Carriageworks, one of Australia’s most significant contemporary multi-arts organisations, today announced its boundary-pushing program for Australia’s largest festival, Vivid Sydney 2023 from 8 – 16 June. The program features a lineup of international and local music acts, two precinct-wide takeovers by Soft Centre and Astral People, as well as the highly-anticipated return of the Carriageworks Night Market, as part of Vivid Sydney’s brand-new festival pillar, Vivid Food.

Presented by Sydney dance institution House of Mince, South African multi-disciplinary artist Desire Marea will bring their acclaimed experimental sound and live performance to the precinct. Fresh off their US tour and joining the program’s international lineup is Belarusian post-punk band Molchat Doma. American producer and DJ Flying Lotus is set to headline a one-day venue-wide event Astral People Vivid Party with Live.e making her Sydney debut and Night Slugs celebrating 15 years of club culture with Bok Bok and Girl Unit. Ahead of their album release, Melbourne band Floodlights will headline an intimate show and prominent First Nations rapper Kobie Dee (Gomeroi) joins forces with break-out hip-hop star JK-47, with special guests Flewnt and ten-year old son Inkabee celebrating a powerful connection between East and West coast voices.

The highly anticipated SOFT CENTRE festival will return on 11 June for a full precinct takeover. Traversing leftfield club, noise and ambient music, dance and endurance performances, immersive A/V concerts, cutting-edge digital art and large-scale lightworks, SOFT CENTRE is a multi-sensory festival experience unlike any other. Highlights include a collaborative A/V performance between Finnish duo Amnesia Scanner and digital provocateur Freeka Tet; Kenyan producer and DJ Slikback alongside visuals by anonymous video artist Weirdcore; the Sydney debut of BC by Harrison Hall, Sam Mcgilp, Naxs Future with PrairieWWWW, a ground-breaking work combining motion capture, immersive 3D technologies and live performance; a new collaborative work by Marcus Whale and Eugene Choi; Australian producer Nerdie from 1300; and Australian hyperpop singer daine, who is the protégé of British superstar Charli XCX.

Also returning for Vivid Sydney 2023 on 16 June 2023 – as part of the brand-new festival focus Vivid Food – is the hugely popular Carriageworks Night Market, this year curated by Australia’s leading sustainable chef Matt Stone. This one-night-only event will celebrate sustainable food practices, embrace authenticity and focus on using the best produce from across NSW, in line with Vivid Sydney 2023’s theme – Naturally. Showcasing over 50 of Sydney’s leading restaurants, bars and producers, Carriageworks will come alive with the best local hospitality, music, food demonstrations and live entertainment.