Marcus Teague

Over the Labour Day weekend, the 18th Golden Plains welcomed a wave of deconstructed upstarts, a slight drizzle, a crowning pair of timeless electro-chameleons, and doof sticks – for better and worse.

After a year off, and with a new artistic director in charge, the Tasmanian festival returned with decapitated heads, a god complex and a literal bang.

A storm for PJ Harvey, a glorious moment from a local DJ, and an Irish takeover – the 17th edition of the Victorian festival was an instant classic.

Broadsheet travelled to Hobart for a long weekend of hashtagging Shakespeare and the Wu-Tang Clan, green jelly and Irish dancing, to visit a festival that was definitely, mostly, not on.

A Broadsheet writer listened to the only existing version of the secret Wu-Tang Clan record, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. Now it’s gone. But how was it?

A descent into the Golden Plains volcano finds traces of doof sticks, glitter singlets, the loudest sound on earth, a perfect French dance floor and the sun itself. Marcus Teague was there.

Plus, watching paint dry, sipping West African-inspired gin and glitchy internet porn. “It’s more akin to a private party than a gig,” writes Marcus Teague.

The tenth edition of Dark Mofo was such a clear victory lap for the beloved Tasmanian festival, few even cared to cater to controversy.

Thinking of going to Australia’s premier winter event but not seeing anything you like in the headliners? You’re wrong. In partnership with Dark Mofo, a regular visitor looks under the hood of this year’s program to tell you the things you’ll wish you went to.

Everyone’s favourite midwinter excursion into the dark, depraved and delicious returns for its 10th year. In partnership with Dark Mofo, we sift the program for riches.

Confetti cannons, smoking ceremonies, flashing neon dildos and feast plates – the return of the beloved regional festival helped put the past three years of sitting at home to bed. We stayed up to welcome it all.

A breezy long weekend of inflatable penises, blotter art and mic farts at the Hobart iteration of Tasmania's best annual summer arts festival.