 25 Feb, Chevron Festival Gardens.

Swedish sisters and alternative folk-duo Johanna and Klara Soderberg, aka First Aid Kit have announced a handful of headline shows to go with their 2015 Australian festival appearances, and one of those shows includes a stint in Perth as part of Perth Festival. Catch tracks from this year’s album Stay Gold, plus more, when they play 4 Mar at Chevron Festival Gardens.

Adding to her string of shows over east, outspoken Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor will be playing a show in Perth. A hugely influential figure since emerging in the 1980s, O’Connor has recently released her 10th studio album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss, and you’ll be able to hear how the new tunes fare at Perth Concert Hall, 28 Feb.

Following the world premiere of his opera Prima Donna, and the Grammy-nominated recreation of Judy Garland’s Carnegie Hall concert, Rufus Wainwright will be performing a range of classic tracks with a grand piano when he plays Perth Concert Hall on 2 Mar.

For all Perth Festival breaking news, interviews, reviews and videos, head to our dedicated festival page, and you can grab tickets via perthfestival.com.au or Ticketek.