Concrete Playground's Guide to Vivid Sydney 2016
The best bits of Vivid in one handy spot.
Vivid Sydney has really cranked it up this year, with a jam-packed, kaleidoscopic festival program of light, music and ideas taking over multiple precincts across the city. Lights are on at 6pm May 27 through to June 18, but that's just where the Vivid rabbit hole begins. There are hundreds of events on the program, from Bjork's VR exhibition to epic Sydney Opera House gigs and a pop-up pool hall, so here's a little handy guide to bookmark.
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Guide
Ten Must-See Vivid Gigs You Should Buy Tickets To Right Now
Don't attend Vivid through your smartphone — get amongst it.
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Guide
Ten Enlightening Vivid Ideas Events That Will Reboot Your Brain
Unpack House of Cards, watch robots destroy each other, then figure out Sydney's future.
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News
Sydney's Best Dining Spots for Vivid Views
Visit the bars and restaurants that truly shine at this time of year.
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GALLERY: See All the Bright Lights at Vivid Sydney 2016
From cathedrals of light to interactive installations that change colour when you scream 'I love you'.
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Event
Deep Purple Pool Hall Pop-Up
Fri, 27 May - Sun, 5 Jun 2016
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Vivid LIVE's pop-up pool hall is back.
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Event
BJORK DIGITAL
Sat, 4 Jun - Sat, 18 Jun 2016
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
The Icelandic legend's huge virtual reality project descends upon Carriageworks.
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Event
The Night Market
Sat, 4 Jun and Sat, 18 Jun 2016
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
Carriageworks is launching a new foodie night market for Vivid.
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Event
Curve Ball
Sat, 11 Jun, 2016
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
A brand new electronic music event from the crew behind Field Day, Listen Out and Harbourlife.
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Event
The Velvet Cave Rave
Sat, 28 May, 2016
Secret Location in Sydney, Sydney
Secret rave at a super-secret cave.
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Event
The Game-changers - Vivid Ideas
Tue, 10 May 2016, Sun, 5 Jun 2016
Sydney Town Hall, Sydney
Get to know filmmaker Spike Jonze, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon, Orange is the New Black writer Jenji Kohan and Australian fashion influencer Margaret Zhang.
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Event
Hiatus Kaiyote with Sampa the Great
Tue, 31 May, 2016
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
What. A. Team-up.
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Event
8Bits+Bytes Pop-Up Burger Bar
Fri, 27 May - Sat, 18 Jun 2016
Martin Place, Sydney
A giant arcade game-themed burger bar is coming to Vivid this year.
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Event
The BIG Anxiety Project
Sun, 5 Jun, 2016
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks
An interactive event exploring anxiety: how it feels, how we manage it, and what we think might reduce it.
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Event
Semi-Permanent 2016
Thu, 26 May - Sat, 28 May 2016
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
Netflix, Google, Facebook, Uber — gang's all here.
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Event
Purple Sneakers 10th Birthday
Sat, 18 Jun, 2016
The Lord Gladstone, Chippendale
We hope The Glad is ready.
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Event
Anohni Presents Hopelessness
Multiple single dates
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney
If you've heard 'Drone Bomb Me', you know this won't be a light show.
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Event
Cake Wines Vivid Parties
Sat, 28 May - Sat, 18 Jun 2016
Cake Wines Cellar Door, Redfern
Head to the cellar door for beats and drops, or find a pop-up party in a secret location.
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Event
Vivid LIVE Artist Talks
Fri, 27 May - Mon, 13 Jun 2016
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
See New Order, Anonhi and Hiatus Kaiyote play, then chat.
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Event
An Evening with Donny Benet
Sat, 28 May, 2016
MCA Harbour Terrace, The Rocks
Sensual. Sophisticated. Intoxicating.
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Event
Robowars Sydney 2016
Sun, 5 Jun, 2016
Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
The Overseas Passenger Terminal is transforming into a legit tiered battle arena.
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Event
The Rhythm of the Night: '90s Dance Pyjama Party
Sat, 28 May, 2016
Plan B Small Club, Sydney
This is for all the '90s kids. No scrubs.
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Event
Art Is Our Artillery to Defend Human Rights
Sat, 4 Jun, 2016
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks
Amnesty unpacks the power of art as a non-violent (but powerful) weapon.
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Event
Sounds of Seduction
Multiple single dates
Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross
Relive a "Saturday Night in-stitution for much of the '90s".
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Event
Models + Machinations + Dave Mason
Sun, 29 May, 2016
Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Spend the night in '80s punk-rock heaven.
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Event
Media Architecture Biennale 2016
Wed, 1 Jun - Sat, 4 Jun 2016
The Concourse, Chatswood
Four days of talks, workshops and panels unpacking the future of liveable, smart cities.
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Event
Oneohtrix Point Never
Sun, 29 May, 2016
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Nine Inch Nails-inspired electronica, ricocheting around the Opera House.
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Event
REMIX 2016
Thu, 2 Jun - Fri, 3 Jun 2016
Sydney Town Hall, Sydney
Open your mind to the richest two days of creative inspiration you'll have all year.
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Event
Tiny Ruins
Wed, 1 Jun, 2016
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney
The Kiwi who's toured with Neil Finn and collaborated with David Lynch.
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Event
How to Make a Career Out of Ideas
Sun, 29 May, 2016
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks
Turn that napkin of dreams into your sweet sweet job.
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Event
One Day Sundays at Vivid
Sun, 5 Jun, 2016
Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Sydney's go-to hip hop party is heading back to The Factory for Vivid.
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Event
Welcome to Kings Cross
Sat, 28 May, 2016
Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross
Kick off Vivid with a night of dancing over five floors of the Kings Cross Hotel.
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Event
Mulatu Astatke
Sun, 5 Jun, 2016
The Basement, Sydney
An evening with the 'Father of Ethio-Jazz'.
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Event
Newtown Social Club's 2nd Birthday
Sun, 5 Jun, 2016
Newtown Social Club, Newtown
A free Vivid party for Newtown's beloved live music venue.
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Event
Wayne Shorter
Mon, 13 Jun, 2016
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Take your dad to see the jazz legend who's played with Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan.