Midsumma Festival is bringing two nights of queer performance and celebration to Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Subscribe
X

Get the latest from Beat

04.03.2021

Midsumma Festival is bringing two nights of queer performance and celebration to Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Words by Arielle Richards

This year’s Midsumma Festival is going to look a little different.

Australia’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ arts and culture event, Midsumma Festival, will return to Melbourne over two fabulous nights of live performance, comedy and music, this time as part of Art Centre Melbourne’s Live at the Bowl concert series.

While these trying times have tragically put a stopper in the annual Midsumma Carnival, this year’s theme will see organisers invest in the “art of the possible”, transforming the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl for two entire nights of queer performance and celebration. Better yet, both events are completely free!

What you need to know

  • Due to COVID restrictions, the 2021 Midsumma Carnival will not take place. Instead, Midsumma Festival will take over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for an extravaganza of live performance across two nights
  • Midsumma Live at the Bowl will take place on April 30 and May 1, in the second week of Midsumma Festival, which spans April 19 to May 5
  • Pre-sale for the free tickets is open from March 18, with general sale open from April 9

Never miss a story. Sign up to Beat’s newsletter and you’ll be served fresh music, arts, food and culture stories five times a week.

The lineup of queer icons billed for the soiree is set to debut on March 18, via the Midsumma Festival website. Each evening at the Bowl will have the same lineup, ensuring each and every person has the opportunity to witness the showcase. 

The performances will also be live-streamed via Arts Centre Melbourne’s Facebook page, in a committed effort to enhance accessibility for those in the community who are unable to attend. The livestream will be an event in itself – except able to be viewed from anywhere – and will provide Auslan interpretation and closed captioning for audiences. 

“As our cities, streets and venues have laid empty for so long we have come to realise the significance of ‘owning’ our cities through activations and the all-important sense of place we bring to them,” says Karen Bryant, Midsumma Festival CEO.

“I am thrilled that in this year our communities and artists will take over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in a joyous smorgasbord of the very best queer performances on offer.” 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Midsumma Festival (@midsummafestival)

Sign up to gain access to pre-sale on March 18 and head here for more information.