The Whitlams joins the Orchestras in a one-off performance of their renowned symphonic collaboration. The Whitlams was the first Australian indie band to perform with Australia's finest orchestras back in 2004, and the show has developed in the ensuing 20 years with various composers adding arrangements as new albums have been written and released.

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This retrospective performance of the band's career will see the orchestras share centre stage, playing a wide palate of styles across the concert. Tim Freedman's friendship with the late Peter Sculthorpe is marked by two gorgeous string arrangements, and full symphonic treatments have been provided by MSO Principal Conductor Benjamin Northey, as well as Brett Dean, Iain Grandage, Daniel Denholm, Jamie Messenger, and Nicholas Buc.

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Classic compositions including "No Aphrodisiac" and "Blow Up the Pokies" will be joined by highlights of The Whitlams' 2020s resurgence with a song from each of the two recent albums, "Sancho" (2022), and the Americana influenced "Kookaburra" (2024).

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Tim Freedman says, "Once every seven years we get to perform in the middle of the beautiful storm of an 80-piece orchestra. I'm counting down the days to what will be a really memorable evening."

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