Vivid Live

Vivid Live 2024. Bigger, better and brighter than ever

One of the biggest highlights on the Sydney live music calendar is the Vivid event and with the 2024 line-up being dropped today, it’s fair to say, they’re well and truly back with an enormous line-up! From the 24th May to the 15th of June, Sydney will once again light up with events ranging from…

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Vivid Live Review: Maggie Rogers – Sydney Opera House (29.05.19)

Normally when I write an article about a gig I’ve seen, a lot of what I talk about is very subjective to my own experience. I’m sure there’s been times where I’ve written things that others haven’t agreed with. This article isn’t going to be one of them. What follows is totalling and utterly objective:…

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Vivid Live Review: Spunk Records 20th Anniversary ft. The Middle East – Sydney Opera House (24.05.19)

Vivid Live has always had the ability to pull off some major coups when curating their line ups. Their 2019 edition was no different. In celebration of Spunk Records’ 20th Anniversary, enigmatic Townsville act The Middle East made their return to the stage after an eight-year absence. While there were some magic moments in the…

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Live Review: St. Vincent brings Vivid to a close with a stunning solo show incorporating MASSEDUCTION from start to finish

The inimitable St. Vincent helped bring the annual Vivid Festival to an end in Sydney last night, with a special one-off solo show that felt as much an art installation as it did a rock concert. Curtains moved and fell, as though the chronological trip through her catalogue was emblematic of how she’s shown us…

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Vivid Live Review: No Mono captivate Sydney with intimate Opera House show

Bathed in blue and green hues, as smoke envelopes the stage the goal of the night is intimacy, intimacy held perhaps at an arm’s length. No Mono the new project by #1 Dads and Big Scary member Tom Iansek and Tom Snowdon of Lowlakes relishes in the private moments, whether they are obscured by the…

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Vivid Live Review: H.E.R stuns with a perfect performance at Sydney Opera House

Shortly after emerging from Soundcloud obscurity within the past year or so, elusive musician H.E.R has surely become one of the most exciting new artists in popular music. Her voice, equal parts silky and slick, is matched by the excellent songwriting that can be found all throughout her self-titled EPs Volume 1 and 2, two…

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Vivid Live Review: DREAMS aims high in demonstrating the eclectic partnership between Johns and Steele

You know a show is going to be that extra bit extra when you walk into the Opera House and there are not just one, but three harps set up on stage. That said, if you expected any project by Daniel Johns and Luke Steele to side towards minimalist you may have recently had a…

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Vivid Live Review: Middle Kids deliver faultless homecoming performance at the Opera House

Leaps and bounds. Apart from being a classic Paul Kelly track, it is exactly what Middle Kids have been coming along over the past two years. While certainly not an overnight success, the steam the now four-piece from Sydney has built up in 2018 is almost unparalleled. Releasing their debut album Lost Friends less than a month…

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Hiatus Kaiyote slide into the Vivid Sydney program with exclusive City Recital Hall show

Hiatus Kaiyote are returning to Sydney this month, staging an unmissable show at the City Recital Hall as part of Vivid 2018. Of course, the chances to see the Melbourne band are rare ones of late, but it’s no surprise that where they pop up, the shows sell right on out. Internationally acclaimed, and beloved by…

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Solange, Ice Cube, Cat Power and more flesh out a vibrant Vivid LIVE program

It’s going to be another massive few weeks in Sydney this winter, when the Harbour City comes alive for Vivid LIVE. We already knew R&B goddess Solange would be touching down exclusive Australian shows this year, but with the official program being released, we’re most definitely hyped for what’s to come. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year,…

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Live Review: Laura Marling – Sydney Opera House (12.06.17)

I’m calling it here. Laura Marling will go down as one of the greats. For someone to be so prolific, accomplished, lauded and respected by fans and critics alike at the age she is, it’s a testament to how great she is in a live setting. Playing a headlining show as part of Vivid Live,…

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Live Review: Nick Murphy debuts his sonic evolution at the Sydney Opera House

The debut of Nick Murphy’s Missing Link at the Opera House was not so much a concert as it was an odyssey – a journey through the life and death of Chet Faker, and his rebirth as Nick Murphy. Much has already been said about the change in Murphy’s moniker, but from the opening moments…

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Live Review: Air light up the Sydney Opera House with a gleeful set celebrating Twentyears

After 20 years, Air have become something of legends – making a space like the Sydney Opera House the natural fit for their suave style of electronica. And now in their first visit in nine years, their last being for the great V Festival (RIP), Air have finally returned to the iconic venue for two exclusive shows as part of Sydney’s…

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Fleet Foxes kick off a four show Opera House residency; open Vivid Live 2017 previewing their long awaited new album Crack-Up

As we arrived in the iconic, well coloured sails for the opening night of Vivid, the excitement for the return of Seattle outfit Fleet Foxes, who were helping opening the festival, was palpable. A screen sat at the back of the stage, and a note (presumably) from the band told us they missed us (“welcome to…

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Vivid Sydney’s music program will feature Goldfrapp, Air, Fleet Foxes and more

Vivid Sydney will once again be spreading lights, music and ideas across the harbour city from late May to mid June. The multifaceted 23-day celebration of art and innovation has had it’s full program roll out as of today, and one of the most exciting aspects is it’s massive music component which is split between…

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Experiencing Max Richter’s VIVID Sydney production of Sleep…from Adelaide – a review.

Friday night in front of the telly! With a trundle bed and big quilt, a candle, the rest of the household in bed. I’m excited, although exhausted after a big week and would have preferred a nice quiet lead up to a long eight hour broadcast. But, it’s not a usual simulcast in that it’s designed…

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The State of Affairs: (20th May 2016)

This week in the music industry, Sounds Australia has been nominated for two awards for their continuous achievements in exporting fresh Australian music to international crowds and the annual Electronic Music Conference returns to Sydney for the fifth time. Sounds Australia Recognised for their Music Export Achievements Sounds Australia, an organisation focused on gaining international…

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Anohni, Poliça, Hiatus Kaiyote and more to feature in free Vivid Live artist talks

A series of free creative conversations have been announced as part of this year’s Vivid LIVE in the form of “Artist Talks”, featuring rare and in-depth discussions with the likes of Anohni, Ta-ku, Poliça and Wafia, alongside a live recording of popular podcast Song Explored (featuring Hiatus Kaiyote) and much more. In addition to the free events, the festival will also…

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Bjork, New Order, and more are coming to Vivid Sydney

It’s one of the most exciting events on Sydney’s cultural calendar. Vivid Sydney has grown into a phenomenal platform of innovative lights, music, and ideas; one which the world pays close attention to as, for a few weeks (five days longer this year), Sydney turns into the shining star of the Southern Hemisphere. One of…

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Vivid Sydney 2016: From Bjork’s Virtual Reality exhibition to Bon Iver’s world first live show

Starting from Friday 27th May, Sydney will once again turn into an illuminated playground of lights, music, and ideas, as Vivid Sydney returns for it’s longest run in the festival’s history. Now five days longer (extended until Saturday 18th June), the world renowned platform will be bringing in cutting-edge, world premiere projects from the likes…

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Vivid Live Review: Kate Miller Heidke – Sydney Opera House (26.05.14)

There are few voices in the Australian music scene that are as ethereal, magical and awe-inspiring as that of Kate Miller-Heidke. We are all the more fortunate for her veering down the path of the alternative indie pop scene, than sticking with her classically trained operatic roots. Tonight’s performance is a fairy-tale showcase of how Heidke…

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