Sydney Observatory will host a series of open-air performances this summer, with the 'Sunset Variations' music series featuring Indigenous acts including Luritja singer-songwriter Keanu Nelson and Yuin sound artist E Fishpool.
Held every Friday from 30 January to 27 February, the event invites audiences to watch the sun set over the city while enjoying genre-defying music, Mediterranean food by Aplenty, and drinks by Lo-Fi Wines on the Observatory lawn.
Among the standout performances, E Fishpool will appear on 6 February with an experimental electronic set blending sampling and mimicry.
On 20 February, Keanu Nelson will deliver a performance that draws on his roots in Papunya, with lyrics in both English and Luritja.
Mununjali man and Director, First Nations at Powerhouse Beau James, oversees the cultural direction of the event.
He described the First Nations Directorate as a transformative force within the Powerhouse.
"The First Nations Directorate is a transformative force within Powerhouse, ensuring that our cultures and knowledge are authentically represented and integrated into its practices," Mr James said.
"It creates inclusive and culturally respectful ways of working right across the Powerhouse."
Mr James said Indigenous voices were at the centre of curating 'Sunset Variations', with Indigenous artists recognised as leading figures in contemporary music.
"Artists such as Keanu Nelson and E Fishpool were selected for the originality, depth, and relevance of their musical practices, which sit confidently within contemporary music while remaining informed by culture, place, and lived experience," Mr James said.
"Their inclusion affirms First Nations musicians as innovators shaping Australia's current musical landscape, not as additions on the margins but as artists whose work defines the program's artistic direction."
Rather than a one-off event, 'Sunset Variations' is part of a broader strategy to embed Indigenous leadership across Powerhouse's artistic output.
Mr James said the program builds on a foundation of long-term investment and structural change.
"Sunset Variations forms part of Powerhouse's broader, long-term approach to First Nations programming, which focuses on sustained relationships, Indigenous leadership, and meaningful investment in contemporary and experimental practices," Mr James said.
"Rather than operating as a standalone project, it sits alongside initiatives such as Blak Powerhouse, which provide dedicated platforms for First Nations musicians and artists.
"Together, Sunset Variations and Blak Powerhouse reflect Powerhouse's commitment to structural, long-term change - expanding audiences, challenging dominant narratives, and creating lasting pathways for First Nations artists."
The series places Indigenous contemporary music at the centre of Sydney's summer cultural calendar, bringing Indigenous sound and storytelling into one of the city's most recognisable heritage spaces.
Tickets are $10 for adults with free entry for children under 12.
Door sales will be available on the day, subject to capacity.
