Volume, the pioneering music series presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, will return in July to push the limits of sound and live performance with four visionary headline artists: André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, the critically acclaimed experimental jazz project of American hip-hop titan André 3000; American art rock trailblazer and Sonic Youth founding member Kim Gordon; multiple ARIA Award–winning Ghanaian–Australian multidisciplinary artist Genesis Owusu; and ARIA Award–winning Zimbabwean–Australian singer-songwriter and rapper Tkay Maidza.

 From Friday 5 July to Sunday 21 July, the Art Gallery’s iconic Tank, a former Second World War oil tank that is now a breathtaking art and performance space, will be transformed with a series of boundary-pushing performances, melding art and music.  

In a very special Australian exclusive, Volume audiences will witness André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, the transcendent live interpretation of the 2023 debut solo album New Blue Sun. André 3000’s two shows in the Tank mark his first appearances in Australia in a decade, after headlining Splendour in the Grass 2014 as one half of renowned hip-hop duo Outkast. André 3000 will be accompanied by a phenomenal group of American jazz and new-age musicians, including percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, guitarist and guitar synthesist Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina on keyboards, and Deantoni Parks on synthesiser and drums. 

Over two nights, legendary musician, author, actor, designer and visual artist, the iconoclast Kim Gordon will perform music from her solo catalogue, including her critically acclaimed new album The Collective. Released in March this year, The Collective mixes oblique half-sung and half-spoken lyrics with scuzzy guitar, noise and trap beats, showcasing a 21st-century musical interconnectedness through lyrics, attitude, art and sound.   

Ghanaian–born, Canberra–based artist Genesis Owusu will open Volume, premiering a visual arts-inspired performance featuring brand new music and cuts from his critically acclaimed albums in the Tank. Owusu burst onto the scene with his acclaimed debut album Smiling With No Teeth (2021), followed by his celebrated second album STRUGGLER (2023), which takes on post-punk, post-rap and R&B via Owusu’s alter ego The Roach, a Kafka-esque character intent on challenging notions of survival and power beyond control. For Volume, Owusu will be backed by The Black Dog Band, comprising guitarist Kirin J Callinan, bassist Touch Sensitive and drummer Tim Commandeur. 

LA-based rapper Tkay Maidza returns to Sydney for her first headline show in Australia in 2024. Her performance at Volume follows the release of her second album Sweet Justice last November, which featured hit single ‘Silent Assassin’ with Flume. Following a tour of North America, a powerful peformance at Splendour in the Grass 2023, plus a national tour of Australia supporting Dua Lipa, Maidza is an artist in demand. She will bring her dazzling live show to the Tank for one night only, before returning to the US for a set at the prestigious Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago.

Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham said he welcomes the return of Volume to the Art Gallery this winter.

‘Through Volume the Art Gallery of New South Wales will bring the best of contemporary music and art together, in an inspiring and unique location. The program and the location offer artists and audiences a chance to experience something bold, ambitious and truly memorable,’ said Minister Graham.

Curated by the Art Gallery’s music and community curator Jonathan Wilson, Volume forges electric connections between art and music, from avante-garde jazz explorations to trap-beat driven noise, post-punk R&B and subtle melancholia.  

The first iteration of Volume in 2023 included three sold-out performances from American Grammy Award–winning R&B singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Solange, an exhilarating takeover of our new Naala Badu building by Zambian rapper and vocalist Sampa The Great, and stellar performances by local and international artists including Mount Eerie, Lonnie Holley, Joe Rainey, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Sonya Holowell and more.

Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand said: 'Volume continues to break new ground in the curation of music in public art museums.

‘We are thrilled to be inviting some of the most innovative and bold local and international musicians to the Tank to create unique music experiences that will make audiences think, feel and move. We look forward to seeing how each artist responds to this remarkable space.’ 

Volume is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Blockbusters Funding initiative. This year, Volume  welcomes major partner Defender, driving innovation and the creative journey of new music. 

Volume will be presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Friday 5 July to Sunday 21 July in both Naala Badu – our north building – and Naala Nura – our south building. 

In addition to the seven ticketed performances, a wider program of free events will be announced soon. 

Tickets $80–150, on sale Tuesday 21 May at 11am AEST (presale) and Wednesday 22 May at 11am AEST (general sale) at volume.sydney

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Key dates

Genesis Owusu | Friday 5 July & Saturday 6 July 2024 

Tkay Maidza | Saturday 13 July 2024 

Kim Gordon | Thursday 18 July & Friday 19 July 2024 

André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE | Saturday 20 July & Sunday 21 July 2024 

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