Sydney Opera House to stage four free outdoor concerts on the Forecourt this April

Sydney – Friday 12 March, 2021. The Sydney Opera House today announced that it will present four free outdoor concerts on the Forecourt from Friday 9 April – Sunday 11 April, enabled by a NSW Government initiative to increase access to Sydney’s cultural offering in the city. Set beneath the iconic sails and framed by the dramatic Monumental Steps and Sydney Harbour Bridge, audiences of all ages are invited to celebrate live music at one of the world’s most spectacular outdoor venues. Registration for free tickets is essential and will be open from Wednesday 17 March here. The multi-genre program will feature live performances from exceptional Australian classical and contemporary artists, including:

• ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter Jack River, aka Holly Rankin, in her Opera House debut. River will perform Visions of Us, a one-off show of music and poetry that will include stripped-back moments and full-band accompaniment of fan favourites from her breakthrough debut album, Sugar Mountain with special guests on Friday 9 April. 
• Barrabuwari, meaning tomorrow in the Gadigal language, is an Indigenous-led and culturally diverse artist showcase highlighting Australia’s next generation of trailblazers on Saturday 10 April. In her final curatorial event as Head of First Nations Programming, Rhoda Roberts AO – together with Senior Producer of Contemporary Music Alister Hill – has programmed a collaborative and eclectic contemporary music line-up of fresh and dynamic change-makers, in a true reflection of Australia’s inclusive tomorrow.

In the afternoon (2:30pm – 7pm), Barrabuwari Sunset Gathering will represent the future voices of Australia. The gathering will include performances from Becca Hatch, DJ Plead, JK-47, Kobie Dee, Milan Ring, Spvrrow, Trackwork artists: T-Breezy, Walkerboy, Sevy, Bayang & Utility, and a Calling Country Ceremony. The event will be hosted by Broriginals’ Travis De Vries and FBi Radio’s Race Matters presenters Sara Khan and Darren Lesaguis.

In the evening (7:45pm – 10:45pm), Barrabuwari will present hip-hop luminary Ziggy Ramo performing his affecting and monumental 2020 album Black Thoughts. Ramo will be joined by Berlin-based producer DJ Plead, whose soundscapes draw from R&B, dance, and Lebanese pop.

• Opera House resident company Sydney Symphony Orchestra will conclude the weekend’s free concerts on Sunday 11 April. A 25-piece string ensemble will perform Heartstrings, a program of classic masterpieces from Greig, Beethoven, Arvo Pärt and Tchaikovsky, that will evoke great emotions in the acclaimed orchestra’s first Opera House performance of 2021.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said: “Sydney’s city centre was one of the biggest casualties of the pandemic and we want people to come back and enjoy everything our great city has to offer. The NSW Government is proud to help make this program of outdoor concerts at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House a reality. Supporting all sectors of our economy will be vital to creating and supporting jobs as we continue our economic recovery. I encourage Sydneysiders to come down to the iconic Opera House and enjoy live music with friends and family as part of this special, free program of events across this April weekend.”

NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said: “I’m thrilled the NSW Culture Up Late initiative will be supporting this multi-genre music program at the Opera House to bring our community together. From classical to contemporary music, there is something for everyone with this free, COVID-safe, and inclusive program.”

Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall said: “There’s an immense feeling of joy in having live music return to the city this year, from Sydney Festival to Sunset Piazza, Summer in the Domain and now these free Sydney Opera House Forecourt concerts, thanks to the NSW Government. This April weekend, on the grandest stage the city can offer, the Opera House will present an inspiring combination of the best in traditional and fresh, modern music. Spanning multiple genres there will be performances from Jack River, the Sydney Symphony and Rhoda Roberts’ extraordinary Barrabuwari Saturday program − led by the next generation of young Indigenous and diverse musicians and headlined by the searing hip-hop artist Ziggy Ramo. Every performance is free, so come share the experience of music on the harbour by the Sails, and celebrate a city coming back to life.”

This Culture Up Late initiative is part of the Summer in the City program, proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Full details of the COVID-safe measures in place at the Sydney Opera House can be found here.