Melbourne Festival Music

From classical to contemporary, Melbourne Festival has stepped up their musical program for 2013 bringing us an eclectic smorgasbord of local and imported acts. This year the festival promises to reconnect with lost audiences and resonate with new ones. Which means there will even be something for your little brother and your nan to enjoy.

Cultivated by Declan Forde (the brains behind Harvest Festival), the contemporary program will be based at Foxtel Festival Hub on the banks of the Yarra. Highlights include The Polyphonic Spree (arriving with their 14-piece band in tow), Husky (Triple J Unearthed winners in 2011), turntabalist Dexter and Cody ChestnuTT. Also look out for local sweetheart of country charm Henry Wagons as he teams up for an evening with songstress Caitlin Rose.

For those who prefer the odd string quartet, there’s an ambitious program of classical performances, talks and even a workshop — Haydn Unpicked — which will see the Australian String Quartet take a Haydn composition they have never played before, and work through it in front of a live audience in real time. Not to be missed is the spine-tingling Eclipse: a performance by Malian husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam, who have both been blind since childhood. They will perform in total darkness, allowing the audience to focus their senses and experience the music as Amadou & Mariam feel it.

Melbourne Festival is running from October 11 to 27. For more information visit melbournefestival.com.au