Category: ‘Flagship’ Sydney Spectaculars

Spotlight: ‘Vivid Sydney’ Celebrates The Grit & Glitter Of Kings Cross

Masses of music, cult films, mysteries & tales from the underbelly

Buckle up & get ready to paint the town red when Kings Cross is celebrated as a pulsating centre of performance art, immersive theatre, avant-cabaret, music, cult films & nostalgic talking heads as part of Vivid Sydney 2017.

Vivid Sydney Creative Director, Ignatius Jones, said: “For the 1st time, Kings Cross will be an exciting precinct that includes all Vivid Sydney pillars of light, music & ideas called Vivid KX. It is a wonderful mix of genres, theatre, performance, story-telling and light art & it celebrates exactly what makes Kings Cross so special – diversity, creativity, equality & community”

Vivid KX will explore the bohemian underworlds that gave ‘The Cross’ its unique DNA through a genre-bending performance program; pop-up cinema screening the strangest, craziest & best in Australian film & raw and riveting talks of the days of the ‘Golden Mile’.

For the 1st time at Kings Cross, the Coca-Cola billboard will come alive to celebrate the talent, colour, creativity & diversity of Kings Cross. Shot by portrait photographer Katherine Williams, the Characters Of Kings Cross series will feature moving black & white portraits of the individuals that make Kings Cross so special. The projected images will feature on the left-hand side of the sign & will include familiar faces such as Kylie Kwong along with other Kings Cross locals.

The famous Coca-Cola light-emitting diode billboard will for the 1st time in 40 years transform into a continuous light show of vibrant colours & special effects for the entire 23 nights of Vivid Sydney.

Other Vivid KX program highlights include:

  • Welcome To Kings Cross: A dancefloor-driven adventure through diverse genres, eras, movements & vibrant late-night culture in a full-venue experience over 6 floors featuring dozens of disc jockeys (DJs) & one-off performances.
    When: 27th of May
    Where: Kings Cross Hotel
  • Cult Sinema Australiana: Discover the stories behind the stories when Sydney’s cultural underground legends Jay Katz & Miss Death present a subversive program of infamous, legendary & rarely seen cinematic gems in a pop-up cinema including insights & rare commentary from geniuses who created the weird, ultra-camp & high-art masterpieces.
    When: 1st to the 17th of June
    Where: Kings Cross Hotel
  • Murder On The Dancefloor: Who dunnit? Go on a murder mystery tour with this theatrical cocktail-culinary experience. There will be grisly projections & music curated by Australia’s 1st lady of house music, DJ Kate Monroe & a menu of fabulous food and creepy cocktails designed to match the murderous action.
    When: 16th of June
    Where: Crane Bar, Darlinghurst
  • Only Heaven Knows: This beloved musical set in bohemian Kings Cross in the 1940’s & 50’s tells of a young gay man’s discovery of love & life, which, in the heady freedom of the post-war day, is rudely interrupted with the cold winds of intolerance.
    When: 26th of May to the 17th of June
    Where: Hayes Theatre, Potts Point
  • Basement Parties: A daring program of 9 unique, immersive parties in Kings Cross Hotel’s intimate Dive Bar. Bands, DJs, dancers, singers & performers will celebrate something different each night – from glam rock to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
    When: 1st to the 17th of June
    Where: Kings Cross Hotel
  • Hidden Sydney – The Glittering Mile: A wonderfully witty, exceptionally exhilarating cabaret set in a former brothel dedicated to the cast of colourful characters who made the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s the ‘Golden Age Of The Cross’ from standover men, crims & crooks to poets, drag queens, witches & eccentric entertainers.
    When: 26th of May to the 17th of June
    Where: The World Bar
  • Kings Bloody Cross: Discover the grit behind the glitz in these fascinating ‘in conversation’ events. Hear from real-life luminaries, artists, idealists and opportunists who made Kings Cross what it was & lived to tell their tales from the heady days of rock ’n’ roll, free love & corruption to sex, greed & politics.
    When: 27th to the 28th of May, 3rd to the 4th of June, 10th to the 11th of June
    Where: The World Bar & The Wayside Chapel

Now in its 9th year, Vivid Sydney is a major celebration of the creative industries & is owned, managed and produced by Destination New South Wales (NSW), the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency. Vivid Sydney will run from the 26th of May to the 17th of June 2017.

For more details & to book tickets, visit https://www.vividsydney.com/precinct/kings-cross. Coca-Cola is a proud Vivid Precinct Contributor for the Vivid KX program.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Media Visionary Jonah Peretti To Speak At ‘Vivid Sydney’

BuzzFeed Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jonah Peretti, will make his 1st Australian appearance at this year’s Vivid Sydney festival where he will speak at the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talks Series.

