Iconic music venue goes pop
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Popera star … Sinead O’Connor leads a raft of alternative music artists play at the Sydney Opera House this summer. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
THE world’s biggest music trendsetters will continue the Sydney Opera House’s transformation as the pop venue every act wants to play this summer.
Controversial pop artist Sinead O’Connor will make only her second Sydney performance in 30 years at the Concert Hall on March 19.
The venue will also host the long-awaited debut concerts of British pop genre-bender Neneh Cherry, who has teased Australian fans with almost tours for the past 25 years.
A number of the Music At The House summer concerts have already sold out, including two performances from Icelandi folk star Asgeir whose In The Silence record dominated the ARIA top 10 earlier this year.
Folk hero … Icelandic singer-songwriter Asgeir has already sold out two shows at the SOH this summer. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
“When I told my family and friends about the Sydney Opera House show they were pretty surprised … because when you say ‘I’m playing the SOH’ that’s one of the places everyone recognises and its just unbelievable for anyone to hear,” Asgeir said.
“I remember when I reading about this venue when I was just a kid, seven or eight years old, that was probably the first time I heard about it.
“I always wanted to go there at least, wanted to see it, and being able to play there and two shows now is unbelievable, and I’m still figuring out how I feel about it, I know I feel good about it at least.”
Solo show … Blur frontman will support his debut solo album with two concerts in December. Picture: AP / Marco Ugarte.
Source: AP
The Opera House has also secured exclusive shows in Sydney by Blur frontman Damon Albarn, the Violent Femmes, the Gipsy Kings and Rodrigo Y Gabriela, the popular Mexican acoustic guitar duo.
The Concert Hall will also host the Australian debut of In Dreams: David Lynch Revisited, a tribute to the music of the famed director’s works including Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet and Eraserhead.
A raft of indie pop, electronic and alternative rock artists have now been announced for concerts at the House this summer including Swedish singer songwriter Lykke Li and fellow chart stars Little Dragon, alongside Scottish instrumental heavyweights Mogwai and Canadian producer Caribou.
“It’s the kind of place you can tell your parents and they’re like ‘Oh, he’s doing all right’,” Caribou said.
“Everybody in the world recognises the building, knows the vibe and the aesthetic of the place.
“But I think it’s really nice that it’s not just for one particular kind of music, it’s all sorts of different things can play there.”
The Avant Guard … Swedish singer songwriter Lykke Li will tick the Sydney Opera House off her to-do list in February. Picture: Theo Wargo / Getty Images.
Source: Getty Images
British breakthrough singer songwriter Ben Howard, who topped the UK charts last week with his second record, I Forget Where We Were, is expected to sell out his show on March 29 when tickets go on sale from Monday.
“It’s a dream to play such an inconic venue,” Howard said.
Many of the artists have booked their sideshows from festival appearances at the East Coast Blues and Roots festival or Womad 2015 at the Opera House this year, including Angelique Kidjo and Mavis Staples, who perform together on April 12.
Head Of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall said the Opera House wanted to champion new artists as much as celebrating traditional music performances in the revered venue.
“Music At The House aims to elevate the contemporary music experience for audiences and artists alike by championing extradorindary new artists and celebrating legendary ones in perhaps the most iconic venue in the world, a venue that traditionally hosts orchestras, operas and ballets,” he said.
