Mona Foma

Mona Foma predated Mona, paving the way for the museum to come—an early experiment in David pointing his megaphone at the masses. Starting in 2009, the festival ran for the next 16 years, under the artistic direction of Brian Ritchie.

Filled with music and art that otherwise might not have made it to Tasmania, it eventually expanded from Hobart to Launceston, spanned the two cities, and—as all good experiments must—came to an end. You can read David’s farewell to the festival here.

Over the years, Mona Foma featured:
PJ Harvey, Philip Glass, David Byrne and St Vincent, Elvis Costello, Peaches, The Flaming Lips, Ryoji Ikeda, Pavement, Alvin Curran, Judy Collins, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Chiharu Shiota, Conrad Shawcross, Pierre Henry, Girl Talk, Sun Ra Arkestra, Mogwai, Puscifer, tetema, The Orb, Grandmaster Flash, Angel Olsen, The Julie Ruin, Bassekou Kouyate, Brian Jackson, Femina, Mayhem, Emel Mathlouthi, Antonio Sánchez, Flying Lotus, Julia Holter, Evelyn Glennie, Dirty Projectors, Moses Sumney, Circuit des Yeux, Kae Tempest, Swans, John Grant, Amiina, Chai, Death Grips, Mahmoud Ahmed, Nakane, Neneh Cherry, Shonen Knife, Holly Herndon, Dan Deacon, Architects of Air, DJ Z-Trip, The Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer, Hanba, Neil Gaiman, Alim Qasimov Ensemble, Marduk, Christian Boltanski, Tyondai Braxton, Mdou Moctar, Okkyung Lee, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, Ben Frost, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Li Binyuan, John Cale, Violent Femmes, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Courtney Barnett, Grinderman, Gotye, PNAU, Kev Carmody, The Cruel Sea, The Saints, Mick Harvey, Robin Fox, Byron J Scullin, Pinky Beecroft and the White Russians, Paul Grabowsky, Fred Leone, Genevieve Lacey, Jim Moginie, Cameron Robbins, Augie March, Ben Salter, Ngaiire, Decoder Ring, BalletLab, Speak Percussion, Filastine and Nova, Ajak Kwai, Adam Simmons, William Barton, Anthony Pateras, Eve Klein, Sonya Lifschitz, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Art Orchestra, IHOS Music Theatre and Opera, Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan, Clairy Browne, Regurgitator, Striborg, Michael Kieran Harvey, Kate Miller-Heidke and many, many more.

