PEDESTRIAN.TV has partnered with Destination NSW to make sure you squeeze Vivid Music for all it’s worth. Keep reading to get clued-in on the less ~mainstream~ events you 110% needa see, before scouting EVEN MORE ace acts by heading HERE.
As Madonna once sung:
“Musiccccc. Makes the peopleeeeee. Come togetherrrrrr. YeahHhhHhhHh.”
She’s not wrong, but just like wearing Ugg Boots in public and using a Sidekick, her time is arguably over. Why? Well, us sensible millennials are gravitating towards more authentic artists with new sounds and approaches to music’s production.
Don’t get us wrong, we’ll thrash ‘Vogue’ and ‘Like A Prayer’ until the cows come home – but when something as downright epic as Vivid Music comes along, we know it’s time to hang up our disco pants and go get familiar with emerging, lesser-known artists who we are undoubtedly about to add to our daily banger rotation.
In light of that, we’ve compiled a list of Vivid Music‘s events and acts that are getting us more excited than Yeezy gets when he’s asked to comment on his talent. We reckon y’all will probably share our enthusiasm.
1. IGNITE: SYMPHONIC DANCE ANTHEMS
City Recital Hall
01 Jun – 02 Jun (18:30 – 20:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Ever had chills down your spine from a hectic violin solo in an electro banger? Prepare to feel that several times over at IGNITE: Symphonic Dance Anthems. Yep, an entire orchestra and live singers (like Peyton and Zoë Badwi) performing the biggest dance music anthems ain’t something you’re going to want to miss.
2. WOMEN IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC SHOWCASE II
Oxford Art Factory
17 Jun (20:00 – 03:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: FlexMami / Facebook.
The Women in Electronic Music Showcase is all about celebrating the thriving involvement of banger-creating / curating gals in this male-dominated genre – something all of us should 100% support. Hosted by FlexMami, get down to the sounds of UNIIQU3, Linda Marigliano, OKENYO, Andy Garvey, Miss Blanks, Mookhi, SPORTS (+ more) all night long.
3. THE EYE LIVE PROJECT
Sydney Tower Eye
26 May – 17 Jun (20:30 – Late)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
WARNING: if you ain’t about heights / fun times, don’t read the below.
Familiar with Sydney Tower? Y’know, that 76-storey building in the middle of the city that you couldn’t miss even if you tried? Well that iconic structure with its 360 degree views will play host to a lineup of significant, forward thinking artists that you’re not gonna wanna miss.
Of all the nek-level things happening there, we’d be remiss if we didn’t spotlight the folks performing on 2 June. Catching Touch Sensitive, as well as DJ sets from Elizabeth Rose and Annie Bass should be high on the priority list. There’s a whole heap of folks playing at this downright awesome spot (including acts as big as KLP), so check ’em out HERE.
4. NAI PALM
Sydney Opera House
29 May (19:30 – 21:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
If there’s one thing we love here at PEDESTRIAN.TV, it’s a punny moniker. But that’s not the only reason we’re all about Nai Palm – her proven track record as a part of Grammy-nominated Hiatus Kaiyote, in addition to her obviously flourishing solo career, has cemented her on our must-see list.
5. HEAPS GAY: THE KALEIDOSCOPE
Factory Theatre Marrickville
11 Jun (03:00 – Late)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Now in its third year, Heaps Gay: The Kaleidoscope will deliver everything we’ve all come to love about Heaps Gay’s events, and so much more. We’re talking three stages, live music, DJs, performance and visual art.
In addition to catching Brendan Maclean IRL, prepare to sample the sounds of everyone from Heaps Gay regulars (Estée Louder, The Smuts, Yung Brujo and Levins) all the way to Redfern Convenience Store’s Hazem (the world’s GREATEST convenience store).
You can also catch Maclean at the aforementioned Eye Live Project for Heaps High on 17 June (tickets HERE). This event invites you to “Step into a Tron playground of neon lights music with 360 degree views of Sydney and the Vivid Sydney lights, the Opera House projections and the stars in the sky.” SHUT UP AND TAKE OUR MONEY.
