Thousands of people descended on Federation Square in Melbourne for an all-ages Pasifika block party with live beats and killer moves at Rising Festival – an annual celebration of music, food, arts and culture under moonlight in the heart of Melbourne, Australia.

As part of Australia now: Pacific edition – an Australian Government initiative celebrating the deep cultural connections between Australia and our Pacific partners – supported Neo Sun and the powerful voices of the Pasefika Vitoria Choir’s performance at Rising Festival.

Neo Sun and the Pasefika Vitoria Choir are a musical collaboration, fusing Samoan rap and reggae with powerful, multi-lingual Pacific choral traditions. Led by ethnomusicologist Dr Rita Seumanutafa-Palala, the ensemble produces a rich sound celebrating Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and Māori cultural roots.

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Photo credit Maria Troncoso.