Contemporary Music

Contemporary Music

A selection of some off the very best contemporary music performances and interviews from the Sydney Opera House archive.

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Contemporary Music
  • Music at the House: The Cure, H.E.R., Bon Iver, Solange & more

    The Opera House has played host to many incredible performances. From Bon Iver's goosebump show to Solange's powerful Australian debut, our Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall, chooses 10 of his favourite music videos captured from under the Opera House sails.

    What's your favourite Opera Ho...

  • Ngaiire and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra - Live at Sydney Opera House

    In a rare one-off performance, neo-soul R&B artist Ngaiire joins forces with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for a transcendent night of music, art and power on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, conducted by Nicholas Buc.

    Blending ARIA-nominated First Nations star Ngaiire’s dazzling, futuristic R&...

  • Vance Joy - Clarity

    Making his return to the Opera House for the first time since 2016, chart-topping, ARIA-award-winning folk-pop sensation Vance Joy performs "Clarity'" on the Forecourt in November 2022.

    Live performance of Vance Joy's "Clarity"
    Released 2022
    Performed by Vance Joy
    Edwin White - Musical Director...

  • Fat Freddy's Drop - Blackbird / Shady / Wandering Eye

    One of the world’s most thrilling live bands, Kiwi seven-piece Fat Freddy’s Drop return to the Sydney Opera House for a massive night of jazz, funk, reggae and beats on the Forecourt. Watch this live performance of the songs "Blackbird" and "Shady / Wandering Eye".

    DJ Fitchie aka Chris Faiumu – ...

  • The Necks / In Session

    The award-winning band The New York Times called “the greatest trio on earth” perform live in the Utzon Room, performing their singular mix of avant rock, jazz and ambient music in a unique single-take performance.

    'In Session' is a series of intimate, long-form music films, staged behind closed...

  • HTRK / In Session

    Melbourne electronic post-punk duo HTRK perform live in the Drama Theatre, shortly prior to their Sydney Opera House debut in May 2022, with a set which draws heavily from their acclaimed 2021 album, 'Rhinestones'.

    'In Session' is a series of intimate, long-form music films, staged behind closed...

  • On The Level with TEEKS

    Candid, in-depth, and always revealing, On The Level is a monthly interview series that catches up with artists during their visit to the Sydney Opera House, discussing their careers, inspirations, and preparations for their performance. In our third episode, breakout Māori soul singer TEEKS, a s...

  • On The Level with Gordi

    Candid, in-depth, and always revealing, On The Level is a new monthly interview series that catches up with artists during their visit to the Sydney Opera House, discussing their careers, inspirations, and preparations for their performance. In our first episode, acclaimed singer-songwriter Gordi...

  • Sampa The Great - Final Form

    Sampa The Great presents An Afro Future, with special guests Mwanjé, KYE and sounds by C.FRIM. Watch the finale track of her Vivid LIVE performance that brought the house down 'Final Form'.

    Rent her full performance now on Stream.

    Imagining a world of creativity and culture beyond the confines...

  • Tkay Maidza - 24k

    After a four-year hiatus, and fresh off her tour with Billie Eilish, Zimbabwe-born Australian hip-hop star Tkay Maidza makes her long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut.

    Watch her fun and energetic performance of ‘24K’ as part of Vivid LIVE 2022 in the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera H...

  • Meg Mac - Never Be

    Australian soul icon Meg Mac makes her Sydney Opera House debut. Watch her perform hit 'Never Be' as part of her powerhouse performance for Vivid LIVE 2022.

    Rent her full performance now on Stream.

  • Gordi - Radiator & Volcanic

    A gifted singer-songwriter with a knack for layered, introspective folk-pop sounds, internationally acclaimed Australian artist Gordi makes her Vivid LIVE debut with a solo performance in the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House.

    Watch her contemplative performance with experimental synth vo...

  • Liminal Moments - Highlights From the Music Film Series

    Highlights of our 'Liminal' contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists, each creating unique live performances for the screen –spotlighting BLESSED, Budjerah, Chris Abrahams, EGOISM, Liz Martin Band, Maina Doe, Ninajirachi and Young Franco.

    For 'Liminal', the Joan Sutherl...

  • Liminal: Young Franco

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    What better way to shake off the remnants of lockdown than with Young Franco, the Brisbane-born, Sydney-based produc...

  • Liminal: Maina Doe

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    Blazing a trail into the sonic future, Sydney singer-songwriter Maina Doe has fast become a singular talent on the lo...

  • Liminal: Chris Abrahams

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    Take a hypnotic journey with The Necks’ master pianist. As one third of one of Australia’s most important bands The Necks’ – famously dubbed “the greatest ...

  • Liminal: EGOISM

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    The Joan Sutherland Theatre’s transformative new Liminal stage was practically designed for EGOISM, the rising Sydney indie duo whose hazy shade of dream p...

  • Liminal: Ninajirachi

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    The perfect expression of our future-facing new Liminal music series, 22-year-old electronic producer, DJ and songwr...

  • Liminal: Liz Martin Band

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    More than a decade since her last appearance performing Walking On Air with Aerialize, multi-talented singer, songwr...

  • Liminal: BLESSED

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    A musical enigma on the verge of superstardom, Ghana-born Sydney-sider BLESSED brings his singular mix of hip-hop, p...

  • Liminal: Budjerah

    Watch more Liminal performances here.

    Liminal is a bold contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists as they create unique live performances for the screen.

    Australia’s hottest young R&B talent makes his solo Opera House debut. Streaming as part of Liminal, a bold, new con...

  • Ed Kuepper with Jim White - Collapseboard

    In June 2021, right before things slowed down, we were fortunate to host a very special collaboration of two great Australian musicians. Ed Kuepper of The Saints fame and Jim White of Dirty Three joined forces to deliver a spellbinding performance, delving into Kuepper's 45-year catalogue.

    Watch...

  • Wu-Tang Clan: C.R.E.A.M / Gravel Pit

    Featuring RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, GZA, Cappadonna. In a history-making event in 2018, the Avengers of rap celebrated 25 years since the release of their ground-breaking debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – see all nine members bring...

  • Iggy Pop - I Wanna Be Your Dog / Search and Destroy / The Passenger / No Fun

    Highlights from the Godfather of Punk's incendiary debut at the Sydney Opera House in April 2019, featuring the classic songs 'I Wanna Be Your Dog', 'Search and Destroy', 'The Passenger' and 'No Fun'.

    Widely acknowledged as one of the most dynamic stage performers of all time, Iggy Pop pre-figur...