The lineup for Sydney Festival 2014 has been revealed, unveiling an immense selection of rock, folk, country, roots, bluegrass, disco, indie, and everything in between. Organisers have managed to nab Chaka Khan, Amanda Palmer, Lee Ronaldo and Mike Patton just to name a few!
Yesterday, theMusic revealed the acts slated for Sydney Festival Paramatta, a lineup which includes satellite performances from Lee Fields & The Expressions, Bella Kalolo, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tuareg guitarist Bombino, UK singer Edwyn Collins and more.
The full Sydney Festival lineup kicks off with Big Star’s Third. Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active) and Chris Stamey (The dB’s) will play alongside a selection of vocalists through Big Star’s third LP, Third/Sister Lovers.
Disco legend and undisputed Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan will be part of the festival’s opening celebrations in the Sydney CBD, bringing a catalogue of untouchable classics in tow. Her acclaimed vocal ability and lauded performances are sure to get everyone singing along.
Workhorse and one of Australia’s most beloved expatriates, Amanda Palmer will be playing ten shows in a row for next year’s festival. Playing as part of the festivities set for the festival’s special Spiegeltent, Australians in the know are familiar with Palmer’s highly entertaining live spectacles.
Two veritable legends of alternative music, Lee Ronaldo of Sonic Youth, and the inimitable Mike Patton, most famously of Faith No More, will be sharing both a stage and an orchestra, the Ensemble Offspring, for their respective performances.
First, Ronaldo will take the stage with the 15-piece Sydney ensemble to perform Hurricane Transcriptions (Last Night On Earth), a piece written following Hurricane Sandy, before Patton and The Song Company will perform Luciano Berio’s 1965 composition Laborintus II.
The Sun Ra Arkhestra is led by musician Marshall Allen, who’s accompanied by a 12-piece ensemble with a view to continuing the legacy of blues and free jazz legend Sun Ra. Playing through one of the most incredible catalogues in modern music, this will be an unmissable event.
Also on the lineup, experimental EDM duo Matmos, Afro-pop duo Amadou & Mariam, West African guitarist Bombino, garage rock star Kurt Vile, Australian music great Mick Harvey, Lee Fields & The Expressions, John Grant, and more.
Readers can check below for dates and the full Sydney Festival 2014 lineup. The festival runs from 9th to the 26th January and ticketing info is available at the official Sydney Festival website, with tix set to drop Thursday, 24th October 2013.
Sydney Festival 2014 Lineup:
Big Star’s Third
Chaka Khan
Amanda Palmer
Lee Ronaldo
Mike Patton
Sun Ra Arkhestra
Matmos
Amadou & Mariam
Bombino
Kurt Vile
Mick Harvey
Lee Fields & The Expressions
John Grant
Georgia Anne Muldrow
Dom Flemons
Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers
Future Classic Party
Modular Party
Donny Benet & The Donny Benet Show Band
The Staves
9th-26th January 2014
Tix: On sale Thursday, 24th October 2013
