The NGV today announced the largest ever Friday Nights program with eighteen headline acts from December 2015 – April 2016. Since the series commenced in 2013 approximately 72,500 visitors have attended the series, which aims to provide greater access to major exhibitions with added social experiences. For this series visitors will enjoy after-hours access to the ground-breaking contemporary exhibition Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei and see headliners including singer/songwriters Sally Seltmann and Bertie Blackman, international pop champions Twerps, 70s No Wave icon James Chance (US) in his Australian debut, Texan electronic music outfit Neon Indian and one of the most popular electro bands in China, Pet Conspiracy, an art project/electro band.
Some performances linking directly with themes from the Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition include psychedelic prog rock band Moon Duo (US) who will perform with their own visual projections inspired by Andy Warhol’s multimedia Exploding Plastic Inevitable; and a special one-off performance from Regurgitator, will see the alt-rock legends re-interpreting the Velvet Underground’s debut album produced by Andy Warhol.
Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV, said, ‘Friday Nights at NGV has been an enormously successful program, with the nights frequently selling out. We present an extended series in celebration of Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei with an exceptional line up of Australian and international musicians and programs over eighteen Friday Nights. This series will be a unique opportunity to sample live music and discover more about the cultural impact of two very significant artists, Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei.’
A full list of headline acts follows:
- Dec 11 – Moon Duo (US)
- Dec 18 – Neon Indian (US)
- Jan 1 – The Apartments
- Jan 8 – Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders
- Jan 15 – James Chance & the Contortions (US)
- Jan 22 – Jenny Hval (Norway)
- Jan 29 – Luluc
- Feb 5 – Sally Seltmann
- Feb 12 – Twerps
- Feb 19 – Black Cab
- Feb 26 – Pet Conspiracy (China)
- Mar 4 – Pearls
- Mar 11 – Xylouris White
- Mar 18 – Bertie Blackman
- Apr 1 – Ngaiire
- Apr 8 – Blank Realm
- Apr 15 – Deradoorian (US)
- Apr 22 – Regurgitator
Other highlights include US two-piece Deradoorian; Australian pop songstress Ngaiire, who will set the stage on fire with her powerful future-soul voice and vibrant costumes; and Norwegian avant-garde vocalist Jenny Hval.
Late 70s iconic Brisbane pop music band The Apartments, will return from France to play from their new album No Song, No Spell, No Madrigal and 70s-influenced electronica duo Black Cab and international pop champions Twerps will also perform in the series.
Sydney-based Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, including regular band members Kirin J Callinan and Donny Benet, will perform their unique brand of alternative art rock, country, synth-pop and noise rock from their new album Playmates and Jim White from The Dirty Three will collaborate with George Xylouris on a Cretan lute in an unexpected creation called Xylouris White.
After-hours access to Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei is a major highlight of the program, along with entertainment from DJs and engaging short exhibition talks exploring the significant influence of these two artists on pop culture and modern life as well as dining and bars within the Gallery and outdoors under the new Summer Architecture Commission by John Wardle Architects.
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei, developed by the NGV and The Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, with the participation of Ai Weiwei, will explore the significant influence of these two exemplary artists on modern and contemporary life, focussing on the parallels, intersections and points of difference between the two artists’ practices. Surveying the scope of both artists’ careers, this major exhibition at the NGV will present over 300 works, including major new commissions, immersive installations and a wide representation of paintings, sculpture, film, photography, publishing and social media.
The events regularly sell out, so book tickets early for Friday Nights at NGV. See www.ngv.vic.gov.au/program-series/friday-nights/ for details.
NGV Members pre-sale offer: open from 10am Friday 30 October – midnight Thursday 5 November.
Telstra customers’ pre-sale offer: open from 10am Monday 2 November – midnight Thursday 5 November.
General tickets are on sale from Friday 6 November.
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei will open at the NGV on 11 December 2015 and at The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh in June 2016.
The Friday Nights at the NGV series for Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei is generously supported by Higgins Coatings.
Friday Nights at NGV
Cost: Online: $24 Member / $30 Adult / $12 Child
On the door: $29 Member / $35 Adult / $15 Child
Time: 6.00pm – 10.00pm
Location: NGV International