Explosions In The Sky, Aldous Harding & The Middle East - Spunk Records 25 Finale | Vivid LIVE

What better way to celebrate the end of an era than with a performance from one of the loudest, most cathartic bands on the planet, playing their masterpiece? How about an enigmatic folk-pop star from New Zealand, plus a luminous local indie band whose reunions are as rare as they are legendary? To mark the finale of 25 years in the business, indie tastemakers Spunk Records are bringing out three of their favourite artists – Texan post-rock veterans Explosions In The Sky, singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, and indie-folk outfit The Middle East — for a huge night at the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Explosions In The Sky

Over two decades, eight studio albums and five soundtracks, Explosions in the Sky have forged a reputation as one the greatest instrumental rock bands of the era. The band’s sold-out headline shows at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall in 2017 had audiences and critics raving over the hypnotic post-rock symphonies and a light show that seemed to stop time. Their albums include How Strange, Innocence (2000), Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever (2001) and their breakthrough The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003), which saw them joining luminaries like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai at the vanguard of the century’s post-rock sound. Their latest record, End (2023), is anything but: heralding a new chapter in Explosions’ illustrious career, it has been hailed by critics as the band’s best record in years. 

For this performance, Explosions In The Sky will play their 2003 masterpiece, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, in its entirety.

Aldous Harding

Born in Lyttelton, New Zealand, Hannah Sian Topp – better known by her shapeshifting alter ego, Aldous Harding – is a widely acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her strange and spellbinding brand of indie folk. She released her beguiling self-titled debut in 2014, followed by the John Parish-produced Party (2017) and Designer (2019), and the psychedelic folk of Warm Chris (2022).

The Middle East

Formed in Townsville in 2005, orchestral indie pop band The Middle East broke through with their 2009 EP Recordings of the Middle East, which yielded the euphoric folk of 'Blood' and the Hottest 100 hit 'The Darkest Side'. Their 2011 debut album I Want That You Were Happy won the prestigious Australian Music Prize. After breaking up, the band reunited for a one-off show at Vivid LIVE in 2019.

Spunk Records

Founded by Aaron Curnow in 1999, Spunk Records is one Australia’s most beloved and influential independent labels. They’ve released music from such acclaimed international artists as Sleater-Kinney, Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, ANOHNI, The Shins, Belle and Sebastian, Arcade Fire, and of course, Explosions in the Sky, in addition to countless local favourites.