Melbourne’s winter cultural festival RISING is gearing up for another blockbuster program with the announcement of the first drawcard event for 2024, and Victorians are invited to be part of the show.
The first Australian-exclusive event to be announced is Communitas, a massive music-making gathering that will see hundreds of people sing, dance and connect at St Paul’s Cathedral. The free mass participation work is by Melbourne electronic music duo SHOUSE, especially created for RISING. SHOUSE reached global success with their 2017 single Love Tonight charting in more than 50 countries and generating more than one billion streams.
From 1-16 June, the 2024 festival will take over Melbourne with a celebration of the creative community alongside the world’s most innovative artists, the city’s live music and food credentials, and late-night culture – attracting thousands of visitors, creating local jobs and boosting hospitality and hotels throughout the city.
At Communitas, participants will sing, play handmade instruments made by SHOUSE member Jon Madin, and move to choreography by Deep Soulful Sweats, with a single of the event set to be released and to feature songwriting credits for all participants.
It follows the communal spectacular, 10,000 Kazoos, a highlight of the 2023 RISING festival, which saw 11,000 people take part in the world’s largest kazoo orchestra at Fed Square.
Last year’s RISING attracted 753,000 people to events, exhibitions, concerts and more, during the festival and beyond.
Communitas takes place on Saturday 15 June at St Paul’s Cathedral. Registration is free and open now at rising.melbourne.