Acid house anthems performed by a brass band? Welcome to the third instalment of Melbourne's Rising festival.
The 2024 event is not till June, but the program announced on Tuesday features 105 events by more than 400 artists, including free performances of Acid Brass by UK artist Jeremy Deller.
Deller has been collaborating on '80s dance anthems with community brass bands across Victoria, and Merri-Bek City Band gave a brief performance of big-band-acid-house on the Melbourne Town Hall balcony.
For a moment the noise of trams and reversing trucks was drowned out by what sounded like Technotronic's Pump Up the Jam on trombone and trumpet.
"This is really about who we are, where we live, and the world around us," co-artistic director Gideon Obarzanek told reporters.
"We've invited some of the greatest artists from here and around the world to inspire, delight, celebrate, knock our socks off and even challenge us."
The music line-up features the first Australian show by Swedish electro-pop stars Fever Ray, and the first hometown gig in 14 years by Melbourne icons The Dirty Three.
Sunset on each night of the 16-day festival will be marked by a performance of The Rivers Sing by Yorta Yorta/Yuin composer and soprano Deborah Cheetham at the Yarra River.
The opening weekend features The Warumpi Band musical Big Name, No Blankets, a recent feature of the Sydney Festival.
Rising's dance program launches five new productions including a new piece by Chunky Move, staged inside a massive inflatable at the Immigration Museum.
Another event, which organisers have billed as peak Melbourne, features dancers performing with sports equipment.
"We have some of the best choreographers and dancers and shows from around the world, that are made in Australia," Mr Obarzanek said.
Many events will be free, including a cinema showing of 24 hours of nonstop rock documentaries in the CBD.
Rising runs from June 1 to 16.
