RISING has announced its return for its fourth consecutive year, sharing its full program that’s set to take over the Melbourne CBD in June 2025. Heading up the festival’s music line-up is English singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse, who will be performing two exclusive shows: An intimate Evening With show at the Athanaeum Theatre, and a second larger-scale show at the Port Melbourne Industrial Centre For The Arts (PICA). The full line-up, as well as ticketing information, can be found below.
Joining Waterhouse on the line-up are several acts that were also simultaneously announced for Vivid Sydney. Among them are Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons, playing her first-ever solo shows in Australia, as well as American indie-rock project Soccer Mommy, New Zealand crooner Marlon Williams, UK comedy-rap duo Pete & Bas and US indie-pop act Japanese Breakfast.
Suki Waterhouse – ‘Dream Woman’
“RISING is about breaking conventions – bringing wild, intimate and unexpected creativity into the heart of Melbourne,” said Hannah Fox and Gideon Obarzanek – the co-directors of the festival – in a joint press statement. “We are a festival of art music and performance that is proudly challenging and uncompromisingly inclusive.” Colin Brooks, the Minister for Creative Industries in Victoria, also issued a statement praising RISING for its “huge offering of music, theatre [and] dance.”
“This winter, RISING festival is set to dazzle and surprise us, transforming Melbourne’s iconic spaces with creativity,” he said. “[They are] showcasing our incredible local talent, alongside a big line-up of international acts. There are plenty of ways to get involved, and plenty of reasons to visit Melbourne this winter.”
RISING previously ran in June 2024, with a line-up that included a returning Dirty Three – playing their first hometown show in 14 years – as well as the live Melbourne debuts of ONEFOUR, Sky Ferreira, Bar Italia and Fever Ray. Other alum of RISING since its 2022 debut (following its cancellations in both 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19) include Lucy Dacus, BORIS, Sampa The Great, Tkay Maidza, Thundercat, Cornelius, RVG, Birdz and Weyes Blood.
RISING Festival 2025 Music Line-Up
Wednesday, June 4th – Sunday, June 15th, 2025 – Various Venues, Melbourne VIC
In alphabetical order; RISING exclusives marked with an asterisk.
- Amplified: The Exquisite Rock & Rage Of Chrissy Amphlett*
- Beth Gibbons
- Black Star
- Day Tripper (with DIIV, Mount Kimbie [DJ set], Annie and the Caldwells + more)
- First Frequency (with RONA., DJ PGZ + more)
- Japanese Breakfast
- Jessica Pratt
- Little Bands
- Marlon Williams
- Mount Kimbie
- New Rampant Optimism Roadshow
- Pete & Bas
- Soccer Mommy
- Suki Waterhouse*
Ticketing information and the full program can be accessed via the RISING website.
Further Reading
Suki Waterhouse Says She “Manifested” Taylor Swift Support Slot
Love Letter To A Record: Two People On Portishead’s ‘Dummy’
Watch Soccer Mommy Perform The First NPR Tiny Desk Concert From Home
