VIVID LIVE FESTIVAL
A CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TAKEOVER
AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 2012-2021
My very first time at the Opera House was in 2011. I saw Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson create absolute chaos in the joint. The next year I applied to be an intern and got rejected, so I bought tickets to see Odd Future there instead. Cue some cosmic wonder and make-ya-own-luck, and I ended up running amok as the fest’s Artistic Associate, Producer, Co-Curator, Copywriter, and a whole of bunch of other hats over the ensuing decade.
- Stop rambling and get to the work kiddoWhy am I looking at Channel 7 do you ask?
Well, during my 10-year tenure at the festival, I prided myself on making the Opera House a space that celebrated local DIY communities across punk rock and club culture, as well as respectfully presenting global music movements not traditionally embraced by arts institutions, such as rap and hip hop. The return of Sydney cult punk heroes Royal Headache, so eloquently captured by Channel 7, was a glorious moment for the city that I will always treasure amongst many other memories of organised chaos.
Sure, there are famous people, rock ‘n’ roll antics, nitty gritty contract negotiations, salacious gossip and truly heavenly highs and hard-nosed lows, but you owe me a schooner for those.
Now lo and behold, posters!
SOME THINGS I DID IN COMPLETELY RANDOM ORDER
(I’LL KEEP ADDING TO THIS AS I REMEMBER ‘EM)
WELCOMED THE FESTIVAL’S VERY FIRST RAP HEADLINER ICE CUBE.
COMMISSIONED CAT POWER’S ANNIVERSARY FOR MOON PIX.
FINALLY GOT THE MIDDLE EAST TO REUNITE
(SOB SO BEAUTIFUL!).
OZ LEGENDS ASTRAL PEOPLE, CLUB KOOKY & REPRESSED RECORDS IN.
CAMP COPE TEARING SHIT UP.
TEYANA MF’ING TAYLOR.
H.E.R. YEP THAT HER.
SOLAAAAAAAAAAAAANGE.
PSYCHEDELIC 360 CLUB MAYHEM.
RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY.
BOILER ROOM.
POOL HALL DIVE BAR POP UPS.
DIGITAL CONTENT BEFORE IT WAS REALLY A THING. LOL.
LARRY HEARD IS IN THE HOUSE!
THAT BIG OL’ SAD BOI MORRISSEY.
DANIEL JOHNS’ ONLY SOLO SHOWS.
I GUESS I’M INTERVIEWING ZOLA JESUS?
BIG OUTDOOR RAVEUPS.
INTIMATE UTZON ROOM RECITALS.
LET’S END ON MY FAVOURITE
POST PUNK BAND.
THE ONE AND ONLY.
TOTAL CONTROL.
WHO WE HAD TO BOOK TWICE.
LONG STORY...
COMMISSIONED CAT POWER’S ANNIVERSARY FOR MOON PIX.
FINALLY GOT THE MIDDLE EAST TO REUNITE
(SOB SO BEAUTIFUL!).
OZ LEGENDS ASTRAL PEOPLE, CLUB KOOKY & REPRESSED RECORDS IN.
CAMP COPE TEARING SHIT UP.
TEYANA MF’ING TAYLOR.
H.E.R. YEP THAT HER.
SOLAAAAAAAAAAAAANGE.
PSYCHEDELIC 360 CLUB MAYHEM.
RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY.
BOILER ROOM.
POOL HALL DIVE BAR POP UPS.
DIGITAL CONTENT BEFORE IT WAS REALLY A THING. LOL.
LARRY HEARD IS IN THE HOUSE!
THAT BIG OL’ SAD BOI MORRISSEY.
DANIEL JOHNS’ ONLY SOLO SHOWS.
I GUESS I’M INTERVIEWING ZOLA JESUS?
BIG OUTDOOR RAVEUPS.
INTIMATE UTZON ROOM RECITALS.
LET’S END ON MY FAVOURITE
POST PUNK BAND.
THE ONE AND ONLY.
TOTAL CONTROL.
WHO WE HAD TO BOOK TWICE.
LONG STORY...
END CREDITS OF EXCELLENT PEOPLE I WORKED WITH FOR A LONG TIME
BEN MARSHALL
FERGUS LINEHAN
FIONA PRIDE
LISA MONTGOMERY
BIELSKY
MACKONIS
TRACY ASKEW
TRAVIS DE VRIES
& MANY MORE SHOWBIZ WIZS!
Photography by Pru Upton & Dan Boud
FERGUS LINEHAN
FIONA PRIDE
LISA MONTGOMERY
BIELSKY
MACKONIS
TRACY ASKEW
TRAVIS DE VRIES
& MANY MORE SHOWBIZ WIZS!
Photography by Pru Upton & Dan Boud
