Latest news with #SigurRós
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No Joke, The Lights Went Out At The Sydney Opera House During Vivid
The Sydney Opera House had an ironic incident in the Concert Hall last night (June 3rd) for its final night of Vivid LIVE for 2025. While the venue itself was lit up from the outside, the stage lights inside went out during Japanese Breakfast's set around 9:45pm during a performance of the song 'Slide Tackle'. What was originally believed to be an intentional part of the lighting design was quickly revealed to be legitimate, with a technician from the back of the room yelling that they were 'working with the House to get the lights back on' as the band played on for another two songs. After playing 'Picture Window' with only the overhead lights and a prop lantern, the band – who were making their Sydney Opera House debut – were escorted off stage for an unplanned intermission, which lasted 15 minutes. Unfortunately, when the band returned to continue with the show, the lighting issue had not been resolved. 'The whole system is down,' said frontwoman Michelle Zauner to the sold-out audience following 'Men In Bars'. Two songs later, however, the entire lighting system came back online midway through the band's performance of 'Kokomo, IN'. 'That's live music, baby!' Zauner remarked following a rapturous applause from the audience at the song's conclusion. At the time of writing, neither the Sydney Opera House nor Japanese Breakfast have publicly commented on the technical snafu. The band's performance wrapped up a busy two weeks for the Opera House, which saw Sigur Rós bring their orchestral tour to the Concert Hall with three sold-out shows with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the final Australian performances from Anohni & The Johnsons, as well as Beth Gibbons, Miss Kaninna, Surprise Chef and Emily Wurramara. Vivid Sydney will continue on until next weekend (June 14th) across various other venues in the city. This includes the Oxford Art Factory, where septuagenarian UK rap duo Pete & Bas are set to perform tomorrow night, as well as the City Recital Hall in Angel Place, where Soccer Mommy will perform next Thursday night. The full remaining program can be found at Love Letter To A Record: YoWo Music's Pearl Harnath On Japanese Breakfast's 'Psychopomp' Open Season 2025: Kamasi Washington, The Preatures, DIIV + More Sigur Rós Review – A Calming Serenity Comes to Fortitude Valley The post No Joke, The Lights Went Out At The Sydney Opera House During Vivid appeared first on Music Feeds.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
The sounds and songs of Iceland's melting landscape
Konstantine Vlasis never imagined that a single track on a Sigur Rós album would lead him to studying the ice on Iceland's highest peaks. Konstantine Vlasis never imagined that a single track on a Sigur Rós album would lead him to study the melting glaciers of Iceland. But a decade after first hearing the band's 2013 track Lækurinn ("The Stream"), Vlasis found himself on Iceland's highest peaks, recording the sounds of trickling meltwater and cracking ice for a PhD on the sonic life of glaciers. As climate change accelerates glacial melt worldwide, Iceland's glaciers – which cover 10% of the country – are disappearing fast. Scientists estimate they could lose half their volume by 2100. For future generations, they may survive only as small ice caps on the tallest mountains – which is why the UN has declared 2025 the year of glacier preservation. Vlasis hopes that sound can help people understand this environmental shift in a new way. "Sound can teach us a lot about glaciers," he explained. "You can't see glacial movement in real time, but you can hear it." As a percussionist trained in the concept of soundscapes – which brings together the ideas of sound plus landscape – Vlasis approaches climate communication through listening. His PhD, supported by New York University and the Leifur Eiríksson Foundation, explores how the sounds of glaciers can reveal what we might miss with our eyes alone. With more than 2.3 million travellers visiting Iceland each year to see the country's breathtaking glacial landscapes, the potential impact of his work extends far beyond the scientific community. The track that sparked his initial curiosity is part of an album called Rímur, which features traditional Icelandic folk songs. Vlasis was intrigued that the song's only accompaniment was the sound of a stream. He listened to the lyrics' metaphor about growing older and returning home, then began to wonder: "What is this stream that I'm hearing?" When you trace the source of stream systems in Iceland, many are fed from glaciers. "What happens when