The Sabres of Paradise

Andrew Weatherall's The Sabres of Paradise are one of the most influential electronic dance acts of the 1990s, influencing the likes of Underworld, Massive Attack, Portishead, The Chemical Brothers, and many more. For their first performance in 30 years, the group will reconvene in their original five-piece live for one exclusive show at Sydney Opera House.

Visionaries of leftfield dub, ambient and techno, British trio The Sabres of Paradise were among the most influential electronic acts of the early to mid-1990s, creating a sonic template that extended into the 21st century and beyond. Now, for the first time in more than 30 years, the original five-piece live group will perform as part of Vivid LIVE, playing classic tracks and hidden gems with a spectacular visual show by Innerstrings.

Formed around London’s warehouse rave scene in 1992, The Sabres were originally a studio partnership between the late techno wizard Andrew Weatherall and engineers Gary Burns and Jagz Kooner. They were prolific remixers, collaborating with the likes of Björk, New Order, Leftfield and The Chemical Brothers, before signing to Warp and releasing 1993’s instant classic Sabersonic, which featured the blissfully Balearic “Smokebelch I” and the chill-out perennial “Smokebelch II – Beatless Mix”. The ambitiously strange and avant-garde Haunted Dancefloor followed in 1994, its combination of jittery rhythms and insidious melodies hailed by critics as techno’s first concept album – and a premonition of things to come.

With Weatherall busy DJing and producing, the group launched as a five-piece live act comprising Burns, Kooner, Richard Thair (Red Snapper), Phil Mossman (LCD Soundsystem), and Nick Abnett (The Aloof) and played a series of legendary live shows across the UK, Europe, and Japan. 

Vivid LIVE marks the original line-up’s very first performance since 1994. Experience the sound of techno’s past and future in one massive, unforgettable night.

Presented by Sydney Opera House