Already in the swing of things, Spectrum Now festival is boasting a swagload of great events in Sydney over the next two weeks. From The Jesus & Mary Chain to a public forum with the creators of Making A Murderer (so excited), even on the heels of Sydney festival this is a line up to get excited about it.
However with great abundance of events comes great indecision and if there is anything I know about you cultural warriors reading this is – like me, you can’t make a choice to save your life. But never fear, Music Feeds is here to steer you through the brash and fray with our Top 10 Spectrum Now Events You Don’t Wanna Miss.
The Jesus & Mary Chain, Seekae, Alvvays, U.S. Girls and Jonothan Boulet
Headlined by The Jesus & Mary Chain playing their debut album Psychocandy, and with some very strong local and international support, this event put together by Popfrenzy and Yours & Owls is certainly one of the most jam packed line-ups to land in Sydney this year. It’s great to see such an eclectic mix of artists sharing a stage.
Saturday 5th March
Big Top @ The Domain, Sydney
Tickets: Moshtix
The Room: An Interactive Experience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCj8sPCWfUw
If you have never seen Tommy Wiseau’s masterpiece The Room this is hands down the most unmissable event at Spectrum Now. Famous in B-Movie circles for its over the top and piss poor acting, nonsensical and melodramatic script, the real spectacle here is writer, director, producer and star Tommy Wiseau, and previously thought impossible blend of wooden acting and over emoting. There is so much amazing wrongness with this film, fans have turned it into an interactive experience
Friday 4th March
Hayden Orpheum, Sydney
Tickets: Hayden Orpheum
Man Of Constant Sorrow: A Tribute To The Music Of ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’
One of the more oddball offerings on the program, who could resist the chance to – as the band put it – “escape from the chain gang of 21st Century urban existence and stroll across the bright heartland of American folk music”. Featuring some of Sydney’s best musicians including Brian Campeau and members of All Our Exes Live In Texas playing songs from the Coen Brothers Film O Brother Where Art Thou? the show has already had rave reviews of their previous performances. Thanks to Spectrum Now though this is your chance to see the show for free, it being part of the series of free entertainment in The Domain. Cheers guys.
Tuesday 8th March
The Domain, Sydney
Tickets: Free
Hot Dub Time Machine and Joyride
Having built a reputation for himself as a crowd favourite at festivals around the nation, Hot Dub Time Machine is once again ready to take audiences back in time and forward again through music, as part of Spectrum Now in the Domain. Playing hits from the 50s up til now with support from Australia’s favourite red carpet pest and banger smashing DJ Joyride, this will be a wild one.
Friday 4th March
Big Top @ The Domain, Sydney
Tickets: Moshtix
Calexico and Augie March
Fans of desert blues (not the Tuareg kind) and gothic folk rejoice at this glorious double header of Calexico and Augie March. Very much cut from the same cloth, the programming of these two bands together is a no brainer. Both known for moving effortlessly between different style and influences yet always remaining true to the classic songwriting at the core of both bands, this event offers a calm counter point to all the party.
Sunday 6th March
Big Top @ The Domain
Tickets: Moshtix
Something for Kate
One of Australia’s most enigmatic bands, Something For Kate have released six albums across their 22 years playing together, topping the ARIA albums chart twice and building a cult following as they did so. Supported by Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts, the band will come together for one night only, playing a selection of their greatest hits in the Big Top at The Domain, which for any child of the 90s like me is a nostalgia trip not to be missed.
Saturday March 12th
Big Top @ The Domain
Tickets: Moshtix
Sleater Kinney
Back on tour again since reforming in 2014 seminal indie rock band Sleater Kinney are set to blow your asses off at Spectrum Now. Touring off their 2015 comeback album No Cities To Love, the unbridled three pieces of kick ass that is the band is taking over the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall of all places. Don’t worry though, this isn’t gong to be no stiff collared black tie affair, the band promising to turn the venue into “a sweatbox of raw power anthems and feminist lyricism”. Fuck yeah, can’t wait for this.
Sunday 6th March
The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney
Tickets: Sydney Opera House
Birds of Tokyo
Having recently released a greatest hits compilation, it’s safe to say that Birds Of Tokyo have well and truly made it (that’s what a greatest hits albums means btw). Working hard over thirteen years to become one of the nation’s most successful contemporary rock bands, the Perth five piece are currently working on their fifth studio album, which they told fans was heading in a heavier direction. Let’s hope we get a little preview at these upcoming shows.
Friday 11th March
Big Top @ The Domain
Tickets: Moshtix
Making of Murderer In Conversation With Charlie Pickering
Off all the out there events on offer on this festival, I think this one has to take the cake and is easily one of the events I’m most excited about. Documenting the harrowing real life sotry of Stephen Avery’s false imprisonment, release and subsequent re-arrest, trial and appeal, the controversial series proved to be one of the most popular pieces of Netflix original content. Promising to be a deep probing discussion, the event offers fans of the series the chance to listen to co-creators Moira Demos and Lauren Ricciardi discuss the series as well as what it has to say about the US Justice System.
Thursday 10th March
The Star Event Centre, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Sing a Long
Always go out on a song so they say, and so for my final recommendation I give you Monty Python and the Holy Grail Sing a Long. With the movie having recently marked it’s 40th anniversary, it’s been re-released to theaters but this time with sub titles to the songs for fans to sing a long to all the ridiculous songs. No word yet on if they’ll be handing out coconuts though.
Friday 11th March
Hayden Orpheum, Sydney
Tickets: Hayden Orpheum