For his Vivid Ideas discussion at City Recital Hall on Sunday the 28th of May, Peretti will share his thoughts on the evolution of the media industry as well as insights into creative endeavour in the digital age.

The digital mastermind has spent his career ignoring traditional notions of media. Instead, Peretti has focused on how audiences seek, share & engage with content. This approach has earned him the label ‘the web’s king of viral content’ according to Business Insider.

Destination New South Wales CEO & Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase, said “A pioneer in his field, Jonah Peretti has played a key role in shaping digital publishing globally & he will now share his insights and vision for the future at Vivid Ideas. This is a remarkable opportunity to hear from a global thought leader & we are proud to welcome Jonah Peretti to this year’s dynamic Vivid Sydney program”

On speaking in Australia for the 1st time at Vivid Ideas, Jonah Peretti said “I am thrilled to be coming to Sydney to participate in Vivid. Australia has been a major focus & priority for BuzzFeed since we launched our local edition in 2014 & I am excited to be part of an event so focused on the exchange of creative ideas plus I have avo toast for breakfast almost every day & I cannot wait to try the original!”

Before launching BuzzFeed, Peretti co-founded The Huffington Post along with Arianna Huffington & Kenneth Lerer. He started BuzzFeed in 2006 as an experimental lab focusing on tracking viral content & making things people wanted to share. Under Peretti’s leadership, BuzzFeed has been named Fast Company’s #1 Most Innovative Company with 18 offices, 11 international editions & content that gets an average of 7 billion views each month.

The media visionary places an emphasis on audiences not only consuming content but sharing it as well. Peretti says the BuzzFeed audience prefers & expects content that works across platforms, is relevant to them, easily shareable & globally accessible.

Peretti will join Academy Award-winning director, Oliver Stone & iconic American artist Shepard Fairey in the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talks Series. With just 5 weeks to go until Vivid Ideas, tickets are already selling fast for highlight events.

The 2017 Vivid Ideas program is the largest ever featuring more than 200 events & hundreds of speakers from across the globe. Vivid Ideas will continue to challenge, inspire & explore the changing face of the creative industries. A forum for creatives to collaborate, foster business connections & showcase new ideas, Vivid Ideas runs 23 nights from the 26th of May to the 17th of June 2017.

Jonah Peretti will speak as part of the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talk Series on Sunday the 28th of May at 1:30pm at City Recital Hall. Tickets are on sale now & available at vividsydney.com/ideas.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

‘Vivid Music’ Amps Up Extensive Line Up To Reveal Biggest Program Ever

More than 400 events have been revealed as part of Vivid Sydney’s biggest-ever Vivid Music program including the announcement of a 2nd show from global pop icon, Boy George.

After selling out his 1st show, Boy George will perform a 2nd intimate disc jockey (DJ) set on the rooftop of Café del Mar on Saturday the 17th of June against a fabulous backdrop of pyrotechnics & lights at Darling Harbour. Tickets will go on sale 12pm AEST tomorrow, the 20th of April, at www.ticketbooth.com.au.

Vivid Music Curator, Stephen Ferris, said “Vivid Music showcases international acts like Boy George & celebrates the diversity and creativity of the local Sydney music scene. Established & emerging artists will perform across a variety of Sydney music venues including The Factory Theatre, Leadbelly Newtown, 107 Presents, Oxford Art Factory & many more as part of the X|CELERATE program in partnership with the City Of Sydney, expanding the Vivid Sydney footprint from the Harbour around the central business district (CBD) into Sydney’s creative Inner West”

Dustin Tebutt will join homegrown singer-songwriter, Lisa Mitchell, at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville on Saturday the 10th of June. The pair will weave their songs together as part of their collaborative Distant Call tour, performing each other’s popular hits & new music.

Exclusive to Vivid Music 2017, Heaps High, a new club night by Heaps Gay will be held at Sydney Tower Eye on Saturday the 17th of June & will feature Australian indie pop star, Brendan McLean. The Sydney Tower Eye will also be home to an intimate show by electro-pop sensations, Elizabeth Rose & Touch Sensitive on the 2nd of June.

Music lovers will also get to experience culinary delights with Cake Wines’ Pie In The Sky rooftop music series on the 3rd of June 2017. Held on 3 different CBD rooftops, chefs from Three Blue Ducks, Thievery & Superior Burger will create bespoke menus to be served with matched Cake Wines & paired with a range of music performances from eclectic house to disco beats. The location of the 3 rooftops will be revealed closer to the date.

Music fans will be treated to a performance by American jazz-legends The Donny McCaslin Group at The Basement on the 31st of May. McCaslin collaborated with David Bowie on his last album, Blackstar.

