Born in Hamburg, Germany, Rother gained prominence as a founding member of the influential bands Neu! and Harmonia during the 1970s. His innovative guitar work and use of electronics reshaped the musical landscape, influencing countless artists across genres. In the early ’70s, Michael Rother quit Kraftwerk, a move that may seem insane if not for his going on to take part in several seminal krautrock bands that influenced the likes of Brian Eno, David Bowie, Stereolab, and Thom Yorke. As part of Neu! and Harmonia, Rother pushed rock and electronic music towards a more rhythmic and experimental future with hypnotic percussion, stripped-down arrangements, and post-psychedelic soundscapes.

Michael Rother is joined in the night by Melbourne/ Naarm trio Panghalina, in support. Panghalina is comprised of Helen Svoboda (voice, double bass), Bonnie Stewart (voice, drums, percussion) and Maria Moles (synth, drums, percussion). Each musician in the trio is an established composer and performer in their own right and has developed their own distinctive approach to sound, often using instrumental preparations and non-conventional techniques to extend their mastery on their given instrument.