Vivid Sydney 2025 is shaping up to be a genre-hopping fever dream, with a music program that blends electronic pioneers, indie visionaries, and hip-hop disruptors in a way only Sydney’s most exciting festival can.
Leading the charge is Tangerine Dream, the legendary German outfit whose synth-driven soundscapes have influenced generations of electronic and film composers. The group will take over City Recital Hall, where they’ll be joined by Soccer Mommy, the indie rock darling known for dreamlike guitar work.
Meanwhile, Winston Surfshirt is set to bring his fusion of funk, hip-hop, and R&B to Tumbalong Nights, the festival’s free concert series that will also highlight global acts like V-Pop stars Mỹ Anh & Chi Xê, Grammy-winning Ivorian artist Dobet Gnahoré, and Korea’s indie sensation Stella Jang.
The chaos kicks up a notch at Oxford Art Factory, where UK drill duo Pete & Bas—arguably the most unexpected rap success story in recent memory—will take the stage alongside Newcastle’s Steel City Dance Discs, turning the venue into a pulsating hub of grime and high-energy electronic beats. Over at the Metro Theatre, two of Australia’s most influential labels are throwing down for their 10th anniversaries, with Briggs’ Bad Apples Music and Nina Las Vegas’ NLV Records celebrating a decade of shaping the country’s hip-hop and electronic underground.
And of course, Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House is delivering some truly unmissable moments. Anohni and The Johnsons will make their long-awaited return, while Beth Gibbons of Portishead fame brings her haunting vocals to the stage.
Sigur Rós, in collaboration with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, promises to deliver a night of breathtaking post-rock, while Japanese Breakfast’s vibrant energy, Marlon Williams’ soulful storytelling, and Ravyn Lenae’s neo-soul brilliance round out an eclectic bill.
With the festival running from May 23rd to June 14th, Sydney’s nights are about to get longer, louder, and laced with the kind of musical magic that makes Vivid LIVE a calendar highlight.
Full program and tickets available at www.vividsydney.com