6. BODY TYPE
Golden Age Cinema & Bar
02 Jun (21:00 – Midnight)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Look, you mightn’t have heard of Body Type before, but we highly recommend you remedying that by catching their show. Not that you should need a lot of incentive to see this all-gal group’s lo-fi pop sensibility, but just incase you do, you’ll be pleased to know this gig is fo’ free.
7. DAPPLED CITIES PRESENTS |||||
City Recital Hall
04 Jun (19:30 – 22:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Dappled Cities Present ||||| (no, those lines aren’t our website cooking itself – they’re meant to represent ‘five’, so you’d pronounce it as Dappled Cities Present Five, five being their new album) is gonna be huge. Like, career-defining huge. They’ve combined forces with Sydney-based Studio Days and Californian artist Paul Juno to present imagery taken from the band’s rich visual past – something that’s set to blow all of our socks well and truly off. Oh, and they’re being supported by Red Riders if you needed any more darn incentive to go.
8. PHENO ALBUM LAUNCH (MATINEE)+ SUIIX + BONNIESONGS
Leadbelly Newtown
28 May (12:30 – 17:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: The LeadBelly Newtown.
Pioneering her own sound of art-pop, Pheno (pronounced fee-no) is celebrating the drop of her EP, ‘Dragon Year‘. Jess Green is the woman behind this Afro beat / Indie rock / Jazz sound and its subsequent album (which you’ll probs be listening to daily, tbh). We reckon this emerging artist is one to get behind.
9. CURVE BALL
Carriageworks
11 Jun (15:00 – 22:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
YASSSS. Curve Ball is back, fam. In case you somehow didn’t hear about last year’s epic event, Curve Ball transforms Carriageworks into a ~hub~ of heavy-hitting musicians, creatives and artists over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
This year’s line-up includes: SAFIA, Client Liaison, Tkay Maidza, Motez, Confidence Man, Thandi Phoenix, Made In Paris, Nyxen and many more.
10. JADE IMAGINE
Golden Age Cinema & Bar
27 May (21:00 – Midnight)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
We reckon the up ‘n coming band Jade Imagine should 110% be on your Vivid Music agenda. If “slacker-fuzz-dream pop” is a turn of phrase you’re into, then make sure you get your mittens on tickets ASAP. We’re personally keen as mustard for it.
11. BUSBY MAROU
Leadbelly Newtown
26 May – 27 May (18:00 – 23:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Look, just do yourself a favour and check out Busby Marou’s show, alright? Can confirm: they’re awesome, and their delightful harmonies will be an instant hit.
12. CAKE WINES PRESENTS: PIES IN THE SKY
3 x Secret CBD Rooftops
03 Jun (13:00 – 20:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney / Twitter.
“Choose from 3 rooftops, 3 chefs, 3 Cake Wines – alongside some of the worlds most renowned live acts and DJs – all on one epic Vivid Sydney afternoon. Ladies and gentleman, we present to you, Pies in the Sky.”
Yep, you’d be a fool if you didn’t say that sounded good. Sample food from Thievery, Superior Burger and Three Blue Ducks while being serenaded by the sultry sounds of acts like Swooping Duck, Krakatau, Ed Lyons, Preacha, J’Nett, Adi Toohey, Lovebombs, Geology, 30/70, Freda + Jackson, Glen Cassidy, Mike Who and Tom Studdy.
13. AN EVENING WITH BIC RUNGA
Sydney Conservatorium Of Music
11 Jun (18:30 – 20:00)
TICKETS: HERE
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
Best known for her song ‘Sway‘ (which appeared in American Pie), NZ’s Bic Runga is coming across the pond for a special show at The Con, performing classics + tunes from her recent album ‘Close Your Eyes‘.
Vivid Music doesn’t get much better than this, folks. There’s over 400 gigs (nope, that’s not a typo) to catch during the festival, so prepare to be one bloody busy beaver. Best of all, Vivid Music gives all of us the chance to discover new music. Make sure you don’t miss out by heading HERE.
Photo: Vivid Sydney.
