AIR, FEVER RAY, DEVONTÉ HYNES AND MORE CONFIRMED FOR VIVD LIVE 2024

Vivid LIVE delivers another magnificent musical lineup for this year’s festival.

The full lineup for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House has dropped today. Taking place from May 24 to June 15, the annual festival features another standout lineup of musical talent. This year’s event includes over 50 Australian and international artists performing at six venues across the Sydney Opera House complex. 

One of the headline acts is French electronic pioneers Air. The duo is currently touring the globe performing their dreamy debut album, Moon Safari, in full, with Australian audiences getting the chance to experience this classic record in the confines of the Sydney Opera House this May.

Venezuelan experimental pop act Arca is playing exclusively at Vivid LIVE. Having collaborated with the likes of Björk, Frank Ocean and FKA Twigs, she has a magnetic presence, with her live shows a visual and audible experience. 

Hip-hop superstar Yasiin Bey, better known as Mos Def, is playing two shows at Vivid this year. One will include Bey performing his 2009 classic The Ecstatic in its entirety, which is a show no rap fan will want to miss. 

Blood Orange’s Devonté Hynes is touching down in Australia for the first time in over a decade after having to pull out of last year’s festival. He is playing at the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Fever Ray brings her unique electronic soundscapes to Vivid LIVE for her first-ever Australian shows. The moniker of Swedish musician Karin Dreijer, formerly of The Knife, Fever Ray is another act you do not want to miss. 

UK dance legends Underworld are playing three nights in the Concert Hall after previously performing as part of the festival in 2019. 

Other acts playing Vivid LIVE include Swedish rapper Yung Lean, indie pop songstress Sky Ferreira, soul singer Snoh Aalegra and Texas post-punk favourites Explosions in the Sky. Sydney hip-hop label Elefant Traks, which announced its closure last week, is hosting a farewell bash at the Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre. The lineup for this epic party will feature Hermitude, The Herd, OKENYO, Horrorshow, ANESU, The Last Kinection, Urthboy, B Wise, Jimblah and Nardean, with more acts set to be announced. 

There will also be plenty of local artists playing, with 12 nights of free live music in Tumbalong Park. Some of the great Aussie talent that make up the festival include The Middle East, Budjerah, Mallrat, Thelma Plum, grentperez and more. 

Sydney Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall is curating the Vivid LIVE at the Opera House for the seventh time. As reported by Rolling Stone, he had this to say about this year’s event: “ “Convention-defying sonic and visual artistry defines Vivid LIVE 2024 with the Australian debuts of the mind-bending Venezuelan electronica paragon Arca, Swedish iconoclast Fever Ray and the next generation of soul, Snoh Aalegra.

“Experience Australian exclusive appearances by French cult favourites AIR performing their iconic Moon Safari in full, UK’s titans of techno and joy Underworld back for three nights and the multi-talented Devonté Hynes with the might of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and conductor Matthew Lynch.

“Behold the Tuareg trailblazers and masters of desert blues, Tinariwen, the enigmatic Sky Ferreira, as well as a host of powerful homegrown visionaries Thelma Plum, Vv Pete, Tasman Keith, BARKAA, Maple Glider, and more. Join us in celebrating the 25th anniversaries and finales of local independent music makers Elefant Tracks and Spunk Records as they leave an indelible mark on the scene with huge one-off parties.

The fiercely talented 2023 Archibald Prize winner Julia Gutman’s stunning animated patchworks ignite the iconic sails each night for Echo, a story of confronting your shadow, in an epic collaboration with fellow Sydney-based creative artists, animation technologists Pleasant Company and musician Angus Mills. I’m thrilled to contribute this Vivid LIVE 2024 program to Vivid Sydney, infusing life and energy into the heart of this city I love so much.”

Head to the Vivid LIVE website for the full lineup. Pre-sale tickets go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12.