RISING 2025 has lifted the curtain on its second wave of programming, promising another year of unexpected encounters and creative collision across Melbourne’s city streets. From global music sensations to local comic royalty, this June’s winter festival is shaping up to be one of the city’s most lively cultural offerings.
Anchoring the new announcements is BLOCKBUSTER, a one-night-only celebration of South Asian music and art set to take over Federation Square on Saturday 7 June. Presented in partnership with SalamFest and Fed Square, the event will showcase some of Pakistan’s most prominent musical talent. Headlining is rapper and cultural lightning rod Faris Shafi, whose raw, multilingual lyrics have earned him a reputation as one of the country’s most uncompromising voices.
Joining him is Xulfi—composer, producer and force behind Coke Studio’s recent seasons, which collectively amassed more than 2.5 billion streams. Rising pop vocalist Annural Khalid, who became Spotify Pakistan’s most-streamed female artist in 2024, also features on the bill, alongside qawwali duo Zain and Zohaib and rock frontman Sherry Khattak of Karakoram. All performers will be backed by the celebrated Coke Studio house band, delivering a mix of rap, pop-R&B and qawwali in what organisers promise will be a one-of-a-kind sonic experience.
The event, which draws its name and energy from Shafi’s 2024 viral hit Blockbuster, is set to blend music with visual and culinary storytelling—including a Punjabi truck art installation and street food designed to evoke the bustle of Lahore.
“This is BLOCKBUSTER. Feel it. Live it. Be it,” said curator Ayesha Bux.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks described the festival’s return as a timely boost for Victoria’s creative sector and city economy. “RISING will turn Melbourne into the hottest place to be this winter, bringing a buzz to city businesses and backing our creative and events workforce.”
The announcement forms part of a wider expansion of the RISING program, which runs from 4 to 15 June. Comedy fans will be treated to a chaotic late-night variety show hosted by Zoë Coombs Marr. Titled Wrap It Up, the program mashes live performance with live television—including rotating special guests, comedy bits, puppetry, and at least one world record attempt.
Meanwhile, ACMI’s cinema will be home to a rare retrospective of Miranda July’s film works, combining her feature films, short documentaries, and eccentric video art. Attendees can also try out a July-designed mini golf hole at Swingers—The Art of Mini Golf inside Flinders Street Station, or a Dolly Parton and Cher-themed obstacle course designed by Mparntwe artist Kaylene Whiskey at Emporium.
Music lovers can expect a wide spectrum of gigs throughout the city. Tropical F*ck Storm will deliver their final hometown performance before heading to Europe, playing from their new album Fairyland Codex. Forest Swords, the acclaimed UK artist also known as Matthew Barnes, will make his Australian return after a decade, performing a live electronic set merged with immersive visuals at ACMI.
The festival’s free late-night offering, Night Trade, will again convert Howey Place into a pop-up club zone of DJs, performance, and roaming installations. Tinder Tiny Raves will offer surprise dance floors for app users, while Kampala’s Nyege Nyege Collective brings afro-electronic rhythms to the decks.
There are quieter moments too. RISING will showcase new public artworks on Melbourne trams, with this year’s First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams honouring the stories of First Nations women. The line-up includes artists such as Kelly Koumalatsos, Maree Clarke, and Patsy Smith, alongside collaborative works with Elders from the Yorta Yorta and Wamba Wamba nations. For the next year, these trams will serve as moving canvases through the city.
Dance returns to the program with Country Struts Winter Hoedown, a community event led by dance instructors Abigail Varney and Alice Glenn. Open to all levels, the evening invites Melburnians to trade footpaths for a boot-scooting floor at Melbourne Town Hall.
Those hungry for more than music can stop by Moon Bites—a pop-up food trail offering fast eats at participating restaurants, including Kisumé, Mesa Verde and Pirate Life, with special menus curated for the festival.
Access remains a core part of RISING’s design. The festival’s Full House initiative will again provide free tickets for those experiencing financial hardship, disability, or disadvantage—opening the doors for broader community participation.
Organisers say this year’s program reflects an ongoing commitment to supporting artists while inviting audiences to step out of their usual routines. From Karachi to Castlemaine, qawwali to karaoke, RISING continues to make room for the strange, the joyous, and the loud.
Explore the full program at rising.melbourne.
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🎪#RISING2025 announces winter festival lineup featuring Pakistani stars Faris Shafi & Xulfi at BLOCKBUSTER concert.🎶Comedy, film retrospectives & First Peoples tram art across Melbourne from 4-15 June. Free tickets for disadvantaged grps. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/gTg8XvtuS5
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