Perth Festival’s free event line-up is a tour de force of international stars and performances
Broadening minds, exciting the senses and presenting free, family-friendly experiences for the people of Boorloo – Perth Festival 2025 brings an incredible mix of international and local artistic talent to the west coast.
From reinvigorating the East Perth Power Station with Casa Musica and the Boorloo Contemporary illuminated commission, to the breathtaking Karla Bidi beacons, and dusting oO the dance shoes at the ever-popular Perth Moves or taking in free exhibitions in a mix of mediums and performance art, audiences can expect a variety of unique free events that celebrate the power of community.
Perth Festival Artistic Director Anna Reece :
Perth Festival is about connecting people through the art, music, culture and shared experiences, and our free events are a vital part of this vision. We have over 100 events in our program of which 64 are free, so whether you’re dancing by the river at Casa Musica, marvelling the towering lights of Karla Bidi or discovering stories under the stars, these are the moments that highlight the incredible creativity that makes Perth truly special.
Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith:
Perth Festival oOers an incredible program of performance, music, film and visual arts events showcasing international and local artists.
Lotterywest support focuses on iconic events that oOer a uniquely Western Australian festival experience. More than half of Perth Festival’s 2025 events are free, which means the whole community can come together to enjoy a variety of performances.
Every Wednesday to Sunday in the late afternoon riverside at the Power Station, Casa Musica invites visitors to unwind in a vibrant celebration of music, food and cultures. Inspired by the lively piazzas and parks of southern Europe, this free music program promises world-class performances from across the Indian Ocean rim and beyond, with an incredible line-up of acts from Réunion Island, South Africa, India, Italy and more.
Reece:
Bringing East Perth Power Station back to life with an incredible free program of music and art is huge for Perth Festival and huge for Perth. This legendary site has been part of our city’s story for generations, and now we are filling it with fresh energy, music and incredible art, transforming it into a space that for a month every summer will become a cultural heartbeat for our city.
Opening night of Casa Musica kicks oO on Fri 7 Feb with a selection of First Nation DJs from the Lubly Dae Collective, along with invited friends, rotating the decks with live performances every hour from local queer icons.
Discover a major First Nations line up on Thu 13 Feb, starting with an eclectic hip-hop and pop set from Iconyx – the East Kimberley musician from Kukatja and Pintupi. Then, fresh from her ARIA win for Best Adult Contemporary Album, Emily Wurramara will grace the Casa Musica stage with her soulful melodies, adding to a recent wave of contemporary Australian blues and roots music.
Mahamudo Selimane and Quentin Thony (Queency)’s new band Zukhuta features vibrant songs set to a variety of African grooves on Sat 15 Feb. Zukhuta’s line-up includes Mahamudo’s long time collaborators John Wilson (The Wilds, The Doo-Daddies, Luke Dux) and Kuda Mateta (Soukouss Internationale, Black Radio Show) as well as Grammy-winning Lucky Oceans who pioneers the use of pedal steel guitar in African music.
Plus Walmatjarri elder and blues musician Kankawa Nagarra takes the Casa Musica stage on Sat 1Mar, following her recent win of the coveted Australian Music prize for her debut album. Captivating audiences with her gospel vocals, the 82-year-old singer-songwriter weaves stories of resilience, empathy and messages of environmentalism through her music.
Founder of the Berlin-based label Habibi Funk, Jannis Stürtz, arrives in Perth for a DJ set of eclectic sounds from the Arab world on Fri 21 Feb spanning a plethora of genres from funk, soul and jazz to punk and hip-hop. Experience the dynamic fusion of jazz and hip-hop as Noongar/Jingili rapper Zero Emcee joins WAYJO’s 18-piece Wednesday Night Orchestra for a special Perth Festival performance of From Be-Bop to Hip-Hop on Sat 22 Feb.
On Sun 23 Feb join Kavisha & The Continentals for a packed program of traditional folk songs, choir music, poetry, stories and new songs inspired by Italy’s diverse musical heritage.
After dark, the towering walls of the Power Station will unravel the history of this place in projected artworks by three Noongar artists with the Boorloo Contemporary illuminated commission. Allan Yarran, a senior painter of Noongar landscape, twists reality, memory and dreams into psychedelic visions of the river.
Ilona McGuire, multidisciplinary and unwavering, dissects ‘so called Australia’ through a montage of images drawn from the archives. And Daniel Hansen, an emerging poet from Corrigin WA, will have new text projected across the architecture that vocalises ambitions and perspectives as a proud Noongar man.
Also opening across the first Festival weekend on Fri 7 Feb, and running until Sun 2 Mar, Karla Bidi (meaning fire trail in Noongar language) is inspired by the tradition of lighting fires to greet and guide visitors. This incredible new commission, combining light, sculpture and soundscape will transform open spaces along the river into a stunning, illuminated pathway and signalling the arrival of the Festival.
Hosted in galleries across Perth and Fremantle, this year’s free exhibitions oOer a mix of mediums and performance art to engage with. Highlights include French artist Laure Prouvost’s immersive trilogy Oui Move in You at PICA, Martu artist Judith Anya Samson’s multimedia work Puntawarri at DADDA and Shupiwe Chongwe’s ceramic and photographic exhibition Beforms at PS Arts Space.
Bring the family and settle in with a picnic at Riverside Gardens for a euphoric evening of Orchestraoke on Sat 22 Feb.
The City of Bayswater Mayor, Filomena PiTaretti :
We’re delighted to share our stunning river fore shore with the wider community with these unique events. Orchestra-oke promises a pop concert like no other, as singers perform beloved chart hits karaoke-style, accompanied by Perth Symphony Orchestra.
Karla Bidi will see Riverside Gardens shine after dark with a blend of light sculpture and soundscape. The installation draws upon the tradition of lighting a guiding trail of fire to welcome visitors. We’re proud to be joining forces with Perth Festival to be one of the sites for this accessible and immersive world premiere event honouring local Aboriginal culture.
In an Australian first, renowned Moroccan-Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui debuts Manifest at Perth Moves from STRUT Dance. This powerful new work features 12 local dancers, two grand pianos and is supported by a ‘silent choir’ of 50 community volunteers. Alongside this premiere, join All The Queens Men as they bring their joyous social dance project to Forrest Place for the first time in Perth Moves: LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club.
Scarborough Beach will host Indian Ocean Sounds, two spectacular acts with harmonies, soul and traditional dance as the soundtrack to a summer sunset. South African group The Joy and Réunion Island’s Lindigo star in this free family-friendly event on Sat 1 Mar.
Perth Festival collaborates with Centre for Stories on Backstories, where extraordinary individuals across the local neighbourhood have a yarn and share their tales. Learn about the stories within the City of Stirling and enjoy short sets from local musicians as part of each evening’s free program.
The City of Stirling Mayor, Mark Irwin, :
It’s a pleasure for the City of Stirling to partner with the internationally renowned Perth Festival to bring these free events to our community. Not only will these events showcase two fantastic locations – Scarborough Beach and the Stirling Civic Gardens – but they will also bring our community together.
Backstories is all about sharing and celebrating local stories and that’s something that resonates very strongly with us as a City and Council. Indian Ocean Sounds is going to be a brilliant evening ofinternational music and a fitting farewell to summer.
Thanks to the WA Community who play Lotterywest Games, a $9.5 Million grant has supported Perth Festival 2025.
Season Details
Venue: Perth Festival
Date: 07 Feb – 02 Mar 2025
For more information click HERE
