Category: MUSIC

Personalise your listening life: Spotify’s new Only You feature

Music woman

Because no one knows you like you do, Spotify’s got onto it and is offering a new global in-app experience, creating personalised playlists celebrating the uniqueness of how you listen. It’s about celebrating how you listen and offers features that do that in all its glory. Think: Audio Birth Chart: Brought to life through the artists you listen to Sun: the top artist you’ve listened to over the last six months Moon: an artist you listen to that best shows their emotional or vulnerable side Rising: an artist you’ve recently connected with Dream Dinner Party: The three artists you’d invite to the dinner party of your dreams. Once selected, Spotify will create a personalised Spotify Mix for each artist to set the mood.  Artist Pairs: The unique audio pairings that you’ve listened to recently, showing your range of listening interests.  Song Year: How you’ve musically traveled through different time periods.  Time of Day: The music and podcast content you listen to either early in the morning or late at night.  Genres/Topics: How music and podcast genres set them apart based on your listening habits. Check it out on Spotify now!

Australian Chamber Orchestra ‘Bach and Beyond’ series premiers this March 2021

Bach Beyond

For those who missed the February instalment of Rapture and Revolution by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, then never fear, there’s a March instalment on its way that showcases the incredible work of one of time’s most illustrious composers Titled Bach and the Beyond on 31 March 2021 and directed by Matisse Ruby with cinematography by Tyson Perkins, the second film includes a performance from the world’s greatest living flautist Emmanuel Pahud. Recorded during his time in lockdown in Berlin, it’ll make for a rare opportunity to see international and Australian musicians performing music together remotely, as part of ACO’s inaugural 2021 digital season. At a time when we are all grappling with finding trust in this new world and hope for the future, it is astonishing how relevant Bach remains. This evocative and impassioned concert film pitches Bach’s timeless search for redemption alongside compositions by Richard Tognetti, elevated by the mesmerising vocals of Satu Vänskä*. Get your tickets to Back and the Beyond at the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s website. *Source

LGBT+ theatre entertainment for Mardi Gras in Sydney: Darlinghurst Theatre Company launches Darlo Sessions

Singer 1

The Darlo in Sydney is redefining what the theatre can be for for audiences and performers. And no time like the present with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras upon us. Known for removing barriers, the company will be launching ‘Darlo Sessions’ on Friday, 26 February over three weekends to introduce a lush new way to experience Australia’s live music scene.  To celebrate, we’re spotlighting the amazing queer and gender-diverse performers involved to celebrate the incredible music that they’re creating. It’s an amazing platform for emerging and established queer and gender-diverse artists to experiment in the iconic space, with each night showcasing two artist performances at 7pm and 9pm, allowing patrons to treat themselves to a specially aligned double bill.  Head along to see artists like: JarmarzOnMarz  Jamaica Moana  DVNA  Essie Holt Boy and Bucket Erin Clare  Hot Potato Band  KYVA  imbi Huck Hastings (Album Launch) Brendan Maclean + Jack Colwell  Okenyo  Banoffee Tickets start from $35 and can be purchased through the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, back up top.

Bring music back to your life after lockdown: The Philharmonia Orchestra is back

Philharmonia Orchestraå

If you’ve been down – and who hasn’t – then, prepared to be brought well-and-truly all the way back up, thanks to a new initiative in London. The Philharmonia Orchestra from London’s Southbank Centre is, this season, bringing out programme for October and November 2020: six online performances in two strands, encompassing live-streamed concerts, pre-recorded performances and radio broadcasts, as the Orchestra continues to build out its new digital performance schedule. Called Philharmonia Sessions, they’re putting on a series of critically acclaimed free, pre-recorded digital performances, conceived and created especially for an online audience! It’ll continue with two new releases, following three films this summer that have reached six-figure audiences in the UK and around the world, and drawn critical acclaim. The next Philharmonia Sessions feature Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting Beethoven’s ballet score, The Creatures of Prometheus (24 November), in a dramatic format filmed at Battersea Arts Centre with Stephen Fry narrating a new script by Gerard McBurney. The project is adapted from the programme that Salonen would have opened with for the Philharmonia’s 2020/21 London Season. Jakub Hr?ša and cellist Alisa Weilerstein follow on 5 November, in an all-Dvo?ák programme featuring his Rondo and Silent Woods for cello and orchestra. Both Philharmonia Sessions will be premiered, free-to-view, on the Philharmonia’s YouTube channel. There’s more, too. Scroll on for the full listing or find more at the Philharmonia Orchestra website. LIVE STREAM: SANTTU-MATIAS ROUVALI – AMERICAN DREAMSMonday 26 October 2020, 7.30pm Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor COPLAND Appalachian SpringSTEVE REICH Music for Pieces of WoodPRICE Dances in the CanebrakesSTRAVINSKY Dumbarton Oaks Live streamed from Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, and then available on-demand. Streamed… Read More