the stream isn't a metaphor but it's this direct reflection of frozen ice into liquid water?" he asked. His curiosity became a mission: to trace both literal and metaphorical streams, from melting glaciers to traditional songs. In Iceland, this meant travelling across the country, climbing glaciers with microphones to capture ambient sound and speaking with locals to understand how glacial landscapes have shaped Icelandic culture. Through each excursion, he's collecting a record of sound and story that may soon disappear. Vlasis calls this the "human ecology" of glaciers: a way of understanding not only ice, but how people interact with it. Nature isn't something separate from us, he says. "We are shaping and impacting in a lot of different ways". By amplifying the sounds of glaciers, he hopes to develop a way of listening to global warming in real time. "We look towards melting glaciers as visual symbols of climate change. I wanted to know the stories that those sounds told, and I wanted to know how people had listened to glaciers throughout history." So how do you listen to a glacier? Every movement that a glacier makes creates a sound, says Vlasis. A glacier flows down a slope under its own weight, and cracks and rumbles can be heard as the ice shifts and moves. "It has rhythm, it has tempo, it has dynamics," he enthuses. "In glacial ice there are bubbles that are almost like an archive, with their memory of past atmospheric composition. And when that ice melts, you can hear the air bubbles popping and fizzing and squealing as they melt into the water and the pro-glacial lakes." Recording them is another challenge. Vlasis goes out on the ice around once a month to add to his library of sounds, using shotgun and omnidirectional microphones. Some he leaves out there for months at a time. Glaciers also emit infrasound – frequencies too low for human ears. Vlasis records these using a special contact microphone that attaches directly to the ice, then raises the pitch to make them audible. "It feels almost like a stethoscope," he says, "as if I'm listening to the health of the landscape." The second strand of his research focuses on Iceland's rímur: traditional narrative songs or poems passed down through generations. Some contain detailed references to weather patterns, floods and natural disasters. By analysing their lyrics, Vlasis extracts what he calls "environmental archives" – oral records of how people experienced glaciers over time. In the absence of written records, these songs become a vital part of understanding local histories of environmental change. He is also working with a team of scientists who are creating predictive models of Iceland's glacier loss over the next century. Through this art-science collaboration, Vlasis has curated a performance piece called 2124, which is a sonic rendering of this data. Poignantly played by a single drummer atop the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, the piece is centred around a repeated rhythmic pattern, representing one year of time. It gradually speeds up, giving a sense of just how quickly the glaciers will change over the next century. The result is both beautiful and haunting: a musical forecast of a world without glaciers. "As the glacier melts, you'll hear the meltwater streams enter into the foreground until you're all the way beneath the ice in an ice cave," said Vlasis. "And then you're drawn back to the surface very quickly in the final push of the piece." Vlasis is a recent recipient of the 2024 Fulbright-National Geographic Award, which will support the creation of his next project: When Glaciers Sing. This immersive audio story, which blends field recordings, traditional songs and data sonification will be released online through streaming platforms in spring 2026. More like this:• How the songs of icebergs reverberate around the world• The UN has declared 2025 as the year of glacier preservation. Here's how to visit one safely• Elizabeth Rush on her epic journey to Earth's 'doomsday glacier' Vlasis hopes that his research will highlight the urgency of tackling climate change, and that his unique audio documentation of Iceland's frozen landscapes will help raise awareness of glacial melt. "At the very least, songs and music can help us to bear witness to what's happening right now. Music can create meaning for us, and it can help teach us about the past." He refers to a beloved Icelandic lullaby called Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín (Sleep, My Young Love), which contains the line: "In the glacier cracks scream as deep as death". "When the song was written in 1911, glaciers still had a legacy as destructive, menacing landscapes to a lot of Icelanders. It starts to have a