Your guide to the 2010 Sydney Festival

Summer in Sydney wouldn’t be the same without the Sydney Festival. How could we party away balmy evenings, dance the blues away, sing to our hearts content and picnic under the stars with the rest of the city without the Sydney Festival?

We couldn’t. We wouldn’t. We’d be strapped to a fan moaning about the heat.

If it wasn't for the Sydney Festival, we’d simply melt if their line up didn’t get cooler and cooler each year. It’s practically the only thing between us and global warming!

Here’s our definitive guide to the 2010 Sydney Festival – and whilst we think every single event will be amazing – we’ve compiled our unmissable must haves for your viewing pleasure.

The 2010 Sydney Festival tickets are now on sale. In two months time, we’ll be partying like there’s no tomorrow.

Here’s our Top 5 2010 Sydney Festival events:

AL GREEN. The Reverend Al Green. Soul Master Al Green. “Let’s Stay Together” Al Green. “I’m still in love with you” Al Green. The one and only AL GREEN brings his joyous musical tour de force to the State Theatre and will be performing for free in the Domain for the festival First Night.

JOHN CALE, the founding member of Andy Warhol’s The Velvet Underground is headed to the Enmore Theatre this summer, and so are we! John Cale and his band will perform works from his astounding catalogue of music from The Velvet Underground and Paris 1919 to the present. SWOON!

GRIZZLY BEAR – These Brooklyn based boys know how to woo the indie set. We’re more than enamoured – we’re obsessed! We advice you beg, borrow or steal to get to their shows once all the tickets have sold out.

SHARON SHANNON – Get your jigging gigging gear on for Sharon Shannon, she’s Ireland’s virtuosic accordion player and will be accompanied by a champion fiddle player, a legendary banjo player and an acoustic guitar.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS - The producers of La Clique unveil a brand new show – Smoke & Mirrors. Part vaudeville, part fantasy and starring iOTA, all performed in the luscious and utterly gorgeous Famous Spiegeltent. We’re sure it’ll be a fitting way to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Famous Speigeltent too.

But of course, that’s not all. Do you really think we could stop at 5? Just 5 events from the entire festival line up?! Impossible. So here’s the best of the FREE stuff, because everyone loves something for nothing!

SYDNEY FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT – Prepare to take over the streets of the CBD, bring your dancing shoes, water bottle and manners because you get to party on down with Al Green and musical maestros from all over the world, for FREE!

LATE NIGHT IN THE GARDEN – If crowds aren’t your scene then relaxing with a cool beverage or two and some finely spun tunes is sure to soothe the frazzled, shy or just plain elite.

OPERA IN THE DOMAIN – It’s a cultural institution and if you only have room for one cultural meal a year then you better make it Leonard Bernstein’s extravagent comedy, Candide. A delicious opportunity to indulge in an evening of musical luxury with a cast of some of Australia’s best-loved singers.

A.R RAHMAN – Prepare for a night like no other when Indian superstar A.R. Rahman takes to the stage for a free outdoor spectacular at Parramatta Park. With an entourage of more than 40 musicians and Bollywood dancers on stage, this promises to be a fantastic night filled with colour, dancing and the irrepressible rhythms and melodies of contemporary India. Jai Ho!

To see what else is on at the 2010 Sydney Festival and where to purchase tickets head to MyTickets.com.au.

What are you going to see? Tell us which Sydney Festival show you are most looking forward to!