The Dark Mofo 2023 Program Has Arrived & You'll Want to Bring Your (Sun)Bathers

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Mar 31, 2023

7 min read

Dark Mofo is celebrating 10 years as a festival - if you want to call it that. The 2023 program has arrived, and boy - you're going to want to get a load of this. From 8–22 June, 2023, Hobart will be taken over by a cold and dark wave. If you know us, you'll know we LOVE this event and last year covered gigs by Chelsea Wolfe, Sanctae Noctis and more.

Referencing Deafheaven's unfortunate cancellation and more tribulations, Creative Director Leigh Carmichael comments on where the festival is at today:

“We’re excited to announce our tenth Dark Mofo lineup today. The last few years have been challenging, and heavily impacted by Covid, so to finally be in a position to again release a full two-week festival program feels overwhelming.

“The tenth edition will include the return of Dark Park, a large-scale art program, eight nights of Winter Feast and a massive music program. Night Mass will be expanded to five nights and will be Dark Mofo’s wildest party in our ten year history. While visitors can expect old favourites, we also have a few new surprises to unfurl.

“This year's festival will be a reflection of the past decade, and while much has changed, our desire to celebrate the longest nights and embrace winter in Tasmania hasn’t wavered. We can’t wait to light the fires again this June."

For Week One – June 8-12

The Dark Mofo opening night celebration is called The Gathering and will include First Nations artists BARKAA, Tasman Keith, dameeeela and more artists. You can also expect to see composer Max Richter (DEU) deliver two performances in dozens of languages

Jazz fans can get around Thundercat (USA) and heavy stoner doom fans will appreciate a performance by Witch (USA). Black is the new orange - Ethel Cain (USA) will make a debut Australian visit with some gothic pop energy and punk rockers Black Flag (USA) will perform an exclusive show. You can also catch an exclusive performance by Drab Majesty’s (USA) with Bitumen (AUS).

Eartheater (USA) will deliver a digital production, whilst Brits Squarepusher (GBR), Plaid (GBR) and Sleaford Mods (GBR) will bring you an artful blend of weird deliciousness.

Here's the (arguably) best part. After forced to cancel their 2022 appearance due to a meber of their touring party contracting Covid, Deafheaven (USA) will finally make their way back. They will not only be performing exclusively for Dark Mofo, but they will be playing seminal record Sunbather in full. You might want to read that again.

To accelerate through the end of Week 1, you'll need to ensure you don't miss Zheani (AUS), Mahne Frame, Fulu Miziki (COD), Zindzi & The Zillionaires (AUS), Keeley Forsyth’s (GBR), Tasman Keith (AUS), GLVES (AUS), Dean Hurley (USA), Laurel Halo (USA) and so much more.

Of course, if you know what this experience is all about, you'll know it's not all about the music. The art, performance and rituals are unmissable - so check out the full program for what to expect in both week one and two.

For Week Two – June 14-22

Whether you're keen to stick around in Tassie for a bit longer, or diving into hell a little late, you'll be mesmerised by what Week Two has to offer at Dark Mofo.

Imagine an 8.5 hour composition on sleep by Max Richter (DEU)? Don't stress, they've got you covered for the bed, BYO pyjamas. Into Indie electric? No problem, Trentemøller's (DNK) got you covered. Want doom rock? All the better - King Woman (USA) is also popping the Aussie cherry.

We like to keep thigs heavy around here, so keep those devil-horns raised for a Hymns to the Dead segment with Dødheimsgard (NOR), Uada (USA), Zuriaake (CHN), and Haunter (USA).

After you feed your mind from Molchat Doma (BLR), you'll be happy to see HEALTH (USA) coming who's collaborated with some pretty sweet artists that you'll know and love.

With a diverse list of dark, doomy, sludgy and punky names, you'll want to catch Drowning Horse (AUS), Extortion (AUS), Ironhawk (AUS) and Behold The Wonder (AUS) before settling down with a performance from the Adelaide Chamber Singers.

How exciting is all of this? We know you'll take the time to read up on your upcoming Winter adventure, so let's share the remainder of the auditory sensations that you'll get to experience: Carl Stone (USA/JPN), Rama Parwata (AUS/IDN), Lydian Dunbar (AUS), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) + Leah Singer (Contre Jour) (USA), Julia Reidy (AUS/DEU), Tujiko Noriko (FRA), Hiro Kone (USA), KMRU (KEN), and Hüma Utku (TUR) and so much more.

Words by Ricky Aarons (@rickysaul90)

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