As well as mainland and international acts, Mona Foma championed locals: A. Swayze & The Ghosts, Act Natural & Puffy Pank (Theia Connell & Priya Vunaki-Singh), Aedan Howlett, Akouo, Alethea Coombe. Alf Jackson, Alison McCrindle, Alistair Visser, All the Weathers, Allan Halyk, Allegri Ensemble, Allstar Cheer and Dance Tasmania, Aloyziouz Falcon, Amanda Hodder, Amanda Parer, Amber Perez, Ana Thema, Anand Kumar, Andie Laureson, Andrew Bainbridge, Anna Barber, Anna Kidd & Rose Mastroianni, Archipelago Productions, Aurum Argentum, Bansheeland, Beatrix Bouwman, Belle Jilder, Benji Chandler, Big hART, Bing / Santospirito, Bobby Wilson, Bobby Young, Brendan Conroy, Brendon Veronese, Brokk, Bruce Innocent, Bu$ Money, Callum Hilder, Cary Littleford, Cat Freeman, Charlotte Bell, Chloe Dobson, Chris Bonner, Christopher Tatnell, Chrysalis + Blair Rideout, City of Launceston RSL Band, Claire Taylor, Cold Ibizia, Cyberkitty, Daemons of Dissent (featuring Steve Gadd), Daisy Allen, Dameza, Dan Foothead, Danny Healy, Dave Titherley, David Gough, Dean Cross, Dean Stevenson, Denni , Denni Proctor, Dinette & Confetti, Disrepute, DJ Dolittle, DJ Rainbow Trout, DJ Sexy Lucy, DJ So Fire, Dollyverse Dancers, Dorian Broomhall, Drag Karaoke: Tyler Shaw, Andrew Michael, Mathew Badenbach, Katelyn Eastley, Zachary van Tienen, Drill Dance, Drunk Elk, Dylan Sheridan, Eloise Kirk, Emily Sanzaro, Emma Anglesey, Encore Theatre Company, Evan Carydakis Quartet, Evil Goat, EWAH & The Vision of Paradise, ExtemporaneousLea, Felicity Horsley, Fernando do Campo, FFLORA, Finch, Firas Massouh, Gabbee Stolp, Georgia Lucy Ingall, Glen Murray, Glenn Richards (Augie March), Grace Churchill, Grant Pearson with Rodrigo Diaz Icasuriaga and Steve Young, Greg Gurr, Hannah Brontë, Hannah Vermeulen, Harry Holcombe James, Helene Weeding, Hobart Funk Collective, Hobart Liberation Orchestra, Hobart Marching Band, Hobart Vocal Collective, Hologeneometry, Instrument Builders Project 5: Richie Cyngler, Julia Drouhin, Dylan Sheridan, Pip Stafford, Interweave, It Thing, Jack McLaine, Jade Ulani Young, James Brennan, Jamin, Jane Longhurst, Jason Whatley Quintet, Jen Brown, Jennifer Marten-Smith, Jennifer Owen, Jeremy Yung, Joel Fenton, John Xintavelonis, Jonny Scholes, Jorgen Doyle, Josh Foley, Josh Santospirito, Julia Drouhin, Julius Schwing, Karlin Love, Kat Daddi, kdcWorks, Keith Deverell, Kelly Ottaway, Kelsey Bender, Kirby/Ward, Kirstyn Richardson, Know Future, Konstantin Koukias, Kris McQuade, Launceston City RSL: Pipes & Drums, Launceston Improvised Music Association Inc, Lauren Neal, Lazer Baby, Lila Meleisea, Logan Wade, Loren Kronemyer, Lou Conboy, Luca Brasi, Lucienne Rickard, Lucy Bleach, Lucy McDonald, Luke Vaessen, MADE: Mature Age Dance Experience, Maggie Abraham, Maile Ingall, Mainlanders, Marian Abboud, Martin Blackwell, Mat Ward & the No Mates Ensemble, Matt Daniels, Medhanit Barratt, Meyers & McNamara, MEZ, Miasma Belly Dancers, Brigita Ozolins, Arjun von Caemmerer, Michael Sailstorfer, Mik Lavage, Miles Bruny, Milquebarth, Misty Del Ray, MMT / Bedlam Music, Mum and Dad, Natalie Holtsbaum, Nathaniel Andrew, Nayri Niara featuring Ruth Langford & Warren Mason, Nick Forbes-Smith, Nick Haywood, Nicole Simms Farrow, OOC, Patrick Taban, Paul Wakeham, Peisen Xu, Pete Matilla, Peter Brenan, Peter Warren, Philomath, Pippin Tui Haldane, Poimena Gallery, Priscilla Beck, Pussay Poppins, Rachel Ogle, Ragtime Frank + Hannah Fitzgerald, Rahni Allan, Randos Korobacz, Rod Thomson, Ron Ngorkam, Rosa Rita, Royal B, Ruby Wood, Runaway Belles, SAAKA, Sabio Evans, Sam Dowson, Sam Routledge, Samora Squid, Sancintya Mohini Simpson, Sasha Gavlek, Scot Cotterell, Scott Tinkler, Second Echo Ensemble, Selena De Carvalho, Shireen Taweel, Shivanjani Lal, Shuang Shuang, Silver Space, Sinsa Mansell Sisters Akousmatica, Sky Falcon, Slag Queens, Slaughterhäus Surf Cult, SLOW, SOMA LUMIA, Sonya Hindrum, South Island Sirens Roller Derby, Southern Gospel Choir, led by Andrew Legg and featuring Maria Lurighi, Spike Mason, St. Andrews Caledonian Drummers Stephen McEntee, Stompin, Strangerstill, Striborg, Swing Mania, Tannery: Tasmanian Taiko and Leather Orchestra led by Yyan Ng and Karlin Love, Tas Nannas, Tas Pride, Tasdance, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, The Broken Girls Club, The Implications, The Native Cats, The Scandal, The Sin and Tonics, The Soda Creamers, The Southside Steppers, Tim Sculthorpe, Tom O’Hern, Andy Hutson, Peter Brennan, Tony Muir, Too Many Jasons, True Champions of Breakfast, Unconscious Collective, UTAS Experimental Music Ensemble, Van Diemen’s Band, Vibrant Matters, Willoh S. Weiland, Xenos, Yyan Ng, Zac Henderson, Zeolite, Zevende Klasse, Zoe Rimmer, and others.

We thank them all.

Our winter festival, Dark Mofo, will return again in 2025.