Vivid Music will also feature a series of musical showcases including Women In Electronic Music Showcase II at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday the 17th of June, hosted by Triple J’s Linda Marigliano, and a showcase by independent record-label Personal Best on the 27th of May at Freda’s, where dream-pop ensemble, Moody Beach & Sydney space-funk duo, The Goods, will feature.

New Zealand’s answer to 90s femme-pop, Bic Runga, will also be making an appearance this year at the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music for 1 night only on Sunday the 11th of June. Tickets are available here.

Some Other Events To Diary Note

Reggae, ska, dub & afro-beat originals and classics from The Skatalites to Fela Kuti! A musical experience powerfully explosive & authentic with 3 acclaimed albums already under their belt.

Think Blades of Glory figure skating whilst listening to an incredible live DJ set on your very own pair of headphones.

Every Thursday night during Vivid Sydney, Harpoon Harrys will present Thursday Night Live — a night of emerging & established live electronic acts with supporting DJs. On the 1st of June, The Ladies Network will add their femme touch to the program.

    • Cabaret performer, Jeff Duff | 3rd – 4th of June 2017 at Leadbelly Newtown

Wild & permissive London in the late 1970’s! Many who experienced that madness are no longer here to recall the excitement & the excesses – but Sydney’s Jeff Duff has survived to tell the tale & sing the songs!

The Crooked Fiddle Band‘s live shows blister with an intense energy that is driven by their distinctive sound. The Crooked Fiddle Band mix blasts of fiery folk with the intense atmosphere & detail of post and prog-rock, resulting in a multi-layered, complex & ecstatic hybrid they call ‘chainsaw folk’.

Sydney-based electronic duo Cosmos Midnight are at the forefront of their genre cultivating their own twist on electronica.

    • Rock ‘n’ roll stars, The Radiators |10th of June 2017 at Leadbelly Newtown

Deputing in Sydney in September 1978, The Radiators have survived the road to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. This Australian household name is set to rock & dance the night away.

    • Up & coming indie musician, Jack Colwell | 17th of June 2017 at the Golden Age Cinema & Bar

Jack Colwell’s distinctive croon & hefty songwriting chops have garnered him significant praise within Australia with a sound attributed to 90’s alt-rock influences, distinctive piano inflections & confessional lyrics.

Now in its 9th year, Vivid Sydney is a major celebration of the creative industries & is owned, managed and produced by Destination New South Wales (NSW), the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency.

For more details & to book tickets, visit vividsydney.com.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Oliver Stone Joins Vivid Sydney Line-Up

Academy Award-winning director, Oliver Stone, will appear exclusively in Australia at Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas. The acclaimed storyteller will speak at the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talks Series as well as at global creative forum, Semi Permanent.

Oliver Stone has written & directed more than 20 full-length feature films, earning him a well respected place in cinematic history. He is lauded for some of the most influential films of the last 4 decades including Scarface, Midnight Express, Platoon, Wall Street, Natural Born Killers, JFK, Nixon & The Doors.

Stone is a master at tackling controversial subjects. His films are grand in scale & his hard-hitting style takes a realistic and truthful look at the world which often polarises audiences.

Destination New South Wales (NSW) Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase, said “At the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talks Series, Oliver Stone will speak ‘In Conversation With Margaret Pomeranz’, providing rare, behind-the-scenes insights into the creative workings of this cutting-edge cultural icon at the height of his industry”

“Vivid Sydney consistently presents & showcases the world’s leading cultural innovators & Oliver Stone’s involvement in this year’s program is a further testament to the global creative talent Vivid draws to Sydney” she said.

Semi Permanent founder & director, Murray Bell, said “Semi Permanent is excited to welcome iconic filmmaker & storyteller, Oliver Stone, to our extraordinary line up for 2017 in Sydney. The Academy Award-winning writer & director is one of the most prolific of our time, making films that profoundly capture pivotal moments in our recent history – a lifetime spent creating entertaining & provocative works. Oliver will be speaking in conversation with us on the power of film to create change & challenge perceptions at Carriageworks in May”

At Vivid Ideas, Stone will share his philosophy on telling difficult stories, navigating controversy & resistance. He will address how his approach to the interplay between writer, storyteller & director has cemented his position among the legends of Hollywood. Joining Stone on stage will be Foxtel presenter & movie critic on Foxtel Arts’ Stage & Screen, Margaret Pomeranz, Order Of Australia Member (AM). The Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talk will be held on Sunday the 28th of May, 5pm-6:30pm AEST at City Recital Hall. Tickets are on sale now at: vividsydney.com/ideas.

