Words by Christopher Kevin Au // Head image by Xinger Xanger

Vivid Sydney is coming soon, bringing a shit tonne of talented individuals, bright lights and big ideas to our beloved city.

Taking place from May 27 and stretching through to June 18, there’s countless events taking place, so we picked the six parties that we’re ultra excited to attend. So many activities! Get your calendar out, because these three weeks are going to require a lot of planning and scheduling. See our picks below and support some of the great stuff happening in Sydney City:

WELCOME TO KINGS CROSS

WHO: NES, KATO, SHANTAN WANTAN ICHIBAN, FLEXMAMI, BAD DEEP & MORE
WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 28
WHERE: KINGS CROSS HOTEL
COST: $10 ON THE DOOR
MORE INFO HERE

It’s no secret that Kings Cross has taken an absolute battering over the past few years thanks to the lockout laws, with everywhere from Trademark to Hugo’s Lounge to Bada Bing closing their doors. However, Sydney’s party spirit is still well alive, and will be in full flex mode at the ‘Welcome to Kings Cross’ party at the precinct’s iconic Kings Cross Hotel. From the dive bar to the rooftop, 20 of the city’s premium selectors will be playing across five levels in this monster soiree. The lineup has been curated by Adam Lewis and features some of our favourites including the ever-versatile Nes, Wordlife  legend Kato, Triple J done Shantan Wantan Ichiban, style queen FlexMami and our impressively ambitious friends over at Bad Deep! This is a mammoth celebration of local talent and at just $10, you’re paying 50 cents per DJ. What a fuckin’ bargain!

[Image by Jack Bennett]

FUTURE CLASSIC PRESENTS: TA-KU FT. WAFIA

WHO: TA-KU, WAFIA
WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 3
WHERE: SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
COST: $39 RIGHT HERE
MORE INFO HERE

With over a decade in the game, Future Classic have been cultivating some of Australia’s most impressive and genre-bending acts to hit the electronica scene. You only need to look at Flume’s incredible story – from playing weeknight club shows to two gigs in Sydney’s biggest arena – to realise that Future Classic’s work ethic is second to none. Now, the grandiose performances continue with Perth export Ta-ku, who will be playing two shows at the Sydney Opera House. With his Songs To Break Up To and Songs to Make Up To releases, he established himself as a master of moody soundscapes, as well as a style connoisseur with his Team Cozy project. At Vivid, he will be accompanied by collaborator Wafia, as well as a string quartet and kaleidoscopic visuals. We trippy mane!

[Image by Ta-ku]

HALFWAY CROOKS VS DUTTY DANCING

WHO: LEVINS, CAPTAIN FRANCO, SHANTAN WANTAN ICHIBAN, ASLAN & MORE
WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 4
WHERE: PLAN B SMALL CLUB
COST: $16.90 RIGHT HERE
MORE INFO HERE

It’s a clash of the titans at Plan B Small Club, with Sydney’s premier rap party Halfway Crooks joining forces with dancehall jam Dutty Dancing on June 4. We can’t tell you have many great memories we have from Halfway Crooks – their Waka Flocka Flame medleys certainly rank as among the best – and this is set to be another for the ages. Given the sonic Caribbean explorations by the likes of Rihanna and Drake, this collaboration party with Dutty Dancing certainly makes sense, and expect their to be plenty of ladies killing the dancefloor when ‘Work’ and ‘One Dance’ drop. Perhaps most excitingly, Perth’s own style legend and selector Aslan will be making the pilgrimage from the West Coast for the event. Be warned: He owns a Nicki Minaj shirt and has the strongest beard in the game.

[Image by Brayden Smith]

ONE DAY SUNDAYS

WHO: ADIT, NICK LUPI, KLASIK, LIZ BIRD & MORE
WHERE: PLAN B SMALL CLUB
WHEN: SUNDAY, JUNE 5
COST: $15 RIGHT HERE
MORE INFO HERE

One Day Sundays have been growing exponentially over the past few years – it feels more like a mini-festival than a casual Sunday session, and just know that the audience is there to turn up without remorse. Leading the blockbuster June lineup is Horrorshow production wizard Adit, as well as Spit Syndicate’s own Nick Lupi. They’ll be joined by Levins and Aslan – fresh from the aforementioned Halfway Crooks Vs Dutty Dancing party the night before – as well as Klasik and Liz Bird. Lots of rap bangers, some silky R&B and a beautifully diverse crowd – what more could you ask for? Take Monday off work now because we’re guessing that your limbs will be aching after this one.

[Image by Cole Bennetts]

PURPLE SNEAKERS 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

WHO: LINDA MARIGLIANO, MOTORIK VIBE COUNCIL, ARIANE, INDIAN SUMMER & MORE
WHERE: THE LORD GLADSTONE
WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 18
COST: FREE WITH RSVP RIGHT HERE
MORE INFO HERE

The Lord Gladstone is a nice pub where you can watch the UFC and eat a chicken burger, but it’s easily transformed into the biggest party spot in Chippendale when something like this comes along. Legendary club night Purple Sneakers will be throwing their first Sydney event in five years for the closing night of Vivid, and they’ve come out with both guns blazing. Some of Australia’s finest labels including Astral People, Motorik and Pilerats will be spinning tunes alongside live sets from World Champion, Tashka and more. Purple Sneakers in-house selectors will be closing the night with a 90 minute retrospective set looking back at some of the biggest bangers to emerge from the vault during their decade-long triumph. Did we mention that there’s no lockout?

[Image via Facebook]

MUSICNSW PRESENTS: WOMEN IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC SHOWCASE

WHO: BANOFFEE, RAINBOW CHAN, HABITS, BUOY & MORE
WHERE: MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 18
COST: FREE
MORE INFO HERE

There’s few locations better to indulge in music than the rooftop of the MCA, bordering on the iconic Sydney Harbour – and that’s what we’ll get in this showcase celebrating the enormous contributions that women make to Australia’s thriving electronic scene. Spearheading the whole jam is Melbourne songwriter Banoffee, who’s so great that she even had an ice cream flavour named after her – huge. Also on the bill is the eclectic Rainbow Chan from the Astral People clan, who continues to impress with her niche approach to pop. Expect plenty of melody in this showcase, which also stars Habits, BUOY, GL and Mira Boru.

[Image by Freya Esders]