Last year, Sydney Festival brought us Tex Perkins paying tribute to Johnny Cash inside a prison, Archie Roach revisiting his first four albums, and the now-famous Beat The Drum concert for triple j. So naturally, Sydney Festival 2016 has a lot to live up to, and now the program has been announced, it looks set to take off.
There’s a bevy of theatre, installations and comedy on the program, but we’re turning our eyes to the impressive music lineup. From percussionless punk groups to Mexican tributes to Morrissey, there really is something for everybody. Here’s our tips for five of the must-see music acts at Sydney Festival 2016.
The Flaming Lips
The Domain, Saturday January 9
It’s a live show that has been described as life-changing, and it’s coming to Sydney Festival for one night only. The kicker? It’s free.
Already on their way to Oz as part of the MOFO Festival in Hobart, The Flaming Lips are stopping in Sydney for a massive show at The Domain. For over two decades the band has been touring the world, gaining a cult following through songs such as ‘Do You Realize??’ and ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’.
Their live show usually features video projections, costumes, balloons, giant hands, and frontman Wayne Coyne crowdsurfing on the audience in an inflatable hamster ball. The band recently announced plans to perform a nude concert alongside Miley Cyrus, so there is no telling what is in store.
Reykjavik Calling: FM Belfast & Hermigervill
Riverside Theatres, Friday January 8 andMagic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Sunday January 10
Is Bjork the only Icelandic musician you know? There’s no better time to amend that when FM Belfast team up with one-man party-starter Hermigervill to present Reykjavik Calling. It’s the first time the two acts have collaborated (besides Hermigervill’s remix of ‘Underwear’), but the results will surely be intense.
Hermigervill is a must for fans of Girl Talk, and this collaboration with the art-heavy electropop of FM Belfast will be A-grade party starting material, or as Sydney Festival puts it, “A giant, glittery piñata for your ears.”
Black Coffee With Okmalumkoolkat
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Sunday January 24
The electronic sounds of a youthful South Africa will be beaming through the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent towards the end of Sydney Festival. Black Coffee is an African icon, and a leading DJ in the house music scene. Opening the show is rapper/producer Okmalumkoolkat (with Cid Rim and The Clonious), and just one listen to his latest single ‘Holy Oxygen’ proves that the man is the real deal.
Dreamland
Magic Mirros Spiegeltent, Saturday January 16
It’s an Australian supergroup: Jack Ladder, Donny Benet, Kirin J Callinan and Laurence Pike are coming together for one night to exchange songs, stories and solos.
The group came together back in early 2014 onPlaymates,an album by Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders. Callinan is now making waves around the world as one of Australia’s most engrossing guitar exports.Donny Benetmelds funk with a subversive callback to the height of disco. Laurence Pike was one half of PVT, and Jack Ladder is Jack Bloody Ladder. Four of Sydney’s most forward-thinking musicians meet to become one.
Read The BRAG’s review of Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders @ Newtown Social Club last year
Kev Carmody
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Sunday January 17
Sydney Festival’s own description captures it best: “Kev Carmody – Poet. Radical. National Treasure.”
For four decades Kev Carmody has been one of Australia’s most important singer-songwriters. Most famous for co-writing ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ with Paul Kelly, Carmody has released five albums throughout his career, all of them bringing to light indigenous issues in this nation through beautiful song. In 2009, Carmody was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Carmody will be performing songs from his new releaseRecollections…Reflections… (A Journey),a four-CD set recorded in a Queensland searing shed that features some of his finest words revisited. Before Carmody takes the stage there will be a screening ofSongman,a documentary on the man himself directed by Brendan Fletcher. It’s a night that serves as the perfect introduction, or a long overdue celebration.
These are but some of the highlights on the sprawling Sydney Festival 2016 program, taking over the city in January. For the full program and ticketing details, visit the official website.
