Line-up revealed for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House 2024
Sydney —
An unmissable line-up of over 50 cutting-edge and iconic international and Australian artists was today announced for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, part of the Vivid Music program of Vivid Sydney, Australia’s largest festival of light, music, ideas and food and major showcase of our creative industries, taking place from Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June.
Transforming the World Heritage-listed building with live contemporary music and art, Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House 2024 as part of Vivid Sydney, features a diverse line-up of influential global acts, beloved locals and emerging voices - including six Australian exclusive performances - an orchestral collaboration, six studio parties, premieres, finales, one-off projects, a curated cinema program and the captivating Lighting of the Sails.
Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House is curated for the ninth time by Sydney Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall, who shares: “Convention-defying sonic and visual artistry defines Vivid LIVE 2024 with the Australian debuts of the mind-bending Venezuelan electronica paragon Arca, Swedish iconoclast Fever Ray and the next generation of soul, Snoh Aalegra. Experience Australian exclusive appearances by French cult favourites AIR performing their iconic Moon Safari in full, UK’s titans of techno and joy Underworld back for three nights and the multi-talented Devonté Hynes with the might of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and conductor Matthew Lynch.
Behold the Tuareg trailblazers and masters of desert blues, Tinariwen, the enigmatic Sky Ferreira, as well as a host of powerful homegrown visionaries Thelma Plum, Vv Pete, Tasman Keith, BARKAA, Maple Glider, and more. Join us in celebrating the 25th anniversaries and finales of local independent music makers Elefant Tracks and Spunk Records as they leave an indelible mark on the scene with huge one-off parties.
The fiercely talented 2023 Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman’s stunning animated patchworks ignite the iconic sails each night for Echo, a story of confronting your shadow, in an epic collaboration with fellow Sydney-based creative artists, animation technologists Pleasant Company and musician Angus Mills. I'm thrilled to contribute this Vivid LIVE 2024 program to Vivid Sydney, infusing life and energy into the heart of this city I love so much.”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini, said: "Vivid Sydney 2024 is diving deep into what makes us uniquely human, designed to foster connections, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Sydney Opera House to showcase this through Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House and Lighting of the Sails as part of Vivid Sydney 2024."
The Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House line-up includes:
LIGHTING OF THE SAILS
JULIA GUTMAN AND PLEASANT COMPANY, SOUNDTRACK BY ANGUS MILLS: ECHO (2024) – Australian artist and 2023 Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman's stunning patchworks will light the sails during Vivid Sydney. By digitising centuries-old fabric-making techniques, Gutman and animation technologists Pleasant Company will transform humble textiles donated to the artist by her community into an animated epic, featuring an accompanying soundtrack by composer and electronic music producer Angus Mills. Echo reaches deep into literature and art history through puppetry, music, dance and Gutman’s signature layered style. A fantasia of fabric will create a journey of wonder, self-discovery, and strength.
CONCERT HALL
ARCA (AUS exclusive) – An artist at the cutting edge of experimental pop music, Arca’s musical genius has led her to produce for major musicians (Björk, Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs), compose music for the Museum of Modern Art, which she brought to life using artificial intelligence and perform in monumental venues including La Bourse de Commerce, Paris & The Park Avenue Armory, NYC. Arca will make her long-awaited Australian debut exclusively at Vivid LIVE.
AIR PLAY MOON SAFARI (AUS exclusive) – The French cult favourites will celebrate their critically acclaimed debut album Moon Safari (1998) – an instant classic that propelled the duo to become one of the most influential electronic acts of the 2000s and beyond. Powered by hit singles “Sexy Boy” and “All I Need”, the atmospheric sounds of Moon Safari will be performed live in full for the first time in 2024.
UNDERWORLD (AUS exclusive) – UK techno legends, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, will be taking over the Concert Hall for three euphoric nights. Their influence on electronic music is unmatched, with a career spanning nearly four decades of genre-shattering tracks. Their seminal hit from the 90s, Born Slippy (Nuxx), is the cornerstone of dance music both past and present. Now, they return to Australia to continue their legacy.
FEVER RAY (AUS debut) – From the spectral synth beats of The Knife to the shapeshifting pop soundscapes of their solo work, Swedish avant-garde alchemist Karin Dreijer - aka Fever Ray - has carved a singular, uncompromising path through 21st century electronic music. Now, after two decades of wildly ambitious techno pop, the acclaimed artist is set to make their long-awaited Australian debut, performing two shows for Vivid LIVE.
DEVONTÉ HYNES: SELECTED CLASSICAL WORKS WITH THE SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (AUS exclusive) – Returning to Australia for the first time in more than a decade, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Devonté Hynes will perform a suite of his classical compositions that draw upon his genre-defying, multimedia sounds, accompanied by the might of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with UK conductor Matthew Lynch.
SNOH AALEGRA (AUS debut) – Acclaimed Sweden born Iranian singer-songwriter Snoh Aalegra will make her Australian debut in the Concert Hall. The three-time Grammy-nominated Soul-RNB artist’s voice has drawn comparisons to Stevie Wonder and Prince. - Ugh, Those Feels Again (2019) catapulted Snoh into stardom debuting as the #1 R&B album on iTunes and lead single “I Want You Around” hit #1 and marked the longest charting song in American R&B radio history.
