Bjork, Brian Wilson, De La Soul and Sufjan Stevens lead an amazing Sydney Festival line-up.
Next January the Sydney Festival promises to be a stellar exposition of the world's finest dance, art and theatre but the musical section is a revelation.Brian Wilson is slated to perform the landmark Beach Boys album 'Pet Sounds' in its entirety, as well as debuting his new work 'That Lucky Old Sun' to Australian audiences.
Iceland's Bjork presents her wildly imaginative music on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Montreal-based duo Chromeo bring their retro-electro wizardry. Conscious hip-hop pioneers De La Soul and LA underground beatmakers People Under The Stairs team up to hype the crowd. And sensitive American balladeer Sufjan Stevens showcases his grand folk.
Acclaimed UK indietronica outfit Tunng join the festival. Brooklyn indie heroes The National align with Clogs' musical dreamscapes. Ethereal US harpist Joanna Newsom performs her Appalachian folk odes with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Tex Perkins, Clare Bowditch perform the songs of Kev Carmody for the 'Cannot Buy My Soul' event.
And there's more, from Andrew Bird to Amp Fiddler to Mice Parade to Fourplay to the Spanish Harlem Orchestra to a Warp homage night with US math-indie supergroup Battles. The 2008 Sydney Festival truly hosts the finest assembly of music seen in Australia for years.
