If the harbour city's reputation sparks thoughts of a concrete jungle bereft of nightlife and activity relying solely on its coastline, the deadly events busting from Sydney Festival's program promises to shatter that view.
The celebrations return from Thursday with a list of events celebrating Indigenous arts, music and culture in Blak Out.
Emma Donovan joins forces with composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky to bring her signature soul and gospel to the City Recital Hall and perform classics from iconic country stars alongside songs from her own Australian music royalty family in The Old Rugged Cross on January 19th.
The delicate pop sounds of Alice Sky, who boasts millions of streams on Spotify, takes the stage for her already sold out show as part of The Weary Traveller's festival takeover of the CTA Business Club basement in Martin Place on the 7th.
Tickets have also gone for Coloured Stone for their basement show on the 15th.
For cabaret fans, An Evening with Ursula Yovich explores her roots in Arnhem land at the Wharf 1 Theatre just metres from Barangaroo on the 13th before Heartbreak High star Thomas Whetherall unpacks a version of his own upbringing in his solo stage debut Blue starting the following evening at the acclaimed Belvoir State Theatre.
Sydney Festivals family-friendly approach will be on display courtesy of Palawa playwright Nathan Maynard and Maori actor-writer-director Jamie McCaskill story of the Thylacine's (Tasmanian Tigers) discovery in Hide the Dog.
Waru - The journey of a Small Turtle from the Torres Strait, Wiradjuri director-choreographer and artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre Daniel Riley's showcase Tracker, Short Black Opera's Woven Song and the Awaken vigil from Jacob Nash and Stephen Page looking over Barangaroo Reserve across Me-Mel (Goat Island) round out the performing arts bracket.
The Blak Out catalogue also boasts strong duo of First Nations visual artists.
Thea Anamara Perkin's questions where Indigenous people fit within a modern Australia at Carriageworks in Redfern with her work Stockwoman while Brenda L. Croft takes over pockets of Sydney, harnessing the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women with her photographical collection Naabami (thou shall/will see): Barangaroo (army of me).
"A myriad of Blak voices will fill our city with stories about us, for us. This year we share stories that are Personal, Profound and Intimate alongside big stories about Legacy and Land," Sydney Festival creative artist in residence Jacob Nash said.
"These stories need to be told now more than ever, and we are honoured to be bringing together an outstanding group of First Nations artists to Sydney to inspire, provoke and challenge you.
"The future is Blak."
Sydney Festival runs with an extended calendar of events from Thursday January 5 across Sydney.