On interviewing Oliver Stone, Margaret Pomeranz AM, said “Interviewing Oliver Stone? One of the most significant filmmakers of the past 40 years to trawl through our political & cultural history! It is intimidating, exciting & absolutely unmissable. If I were not on the stage with him, I would be in the audience”

For Semi Permanent 2017, Stone will be speaking ‘in conversation’ on the power of film to create change & challenge perceptions. Stone is in conversation live at Semi Permanent on Friday the 26th of May at Carriageworks. For details, visit: www.semipermanent.com.

Stone will join iconic American artist Shepard Fairey in the Vivid Ideas Game-Changer Talks Series. With just 2 months to go until Vivid Ideas, tickets are already selling fast for highlight events. The 2017 Vivid Ideas program is the largest ever, featuring more than 200 events & hundreds of speakers from across the globe. Vivid Ideas will continue to challenge, inspire & explore the changing face of the creative industries. A forum for creatives to collaborate, foster business connections & showcase new ideas, the Vivid Ideas program runs 23 nights from the 26th of May to the 17th of June 2017.

‘Boy George’ Returns To Sydney With Exclusive DJ Set For ‘Vivid Music’

International pop icon Boy George will perform an one-off, intimate disc jockey (DJ) set as part of Vivid Music on the rooftop of Darling Harbour’s Café del Mar on Sunday the 11th of June.

Now in its 9th year, Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas & features more than 250 music events. Boy George will perform his DJ set exclusively for Vivid Music with tickets on sale today at Ticketbooth, here.

Vivid Music curator, Stephen Ferris, said “We are excited to have Boy George, a superstar of such high calibre, returning to Vivid Music for an incredible night of music & dancing overlooking Sydney’s iconic waterfront”

“This event was a sell out in 2016 & fans will need to get in quick to secure their chance to see Boy George spin the decks with his unique style of house music at this one-off, exclusive event”

Boy George said “Sydney is like a 2nd home to me. I cannot wait to return & spin some of my favourite tracks at Café del Mar with the spectacular lights & pyrotechnics of Vivid Sydney shining behind me”

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed & produced by Destination New South Wales, the State Government’s tourism & major events agency. In 2016, it attracted 2.31 million visitors & delivered more than AUD$110 million in visitor expenditure to the local economy.

Event Details:
What: Café del Mar Sydney & Rodd Richards Presents, in conjunction with Vivid Sydney, present, Vivid Sydney Rooftop Party With Boy George.
When: Sunday the 11th of June 12pm – 10pm AEST
Where: Café del Mar, Darling Harbour
Support: Kate Monroe, Beth Yen, Mark Dynamix, Rodd Riches featuring Arrnott Olssen, Binary Live & Charlie & Jo
Tickets: On sale 12pm, 4th of April 2017 at www.ticketbooth.com.au.

Attendees can choose between General Admission, Vivid Dining Packages or get the entire Very Important Person Experience.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney 2017: Bigger, Bolder, Brighter

New precinct at Barangaroo
Expanded Royal Botanic Gardens footprint
Goldfrapp, AIR & Nick Murphy for Vivid Music
United States contemporary artist, Shepard Fairey headlines Vivid Ideas

The world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas, Vivid Sydney returns bigger, bolder & brighter in 2017 with a new precinct at Barangaroo, an expanded Light Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens & imaginary creatures that will transform the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Over 23 nights from Friday the 26th of May to Saturday the 17th of June, Vivid Light will transform the cityscape into a creative canvas, take over Sydney stages with Vivid Music’s biggest program to date & provide a global forum for creative conversations at Vivid Ideas.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed & produced by the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s tourism & major events agency, Destination NSW.

Vivid Light

For the 1st time, Vivid Sydney’s vibrant kaleidoscope will stream into a new precinct at Barangaroo with a trail of installations winding through intimate laneways, past waterfront vistas & into a foodie paradise. Visitors will be immersed in A Day In The Light, an outdoor theatre of light and sound that lets them become part of the artwork & treated to optical illusions at Trapdoor, which tells the stories of Barangaroo’s past.

The festival’s bright lights will return to the Royal Botanic Gardens with an expanded trail that will take visitors through the heart of the beautiful harbourside oasis. Here, Birds Of Lumos, inspired by the rare rowi species of the New Zealand kiwi, will come to life as they glow & pulse with colour. The nostalgic Dipping Birds, giant 2.5 metre illuminated sculptures, will change colour as they dip back and forth into a pond & quirky installation You Lookin’ At Me? will turn heads as big glaring eyes follow passers-by. A pop-up landmark celebrating our Harbour city, Sydneyland, will provide a beautiful & iconic photo backdrop for visitors & locals.

At the heart of the Vivid Light Walk, the sails of the World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House will be bought to life by a series of imaginary creatures curated & designed by acclaimed cinematographer, editor & graphic designer, Ash Bolland. Audio Creatures will show creatures interacting with the environment, morphing & moving between each other across the iconic sails.

