The Events You Shouldn't Miss at Spectrum Now Festival 2016

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A pop-up tattoo parlour, a free outdoor sideshow alley and a huge live painting at the Art Gallery of NSW are among the highlights of this year's Spectrum Now Festival. The 16-day creative arts extravaganza, launched last year by The Sydney Morning Herald, is back for 2016, featuring more than 100 free and ticketed events around the city.

The Spectrum Now Festival, which will run from March 1 to 16, is split into four sections: art, stage, talks and music. Here's what you should be Sharpie-ing into your diary.

ART

Included in the arts section will be an ambitious live painting at the AGNSW, where Western Sydney artist Tom Polo will spend two weeks creating a gigantic wall painting in view of the public. You can also spend An(other) Evening with Ken Done at his studio in The Rocks, or check out emerging pop artist Matt Dampney creating a live mural in the Frances Keevil Gallery Double Bay on March 5.

For the ultimate Sydney date idea, head to The Domain from March 3-13 for Spectrum Now's free outdoor festival hub. You'll enter through a cathedral of fairy lights into a sideshow alley, where you can get inked by tattoo artist Leslie Rice from LDF Tattoo Parlour, or get a haircut from retro barber Tony Vacher at Sterling Apothecary Barber Shop, plus there'll be fire breathers, burlesque dancers and free live music. Hanging over the hub will be a giant balloon chain by US artist Robert Bose, who previously created similar works at Burning Man and Coachella.

STAGE

The stage category will likewise features several standout shows, including performances by the Sydney Dance Company and Bard on the Beach, a burlesque act at Crystal Bar, a performance of La Boheme transplanted to the 1930s, and two nights of stand-up comedy with the stars of Workaholics (though both of those are already sold out so lucky you if you managed to nab a seat). And after a hugely successful run last year, Marie's Crisis Festival Bar returns to set up shop in Parlour Lane Roasters, QT Sydney each evening from March 1-10. The MC crew are also teaming up with Sydney's Hayes Theatre Company for a huge outdoor singalong in The Domain on March 7, so brush up on your Sondheim.

TALKS

Two of the most successful events on last year's talks program will return in 2016. Pillow Talk features personal conversations with some of the country's leading creative couples, and will this year include the likes of David and Kristen Williamson, David and Lisa Campbell, and Max Cullen and Margarita Georgiadis. Cultural Crush, meanwhile, invites prominent journalists to interview their 'dream subject'. Those in the spotlight this year include investigative journalist Kate McClymont speaking with film director Bruce Beresford, and columnist Benjamin Law grilling Leigh Sales from the ABC.

MUSIC

On top of the free Domain program featuring Cuban Jazz from Malo Malo, Hillbilly pop from The Pigs, the jazz-funk stylings of Lyre Byrdland, hip hop brass with Hi Tops Brass Band and the swinging sounds of Crusty Suitcase Band, the ticketed Big Top offering is too hefty to summarise here, so check out our separate guide to the Spectrum Now Festival music lineup.

Spectrum Now begins on March 1. For the full program or to book tickets, visit the festival website.