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ABC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
ABC Radio Australia's Pacific Break returns in 2025
ABC Radio Australia's Pacific Break, the Pacific's biggest music competition, is back for 2025. From Friday 27 June 2025, the search begins to discover the Pacific and Timor Leste's best original artist. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia's biggest international music, arts and dance festival. This year, Pacific Break launches for the first time in Samoa with a free, star-studded concert at iconic Friendship Park in downtown Apia. On the line-up are Pacific music's biggest names including Pacific Break past winners Chris Rohoimae (2024, Solomon Islands), Ju Ben (2023, Fiji) and Danielle (2022, Papua New Guinea) and Samoan superstars, country music icon Mr Cowboy and soulful vocal queen Tofaga Meke. Pacific Break's 2025 judges have also been announced, with Australian-based Fijian artist and label head Joji Malani joining returning judges PNG-born Australian neo soul diva Ngaiire, WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi, and ABC Radio Australia music presenters, Hau Lātūkefu ( In The Fale ) and Sose Fuamoli ( Sista Sounds and On The Record ). According to Malani, "Pacific Break has played an important role in showcasing talent from across the Pacific in a way no other competition has done before. There is a unique sophistication within our cultures—deeply rooted yet universally relatable—and Pacific Break provides a platform to share that with the world. I'm humbled to contribute, even in a small way, to this important movement.' Fuamoli said: 'It is exciting to see the return of Pacific Break for 2025! It is such a special platform for a diverse range of artists from throughout the region. In previous years we have seen how both winners and finalists have benefited from the radio, television and social support of the competition and I look forward to meeting this year's class of nominees and seeing who takes out the top honour for 2025.' Lātūkefu said: 'The talent pool in our neck of the woods is so deep. It always has been. We just need the opportunities for our musicians' talent to be seen and to be heard. That's why it's so important for something like Pacific Break to exist so the rest of our region and the world can hear the beauty that we hear. I'm super excited for this year to kick off!' Find out more about the Pacific music industry leaders who will be deciding Pacific Break's 2025 winner and what they are looking for here. PACIFIC BREAK 2025 – THE LAUNCH CONCERT Celebrate the return of Pacific Break with a free, all-ages launch concert at Friendship Park, Apia, Samoa on Friday 27 June. Come along from 5pm West Samoa Time (WST) with performances from 6pm to 9pm. Click here for more event details. PACIFIC BREAK – THE COMPETITION Competition entries open at 9am AEST on Friday 27 June 2025 and will be open until 11:59pm AEST on Monday 25 August 2025. For more information about Pacific Break visit For all media enquiries, contact: Annalise Ramponi, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, ABC International
ABC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Pacific Break 2025 will launch in Samoa — here's what you need to know
ABC Radio Australia's Pacific Break, the Pacific's biggest music competition, is back for 2025. On Friday, June 27 2025, the search begins to discover the Pacific and Timor Leste's best original artist. Pacific Break will launch for the first time in Samoa with a star-studded concert at iconic Friendship Park in Apia. Best of all, it's free. Here's what you need to know. When and where is the launch concert? This year's Pacific Break launch event will be taking place in downtown Samoa, at Friendship Park in Apia. Friday, June 27. Free entry from 5pm Friday, June 27. Free entry from 5pm Performances will run from 6 - 9pm Who is playing? This year's concert features a star-studded line-up of Pacific Break's biggest names, plus some of Samoa's biggest local acts. Mr. Cowboy (Samoa) Mr. Cowboy (Samoa) Tofaga Meke (Samoa) Tofaga Meke (Samoa) Chris Rohoimae (Solomon Islands, Pacific Break Winner 2024) Chris Rohoimae (Solomon Islands, Pacific Break Winner 2024) Ju Ben (Fiji, Pacific Break Winner 2023) Ju Ben (Fiji, Pacific Break Winner 2023) Danielle (PNG, Pacific Break Winner 2022) Plus more! The event will be hosted by Young Sefa, and Michael Chow and Jacob McQuire from ABC Radio Australia's Nesia Daily. Samoa's Sam Ah Chookoon, aka Mr Cowboy, will be performing at the Pacific Break 2025 launch concert. ( Supplied ) Do I need to purchase tickets? No, this event is family-friendly, all ages, and free. Will there be food and drinks available? Food stalls will be available at Friendship Park, selling food and non-alcoholic beverages. Adjacent to the concert, Apia's monthly Waterfront Night Market will also be taking place at the Samoa Cultural Village, with many delicious food and drink options for you and the family. Pacific Break is an alcohol and drug-free event. Ju Ben performs at the Pacific Break launch concert in Fiji last year. ( Supplied ) Want to know more about the 2025 Pacific Break competition? Once again, ABC Radio Australia is on the hunt for the next big Pacific artist! Pacific Break is ABC Radio Australia's yearly grassroots music competition that aims to uncover the best original and unsigned talent from across the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Entries for this year's competition will open Friday, June 27 and run until midnight, Monday, August 25. Submit your original track via WhatsApp, email and online and you could be the next winner, taking off on an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia's biggest world music festival. Find out more by heading online to The winner will be announced on ABC Radio Australia's morning program Nesia Daily on Thursday, October 16 2025. Anything else I should know? Please note the Australian Broadcasting Corporation will be filming a television program during this event. By attending the event, you are giving permission to be filmed as part of the event, and as such, your image could be included in the on-air program as well as online.