different meaning when we recognise how quickly Iceland's glaciers are disappearing. Will there be a time in the future where we mention glaciers and our children won't know what that is?" And while travel can contribute to climate change, Vlasis believes responsible tourism can play an important role. "Any choice we make is tied to some sort of environmental footprint. But if you do visit a glacier, there is a great opportunity to really understand what you're visiting and what's happening to these landscapes. At the very least, I think showing some form of respect to that space is something to reflect on." Vlasis says that based on current data, most outlet glaciers in Iceland are projected to lose their glacial classification within the next 200 years. "If we want to live in a world without ice, we can keep doing what we're doing collectively as an industrial society. But I think glaciers can teach us how to listen. And to be able to listen well, you have to surrender your own perspectives and your own biases and be open to something new." He adds: "I'm learning to listen better, and glaciers are certainly helping me do that." And it all started with the trickle of one stream. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Man of Many
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
Vivid Sydney Guide 2025: Best Things to Do During the Festival of Light
Back for another year, Vivid Sydney 2025 will run from Friday, 23rd May to Saturday, 14th June. The free-to-attend event will transform the harbour city into a light exhibition celebrating creativity, innovation, and technology for an estimated 3.48+ million attendees. This year's theme is 'Vivid Sydney, Dream', and names like Nigella Lawson, Sigur Rós and Beth Gibbons will headline events throughout the festival. More than a few RGB light displays, this is a chance to get out and connect with friends, family, and Sydney's food and drinks culture through events and installations with innovators and leaders in key categories. The installations will be displayed around the world-famous harbour and stretch eight kilometres from Circular Quay to Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, and Central Station. In this guide, we're again putting together a list of our favourite attractions and things to do at Vivid 2025. Let's take a look! Vivid Sydney 2025 will run from Friday, 23rd May to Saturday, 14th June 2025. The lights will be switched on at 6 pm every night. Key locations across hosting Vivid light installations and performances include: Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks Darling Harbour Barangaroo Martin Place Luna Park This is a busy event, and we've included some details about how to get there below. NOTE: Vivid will still go ahead if it rains. However, due to the current weather in Sydney and torrential rain events, some parts of the event may be temporarily closed, according to the official website. Some specific events may also be postponed or cancelled for safety reasons. Getting There The best way to attend Vivid is by public transport. You might not be a public transport type of person, but additional services will run throughout the festival, there are road closures, and Uber prices will go through the roof. It's advised to arrive early before the lights are switched on at 6 pm, to avoid congestion, and we also suggest that you leave your car at home due to road closures and parking restrictions. Here's what's happening with NSW Public Transport services during Vivid Sydney 2025: Trains : Run regularly to the city on all lines from early morning until late Extra services on weekends Closest stations to the light walk are Central, Town Hall, Wynyard and Circular Quay : Run regularly to the city on all lines from early morning until late Buses : Run regularly to and from the city on weekdays and weekends Additional services are running on busier nights (weekends) : Run regularly to and from the city on weekdays and weekends Ferrys : Will get busy, and there are often long queues at wharves We recommend leaving plenty of time to get on the ferry and get home : Will get busy, and there are often long queues at wharves Sydney Metro : High-frequency and runs between Tallawong Station and Chatswood Station Connect to Sydney's Hills District and North Shore : High-frequency and runs between Tallawong Station and Chatswood Station Light Rail : Runs regularly on weekdays and weekends in Sydney CBD, South East and Inner West Makes stops within a short walking distance of Vivid Sydney locations : Runs regularly on weekdays and weekends in Sydney CBD, South East and Inner West To make the most of your night once you arrive, we've curated a Vivid 2025 walking guide at the end of this