This year Sydney Festival is home to over 130+ events. shows and gigs. We've put together a selection of some of the best sounds from around the world, a rich tapestry of culture, melodies, beats and grooves to help you get the party started this summer.
JOSEPH TAWADROS QUARTET
"Joseph Tawadros is blessed with one of the most inquisitive musical minds around" Sydney Morning Herald
From thrilling and furiously paced numbers to beautifully introspective and tranquil tracks, Tawadros and his oud instrument have brought striking character to orchestral concerts everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall for BBC Proms, to Sydney Opera House. The Quartet features distinguished Sydney musicians, each a leader in his own field: Matt McMahon (piano), Karl Dunnicliff (double bass) and brother James Tawadros on Egyptian percussion.
11 Jan
$49 + BF
Speakers Corner (pop-up venue)
cnr. College St and William St, Sydney
GORDON KOANG
"Whether he’s singing in English, Arabic, or Nuer, [Koang] emotes like someone who’s used to making himself heard over raucous crowds" Pitchfork
Blind since birth, Koang’s blend of traditional Neur rhythms and original compositions made him a household name in South Sudan and earned him the nickname “King of Music”. Following a glowingly received 2020 album, Unity, Koang continues to promote his message of hope and resilience through music. He recorded the double A-side release, ‘Coronavirus/Disco’, at Button Pusher studio in Melbourne after a grueling lockdown, playing his signature stringed-instrument, the thom, alongside some of the city’s best musos.
$39 + BF
Speakers Corner (pop-up venue)
cnr. College St and William St, Sydney
JAMES MORRISON QUARTET WITH WILLIAM BARTON
"One of Australia’s National Living Treasures" Arts Hub
Internationally renowned jazz trumpeter James Morrison joins William Barton, a proud Kalkadunga man whose extraordinary musicality and virtuoso command of the didgeridoo have seen him perform with the Berlin and London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Australian jazz icon James Morrison has toured the world playing with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock, performed for queens and presidents, and recorded with both INXS and the London Symphony Orchestra.
9 Jan
$59 + BF
Speakers Corner (pop-up venue)
cnr. College St and William St, Sydney
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