On Opening Night we celebrate artists, audiences and Melbourne itself. Rain or shine, it all kicks off at 6pm and gracing the stage at Federation Square are various bands, musicians and singers whose cultural backgrounds and musical influences make for a remarkable global tour and celebration: ska, reggae, jazz, Latin-fusion, brass, percussion, choral, hip hop, traditional and contemporary music by musicians whose contribution to Australia's music scene is ever-expanding and not to be missed.

Melbourne Festival offers a second chance to catch one of the standout acts of 2007: experience the rawness, the rock, the heart, the soul, the sheer energy and humour of Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely.

Dream of Life is a cinematic plunge into the creative spirit of Patti Smith, a breathing collage of her philosophy and artistry. Shot over a remarkable 11-year period by renowned fashion photographer Steven Sebring, Dream of Life is unprecedented in its lyricism and its intimate access to an icon.

Sound artist Alex Stahl joins forces with Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey, the dynamic duo behind last year's Musicircus, to create an engagement with the soundworld of the common myna. Beyond the steel and stone across the river, listeners are invited to explore other bridges: mapping connections between free speech and free music, human and avian migrations, performer and audience, natural and constructed environments.

To coincide with the Australian premiere of his colossal multimedia work Terra Nova Sinfonia Antarctica, DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid takes to the Beck's Bar for a night of infectious beats and intelligent music as he mixes avant-garde jazz, compositional music and electronica with recordings from vast audio archives.

An evening featuring phenomenal sound artists from Melbourne and beyond. This live performance at BMW Edge is a companion piece to the exhibition of sound works at Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces. Curated by internationally acclaimed Australian artists Oren Ambarchi and Marco Fusinato, this concert takes the concept of 21:100:100 beyond the gallery walls, beyond the headphones and enables audiences to listen to the works in a live concert spectacle.

Over five nights Aaron Choulai invites a different guest soloist, whether Festival artist or acclaimed local musician, to perform a wealth of exciting new material with him. The tantalising aural curves of modern jazz in the intoxicating atmosphere of The Famous Spiegeltent make for a perfect end to a Festival evening.

The timeless essence of 1930s Paris comes alive as manouche outfit Blue Drag is joined by vocal sensation Chantal Mitvalsky for two irresistible Festival concerts.

Saturday 25th October is the final night of the Festival - the Festival that was, the artists who made it and the conclusion of four incredible programs under the Artistic Directorship of Kristy Edmunds. Closing Night is the ultimate in Festival revelry, and this year will be no exception. Come to the Artist Lounge and join artists and staff in raising a glass to Kristy and the 2008 Festival.

Easily the tightest local Latin outfit, with members from Chilean, Spanish, Indian, Mauritian, Persian, Irish, Greek and Australian backgrounds, San Lazaro bring tough, hip hop, rock and reggae infused edge to the traditional Latin sound. This 10-piece Latin Mestizo band features a horn and percussion heavy salsa funk diaspora that has been blowing audiences away in Melbourne and across Australia concert after concert.

The genre-spanning Gloria Deluxe is a musical group fronted by composer, lyricist and performer Cynthia Hopkins. As timeless as it is immediately engaging, the unique sound of Gloria Deluxe creeps from dark country noir via wasted whiskey-toned folk to torch songs from a forgotten cabaret.

In the raw energy and intimacy of Husky's performance, in the sometimes sweet, sometimes brutal nature of the songs, you will find yourself drawn into this world of strange characters and unfamiliar places, love and loss, joy and solitude.

Known for large-scale and outdoor live shows, this concert brings Lowrider inside and focuses on the simplicity and layering of the soulful sound that is at the core of their music. The captivating combination of solos, extended jams and bluesy vocals is erudite and solid.

Internationally acclaimed and immaculately dressed, Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen take to the Festival's Beck's Bar with their wonderfully theatrical show.

Ross McLennan is one of Australia's quietly acclaimed singer-songwriters. For his Festival debut, this home recording pop pundit and former Snout frontman presents songs from his acclaimed and accomplished release Sympathy for the New World as well as his impressive back catalogue.

Melbourne theatre company The Eleventh Hour premiered Endgame in 2006. A testament to both Beckett's enduring popularity and the company's reputation for stylish and imaginative adaptations of canonical plays, the season sold out immediately and the production went on to win four Green Room awards including Best Production, Direction, Design and Actor.

With his roots in the Balkans and his head in the 21st century, Goran Bregovic brings his 37-piece Wedding and Funeral Choir and Orchestra to the State Theatre for a big-hearted spectacular. Comprising a gypsy brass band, classical string section, an accordionist, male choir, female vocalists, the raw sounds of rock-accented guitar and folk-style percussion, the sheer vibrancy on stage is intoxicating and the urge to dance, irresistible.

Songs for swooning, songs for dancing! Minor keys with major rhythm! If Edith Piaf had been luckier in love, she would have been in a band like this!

Described by The Age as a "star in the making", singer-songwriter Megan Washington is best known as a collaborator (Paul Grabowsky) and bandmate (Ben Lee, Old Man River). For these Festival shows, the chanteuse debuts as a solo artist in her own right.