Introducing Club 8

Asia TOPA is diving headfirst into the electrifying world of after-dark artistry with its inaugural Nightlife program, headlined by the purpose-built Club 8.

Created in collaboration with the design collective Additive, this fabulous new club venue amplifies Asia TOPA’s commitment to innovative, inclusive and immersive cultural experiences.

“Clubs are inherently social, fluid and participatory spaces,” says Jeff Khan, Creative Director of Asia TOPA.

“Unlike traditional arts venues, they invite revelry and create an immediate connection between performers and audiences. Club 8 is the beating heart of our Nightlife program — a place to bring your crew and connect with new art, music and community.”

During the triennial, Club 8 will host 9 nights of extraordinary performance and dancefloor-igniting music. Each night is organised by a different guest curator, and each of them are deeply connected to the Asia-Pacific’s nightlife communities. Together our guest curators have created a program that buzzes with joy, artistry, and an ever-changing lineup of DJs, live performances and immersive installations.

The program celebrates ballroom and voguing with Founding Mother of Naarm, Kianna 007 Oricci and Overall Mother Miri Silky (Mirasia), while local street collective Cypher Culture brings Hip Hop culture to the fore. Trailblazing performers Betty Apple, Betty Grumble and Phasmahammer (Justin Talplacido Shoulder) reimagine performance as tools for empowerment and revelation, manifesting queerness, body positivity and speculative futures. DJ lineups are fuelled by genre-fluid innovators like Cloudy Ku and Soju Gang, delivering dancefloor-ready soundscapes.

"Club 8 is the beating heart of our Nightlife program — a place to bring your crew and connect with new art, music and community.” – Jeff Khan, Creative Director of Asia TOPA

Located on the 8th floor of Arts Centre Melbourne, Club 8 is steeped in symbolism. In Chinese numerology, the number 8 signifies luck, prosperity and success. It’s a dynamic, circular space, reflecting the timeless unity of dance floors across cultures and eras.

Club 8 will also feature a specially-curated menu of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and delicious snacks, to keep you fed and watered through your club journey. We’ve even made it easy and affordable to bring your crew, with specially-discounted group ticket prices.

Club 8 celebrates the club as an essential space of creativity, culture and community. It’s where you kick on to after your Asia TOPA Performance is finished, but it’s also a destination in its own right: your late-night journey begins here.

CLUB 8 PROGRAM

Opening Nightlife – Thursday 20 February 2025
Club 8 kicks off with performances from drag artist Scarlett So Hung Son (Scotty So), music icon Rainbow Chan, and Aurora Sun Labeija, blending ballroom culture and performance art.

INAMO Kiki Ball – Friday 21 February 2025
Co-curated by Naarm/Melbourne’s Kianna Oricci and Mirasia Silky, this ballroom event celebrates Femme Queen liberation with performances from two iconic Australian ballroom houses.

Shapeshifters – Saturday 22 February 2025
Headlined by performance artist Phasmahammer and electronic musician PANELIA, Shapeshifters highlights artists who transcend genres and cultures.

Aari? Aray! – Thursday 27 February 2025
Featuring hip-hop artists Fateeha, Miss A (Morobeats), and Réjizz, this event celebrates the energy of dance collectives from the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia.

乒乒乓乓 pin-pin-piàng-piàng – Friday 28 February 2025
Harrison Hall and Cloudy Ku curate a genre-fluid night, merging Asia-Pacific innovation with Melbourne’s rave culture.

BLAX: ACT ONE – Saturday 1 March 2025
YIRRAMBOI curates an evening of First Nations self-expression with DJs Soju Gang, Katayanagi Twins, and nudibranchia at the helm.

The Prey and The Ruler – Thursday 6 March 2025
Curated by ROOM40, this event explores extended sound practices and creates sonic worlds rooted in Naarm/Melbourne.

Club 4A: Night Vision – Friday 7 March 2025
Sydney’s Club 4A brings South Asian musical traditions into the present, blending dance, vocal performances, and hybrid art forms.

THE B_B – Saturday 8 March 2025
Betty Apple and Betty Grumble unite in a transcendent dance ritual exploring digital mysticism and collective empowerment.

Image: Betty Apple by MW Studio