The Mann Center for the Performing Arts will transform into a sonic playground of guitars, strings, and soaring brass when King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard unveil their first‑ever orchestral collaboration on Monday, July 28, 2025. Under the baton of acclaimed conductor and music director Sarah Hicks, the genre‑defying Australian sextet will share the stage with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, merging the raw energy of the Phantom Island Tour with the lush power of a full symphonic ensemble.
With 26 studio albums released since 2012—13 of them reaching Australia’s Top 20—King Gizzard have earned a reputation for fearless experimentation, weaving microtonal psychedelia, thrash, jazz fusion, and prog into a constantly evolving saga affectionately known as the Gizzverse. This Mann Center performance marks the first time those adventurous soundscapes will be re‑imagined for orchestra, promising fresh arrangements that magnify the band’s break‑neck riffs, hypnotic rhythms, and kaleidoscopic narratives.
“This project celebrates two things we hold dear at the Mann—bold artistic risk and the magic of live collaboration,” says Toby Blumenthal, the Mann’s Vice President of Artistic Programming and Chief Innovation Officer. “Hearing King Gizzard’s catalog explode across the skyline with the brilliance of Sarah Hicks and The Chamber Orchestra will be an unforgettable Philadelphia moment.”
Sarah Hicks, widely recognized for her cross‑genre versatility with the Minnesota Orchestra, Pixar in Concert, and international opera houses, adds: “King Gizzard’s music already feels cinematic. Bringing that imagination into the orchestral realm opens endless colors, textures, and rhythmic possibilities. Fans should expect surprises.”
Nestled in Fairmount Park with panoramic views of Center City, the Mann Center offers the ideal backdrop for an evening that bridges indie fervor and classical grandeur. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.; the performance begins at 8:00 p.m.
TICKETS & INFO
• Tickets go on sale Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. ET via manncenter.org and the Mann Box Office.
• A limited number of VIP and preferred seating packages are available.
• For ADA accommodations, contact (215) 546‑7900.
