The Aussie Folk Collective is hitting Sydney this Friday night, with two rising stars of the Australian scene taking part in the first Courtyard Sessions event of 2020. The free event has been running for the better part of the last decade now, seeing the Seymour Centre’s courtyard transformed into a live music venue on Friday nights over the Summer. Entry is always free, it’s all ages and they even welcome pooches to the proceedings, with food and drinks available for purchase on the night.
Playing the gig are Hayden Calnin and Riley Pearce, who are making names for themselves both here in Australia and abroad, both having been signed to North American label Nettwerk last year.
Hailing from Perth, WA, Riley Pearce has come a long way from playing farmers markets and open mic nights in his home city. He’s a multiple WAM award winning. sells out tours around the country, and his breakout single “Brave” now has almost 25 million streams of Spotify alone. It’s clear his reflective songwriting and chilled-out coastal vibes is resonating with more than just folk music lovers.
Meanwhile, singer/songwriter and producer Hayden Calnin has also been building new audiences around the world, blending electronica with folk, inspiring comparisons to the likes of M83 and Bon Iver. He’s also been enjoying millions of streams on Spotify, with tracks like “For My Help” now sitting close to 8 million streams. Expect rich, haunting vocals and honest storytelling from the Melbourne artist on the night.
The night kicks off at 5pm with both artists playing multiple sets throughout the night, until 8.30pm. For more details about the night, head to the official Facebook Event page, or visit the Courtyard Sessions website.
The sessions will return for the second event on February 14th, with one of our favourite acts from last year’s BIGSOUND hitting the stage, Little Quirks. After that, the event will be a part of Mardi Gras for a run of shows before returning to regular programming in March.
The full run of events are listed below.
January 17 – Hayden Calnin and Riley Pearce
February 14 – Little Quirks
February 21 – Queer Trailblazers ft. MEER, Moonsign and Gussy
February 22 – Queer as Fvck ft. Gaia Rising, Lauren Neko and DJ Scruffamudda
February 23 – Queer Trailblazers ft. KYVA and Wolfjay
February 28 – Not Just Grrrls by Sad Grrrls Club ft. La Vif, Queen Daddy and Kadimakara
March 6 – Sam Buckingham with special guest
March 13 – Mike Elrington
When: From 5pm on 17th January and 22nd to 28th February; from 6pm on 14th to 21st February and 6th to 13th March
Location: Seymour Centre Courtyard – Corner City Rd and Cleveland Street, Chippendale
Tickets: Free. No booking required.