The city’s icons will once again be transformed including the façade of the Museum Of Contemporary Art with Organic Vibrations, a collaboration between Australian artist Julia Gorman & the Paris-based creative and artistic collective, Danny Rose. Interactive lighting display Dreamscape will let visitors put their own colourful mark on the city’s skyline from Circular Quay along the Cahill Expressway to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase, said “In 2016, a record-breaking 2.31 million visitors came to Vivid Sydney, which is testament to the festival’s impressive line-up, continued innovation & growth over the past 9 years”

“Vivid Sydney in 2017 will impress with a robust program across Vivid Light, Music & Ideas so now is the time for visitors to start planning their trip so they can be inspired visually, creatively & musically at Vivid Sydney”

Popular precincts, Chatswood, Taronga Zoo, Martin Place & Darling Harbour will return in 2017.

The buildings, shopping malls, streets & laneways of Chatswood’s central business district (CBD) will be reinvented as a retrofuturistic smart city called Future City, Smart City with ingenious installations & light sculptures inspired by the ‘steampunk’ design aesthetic of 19th century steam-powered machinery.

Lights For The Wild at Taronga Zoo will return featuring giant animal light sculptures that wowed visitors when they made their debut last year. A few new characters & surprises will join the 2016 favourites including a swarm of buzzing bees & a giant interactive Port Jackson shark.

Martin Place will be home to Sydney’s most popular food & beverage purveyors alongside grand, interactive light installations. Highlights include a new version of the multi-award winning 3 dimension-mapped projection Urban Tree 2.0 & Deep Forest, an urban jungle for feasting featuring an open flame fire-pit with barbeque treats from Porteño & some of NSW’s best fire chefs.

28 tonnes of water will be thrown into the air every minute whilst lasers, flame jets, music & fireworks combine in a celebration of the power of creativity & innovation at Darling Harbour. Magicians Of The Mist water theatre will be a spectacular display of technology & art defining the digital era.

Vivid Music

The beat of the Vivid Music program is stronger than ever with over 250 events in this year’s line-up. Highlights include an Australian exclusive performance by electronic pop duo Goldfrapp and the return of Curve Ball: a large-scale live music & art event created by Fuzzy Music, both at Carriageworks.

Popular Vivid Music events return including Heaps Gay, Soul Of Sydney, Purple Sneakers & The Argyle’s Tokyo Disco.

Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House will deliver an eclectic suite of not-to-be-missed performances from influential American folk-rock band, Fleet Foxes, French electronic superheroes, AIR, British singer & songwriter, Laura Marling, & producer and bonafide hit-maker, Australia’s Nick Murphy.

City Recital Hall breaks from its’ classical roots with an incredible program – Metamorphosis – serving up everything from jazz & dance anthems to multisensory masterpieces. Sydney-based indie rock band, Dappled Cities, will launch their new album IIIII (pronounced 5), Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, Dianne Reeves, will take to the stage in a special one-off performance & Paul Mac will host a Sound Bubble Sound Party.

In a Vivid Music first, Vivid Sydney has partnered with the City Of Sydney to deliver a program across a multitude of city venues. Showcasing grassroots & emerging local music talent, highlights will include a new roof-top festival from Cake Wines, Pie In The Sky & a showcase of Women In Electronic Music at Oxford Art Factory.

Kings Cross returns with an exciting line-up of performance music, art, ‘Avant Cabaret’ & cutting-edge, independent and immersive theatre with a bohemian flavour, part of the Vivid KX program.

Vivid Ideas

The Vivid Ideas program will continue to challenge & inspire with more than 200 events exploring the changing face of the creative industries. Iconic American artist Shepard Fairey, who blurs the boundaries of art & design, headlines the Vivid Ideas line-up. His body of work includes his Barack Obama HOPE campaign, the OBEY GIANT art project & this year’s ubiquitous We The People initiative.

In a Vivid Sydney exclusive, Fairey will share his do-it-yourself approach, career highlights & how he managed to turn his creativity into an authentic voice about street culture. He will also create a large scale public mural live on a wall in Sydney’s CBD & some of his most famous works to date will be part of a pop-up exhibition at the Darling Quarter.

Throughout the city, a series of conferences will connect start-ups, emerging talent, practitioners & entrepreneurs with world-class creators & thought-leaders. Highlights include The Sunrise, which connects start-ups with successful founders; Semi Permanent, returning with a series of interactive, immersive experiences featuring leaders from Getty Images, NIKE, Google and more & family-favourite, Robowars, where some of the country’s best engineers & robotic experts put their self-built robots to battle.

The Vivid Ideas Exchange at the Museum Of Contemporary Art also boasts a diverse line-up of talks presented by creative practitioners covering topics from fashion to place-making, storytelling, ageism, marketing pitching, health, innovation, big data & mixed reality.

