Overview
When the Vivid Music lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 23 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. Don’t attend Vivid through your smartphone, get amongst the beats and get to one of these must-see rambunctious gigs, Studio parties and epic concerts. With kitsch seventies disco, brash garage punk and politically-charged hip hop on the bill, choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with these top picks.
SIBERIAN NIGHTS
The brainchild of cosmic Melbourne trio Midnight Juggernauts, Siberia Records plays host to a swag of electronically-grounded, eclectic artists worth giving a significant damn about. For their highly-anticipated label party Siberian Nights they’re bringing Mancurian electronic wizard Andy Stott and his formidable bass/vox fusion to The Studio on May 23, alongside Sydney threesome Black Vanilla, Forces, Cassius Select (Guerre), DCM and Four Door. Plus, the Middy Juggs will be jamming as well, bringing their fully immersive experience AERIALS to psych everyone out.
GOOD GOD TIN PAN ALLEY
Shenanigans will run rife from the Chinatown basement to the Joan Sutherland Theatre, as Good God Small Club packs up and brings its undying party vibes to the Opera House on May 30. Headlined by the man Rolling Stone called "the next Rodriguez", cult South African musician Penny Penny and his seven-piece band, the stage will get some support act lovin' from Bart Willoughby of seminal indigenous band No Fixed Address, ever theatrical Royal Headache frontman Shogun flying solo, Melbourne soft rockers Montero and Sydney's indescribable Donny Benét.
MS. LAURYN HILL
The First Lady of hip hop, Ms. Lauryn Hill, has been this lineup's biggest talking point. Known not only for her groundbreaking 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill but also for her subsequent ‘disappearance’ from the music scene, she’s back — with plenty to say. Two Opera House shows are scheduled for May 27 and 28 and the good seats are evaporating, so skip the pricey night out this weekend and book yourself in.
ACO FEAT. THE PRESETS
Dropping out of the Conservatorium of Music worked out pretty well for The Presets. After ten years on stages and three full-length albums, The Presets will finally make their Opera House debut. The Sydney electronic heavyweights are doing it in good company too – hand-in-hand with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Richard Tognetti. If the joining of such potent musical forces weren’t ambitious enough, they’ve decided to navigate their way through 42,000 years of musical history and more than 230 songs. Prepare to lose yourself in a mindbending journey from Mozart and Bach to Miles Davis and Bob Dylan, while Ignatius Jones masterminds the visuals. The first show (Sunday, May 25, 2pm) is already sold out, but if you’re quick, you might be in with a chance of scoping out the second (Thursday, May 29, 7pm).
R.I.P SOCIETY 5TH BIRTHDAY
Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest, straight-up fun garage rock and unfathomably catchy electronica for five whole years — so they’ve got a few toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia’s best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House.
SINCE I LEFT YOU - A CELEBRATION OF THE AVALANCHES
Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan.
If you’re wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture’s Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am.
MODULATIONS LONG WEEKEND
As if the Modulations project weren't epic enough, creators Modular and Carriageworks have extended the concept to a Queen’s Birthday bash of such epic proportions we won’t be surprised to see Lizzie herself in attendance. Between Friday 6 and Monday 9 June, Carriageworks will be transformed into a music-art-food extravaganza, to be headlined by The Pet Shop Boys in the only Australian shows of their 2013/14 multimedia Electric tour. Plus, there’ll be a one-off appearance from bizarre yet beautiful experimenters Liars, and a full-day showcase presented by LA indie label Wild Records, whose current darlings include Gizzelle, The Delta Bombers and Luis and the Wildfires. Innovative culinary delights will be provided by Sydney favourite Porteno in pop-up mode — Friday to Sunday from 5pm and Monday from midday.
THE MUSIC OF MORODER - THE HERITAGE ORCHESTRA
Presented by those constant bringers of Internet-hyped gigs, Red Bull Music Academy, this is one tribute show that’s sure to end up on everyone’s Instagram feeds. Paying tribute to the legendary music of Giorgio Moroder with new arrangements and special guest vocalists, 40-piece British rulebreakers The Heritage Orchestra will revisit every last gem from the career of 'the godfather of EDM', from his disco-fuelled hootenannies with Donna Summer to his 1977 landmark album From Here To Eternity.
While the Don of dance himself won't be performing on the night, he'll most likely sit in on one of the trips down memory lane. If you missed out on tickets to Moroder’s super special studio party or intimate convo event, just hang around the Opera House. He’s sure to be milling about and down for a chinwag about Daft Punk, just try it.
ANNA CALVI
Brian Eno reckons she’s “the biggest thing since Patti Smith”, Nick Cave’s invited her on tour and Karl Lagerfeld draws on her for inspiration. And now, Anna Calvi is set to bless Vivid audiences with her cinematic spectacle. She’ll be blasting her way through classically influenced, timeless songs from recent album One Breath, accompanied by haunting film noir visuals, in just one show – Wednesday, May 28. Nab a ticket before they sell out.
FISHING
Eclectic Sydney duo Fishing have been trying out their peculiar brand of experimental loops, remixes and layered synths for a few years now, whittling away EPs and singles and pricking ears at FBi Radio and online. After revealing a brand new single 'Chi Glow' with Collarbones' Marcus Whale in mid-April, Russell Fitzgibbon and Doug Wright are finally ready to unleash their debut album Shy Glow for Vivid on June 5. Taking their genre-defying electronic sound to The Basement with a host of fellow producers and DJs, Fishing will unleash their debut album on the eve of its official release date — an LP described by the pair as "an eclectic delight that never holds on to any one idea for too long".
Head here and here for the entire Vivid music lineup and get amongst it.
Words by Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.