Summer festival Mona Foma axed after 16 years

For the last 16 years, Mona Foma has brought an extra pinch of flair to the Tasmanian summer. Now it’s been axed. Here’s what David Walsh had to say + his favourite Mofo moments.

Mona Foma, Wayfinder performers Sabine Crompton- Ward, Damian Meredith, Darci O'Rourke and Tiana Lung at the Theatre Royal, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mona Foma will be no more, with the summer festival axed because the “spell has worn off” and it’s too costly.

The shock call to cancel the festival was announced late this afternoon, putting an end to it’s 16 year long run.

Mona owner David Walsh said the last festival had poor attendance, but he said that wasn’t the reason it was being canned.

Robin Fox laser installation at the Albert Hall Launceston. Announcement for Mona Foma 2022. Picture: MONA/Jesse Hunniford

“At Mona, I’m building this big thing, hopefully it’ll be a good thing, but it’s a costly thing. I’m addicted to building, and my addiction got out of hand. Some things have to go before I’m too far gone,” Mr Walsh said.

David Walsh at the Sohn Hearts & Minds investment conference in Hobart. Picture - Supplied

“Mona Foma is one of those things. It’s been magical, but the spell has worn off.

“Mona Foma took us around the world. But it ends here.”

Mona Foma & Terrapin, King Ubu Cataract Gorge Launceston. Picture: MONA/

Mr Walsh looked back on some of his fondest Mofo memories.

“We joined the Zen Circus, and Italian punk came to live, rent free, in my head,” he said.

“In 2023 Peaches turned us all on with her sexy songs, but the thing that turned me on the most was the sign language interpreter signing ‘peg’.

“Guy Ben-Ary in 2017, wiring living neurons to speakers and cajoling them to scream.

“Gotye playing the ondioline. Robin Fox’s beacons. David Byrne and Philip Glass. Wire and Cale. The Saints and St. Vincent. Dresden Dolls and Dan Deacon. Sun Ra and Neneh Cherry. Kate Miller-Heidke and Vieux Farka Touré.”

This year’s Mona Foma was held in February and the start of March across Launceston.

The lineup featured Queens of the Stone Age, Courtney Barnett and Paul Kelly.

Originally published as Summer festival Mona Foma axed after 16 years