The Church: A Psychedelic Symphony

Overview

I discovered The Church when I was fourteen, the year me and a friend undertook the task of becoming experts in every band featured on the Donnie Darko soundtrack. I also wore a lot of black that year, and spent most of my time in my bedroom. So despite the fact that The Church are one of Australia's most acclaimed bands, and were making music a decade before I was born, my associations with them have always been distinctly infused with the intensity of being fourteen.

The Church got together in Sydney in 1980, and with their complex melodies and surreal, poetic lyrics, have since gone on to become one of Australia's most successful bands, recognised as such when they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last year. Their show at The Sydney Opera House this April celebrates their thirtieth anniversary, and sees them performing songs from their back catalogue with symphonic accompaniment from the George Ellis Orchestra.

Unquestionably one of the best bands Australia has produced, this event will see the beauty of their music unravel in the surroundings of Australia's most iconic performance space. The night will also see conductor George Ellis, who has previously worked with Lou Reed and Augie March, elevate songs which have graced headphones and bedroom landscapes for decades to their full orchestral splendour.