The best Vivid Music events to attend in 2024

This year, Vivid is gonna put the city’s coolest new post-industrial gig venue on the map. Located on Clarence Street, a stone’s throw from Town Hall and some of the city’s best bars, Machine Hall is a reimagined 100-year-old substation with tall ceilings and a wraparound mezzanine level that provides premium views of the scenes in the 400-person-capacity venue. The Vivid Music programming here ranges from the traditional to the avant-garde – and it starts with a bang, as Sydney’s underground party trailblazers WavyLand present San Francisco singer-songwriter Underscores for a night of hyper-pop mash-ups, pop-punk and electroclash (Wed, June 5). We’re also looking forward to an introspective journey with Jen Cloher, as they offer a folk-rock infused look at the fluidity of identity and the endless possibilities of rock music (Thu, June 6); a unique blend of experimental noise and indie rock from San Fran indie rockers Deerhoof (Thu, June 13); and the soul-stirring calls and melodies of celebrated Arnhem Land songman and ceremony leader Ngulmiya (Fri, June 14).

Some of Sydney’s most vibrant subcultural communities will also be taking over this grand-yet-intimate space for Vivid. Club 4A is an evening of performance, electronic beats and innovation from the Asian diaspora (Fri, Jun 7); local ballroom pioneers House of Silky are serving glamour and sass with The Grand Silky Ball, promising a night of fabulous fashion, fierce voguing and community celebration (Sat, June 8); and we’re in for a “disco-infused exorcism” when Melbourne’s celebrated performance art duo close out the program with The Huxley’s present Personality Crisis, a celebration of queer hope featuring a brilliant array of performances, art, and joyous, well-dressed rebellion (Sat, June 15). Check out the full Machine Hall program and snatch tickets over here.

The Sydney Opera House has built a reputation for hosting some of Vivid’s best gigs, and the Ol’ Dish Rack is bringing hot n’ fresh goods under the Vivid Live banner, getting low with electronic dance parties and contemporary music high notes. And in good news for your bank account, there’s tickets going for less than $50 for 13 live music shows, from epic First Nations producers and hip-hop artists straight outta Western Sydney, to experimental musical journeys and celestially voiced auteurs. 

For less than a pineapple, you can get tix to see the likes of Yuwi-based indie powerhouse Tia Gostelow, who will perform hot off the release of her acclaimed new record Head Noise (Fri, May 24). Exploding out of Perth's indie rock scene, South Summit are bringing their unique hybrid sound of alt-reggae rock to the House (Sat, May 25); and you can also catch a powerful performance from Malyangapa Barkindji rapper Barkaa, a force of influence in Australian hip-hop who made waves with her debut single ‘For My Tittas’ and EP Blak Matriarchy (Fri, May 31). 

Meanwhile, the Vivid Live studio parties at the Opera House are the secret heart of the festival. The Studio space in the belly of the iconic building transforms into a true nightclub, where the most innovative local and international producers embrace their subcultures and audiences can truly lose themselves in the beats deep beneath the sails. Highlights across the six studio parties in 2024 include two takeovers by Sydney icons House of Mince, Mad Racket, dstreet and Astral People featuring international appearances from The Illustrious Blacks, Fred P and Mad Miran. Legendary Sydney DJ Barney Kato also returns with his cutting-edge club night Alien, where he’ll be joined by UK live electro guru Radioactive Man and others. You can read our experience of Vivid Live here. Check out the full lineup of live music and studio concerts for Vivid Live at Sydney Opera House and snap up tickets over here.

Sydney’s favourite rail-workshop-come-multi-arts-venue, Carriageworks is at the dawn of an exciting new era, and their 16-night program of immersive live music and dining experiences is a testament to that. This year’s program also marks a return to Carriageworks’ massive 5000-person venue, Bay 22-24, for the first time since 2019, in an exciting move to bring more major music events to Sydney. 

One of the world’s most influential figures in hip hop culture, Brooklyn-born musician, actor and activist Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) joins Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks for a two-night exploration of his back catalogue and artistic influences. On night one, he’ll pay tribute to the legendary MC MF DOOM, who tragically passed away in 2020, and on night two he’ll celebrate the anniversary of his critically acclaimed seminal album The Ecstatic in a rare exploration into one of the most complex and singular voices in contemporary culture (Weds, Jun 12–Thu, Jun 13). Other international acts include British singer-songwriter Tirzah who will take to the stage with her enchanting, boundary-pushing music for an intimate night of sonically rich sounds (Sat, Jun 15); while experimental American musician and alt-rock star Yves Tumor will make their Australian debut, performing an explosive, genre-bending set (Mon, Jun 10). After taking the world by storm with viral hits like ‘Talk 2 Me’, American singer-songwriter Montell Fish will bring his unique blend of new age electronic-infused gospel soul to Carriageworks (Fri, May 31).

Heading up the Aussie acts is our own 2024 Eurovision representatives, electronic dance duo Electric Fields, who’ll treat audiences to their high-octane live performance and dancefloor sound grounded in ancient melodies (Sat, Jun 1). West Australian psych rock band Pond is heading to Eveleigh hot off the release of their new album (Fri, Jun 14); Brisbane-born dance music duo X CLUB. is set to up the tempo with a frenetic set where techno collides with drum & bass (Sat, Jun 8); Aboriginal singer-songwriter Emma Donovan brings her hypnotising blend of reggae, gospel, soul and country hot off the release of her fifth studio album, Til My Song Is Done (Sat, Jun 15); and, as the biggest orchestrated dance party in Australia, Synthony’s fifty-piece orchestra will collide the most iconic dance anthems spun by world-class DJs with spine-tingling vocalists – all accompanied by breathtaking lighting and visuals (Fri, Jun 7). Check out all upcoming Vivid events at Carriageworks and snatch tickets over here.

Tumbalong Nights makes a return with 12 nights of free performances down at the new and improved outdoor concert stage at the heart of the Vivid Light Walk in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, featuring international sounds, diverse languages, interactive sing-a-longs and First Nations Perspectives. DJs will keep the vibes spinning from Sunday to Wednesday nights (May 24–Jun 15) with live music starting at 7.30pm each Thursday to Saturday (and Sunday, June 9) and kids shows each Saturday from 5pm.

Highlights from the un-ticketed series (to reiterate, these are free concerts) include the pop brilliance of internationally loved Brisbane export Mallrat, whose catchy hits include ‘Groceries’ and ‘Charlie’, playing alongside the wry and dreamy sounds of Sydney’s Tiffi (Fri, May 24); a night of fresh and genre-blending sounds to elevate your June long weekend with the R’n’B and vintage bossa nova croon of Grentperez and the pop-indie groove of Friday* (Sat, Jun 8); and an Australian-exclusive performance by Korean Indie luminaries Sunwoojunga and Silica Gel (Fri, Jun 7). 

The series will be closed out by two of the country’s most compelling voices, Budjerah, who’ll deliver his powerful, emotional brand of R’n’B pop, and indie-pop sensation and proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung woman Jem Cassar-Daley (Sat, Jun 15). But before then, you also have the chance to witness an exclusive album launch from First Nations supergroup 3% with guest appearances from Jess Mauboy, Tia Gostelow, Marlon Motlop, Stay True God and Denni (Fri, Jun 14). Check out the full free line-up for Tumbalong Nights over here.