Sydney Opera House hosts Goth-laden Spellbound pop-up to celebrate The Cure

Sydney is about to be Spellbound, with a pop-up complete with long banquet tables adorned with illuminated fruit centrepieces, bouquets in pewter urns, sheet music and skulls.

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Sydney is about to be Spellbound, with the arrival of English 80s alt-rock cult heroes The Cure.

The rock band will be performing at the Sydney Opera House, which is turning one of its northern foyers into a Goth-laden pop-up, complete with long banquet tables adorned with illuminated fruit centrepieces, bouquets in pewter urns, sheet music and skulls.

Spellbound curators Sylvie Sheehan and Nash Ferguson will be bringing some inspiration from their Newtown-based rock/blues dive bar The Midnight Special to the Vivid LIVE pop-up in the northern foyer — at the Concert Hall bar level — that is running for 11 days from May 24 to June 3.

“We always base everything around music and we love all genres of it,” Ferguson said.

“Our bars and cocktails are often named after songs. We like to create a vibe using the music and its subculture. Last year was soul, R & B and funk and this year its new wave, post-punk, new romantic, indie, Goth and death rock.”

It is the music that Ferguson is most excited to be bringing back, with leading DJs including Lucy Cliché, Mitch Tolman and Cristian O’Sullivan (Low Life) and Will Harley (Straight Arrows, BB & the Blips) spinning a selection of hits and B-sides from the likes of The Damned, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order and Iggy Pop.

The concept is to create a dancefloor reminiscent of the 80s Blitz Club in London.

“It’s just so fun that we get to play these genres of music under the sails of Sydney Opera House,” Ferguson said.

Nash Ferguson and Sylvie Sheehan from Midnight Special bar in Newtown are the curators of Spellbound, a Vivid Sydney pop-up bar at the Opera Housel. Picture: John Appleyard

Spellbound will pop-up at Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall for the duration of Vivid Sydney, from May 24 to June 15.

“This is an amazing space with one of the most postcard-esque views of Sydney.”

Spellbound is also inspired by Dutch still life, adding layers of romance to this Goth pop-up, with the music served alongside a menu including brioche sliders with confit duck rillettes and botanical cocktails.

NEED TO KNOW

Spellbound will pop-up at the Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall, Bar Level, Northern Foyers) for the duration of Vivid Sydney, from May 24-June 3.