LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide 10th Feb
The St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival, always on the pulse of what’s next, brings out the most daring and hip new indie acts from around the globe to the back streets of our major cities. Now, in its wake, we are treated to side shows from some of the headliners: New York noise makers Les Savvy Fav hit University of Sydney’s Manning Bar on Thursday 10th, while fellow Laneway stars, LA’s Local Natives play The Metro the same night. Sydney’s finest indie act Deep Sea Arcade are showcasing some long-awaited new material on their double bill tour with New Zealand surf-indie comrades Surf City. Friday 11th finds them at Oxford Art Factory, followed by Mona Vale Hotel on Saturday 12th and Cronulla’s Brass Monkey on Sunday 13th – must-see performances by two bands to keep a close eye on in the near future. Saturday 12th has this year’s Good Vibrations Festival take place once more at Centennial Park, with possibly the most critically acclaimed line-up to date; acts include Faithless, Nas and Damien Marley, Erykah Badu, Kelis, Miike Snow, Phoenix, Yolanda Be Cool and Ludacris. Bondi Beach has plenty to offer on Sunday 13th, with the annual South American Festival taking place at Bondi Pavillion, and the Sunday Nice Up featuring funky Brisbane seven-piece Cheap Fakes at the Beach Road Hotel. Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher is touring his DJ sets, with Sydney-siders scoring a free gig at City Hotel on Wednesday 16th. Also on Wednesday, Australia’s own experimental superstars, The Necks, are playing The Basement in Circular Quay; an opportunity best snapped up while these veritable globe-trotters are back in town. Playground Weekender Festival is back on Thursday 17th for another round of debauchery at Del Rio Resort, with this year’s line-up including Lamb, Tricky, Kool and the Gang, De La Soul and Caribou to name a few. Inspiration and predecessors to fellow Mancunians Elbow are the massively underrated I Am Kloot. They’re in the country for their first time, playing The Gaelic in Surry Hills. Saturday finds LA’s throwback soul re-inventors, Mayer Hawthorne and the County, playing the popular Manning Bar with Melbourne’s Electric Empire in support for the entirety of Hawthorne’s national tour. For those in search of something they’ve never seen, satisfaction can be found in any of the performances of the 10th Annual NOW now Festival. Saturday features a solid experimental line-up with Alex White, Justice Yeldham & The Dynamic Ribbon Device, Knifecrimes and Kusum all at Serial Space in Chippendale. Also on Saturday, rock singer/songstress Max Sharam and Friends are providing a night of eclectic and alternative music, including Max’s latest Origin of Janken heavy metal novelty act, at Notes in Newtown. Returning to town for Playground Weekender, old school funk and jazz legend Roy Ayers is performing with his band, including guest singer, local diva Merenia Gillies, at The Basement on Sunday 20th – not to be missed!