Vivid Sydney Sponsors

Vivid Sydney thanks its sponsors for their support of the festival in 2017 including partners, Huawei, Ford and American Express & supporters, Allianz, Canon, City Of Sydney, NSW Department Of Industry, Google, Oracle Liquid, Property NSW, Sensis, Sydney Airport, Sydney Opera House, Technical And Further Education NSW, Technical Direction Company & 32 Hundred Lighting. Vivid Sydney’s access & inclusion partner is Cushman And Wakefield & the festival continues its sustainability partnership with the Banksia Foundation.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

‘Vivid LIVE’ 1st Artist Announced: ‘Fleet Foxes’ *Ballot For Tickets*

4 NIGHTS, SYDNEY ONLY, EXCLUSIVE TO VIVID SYDNEY

“’Fleet Foxes’ have not just expanded & enhanced their sound, they have found a way to remain lasting” – Consequence Of Sound

Folk-rock masters Fleet Foxes will première new material from their highly anticipated 3rd album exclusively for Australian audiences at the Sydney Opera House when they make their long-awaited returned for Vivid LIVE in May this year as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas.

5 years since their last, life affirming shows, the band have chosen Vivid LIVE for their return to the stage, performing over 4 nights in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Due to the expected high demand, tickets will be allocated by ballot (details below).

Fleet Foxes Vivid LIVE performances are exclusive to Vivid Sydney & their only Australian shows for 2017 following sold-out ballots for Morrissey (2015) and Kraftwerk‘s 3rd Dimension Catalogue retrospective (2013) as well as ANOHNI’s immersive & sense-shifting performance Hopelessness (2016).

The 5-piece ensemble rose to prominence in the vanguard of a new wave of folk music in the 2000’s, alongside fellow Sydney Opera House alumni including Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, Bon Iver, Bill Callahan & The Decemberists.

The band returns to Sydney Opera House with a refreshed line-up featuring Robin Pecknold (vocals, guitar), Skyler Skjelset (guitar), Christian Wargo (bass), Morgan Henderson (multiple instruments) & Casey Wescott (piano). In addition to the core-band, their Vivid LIVE performances will feature additional players including Matthew Barrick (drums).

Fleet Foxes début self-titled album, released in 2008, was billed in Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums of the 2000’s while White Winter Hymnal also made Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Songs of the 2000’s. In December the same year, the Sun Giant extended play & their self-titled long play together shared the title of Pitchforks #1 album(s) of 2008.

Their 2nd full-length album, Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop/Inertia) was released in 2011 to critical acclaim &propelled them to Number 6 in the Australian national charts (Number 2 in the United Kingdom & Number 4 in the Untied States (US)) confirming their status as a true crossover success story.

Almost a decade after leading the new-folk revolution, Fleet Foxes will bring their fevered dynamism and signature harmonies to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage & demonstrate once more why they are indeed a band for the ages.

Robin Pecknold said “We are unbelievably excited to perform songs from our new album & to revisit songs from across our catalogue at the Sydney Opera House in May. In this time, when all action towards unity is vital, our means of engendering union is through music, collective communal performance, on any stage that will have us & there is no better stage in the world than the Sydney Opera House. We really hope to see you there”

With the new album expected very soon, Robin Pecknold has created a playlist of artists & songs that inspired Fleet Foxes whilst writing the forthcoming new album.

Destination New South Wales (NSW) Chief Executive Officer & Vivid Sydney Executive Producer, Sandra Chipchase, said “’Vivid Sydney’ continues to attract the world’s best musicians to our city each year. The calibre of artists performing at the festival is testament to its success. I encourage all music fans to plan their trip to Sydney to see internationally acclaimed US band ‘Fleet Foxes’ when they première their new material at these 4 exclusive Sydney shows”

Vivid LIVE, now in its 9th year, will be the 3rd curated by Ben Marshall, the Sydney Opera House’s Head Of Contemporary Music. For Vivid LIVE, Marshall has programmed iconic artists & projects such as ANOHNI, Bon Iver ‘Cercle’, New Order + the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Max Richter ‘Sleep’, Kraftwerk, Lauryn Hill, Sufjan Stevens & Morrissey. Ben’s year-round contemporary music program features Underworld, Kasabian, Andrew Bird, James Vincent McMorrow, Billy Bragg & Joe Henry, The Lumineers & Mary J. Blige. The stages of the World Heritage-listed building have also held Brian Wilson, D’Angelo, The National, Florence + The Machine, Tame Impala & Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