article to help you find your way around. Vivid Sydney 2025 | Image: Supplied Vivid Sydney 2025 | Image: Supplied Vivid Sydney 2025 | Image: Supplied Vivid Sydney 2025 | Image: Supplied What's New at Vivid Sydney 2025 There are major program changes for Vivid Sydney 2025. Gone is the drone show, gone is Dark Spectrum in Wynyard Train tunnels, and gone is Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Garden. The Light Walk will return for Vivid Sydney 2025, and there are more food activations around the city, but beyond the celebrity talks and additional lighting setups around Martin Place, it seems there aren't as many things happening. These are some key highlights for Vivid Sydney 2025 across Light, Food, Music, and Ideas (Events and activations). We've explained them in further detail at the end of this article, including a walking guide to make the most of your time at the event. Light : Colour the City at ASN Clocktower House of Romance: Dreams Collide at Customs House The Lucid Dream Collective at Challis House Stem at Cadmans Cottage Bloom at Argyle Cut Fantasmagoria at Bond Building Cygnus at Nawi Cove Lumina Dreams at Barangaroo Metro Gardens : Food : Vivid Fire Kitchen Hollywood Dreaming Luke Nguyen's Dream Mist at Botanic House Nigella Lawson Dreaming Skies FoodLab x Vivid Sydney Native Food Experience at Parliament House : Music : Tumbalong Nights Vivid Sydney Supper Club : Ideas (Events) : Stranger Things Firetalk Haus of Horror Dream Logic : Remember that these are just a handpicked selection of the new highlights from Vivid 2025, and there are more events at the event than we've outlined here. House of Romance: Dreams Collide at Customs House | Image: Supplied / Vivid Free Events and Activations at Vivid Sydney 2025 Light Walk When: Every night, 23 May–14 June, 6 pm–11 pm The Light Walk spans eight kilometres, linking Circular Quay to Central Station via The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. Along the way, you'll see large-scale projections across iconic buildings, hands-on installations, and a few surprises tucked into laneways and courtyards. This route is ideal for first-time visitors and a must-do even if you're a Vivid veteran. Tumbalong Nights When: Fridays and Saturdays, 23 May–14 June, 6 pm–10 pm Every weekend of Vivid will see Tumbalong Park become a family-friendly music zone with live DJs, performers, and illuminated sculptures. Kids can take part in the Glow Crew Parade at 7 pm, wearing light-up costumes provided on site. The stage lineup includes emerging local artists with plenty of space for dancing, or you can sit back, relax, with a snack nearby, and enjoy the show. Sydney Film Festival When: 4th to 15th June 2025, various sessions from 5 pm As part of Vivid, the festival hosts a selection of open-air film screenings across Sydney's harbourside precincts. Expect a mix of cult classics, documentaries and short films projected onto outdoor screens at Barangaroo and the Opera House forecourt. Some locations require registration due to limited space, but most sessions are free. Vivid Fire Kitchen | Image: Supplied / Destination NSW Vivid Fire Kitchen When: Daily, 6 pm–10 pm Set along The Goods Line in Haymarket, Vivid Fire Kitchen combines open-flame cooking with live fire shows. Serve everything from grilled skewers to charcoal-roasted vegetables and desserts like flame-seared churros, the over 20 food stalls are sure to satisfy. And for those that love dinner and a show, check out the nightly demonstrations from guest chefs and fire artists performing beside custom-built pits and sculptures. Hollywood Dreaming When: Daily, 6 pm–11 pm Customs House becomes an open-air cinema, with scenes from well-known films projected onto the building. The Dreaming Marquee, styled like an old movie sign, will no doubt be a popular photo spot. While those looking for nostalgia can enjoy the rotating mix of classic and cult films, screening every night from 8 pm. Stranger Things: The Experience | Image: Supplied / Luna Park Ticketed Events and Activations at Vivid Sydney 2025 Stranger Things: The Experience When: 23 May–14 June, 5 pm–midnight Where: Overseas Passenger Terminal Price: from $45 Step into Hawkins, Indiana, with a walk-through experience featuring live actors from the hit Netflix show, 80s-themed sets, and interactive elements like a 'Demogorgon detector.' This is the festival's biggest franchise tie-in and ideal for fans of the show. In Conversation With Martha Stewart When: 6 June, 7 pm Where: Sydney Town Hall Price: From $95 The lifestyle icon joins the Vivid Ideas program to share insights from her ever-expanding career. Expect straight-talking advice, lessons from her decades-long brand, and a Q&A segment with the