Luminous - Vivid Sydney

First published on 28 May 2009. Updated on 2 Jul 2009.

The art of noise has always reigned supreme in Sydney. Now it leaps into a new era with Luminous, an amazing music and performance festival with a twist.

Curated by legendary musical trailblazer and seminal music producer Brian Eno, Luminous will feature 30 music acts, a fistful of performance pieces and a dazzling array of light installations, including Eno's own 77 Million Paintings, a visual art installation that will light up the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Eno is a revered sonic prophet who says he can't wait to be "let loose on Sydney".

Famous as a founding member of Roxy Music, the ambient messiah behind several seminal solo albums and as a collaborator with U2, David Bowie and Coldplay, the man christened Brian Peter George St John Le Baptiste De La Salle Eno describes his Luminous line-up as "people who work in the new territories, the places in between, the places out at the edges".

Musical luminaries confirmed for Luminous include New York supergroup Battles, UK synth popsters Ladytron, electronic whiz Jon Hopkins, Sydney Festival favourite Reggie Watts and Fourth World composer Jon Hassell.

These artists, says Eno, either "take old forms and infuse them with new life" or "have invented forms of art that didn't previously exist".

But Luminous is much more than mere music. It will nourish and inspire the eyes and the imagination as much as the ears.

Battles
Math metal, prog rock and electronica collide in killer synth grooves when the New York supergroup give an exclusive Australian performance. Opera Theatre, 30-31 May.

Ladytron
Defying categorisation, the UK new wavers pack ingenious melodies, infectious beats and a sinister soul that will ensnare Sydney's dancing shoes. Opera Theatre, 3 Jun.

Laraaji
Discovered busking in New York by Eno himself, this cosmic new-age muso meshes electric zither, African Mbira and Tibetan gongs to incredible effect. Playhouse, 4-5 Jun. Don't miss Laraaji's Laughter Workshop either, guaranteed to get Sydney's brain buzzing and creative energy flowing. Utzon Room, 6-8 Jun.

Back to Back Theatre: Food Court
The hit of the 2008 Melbourne Arts Festival, this intense rollercoaster of image, sound and theatre is set to a live improvised score from The Necks and follows a woman lost in a suburban wonderland of juice bars and Asian takeaways. Opera Theatre, 9-10 Jun.

Pure Scenius
Eno's big finale to Luminous sees him paired with Karl Hyde (voice of Underworld) and Leo Abrahams (guitarist extraordinaire) for what is rumoured to be an eight-hour movable feast of light, "furry language" and figurative sounds. Concert Hall, 14 Jun, 5-11pm.