MJ Lenderman & The Wind

Sydney — Wednesday 20 November 2024

Rising indie rock star MJ Lenderman will make his Opera House debut in March 2025 with his band The Wind, hot off a triumphant tour across the Northern Hemisphere. Lenderman will perform his latest critically acclaimed solo release, Manning Fireworks, described as “an instant classic” by The Sydney Morning Herald.

The follow-up to his 2022 breakout album Boat Songs, Manning Fireworks has appeared on countless best-of lists, further reinforcing Lenderman’s ballooning profile. Melding indie folk, roots rock and skronky guitars with songs that deal with random details of everyday lives, the album fizzes with Lenderman’s trademark grim-witted observation, 90s indie scrappiness, 70s rock and rust-wired country solos.

Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall says: "MJ Lenderman & The Wind's debut in the Concert Hall next March promises to be a defining moment for indie rock at the House. As he's risen the ranks, Lenderman's magnetic stage presence and musical brilliance have caught the attention of music reviewers and fans alike. After playing a pivotal role on upcoming Concert Hall performer and alt-country icon Waxahatchee’s critically acclaimed Tigers Blood, Lenderman's latest release has cemented his status as one of today’s most captivating singer-songwriters. Now, he's stepping into the spotlight solo, poised to solidify his place as one of the next true heroes of the genre."

Hailed by The New York Times as “southern rock’s tragicomic poet”, Lenderman threw himself into music after leaving his job at an Asheville ice creamery during the pandemic. He quickly rose through the North Carolina music scene while playing alongside Indigo de Souza, Waxahatchee and beloved indie rock outfit Wednesday. His solo work includes four cult albums that are a testament to his multi-instrumental talent and profound storytelling.