Sydney Festival 2011 program

For one month of every year the Harbour City transforms into a bustling centre of creativity, fuelled by the sights and sounds of the Sydney Festival. Running from 9th – 29th January, the 2011 program is one of the event’s most diverse offerings yet, ensuring another magical start to the new year for Sydney.

FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT

In 2010 we shimmied to Al Green, in 2009 we growled to Grace Jones and in 2011 the legendary Emmylou Harris will be heading up the spectacular Festival First Night in the Domain.

Hyde Park will be transformed into all things Cabaret with a performance from Smoke & Mirrors for Festival First Night; Whilst other musical acts performing across the city for free on the night include, Arrested Development, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker and Chinese folk-rock rogues Hanggai.

BECK’S FESTIVAL BAR

Come January, Becks Festival Bar is the musical destination in Sydney. Each year it produces a diverse line-up of bands and DJs whilst also opening up its doors to the late night party crowds looking for the perfect place to soak up the city’s balmy summer evenings.

January 9th – The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, I Like It Like That Orchestra & Russ Dewbury
January 10th – Arrested Development & The Last Kinection
January 12th – The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & Super Wild Horses
January 13th – Future Classic: Henrik Schwarz
January 14th – FBi Night: Gold Panda, Djanimals & kyü
January 15th – PICNIC: DJ Harvey & DJ Garth
January 19th – Scribe, Ru C.L. & Radical Son
January 20th – Wire, HEALTH & Popfrenzy DJs
January 21st – Matt and Kim & The Death Set
January 22nd – Cobblestone Jazz, Mathew Jonson & Murat Kilic (Reckless Republic)
January 26th – Beach House & Parades
January 27th – FBi Night: Holy Fuck & My Disco
January 28th – Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme, Benji B, Waajeed & Africa Hitech
January 29th – Mad Racket: Octave One (Live)

OTHER MUSICAL GOODNESS:

Emmylou Harris – The State Theatre, January 9th, 10th
Los Lobos – Enmore Theatre, January 14
Paul Kelly A-Z shows – City Recital Hall Angel Place, January 20-23
Sufjan Stevens – Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, January 27-28
Orkestra del Sol – Parramatta Town Hall, January 21-22
Royal Crown Review – Sutherland Entertainment Centre, January 21-22
Beach House – City Recital Hall Angel Place, January 27
Gotye – City Recital Hall Angel Place, January 27
Tomasz Stanko Quintet – City Recital Hall Angel Place, January 28

SPIEGELTENT MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

Smoke & Mirrors – January 6th – February 6th
Hanggai – January 9th
Eddie Perfect in Misanthropology – January 9th-30th
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – January 9th, 11th, 12th
Holly Miranda – January 15th, 16th, 18th
Ólöf Arnalds – January 22nd-23rd
Mountain Man – January 13th-14th
Holly Golightly and The Brokeoffs – January 5th, 16th
Owen Pallett – January 19th -21st
Colm Mac Con Iomaire – January 25th -27th
The Unthanks – January 28-30th
Villagers – February 4-5th

MOVIES IN THE QUAD

From January 18th – 23rd Sydney University will be hosting a selection of Australian Films and live musical performances before each screening, that are in someway connected to each of the films. The selection includes Kev Carmody and One Night the Moon; The Necks and The Boys; Decoder Ring and Somersault.

LIVE

Live is an intimate video study of the art of performing featuring more than 20 of the world’s best singers and musicians performing a song of their choice in stark simplicity on film.

The filmed performers include Jarvis Cocker, Peaches, Warren Ellis, Feist, Gareth Liddiard, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Juliette Lewis, Kim Salmon, Róisín Murphy, Lisa Kekeula (The Bellrays), Jimmy Little, Ron Peno, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Dan Kelly, Laura Jean, Clare Bowditch, Julian Hamilton (The Presets), Kram (Spiderbait) and Sarah Blasko.

The large-scale video installation will screen in the Lower Town Hall from January 13, with the special opening night show also featuring live solo performances from Gareth Liddiard , Sarah Blasko, Kram and Laura Jean.

There are of course a tonne of amazing theatre shows, films and exhibitions all taking place across January ad part of the Festival. Check out the Sydney Festival Website for the full program of events and ticketing information for each of the shows.