Thu 28 May 2026
8:00pm
Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey (RISING)
This event is strictly 18+
Forum subscriber pre-sale begins 12pm Friday 13 March.
Hip hop wouldn’t be what it is if it wasn’t for Yasiin Bey. Bey wouldn’t be who he is if it wasn’t for the revolutionary poetry of Gil Scott-Heron. And Gil Scott-Heron wouldn’t have found his groove if it wasn’t for his brother in music, the jazz legend Brian Jackson. Jackson, the teenage piano prodigy, met Scott-Heron, the bohemian beatnik, at Lincoln University in 1969. Over nine years, nine albums and countless hours on the road they opened ears and minds to the civil rights movement and redefined what music could do—blending astonishing streams of social consciousness with fluid, intuitive funk.
Last year, this lineage found a state of cosmic balance at RISING when Yasiin Bey reunited with Talib Kwali for their first ever Naarm show as Black Star. The pair threw down a set that included ‘Brown Skin Lady’—a vivid, Brooklyn love letter that owes a lot of its steeze to a sample from the Scott-Heron and Jackson classic ‘We Almost Lost Detroit’.
Now, in 2026, we’re going way deeper into that soulful energy in a world premiere. After paying tribute to MF Doom and performing The Ecstatic in 2023, then Black Star in 2024, Bey is back and he’s going straight to the source—the godfather of rap Gil Scott-Heron and his musical muse, Brian Jackson, the godfather of consciousness soul.
The revolution will not be televised. Come bear witness.
You must be 18 years or over to attend this event.
Valid Proof of Age photo ID is required by all patrons (Australian Driver’s License, Victorian Learners Permit, Passport, Proof of Age Card, Keypass). Photocopies and photos of ID will not be accepted.
Conditions of Entry:
To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience, please be aware of Forum Melbourne's Conditions of Entry here.
*Please note, steel cap shoes are not permitted to be worn inside the venue.
Mobile/Emailed Tickets: Download your tickets before you arrive. For the best experience we recommend downloading the Ticketek App to your phone.
Booth Ticket Holders: Please go to the Box Office on arrival at the venue to collect your wristband and our staff will then direct you to your booth. Note that a General Admission ticket plus a Booth Upgrade ticket must be purchased and presented together for booth access.
Location: Forum Melbourne is located at 154 Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000.
Parking: Discounted parking rates are available at some nearby Wilson Car Parks. More info here.
Accessibility: Forum Melbourne is committed to making performances accessible to the widest possible audience. For further information about accessibility call 1300 11 10 11 and select option 2 for our accessibility customer service line, or you can find more info here.
Purchasing Tickets: Only purchase your tickets from our official ticketing partner, Ticketek and not from any unauthorised or secondary ticket sellers, as they do not guarantee access to the venue.
Cloakroom: A cloakroom is available upstairs on the Mezzanine level. The cost for cloaking is $5, which includes up to 3 items.
Bag checks: Due to security requirements, you will be required to show the contents of your bag to venue staff. Prohibited items will not be allowed into the venue and may be confiscated or entry may be refused.
Cameras: Phone cameras and small point and shoot cameras are permitted. No larger cameras or cameras with detachable lenses are permitted. No flash photography.
This event is strictly 18+
Thu 28 May 2026
8:00pm