The announcement is led by Benin’s Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo and Canadian academic, science broadcaster, educator and environmentalist David Suzuki.
For her Australian exclusive performance, Angélique Kidjo will be accompanied by a 60-piece Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. The performance, on the festival’s opening night, will also include guest conductor Gast Waltzing and guitarist David Laborier and will feature several original pieces written by Kidjo and Jean Hebrail.
Dr Suzuki will be part of the Planet Talks program. He’s become internationally celebrated for the way he discusses and presents environmental science in a practical, engaging and easily understood way. The recipient of dozens of prestigious international awards, prizes and honorary degrees, he’s the author of over 55 books including 19 for children.
Also announced are The Cat Empire, South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the world premiere of Australian Dance Theatre’s The Beginning of Nature, one-off Adelaide shows by Violent Femmes, American singer-songwriter John Grant, Palestinian hip hop act 47SOUL and Mali’s Songhoy Blues.
Planet Talks will also feature Walkley Award-winning cartoonist First Dog On The Moon, physicist Tanya Monro and Simon Hackett.
