FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS – Sydney Festival Guide 2012

Manu Chao La Ventura: The charismatic ex Manu Negra band leader is known around the globe for his uplifting ska and his unmistakable voice that sings in english, spanish, french and more. If you’ve heard his live album Radio Bemba Sound System you’d know that his first ever visit to Australia is something to get real excited about. January 7th, Festival First Night & January 9th, Enmore Theatre

Shabazz Palaces, Taylor McFerrin & Shangaan Electro: Off the back of their amazing debut album Black Up! avant garde rap group Shabazz Palaces are bringing their exciting brand of thinking man’s hip-hop to our city. They’ll be joined by beat-boxing son of Bobby McFerrin – Taylor McFerrin and Sowetan big beats crew Shangaan Electro. January 13th, Keystone Festival Bar, Hyde Park Barracks Museum

Clairy Browne & The Bangin Raquettes: This Melbourne big band is influenced by sounds hailing from the golden age of soul with doo-whop choruses, vintage instruments and front woman Clairy Browne leads the line with a fiery set of pipes and invocations of Big Momma Thornton and Etta James. January 13th, The Idolize Spiegeltent, Parramatta

Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane: Faith No More, Fantomas and Mr Bungle frontman Mike Patton is bringing his latest and perhaps most ambitious new act to Australia. Mondo Cane consists of a 25-piece orchestral ensemble that backs him during his renditions of Italian vintage pop classics from the likes of Ennio Morricone and Gino Paoli. January 14th, The Domain & January 16th-17th, The State Theatre

Amiina: Icelandic group Amiina started out as the string ensemble for Sigur Rós and now the collective has taken their own show on the road playing sprawling ethereal symphonies created by strings, glockenspiels, bells, saws and electronic instruments. January 24th, 25th, 26th, The Famous Spiegeltent, Hyde Park

The Stepkids & Electric Wire Hustle: Hailing from the groundbreaking Stonesthrow label The Stepkids have fashioned a new soul-psychedelia that has forward thinking music lovers on notice. They’ll be joined by New Zealand’s very own head turners- soul masters Electric Wire Hustle. January 27th, Keystone Festival Bar, Hyde Park Barracks Museum