The announcement of the full festivities for Vivid Sydney has of course brought with it once again the full musical lineup set to rock the the city’s famous Opera House as part of Vivid LIVE, which this year includes New Order, Bon Iver, and more.
This year will also see performances from local favourites Ta-ku and Hiatus Kaiyote, as well as internationally acclaimed composer Max Richter, who’ll be bringing his innovative and unique ‘Sleep’ project to Australia.
Now that we’re edging ever closer to the event, this is the time punters get their plans in order and tickets really start drying up. So to help you decide what to catch (and whether you can still catch it) we’ve curated a tidy little list for you, check it below.
Anohni: Antony & The Johnsons + Oneohtrix Point Never
When: 27th May – 30th May
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre
After releasing quite simply one of the strongest contenders for album of the year Hopelessness, Anohni (previously known as Antony & The Johnsons) will be performing alongside Hopelessness producer Oneohtrix Point Never for a string of unforgettable shows. Genre defying, but wholley consuming, being able to catch Hopelessness in a live setting is an opportunity no Sydney music fan should give up.
Tickets
Deafheaven
When: 2nd June
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre
Copping acclaim and controversy in equal measure since their hour-long genre defying opus Sunbather, post hardcore crew Deafheaven recently dropped their darkly cinematic New Bermuda which sees the band drawing upon the colossal force of black metal, post-rock and shoegaze.
Treading the tightrope between harrowing metal screams and the celestial beauty found in Sigur Rós and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Deafheaven are pushing the boundaries of what noise, hardcore, and ambient music can be. Pack some earplugs and catch ’em live.
Tickets
Max Richter In Conversation
When: 2nd June
Where: Playhouse.
Building on from Vivid LIVE’s extraordinary and challenging program of sound, performance and visual art, the team will be bringing in composer, pianist and the mind behind eight-hour opus ‘Sleep’ – Max Richter.
Richter, who has garnered a reputation for building the bridge between between classical and the experimental, and the art of performance itself, he’ll be having a one on one conversation with Paul Morley to open minds and shed light on just what music can be.
Tickets
Song Exploder: In Conversation with Hiatus Kaiyote
When: 30th May
Where: Playhouse
Hrishikesh Hirway, the American musician, composer, podcaster and man behind Song Exploder will be interviewing local heroes Hiatus Kaiyote as they take dissect one of their Grammy-nominated songs, piece by piece, in a live session with the band for a live podcast which reveals how music is made and the personal stories behind the lyrics and melodies. A fascinating look insde just how great musical minds work.
Tickets & info (FREE)
New Order + Joy Divisions Photo/ Art Exhibitions
When: 27th May – 5th June
Where: Concert Hall Northern Foyers
To celebrate New Order’s visit to Australia for Vivid, the team behind Vivid live will be hosting two very exciting exhibitions focussed on the band. One will feature the artwork of Peter Saville, who came to fame for the many record sleeves he designed for Factory Records.
The other is a photography exhibition by Kevin Cummins. Cummins captured the burgeoning punk scene in Manchester, taking some of the most iconic photographs of the bands of that era and spent 10 years as the chief photographer for the NME, going onto a prestigious and influential career in photography that continues to this day.
Tickets & info (FREE)
Deep Purple Pool Hall
When: 5th June
Where: Concert Hall, Bar Level, Northern Foyers
A space so nice, they’re hosting it twice: The low-lit cue-shooting favourite from last year, The Deep Purple Pool Hall is coming back to life for ten nights only at Vivid LIVE.
Crafted by the team behind Tio’s and The Cliff Dive return in a perfect haze as they reassemble the part pool club and part Twin Peaks saloon. Grab your mates, pop in and have a drink before it disappears once again.
Tickets & info