Ben Marshall, Curator Of Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House, said “It is a big moment for us to welcome back ‘Fleet Foxes’ to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage for ‘Vivid LIVE’. Having ended their ‘Helplessness Blues’ tour here 5 years ago, over 3 unforgettable sold-out nights, they have chosen to première their new, fiercely anticipated 3rd album on the very same stage. Like past key ‘Vivid LIVE’ artists ‘Bon Iver’ & Sufjan Stevens, ‘Fleet Foxes’ are taking a 4-night ‘Vivid LIVE’ residency & bringing something special to Sydney for their only Australian performances for 2017. A dramatic & powerful live proposition, Robin Pecknold’s spectral tenor & euphoric, melancholy melodies are something to behold in the Concert Hall & this act’s blazing ambition and restlessness will be on grand display in one of this year’s absolute musical highlights”

The full program for Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House will be announced at the Vivid Sydney program launch this month: vividsydney.com/sydneyoperahouse.com/vividLIVE.

SEASON DETAILS

  • WHAT: Fleet Foxes
  • WHEN: Friday May 26th – Monday the 29th of May 2017
  • WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
  • TICKETS: Premium – AUD$119, A Reserve – AUD$109, B Reserve – AUD$89

IMPORTANT TICKETING INFORMATION

An application process has been implemented for Fleet Foxes’ only Australian shows at Vivid LIVE in anticipation of high demand & to ensure everyone has an equal chance to make applications over a 5-day period. This will minimise website congestion & distribute tickets to fans across time zones, states & countries. Successful applicants will be notified via e-mail with a link to purchase tickets between 10am – 4pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)) Friday the 10th of March. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive a link to purchase however will be automatically added to a waitlist in the event of a later release of tickets.

Tickets can be applied for anytime between Wednesday the 1st of March 2017 (6:00am AEDT) & Sunday the 5th of March 2017 (11:59pm AEDT). Successful applicants will be chosen at random from within the allocations designated for visitors & locals. To apply, go to http://sydneyoperahouse.com/vividlive.

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON.

Vivid LIVE

From the 26th of May to the 17th of June, the Sydney Opera House will welcome some of the most ambitious & innovative local & international artists for Vivid LIVE – a celebration of music on the nation’s most famous stages – as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas.

Vivid LIVE celebrates iconic artists in contemporary music with newly commissioned works, world première performances & Sydney only appearances from musical greats within Australia & around the world.

Vivid LIVE invites the world’s leading artists, creative collectives, promoters & digital animators to raise the roof of Sydney Opera House‘s theatres, rehearsal spaces, recording studios & most famously, its’ iconic sails, which are transformed into a unique canvas each year for Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music & ideas, which for 23 days – from the 26th of May to the 17th of June 2017 – transforms the ‘Harbour City’ with its colourful creative canvas. In 2016, Vivid Sydney attracted a record 2.31 million attendees.

Now in its 9th year, Vivid Sydney is owned, managed & produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism & major events agency. Vivid Sydney features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light); music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE At The Sydney Opera House) & creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.vividsydney.com.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney

‘Australia Day In Sydney’: 2017 Wrap-Up & Race Results

Free entertainment, cultural performances & Harbour races enticed crowds today as Sydney put on a variety of activities.

The Australia Day In Sydney 2017 program paid tribute across Sydney to the country’s traditional land owners & the many cultures that make up the nation, beginning the day with the WugulOra Indigenous Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo & the raising of the Aboriginal and Australian flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The annual Ferrython again made a splash with Sydney’s First Fleet ferries decorated & raced towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Close by, audiences were treated to the Tall Ships Race, a Tug & Yacht Ballet, a Regatta & Harbour Parade as well as an aerial program including a parachute display by the Australian Army’s Red Berets.

The Salute To Australia, conducted by the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy & the Royal Australian Air Force, stopped spectators in their tracks, culminating at noon with the singing of the national anthem by much-loved artist, Tina Arena.

The Rocks played host to crowds cheering for some of the best wheelchair competitors around the globe in the 28th #OzDay10K Wheelchair Race.

Thousands of Australia Day revellers & children enjoyed the entertainment on offer at the Children’s Festival at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour with a free public concert by music group, The Wiggles.

Australia Day 2017 plans finished with a bang, with an exhilarating symphony of fireworks in the Australia Day Spectacular at Darling Harbour while across the harbour at Circular Quay, more than 5000 revellers flocked to the free public concert Australia Day 2017 – Live At Sydney Opera House featuring Tina Arena, Guy Sebastian, Human Nature, Dami Im, The Wiggles & more. Jump onto TenPlay before the 26th of February 2017 to watch the concert & sing along to all the best moments.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2017 – EVENT RESULTS

OZ DAY 10 KILOMETRE WHEELCHAIR RACE

Men’s Open

  • 1st – Kurt Fearnley, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, 19.36
  • 2nd – Sho Watanabe, Japan, 20.34
  • 3rd – Jake Lappin, Australia, 20.56

