All good things must come to an end and when they do, they might as well go out with a bang. And a whistle. Well, a kazoo. Or 10,000, actually.

The 2023 Brisbane Festival is wrapping up with a loud party celebrating the arts, community, and participation, aptly dubbed All Together Now: Closing Concert.

Artistic director Louise Bezzina’s wide-ranging program has delivered three weeks of inclusive performances and displays encompassing world premieres, interactive installations, aerial spectacles, suburban parties, concerts and grass roots engagement.

“Brisbane Festival is about bringing the community together, participating, sharing joy and immersion in performances from talented artists that call Brisbane home,” she affirms.

But Bezzina has saved two of the biggest events till last, as part of a free, family-friendly, three-and-a-half-hour cross-cultural line-up at Victoria Park/Barrambin from 3.30pm Saturday September 23.

Both are about taking art to the masses by inviting everyday people to create something special. One is a world-record attempt requiring no previous musical experience, the other, a collaboration with internationally-acclaimed ensemble Dancenorth.

If there’s anything Queenslanders embrace it’s the opportunity to out-do a southern capital. So, organisers are hoping that Brisbane’s 10,000 Kazoos recital will actually surpass the world record number of participants set by Melburnians in June. All you need to do is turn-up. You’ll get a free kazoo, and can do an optional workshop at 4.20pm before the impromptu “wild orchestra” starts tooting at 4.50pm.

Composer, musician and researcher Ciaran Frame came up with the concept because he wants everybody to know they can make music. “What better way to prove that than with 10,000 of the silliest instruments in the world,” he says.“It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been practising all your life for this moment, or this is the first time you’ve ever touched a musical instrument – come along and give it a crack!”

The festival’s finale at 7pm also features community participants, but this one is a bit more serious, requiring six compulsory rehearsals. And while the numbers will be smaller, the impact will be resounding when 100 volunteer drummers join Dancenorth onstage to literally make some NOISE.

Yep, that’s the name of the show described as “a united force of percussive energy” driving 20-minutes of high-octane movement. By tapping into our primal connection to rhythm, NOISE aims to give audience members a mindful collective experience.

Our vibrant cultural diversity is also represented in-between this double-header by performances from Pena Flamenco and Siva Mai Club.

Bezzina welcomes everyone to commemorate the success of the 2023 Brisbane Festival in this last display of unity.

“We want the community to come with friends and family for a celebration of music, rhythm, dance and sound with a grand finale closing concert.”

Closing Concert: All Together Now, Victoria Park, Barrambin, from 3.30pm Saturday September 23

brisbanefestival.com.au

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