audience. Unscripted & Unfiltered with Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally When: 2 June, 6.30 pm Where: City Recital Hall Price: $75 The comedy duo shares stories and reflections in an evening of relaxed storytelling and audience Q&A. Tickets include access to a post-show gathering with themed drinks. Beyond the Summit With Jimmy Chin When: 2 June, 6.30 pm Where: City Recital Hall Price: $75 Acclaimed mountaineer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin recounts the risks and triumphs of past climbing expeditions, supported by immersive visuals and behind-the-scenes footage. Pale Jay at Vivid LIVE When: 5 June, 8 pm Where: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Price: $65 Known for his masked persona and genre-mixing style, Pale Jay delivers a visual-heavy live set blending jazz, soul, and lo-fi electronic sounds. Expect moody lighting and layered instrumentals. Native Food Experience When: 7 June, 6 pm Where: Parliament House Courtyard Price: $90 This ticketed dining experience explores native Australian ingredients through a multi-course menu. Highlights include lemon myrtle kangaroo skewers and wattleseed desserts, with commentary from First Nations chefs and local winemakers. Butter Beats n Eats: YAWDOESITALL When: June 14th at 8:30 pm Where: Butter Surry Hills, 6 Hunt Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010 Price: $22.49 A closing-night party combining hip-hop, street eats and neon décor. Entry includes a set by YAWDOESITALL, food specials, and glow accessories at the door (it's Vivid after all). Haus of Horror Presents Poltergeist When: 1 June, 9 pm Where: Luna Park Phantom Funhouse Price: $50 'They're here!' Luna Park's funhouse gets a horror makeover with live scare actors and visuals based on the 1982 film Poltergeist. Expect flashing lights, eerie soundscapes, and plenty of photo-worthy moments. Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light by David McDiarmid | Image: Supplied / Vivid Must-See Light Installations at Vivid Sydney 2025 The Vivid Sydney light walk stretches nearly eight kilometres from Sydney Opera House to Central Station. Our walking guide below will guide you through the light exhibition along the way, highlighting the best so you don't miss any of the most important stops. We highly recommend starting at the Sydney Opera House and completing the Light Walk in the stages we've outlined below. You'll need two (or even three) nights to complete the full light walk and see every attraction along the way, but you can comfortably make it from Circular Quay to Barangaroo in two or three nights, depending on fitness levels and size of the crowds. Soleil Nuit at Alfred Street, Sydney | Image: Supplied / Vivid Sydney Opera House to Circular Quay Distance: Less than 1 km Number of attractions: 5 Must-see light installations along the way: Our walking map of Vivid Sydney starts from the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Here, you'll struggle to miss the Lighting of the Sails by David McDiarmid, which is projected on the Sydney Opera House. This is one of the largest exhibitions of the event, paying tribute to the artist on the 30th anniversary of his death with seven minutes of his best work, demonstrating how he used irony, humour and fierce intimacy to celebrate diverse gender and sexual identities. Once you've seen House of Romance: Dreams Collide, Symphony of the Dreaming, and Soleil Nuit, you'll be ready to start the next step of the walking tour, which runs through The Rocks. BONUS: Martin Place and CBD Distance: Less than 1 km Number of attractions: 4 Beams display flowers up the side of Martin Place buildings at Flowers' Power Projected onto the iconic Commercial Traveller's Association (CTA) building, BioDream is epic The Lucid Dream Collective transforms a photo of you with AI, adding it to the projection You'll also find a Glyph here, one of five glowing white LED sculptures around the festival Martin Place and the Sydney CBD will host a few light attractions for Vivid 2025. New for this year, it's a good place to check out before you continue your journey to Barangaroo or The Rocks. Here you'll find Flowers' Power, which displays cartoon-like flowers that sprout halfway up the buildings of Martin Place. It's surely going to be another favourite for social media content creators, and that means it will be busy, very busy. King Dingo by Vincent Namatjira on the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | Image: Supplied / Vivid Circular Quay, Through The Rocks Distance: 1.5 km Number of attractions: 7 Must-see light installations along the way: Crafted from mirrored, tunnel-like trapezoid-shaped bricks, Emergence will be very popular First Nations artist