Main photo: Illuminate Adelaide’s City Lights by Aztec House
In the dead of winter, Illuminate Adelaide shines bright.
The festival weaves together art, light, music, and technology, transporting the city into a divine otherworldly dimension.
From July 4 to 21, within, between, and upon the city’s walls, the Illuminate Adelaide program unfolds with a curation of free and ticketed events by local, national, and international artists.
Amongst these are a selection of multi-sensory experiences that blur the line between immersive art and festivities, set to get the pulse racing.
While the rest go to sleep, here are five Illuminate Adelaide experiences not to miss.
LIVE @ THE LAB
ILA The Lab // FRIDAY 05.07 – SATURDAY 13.07
Light and sound converge with four events over two weekends at The Lab for its Illuminate Adelaide series.
For its third consecutive year, Live @ The Lab will showcase a curated selection of cutting-edge local and national music acts across a range of disciplines with a focus on technological interplay and experimentation.
Special mentions for the first weekend include the dark theatrical Carla Lippis’ MONDO PSYCHO; electronic experimental artist Big Yawn; and analogue electronica and jazz fusion trio No News. Highlights of the second weekend include Sydney rapper BAYANG; Sierra-Leone born, Australian-based hip-hop artist Magajie; and the ecstatic and experimental MESSIANIC GLOSS’s Misanthropic Grief Club.
The performances will be complemented with visual artistry dreamed up by some of Adelaide’s brightest minds, including House of Vnholy and Miles Dunne, making magic across The Lab’s floor-to-ceiling LED screens.
MAX COOPER: 3D/AV WITH SPECIAL GUEST MOTEZ
Hindley Street Music Hall // FRIDAY 12.07
Embark on a live immersive audio-visual journey which seamlessly intertwines art, science, and emotion with Belfast-born, London-based scientist, electronic musician, and artist Max Cooper.
Max’s work is truly unique, characterised by sensory immersion and emotional resonance. He merges electronic music and visual art with scientific inquiry through installations, performances, and experiences.
Max adapts and tailors every performance to the aesthetics and structure of each venue, with his Illuminate Adelaide 3D/AV surround performance showcasing one of his largest projection canvases yet.
SA club producer Motez will be opening the show with a high-energy live set. Expect a night of captivation and transcendence.
UNSOUND ADELAIDE
Dom Polski Centre // FRIDAY 19.07 – SATURDAY 20.07
Unsound Adelaide defies space and time. It’s the longest-running overseas outpost of the annual Polish music festival Unsound, with 2024 marking Unsound’s 11th birthday.
This year, Unsound Adelaide brings its biggest program to date, delving into the unknown to present two nights of enigmatic live electronic music, set to “rattle the windows” of Dom Polski Centre.
Curated by artistic directors Mat Schulz and Gosia Płysa, Friday’s lineup presents British artist Lee Gamble; Spanish choreographer/action artist Candela Capitán; Japanese multi-instrumentalist Eiko Ishibashi; and Shanghai experimental club musician 33EMYBW.
Meanwhile, Saturday brings string-led experimental composition Yirinda, who weave in Aboriginal language; former Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon; British ambient musician The Caretaker; and Japanese multi-disciplinary artist ∈Y∋.
UNSOUND CLUB
The Lab // SATURDAY 20.07
After the Dom Polski Centre’s speakers have powered down, Unsound Adelaide’s after-hours late-night counterpart, Unsound Club, will continue the party deep into the late night at The Lab.
On the lineup is Lee Gamble bringing an exclusive DJ set; UK’s Manuka Honey with a chaotic blend of global club genres; and Gamilaraay woman and Gadigal-based DJ Crescendoll presenting juke, jersey, hard drum, UK bass, garage, and acid.
For one night only, make it an endless one with unparalleled sound and visuals.
BASE CAMP
Lot Fourteen // THURSDAY 04.07 – SUNDAY 21.07
Base Camp is Illuminate Adelaide’s headquarters for the season. Open every night from 5pm, the free pop-up village glitters with firepits, food vendors, and cocktail gardens.
The weekends are for hip-swaying and head-bopping under the moonlight, with live DJs spinning sonic pleasure from 8pm. Late Night Lenny, Closer Closer Closer DJs, Lonely D, and Ruby are just some of the local favourite selectors on the lineup.
Food options include One Sneaky Cheetah’s steamy pizza, Phat Head’s dumplings, Gang Gang’s burgers, Donut Diner’s hot cinnamon donuts, and more. Meanwhile, Alpha Box & Dice, 23rd Street Distillery, and Bowden Brewing, amongst others, will be slinging drinks.
Sitting alongside some of the festival’s favourite installations, Fire Gardens and City Lights, Base Camp is ideal for stopping by, or staying for the night.
Illuminate Adelaide: Thursday July 4 to Sunday July 21