ASTRAL PEOPLE: SPICE TRAIL feat. SID SRIRAM, PRIYA RAGU AND RAF-SAPERRA WITH MUNASIB & RAKISH – Tastemakers Astral People return with a huge night of music exploring sounds from the South Asian diaspora, featuring South Indian Carnatic, R&B and playback star Sid Sriram and the Australian debuts of Tamil R&B soulstress Priya Ragu and Bhangra beat kahuna and artist Raf-Saperra.
JOAN SUTHERLAND THEATRE
SKY FERREIRA – American enigma Sky Ferreira will return to Australia for the first time in a decade, playing her iconic tracks and teasing her highly anticipated new album. Ferreira’s debut album Night Time, My Time (2013), featuring hit single 'Everything is Embarrassing' was hailed by critics as one of the records of the year and has gone on to become a classic of millennial pop.
THELMA PLUM – Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum returns to captivate audiences with her powerful vocals and evocative storytelling. Plum's soul-stirring debut album Better in Blak (2019) soared to critical acclaim, earning seven ARIA award nominations and establishing her as one of Australia's brightest songwriters.
3NDLES5 PRESENTS: YUNG LEAN (AUS exclusive) AND JONATAN LEANDOER96 X FREDERIK VALENTIN, ECCO2K, OQBQBO & SCANDINAVIAN STAR, AYA GLOOMY – Curated by Sydney producer 3NDLESS - aka Mitch Tolman - are two nights of genre-defying rap, cutting-edge hip-hop and ambient beats from Scandinavia and beyond. Featuring Swedish rapper Yung Lean, alt rock duo Jonatan Leandoer96 and Frederik Valentin, Swedish savant Ecco2K, Copenhagen-based synth masters oqbqbo & Scandinavian Star and Japanese pop sensation Aya Gloomy.
SPUNK RECORDS 25 FINALE feat. EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, ALDOUS HARDING & THE MIDDLE EAST (AUS exclusive) – Across two special nights, beloved Australian indie label Spunk Records will celebrate the end of 25 influential years. This epic finale will feature Australian exclusive performances of Texan post-rock giants Explosions in the Sky playing The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003), spellbinding New Zealand singer-songwriter Aldous Harding and the reuniting of local indie band The Middle East.
TINARIWEN – Trailblazing pioneers of North African desert blues, Tinariwen return to the Opera House 15 years since their last performance. Established by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib in 1979, the Grammy-winning group has crafted a distinct sound that weaves the richness of their Malian/Tuareg pride and political resistance with traditional African rhythms and Western rock influences.
ELEFANT TRAKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY - THE FINALE – After 25 years of championing local talent, inspiring Australian label Elefant Traks goes out on a high with a celebration not to be missed, featuring Hermitude, The Herd, OKENYO, Horrorshow, ANESU, The Last Kinection, Urthboy, B Wise, Jimblah, Nardean, and many more.
DRAMA THEATRE
BARKAA – Malyangapa Barkindji rapper BARKAA is a force of influence in Australian hip-hop, using her music as a powerful means of self-expression and advocacy for First Nations people. BARKAA’s debut single ‘For My Tittas’ and EP BLAK MATRIARCHY earned her ARIA nominations, a National Indigenous Music Award and FBi SMAC Awards.
JLIN – Hailing from Gary, Indiana, experimental electronic artist Jlin’s - aka Jerrilynn Patton - signature sound builds on a Chicago footwork style, exploring unheard rhythms and placing her in a category of her own. Following the success of her debut album, Dark Energy (2015), Jlin's newly-announced project, Akoma, is set to reference a wide range of musical movements and techniques and boasts some heavy-hitting guest spots from Björk and Philip Glass.
KAIIT – Papua New Guinea-born ARIA award-winner Kaiit will introduce her alter-ego 'Lil Mama' to Vivid LIVE, enthralling audiences with her honeyed vocals and contemporary rhymes. The neo-soul singer has commanded the attention of soul and hip hop tastemakers and was claimed by Jill Scott and Erykah Badu as their 'musical love child from down under'.
SOUTH SUMMIT – Exploding out of Perth's indie rock scene, South Summit's unique hybrid sound of alt-reggae rock has solidified the five-piece as one of the top upcoming acts in Australia. Nominated for triple j's 2022 Unearthed Artist of the Year, the band burst into the ears of audiences with a slew of performances at Falls Festival, Groovin The Moo and Party in the Paddock.
JONTI PRESENTS: THE MOONBLADES – South African-Australian artist Jonti presents the world premiere of cinematic musical journey The Moonblades - an immersive live imagining of his upcoming album of the same name. The show will feature live and recorded contributions from many of Jonti’s collaborators in recent years, including xmunashe, Joshuah, The Dieyoungs and Genesis Owusu, plus an accompanying audio-visual experience by media arts collective, Babekühl.
