Vivid Live

Annual contemporary music festival in Sydney, Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vivid LIVE is an annual contemporary music festival held by Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney. Taking place across all six venues at the Opera House, it features a bill of local and international artists, specially commissioned works and the hallmark Lighting of the Sails. It stands as the centrepiece of the Sydney Opera House's contemporary music program.

GenreIndie rock, hip-hop, electronic, disco, folk, pop, classical[1]
DatesLate May – Early June
LocationSydney Opera House
Yearsactive2009–2019, 2021–present
Quick facts Genre, Dates ...
Vivid LIVE
GenreIndie rock, hip-hop, electronic, disco, folk, pop, classical[1]
DatesLate May – Early June
LocationSydney Opera House
Years active2009–2019, 2021–present
Attendance37,000+[2]
Websitesydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live
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At the forefront of each lineup are influential artists performing their most impactful works. Over the years this has included The Cure’s Reflections (2011); Kraftwerk’s retrospective, The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 in 3D (2013); Brian Eno’s Pure Scenius (2009); Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson (2010) and the Pixies (2014).

Unique projects have ranged from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O in Stop The Virgens (2012); Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner & Nico Muhly in Planetarium (2012) to Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Megafaun and Fight the Big Bull in Sounds of the South (2013).

Vivid LIVE has also seen Australian premieres and exclusive performances from the likes of Ms. Lauryn Hill (2014); Amon Tobin’s ISAM (2012); Chris Cunningham (2011); Bat For Lashes (2011); The Gurrumul Project (2013) and the late Bobby Womack (2013). Most notably, it has showcased a series of emerging artists who have since established themselves at the forefront of contemporary music—including Nils Frahm (2014), St Vincent (2014), Danny Brown (2013), Flume (2009) and Jon Hopkins (2009).

Vivid LIVE was the winner of the Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Music Festival in 2015.

In 2018 Vivid LIVE celebrated its 10th anniversary.

History

In its inaugural incarnation 26 May - 14 June 2009, Luminous, the festival was curated by Brian Eno whose aim was to produce a truly eclectic lineup: "people who work in the new territories, the places in between, the places out at the edges."[3] Acts included New York city's experimental rock group Battles, trumpet player and composer Jon Hassell, and comedian/musician Reggie Watts.

In 2010, the late Lou Reed and his wife Laurie Anderson realised their artistic vision by performing works of their own, with Reed's Metal Machine Trio and Anderson's Transitory Life.[4]

2011 saw the Sydney-based music promoter and founder of Modular Recordings Steve Pavlovic program the likes of The Cure, video artist Chris Cunningham and psychedelic rock project Tame Impala. The Studio venue was also transformed into a club space for the first time with parties curated by The Avalanches, Mad Racket featuring Gavin Russom’s The Crystal Ark and 2manydjs.[5]

In 2012, Sydney Opera House took the programming of the festival into its own hands, reflecting the rising status of contemporary music at the performing arts centre. Fergus Lineham, the Head of Contemporary Music at the time, said the change was necessary to facilitate the ambitious nature of the festival: "there was such a time commitment and a geographical challenge that it meant we ended up with a lot of people who would have loved to do something but wouldn't do the whole thing."[6] The lineup included Sufjan Stevens, Florence + the Machine and the Ceremonial Orchestra, and the Australian premiere of Shut Up and Play the Hits—a documentary recounting the lead up to LCD Soundsystem's final performance. Karen O also appeared in the Australian debut of her "psycho-opera" Stop the Virgens.[7]

In 2015, Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at Sydney Opera House, presented his first Vivid LIVE line up — one that he described as "a celebration of unique individuals' voices".[8] In a first for contemporary music at the Opera House, Sydney label Future Classic presented concerts on the Northern Broadwalk.

2020 saw no festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artist lineups by year

2009

Curated by Brian Eno

2010

Curated by Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed

2011

Curated by Steve Pavlovic

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

  • Paul Kelly and his band – Time and Tide: Four Decades of Song with Thelma Plum (Australian exclusive)
  • Sampa the Great presents An Afro Future with Mwanjѐ & KYE, sounds by C.FRIM
  • Nils Frahm: Music for Sydney
  • Tkay Maidza with Maina Doe
  • Astral People 10 + 1 Birthday with Yussef Dayes, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jay1, Youngn Lipz, Briggs, Mildlife, Barkaa, Arno Faraji, Jitwam Live, Dameeeela, Bumpy, Hoodzy and Munasib
  • Masego
  • Club Kooky by the Harbour
  • Meg Mac
  • Hermitude
  • Teeks
  • Boris 30th Anniversary Show performing Heavy Rocks (2002) with TOKIE
  • BLESSED presents AUSSIE BLACKSTAR with appearances by Maina Doe, Baby Prince and more
  • RVG
  • HTRK
  • Liars with The Double (Jim White & Emmett Kelly)
  • Low Life
  • Miiesha
  • Skeleten – Utopian Sound
  • Gordi
  • In the Mood – A Love Letter to Wong Kar-wai & Hong Kong starring Rainbow Chan, Eugene Choi & Marcus Whale
  • KUČKA
  • Ed Kuepper with Jim White
  • Tiny Ruins
  • Tangents & GODTET
  • Georgia Maq
  • 1300
  • Liz Martin & Eliza Hull – Into the Space Between the Notes
  • A. Girl
  • The Buoys
  • Future Classic Studio Party: Touch Sensitive (DJ set), Tseba, Ayebatonye, Deepa
  • Picnic Studio Party: Wax’o Paradiso, Kali, Adi Toohey, Evie + Hyfe, hosted by Millie Sykes
  • Astral People Studio Party: John Talabot
  • Mad Racket Studio Party: Ken Cloud, Simon Caldwell, Jimmi James and Zootie with Edseven & Tom Studdy (Steppers) and vocalist Natalie Slade

2023

2024

Studio Parties

  • Mad Racket presents Fred P
  • Astral People present Mala (DMZ / Digital Mystikz)
  • Barney Kato presents Alien featuring Radioactive Man, Mark N, au4r33y & Magda Bytnerowicz
  • House of Mince presents Club Mince featuring Hyperaktivist (Mala Junta / MESS) and more
  • House of Mince presents Pavolvabar featuring The Illustrious Blacks and more
  • dstreet featuring Mad Miran, Piezo, Kate Miller b2b Emelyne

2025

Studio Parties

  • Trackwork 5th Birthday featuring Brodinski, Vv Pete, Utility
  • Barney Kato presents Sex Tags featuring DJ Sotofett & DJ Fett Burger
  • dstreet presents DJ MARIA., Sunju Hargun, Tangela
  • House of Mince presents Boris
  • DUNJ presents Shackleton (live), Azu Tiwaline (live)
  • Mad Racket presents Red Rack’em, Cousin (live set)

2026

15 Years of Astral People Takeover

  • Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey
  • Flying Lotus
  • Moonflower Suite: Maina Doe, NMMWL & KHYA with Hey, Love
  • Astral People Studio Party (18+) featuring TOKiMONSTA & ONEMAN

Studio Parties

  • DUNJ Studio Party featuring Carrier (live), Yushh (live), gi (live) & Autogenesis (live)
  • Barney Kato Studio Party featuring Luca Lozano b2b Mr Ho, Ciara & Barney In The Tunnel
  • Fanático x Moral Laxa Studio Party featuring DJ Sprinkles
  • Mad Racket Studio Partyfeaturing Kai Alcé, Lovie, Simon Caldwell, Jimmi James & Ken Cloud

References

External links

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