June events in Sydney
Face the frost and enjoy wonderful winter events this month
Feeling a little despondent as the days grow shorter? Well, we’re here to help you out of that seasonal affective disorder hole. This month's-worth of adventures can be all yours if you brave the blustery outdoors. We’ve got tips for staying cultured in the cold with cheap theatre tickets and costume shops for that cosplay outfit you’ll wear at Supanova.
Rug up and travel the short distance between cinemas for Sydney Film Festival or gawk at the remaining Vivid events. Feeling underdressed? Head to one of Sydney’s best op shops, antique stores or vintage havens to stockpile full knitted outfits and blanket scarves.
Find the biggest events in June
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival returns this month with more fascinating, thrilling and entertaining movies you won't find at the multiplex. As always the State Theatre will be the epicentre of the action, with screenings also occurring across the CBD, Newtown, Cremorne, Randwick and Western Sydney.
À Ố Làng Phố
Have you ever seen a culturally adventurous, genre-defying narrative piece of circus art from Vietnam? We thought not. À Ố Làng Phố is performed on a set that's constructed entirely of bamboo and rattan, which comes to life to tell a story of urbanisation through aerial work, contortion, juggling and an unusual soundtrack.
Aziz Ansari
Ansari's new tour, called Road to Nowhere, is his first since the incident when a woman who he went on a date with alleged she felt pressured into performing sex acts with him. He apparently addresses those allegations in the show, which has earned stellar reviews. But it is stand-up, so there's plenty of other material from Ansari's well-developed repertoire.
Spike Lee on Films, Politics and Race
This Town Hall talk is part of Vivid’s Game Changer Series and will be Lee’s first public appearance in Australia. Audiences can expect insights into filmmaking and social advocacy beyond the big screen, and Lee's own experiences regarding race in the media and Hollywood.
Round She Goes Fashion Market
Rummage through a mix of vintage and modern clothing – it leans towards traditionally feminine attire – and accessories, as well as handmade jewellery and funky trinkets. You’ll find high-end designers like Ferragamo and Carla Zampatti, as well as good quality high street styles from Gorman and Sass & Bide among the 60 stalls.
Nick Offerman
Offerman’s latest work is entitled All Rise, and it’s being billed as an evening of deliberative talking and light dance (audience participation unclear). And the target: modern consumerism. “It’s a proper revival suggesting the existence of a higher power in the land than commerce, one that will cause you to pop, lock and rejoice!,” says Offerman.
Apollo 11
It’s 50 years since Neil Armstrong took that giant leap for mankind, and the Powerhouse Museum is hosting a cosmic exhibition dedicated to the Moon landing. It'll feature more than 200 objects involved the momentous 1969 space journey and other pieces exploring the science, design and historical impact of the event, plus the popular 'Museum of the Moon' installation.
Megan Mullally and her band: Nancy and Beth
Long before she became a sitcom star, Megan Mullally had appeared in Broadway musicals and has honed those musical skills over the course of her career. Now she's returning to Australia with her band Nancy and Beth, a collaboration between Mullally and actor Stephanie Hunt.
Bongo's Bingo
This might be the only bingo night with a dedicated 15-minute ‘rave break’. The UK-born Bongo’s Bingo is a messy affair that involves dancing on tables, dabbing, and at least 15 litres of booze in prizes. It’s a whole lot of fun, and it’s returning for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
Bill Henson
There are few Australian artists whose work is as distinctive and immediately recognisable as Bill Henson – and arguably no Australian photographers who are as well known. He's best known for his portraits of adolescent subjects presented in dark, dramatic settings, and will be showing a series of new works at this exhibition.
FKA Twigs
It's four years since the genre-smashing, avant-garde pop star performed in Sydney, and now she’s returning with a new show (and maybe even some new music). She's known for her elaborate, sci-fi skimming choreography and bombastic aesthetics.
Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair
Bringing together thousands of Sydney residents from more than 35 communities across the city, the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF) is a celebration following the religious holiday Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Expect gut-churning carnival rides, market stalls, traditional live performances, animal shows and art workshops.
Heaps Gay Qweens Ball
The Heaps Gay party crew will be bringing a touch of oppalence to Sydney Town Hall for their Qween’s Ball, a lavish party of queer art and music. The theme for this year’s party is “Winter is Coming” and revellers are encouraged to dress up in their best op-shop wintery chic (faux fur recommended).
Brian Cox
The much loved professor is heading back to Sydney to educate and entertain audiences with his knowledge of the cosmos. Cox will use state-of-the-art graphics, telescope imagery and space probes to talk about the latest space missions, the Big Bang, black holes and the origin and fate of life in the Universe.
Western Sydney Parklands Trail Run
If you regularly pound the pavement on the same old city running route, change up your jogging cycle and test your legs at the Western Sydney Parklands Trail Run. The new fun run will take you on a loop of the park’s expansive grounds, with 35km, 19km, 11km and 4km courses.
GABS Beer, Cider and Food Fest
This beer and cider extravaganza is basically Christmas for beer lovers. The big drawcard is the 170 beverages on tap that have been brewed exclusively for the festival. This is your only chance to try a Negroni beer hybrid, a tiramisu porter, a snail-infused ale or a lager inspired by the famous Greek dessert, loukoumades.
Sweeney Todd
It's time for Australia's leading man of musical theatre, Anthony Warlow, and comedy star Gina Riley (aka the Kim half of Kath and Kim) to take on Sweeny Todd's leading roles – the titular demon barber and Mrs Lovett, a pie shop owner and Todd's unlikely ally. Be part of Sweeney's revenge mission to take down the powerful men who destroyed his family.
