As part of Sydney’s first ever 12 hour micro-festival (in the style of Bang on a Can’s legendary New York marathons) Ensemble Offspring performs the music of Steve Reich in the stunning acoustic of City Recital Hall.

In this special performance Ensemble Offspring expands to include some of Australia’s most well known exponents of new music including Ashley Smith (Perth), Sonya Lifschitz (Sydney), Daryl Pratt (Sydney) and Jenny Khafagi (Melbourne) alongside our regular members.

From noon to midnight on August 25, Extended Play features a dynamic line-up of 20 local and international artists who will transform City Recital Hall into a rich hub of sonic exploration and musical landscapes. Headlining the main stage is New York ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars, who play “a central role in fostering a new kind of audience that doesn’t concern itself with boundaries” (The New York Times). They are recognised worldwide for their ultra-dynamic live performances, freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music to forge a distinct category-defying identity. Also appearing on the main stage alongside Ensemble Offspring are Topology, ELISION Ensemble, and Alon Ilsar.

Explore improvised celestial soundscapes, daredevil piano antics, twinkling electronica, uplifting melodic improvisations and so much more. Come for the music, but not just to listen. See, feel, explore and play.

“Sydney’s own Ensemble Offspring hit the auditorium later in the afternoon for a hypnotic all-Reich set – Radio Rewrite and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet bookended a glimmering solo performance by Claire Edwardes of Vermont Counterpoint on vibraphone and xylophone.”

Angus McPherson, Limelight

“Ensemble Offspring enthralled its auditorium audience.”

Keith Gallasch, Real Time