TOP FIVE PICKS: Vivid LIVE 2013

Vivid is more than just a 10 day festival. It's an experience. The project was born five years ago and has attracted a crowd of more than many. Combining worldwide talent and influence from within the brackets of art, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney is testament to Sydney city's culture.

It's is probably most greatly known for Vivid LIGHT - the festival's amazing light projections that cast over the enormity of Sydney city's iconic backdrop. Aside from this and the public discussions and debates led by creative thinkers worldwide (Vivid IDEAS), Vivid LIVE offers a promising roster of musical talent spread out over the ten day festival.

With this year's artists and bands just announced for Vivid Sydney 2013, we thought it'd be appropriate to make a top-five-must-see-Vivid-LIVE list. Phew.

KRAFTWERK

We have no doubt whatsoever that electronic music pioneers KRAFTWERK are going to be absolutely incredible for this year's Vivid LIVE. Bringing their entire catalogue to Sydney, the group will be playing all eight of their records consecutively over three gigantic nights in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

What's been a very long and frustrating dry spell, dance duo EMPIRE OF THE SUN have finally walked back into the scene with their anticipating, forthcoming release Ice On The Dune. Considering the success of their debut Walking On A Dream as it sold over one million copies worldwide, their sophomore is highly wanted by dance and visionary music enthusiasts everywhere. They'll be playing two shows in the Concert Hall consisting of both new and older material.

CLOUD CONTROL

Besides their Weezer support slot, it's been a ridiculously long time since CLOUD CONTROL have played to their Australian audience. With the sophomore record just about ready, Vivid LIVE will be the proud host of the forthcoming record's live premiere.

BOBBY WOMACK

Signed at just 16 years old, curating a body of work containing 28 studio albums and having written and performed with influential artists such as Ray Charles, BOBBY WOMACK is one of our truest, last standing R'n'B legends who has been in the business for over 50 years. Just last year he released The Bravest Man In The Universe - his first album in over a decade. To be accompanied by a 13-piece soul band, Womack will be making his Australian centre-stage debut at the beautiful Concert Hall.

LIVE_TRANSMISSION

Visionary electronic composer Scanner and the 45-piece Heritage Orchestra will be conducting an audio-visual re-imagination of how we perceive the legendary Joy Division. The aim of LIVE_TRANSMISSION is to suggest what the band would have become with the "limitless possibilities of contemporary technology." Accompanied by visual projections (courtesy of Matt Watkins) that encapsulate the world of Joy Division's creative process, this gigantic performance will be held in the Joan Sutherland Theatre for Vivid LIVE 2013.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

GOODGOD DANCETERIA!

Sydney's GoodGod Small Club will be escaping its underground, tropical skin for the night in order to host the party in the Opera House's Studio for the night on May 31st. Get there!

FUTURE CLASSIC

Sydney collective FUTURE CLASSIC will also take part of this year's Vivid LIVE studio series with their past, present and future blend of dance music.

Vivid Sydney will be held from the 24th of May until the 2nd of June. Head over to Vivid LIVE's site for tickets and further info.

Words by Hannah Galvin.

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