Grand ideas, big sounds, hidden gems and playful twists. It's all waiting on those stages in April. We'll see you out there, Sydney.
Contemporary music
Strap on your concert booties, a very big month in music is upon us. Noughties electro giant Trentemøller plays the Metro this Saturday, followed by Aussie faves Lime Cordiale on Sunday. Blak Out program alumnus Djanaba hits Oxford Art Factory, whilst Miss Kaninna is set to slay at The Vanguard and The Murder Capital plays aptly named Crow Bar supported by Second Idol. The Great Southern Nights Hollywood Quarter Gig Trail sets Surry Hills alive with music both inside and streetside, or discover something new at Riverside Theatres when Phyu Phyu AKA Myanmar's Lady Gaga makes her Australian debut.
Celebrate the classics on Tuesday the 8th with the inimitable Cindy Lauper at Qudos Bank Arena or The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter at The Hordern Pavilion. For beautiful ballads catch Liz Stringer at The Vanguard on the 12th or get jazzed with Emma Pask at Brass Monkey on the 13th. Also this night, a full-throttle Cuban music takeover of the Opera House's Utzon Room.
Things only heat up from here. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello storms the Enmore supported by Briggs' new band Big Noter on the 16th. Chaka Khan hits Sydney Opera House on the 22nd, Hans Zimmer and a full orchestra pull your heartstrings at Qudos Bank Arena and speaking of Arenas, the Tina variety plays The State Theatre 29-30 April.
Classical music
If it's the more classical genres that set your ears all a tingle, don't miss Abel Selaocoe and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, playing City Recital Hall and Sydney Opera House between the 5 and 9 April. Bach Akademie Australia rolls into City Recital on the 6th with the soaring Countertenor: Bach's Holy Spirit with Reginald Mobley.
Experience Bach's St Matthew Passion how Mendelssohn interpreted it 100 years later at Sydney Opera House, or lose yourself in the choral beauty of Faure's Requiem with Sydney Chamber Choir at St James' Church. Always a treat, the annual Easter Sunday symphony concert at Sydney Conservatorium of Music's Verbrugghen Hall offers Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and more.
Theatre and music theatre
For those who like their theatre intimate, catch the ferocious Oxford-tipped comedy Posh at The Old Fitz or the Tennessee Williams' classic The Glass Menagerie at Ensemble. Or take yourself back to Redfern in 1966 with celebratory Indigenous theatre work Big Girls Don't Cry at Belvoir St Theatre.
Highlights in music theatre include No Love Songs at Foundry Theatre, the extended-due-to-irresistible-giggles season of Titanique at The Grand Electric, the award-winning Hades Town in situ at Theatre Royal or al fresco Guys and Dolls right on Sydney Harbour.
Sydney Theatre Company also brings its own cheeky musical to the party with Bloom at Roslyn Packer theatre, whilst bringing Heather Mitchell's unmissable performance in RBG: Of Many, One back to the Sydney Opera House.
Event salad
Families of the west! Ready your turtlenecks. The Wiggles Bouncing Balls Tour hits Sydney Coliseum Theatre in Rooty Hill 26–27 April. If it's laughs you need (that's everybody, always) Sydney Comedy Festival runs for a month from 21 April, with immeasurable giggles brewed at home and abroad.
For dance lovers, the Australian Ballet stages Nijinsky at Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Dance Company's Somos runs until 13 April. If street food under festoon lighting is your bag, 17–20 april marks the fifth weekend of Most Blessed Nights Street Food Market in Liverpool, and this weekend is the closing weekend of Neon Playground, which sets Chinatown a-glowing with light, music, activities and of course, so much good food.
Finally, catch the next generation of artistic talent at Art Express at Art Gallery of NSW, explore the darkly funny XSWL at White Rabbit Gallery or check out exhibitions at Qtopia, Sydney's hidden LGBTQIA+ museum beneath Oxford Street.
