Modulations - Vivid Sydney

Overview

The queen returns. Legendary fashion icon, unforgettable Bond villain and music superstar Grace Jones is returning to Australia, headlining Vivid Sydney's Modulations mini-festival at Carriageworks.

Locked in for three performances on May 31, June 1 and 2, Jones marks her first Sydney appearance since her jaw-dropper of a show at the Enmore in 2011 (there were costume changes every two or three songs, we swear) and is set to be one dramatic, high fashion affair. This will be Jones' only Australian appearance this tour, not unlike last year's Modulations headliners, the Pet Shop Boys.

Jones marks the top of the bill for Vivid's six-day Modulations festival-within-a-festival. After a hugely successful weekend pairing music, food and ideas at Carriageworks last year, Modulations returns with an expanded program set across two weekends.

Sitting at the top of our Modulations priorities, a brand new pop-up called Italo Dining and Disco Club. Sydney restaurants Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta, 10williamst, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar and Fratelli Paradiso will come together to present a weekend of Italian specialities, natural wines and itallo disco legends on the decks. Italo will be held May 31, June 1, June 2, June 5, June 6 and June 7 from 5pm til late at Carriageworks.

But the music doesn't stop there. Alongside living jazz legend saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (who was just in Sydney performing at Atomic Bomb! for Sydney Festival), and the Pelvis/Motorik/Kooky dance club team-up party on June 7, another iconic musician joins the Modulations party. One half of KLF — one of the UK’s biggest successes of the early 1990s — and one of music and art's most provocative personalities Bill Drummond will deliver a keynote address and unveil a new artwork on June 6. Drummond famously burned one million pounds sterling (the KLF's earnings) for a work called Watch the K Foundation Burn a Million Quid at a boathouse on the Scottish island of Jura, so expect the unexpected.

Modulations runs over two weekends starting Sunday, May 31 during Vivid Sydney (22 May to 8 June). For more information and tickets, head to Carriageworks' website.

Image: Andrea Klarin.