UTZON ROOM
TIA GOSTELOW – Combining sophisticated songwriting and self-possessed poise, the Yuwi-based indie powerhouse will perform hot off the release of her acclaimed new record Head Noise (2023). Her 2018 certified gold debut album Thick Skin earned Gostelow the Queensland Music Award for Album of the Year and a coveted Triple J Feature Album slot.
BUMPY – Celestial-voiced Noongar artist Bumpy, hailing from Naarm, has captivated audiences with her emotive R&B and neo-soul sound, inspired by overcoming her own vulnerability and scars. Having performed to crowds at BIGSOUND, NIMAS, Vivid Sydney, NGV and Dreamtime at the MCG, Bumpy was crowned New Talent of the Year by NIMAS in 2023 along with attaining Best Soul/Rnb/Funk and Gospel work at the Music Victoria Awards.
VV PETE – The Mount Druitt-based Sundanese rapper and singer is making waves in the Australian rap scene with her unique fusion of sharp rap hooks, heavy club beats and global dance music. After taking out FBi Radio's SMAC award for Next Big Thing in 2022, her debut single Bussit (2022) earned a spin on New York’s legendary hip-hop station, Hot 97.
XMUNASHE – Botswana-born, Perth-raised artist xmunashe embodies a genre-agnostic approach to performance, blending his uniquely poetic lyricism to create singular musical experiences. Unafraid to explore new artistic horizons, the rising virtuoso's live shows thrive on improvisation, adaptability and an embrace of the unknown.
MAPLE GLIDER – Singer-songwriter Maple Glider - aka Tori Zietsch - will bring her viscerally intimate and hypnotic folk music to Vivid LIVE for a full band show. Hot off her newly-released sophomore record, I Get Into Trouble (2023), Zietsch will illuminate the room with her melodic compositions and soothing vocals, exploring delicate themes of religious trauma and survival.
TASMAN KEITH, FLEWNT & INKABEE – Tasman Keith, a proud Gumbaynggirr man, will be taking the stage for a co-headline performance with the powerful Noongar hip-hopartists Flewnt and Inkabee from Boorloo. Each of these three artists draws profound inspiration from family histories steeped in activism, crafting impactful rhymes that honour and celebrate the resilience and culture of First Nations people.
CULT SHΦTTA – Western Sydney’s power rap duo Cult Shφtta have made waves across the nation, and overseas, with their wild, outlandish viral videos, energetic stage presence and signature eccentric style. Made up of homegrown heroes, E11even and lil golo, the duo have landed performances at Splendour in The Grass, Field Day, The Plot, Snow Tunes and Hard Grime.
ZION GARCIA – Booming out of Western Sydney, multi-talented up and comer Zion Garcia has dominated the underground scene with his distinctive rap style and jazzy left field production. The young auteur has been touted as an alternative hip hop trailblazer, holding down a festival slot as 2023's NSW Listen Out competition winner, and also earning FBi Radio's SMAC award for Next Big Thing.
STUDIO PARTIES
Celebrating the best in local club culture hosted by the Opera House’s favourite club-scene innovators
MAD RACKET feat. FRED P (USA) - PLAYING AN EXCLUSIVE HYBRID LIVE/DJ SET – The Inner West’s longest-running dance institution Mad Racket – Sydney DJ collective of Ken Cloud, Simon Caldwell, Zootie and Jimmi James – is back with a very special guest, deep house legend Fred P.
ASTRAL PEOPLE feat. MALA (DMZ / DIGITAL MYSTIKS) – One of Australia’s most innovative music outfits will again deliver an unmissable studio party led by UK dubstep star Mala, one half of seminal duo Digital Mystikz, and the man behind the record label and club night, DMZ.
BARNEY KATO PRESENTS ALIEN feat. RADIOACTIVE MAN (UK), MARK N, AU4R33Y, MAGDA BYTNEROWICZ – A beloved mainstay in the Sydney electronic music scene and aficionado of futuristic dance music, Barney Kato presents his cutting-edge club night Alien, with special guests UK electro icon Radioactive Man - aka Keith Tenniswood and one half of Two Lone Swordsmen with Andrew Weatherall - playing live with support from DJs Mark N, au4r33y and Magda Bytnerowicz x Barney Kato.
HOUSE OF MINCE PRESENTS CLUB MINCE feat. HYPERAKTIVIST (MALA JUNTA / MESS) + MORE AND PAVOLVABAR FEAT. THE ILLUSTRIOUS BLACKS + MORE – Sydney's favourite queer collective returns to the dancefloor for one of Vivid LIVE's most euphoric experiences, bringing their impeccable taste and infectious energy across two nights, with special guests Hyperaktivist (Mala Junta / MESS / Berlin DE), The Illustrious Blacks and more to be announced soon.
DSTREET feat. MAD MIRAN, PIEZO, KATE MILLER B2B EMELYNE – The Stanmore-based collective rose to prominence through the COVID-friendly Douglas Street Streams Initiative, which showcased local underground talent and kept their community dancing in their living rooms. The group continues to platform Sydney’s top EDM talent.