Odd how everything dope in Sydney seems to be happening at the Opera House since we’ve been back. Iconic structure with amazing sound, but something still seems prematurely wrong about our new favourite venue for leftfield ideals and electronic movements being something you can buy a snow-globe model of.
Come November we’re headed back there for Graphic 2012. Billed as a weekend of “graphic storytelling, animation & music” the eleven events that make up the programme are stretched across the 10-11th of November, balanced out with workshops, documentaries and live performances.
Preview clip below, for the full rundown and to buy tickets head over to http://graphic.sydneyoperahouse.com/ or download the weekend planner.
Whilst Pixar: Behind The Screens and Animal Logic’s History Of Computer Animation are going to be hours and cash well spent, the real highlight that grabbed our attention is the pairing of Aus label Elefant Traks with the world of Dr. Seuss.
I should probably precursor this with the fact that Australian hip-hop doesn’t export well, despite it’s moments of underrated brilliance within the country. In my early years of travel I was playing it to anyone that would listen to an almost blank negative result. That said, there’s an exception to the rule, and they are called Hermitude. Made up of producers Luke Dubs and El Gusto, the instrumental duo that is Hermitude have been an addition to favourites of anyone who’s come across them. Everyone I’ve played them to has converted, and unlike their countrymen contemporaries they’ve always managed to stay ahead of the international tends curve in both recordings and their brilliant live show. I still put their Sydney farewell gig (2006 perhaps? Right before they took off on an Australian tour) as one of the top live show experiences I’ve ever had. To top it all off, they’re both absolute gents. We were fortunate to host the guys at separate times on The Breakdown back on FBi days, and they individually smashed out some incredible wax DJ sets.
We’re pretty excited then that they’re part of the Elefant Traks crew that are performing a one-off (though twice in the same day) 90-minute show wtied in to Seussville. Not sure what to expect, but it’s going to be good, get tickets while you still can.
‘All ready to put up the tents for my circus… and now comes an act of enormous enormance! No former performer’s performed this performance!‘ – excerpt from Dr. Seuss’ If I Ran the Circus
Featuring over 25 musical performers onstage from The Herd, Hermitude, Sietta, Joelistics, Unkle Ho, Urthboy, The Tongue, Jimblah, Jayteeof The Last Kinection and more, Australia’s renowned musical collective Elefant Traks are taking over the Graphic circus with a tribute inspired by the whimsical spirit and imagery of Dr. Seuss.
Throughout over 60 years of children’s classics such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the wildly imaginative and surrealist universe of Dr. Seuss has enthralled generations. He continues to be one of the world’s most instantly recognisable and best loved visual storytellers.
Since making their live debut over a decade ago, Elefant Traks artists have entertained far and wide, capping off 2011 with Hermitude winning Triple J’s Video of the Year. Australia’s most innovative label will now play with the iconic work of Dr. Seuss in a specially commissioned show for Graphic 2012. Maintaining their motto to make ‘challenging yet adventurous’ music, the Elefant Crew are set for a fresh injection of Dr. Seuss’ prescription for fun in this fantastically imaginative performance.
Dr. Seuss Meets Elefant Traks
On Sunday 11 November from 05.30 to 19.00
Session 1: 17:30 – 19:00
Session 2: 20:00 – 21:30
Venue: Opera Theatre
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point Circular Quay 2000
Insiders: $23.20 – $47.20
Standard: $29 – $59