Concrete Playground

It's only been a few months since it was announced that Icelandic band Sigur Rós had thrown in the ol' towel, also known as "indefinite hiatus", so the tears might still be fresh enough to wipe dry with the news that lead vocalist Jónsi is coming to town. Having formed Sigur Rós after playing in a '90s grunge band with the straight-to-the-point name of Stoned (true!), Jón Þór Birgisson became well known for his post-rock musical sensibilities and delicate falsetto.

For the past couple of of years he has collaborated with boyfriend Alex Somers under the name of Jónsi & Alex on publishing and music projects, releasing the instrumental album Riceboy Sleeps in late 2009. As tender as it might have been, Jónsi's recent solo album Go is more akin to the Sigur Rós dreaminess, garnering whooping reviews as he takes his cello bow to guitar and sings once more. With composition and arrangements by rising star Nico Muhly, it's a sweeping baroque pop record, begging for a tour. Having recently wowed crowds at Coachella and across North America, Jónsi will play Splendour in the Grass, and, lucky for those of us who missed tickets, will be playing a side show in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre.