The heart of the city is again transformed for Festival First Night – an extravaganza that invites everyone to experience Sydney in spectacular and surprising new ways. All are welcome, big and small. And it’s all free.
5:00 – 7:00 PM (Hyde Park West)
NORMAN JAY’S GOOD TIMES SOUND SYSTEM
Norman Jay is one of the world’s most celebrated DJs. A man renowned for igniting dance floors with his killer soul, funk and disco tunes, Norman Jay’s double-decker bus is the single biggest attraction at Notting Hill Carnival in London, Europe’s greatest street party. For Festival First Night, Norman Jay is rolling into Hyde Park, spinning a marathon set of idyllic summer classics atop his party bus, all in the name of Good Times.
7:30 – 8:30 PM (The Domain)
GURRUMJUL
Opening The Domain Stage is one of Australia’s great music talents Gurrumul Yunupingu. Blind since birth, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is a member of the Gumatj clan of north east Arnhem Land.
As a two-time winner of both Arias and Deadlys, Gurrumul has already made a huge contribution to the Australian music industry. Performing in a mix of Yolngu and English, Gurrumul takes the songs and stories of his clan and adapts them with contemporary song styles into a sublime and distinctive sound all his own.
WASHINGTON
With the ability to slide from jazz to pop via spiky new wave, Washington is one of Australia’s most promising young talents. Already a double ARIA Award-winner, Washington has collaborated with the likes of Tim Finn, Paul Grabowsky and Paul Kelly, all before the ripe age of 24. A former bandmate of Ben Lee and Old Man River, since stepping into the limelight Washington has become her very own musical force to be reckoned with. Returning from New York for her two exclusive Festival appearances, be sure to hit the Domain for Washington’s First Night extravaganza.
MANU CHAO LA VENTURA
Manu Chao visits Australia for the first time to play exclusively at Sydney Festival. Having made music since the late 80s as leader of rock outfit Mano Negra and then as a solo artist, Chao is one of the world’s most well-known and respected musicians, with a huge cult following in all corners of the globe – from South, Central and North America to Europe, Japan, Africa and back – selling more than 10 million albums.
8:30 – 9:30 PM (College St)
AS THE WORLD TIPPED
A real life disaster movie performed live in the night sky, As The World Tipped takes over the evening skyline with its towering presence in College Street. Combining dramatic film and visuals with breath-taking aerial performance, this work confronts climate change, one of the most pressing issues for the planet with spectacle, humour and emotion.
Once the stage tips, the College Street stage transforms into a live site broadcasting footage from the city’s other sites.
8:30 – 11:00 PM (Elizabeth St)
THE JOLLY BOYS
For nearly 60 years, and via the wild parties of Errol Flynn, The Jolly Boys have been integral to the fabric of Port Antonio’s musical landscape and cultural heritage. Masters of mento, Jamaica’s answer to calypso, this band has rocked innumerable private soirées, charming the travelling elite and touring the world with their wild collection of re-imagined contemporary pop hits and originals, leaving an indelible mark on everyone who has heard them.
TROCADERO DANCE PALACE
Rockabillies, lindy-hoppers, swingsters and cha cha cha-ers will converge on Sydney’s CBD as Elizabeth Street is transformed into a contemporary outdoor dance palace. Relive the glory of the 1940′s and 50′s Trocadero as director Kris Stewart and choreographer Cameron Mitchell bring the decadent glamour of this era to the streets. Hosted by uber-diva Trevor Ashley and fuelled by thejiving sounds of the Sirens Big Band, this 21st Century twist on a 50′s classic will have you dancing in the streets. Following the success of last year’s Troc at Sydney Town Hall, Festival First Night invites you to frock up in all your fabulous finery, grab a partner and soak up the atmosphere of Sydney’s hottest street swing.
For more details on schedule of events, go to…
http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/uploads-2012/file/FFN_SCHEDULE_2012_LOGOS_FA.pdf