Vincent Namatjira will premiere King Dingo, seen in the image above This interactive installation, Stem, will grow a 'dream-tree' based on the cadence of the voice Colour The City lights up the ASN Clock Tower with an interactive and community-made projection You'll find Bloom inside the Argyle Cut tunnel, creating a trance-like display of flora and fauna Error is a massive, swirling and illuminated disc that appears to hover, and it's hard to miss Look for the trippy Sweet Dreams installation on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons Still one of the most popular areas to view the lights at Vivid Sydney, The Rocks is a hub of seven light installations. This includes one of the largest displays of the event, King Dingo by Vincent Namatjira, which will be displayed on the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and will attract a large crowd every night. There's not much standing room here on the foreshore of the harbour, so if this area is busy, check out nearby installations like Colour The City, Stem, and Bloom in the Argyle Cut tunnel. You'll be able to catch this one on your way through the tunnel to Barangaroo. Lumina Dream by Ming Zhang | Image: Supplied / Vivid The Rocks to Barangaroo Distance: 2.6 km Number of attractions: 9 Must-see light installations along the way: While areas like Circular Quay and the Opera House forecourt are some of the most popular places to view the Vivid Lights, Barangaroo is home to the largest number of installations, which is good because it's easier to move around and typically not as crowded. Highlights from this area include Cygnus, Lumina Dream, and Fly to the Moon, sure to be a crowd favourite for social media. What's not to like about a giant inflatable moon? Check out the six towering geometric obelisks of Trispheric Garden while you're here. The Dream Herd | Image: Supplied Barangaroo to Tumbalong Park Distance: 2.1 km Number of attractions: 11 Must-see light installations along the way: Start your walk at Lumina Dreams near Barangaroo Station, a prism-lined tunnel that shifts colour as you move through it. Head toward the foreshore to find Tunku and Ngaadi, glowing sculptures honouring First Nations cultures, reflected across the water from the Maritime Museum. As you enter Darling Harbour, Samsung's Space to Dream transforms Cockle Bay with towering digital waterfalls. Above the boardwalk, Entwine suspends 168 LED tubes, while Drawn in Light creates a dynamic chandelier of hand-sketched shapes in motion. The Cloud Swing is an interactive favourite, encouraging playful group photos. For something sporty, check out Kickit Team Tennis, where players hit glowing balls across a pulsating LED court. Follow the path through the Elysian Collection, a set of glowing corridors, before finishing at Dream Scene, an illuminated maze designed for younger visitors. But that won't stop us adults from having a blast. Poem Booth | Image: Vivid Tumbalong Park to Central Station Distance: 1.3 km Number of attractions: 3 Must-see light installations and events along the way: Telephone Neon Dreams Starscape Tunnel Fireplaces QUASAR Eye of the Beholder Begin at Telephone, a glowing booth where picking up the receiver (yes, that's what it was called back in the day) triggers short, poetic voice clips. Then pass through Neon Dreams, a series of curved neon light arches, and continue to Starscape Tunnel, a walkway lined with LED starscapes pulsing in sync with ambient music. By the Powerhouse Museum, stop at Poem Booth, where AI creates unique verse inspired by the people and activity around it. A few steps ahead, a red neon sign reads 'Humanity,' flickering to occasionally spell 'Humility'. A subtle, yet poignant prompt to pause and reflect. End your walk with a final visit to Fireplaces in Tumbalong Park. Large flame sculptures and fire barrels add warmth and atmosphere, while Vivid Fire Kitchen nearby serves snacks and drinks to finish your night. What our experts say: Get in touch with your poetic side at 'Poem Booth' and witness poetry machines powered by Artificial Intelligence translate what they see in front of them into unique pieces of poetry, prompting you to ask what creativity now looks like. Pass by the Powerhouse Museum and spy a red neon sign 'Humanity' that appears to flicker, switching between the words 'Humanity' and 'Humility'. Before heading home, catch 'Fireplaces' at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour and Vivid Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line and find giant fire pits, fire sculptures, flame throwers and fire barrels. Bennelong | Image: Supplied Places to Eat During Vivid Sydney 2025 Best Restaurants in Circular Quay If you're hanging around Vivid, then you'll