Desert Song Festival returns after two-year hiatus

Singers, musicians, choirs and dozens of music enthusiasts will soon descend on Central Australia for the much-anticipated Desert Song Festival.

The popular event will return to Alice Springs from 9–18 September following a two-year break due to COVID-19.

Set against the stunning ranges and gorges of Central Australia, and renowned heritage venues, the 2022 event features an incredible program of music, art and cultural experiences, plus a climate and land symposium.

Desert Song Festival Director Morris Stuart said the 2022 program is the “most ambitious” yet.

“After two successive years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be an eagerly anticipated regathering of the community in the heart of the desert,” he said.

The theme this year is ‘Our Climate, Our Planet, Our Future’, and climate scientists and Indigenous knowledge-keepers will collaborate with artists and performers to deliver a unique program that fosters a genuine interaction between climate science and the arts.

Program highlights include The Festival Recital, presented by Australian Concert Hall pianist Stefan Cassomenos and violinist Monica Curro of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. They will perform a selection of works from Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninoff and more.

Festival goers can also participate in an interactive musical and artistic experience at Alice Springs Earth Sanctuary. The Climate Caravan, a structured, improvised work, will draw on the wisdom and culture of 60,000 years of First Nations people in Central Australia.

To see the full program or to buy tickets, visit www.desertsong.com.au.