Viva Vivid
- Gig Buddies Sydney
- 6 days ago
- 9 min read
Vivid LIVE returns to the Sydney Opera House this May, transforming the iconic venue into a vibrant celebration of live music, art and film, with a sprawling line-up of more than 50 international and Australian artists - and we’re delighted to offer Gig Buddies’ participants discounted tickets to a selection of standout events from this year’s program.
Just like the past nine years, Vivid LIVE organisers have generously made a number of discounted tickets available exclusively for Gig Buddies across four events at the world-famous Sydney Opera House.
Across May and June you will find us front and centre at the Sydney Opera House for the following:
King Stingray
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Date and time: Friday 22 May, 8pm
Event information: Described by Rolling Stone as “one of the most exciting rock bands to emerge from this country in a generation”, Arnhem Land five-piece King Stingray blend Indigenous melodies with gritty punk, indie and irresistible grooves for their distinctive sound of Yolŋu surf-rock. Now, the ARIA Award-winning rockers make their long-awaited Sydney Opera House debut, performing in the Concert Hall for one show only at Vivid LIVE.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.95 booking fee per transaction).
Rochelle Jordan
Venue: Studio, Sydney Opera House
Date and time: Tuesday 26 May, 8:30pm
Event information: With one of 2025’s most critically acclaimed records to her name, the UK-born, Canada-based singer-songwriter Rochelle Jordan is riding a long-deserved cultural high, coming into spectacular full command of her powers as a sleek and sultry diva of the dancefloor. Now she’s back and ready to levitate the Sydney Opera House Studio in her Vivid LIVE debut.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.95 booking fee per transaction).
Flying Lotus
Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Date and time: Wednesday 27 May, 9pm
Event information: A visionary creative polymath who has turned his gifts to cosmically funky hip-hop, jazz and beats, mind-blowing experimental sounds and surrealist sci-fi filmmaking alike, Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles-born Steve Ellison – aka Flying Lotus – has charted a course through the millennium’s pop culture quite unlike any other artist. From releasing seven critically acclaimed, genre-redefining albums to running his influential LA Beat Scene label Brainfeeder to collaborating with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Thom Yorke, Herbie Hancock and David Lynch, FlyLo’s alchemic touch has helped shaped the psychedelic sound of the future.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.95 booking fee per transaction).
Thee Sacred Souls
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Date and time: Tuesday 2 June, 8pm
Event information: Rekindling the classic sound of ’60s and ’70s R&B, doo-wop, gospel and Chicano soul for a new generation, San Diego trio Thee Sacred Souls have become a sensation since dropping their debut album in 2022, burning down the house with a viral NPR Tiny Desk performance, and gaining celebrity fans in the shape of SZA, Alicia Keys and Kylie Jenner. After a stunning 2024 show at City Recital Hall, the breakout three-piece return for their debut performance at the Sydney Opera House, bringing their sweet melodies and satin vocals to the Concert Hall for one night only.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.95 booking fee per transaction).
Tickets are limited and sales close on 8 May. To sample the best of this year’s Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, continue reading.
More, more, more
And the Vivid Sydney offers keep rolling in.
Thanks to the generosity of the team at Carriageworks, we’re also able to offer buddies discounted tickets to SEVEN top shows taking place at the venue.
We invite buddies to take full advantage of the following:
Lil’ Kim
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Friday 29 May, 5pm
Event information: Lil’ Kim announces a landmark show at Carriageworks for Vivid Sydney celebrating Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M., two albums that didn’t just succeed in hip hop, they changed the conversation around it.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
Ella Mai
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Friday 5 June, 5pm
Event information: Experience an unforgettable night with Grammy Award-winning R&B powerhouse Ella Mai. Returning to Sydney following a sold-out global tour, she takes to the Carriageworks stage for an intimate yet commanding night of smooth vocals, magnetic stage presence and era-defining songwriting. Supported by KAIIT.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
Alison Wonderland presents: Wonderland Warehouse Project
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Saturday 6 June, 5pm
Event information: Alison Wonderland, Sydney’s homegrown club darling turned international festival powerhouse, comes to Carriageworks with a brand-new warehouse project to launch her innovative new album, Ghost World.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
The Black Angels
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Thursday 11 June, 5pm
Event information: Texan psychedelic rock band The Black Angels return to Australia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album Passover – a record that helped define the 21st century psych revival.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
U>N>I>T>E>D
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Thursday 11 June, 5pm. Friday 12 June, 6pm. Saturday 13 June, 1:30pm. Saturday 13 June, 6pm. Sunday 14 June, 3pm
Event information: Chunky Move return to Sydney for the first time since 2022 with U>N>I>T>E>D, the latest boundary-pushing work from Artistic Director Antony Hamilton. Performed by six masterful dancers, this epic vision of machine mysticism fuses sophisticated choreography, propulsive sound and science-fiction-inspired design in a powerful synthesis of body, machine and spirit.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
Skin On Skin presents: For Your Safe Keeping
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Friday 12 June, 5pm
Event information: Hailing from South Sudan, Skin On Skin (SOS) is setting global dance floors alight with his raw, high-voltage fusion of house, techno, and hard-hitting 808s.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
Porter Robinson (DJ set) & Golden Features (DJ set)
Venue: Carriageworks
Date and time: Saturday 13 June, 5pm
Event information: American genre-defying, electronic visionary Porter Robinson makes his Carriageworks debut to perform a headline DJ set for Vivid Sydney. Known for blurring euphoric electronica with raw emotional storytelling, Robinson brings his immersive, future-facing show to Sydney for his first Australian DJ set show in over 10 years. Porter Robinson is joined by Golden Features (DJ set), who stands as one of Australia’s most celebrated electronic artists, with sold out headline shows and global festival stages.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $25 each
How do I get tickets?
