City Recital Hall isn't your typical party venue – but on Saturday, June 7, that's exactly what it will become.
Part of Vivid Sydney’s music program and set during the King's Birthday long weekend, Sound Escape promises a night of genre-spanning music, immersive art, and unapologetic queer energy – all inside a venue better known for classical recitals than dancefloor anthems.
From 5pm to midnight, this one-night-only indoor music festival will activate four uniquely curated stages across the venue. Already, two stages have been announced, featuring 14 of more than 20 bands, solo artists and DJs set to perform across the night – with additional acts still to come.
At the heart of it all is the Hall of Mirrors, the mainstage set inside the venue's prestigious auditorium.
The line-up is as eclectic as it is electric – featuring Brisbane indie faves The Jungle Giants performing a special DJ set, WA's garage-rockers DICE, and Sydney’s own KLP and POOLCLVB.
Also on deck are the elusive electronic duo 2touch, disco queen Mell Hall from Melbourne, and Adelaide’s Eluize, known for her sleek, atmospheric sets.
Downstairs, the Grand Voyeur stage, curated by Heaps Gay, brings the queer rave energy in full force.
Known for their inclusive parties that fuse music, performance, and community, Heaps Gay is assembling a fierce line-up that includes Soju Gang – a Gunai/Kurnai, Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman known for her old-school hip-hop and dancefloor blends – along with house selector Tseba, R'n'B party starter Zeke, and local favourite Fried Pork Chop. The stage will be hosted by beloved queer DJ and host Rocky Stallone.
"My instruction to the Sound Escape team was 'start at epic'!" said Kate Wickett, CEO of City Recital Hall and former CEO of Sydney WorldPride.
"We want this to be the best music event at Vivid Sydney, so from the line-up to the staging, lighting, immersive elements and surprise performances, every element of the night is being designed to blow people’s minds."
Rounding out the Sound Escape experience are two more stages – The Board Room on Level 1 and Bar Eden on Level 2 – with line-ups for both set to be revealed in early May.
The Board Room promises a rave-ready DJ program, while Bar Eden will deliver funk-driven beats all night.
More than just a concert, Sound Escape is a full sensory experience.
Angel Place – the laneway outside the venue – will be lit up for the occasion, creating a magical arrival moment for ticket holders. Inside, attendees can expect a surrealist dream of sound and light, punctuated by pop-up performances from acts like Melbourne's acclaimed performance art duo The Huxleys.
Visual direction for the event has also been elevated, with 3D/VR artist David Porte Beckefeld – known for his digitally sculptured, CGI-driven artworks – creating the visual identity and helping to art direct key immersive elements inside the venue.
The event builds on City Recital Hall’s growing commitment to queer culture, following its hosting of the Queens Ball by Heaps Gay in July 2024 – a dazzling mid-year celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity, performance and community – and the return of Blak & Deadly during this year’s Mardi Gras.
Tickets for Sound Escape are on second release at $89 + booking fee. First release has already sold out.
Tickets at cityrecitalhall.com
The Gay Sydney News staff writers' account is used for stories written collaboratively by our newsroom team or contributed by multiple reporters. Articles published under this byline reflect the combined efforts of our journalists, editors, and contributors, bringing together diverse perspectives from across Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community.