Ghostly Garden
Ready your torches and your nerves for this nighttime garden ghost tour. As you’re led through shadowy paths and under dark canopies, your guide will share spine-tingling stories about the area, introducing you to long-dead historical figures who’ve visited the park and the secretive nocturnal creatures who now inhabit it.
Rudimental
This four-man dance music troupe are headed on a nationwide tour to share inclusive vibes from their newest album, Toast To Our Differences. It’s been three years in the making, but well worth the time spent recruiting stars across a delightful mash-up of genres like Anne-Marie, Major Lazer, Macklemore and Kevin Garrett.
Vivid After Hours at AGNSW
We’re a big fan of the Art Gallery of NSW’s free Wednesday night art series. For Vivid, they’re curating some pretty special nights led by a discussion about personal histories, spirituality and cultural and social identity, before art-seeking night owls enjoy live music, interactive workshops and gallery excursions.
Muriel's Wedding The Musical
Sydney, Muriel has arrived. With an updated book by original screenwriter PJ Hogan and music by pop intelligentsia Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, Muriel’s Wedding the Musical will leave you smiling for days. This is a five star film-to-stage adaptation critics, audiences and creatives dream of.
The Makers’ Nest Design Market
Check out locally-made artisan products including fashion accessories, jewellery, ceramics and artworks at this biannual market. Around 50 stalls will make their home at the revamped tram depot. Entry is a $2 donation at the door and kids under 12 come free to this family-friendly celebration of local makers.
Herbie Hancock
With six decades of musical innovation across jazz, hip-hop, electro-fusion, and funk under his belt, you can expect Herbie Hancock will bring a remarkable presence to the stage. Audiences will be looking forward to hearing hits from his twelfth studio album, Head Hunters, as well as his beloved early compositions like ‘Cantaloupe Island’ and ‘Watermelon Man’.
RocoColonial
Rococo, an 18th century European style of decoration that’s all about the theatrical and ornamental (think of the castle in Beauty and the Beast), is generally thought of as separate to the colonial style that emerged in the decades following. Arists that draw inspiration from both rococo and colonial styles are celebrated in this exhibition, which includes painting, sculpture, design and fashion.
Stadium Stomp SCG
Whatever level of fitness you’re at, competitors can attempt to scale the 6,700 stairs, or opt for the shorter climb of 4,000 steps. For athletes looking to make a statement, schedule the entire day off for the unlimited climb – it’s a stomp till you drop approach.
Rüfüs du Sol
The ARIA-winning Australian three-piece Rüfüs du Sol are playing three exclusive dates for Vivid Sydney. They’ll be joined by special guest Willaris. K for the shows, and it’s likely fans can expect to hear their infectious tracks and deep house grooves from Atlas, Bloom and third album Solace.
Urzila Carlson: Loser
Stand-up star Urzila Carlson is sort of a huge deal in NZ and has won basically every award available to a Kiwi. She's now conquering Australia, so make sure you catch one of the most amiable and lovable – but totally fearless – comedians we know, performing her new show, Loser.
Curve Ball
Curve Ball is one of Vivid’s biggest parties, offering a day-to-night experience of sound that’s matched in its vibrancy by the wall-to-wall visual installations. Artists and DJs organising the soundtrack include Touch Sensitive, Hayden James, Mallrat, Young Franco and more.
Ramadan Nights Lakemba
For the month of Ramadan, stalls line Haldon Street and Railway Parade in Lakemba, creating a global food market. This is where you can break fast with net roti and gentle lentil curries from the Cocos Islands; Malaysia's famously buttery grilled pastry parcels, murtabak; and haleem, the king of curries from Pakistan.
Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
The universe of Harry Potter truly is a magical place. Unless you spend a few seconds really thinking about it. The kids are armed at 11, there’s mass slavery, rampant racism and a huge class divide. Puffs takes every plot hole to task with a hilariously enchanting mix of parody and homage.
Sharon Van Etten
Pushing the parameters of rock and pop, Sharon Van Etten's fifth studio album Remind Me Tomorrow packs an emotional punch. She'll be bringing her intense and self-aware songwriting and raucous live show to the Opera House for one night only during Vivid.
Good Food and Wine Show
World-class chefs, food enthusiasts and TV personalities will be cooking up a storm for this annual food and wine convention. It’s three days of tastings, cooking demonstrations and chef meet-and-greets that’s on the level of Comic-Con, only less cosplay and more lunch.
The Essential Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp more or less abandoned his successful painting career to originate the idea of ‘readymades’ – existing objects elevated to the status of art through virtue of being ‘selected’ by artists. The official mid-20th century reproductions of his most renowed lost works are at the centre of The Essential Duchamp.
Methyl Ethel
While there’s a dreamy, down-the-rabbit-hole feeling to their music which distantly echos Perth’s other psych-pop darlings Tame Impala, Methyl Ethel are increasingly carving their own niche into this particular brand of Aussie alt-rock. They’ll be hitting up the Enmore Theatre to share their new album, Triage.
Thrones! The Musical Parody
[Sponsored] The night is dark, and full of... jazz hands. A far cry from Westeros’s blood-soaked wedding venues and questionable leadership choices, Thrones! The Musical Parody is a retelling of the epic story you know in a tone you don’t. It's landing in Sydney just after we've kicked into full GoT swing for the final season.
Glide through the month
Where to go ice skating in Sydney
We’ve found chilly pop-up rinks during winter and permanent icy fun in Sydney for the whole family to practice their ice skating twirls, double axles and graceful tumbles.