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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27/50: The National - Live at Sydney Opera House (2018)
Available worldwide from 29th Sept to 29th Oct 2023.
Indie rock luminaries The National returned to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt in 2018, to play in front of a 5,000-strong crowd, following two sold-out performances on the same spot four years earlier. The 2014 performance was live-streamed ... -
24/50: Khruangbin - Live at Sydney Opera House (2022)
Available worldwide from 26th Sept 2023 until 27th November 2026.
Inspired by ’60s Thai funk, Tarantino soundtracks and surf-rock cool, the Texan three-piece Khruangbinhave summoned forth a sound quite unlike anything on the musical landscape: a hypnotic mix of funk, soul and psychedelic rock tha... -
21/50: Iggy Pop - Live at Sydney Opera House (2019)
Available worldwide from 23rd Sept to 23rd Oct 2023.
Hailed as the ‘Godfather of Punk’, The Stooges’ former frontman Iggy Pop made make his long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut in 2019 in the Concert Hall, performing his genre-defining back-catalogue of hits, including songs from seminal albums... -
17/50: Sampa The Great - Vivid LIVE (2022)
Available worldwide from 19th Sept until 27th May 2027.
In an Australian exclusive performance for Vivid LIVE 2022, Sampa Tembo – better known as Sampa The Great – debuted her long-awaited show 'An Afro Future', performing the four-time ARIA award-winning debut album 'The Return' with her epic ba... -
13/50: Yaeji - Vivid LIVE (2023)
Available worldwide from 15th Sept 2023 until 15th March 2024.
After making her Australian debut with a euphoric, sold-out show in the Studio in 2018, Korean-American dance-pop icon Yaeji returned to the Opera House in 2023 for her very first Vivid LIVE appearance with an immersive multimedia liv... -
9/50: Ursula Yovich - From Our House To Yours (2020)
Available worldwide from 11th Sept 2023 until 11th Sept 2024.
Singer, songwriter, actor, playwright and storyteller Ursula Yovich returns to her first love, singing, in this exciting performance for the 2020 Sydney Opera House 'From Our House to Yours' season. Created in response to COVID-19 lock... -
4/50: Gurrumul and Sydney Symphony Orchestra (2014)
Available worldwide from 6th Sept until 6th Oct 2023.
Following his sold-out performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2013, Indigenous Australian musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu returned to the Opera House in 2014 for two encore performances. The concerts presented the musician and... -
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...
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Red Bull Symphonic with Genesis Owusu and Sydney Symphony Orchestra
With two distinct worlds in the arts joining forces, Red Bull Symphonic delivers a one-of-a-kind music experience, with Genesis Owusu.
After two years of career highs, Owusu soars to new heights as two arts worlds collide at Red Bull Symphonic, reimagining his acclaimed catalogue of poetic pu...
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Sharon Van Etten - Seventeen / Every Time the Sun Comes Up / Mistakes
Fresh from her American tour and acclaimed new album We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, transformative singer-songwriter and Sydney Opera House fave Sharon Van Etten performed in our Concert Hall.
This digital performance highlights selection comprises three songs from the night, including ...
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Vance Joy - Riptide / Saturday Sun / Missing Piece / Clarity
Recorded live on the Sydney Opera House’s stunning Forecourt, this set from ARIA award-winning musician Vance Joy sees the finger-pickin’ folk pop hero perform a selection of hits and recent releases. Get up close and personal with the local fave as he leans into the heartfelt indie anthems “Mis...
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Khruangbin - Time (You and I) / People Everywhere (Still Alive)
Watch Khruangbin tracks Time (You and I) and People Everywhere (Still Alive) – a preview from a captivating performance in the Concert Hall. In November 2022 the band made their long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut as part of their First Class Tour.
Rent the full performance now on Stream.
Pr...
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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&...
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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 – ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...