Indian sitarist makes his Australian debut with an immersive performance, as Sydney Festival announces a free opening-weekend party at The Cutaway and the complete international lineup for Club Shetu.
Indian sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma will bring his Sitar for Mental Health performance to the Sydney Opera House for Sydney Festival 2027, marking the Australian premiere of a show that connects centuries-old Indian classical music with contemporary audiences.
Sharma will perform in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 22 January, bringing a production that combines traditional sitar music, meditation and contemporary musical influences. The performance draws on Raag Chikitsa, an Indian musical practice associated with the therapeutic qualities of ragas, and explores the relationship between music, mindfulness and emotional wellbeing.
Born into Delhi’s Rikhi Ram family of instrument makers, Sharma began learning the sitar at ten. At eleven, he became the youngest disciple of Indian classical music master Pandit Ravi Shankar.
His musical background is firmly rooted in the Indian classical tradition, although his performances also incorporate contemporary influences. Sitar for Mental Health moves between traditional ragas and Sharma’s own interpretations of themes from Game of Thrones and Harry Potter.
The production has attracted audiences across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom. The Sydney Festival performance will be its first Australian presentation.
Sydney Festival has also announced a major free opening-weekend event, with House of Mince and Sultry Group collaborating for the first time on The Party at The Cutaway on Friday 8 January.
The event brings together two distinct parts of Sydney’s music and nightlife communities. Peter Shopovski’s House of Mince has established a connection with Sydney’s queer underground music scene, while Sultry Group is known for its Sultry & Sample series, built around improvised live music and collaborative performance.
Sultry Group will begin the evening with live band and DJ improvisation sessions before House of Mince takes over the dancefloor. The event is free and forms part of the festival’s opening-weekend celebrations.
At City Recital Hall, Sydney Festival has confirmed the complete lineup for Club Shetu, curated by Sydney and Dhaka-based DJ and promoter Munasib.
Taking its name from the Bangla word for bridge, Club Shetu connects contemporary club music from Southwest Asia and North Africa, South Asia and their international diasporas. Its musical reach spans Lahore, New York, Bangladesh, London, Bahrain, Bristol, Sydney and Syria.
The newly announced additions include British Asian group Panjabi Hit Squad, returning to Australia for the first time in 18 years. Formed in 2001, the group helped establish the Desi Beats sound in British club culture. Their career has included appearances on Boiler Room and a residency with BBC 1Xtra.
Bahraini-born, British-based duo Dar Disku will make their Australian debut, bringing their exploration of Arabic music and international club sounds. Sydney DJ and producer 3ARSA completes the new announcements.
They join previously confirmed performers ZAINAB and Surya Sen.
ZAINAB, a DJ based between New York and Lahore, has performed at Boiler Room, Glastonbury, Coachella and Lollapalooza. Her debut EP, Canal View, was released through Ninja Tune in 2026.
British-Bengali producer and rapper Surya Sen has also attracted international attention, earning a place in the NME 100 and early coverage from The Guardian, Evening Standard and Mixmag.
Together with Munasib, the six artists will bring different regional sounds and contemporary electronic music approaches into the same program.
Pakistani-American singer, songwriter and composer Ali Sethi will also expand his Sydney Festival appearance with An Afternoon with Ali Sethi. Alongside his previously announced Australian live debut at City Recital Hall, the additional presentation will combine conversation and music.
The session will explore Sufism as an artistic and spiritual practice, using Urdu poetry and devotional music to examine the relationship between the sacred and the sensual.
Sydney Festival Director Kris Nelson said the additions reflect the festival’s interest in artists connecting different musical cultures.
“These artists bring different musical worlds together, whether that’s Rishab connecting classical sitar with a new generation of listeners or Munasib building bridges across the diaspora,” Nelson said.
Nelson also highlighted the opening-weekend collaboration between House of Mince and Sultry Group, describing the free Cutaway event as an opportunity to bring their respective communities together.
The new announcements add to an already diverse 2027 music program. Previously confirmed performances include Western Sydney group ONEFOUR with the Penrith Chamber Orchestra at The Joan, British sibling duo Wasia Project at City Recital Hall, and Blak & Blues at Metro Theatre, featuring Budjerah, MO’JU and SOLCHLD reinterpreting material from the Black American songbook.
Sydney Festival runs from 7 to 25 January 2027 across venues and public spaces throughout Greater Sydney.
The full program and ticket information are available at sydneyfestival.org.au.
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