In October 2011, we will see a new incarnation of the Melbourne Festival Lounge, a Club Tropicana inspired haven for artists, audiences and the general public alike.

Set under the golden spire of the Arts Centre, amongst lush jungle foliage, in the corners and under the stars, this is the place where unexpected Festival magic might just happen.

The Lounge will offer a home away from home, where one can settle in to one of the secluded booths, feast on the custom Cuban themed menu, sup at the bar, be captivated by day at the Artist in Conversation series, Come Together and ruffle the feathers on the dance floor under the cover of darkness to surprise pop up acts, live bands and local and international DJs.

Over 15 nights, the Melbourne Festival Lounge will welcome a huge range of performance artists through its doors including the premiere of cabaret sensations, The Lovebirds. These wild and exotic creatures will emerge from the scenery on Friday and Saturday nights to perform old fashioned song and dance in a blaze of Rio Carnival colour and plumage; 11-piece extravaganza Bombay Royale will dust off near-unheard relics, smash out Bollywood classics and put down surfadelic Hindi originals to bring the golden age sound of Bollywood into the future; the Shellettes will transcend this earthly realm with their dreamy, ethereal harmonies; the renowned stylings of burlesque troop Briefs' Fez Fanana will wow you, and a musical class from Stella Angelico in the art of cocktail making will have you shakin' it like a pro.