On Saturday 3 September we teamed up with Sydney Fringe Festival and the APRA AMCOS again to present an afternoon of free live music at Fringe Ignite which uses the Live and Local event model developed by the Live Music Office. . This year, Stanley Street in Darlinghurst played host to an eclectic line-up of music curated by Ambassador and Grammy nominated jazz pianist and composer Barney McAll.
A family-friendly event, Fringe Ignite filled the restaurants, bars and pubs in Stanley Street’s iconic food precinct with live music and performances between 3pm-7pm.
“Live original music and creativity is more important now than ever before and yet paradoxically, it’s becoming less accessible. It thus brings me great joy to have this chance to assemble my favourite Australian artists for this year’s FRINGE IGNITE,” says Barney.
“Audiences will be treated to some unexpected surprises, some brilliant songwriters and some straight up street funk,” he says. “I’m sure the event will help us all remember the power of music and community.”
Amongst the vast array of talent McAll programmed across the six stages was last year’s FRINGE IGNITE curator, Rai Thistlethwayte, who performed solo in the Lord Roberts Hotel Public Bar.
Renowned Sydney drummer, Evan Mannell, appeared as part of trio Sikkim Rex, who create a transcendental body moving experience with exotic rhythms from Congo, New Orleans, Punjab and Seattle mixed with rhymes, chants and slogans.
Dubbed ‘Sydney’s first lady of blues,’ Alice Terry performed the best parts of folk, jazz and blues at the Dumplings & Beer stage while unique masked collective Prophets roved around the Lord Roberts with multiple saxophones, drums, percussion and self-made instruments.
Arne Hanna and friends in Old School Funk Band followed by vocal powerhouse Diana Rouvas who performed with the Barney McAll Trio to cap off the evening.
Photos from the event by Dean Sewell Photography
Check out the full program and schedule at the Sydney Fringe Festival site.
FRINGE IGNITE is an initiative of Sydney Fringe Festival, the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS with support from the City of Sydney. IGNITE aims to encourage local businesses and venues to regularly host live music within the community.
