Brooklyn’s My Brightest Diamond will be joined by drummer Brian Wolfe and Nathan Lithgow on bass for an intimate performance in The Studio on Sunday June 6 as part of Laurie Anderson and Lou Reeds Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House. Captivating and ethereal, her music transcends genres with The New York Times describing her as the offspring of Bjork and Jeff Buckley.

Treading the line between classical avant-garde and pop, singersongwriter- composer My Brightest Diamond (real name Shara Worden) has the voice of a siren, blending elements of opera, chamber music, progressive rock and pop to create a startlingly original sound.  My Brightest Diamond also supported Sufjan Stevens for his Sydney Festival 2008 performances (and is a member of Sufjan Stevens & the Illinoisemakers) and released her album ‘A Thousand Sharks Teeth’ on Spunk (available now).

My Brightest Diamond

The Studio, Sydney Opera House

Sunday June 6, 7:30 PM

Tickets $35/$30 concession and available here

Find out more information about the Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson curated Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House here

In NYC? Catch Suckers for free Tuesday April 6th for Fader Magazine’s party series at the Brooklyn Bowl. Details at their myspace.

Not in NYC? Watch them perform Afterthoughts & TV for Blogotheque’s The Take Away shows in the Metropolitan Museum of Art here!

Hot Chip have released the first single from their new album ‘One Life Stand’ with some help from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

Stream and download I Feel Better featuring Bonnie ‘Prince’ here

Not where we expected him to turn up, but it sounds great!

Scottish folk icon Alasdair Roberts is headed to Australia for the first time in support of his latest album ‘Spoils’ – listed by The Wire as the 4th best record of 2009!

Over the past decade or so, Alasdair Roberts has carved out a unique space for himself in contemporary music from the British Isles. Born and raised in Scotland, Roberts is a master of re-envisaging traditional songs – taking the roots of his geographic heritage and re-imagining them with a conviction and vigour that is quite simply like no other. Of his recent album Spoils (for the Drag City label), The Guardian proclaimed ‘His composition deftly intertwines ancient and modern’.

His recorded output, which started as Appendix Out in the late 1990s has born witness to numerous collaborations and productions with the likes of Will Oldham and Sean O’Hagen (High Llamas) amongst others. For his first tour of Australia, Roberts draws from his vast song book of esoteric ballads, unfolding fables and haunted fingerpicking to present a collection of truly individual and engaged songwriting.

Alasdair Roberts Australian shows

May 3rd, Canberra, The Front Cafe And Gallery, 8pm

May 6th,  Sydney, Raval

May 7, Melbourne, Northcote Social Club

May 8,  Brisbane, Syncretism at Judith Wright Centre

Tickets and more information at room40.org