This article is produced in collaboration with Vivid Sydney. Vivid Sydney is proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW.
With just a matter of weeks to go until the 2022 edition of Vivid Sydney kicks off, it’s undoubtedly time to go from the initial shock of seeing such a ferociously packed lineup to the intricate planning process of what to go and see for the 23 nights of the festival.
This year, the likes of Vivid Light, Vivid Ideas, and Vivid Music are all combining to ensure there’s a little something for everyone on offer at this year’s edition of Vivid Sydney, but it goes without saying that the full lineup is a little bit daunting when it comes down to picking which specific events are worth heading along to.
However, rather than just simply urge everyone to go and check out every possible event they can, we’ve put together a handy little list of some of our picks for this year’s Vivid Sydney event.
Baxter Dury
The Metro Theatre, June 4th
Described as something of a “British musical raconteur”, Baxter Dury is an undeniably enigmatic creative force, and as he gears up for his debut Aussie tour, it’s clear that local fans are on track for something life-affirming. The son of acclaimed music icon Ian Dury, Baxter had never particularly planned on kicking off a musical career, but when he did at the turn of the century, it almost felt like fate that he’d follow in his late father’s footsteps.
Though he wryly describes himself as “a guy in an ill-fitting ’80s suit singing over a synthesiser”, it’s a little difficult to perfectly categorise what a Baxter Dury show consists of. Delivering musical brilliance alongside perfect showmanship and an enduring sense of compositional grandeur, we might have been standing by two decades for Dury to visit Aussie shores, but he’s on track to ensure that the wait was more than worth it.
For Sydney With Love
Customs House, May 27th – June 18th
One of the most visually-stunning aspects of Vivid Sydney is undoubtedly its Vivid Light lineup, with some of the finest visual installations on offer being put together for what is a true feast for the senses. Of course, this year is no different, with Ken Done, Spinifex Group, and James Morrison coming together to curate For Sydney With Love.
A powerful visual representation of the Harbour City through the eyes of the great Done, For Sydney With Love looks to celebrate the city, its icons and natural environment – on the foreshore and the harbour, under the sea, in the sky – as seen through the artist’s imagination.
“The joy of colour and the great pleasure of living in Sydney,” explains Done. “A constant source of inspiration to a lifetime of work.”
‘For Sydney with Love’: Artists such as Ken Done have contributed to the masterful Vivid Sydney 2022 lineup. (Photo: Spinifex Group)
Vivid Sydney Supper Club
Mary’s Underground, from May 27th
Perfectly designed to cap off each unforgettable Friday and Saturday evening, the all new Vivid Sydney Supper Club sees uber-diva host Trevor Ashley curating a night to remember at Mary’s Underground. Running from 10pm until late, Ashley offers up acclaimed headliners alongside mesmerising jazz, cabaret, burlesque, and comedy acts, with the general vibe being to expect the unexpected.
Alongside the unique variety show style of the evening, the Vivid Sydney Supper Club is also set to showcase a number of headline performances along the way, including the likes of Mahalia Barnes, The Whitlams’ Tim Freedman, Bob Downe, Emma Pask, Ursula Yovich, Paul Capsis, Genevieve Lemon, and of course, your insatiable host, Trevor Ashley. Needless to say, with this much variety on offer, there’s something for quite literally everybody at the Vivid Sydney Supper Club.
Spiritualized
The Big Top, Luna Park, June 16th
It’s been a while since Spiritualized last found themselves on Aussie shores, but since then, they’ve not been lazy, with new album Everything Was Beautiful arriving in April. Armed with their iconic space-rock sound, heartfelt lyricism, and cinematic approach to their craft, J. Spaceman and his group of acclaimed musicians are on track to ensure that the group’s first visit to the country in five years is one to remember.
Troye Sivan on Beauty, Art and Fluidity
Sydney Town Hall, May 29th
One of the country’s finest creatives, Troye Sivan’s work transcends genres, with his music, acting, and art all serving to establish him as one of the most important names in the world today. Now, for Vivid Sydney 2022, Sivan is set to take to Sydney Town Hall on May 29th to embark on a deep-dive conversation with fellow multi-talented creative Lillian Ahenkan – aka Flex Mami – as he reveals his take on beauty, creativity, fluidity, and queer politics.
RVG
Sydney Opera House, May 30th
One of the country’s most important bands, RVG gigs haven’t exactly been as frequent as we would’ve liked in the last few years. Luckily, Vivid Sydney 2022 is set to correct that, with the Melbourne group set to take over the Sydney Opera House for a Vivid LIVE performance as powerful as they are impactful.
Vivid Sydney 2022
Friday, May 27th – Saturday, June 18th
Sydney, NSW
More info and tickets: Vivid Sydney
