LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide Feb 17th

Playground Weekender Festival is back on Thursday 17^th 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 10^th 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 20^th – not to be missed! Berlin pianist Katya Sourikova is at Sydney’s home of jazz 505 on Monday 21^st with her outstanding quartet. Tuesday 22^nd follows close behind at the same venue with Australian guitar virtuoso James Muller playing with his trio, with Aaron McCoullogh’s Elements 5tet in support as part of Jazzgroove’s local jazz nights. South Carolina producer Chazwick Bundick, a.k.a. Toro Y Moi is at Goodgod Small Club on Tuesday 22^nd for an additional to his sold out Wednesday show. Indie pop regulars Kisschasy are at UNSW Roundhouse in Kensignton on Wednesday 23^rd, where they’ll pop-rock on with Papa vs Pretty and Enola Fall in support. Thursday 24^th has 80s glam rock gods Iron Maiden bring their Final Frontier World Tour to the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Haymarket, sure to be a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun. Solo vocal acrobat Mr. Percival is bringing his loop pedals to Raval in Surry Hills with a one off collaboration with friends and fellow vocalists The Little Stevies. Melbourne based electro hip hop rockers Symbols launch their new EP with Sydney’s Alien Zoo at Spectrum on Oxford St – a cosy venue with great sight lines. Aussie rock legends and all around rat-bags Mental As Anything are back in action at Manly Fisho’s, sure to be a fun night in Sydney’s North with this classic band.