want to check out our list of the best restaurants near Circular Quay. Any of these restaurants on our list offers you a seat at the most picturesque dining locations in Sydney. However, it's not just the views that will grab your attention, this area is a melting pot for some of the best restaurants in Sydney. We've been lucky enough to sample food from all of the restaurants on this list, often thanks to our friends in the industry. And while our round-up includes some fine-dining options that'll blow you away in both flavours and price, we've also done our best to include some value-for-money options for date night. Best Restaurants in Barangaroo Head around through The Rocks during Vivid and you'll come across the new dining precinct in Barangaroo. It's home to plenty of cuisine options, with everything from Korean BBQ to great steak and seafood. The Crown dominates the peninsula, however, it's home to some great restaurants, with Nobu, a'Mare, and Woodcut being the standouts for us. If you're looking for a more relaxed fair, check out the list below, which includes Ume Burger, Belle's Chicken, for all you seafood lovers, and more. Best Romantic Restaurants in Sydney Vivid Sydney can be a great excuse for date night, so we've rounded up some of our favourite romantic restaurants in Sydney. Not every restaurant on this list is located in the middle of Circular Quay. However, if you're already in the city, do some bar hopping and make your way into any of these restaurants as you explore the Sydney CBD. If you had to splurge on a special occasion, get your bookings in now for Bennelong (inside the Sydney Opera House) before tables book out. Cruise Bar | Image: Supplied Places to Drink During Vivid Sydney Best Bars in Circular Quay Hustling and bustling, Circular Quay is home to a great selection of bars, and we've sifted through the best to remove all the tourist traps. Being only a stone's throw from the heart of Sydney's best bar scene in The Rocks, there are plenty of spots to choose from at the end of Sydney Harbour. If you're looking for a quick drink, we can't recommend the cocktails at Double Deuce Lounge enough. However, if you're looking to escape the crowds, head down to Apollonia. Our list of the Best Bars in Circular Quay Best Bars in The Rocks Stepping into The Rocks is like taking a step back in time, both figuratively and literally. There's a bar or pub on every corner, but choosing a list of the best is something of a challenge. In doing so, we've left off the pubs, hotels, and clubs. Instead, we've nailed a list of bars and lounges that specialise in cocktails, drinks, and spirits like our favourite whisky. If you're looking for a quiet place to hang out away from the crowds during Vivid, our list of the best Bars in The Rocks has you covered. Our list of the Best Bars in The Rocks Best Bars in Sydney If you're looking further afield, check out our list of the best bars in Sydney. With plenty of knowledge about all things whisky, beer, and cocktails, our team has ventured into some of the coolest, fanciest, and hard-to-find joints in the harbour city. Of course, having a few friends in the industry means we've been able to explore most of these bars at our own pace, basking in the atmosphere, trying the food on offer, and most importantly, the high level of mixology shown at every bar listed below. Our list of the Best Bars in Sydney What is Vivid? Vivid Sydney is an annual festival that celebrates creativity, innovation and technology. Owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the three-week-long event runs primarily out of the Sydney Opera House, transforming Sydney into a spectacle of colour and light. Staged for its 15th year in 2025, Vivid Sydney sees activations and installations from the world's brightest light artists, alongside live music performances, discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Over the full 23-night event, more than 3 million visitors are expected to attend, significantly bolstering the domestic economy and swelling New South Wales' international image. In 2023, a record 3.48 million people attended the festival from NSW, interstate and around the world, injecting a whopping $206 million into the NSW economy. You'll also like:
The Age
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Melbourne review wrap: Sigur Ros and the MSO; Paavali by Flinders Quartet;
