Sydney's Volume Festival Locks In André 3000, Kim Gordon & More

Volume, the music festival and pioneering artistic series presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales returns to Sydney this July.

From Friday, 5 July to Sunday, 21 July, Volume will be held in the Art Gallery’s iconic Tank. A space that was once a World War II oil tank, the Tank has been repurposed to host boundary-pushing and genre-defying performances and artwork – perfect for the artists booked to perform this year.

Leading this year’s Volume line-up is the one and only André 3000, best known as the hip-hop legend of Outkast fame.

But his exclusive festival performance arrives with a difference. André 3000 will showcase his experimental jazz New Blue Sun Live project. The set will see the artist bring his 2023 album, New Blue Sun, to life for two shows in the Tank—his first Australian performances since Outkast headlined Splendour In The Grass in 2014.

Joining André 3000 for the New Blue Sun Live performance will be multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, guitarist Nate Mercereau, keyboardist Surya Botofasina, and drummer Deantoni Parks (also on synthesiser).

In addition to André 3000, Volume has locked in Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth fame – adding to her Australian tour dates in support of her explosive new solo LP, The Collective, and eclectic Australian rappers Genesis Owusu and Tkay Maidza.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

A program of free events will be announced soon to join the festival’s ticketed program.

Pre-sale tickets to this year’s edition of Volume go on sale on Tuesday, 21 May, at 11 am AEST, before the general sale opens on Wednesday, 22 May, at 11 am AEST. Tickets can be found on the Volume Sydney website.

“Through Volume, the Art Gallery of New South Wales will bring the best of contemporary music and art together in an inspiring and unique location,” the New South Wales Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night-time Economy and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham said in a press release.

“The program and the location offer artists and audiences a chance to experience something bold, ambitious and truly memorable.”

Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand added that Volume “breaks new ground” in music curation for performances held in public art museums.

Brand continued, “We are thrilled to be inviting some of the most innovative and bold local and international musicians to the Tank to create unique music experiences that will make audiences think, feel and move. We look forward to seeing how each artist responds to this remarkable space.”