ABC Radio Australia’s Pacific Break, the Pacific’s biggest music competition, returns in 2025, kicking off with a free, public concert in Samoa on Friday 27 June.
Downtown Apia, Samoa, will be the place to be as ABC Radio Australia and the Samoan Tourism Authority invite thousands of music lovers to enjoy a star-studded evening concert at the iconic Friendship Park.
On the line-up are Pacific music’s biggest names including Samoan superstars, country music icon Mr Cowboy and soulful vocal diva Tofaga Meke, and Pacific Break past winners Chris Rohoimae (2024, Solomon Islands), Ju Ben (2023, Fiji) and Danielle (2022, Papua New Guinea).
On the same day, Pacific Break’s annual two-month search begins to discover the Pacific and Timor Leste’s best original artist, who wins an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia’s biggest international music, arts and dance festival.
It’s the first time the Pacific Break Launch Concert will be held in Samoa.
Mr Cowboy is proud to be part of the show. “It’s a huge privilege to be involved in the Pacific Break Launch Concert in my town of Apia, and my hope is this opportunity will inspire future artists to enter this great competition to further their passion for music and culture.”
Danielle is also excited to travel from Papua New Guinea to perform in Apia, saying, “I’m beyond excited to be part of this year’s launch in Apia and to see who the next Pacific Break winner will be! Pacific Break is a platform that is proof that Pacific voices matter and I hope my journey from winning in 2022 inspires other artists from our islands to keep chasing their dreams. We belong on every stage.”
Hosting the main stage are ABC Radio Australia’s Nesia Daily dynamic duo Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow who will join forces with hilarious Samoan YouTuber and broadcaster Young Sefa to keep the crowd entertained through the night.
The concert is being produced in partnership between ABC Radio Australia, the Australian High Commission, the Samoa Tourism Authority, Dawg Professional Audio and Special Lighting Samoa and will be recorded for ABC Australia television in partnership with Samoan broadcaster TV3.
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).
Find out more about the team of industry experts who will be deciding on the 2025 winner of Pacific Break here.
According to Malani, “Pacific Break has played an important role in showcasing talent from across the Pacific in a way no other program has 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.”
Lātūkefu said: “The talent pool in our neck of the woods is so deep. It always has been. We just need the opportunities for the 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!”
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 to be amplified. We have seen in previous years 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.”
PACIFIC BREAK 2025 – THE LAUNCH CONCERT
Celebrate the return of Pacific Break with a free, all-ages launch concert held at Friendship Park, Apia, Samoa on Friday 27 June. Come along from 5pm West Samoa Time (WST) with performances from 6pm onwards.
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