After a rather eventful labor, our new baby has arrived. And isn't she orange?

This year's Sydney Festival kicks off with one hell of a punch - an opening night that takes some of the biggest names in the Festival and places them on the streets, laneways and parklands of the city centre - a warm summer evening where everyone is invited to a bewildering range of musical styles in the most beautiful city in the world. Pride of place goes to the legendary Brian Wilson playing for free in front of 100,000 people in The Domain. And then we are off!

At the risk of being accused of favouritism I'm going to come straight out and recommend the National Theatre of Scotland's blistering Black Watch, The Black Arm Band's murundak and Compañía Nacional de Danza's Three Works by Nacho Duato. Musical evenings that I dare not miss include Bonde do Role at Beck's Festival Bar, Low at Samsung Mobile Festival Garden and, after three years of begging, the arrival in Australia of Sufjan Stevens. As for Björk on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt - well, what more can I say?

Of the freebies I'm really excited about - Spanish Harlem Orchestra hooking up with Jon Faddis at Jazz in The Domain, the spectacular Water Fools at Darling Harbour and getting my hair cut by a ten year old in the grand royal barbers in Darlinghurst. Our proudest programming achievement comes in the form of About an Hour - Movers & Shakers, a season of Australian dance that I predict will be the talk of the Festival. Beyond that it's a big year for Australia with tributes to both Kev Carmody and The Triffids and theatre works by Big hART and Urban Theatre Projects.

But that's just a few partisan thoughts to get you going. We hope that you find within this year's Festival, a program that speaks to you and helps you celebrate the magic that is Sydney in January. It's over to you now - look forward to seeing you all soon.

Fergus Linehan
Artistic Director & Chief Executive
Sydney Festival

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