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Home , Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues, Robin Pecknold, Sun Giant, The Decemberists, Vivid Live

MEDIA RELEASE 6.00am, Wednesday 1 March 2017

VIVID LIVE FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCED: * BALLOT FOR TICKETS *

FOUR NIGHTS, ONLY, EXCLUSIVE TO

“Fleet Foxes haven’t just expanded and enhanced their sound, they’ve found a way to remain lasting” – Consequence of Sound

Folk-rock masters Fleet Foxes will premiere new material from their highly anticipated third exclusively for Australian audiences at the when they make their long-awaited returned for Vivid LIVE in May this year as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

Five years since their last, life affirming shows, the band have chosen Vivid LIVE for their return to the stage, performing over four nights in the Opera House Concert Hall.

Due to the expected high demand, tickets will be allocated by ballot (details below).

Fleet Foxes Vivid LIVE performances are exclusive to Vivid Sydney and their only Australian shows for 2017, following sold-out ballots for (2015) and 's 3D Catalogue retrospective (2013), as well as ’s immersive and sense-shifting performance Hopelessness (2016).

The five-piece ensemble rose to prominence in the vanguard of a new wave of folk music in the 2000s, alongside fellow Opera House alumni including Sufjan Stevens, , , and The Decemberists.

The band returns to Sydney Opera House with a refreshed line-up featuring (vocals, ), Skyler Skjelset (guitar), Christian Wargo (bass), Morgan Henderson (multiple instruments) and Casey Wescott (). In addition to the core-band, their Vivid LIVE performances will feature additional players including Matthew Barrick (drums).

Fleet Foxes debut self-titled album, released in 2008, was billed in ’s 100 Best of the 2000’s in Rolling Stone, while also made Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Songs of the 2000’s. In December the same year, the EP and their self-titled LP together shared the title of Pitchforks #1 album(s) of 2008.

Their second full-length album, Helplessness (/Inertia) was released in 2011 to critical acclaim and propelled them to No. 6 in the Australian national charts (No. 2 in the UK and No. 4 in the US) confirming their status as a true crossover success story.

Almost a decade after leading the new-folk revolution, Fleet Foxes will bring their fevered dynamism and signature harmonies to the Concert Hall stage and demonstrate once more why they are indeed a band for the ages.

Robin Pecknold said, “We are unbelievably excited to perform songs from our new album, and to revisit songs from across our catalogue, at the Sydney Opera House in May. In this time, when all action towards unity is vital, our means of engendering union is through music, collective communal performance, on any stage that will have us, and there is no better stage in the world than the Opera House. We really hope to see you there.”

With the new album expected very soon, Robin Pecknold has created a playlist of artists and songs that inspired Fleet Foxes whilst writing the forthcoming new album.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer Sandra Chipchase said, “Vivid Sydney continues to attract the world’s best musicians to our city each year. The calibre of artists performing at the festival is testament to its success. I encourage all music fans to plan their trip to Sydney to see internationally acclaimed US band Fleet Foxes when they premiere their new material at these four exclusive Sydney shows.”

Vivid LIVE, now in its ninth year, will be the third curated by Ben Marshall, the Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music. For Vivid LIVE, Marshall has programmed iconic artists and projects such as Anohni, Bon Iver ‘Cercle’, New Order + ACO, Max Richter ‘Sleep’, Kraftwerk, , Sufjan Stevens and Morrissey. Ben’s year-round contemporary music program features Underworld, Kasabian, , James Vincent McMorrow, Billy Bragg & Joe Henry, The Lumineers and Mary J. Blige. The stages of the World Heritage-listed building have also held , D’Angelo, The National, Florence + the Machine, and & the Bad Seeds.

Ben Marshall, Curator of Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, said “It’s a big moment for us to welcome back Fleet Foxes to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage for Vivid LIVE. Having ended their tour here five years ago, over three unforgettable sold-out nights, they’ve chosen to premiere their new, fiercely anticipated third album on the very same stage. Like past key Vivid LIVE artists Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes are taking a 4-night Vivid LIVE residency and bringing something special to Sydney for their only Australian performances for 2017. A dramatic and powerful live proposition, Robin Pecknold’s spectral tenor and euphonic, melancholy melodies are something to behold in the Concert Hall and this act’s blazing ambition and restlessness will be on grand display in one of this year’s absolute musical highlights.”

The full program for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House will be announced at the Vivid Sydney program launch this month: vividsydney.com / sydneyoperahouse.com/vividLIVE

SEASON DETAILS WHAT: Fleet Foxes WHEN: Friday May 26 - Monday 29 May, 2017 WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House TICKETS: Premium $119 A Reserve $109 B Reserve $89

IMPORTANT TICKETING INFORMATION

An application process has been implemented for Fleet Foxes’ only Australian shows at Vivid LIVE, in anticipation of high demand and to ensure everyone has an equal chance to make applications over a five-day period. This will minimise website congestion and distribute tickets to fans across time zones, states and countries. Successful applicants will be notified via email with a link to purchase tickets between 10am - 4pm (AEDT) Friday 10 March. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive a link to purchase, however will be automatically added to a waitlist in the event of a later release of tickets.

Tickets can be applied for anytime between Wednesday 1 March 2017 (6:00am AEDT) and Sunday 5 March 2017 (11:59pm AEDT). Successful applicants will be chosen at random from within the allocations designated for visitors and locals. To apply go to http://sydneyoperahouse.com/vividlive ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON.

Vivid LIVE

From 26 May to 17 June, Sydney Opera House will welcome some of the most ambitious and innovative local and international artists for Vivid LIVE – a celebration of music on the nation's most famous stages – as part of Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

Vivid LIVE celebrates iconic artists in contemporary music with newly commissioned works, world premiere performances, and Sydney only appearances from musical greats within Australia and around the world.

Vivid LIVE invites the world’s leading artists, creative collectives, promoters and digital animators to raise the roof of Sydney Opera House's theatres, rehearsal spaces, recording studios and most famously, its iconic sails, which are transformed into a unique canvas each year for Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, which for 23 days - from 26 May to 17 June 2017 - transforms the Harbour City with its colourful creative canvas. In 2016 Vivid Sydney attracted a record 2.31 million attendees.

Now in its ninth year, Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. Vivid Sydney features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light); music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House); and creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. For more information visit www.vividsydney.com

Vivid LIVE Media Enquiries: Jessica Keirle / [email protected] / 02 9250 7822 Justin Tam / [email protected] / 02 9250 7836

Vivid Sydney Media Enquiries Jessica Parry / [email protected] / 0439 143 566