Sydney Festival’s tagline, ‘This is our Summer in Sydney’ says it all. This three-week long arts Festival incorporating music, theatre, dance and free public events is one of the city’s most loved and talked about highlights with something for every taste and budget. Kris McIntyre gets the inside tips on what not to miss.
The three-week program kicks off on Saturday 10 January with Festival First Night. Last year the event attracted more than 200,000 people and it’s likely to be even bigger and better again this year when Sydney’s CBD is closed off to cars and the streets become open-air stages and dance-floors. The event is FREE and includes some of the biggest names of the Festival including Grace Jones, Santagold, the Gypsy Kings & Queens, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. There’s a family-friendly kids program in the afternoon from 2pm. Wear comfy shoes (you’ll be walking and dancing a lot) and there will be food and drinks available.
THEATRE LOVERS
Don’t miss The War of the Roses starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Menzies. But a warning, it is 8 hours of Shakepearean tragedy! Robert Lepage’s Lipsynch is also not for the faint-hearted. Over the course of a day in the theatre – nine hours – which includes five intervals, Lipsynch takes nine stories, separate but interconnected in the manner of a Robert Altman film. From the Gate Theatre Dublin, comes a tryptich of plays celebrating the work of Ireland’s greatest living playwright, Brian Friel, with Faith Healer, Afterplay and the Yalta Game. If you can only make it to one of the three, Faith Healer is probably the one.
MUSIC LOVERS
The highlights include All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival on Cockatoo Island. Curated by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (who will also perform) the line up includes Spiritualized, German krautrock group Harmonia, the reformed Brisbane band The Saints, Laughing Clows and The Necks. Make sure to check out the transport details on the Festival’s website.
At the City Recital Hall, there’s three gorgeous concerts which Festival Director, Fergus Linehan says ‘are almost guaranteed to be among the most memorable nights of this year’s festival’. They include the 21st country folk sounds of Bon Iver, spellbinding jazz and funk sounds of The Cinematic Orchestra and the French goddess of contemporary popular music Camille.
The Samsung Mobile Festival Garden plays host to the fabulous Spiegeltent and the very risqué Festival favourite La Clique (be quick to buy your tix!) and the series of intimate music performances by amazing artists including Joanna Molina, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Bill Callahan, Joe Henry and the Moscow Art Trio. The Spiegeltent turns into a free crazy, late night venue with music, dancing and frivolity with Late at the Garden. In the intimate Bosco Theatre you’ll see acts including extraordinary Reggie Watts and a series of secret performances for only $20 at the door. The garden will also be the venue for the free lunchtime public Eat Drink Talk Art with interviews and Q&A’s with major Festival artists.
For a full program of everything from disco to dub, techno, Balearic, house, indie, rock, electro, hip hop, Carioca Funk, dancehall, grime, electronica, rap, samba, reggae, ragga, jazz, funk, pop and punk, Beck’s Festival Bar is the spot to be. Open from 8pm until late with free entry after 11pm. Visit the website for the full line up.
FREE EVENTS
In additional to Festival First Night, highlights include the Dawn Chorus series featuring sunrise concerts on Sydney’s Beaches with the Sydney Philharmonic Choirs; and the iinet Movies and Music Afloat at Darling Harbour and much more. Visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au for more information.
OTHER TIPS & TRICKS
Fast Festival Feasts – Throughout the Festival between 12noon-1pm and 6-7pm, some of Sydney’s best restaurants offer a main course and glass of wine for only $25.
Tix for Next to Nix – If you’ve missed out on tickets or are short of cash, line up at the Tix for Next to Nix in Martin Place. There are only a limited number of tickets available for performances on the day for only $25. The booth opens at 8am, but you’ll need to queue hours before if you are after a popular act.
Getting around – visit www.131500.com.au for public transport details including bus, ferry and trains.
Where to stay – accommodation in Sydney during January is at a premium, but check out www.wotif.com.au or www.lastminute.com.au for cheap last minute deals. For more information and the full festival program visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au or pick up a brochure from a newsagent or one of the Sydney Festival venues.
For more information and the full festival program visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au or pick up a brochure from a newsagent or one of the Sydney Festival venues.
