Birdz and Fred Leone Present: Girra
With their lyrical flow, dynamic beats and ferociously political subject matter, rappers and cousins Birdz and Fred Leone bring their distinct brand of hip-hop from the Butchulla Nation to the Vivid LIVE stage.
In the Utzon Room | Contemporary Music
COVID-19 safety information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage you to wear a mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained, and please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.
Dates and times
Sunday 28 May, 7:00pm
Ticket pricing | $8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
| Ticket | Description & price |
| Standard | All tickets |
| All | $29 |
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Children aged 0-23 months at the time of a performance may be seated on a parent’s lap free of charge. All children occupying a seat or aged 2 years of age must hold a valid ticket.
A maximum of six (6) tickets per customer are available for purchase. Tickets purchased in excess of a ticket limit may be cancelled without notice.
On-sale information
Pre-sale timings:
- Insider Member Priority – Tuesday 14 March, 12pm
- What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale – Wednesday 15 March, 12pm
General public on sale Friday 17 March, 12pm
Accessibility
In English
Wheelchair accessible
Audio loop available
No language barrier
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Event information
Run time
The duration of this event is yet to be confirmed.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for all ages.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Children aged 0-23 months at the time of a performance may be seated on a parent’s lap free of charge. All children occupying a seat or aged 2 years of age must hold a valid ticket.
“Birdz took the stage with hypeman Fred Leone and had the audience captivated. The socially conscious songs showcased his versatile flow of tight bars and melodic hooks.”
The AU Review
Brand new beats and rhymes from the Butchulla Duo
When their swaggering, anti-colonialist hip-hop collaboration “Bagi-la-m Bargan” stormed the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2020, Birdz and Fred Leone ascended to their rightful place in the national consciousness – and haven’t looked back. Cousins and musical brothers from the Butchulla Nation, Rapper Birdz and Songman Leone are a formidable live double act, capable of raising the roof and speaking truth to power in equally ferocious measure.
After making his Vivid LIVE debut as part of Briggs’ Bad Apples House Party in 2019, Birdz returns – with Leone in tow – as they make their Sydney Opera House debut, showcasing songs from their new recording, Girra.
Featured as triple j’s album of the week, the record was nominated for a National Indigenous Music Award, and featured collaborations with Australian superstar Missy Higgins (“LEGACY part 2), R&B icon Ngaiire (on the hooky, triumphant radio hit “Fly”), and smooth vocalist Thom Crawford (the reggaeton-powered “They Don’t Know”).
Raised in the Northern Territory, the Naarm-based Nathan ‘Birdz’ Bird was first inspired by American hip-hop acts like 2Pac and Ice Cube, alongside Indigenous poet Bobbi Sykes. His first EP Birdz Eye View (2013) and 2016 singles “Rise” and “Black Lives Matter” announced him as a powerful new voice in Australian hip-hop, a reputation he cemented with his debut album Train of Thought (2017), which won the AIR award for Best Independent Hip Hop Album. Led by the breakout success of “Bagi-la-m Bargan”, Birdz’ long-awaited second album, LEGACY (2021), proved the rapper was one of the most uncompromising and musically gifted artists in local hip-hop. A poignant reckoning with stolen generations, the record was nominated for a National Indigenous Music Award, and featured collaborations with country superstar Missy Higgins (“LEGACY part 2), rising R&B artist Ngaiire (on the hooky, triumphant radio hit “Fly”), and vocalist Thom Crawford (the reggaeton-powered “They Don’t Know”).
An artist, hip-hop musician and Butchulla Songman with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander heritage, Fred Leone is Birdz’ cousin, sonic collaborator and frequent on-stage hype-man. As both an award winning rapper and a custodian of traditional songs, Leone has developed a singular voice in Australian hip-hop, incorporating instruments such as the didgeridoo, boomerang and Emu egg into his performances. He’s toured with Public Enemy, Dead Prez and People Under The Stairs, and is the founder of Queensland’s first Indigenous-owned and operated record label, Impossible Odds Records. This is Birdz & Fred Leone's Vivid LIVE debut, as they present songs from their new recording Girra.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
What time do I need to arrive before the event?
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
Will there be bag checks by Opera House security?
In line with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs or within the Western Foyers, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Please travel lightly and do not bring items that require cloaking e.g. handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks and umbrellas, which are not permitted inside our venues.
Will cloaking be available?
Yes, cloaking will remain available but it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly and leave large, bulky items at home. Cloakroom attendants will use disposable paper tickets and wear gloves to handle items.
Will there be food and beverages available for purchase in the venue?
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and two hours pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event?
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Is there anything I can’t bring?
Please note that BYO alcohol or glass is not permitted onsite. Further information about items that are prohibited onsite can be found on our Conditions of Entry.
Can I bring a chair with me?
Chairs are not permitted at the Opera House. Further information about items that are prohibited onsite can be found on our Conditions of Entry.
Can I smoke at the Opera House?
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House will become a smoke-free site from Saturday 1 January 2022.
By becoming a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment.
What if I can't come to my performance?
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.
Looking for more information?
For more information about attending the Opera House during Vivid Sydney, check this page.
What safety measures have you implemented?
Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.
What am I required to do as an audience member?
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage.
Within venues, always take your allocated seat.
For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you, please see our plan your visit page.
Do I need to be vaccinated to visit the Sydney Opera House?
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Am I required to wear a mask?
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
How are you managing contact tracing?
Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.
As the ticket purchaser, you are responsible for recording the contact details of your guests. Contact information will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing, if required, and will be deleted at least 28 days after your event.
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