To take advantage of the discounted prices, email the team with the name of the event you’d like to attend along with the number of tickets required. We can be reached via: info@gigbuddiessydney.org.
Once we receive your email, we’ll then reply with a unique ticket link.
Please note, the reduced rate only applies for Gig Buddies’ participants. Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, all fully signed up buddies and volunteers are welcome to purchase discounted tickets.
If your buddy is unavailable but you’d like to attend any of the four VIVID Live or seven Carriageworks events’, you’re more than welcome to purchase extra ticket(s) for friends, family members or support worker(s).
Once again, we are indebted to the generosity of Vivid Sydney organisers, the Sydney Opera House and Carriageworks. Due to their ongoing support we’re able to providing participants with the opportunity to sample some of the best live music at this year’s event.
Are you looking to volunteer?
We need volunteers! Click on the image above for current roles on the Central Coast and the graphic below for opportunities in Sydney.
If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us via Facebook or email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org
Going, going, gone....
As for the here and now, of our remaining SIX April offerings, we’re down to the final few tickets to ONE event.
We can now confirm the finer details for our trip to HOYTS Entertainment Quarter on Thursday 23 April.
On the night we’ll be watching the new Michael Jackson movie. To sign up, load up the link below:
Please note, all remaining April outings - Grill’d & Timezone in Parramatta, our BBQ night in Lane Cove, our karaoke and dinner catch up in Darling Harbour, the trivia gathering in Kogarah, and Friday night feast in Eastwood - are all fully booked.
May-eight!
Four complete, four fully booked out and two to go.And looking ahead to the month of May, we have EIGHT socials lined up - connecting with buddies in Macarthur Square, Brookvale, Miranda, Cabramatta, Mangrove Mountain, Revesby, Rozelle and Davistown.
For the final month of autumn we’re inviting buddies to join us for breakfast and board games, pub trivia, lunch and dinners, doggy daycare, a guided tour of the Biennale of Sydney exhibition, and DJ bingo.
Happy birthday to us!
Our eight May outings mentioned above are all in addition to our 11th birthday bash.
Since sharing our intentions, tickets have been flying out the door!
As a reminder, we’re inviting buddies to celebrate with us on Thursday 21 May as we take over Newtown’s The Vanguard.
Expect a night of live music and great company. Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, we invite you to join us for our birthday bash.
Tickets to our birthday cost $30 and include live music, lucky door prizes and much more.
To find out more about our birthday party (and to buy your ticket), load up the link above.
And if you have questions about any of our forthcoming events, get in touch: we can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0411 252 228.
What's next?
Would you like to know what we’re planning for the first month of winter?
Come back next Monday and our June offerings will be revealed.
Marching on
And if you would like to know what goes on at one of our social gatherings, look no further.
During the month of March we caught up with buddies for movies, dinners, beer and NRL, bowling, live music, an inclusive rave and music bingo.
We want to say thanks to everyone who joined us in Roseville, Liverpool, Gosford, Dee Why, Five Dock, Erskineville, Macquarie Park, Campbelltown and Kingsford.
To see more from our March movements, click here.
Are you in the market for Gig Buddies’ merchandise? Our new and exclusive range of swag has landed!
Click on the image above to get your fill on Gig Buddies goodies. If we haven’t got the size you’re after, get in touch via Facebook Messenger.
Vote for your volunteer
And finally, nominations for the 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are open - and we’re calling on all buddies to get involved.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, hosted by The Centre for Volunteering, are an annual celebration of volunteering in NSW.
We’re blessed to have so many amazing volunteers on our books, all of whom play a vital role in ensuring we deliver on our aims of tackling social isolation for adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities and/or autism.
We’re now asking buddies to take the time to nominate their volunteer.
Please note, before making any nomination the buddy MUST get the permission of their volunteer. For privacy purposes, the nominee is required to understand that their name, image and story may be used publicly by The Centre for Volunteering to promote The Centre’s programs.
For more information on the nominating process - including the two types of recognition - load up the following link to The Centre for Volunteering’s FAQs.
Nominations close on Friday 29 May.
Matthew: Central Coast coordinator (0402 708 814)
Carol: CEO (02 9419 6951)
Chelsea: NDIS coordinator (0412 145 819)
Tony: Funding and sponsorship coordinator (02 9419 6951)
Bec: Project officer, Sydney (0411 252 228)
Aylin: Western Sydney coordinator (0466 389 961)
Lara: Greater Western Sydney coordinator (0478 045 121) Charlotte: Northern Beaches coordinator (0403 184 404)
Would you like more information about Gig Buddies Central Coast? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
Gig Buddies Central Coast is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.
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