Sufjan returns to Sydney for Vivid 2012 and new music too

Sufjan Stevens will be returning to Sydney in May 2012 for VIVID - Sydney's festival of music, light and ideas. This will be Sufjan's 3rd visit to our friendly shores for a special commission of a new work with Bryce Dessner and Nico Muhly. He has been to Sydney twice previously (2008 and 2011) for the Sydney Festival. I saw him in 2008 and it was magical. I also saw him twice in London in 2005 and 2006. To say I am a Sufjan superfan would be an understatement. 

He is one of my favourite artists and I really became aware of him when he released his 'Come and Feel the Illinoise' album in 2005. The album was inspired and based on the American state of the same name and the 2nd in a series of albums on all 50 states of USA. Sufjan has since acknowledged that this series of albums not likely to be completed. He has since released an album inspired by the Brooklyn Express Way - 'The BQE' (2009) and 'The Age of Adz' (2010).

I am a fan of Sufjan as he writes beautiful songs, is a true artist and lets be honest here, he is very easy on eyes. If he wants to make an album about an express way, he does. If he wants to release a Christmas album he will. If he wants to wear wings on stage, no-one is going to stop him! I will definitely be going to see his show in May as part of VIVID. 

Sufjan recently announced that he would release a collaborative EP called "Beak & Claw" on 20 March 2012 with artists Son Lux and Serengeti under the name s / s / s on the Anticon record label. The track listing for the EP is:
1. “Museum Day”
2. “Beyond Any Doubt”
3. “If This Is Real”
4. “Octomom”
You can pre-order this EP here.

In the meantime you can listen to one of my favourite Sufjan songs - THAT DRESS LOOKS NICE ON YOU which is from his 2004 album 'Seven Swans'. This was his encore when I saw him in London in 2006 and I had goose bumps. A beautiful, delicate song!

Sufjan Stevens releases music on his own label - Asthmatic Kitty. You can find out more about Sufjan, tour dates, buy merch and so on via the label website.