Sydney Festival | Top Five Music Events 2015

Music fans will be spoilt for choice at this year’s Sydney festival with free concerts in the Domain, international headliners and the very best Australian talent. Here are our top five unmissable performances

Far from Folsom

Legendary Australian rock star Tex Perkins channels the spirit of Johnny Cash, recreating his legendary 1968 Folsom Prison concerts within the historic walls of the 19th century Parramatta gaol. Perkins will be accompanied by his band the Tennessee Four and Rachael Tidd taking on June Carter vocals in the appropriately evocative setting.

Far from Folsom takes place at Parramatta gaol on 16, 17 and 18 January.

Beat the Drum

This is bound to be the coolest 40th birthday party you’ve ever been to. Triple Jlaunched as 2JJ in 1975 and has gone on to make an outstanding contribution to Australia’s music culture. The Hottest 100 has enlivened Australia Day, Triple J Unearthed has provided a platform for our emerging artists, and One Night Stand has taken the music to regional communities across the country. Join the party as Triple Jbrings together the very best local bands to celebrate the milestone.

Party with Triple J at Beat the Drum on 16 January in the Domain.

The Artist live in concert

Director Michel Hazanavicius’ masterpiece The Artist, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, is brought to life with the orchestral score performed on stage by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Winner of (only) five Academy Awards including best picture, best director and best original film score, the silent era-style film will be amplified with the live orchestral soundtrack composed by Ludovic Bource and conducted by Ernst van Tiel.

Experience the Artist live in concert on 23 and 24 January in the Concert Hall of Sydney Opera House.

Seu Jorge

Straight from Rio, the much-anticipated Brazilian star Seu Jorge is set to fire up the Domain with his free Summer Sounds concert (as well as the more intimate show atThe Star) on his first Australian tour. Seu Jorge brings the beats of South American reggae, samba and electronic vibes with him, playing covers of our most danceable pop songs (like his Portuguese version of David Bowie in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic) along with original tunes.

See Seu Jorge for free on 10 January in the Domain.

Latvian Radio Choir

Another first for Sydney, the Grammy award-winning Latvian Radio Choir will perform two special a cappella performances of a diverse range of material including a Bach chorale and pieces by composers Henry Purcell, Arvo Pärt, and Pēteris Vasks. Conducted by Sigvards Kļava, the 24-piece chamber choir are known for pushing the boundaries of the human voice and the broad range of traditional forms of singing.

The Latvian Radio Choir performs at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, on 23 and 24 January.

For more information on all Sydney festival events, visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au.Sydney festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.