MUSIC Sigur Rós x MSO ★★★★ Hamer Hall, May 19 The orchestra shuffles onto the stage and members take their seats. The concertmaster plays an A, and the rest of the group tunes. It's like any other Melbourne Symphony Orchestra recital, until five men walk onto the stage to join them, and the hall erupts in rapturous applause. Sigur Rós performs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, May 19, 2025. Credit: Laura Manariti The strings swell in the opening passages of Blóðberg, and I can't help it: I'm immediately crying. This is the experience of seeing Sigur Rós live with an orchestra – over the two-plus-year tour, reports of audience members weeping have been common worldwide. It's not difficult to understand why – the group's sweeping, grandiose music, sung largely in Icelandic and the invented Hopelandic, is elevated in this setting, reaching what feels like an otherworldly plane. It might sound dramatic, but this is the kind of music that feels like it contains all the truths of the world. The core Sigur Rós trio is expanded with a touring member; the fifth man is British conductor and composer Robert Ames, who rearranged much of the music for this orchestral tour. Ames leads with palpable joy, and the four musicians are positioned in the middle of the orchestra, blending in with their concert blacks. The effect is that they all appear as one unit, rather than the orchestra being an addition. Indeed, in the purely instrumental sections, you'd be forgiven for forgetting this was not simply an orchestral concert. Loading Many of these new arrangements are string-heavy, but other details peep through: a muted trumpet in Starálfur adds texture, and a glockenspiel sprinkles a dash of whimsy and magic throughout the evening. Frontman Jónsi's signature bowed guitar, often harsh and discordant, provides a striking contrast to the orchestral beauty around it. Now 50, Jónsi's high, bell-like voice still sounds gorgeous, even when a rasp creeps in – the occasional cracking might make it all even more emotional. The immersive two-set show focuses on the band's slower, more cinematic tunes, which begin to blend and blur. The spirited kick of Sé Lest , featuring a circus-esque brass section, and the thundering percussion at the climax of Hoppípolla , give much-needed jolts of energy. It feels like a privilege to see this band's music performed in this setting, and it works so well that it's hard to imagine it was ever any other way. No words are spoken throughout, until the very end: 'Thank you,' Jónsi says. Takk to them, too. Reviewed by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
There's a reason these concerts keep moving people to tears
The orchestra shuffles onto the stage and members take their seats. The concertmaster plays an A, and the rest of the group tunes. It's like any other Melbourne Symphony Orchestra recital, until five men walk onto the stage to join them, and the hall erupts in rapturous applause. The strings swell in the opening passages of Blóðberg, and I can't help it: I'm immediately crying. This is the experience of seeing Sigur Rós live with an orchestra – over the two-plus-year tour, reports of audience members weeping have been common worldwide. It's not difficult to understand why – the group's sweeping, grandiose music, sung largely in Icelandic and the invented Hopelandic, is elevated in this setting, reaching what feels like an otherworldly plane. It might sound dramatic, but this is the kind of music that feels like it contains all the truths of the world. The core Sigur Rós trio is expanded with a touring member; the fifth man is British conductor and composer Robert Ames, who rearranged much of the music for this orchestral tour. Ames leads with palpable joy, and the four musicians are positioned in the middle of the orchestra, blending in with their concert blacks. The effect is that they all appear as one unit, rather than the orchestra being an addition. Indeed, in the purely instrumental sections, you'd be forgiven for forgetting this was not simply an orchestral concert. Loading Many of these new arrangements are string-heavy, but other details peep through: a muted trumpet in Starálfur adds texture, and a glockenspiel sprinkles a dash of whimsy and magic throughout the evening. Frontman Jónsi's signature bowed guitar, often harsh and discordant, provides a striking contrast to the orchestral beauty around it. Now 50, Jónsi's high, bell-like voice still sounds gorgeous, even when a rasp creeps in – the occasional cracking might make it all even more emotional. The immersive two-set show focuses on the band's slower, more cinematic tunes, which begin to blend and blur. The spirited kick of Sé Lest, featuring a circus-esque brass section, and the thundering percussion at the climax of Hoppípolla, give much-needed jolts of energy. It feels like a privilege to see this band's music performed in this setting, and it works so well that it's hard to imagine it was ever any other way. No words are spoken throughout, until the very end: 'Thank you,' Jónsi says. Takk to them, too.
