LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide Jan 20th
Aussie singer-songwriter and working class icon Paul Kelly performs the first of his A – Z Shows at City Recital Hall in Angel Place on Thurs 20th, with repeat performances on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Live electronic trio and phonetic spellers Seekae perform at Tone in Surry Hills on Thursday where they preview their album TSFP (The Sound of Trees Falling on People). Fri 21st has Perth five-piece Boom! Bap! Pow! perform their R&B soul at Raval – get there early to nab a luxurious antique armchair or two at this boutique venue. Saturday 22nd sees favourites and regular MCs of the late J Dilla, Guilty Simpson and Phat Kat, perform at Tone for what promises to be a hidden gem amongst the January buzz so far. Local smoothie Ray Mann plays at Bar Me in King’s Cross, also on Saturday – a must see for those not familiar with his effortlessly hip nu-soul. Sunday 23rd finds drum’n’bass legend Andy C play for the Ram Records Summer Boat Party on Bella Vista Boat (details through Ram Records website). The ever-cool former Kanye protégé Lupe Fiasco plays Enmore Theatre on Monday 24th, with supports by local stars in their own right, Muph and Plutonic. U.K.’s Plan B bring their hip-hop soul our way on the same night at The Metro, making for some healthy competition on a school night. Musician, performer, T.V. host, nightclub owner and absolute loose cannon, Andrew W.K. returns to Aus with his full band, playing Oxford Arts Factory for the Sydney chapter of his tour on Tuesday 25th. Day one of this year’s Big Day Out hits Sydney Showground on Wednesday 26th, with a veritable “best of” line-up featuring Iggy Pop, Rammstein and Tool amongst scores more. Those looking for something less overwhelming can find Baltimore’s cinematic pop duo Beach Houses with guests Parades at Beck’s Festival Bar. Producer, singer and drummer Wally de Backer, a.k.a. Gotye, plays City Recital Hall at Angel Place on Thursday 27th, new material in tow. The prolific, ambitious and always surprising Sufjan Stevens plays a sold-out show at Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney Festival. Those lucky enough to grab tickets will see epically orchestrated pieces from Stevens’ latest album, The Age of Adz, taken to the stage. Friday 28th finds pub-rock icon Jimmy Barnes tear up Newcastle Panthers, while the frankly very good Hungry Kids Of Hungary play Mona Vale Hotel. Closer to the centre of town, Aloe Blacc performs his smooth soul at Beck’s Festival Bar, while enigmatic instrumental producer duo Ratatat play University of Sydney’s Manning Bar and Brooklyn twelve piece Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros play The Forum with special guests. At the other end of the spectrum, Polish jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stanko brings his quintet to City Recital Hall – a true star of the modern international jazz scene. Saturday 29th sees The Metro on George St host Scottish rockers Primal Scream for their “Screamadelica” Live show, where they recreate their career-defining album. Minimal electronic duo Booka Shade play The Forum, while local rising rockstars Birds of Tokyo play down south at Towradgi Beach’s Waves Nightclub. Anyone up for some live quality Aussie metal can find it at the Annandale Hotel on Sunday 30th, where Resist The Thought and Buried In Verona continue their I Wanna Give It tour.