ACO Transfigured – The Australian Chamber Orchestra is bringing back live performances

Australian chamber orchestra

The Australian Chamber Orchestra will return to the concert hall for the first time in six months to present ‘ACO Transfigured’, a limited week-long season performed in front of a live audience. It’ll be socially distanced and take to the stage at Sydney’s City Recital Hall from 5-11 September 2020.  The Covid pandemic hit the orchestra in a way they couldn’t have predicted, with artistic director Richard Tognetti having retooled and found himself increasingly behind the camera, working to present an innovative and engaging digital season for audiences around the world.  “We have been waiting for this moment since March and are thrilled to be able to share our music with a live audience once again. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled us and orchestras around the world to find new ways to bring music to a world in lockdown. ACO is a national orchestra and although we are grateful that current restrictions allow us to reunite with our audience in Sydney, we will continue to develop and expand our digital offering to reach our audiences across the country and overseas, until we can begin touring again,” he said. The orchestra will perform among other pieces, Mendelssohn’s beloved String Quartet in D major Op.44 No.1 arranged for strings, and Schoenberg’s masterpiece, Verklärte Nacht (‘Transfigured Night’), which will bring the one hour concert with no interval to an exquisite close. See more at the ACO website Tickets start from $59 and will go on sale to ACO Donors and Subscribers 10am Thursday 27 August and to the general public 9am Friday 28… Read More

Electric Gardens Festival Sydney: Craig David’s back

Electric Gardens

Electric Gardens is on. For lovers of quality tunes at a quality spot, Electric Gardens will deliver its biggest and most diverse lineup yet for its 5th anniversary on 22 Feb. Half a decade of cutting-edge producers and world-class DJs will be celebrated in Sydney’s shining Centennial Park. Mint location. Electric Gardens 2020 features a stellar international and local talent spread across four stages. The Electric Gardens 2020 bill is headed up by acclaimed UK artist Craig David, who will be bringing his widely-praised TS5 show Down Under. Combining his skills as a DJ and live performer, TS5 sees David fuse seasoned classics with contemporary anthems for a sprawling party set, drawing upon his extensive background in UK Garage, dance, pop and R&B. David’s high-energy TS5 set has graced the biggest festivals stages across the globe including Glastonbury, Tomorrowland and will now close out Electric Gardens in riveting fashion. Then, we’re looking at the likes of: Smiley Face, Armand Van Helden (one-half of Duck Sauce) DJ EZ, the master selector who has honed his incredible skills on radio airwaves, clubs and festivals for well over two decades.  Gorgon City  Pan-Pot and the esteemed Alan Fitzpatrick Reinier Zonneveld will flex his skills with a punchy live set. And more. Go to the Electric Gardens website to sort yourself out.

The best French music festival, So Frenchy So Chic, coming to London

Camille at So Frenchy So Chic

Australia’s home-grown French pop festival So Frenchy So Chic will travel to London for the first time next year, bringing the best of French vocals to France’s neighbour. The inaugural So Frenchy So Chic London will take place on 5 September 2020 in the exquisite grounds of the World Heritage-listed Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich. So Frenchy So Chic is the only festival dedicated to French music outside French-speaking countries.  It started in Melbourne Australia, moved to Sydney and the festival that has hosted such vocal stunners as Camille – who headlined January’s all-female line-up – Émilie Simon, Moriarty, Lou Doillon, Féfé, The Dø, and Yelle, the festival’s heading home. For more and to get your tickets, go to the website.

