Three Shows You Don't Want To Miss At Brisbane's MELT Festival

Brisbane Powerhouse's celebration of queer art, allies, icons and ideas MELT Festival has recently announced its jam packed full program.

The line up features some of the worlds best global headliners from award winning cabaret and high energy club nights to a comedy gala, cutting edge contemporary dance and First Nations art. Melt Festival is set to take over the Brisbane Powerhouse from the 10th til the 27th of October.

The festival's curator Daniel Evans reflects on the line up as one that welcomes fresh acts and emerging artists alongside returning favourites, homegrown legends and international headliners. He states, “From thumping club nights with global icons to tiny shimmering spectacles and crowd-sourced come-togethers, MELT 2022 continues Brisbane Powerhouse’s legacy of curating surprising, radical and disruptive experiences.” For tickets and the full program check out their website HERE. 

With such a jam packed 17 day program here are the shows you do NOT want to miss at Melt Festival this year.

Big Freedia & Kinder

On Thursday the 10th of November one of contemporary dance music's most powerful and popular artists Big Freedia will perform at the Powerhouse. The Queen of New Orleans Bounce music, Freedia is recognised as a groundbreaking hip-hop artist, TV personality and cultural influencer. She's released acclaimed EPs, 3rd Ward Bounce, Louder and Big Diva Energy, as well as covering Judas on Lady Gaga's Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary album. She's also featured on Drake's seminal hit Nice For What as well as Beyonce's Grammy award winning Formation.

Big Freedia is a proud advocate of racial and gender equality as well as LGBTQ+ rights. Her rise through the music and creative industries was chronicled over six seasons in her reality show, Big Freedia Bounces Back. She also released a memoir in 2015 titled God Save the Queen Diva which has recently been released in paperback.

Supporting her is Ghanian-Australian singer, songwriter and producer sibling duo Kinder. Immersing themselves in club culture as teenagers. Quickly they turned performances at hole in the wall slots to headline slots and have no supported the likes of global superstars including Marshmello and RL Grime as well as performing their own festival circuits. 

You can buy tickets HERE.

Jesswar & JessB
Jesswar & JessB will real off menacing bars and silky hooks in blazing fashion for MELT Festival performing on Friday the 18th of November. 

Jesswar is one of so called Australia’s most inspiring artists. Emerging onto the rap scene in 2017, the Fijian Australia, Yugambeh/Kombumerri based artist has established themselves as a powerhouse musical voice. Their sound is constantly evolving, breaking through with their debut EP, TROPIXX in 2019, which saw them take the rap throne with ferocity and unapologetic confidence. After two years away from the limelight, Jesswar has returned with the release of their forthcoming mixtape LIFE’S SHORT LIVE BIG. The mixtape musically plays beautiful homage to its title, to tackle every day with as much energy as possible. Musically, while Jesswar seems gentler on this outing, their enthusiasm, emotion and pride are still deeply on show, manifesting a clear message to their audience, to live life big.

JessB's rise through rap music has accelerated drastically in the past couple of years, defined by her energetic, outspoken and cult adored brand of hip hop. Following her 2021 critically acclaimed EP 3 Nights In Amsterdam, JessB became on of New Zealand's most talented artists, weaving between hip hop, dancehall and reggaeton with ease, mixing the genres perfectly with slick vocal rhythms. She's now released her latest dance and house music influenced Can't Fake It, a welcome comeback from the MC furthering her already expansive sonic imprint. You can buy tickets HERE.

Meltdown featuring John 'Jammin' Collins + Sophie Forrest
On the closing night of the festival step into a dark rave with magical energy as the Brisbane Powerhouse transforms into a haunting hall of dance beats. The party will feature DJ sets from local and international headliners including John 'Jammin' Collins of Underground Resistance, Sophie Forrest and local DJ Enn.

The show will intertwine with art installations, drag acts, performances and guest appearances to make the room an intoxicating world of expression and bliss. Collins has been a force in Detroits dance scene for almost three decades as a world renowned DJ and record producer. He's been a consistent presence behind the decks in techno's home, performing at legendary nightspots and venues across the globe including Cheeks, The Warehouse, The Parabox and Times Square. Also joining him is Naarm based legend Sophie Forrest and local DJ Enn. You can grab tickets HERE.