This year’s Vivid Music program is massive – here are the must-see acts

Vivid Sydney has developed a reputation for bringing class acts to the city – in the past, the 23-day festival has featured The Cure, Bon Iver, Anohni, St Vincent and Lou Reed. This year is no different, with more than 70 top-tier local and overseas musicians on the bill. Here’s our pick of where to spend your money.

Spunk Records 25 Finale
Sydney Opera House Joan Sutherland Theatre, May 24-25
After kicking off in 1999 and releasing albums from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, ANOHNI, Arcade Fire and the Shins, legendary Sydney indie record label Spunk is finally calling it day – but not before going out with a bang. This two-night celebration of all things Spunk will feature Texan post-rock band Explosions In The Sky playing in full their classic 2003 album The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, plus Kiwi indie-folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding and Townsville indie-pop band The Middle East reuniting for a rare live performance.

Devonté Hynes: Selected Classical Works with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, May 29
You may not have heard of Devonté Hynes, but a lot of your favourite artists have. The in-demand singer, songwriter and record producer has worked with artists including Solange, Kylie Minogue, FKA Twigs, A$AP Rocky, Haim, Florence and the Machine and Mariah Carey. Although he’s released several acclaimed experimental R&B solo albums as Blood Orange, the classically trained Hynes has been dabbling in classical music of late. This one-off performance is his first show in Australia in more than a decade.

Thelma Plum
Sydney Opera House Joan Sutherland Theatre, May 29
After wowing the crowd in a 2022 performance with Paul Kelly at the Opera House, Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum is back for her first-ever headline show at the iconic venue. With a reputation as a formidable live performer, Plum has had two esteemed Pauls – Kelly and McCartney – contribute to the same song on her debut album, 2019’s Gold-selling Better in Blak. Although it’s yet to be officially announced, expect to hear a preview of songs from Plum’s highly anticipated second album.

Fever Ray
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, June 5-6
From acclaimed electronic duo The Knife to solo project Fever Ray, Sweden’s Karin Dreijer straddles the fine line between pop pleasure and challenging listeners’ comfort zones. Last year’s critically acclaimed third LP, Radical Romantics, may be Dreijer’s best work to date, a daring collection of songs exploring identity, sexuality and desire that featured production work from Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Dreijer’s live shows are heavy on outlandish costumes and make-up, so expect a healthy dose of theatricality.