Official Site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (6.16.00)

Sensational international line-up for Arts Festival's Hemispheres

16 June 2000

Juan de Marcos' Afro-Cuban All Stars, Natacha Atlas and Transglobal Underground to head all-star line-up at festival's biggest event. Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival Artistic Director Leo Schofield has announced details of Hemispheres, the festival's two-day celebration of music from around the globe.

The event, the biggest in the festival program, will be staged at the beautiful Mackay and Mission Fields areas of Centennial Park on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, the weekend prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Click here to buy Hemispheres tickets.

Sixty thousand people are expected to attend this landmark concert event which will star more than 40 contemporary, Latin, world, funk, dance and blues acts from Australia and overseas performing simultaneously on two stages, with some of the world's best-known DJs and dance acts appearing under a huge big top.

Included in the extraordinary line-up of talent from around the world are Juan de Marcos' Afro-Cuban All Stars, featuring members of the band from the Oscar-nominated film and record Buena Vista Social Club. This extraordinary gathering of some of Cuba's most brilliant musicians appears in Australia for the first time for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival. Their Hemispheres appearance kicks off an Australian tour to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, returning to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 18 September as part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival program.

"Hemispheres once again demonstrates that the Olympic Games are a magnificent draw-card, a unique and potent magnet for performers", Mr Schofield said. "Hemispheres superbly complements and further strengthens our entire festival program and reflects the truly international nature of this once-in-a-lifetime global celebration".

The full Hemispheres line-up:

Juan de Marcos' Afro-Cuban Allstars
Ali Farka Toure
Asian Dub Foudation
Natacha Atlas
The Creatures
Transglobal Underground
Dimitri from Paris
Shooglenifty
Paul Kelly
Alex Lloyd
Christine Anu
Telek
Samullori
Endorphin
Jimmy Little
Nokturnl
Karma County
Wicked Beat Sound System
Mara ! & Martensia Choir
Gondwana
Friendly
Soma Rasa
Full Fathom Five
Passi Jo, Tchico Tchicaya & Warako Musica
Systa BB & Sam G
Cafe of the Gate of Salvation
Stiff Gins
Stella One Eleven
Epizo Bangoura & African Express
DJ Akaash
Psycho Zydeco
Dwight "Chocolate" Escobar
Kaha
Kavisha Mazzella