Handsome Tours' Chris Twite Joins Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House has announced that veteran Handsome Tours promoter Chris Twite will join its Music At The House team as Senior Producer, Contemporary Music, from this coming Monday, August 18.

With a long and colourful history in the industry – which started off with his role as event manager for Manning House at the University of Sydney Union and culminated in a six-year stint with nationally prominent promoters Handsome Tours/Civil Society that saw him present esteemed acts from Autechre and The Cinematic Orchestra to Les Savy Fav and The xx – as well as a healthy sideline in jockeying discs for Sydney community radio institution FBi 94.5FM, Twite is well-placed to capitalise on his wealth of experience to bring great authority to the position.

“As well as being a genuine, easy-going guy, Chris Twite is a formidable talent as a rigorous promoter and talent spotter with a terrific artistic sensibility that I’ve been watching for an opportunity to work with again,” the Opera House’s head of contemporary music, Ben Marshall, said in a statement. “He’s picked and secured acts as diverse as SBTRKT, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Gold Panda very early on and has already contributed mightily to our program in his previous role supplying us with artists. Chris will make a superb arts programmer as part of the Music team at the Opera House and we’re very proud to welcome him here.”

Twite was similarly ebullient about his appointment, saying in a statement: “Sydney Opera House is an icon in the cultural landscape of Australia, and I am excited to be taking on this new role within its diverse program. With Music at the House, Ben Marshall is programming some incredible acts and I can't wait to join the team.”

The Music At The House initiative is presented by the Opera House in an effort to showcase local and international artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, folk, electro, jazz, world, roots and blues/soul. The program runs year-round, including while complementary events Vivid LIVE and the Graphic Festival are held, resulting in a truly non-stop hub of musical activity just beaming out of Darling Harbour.

Music At The House has previously welcomed acts such as The Jezabels (pictured top), City And Colour, Iron & Wine, Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite, The National, Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and many others, while future bookings include performances from Angus & Julia Stone, Boy & Bear, Pat Metheny Unity Group, Nils Frahm, Max Richter, The Gloaming, Damon Albarn and Violent Femmes.

See the Opera House website, the Gig Guide or The Music App for more information.