Sydney Festival Offer First Names In Parramatta Line-Up

The program for next year's Sydney Festival Parramatta has been revealed, with a plethora of music, arts and magic on display for punters in Western Sydney.

With the full Sydney Festival announcement to be announced tomorrow, the festival have today revealed the musicians and artists who will be playing satellite shows in the major Western Sydney hub of Parramatta. In recent years the Parramatta events have developed their own following and are considered as their own 'festival within the festival' to a certain extent.

Starting with the music, SFP have enlisted a number of local acts plus a couple of international artists to entertain the crowds over the course of the event. Soul mainstays Lee Fields & The Expressions, New Zealand singer Bella Kalolo, Californian jazz muso Ambrose Akinmusire, acclaimed Tuareg guitarist Bombino and UK indie rocker Edwyn Collins are just some of the names that will perform during the festival.

Edwyn Collins is, in particular, an exciting name on the line-up. The former frontman of Orange Juice, he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage in 2005, the stroke and subsequent brain surgery left him unable to talk or walk. He has since relearned how to do those basic things and, remarkably, has progressed to performing live again. He'll perform at the Riverside Theatres Saturday 18 January.

The event will also premiere the international magic extravaganza Band of Magicians. The show is a collaboration between four international musicians, including Aussie James Galea. Melbourne art collective Boxwars and Kaldor Public Arts Projects will present their Project 28 display, which includes work from Slovakian artist Roman Ondák.

The event will take place at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Town Hall, Parramatta River and streets and parks throughout the suburb from Friday 10 to Saturday 19 January.

Full details on when and wheres here.