2017 Sydney Festival: Indigenous artistic director Wesley Enoch announces Nick Cave as headliner

First time director Wesley Enoch has announced the lineup for the 2017 Sydney Festival, the 23-day event from Jan. 7-29. There are 150 events that will take place in the 46 venues across the country.

Sydney Festival 2017 headliners: Nick Cave and PJ Harvey

The events headliners include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey. It is Cave's first performance at home since his son Arthur's death in 2015. The band will perform at the Ballarat's North Gardens (Jan. 15), ICC Sydney Theatre (Jan. 20-21) and Myer Music Bowl (Jan. 27-28). The complete schedule of the band show is available at nickcave.com

UK-based Cave considers the Ballarat show as a homecoming as he was born in Warracknabeal. France-based violinist/guitarist Warren Ellis, Cave's right-hand man, was also born and raised in Ballarat.

The band will perform their album "Skeleton Tree" to the Australian audience. The album has been influenced by Cave's dealing with his son's death. The band will also visit New Zealand at the TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, New Zealand (Jan. 17) and Vector Arena, Auckland (Jan. 18)

UK indie rock legend PJ Harvey will be returning to Australia after last performance in 2012. She will be backed by her 10-piece band at the ICC Sydney Theatre on Jan. 22.

Sydney Festival 2017 features 150 events, 46 venues in 23 days

"This year, I'm asking Sydney to think differently about its city and to imagine it through the eyes of its creators, artists and innovators," Wesley Enoch, Sydney Festival 2017 Indigenous artistic director, told Huffington Post Australia. " We are reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that saw full citizenship rights given to all indigenous Australians."

The program lineup complements Enoch's ideas to revamp some old festival traditions. In this year's festival, free events and entertainment will be featured at the Festival Village in Hyde Park. There are 20 free events available including Myuran Sukumaran: Another day in Paradise, Scent of Sydney and Bayala: Language Classes Parramatta.

The 150 events feature theatre, music, circus, talks, workshops, cabaret and comedy, dance, visual arts and family-related activities.

"It is my first festival, and as a maker myself, I'm interested in the stories that artists are attracted to. What are they, why are they attractive and what does that have to say about our society? The festival is an invitation for us to think about how we have changed in this country," Enoch said.

Visit Sydney Festival's website for the complete lineup of the program.