Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Joep Beving and more experimental artists are en route to Brisbane Powerhouse for this year’s Open Frame festival
In the years since Open Frame first debuted on the Rooftop Terrace of Brisbane Powerhouse in 2006, the festival has remained at the forefront of experimental music. For its 2024 edition, the festival returns to the riverside hub with its most ambitious line-up yet. Ready to once again push the boundaries of sonic expression, Open Frame is hosting four live events and two film screenings across July 18–21. Keep reading to find out more …
Open Frame’s 2024 edition continues the festival’s exploration of sonic experimentation through a stacked line-up of international talent. This year’s program offers a series of unforgettable shows and genre-bending meditations on music.
On Thursday July 18, Open Frame will kick off with a triple bill, uniting an evocative triad of artists. From Japan, musical titan Keiji Haino will take to the stage with his unique psychedelic-musical improvisation. Keiji will be followed by fellow Japanese artist Eiko Ishibashi and her intense yet delicate soundscapes. The final addition to this opening night performance will be a special octophonic concert from American polymath Jim O’Rourke. On Friday July 19, Powerhouse Theatre is hosting an incredible line-up of artists, including the godfather of American electronic music Carl Stone, fusion of ancient and contemporary oral tradition Hand to Earth, ambient composer of oceanic works Chihei Hatakeyama, and Kenyan-born experimental artist and sound explorer Nyokabi Kariũki. As an added bonus, this four-act show is a pay-what-you-can experience and open to all.
On Saturday July 20, Joep Beving will be returning to his solo piano roots for a collaborative project with audio-visual artists Boris Acket, Merijn Versnel and Roxanne Percobic. Described by Joep as “a quiet revolt against madness,” this latest work reimagines the traditional piano concert through a mesmerising study of collective loneliness. The festival will be closed with a show on Sunday July 21 by the matriarch of punk, Kim Gordon. The Sonic Youth alum returns to the Powerhouse for her latest tour, The Collective. This new show is a celebration of Kim’s experimental ingenuity, reframing her multi-decade career through the christening of an entirely new musical chapter.
Alongside its live-event roster, Open Frame has joined forces with Brisbane Powerhouse’s Dendy Cinema to screen iconic works of music cinema. On the Friday night, you’re invited to experience Ryuichi Sakamoto – Opus. The concert film was completed by legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto just months before his death and marks the artist’s final gift to his fans. On the Saturday, you can delve into the early days of 90s post-punk with 1991: The Year Punk Broke by documentarian David Markey. The film documents life on the road with Sonic Youth and Nirvana during the bands’ crossover European tour. The two films let you discover dynamic entry points into the world of experimental music, from mainstream favourites to classical masters.
Tickets for Open Frame are on sale now via Brisbane Powerhouse’s website.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
