Bright Lights, Big City: Illuminate Guide

Illuminate Adelaide is turning out city into an experimental, sensory-driven playground that’s waiting to be explored from July 4-21. Are you ready?

FIRE GARDENS

French flame masters Compagnie Carabosse will turn the Adelaide Botanic Garden into a controlled blaze for 12 nights with the premiere of Fire Gardens. Commissioned specifically for Illuminate Adelaide, the fiery spectacle features more than 7000 handcrafted fire pots, sculptures, blazing archways and candle-lit pathways. Witness the iconic landmark in a new light thanks to this captivating exhibition – open for three weeks only.

July 4–21 | Adelaide Botanic Garden

CITY LIGHTS

For 17 nights, Adelaide’s heritage-listed and culturally significant buildings will turn into interactive light installations that will leave your brain bamboozled. Crafted by globally recognised, local and national artists, City Lights is more than enough reason to leave your couch and embark on a free, choose-your-own-adventure tour through the CBD. Must-see installations include intangible #form by Shohei Fujimoto (University of Adelaide), GLOW by Amigo & Amigo (SA Museum), and Proximity State by Miles Dunne (Lot Fourteen).

July 5–21 | Adelaide CBD

EDEN

Discover the beauty of the natural world with this immersive installation from acclaimed Berlin-based studio, flora&faunavisions. Surrounded by 150 square metres of LED screens, explore this interactive display where art and nature intersect in one breathtaking space. An experience dedicated to showcasing the importance and beauty of this planet, EDEN is for the curious.

July 4–21 | The Light Room @ ILA

MAX COOPER : 3D/AV w/ MOTEZ

London-based producer Max Cooper has a PhD in computational biology and uses this to create mind-melting sensory experiences to complement his downtempo electronica. His latest work, 3D/AV, is no different – an immersive set that combines technology, science and sound to examine the human condition. It all kicks off at Hindley St Music Hall on July 12. Get in early to see award-winning and homegrown producer Motez and his boundary pushing noise.

July 12 | Hindley St Music Hall

LIVE @ THE LAB

Cutting-edge technology, thought provoking sound and digital art collide to create a boundary-breaking program of music at The Lab. Across the first two weekends of July, expect gigs from genre defying acts like Mondo Psycho and Big Yawn, an experimental live performances from MESSIANIC GLOSS’ Matthew Adey and Brett Davis, and a hip-hop showcase from rising local label Adverse Reign.

July 5–13 | The Lab @ ILA

UNSOUND ADELAIDE

Hot on the heels of its decade anniversary, the Adelaide iteration of Polish festival Unsound will deliver two nights of experimental sound produced by international artists. Expect noise that’ll break boundaries and rattle your brain. Program highlights include British artist Lee Gamble performing his new album Models in collaboration with choreographer Candela Capitán, a performance in partnership by Jim O’Rourke and Eiko Ishibashi, and a closing set by Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon.

July 19–20 | Dom Polski Centre

UNSOUND CLUB

The late-night sibling of Unsound Adelaide, Unsound Club kicks the city’s experimental sonic exploration into overdrive. Running until the early hours of the morning, this event is for those who want to continue their adventure through noise that knows no bounds. For one night only, the lineup features exclusive performances by UK DJs Manuka Honey and Lee Gamble, plus a set by Gamilaraay artist Crescendoll.

July 20 | The Lab @ ILA