What's On: A Guide To Sydney Events

01 Feb 17

Sydney is a sparkling modern city that boasts busy nightlife and vibrant culture. From its swanky hotels to trendy bars and clubs, fine dining restaurants and exciting theatre productions, there truly is something for everyone. Although Sydney is known to really come alive when the sun goes down, it's not just the sparkling lights of the city that dazzle, there are also plenty of daytime events to keep you busy. Let's take a look at what's on in Sydney with a guide to events in February and beyond.

Thursday Feb 2

Hailing from Chicago, indie-rock band Whitney embark on their Australian tour at the Oxford Art Factory from 8pm. Playing a modern take on folk tunes underscored by gentle percussion lines and relaxed guitar, the band will be playing tracks from their debut album Light Upon The Lake.

Gagging in Dystopia is the new exhibition from artist Lea Kannar-Lichtenberger. The opening at Interlude Gallery presents her exploration of the Anthropocene and climate change drawing upon her experiences visiting Lord Howe Island and the Galapagos Islands.

Friday Feb 3

The Lunar New Year celebrations commence in Centenary Square Paramatta with lion dances, dragon processions, lantern making workshops, calligraphy, international food stalls and a fireworks display.

Redfern's Giant Dwarf plays host to a night of comedy offering anecdotes on love, family and prejudice from some of the Sydney LGBTQI community's best storytellers including activist Jax Jacki Brown, satirist Simon Hunt, writer Liz Duck-Chong, Benjamin Law and DJ Sveta Gilerman.

Saturday Feb 4

Celebrating Chinese New Year, Kensington Street is throwing open its terrace house doors for a block party like no other. Enjoy calligraphy, shadow puppetry, fortune telling and cooking demonstrations as well as a marketplace with food from Automata, Holy Duck and more.

Beginning in Melbourne over 10 years ago, Laneway Festival has outgrown its humble beginnings to become one of the year's biggest music events. From 11am at the Sydney College of Arts see local and international acts Clams Casino, Glass Animals, Mr Carmack, Floating Points and Tame Impala.

Sunday Feb 5

Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour will play host to the Serbian Festival where you can discover thee culture and cuisine of Europe. From 10am to 8pm you can enjoy an entertainment program featuring music performances and folk dancing but the real drawcard is the specialty food stalls selling everything from burek and traditional sausages to pastries and doughnuts.

Camelot Lounge in Marrickville will launch the new album of Ukrainian-trained jazz and classical pianist Alex Parkmen, In the Mood. Alex will be joined by a band playing improvised arrangements and compositions of a variety of classical tunes.

NEXT WEEK

Camella Lobo makes her debut Australian tour as Tropic of Cancer, playing disembodied electro music dwelling on the fatalistic and romantic. Playing at the Newtown Social Club, she will perform songs from her new EP Stop Suffering as well as classic from older albums such as The Sorrow of Two Blooms and Restless Idylls.

NEXT MONTH

Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquaries Point will be the ideal stage for the latest open-air performance of Opera Australia. Handa Opera will return to Sydney Harbour with their performance of Carmen from March 24 to April 23. Sian Pendry stars in the leading role and is perfectly complimented by mezzo-soprano Jose Maria Lo Monaco.