R&B Singer Jill Scott Is the First Headline Act Announced for Vivid Live 2020

UPDATE: MARCH 15, 2020 — Organisers have announced that Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled "on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people".

To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.

If the first big-name announcement is anything to go by, it looks like this year's Vivid celebrations are going to be golden. US neo-soul singer and poet Jill Scott is heading Down Under, as part of a global anniversary tour, to perform at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid Live 2020.

The Australian-exclusive shows will see 'Jilly from Philly' take to the Joan Sutherland stage for four nights this May, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated album Who is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1. So, expect to dance along to 'A Long Walk', 'Gettin' in the Way' and 'Love Rain' when Scott heads to Australia for just the second time ever.

Scott cut her teeth in Philadelphia's 90s spoken word and R&B scene, where she performed with the likes of Will Smith and Common. After co-writing her first Grammy Award-winning song 'You Got Me' with fellow Philadelphians The Roots in 1999, Scott released her aforementioned debut album in 2000 — and then four more, including her most recent: 2015's Woman.

Jill Scott

Headline acts of the huge annual festival of music and light over the past seven years have included The Cure, Solange, Morrisey and Kraftwerk with the ballots for all four selling out.

The full lineup for Vivid Live is expected to drop next month — we'll let you know as soon as it does.

Jill Scott will perform four shows at the Sydney Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre on Friday, May 22, Saturday, May 23, Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26. Pre-sale begins at 9am on Friday, February 21 and general tickets are available from 9am on Monday, February 24. You can sign-up for pre-sale access over here. 

Top image: Club Kooky at Vivid Live 2019 by Jordan Munns.