Antony And The Johnsons Are Returning To Australia

April 8, 2015

US art pop veterans Antony And The Johnsons are set to make a return to Australian shores this June, as part of the lineup for the annual all ages festival, Dark Mofo. The group will team up with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for what’s being billed as “two exclusive shows” in Hobart.

Headed up by English-born transgender artist Antony Hegarty, the trailblazers have been teased as a program highlight of the island state’s midwinter festival, which has yet to reveal its full program for 2015. The internationally celebrated group will stage two performances, one on Tuesday, 16th June and one on Wednesday, 17th June, at Hobart’s historic Odeon Theatre.

Antony and the Johnsons have quite the resume, which extends beyond music into the wider socio-political and cultural realms. Antony herself was a musical director and performer in Robert Wilson’s opera The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, as well as collaborating with various artists and filmmakers.

She also recently delivered a TED performance on “radical collaboration”, and has worked closely with artists such as Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Boy George, Björk, Willem Dafoe, Rufus Wainwright and Devendra Banhart.

It’s not the first time her group has collaborated with a symphony orchestra, either, having previously performed with ensembles in London, Sydney and the Brooklyn Philharmonic, but this year will mark the first time Antony and co have done so in Tasmania.

There’s no word yet as to whether Antony And The Johnsons will be visiting the mainland during their stay, but here’s hoping. Tickets to Dark Mofo go onsale from 10am on Monday, 20th April.