After previously announcing that Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Big Freedia would appear at the event, Brisbane’s MELT Festival has unveiled its full program. The Brisbane Powerhouse’s celebration of queer art, artists, allies, icons and ideas runs from Thursday, 10th November until Sunday, 27th November.
As Festival curator Daniel Evans explained in a statement, the event welcomes fresh acts and emerging artists alongside established names and returning favourites, MELT is also championing homegrown talent alongside international headliners. “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,” Evans said.
MELT Festival has detailed its full program for 2022:
Big Freedia and Ellis-Bextor will help to open the festival with performances on 10th and 11th November, respectively. The event program also includes Shane Jenek (aka Courtney Act) discussing his latest memoir, Caught In The Act, alongside performances from Jesswar and JessB, and choreographer, dancer and fan Larissa McGowan paying homage to the iconic Cher.
MELT Festival also includes lengthier events, such as Dylan Mooney’s role as Artist In Residence, Queensland-based performance collective The Good Room’s The Chapel Of Love installation, and screenings of FAWN, a film by experimental arts organisation Aphids.
The festival features a number of more communal and comedic events as well, including Queerstories, Revel In The Queer, and the MELT Comedy Gala, all alongside events such as Meltdown, the LGBTQIA+ Elders Dance Club, and Lesbian Love Stories: Vol 2. The full rundown of events at MELT Festival can be seen below, with ticketing details available via the festival’s website.
MELT Festival Live Shows
- Thursday, 10th November – Big Freedia @ Powerhouse Theatre (18+)
- Friday, 11th November – Sophie Ellis-Bextor @ Powerhouse Theatre (18+)
- Tuesday, 15th November – Shane Jenek @ Pleasuredome
- Wednesday, 16th November – Sunday, 27th November – Dylan Mooney @ Graffiti Room
- Wednesday, 16th November – Sunday, 27th November – The Chapel Of Love @ Turbine Platform
- Wednesday, 16th November – Saturday, 19th November – Cher @ Underground Theatre
- Wednesday, 16th November – Saturday, 24th December – FAWN @ The Studio
- Friday, 18th November – Jesswar + JessB @ Powerhouse Theatre (18+)
- Saturday, 19th November – Meltdown @ Powerhouse Theatre (18+)
- Saturday, 19th November – LGBTQIA+ Elders Dance Club @ Pleasuredome
- Sunday, 20th November – Lesbian Love Stories: Vol 2 @ Pleasuredome
- Wednesday, 23rd November – Friday, 25th November – In Your Dreams @ Powerhouse Theatre
- Wednesday, 23rd November – Saturday, 26th November – It’s Called Achilles @ The Studio
- Thursday, 24th November – Saturday, 26th November – Alone At Last @ Underground Theatre
- Saturday, 26th November – MELT Comedy Gala @ Powerhouse Theatre
- Saturday, 26th November – Revel In The Queer @ Pleasuredome
- Sunday, 27th November – Queerstories @ Powerhouse Theatre
Tickets on sale now.
Further Reading
Australia’s First Touring Pride Festival ‘Summer Camp’ Is Back With New Dates
Watch Baker Boy And JessB Dance Through National Gallery Of Victoria In New ‘Meditjin’ Video