RISING Festival set to become a Melbourne winter favourite

The RISING festival is set to be a groundbreaking major event for Melbourne, with free and low-cost events throughout the city this June.

Image credit: Eugene Hyland

Melbourne’s winter is set to sparkle this year with a landmark new festival soon to launch.

People will soon get a chance to again ice skate on the stage of Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl. And experience a world-first laser show on the Yarra. And even step inside the ballroom at Flinders Street Station as it is transformed into a striking visual art space.

It’s all part of RISING festival, the newest addition to Victoria’s major events calendar.

Running from June 1-12 throughout Melbourne, the festival will wrap itself through the heart of the city, embracing late night culture and offering a huge selection of events for every taste.

Hannah Fox, Co-Artistic Director of RISING, says they want “the whole of Victoria and beyond” to join in the festival.

“There’s dining, music, big scale public art, and experiential events,” she said.

“We’re expecting around a million people to come into the city in the first two weeks of June.”

Ms Fox said there was a real focus on keeping much of the program free or low cost. She is particularly hopeful families will come in and enjoy the experience.

The Lighthouse at the Myer Music Bowl. Image credit: Eugene Hyland

She said she was particularly looking forward to the transformation of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, which will be a major hub for the festival. 

“The major event there is called The Wilds. It’s a total transformation of the Bowl - it’s the Bowl as you’ve never experienced it before,” she explained.

“It brings together art, participation, and hospitality. There’s a walking art trail of a huge robotic inflatable sculptures, large-scale video projection, ice skating on the stage of the bowl, a 200-voice community choir serenading the ice rink. They’ll be there every night, it will be huge.”

Ms Fox said festival organisers were leaning into nostalgia, with many people who grew up in the 80s and 90s possibly having skated on the bowl as a child. She is hoping they return, and bring their own children with them.

“The Wilds is a great place for parents to bring their kids, and they can run around and explore the art while the parents enjoy a hot cocktail,” she said.

The precinct will also be a hub for foodies, with acclaimed chef David Moyle whipping up a feast at The Lighthouse - a multi-course sustainability-focused menu - set in a plant-filled glass bistro at the top of the Myer Music Bowl.

Other food options will keep you returning night after night - including Argentinian barbecue from the San Telmo Group, and one of Melbourne’s favourite winter warmers, lasagna from the team at 1800 Lasagna. 

The festival will spill out from The Wilds precinct, allowing people the chance to explore a new side to Melbourne every night.

Ms Fox said many families would enjoy sitting along the Yarra to experience a laser show never seen before.

“It’s called MONOCHORD, by artist Robin Fox. He is a composer who visualises sound, so they’re tightly synchronised compositions. It’s a 1km long installation of laser and sound along the Yarra - it’s free for families from 6pm-9pm every night of the festival,” she said.

Robin Fox's Monochord installation. Image credit: Zillah Morrow

And thousands are expected to be enthralled with their chance to explore an icon of the city - Flinders Street Station Ballroom - which Ms Fox said had a “near mythical status in Melbourne”.

“We’re very lucky to be presenting a massive exhibition not just in the ballroom but the whole length of that building,” Ms Fox said. 

“The exhibition is by Patricia Piccinini, one of Australia’s most prominent contemporary artists. Her strange creature sculptures populate the multiple rooms (within Flinders Street Station) - the ballroom, the gymnasium and the library.”

Ms Fox encouraged people to have a look at the festival program, and start planning for the events they were keen on.

“It’s going to be pretty amazing, I'm very excited,” she said.

“It’s a winter event - rug up and embrace it.”

RISING takes place from June 1-12, 2022. For Full program info, ticket and more info visit www.rising.melbourne

Originally published as RISING Festival set to become a Melbourne winter favourite