Set to rock Australia Day

If you don’t already have plans for Australia Day, there are many great options to chose from right in the heart of the city.

The summer street festival at The Rocks will feature Aussie talent including the Bamboos, Tijuana Cartel, Ngaiire, Kira Puru and the Bruise. Most exciting of all, Blue Mountains rockers Cloud Control are headlining.

In addition to some of our most-loved musical acts, organisers are set to deliver interactive installations and games taking over George Street.

Catherine Gallagher, CEO of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, said she was looking forward to sharing the event with the city.

“The program we’ve put together will deliver a wonderful, festive celebration of music and community; a highlight on the Australia Day calendar of events, with a great line-up of fantastic Australian musical talent,” Ms Gallagher said.

Included in the stellar line-up this year will be local Sydney group Sketch the Rhyme. Joel Rapaport, founder and member, describes the group’s work as a “live hip hop theatrical game show”.

“Our show is a collaboration of artists. We have a live band, MCs and artists who do the improvised sketching,” he said.

“What sets us apart from the other acts is our underlying concept; the dialogue between the artists. We are conversing through the different mediums.”

Other talent booked for the day includes Melbourne soul-funk band The Bamboos and break beat, hip hop and world music outfit Tijuana Cartel. Indigenous artists include Emma Donovan and the Putbacks and folk duo Microwave Jenny taking the stage to perform tracks from their latest release.

Entertainment options are prevalent across the city. Over at Enmore Park, the lineup will include singer-songwriter and Tempre resident Chris Rose, as well as reggae band Unusual Vibe, winners of Marrickville Council’s “The Break” competition for emerging artists.

In Darling Harbour, participants in the MS Colour Dash will be showered in “rainbow dust” as they run to raise money for those living with multiple sclerosis. The dust is made of edible cornstarch and the run will track the shoreline up to Johnstons Bay before returning to Darling Harbour.