LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide July 28th

Splendour In The Grass visitors, British Sea Power, are playing at Oxford Art Factory on Thursday 28^th. The U.K. troupe are getting rave reviews for their cinematic rock, so it should be a winner. The exclamatory Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! are in support. That same night, all-girl four-piece Warpaint (also in town for Splendour) are stopping by The Manning Bar at Sydney Uni for their own side show. As well as being up to the gills in hype, these girls are also actually very interesting, as their minimal, poetic songs prove. Also on Thursday, the snowballing appreciation for L.A. three-piece Foster The People has brought them to our shores, courtesy of Splendour In The Grass (surprise, surprise), and fans can catch them at The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills. Lastly, brooding U.K. masters Elbow are playing at the Enmore on Friday 29^th – make sure you catch these gentlemen before they get too big for such relatively intimate venues. Saturday 30^th finds one of Sydney’s most celebrated and enduring jazz bands, The catholics, playing at the unbeatable 505 in Surry Hills. With their joyous blend of jazz, African and latin rhythms, The catholics never fail to uplift the spirits of anyone within earshot. U.K. hype-machine James Blake plays a second Sydney show on Saturday at The Metro in Sydney’s CBD to satisfy those who missed out tickets for his sold out set on Thursday. Monday 1^st has two very strong options on offer: The Enmore has Washington D.C. production duo of doom Thievery Corporation on their bill, while The Metro has U.K.’s Gomez with Leader Cheetah in support. Both are in town for Splendour, so expect a memorable night either way. London indie garage-popsters The Vaccines will be at The Metro on Tuesday 2^nd, with JJJ faves Oh Mercy in support. Wednesday 3^rd and The Mac on Wentworth Avenue (a stone’s throw from Oxford St) has the goods for August with the irresistibly groovy Bayou Band occupying the World Music Wednesdays residency all month. The band features members from local favourites Declan Kelly and Watussi playing a selection of beloved New Orleans rhythm and blues tunes in honour of the unique music that inspires so many musicians around the world. For something completely different, The Mars Volta are also playing on Wednesday at Enmore Theatre – anyone who feels like having their minds expanded and their faces melted is encouraged to attend. Back at The Mac and Thursday 4^th sees another local gem, The Conscious Pilots, starting their August residency with a bang. If ‘aviational jazz-hop’ is your bag, then these guys are definitely the only ones pedaling it so head on down – it’s free entry as usual at The Mac, so there’s almost no excuse. French electro pop siren Yelle is in town for Splendour, and her sideshow is at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday 6^th – fans of her stuff are sure to have a blast. TZU MC Joelistics is taking his solo show on the road and the Sandringham Hotel in Newtown is the place to catch him on Saturday – anyone who is yet to experience the hugely expanded upstairs performance space is in for a treat.