Archie Roach, Regurgitator, Orville Peck & More Join Huge 2020 Sydney Festival Line-up

Sydney Festival has today unveiled a stellar 2020 program, complete with music, dance, theatre, visual art and more. 

Among the festival's music line-up is the much-loved Archie Roach, who will share his Tell Me Why show, bringing together elements of his forthcoming memoir and album of the same name (both due for release this week). Roach will be joined by Paul Grabowsky, Emma Donovan and Sally Dastey for the show. 

The Church's Steve Kilbey will perform his new solo work Sydney Rococo, Orville Peck makes his Australian debut, while US composer Holly Herndon will present her album Proto, complete with her "AI baby" dubbed Spawn. 

There will also be a tribute to legendary artist Gurrumul Yunupingu in Buŋgul, described as "a ceremonial celebration of Dr G’s final record Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)".

Regurgitator's POGOGO SHOW and puppet show Laser Peak Man (complete with score from Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack) help round out the family-friendly events. 

It's another huge year of theatre, with Ernie Dingo returning in Bran Nue Dae, while UK performance artist Bryony Kimmings brings along her performance work I'm A Phoenix, Bitch. The Music recently caught up with Kimmings, who is also the co-writer of George Michael rom-com Last Christmas, read the interview here.

Stephanie Lake's 50-person-strong dance performance Colossus makes its way to Sydney, following Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne Festival performances, while storytellers Benjamin Law, Elizabeth Chong, Valerie Berry, Raghav Handa and Heather Jeong all appear in Double Delicious where they'll share stories all while preparing culturally significant cuisine. 

Anthem, a new work from some of the foremost theatremakers and writers in the country, including Patricia Cornelius and Christos Tsiolkas, also makes its Sydney premiere.

"Sydney Festival brings to our city the newest works from the world’s most adventurous artists," said Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch. 

"We unearth the interesting, the new and the exciting. Wherever there is a debate to be had, a diversity of opinion or the need to speak the neglected story, Sydney Festival is there. We are proudly diverse. We are equal parts cultural ambition and celebration."

"Each January, Sydney Festival transforms our city into a cultural cacophony of theatre, music, dance and ideas," added Minister for the Arts Don Harwin. 

"Not only does the 2020 program showcase the very best of international and local arts, it also highlights the very best of this wonderful city — from Hyde Park to Parramatta; Carriageworks to The Domain, Sydney Festival is a city-wide celebration to be enjoyed by all Sydneysiders. The NSW Government is proud to support such an energetic and diverse event."

Sydney Festival takes place from 8-26 January 2020, with tickets on sale from 9am on Thursday 31 October. 

For more information and to see the full program, head to the Sydney Festival website here.