The 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras theme and program has been revealed and it’s magical

Mardi Gras 2020

What Matters has been revealed as the theme for the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and it promises to be bigger and bolder than ever.  The theme builds on the legacy of Mardi Gras – a platform for activism, encouraging the community to think about creating a more inclusive future.  “This year we celebrate those at the forefront of the fight for equality. From ground-breaking queer artists to trailblazing thought leaders, Mardi Gras 2020 is an opportunity to visit the next destinations on our journey of diversity, inclusion and social justice,” says Mardi Gras Arts Interim CEO, Grant Lowe.  Mark it on your calendars! Friday 14 February 2020 is when the festivities kick off, with a diverse program of events running until Sunday 1 March 2020. They’ll be dazzling dance parties, top-tier theatre, music, world-class workshops and family-focused fun, with the iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade taking place on Saturday 29 February, 2020. The post-Mardi Gras Parade celebrations will continue with the iconic Mardi Gras Party happening at the Hordern Pavilion with the electrifying Dua Lipa headlining. The pavillion and its surrounding areas will be transformed into a brand-new adult playland with the party starting at 11pm – 8am. Fourth release tickets are on sale now.  There’s a supersized program on offer including the pre-eminent vogue ball, Sissy Ball and iconic festival classics such as Fair Day and Laneway, the traditional closing event of Mardi Gras. There’s no shortage of thought-provoking workshops and community events, with Queer Thinking taking over… Read More

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is back with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Let the fabulous Australian Brandenburg Orchestra transport you to the Italian countryside for a few hours with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons concert series commencing 1 November through to 15 November. With nine performances in total, six will be located at City Recital Hall, Sydney, two in Melbourne at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall and one performance at Parramatta Riverside Theatres, Sydney.  The two-hour program includes Telemann Concerto for 4 violins in G major; Telemann Ouverture-Suite in C major, Water Music and Vivaldi’s magical, The Four Seasons. Vivaldi’s extraordinary four violin concertos were composed in the baroque period and depict the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each concerto has three movements, fast-slow-fast. The Brandenburg Orchestra – one of Australia’s favourite period instrument ensembles – will perform under the direction of the brilliant Artistic Director, Paul Dyer. Dyer co-founded the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra 30 years ago and has taken the orchestra from strength to strength. You can’t help but admire Dyer’s love and passion for his work and the orchestra, which is clearly evident when watching him perform on stage, smiling from ear to ear, as he plays along with the rest of the orchestra on his harpsichord.   Concertmaster and Baroque violin soloist, Shaun Lee-Chen delights the audience with an unforgettable performance of one of Vivaldi’s most well-known pieces. Even those among us who aren’t staunch classical fans will enjoy The Four Seasons, a piece that has the ability to appeal and speak to a wide audience. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s also timely to… Read More

Cut Copy and London’s Somerset House Summer Series takes over the West End

Somerset House Cut Copy

Across eleven nights of open-air gigs, Somerset House Summer Series with American Express will be pumping out music, food and drinks and good vibes, while the sun’s in the sky and everyone’s mood is high. The Series is all about bringing a vibrant festival atmosphere to the very heart of London with a programme of pioneering musicians across a range of genres For example, on Friday 19 July, Melbourne band Cut Copy will take to the stage right in the middle of Somerset House, serving up some of the band’s latest work, an entirely new flavour all their own. “Shaking off some of the Balearic and acid house leanings heard on older releases, their new tracks favour Afrobeat textures, dubby rhythm sections and sweeping disco synths with an upbeat, effervescent tone that reflects their Melbourne origins,” says Somerset House. Summer Series gives music fans a live experience unlike any other, with the rare chance to see critically acclaimed artists plus some of the best up and coming performers in a spectacular yet intimate setting. Before Cut Copy, London was looking at the likes of Nao, Sons of Kemet, Jacob Banks and Rosalia + Badgirl$. See the full line-up here. The series ends on 21 July, so get in quickly, or sign up to Somerset House’s newsletter for when they do it again.