An event fifteen years in the making.
A moment to reflect on the journey that began with a simple conversation over a slice of pizza. A tribute to the artists, audiences, and community who’ve grown with us along the way.
To celebrate our 15th birthday, we’ll be taking over all four rooms of the Sydney Opera House on 27 May. Each space is shaped by artists testing limits, paying homage to the greats, bending genres, and redefining how sound moves through space. It’s a programme built to explore, wander, and get lost in - a love letter to Eora/Sydney and everyone who’s been with us over the past 15 years.
At the centre, Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey will take to the Concert Hall, where musical architect Brian Jackson is joined on stage by one of hip-hop’s most vital voices, Yasiin Bey - together continuing the revolution in the spirit of Scott-Heron’s work.
In the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Flying Lotus brings his singular language of rhythm, texture, and cinematic sound design to a space built for scale, presenting his legendary immersive Layer 3 performance.
In the Utzon Room, Moonflower Suite offers intimacy and connection, anchored by Sydney’s instrumental jazz collective Hey, Love, with standout local artists Maina Doe, NMMWL, and KHYA joining as vocal and spoken-word collaborators.
To close the takeover, The Studio will host two international heavyweights: LA-based DJ, producer, and label head TOKiMONSTA, alongside South London DJ Oneman - two celebrated selectors bringing the pressure to the final ceremony.
In the lead-up, we’ll give you a taste of the celebrations with the live performance premiere of POMPEII // UTILITY, the new collaborative album from long-time friends Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE. The program also marks the return of UK jazz artist Alfa Mist, whose work prioritises feeling over perfection.
The past 15 years have always been about community - bringing people together through music, sharing artists’ voices, and creating moments that matter. This is a night that celebrates that spirit in full: a monumental gathering of artists, audiences, and culture in one of the world’s most iconic venues - a reminder of why we do what we do.
A gift from us to you.
With love,
Astral People
