One of Sydney’s most exciting new cultural and lifestyle spaces is the White Bay Power Station in Rozelle, but up until now, it’s never been used to its full potential.
It’s the kind of space that you’d find in Helsinki or Bushwick, reviving a remnant of Sydney’s industrial revolution with a carnivorous factory space that’s just begging for a massive lifestyle festival (or, for the young and young-at-heart, a rave).
So September’s Power Up Festival comes with heavy anticipation, fashioned as a completely free event that’ll stretch over three days and two nights with everything from bands and DJs to cabaret performances and magic shows.
Set for September 20-22, the art and lifestyle festival will showcase the very best of the local community with artworks from over 100 local makers, a program of 200 musicians and performers, including big-ticket act Josh Pyke, and a range of food and drink from local stalwarts like Mary’s and White Bay Brewery.
Friday, September 20 will pack in a line-up of mostly circus acts with magic, cabaret and cultural performances on the cards all day. Saturday will switch things up with more live music and theatre, while Sunday is geared towards families with an array of music masterclasses, classical music and other all-ages entertainment.
During all this, The Greenway Art Prize will display over 200 works around the space, tied to the themes of sustainable transport, environment, urban ecology and waterways.
Plus, it’s just a good chance to wander this historic space, which held its first major event last year as part of the 24th Biennale of Sydney. There’ll be several behind-the-scenes heritage tours running across the three days, where guests can learn more about the building’s fascinating history and snap photos of machinery that predates the 1950s.
Sydney’s oldest surviving power station could be the next Carriageworks for Sydney, which makes it an important part of the city’s future nightlife and a key venue for the performing arts. One that distinguishes our city and pays homage to a lost part of Sydney history.
Power Up Festival
Where: White Bay Power Station
When: Friday, September 20 — Sunday, September 22; from 10am
Tickets: Free
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