Women’s Open

  • 1st – Madison De Rozario, NSW, Australia, 23.03
  • 2nd – Jemima Moore, Australia, 23.11
  • 3rd – Christie Dawes, Australia, 23.12

Masters

  • 1st – Kota Hokinoue, Japan, 20.57
  • 2nd – Jun Hiromichi, Japan, 21.47
  • 3rd – Sukman Hong, South Korea, 22.50

Juniors

  • 1st – Sam Rizzo, Australia, 23.11
  • 2nd –Brad Temberton, Australia, 25.50
  • 3rd – Gregory Luff, Australia, 29.20

SYDNEY FESTIVAL FERRYTHON

  • The Fred Hollows Foundation

TALL SHIPS RACE

  • James Craig

HARBOUR PARADE – BEST DRESSED VESSEL

  • 1st Place – Buccaneer
  • 2nd Place – Norsman
  • 3rd Place – Polpete

Media Release: Australia Day In Sydney

Australian Radio Network Announces Partnership With The City Of Sydney

AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK (ARN) ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE 3-YEAR MEDIA PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SYDNEY

ARN today announces a new partnership with the City Of Sydney, kicking off a huge year of events, celebrations & experiences that celebrate the best of Sydney.

As the exclusive frequency modulation (FM) commercial radio partner, ARN’s KIIS 106.5 FM, Western Suburbs (WS) 101.7 FM & The Edge 96.1 FM/Digital Radio Station will play key roles in supporting major events on Sydney’s calendar including the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival, Sydney Christmas & Sydney’s première global event, Sydney New Year’s Eve, which will be presented exclusively with KIIS 106.5 FM.

It all starts with Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival from January the 27th with a 2 week celebration for the Lunar New Year & the Year Of The Rooster.

Over the past 20 years, the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia & 2017 will be no exception.

The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival program is packed with a diverse range of events. ARN activations will include KIIS 106.5 FM Lucky Lunar Lanterns while WS 101.7 FM’s Jonesy & Amanda (Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones & Amanda Keller) will be hitting the water as part of the celebrity Dragon Boat Racing event & taking the stage to sing one of their karaoke favourites at Massaoke.

ARN Chief Executive Officer, Tony Kendall, said “ARN are extremely proud to be partnering with the City Of Sydney & contributing to a calendar of great events across the year. KIIS 106.5 FM, WS 101.7 FM & The Edge 96.1 FM/Digital Radio Station are made for Sydney – we love the city’s diversity, spirit of adventure & culture”

“The program of events is the epitome of ‘So Sydney’ & the energy that is our #1 station, KIIS 106.5 FM, in particular. From the vibrant celebrations of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival and of course, Sydney Christmas & Sydney New Year’s Eve, ARN is excited to partner with the City to create memorable experiences for the whole of Sydney & its community”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the partnership with ARN would open up more opportunities to promote some of Australia’s biggest events: “We are delighted to join with ARN for the next 3 years. This partnership will capitalise on ARN’s capacity to reach large audiences across the nation through their top-rating programs to promote our fantastic city & brilliant events”

ARN will also play a part in helping Sydney transform into a magical summer playground during the festive season with Christmas & New Year activations & experiences including KIIS 106.5 FM broadcasting live on New Year’s Eve making sure listeners don’t miss a minute of the action of Sydney’s ultimate celebration of the city.

For more details on the City Of Sydney, their events & programs, go to cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Media Release: Australian Radio Network

Chinese New Year To Feature Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Projections For The 1st Time

This year’s Sydney Chinese New Year Festival will add pylon projections to the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the 1st time in the event’s history while there is also the possibility that Australia Day will have similar treatment but also with the Sydney Opera House!

For the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival, the pylon projections will, other than the colour red, feature the Festival’s branding images such as an artist-inspired festival logo & an image of a rooster symbolising the Lunar New Year Of The Rooster.

In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolises good fortune & joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New Year & other holidays and family gatherings.

The Sydney Opera House in recent years has also been lit up red while last year, the Sydney Harbour Bridge featured red light-emitting diode lighting (similar to Vivid Sydney’s Dress Circle) for the 1st time along it’s catwalk & arches during the event.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections would form part of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival’s Painting The Town Red.

Also, the City Of Sydney is in talks with the New South Wales Government’s Department Of Premier & Cabinet to light up the Sydney Opera House & the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons in the national colours of green & gold for Australia Day. Their inclusion is not confirmed at this stage.

Australia Day is on the 26th of January 2017 while the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival runs from the 27th of January to the 12th of February 2017 with the Painting The Town Red part of the latter event running until the 29th of January 2017 inclusive.

Sydney Spectaculars will be publishing it’s Season 2017 guide in the next week.

Sources: