Vivid spotlight shines on Sydney’s music scene

The City of Sydney’s support of Vivid Sydney will ensure local musicians, DJs and producers get prime billing on this year’s festival program alongside major Australian and international artists.

As part of the Vivid Music program, in partnership with Destination NSW, the City of Sydney is helping to fund a series of events that will enable event producers and local venues to curate bespoke musical events featuring up and coming and grassroots performers.

The City of Sydney is also providing significant in-kind support for spaces and venues that will serve as key attractions during the festival.

Sydney Town Hall will play host to a festival highlight event that will be a celebration of Archie Roach AC. A Bend in the River: A Tribute to Archie Roach AC, will feature performances by renowned artists including Paul Kelly, Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan, Dobby, Radical Son and more. British author Jeanette Winterson will take part in the Global Storytellers series discussing taboo and thought-provoking topics.

The façade of Customs House will become an animated canvas for the works of Florence Broadhurst, Australia’s leading wallpaper and fabric designer, and other leading creatives. Inside Out is a celebration of Australian interior design featuring projections of beautiful hand-drawn wallpaper and fabrics made up of more than 7,500 works from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said the City of Sydney was proud to work with Destination NSW each year on a festival that highlights how much our city has to offer.

“Vivid Sydney is a world-class event that attracts thousands of people each night to the city centre and harbour and showcases our local talent and creativity,” the Lord Mayor said.

“This year we’re providing $400,000 in cash and in-kind support for Vivid. One of the reasons we sponsor the event is to ensure everyone can enjoy this fabulous city.

“We’ve been working with Destination NSW on the festival since 2009 to boost Sydney’s status as an important creative hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Our investment in the Vivid Music program this year is helping celebrate Sydney’s electronic music producers and club scene. These venues and artists have had a tough few years, and supporting Sydney’s nightlife, including a diverse and inclusive club culture, is a key priority of the City of Sydney.”

Some of the Vivid Music highlights t the City of Sydney is supporting include:

SETTINGS™ w/ BAMBII + TOMMY GOLD – 1 June, 9pm–4am Universal Sydney

One of Sydney’s favourite nightclubs will play host to a night of rap, hip-hop and electronic music, featuring sets from Toronto producer and DJ Bambii, London DJ and NTS Radio programmer Tommy Gold and more.

triple j celebrates 15 Years of Unearthed High – 2 June, 6–10 pm Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

Youth music organisation The Push, and triple j radio, bring a one-off free concert to Tumbalong Park to celebrate 15 years of the station’s nation-wide high school music competition.

The concert will feature live performances by winners and finalists from over the years including Arno Faraji, LASTLINGS, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, JACOTÉNE and more.

Athletica x Bypass: Thermal Mass – 3 June, 2pm–10pm Flow Studios

Two Sydney club nights, Bypass and Athletica, will come together for one day-to-night dance event at Camperdown’s Flow Studios.

Thermal Mass will feature a group of leading DJs mixing a blend of Bypass’s South Asian dancefloor music with the high-energy club sounds of Athletica.

CLUB SERVICE – 3 June, 5pm–2am MLC Centre

A night of rap, electronic and club music, and digital art from producers UTILITY, Kelman Duran and Cassius Select, rapper Vv Pete, DJ Plead and multidisciplinary artist Serwah Attafuah.

JIVA – 3 June, 1pm–8pm The Ivy Courtyard

One day festival, Joy Is Vital Always (JIVA), is a celebration of global cultures and music. In association with Sounds of Afrobeats, JIVA will take over The Ivy’s open-air courtyard with a mix of global beats, and performances by local and international acts.

NLV Records All Night – 10 June, 9pm-5am The Ambercrombie

The Ambercrombie will host a night of cutting-edge underground club music, rap and high-BPM electronica (hyperpop) with a line-up of established and up and coming artists including Nina Las Vegas, Anna Lunoe, FOURA, Big Skeez and Gold Fang.

WavyLand – 12 June, 6pm–12am The Metro Theatre

Touring company WavyLand launched in 2018, hosting parties in inner-city pubs and showcasing up and coming names in the local music scene, and resulted in the breakthrough opportunity for a number of Australian artists.

As part of Vivid Sydney, WavyLand will bring the Metro Theatre to life with artworks, audio-visual installations and performances by a mix of local acts and international artists London's IGLOOGHOST, Melbourne producer C.FRIM and Toronto star Debby Friday.

Nature’s Calling – 17 June, 6pm–1am Sydney Masonic Centre

Presented by Electronic Music Life and hosted by DJ and Producer James Locksmith, Nature’s Calling will be a night of hip-hop, disco, soul-funk, electronica and more.

The artist line-up includes Sydney DJ Gemma, Nabihah Iqbal from the UK, US producer and keys player Byron the Aquarius and Berlin’s Arabic funk and soul DJ Habibi Funk.

NECTAR – 17 June, 10pm–4.30am Civic Hotel

Sydney events and touring agency NECTAR launched in 2018 to champion developing DJs and live electronic artists.

NECTAR will bring together cutting-edge DJs from Australia and the UK for a night of electro, techno and experimental club music.

For more details on events and projects taking place during Vivid Sydney visit: whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

For full details on Vivid Sydney visit vividsydney.com.