Vivid LIVE Presents Bill Callahan At the Sydney Opera House

By Benjamen Judd

The Vivid LIVE line-up is getting hotter by the minute with Bill Callahan confirmed to perform at the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre on May 28 and May 29.

With 14 albums spread over 25 years, Callahan is one of music’s most fascinating songwriters. His unique blend of underground rock with indie country is a soothing blend of baritone-laced vocals and humerous outlooks (seriously, we cannot even begin to tell you how much we relate to the lyrics of “The Sing”).

While Callahan’s particular sound has clearly become both cleaner and sharper with time (and age) his early days as a divebar favourite are still evident in the restrained ‘creeper’ approach to performance, building on itself until you’re completely lost in a world hushed sound.

His last album, Dream River (Have Fun With God was a dub album so….it kinda stands outside of reviews but was still awesome nonetheless) was received to widespread acclaim, with both Mojo and Pitchfork heaping praise upon it.

“Callahan will unfurl his contradictory brand of laconic, penetrating songwriting in this intimate setting and prove his mettle as the cartographer of broken roads.”

Bill Callahan will perform at the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre on May 28 and May 29 as part of  Vivid LIVE.