From Funk Legends to Indie Favourites, FORMA Is Taking Over Tumbalong Park Across Two Star-Studded Weekends
Kool & The Gang, Lime Cordiale and Peach PRC lead the charge as FORMA debuts with an impressive two-weekend lineup.
Finely Tuned has now been bringing stellar live music to Australian audiences for 20 years. But even this far into the game, the Sydney-based events, festival and touring agency is finding ways to take things up a notch. Enter FORMA, Finely Tuned's biggest event series to date. Taking over Tumbalong Park across two huge weekends from Thursday, November 26–Sunday, December 6, this open-air concert run and pop-up cultural hub will transform this sprawling outdoor setting with a season of cutting-edge sound and production.
Set against the city skyline, the lineup is suitably impressive. Opening night features a major double bill: Kool & The Gang, fronted by OG bassist Robert "Kool" Bell — the group's last surviving founding member. Meanwhile, Sister Sledge ft. Sledgendary sees founding sister Debbie Sledge joined by the next generation of the family — Camille, David and Thaddeus Sledge, and Tanya Ti-et. Together, this incredible pairing offers six decades of funk, soul and disco, with a standout catalogue of tunes to boot. Think "Celebration", "Get Down On It", "Jungle Boogie" and "We Are Family".
The following night, leading London independent electronic music label Anjunadeep take over for the adults-only Open Sky Sydney. On the grassy dance floor, expect the label's most expansive Australian edition to date, bringing melodic house, electronic, ambient and techno tunes. The lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks, with some of Anjunadeep's most revered names taking to the stage.
Rounding out weekend one, Sydney's own Lime Cordiale hit FORMA on Sunday, November 29, serving up a decade of earworms. Now with two ARIA Awards in their back pocket, brothers Oliver and Louis Leimbach have established a highly decorated resume. Joining them for a co-headline set are fellow indie-rockers and Gerringong four-piece Pacific Avenue, performing newly released tracks from their sophomore record, Lovesick Sentimental. Also on the bill are Perth-based four-piece Great Gable, Sydney indie-pop duo Pamela, and self-proclaimed "band-geek gone rogue" Lola Scott.
Looking ahead to week two, pop sensation Peach PRC headlines on Thursday, December 3, now regarded as one of Australia's most compelling modern-day storytellers. On Friday, December 4, New Zealand reggae-rock outfit SIX60 return to Sydney hot off their fifth consecutive NZ #1 album Right Here, Right Now, featuring support from Kiwi dub-fusion seven-piece SUB-TRIBE. Then, FORMA goes big on Saturday night, as the already-announced Hoodoo Gurus show why they're considered Australian rock royalty.
Yet there's one surprise to come, as the mystery headline act is still to be unveiled for the closing Sunday night event. What's more, this festival also delivers a family-friendly experience, with events primed for little ones scheduled for Thursday, November 26 and the morning of Sunday, December 6. With the majority of shows licensed all-ages events, FORMA is bound to bring Sydney's biggest music fans out in droves.
FORMA is happening over two weekends at Tumbalong Park from Thursday, November 26–Sunday, December 6, with pre-sale tickets available from 12pm on Tuesday, July 14 and general public tickets on sale from 12pm on Wednesday, July 15. Head to the website for more information.
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Images: Supplied.
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