Thee Sacred Souls have established themselves as one of the foremost soul groups of the new generation, bringing a classic soul and modern R&B feel that channels the music of the 1960s and 1970s to the Sydney Opera House. Having last played in Sydney in 2024 at the City Recital Hall, the band returned as part of Vivid for a full-length headline performance, which was a real treat for the crowd who got to experience the lights around the city from the Concert Hall’s excellent vantage point.

The show was completely sold out, with seating all around the stage in use as the audience waited in great anticipation for lead vocalist Josh Lane to take to the stage alongside the rest of the band, including drummer Alex Garcia and bassist Sal Samano, as well as a great backing vocal and brass section.

After opening with “Love Comes Easy” and “Lucid Girl”, the group moved into their hit single “Lady Love”, which really resonated with the audience. Everyone was having a blast, with many people up and dancing throughout the show, feeding off the energy of the Lane, the backing vocals and the brass section as the group immersed the audience in their soulful music.

Lane confessed to being a little ill during the performance and this resulted in him sitting down for large portions of the show. Despite this, there was still great energy on stage as the band moved through their varied setlist of ballads and uptempo numbers. While Lane was the lead vocalist, it felt as though everyone had a part to play, with the backing vocalists often taking prominence and the brass section enjoying plenty of opportunities to shine.

A cover of James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet” was another highlight, while “Will I See You Again?” provided one of the evening’s most beautiful moments. The band moved into a more energetic run of songs towards the end of the performance, allowing the audience to fully feel the music and dance before closing the show with the iconic “Can I Call You Rose?”, which was a beautiful way to end the night.

Overall, this was an excellent concert and a testament to the variety of Vivid’s programming this year. To get such high-quality soul music in Australia is important and, judging by the reaction of the crowd throughout the performance, it felt as though everyone was on the same page. The audience were enjoying every moment of the show and, while the energy waxed and waned at points due to Lane’s illness, there is no doubt there is a huge market for Thee Sacred Souls when they return. Another great night as part of Vivid in Sydney.

Rating: ★★★★

Thee Sacred Souls – Sydney Opera House – 2 June 2026

Photo credit: Gus Oliveres