The Art Gallery of New South Wales‘ cutting-edge music series, Volume, is set to electrify Sydney’s art scene again this July. Curated to challenge the norms of live performance and sound, this year’s lineup features four avant-garde headliners: André 3000 with his new project New Blue Sun LIVE, an experimental jazz ensemble that sees the American hip-hop legend delve into uncharted musical territories; Kim Gordon, the trailblazing art rock innovator and a foundational member of Sonic Youth; Genesis Owusu, the multiple ARIA Award-winning Ghanaian–Australian artist known for his genre-defying music and visual artistry; and Tkay Maidza, the Zimbabwean–Australian dynamo whose rap and songwriting skills have won her critical acclaim and ARIA recognition.
From Friday, July 5, to Sunday, July 21, the Gallery’s historical Tank—a colossal space repurposed from a WWII oil tank—will host this series of audacious performances that fuse art with music. This season will be marked by a rare Australian exclusive as André 3000 stages New Blue Sun LIVE, a sublime live version of his debut solo album. His return to Australia for the first time since his 2014 Outkast performance at Splendour in the Grass promises to be a monumental event, featuring a stellar lineup of musicians including Carlos Niño and Nate Mercereau.
Kim Gordon is set to take the stage over two nights, performing tracks from her latest album, The Collective, a gritty blend of spoken word, raw guitar, and modern beats that continue to push the boundaries of music as an art form.
Opening the event, Genesis Owusu will showcase a new performance inspired by visual arts, blending fresh tracks with highlights from his acclaimed albums. His shows, backed by The Black Dog Band, promise to be an explosive mix of post-punk and R&B influences.
Finally, Tkay Maidza returns to Sydney for a headlining performance, riding the wave of her recent album Sweet Justice and her chart-topping collaboration with Flume. Following her North American tour and local successes, Maidza’s show at Volume is anticipated to be a standout act before she heads off to Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival.
Volume will be presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Friday 5 July to Sunday 21 July 2024.
In addition to the seven ticketed performances, a wider program of free events is due to be announced soon.
Tickets for Volume are $80–150, and go on sale Tuesday 21 May at 11am AEST (presale) and Wednesday 22 May at 11am AEST (general sale) HERE.
VOLUME Key dates
Genesis Owusu | Friday 5 July & Saturday 6 July 2024
Tkay Maidza | Saturday 13 July 2024
Kim Gordon | Thursday 18 July & Friday 19 July 2024
André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE | Saturday 20 July & Sunday 21 July 2024
André 3000, photo: Dexter Navy; Kim Gordon, photo: Danielle Neu
Genesis Owusu, photo: Bec Parsons; Tkay Maidza, photo: Dana Trippe
