The Best Places in Sydney to Hear Music for Free
Save your coin for ciders at one of these no-cover venues.
Supposedly nothing in life is free, but even in a city where a sandwich will rarely get you change from a tenner it’s possible to stumble upon great things you don’t have to hand over cash for. And if it’s sonic freebies you’re after then read on, because we’ve done the stumbling for you.
Here is Concrete Playground's guide to the best places in Sydney to hear great music for zero moolah.
FREDA'S
Chippendale’s coolest 100-year-old warehouse has had a slick facelift, meaning it not only looks awesome but sounds great too. Their Strange Fruit Sunday session sees a lineup of resident DJs including Silky Doyle, Smart Casual and Smokey LaBeef spinning their favourite records from 6(ish). Plus, there’s always a tasty $10 cocktail that goes down just as smoothly.
THE ABERCROMBIE
Go for the deep fried Gaytime, stay for the juicy tunes. The Abercrombie’s own Strange Fruit showcase kicks off on Saturday nights from 9pm, aiming to showcase the country’s top DJs and to keep you dancing until the sun rises — which should burn off about half the calories in a Double Cheeseburger and Rave Juice.
BUCKLER'S CANTEEN
This swashbuckling Bondi canteen might be decked out like a pirates’ tavern, but the soundtrack borrows from as many places as the menu. Musical good times and acoustic delights come courtesy of residents and special guests from 8pm on Thursday, and on Sundays you can fill up on $5 bangers and mash while checking out live bands.
GOODGOD
The Danceteria has a smoke machine, but the front bar is free, delicious and lets you dance until 5am. If you tire of standing up there are usually seats spare for you enjoy a rest and a hotdog on a Saturday night, which is almost unheard of in places not nearly this cool, and a Havana-style DJ booth surrounded by Flintstones-style eating booths means this place looks as mad as it sounds.
UPSTAIRS BERESFORD
Decadent décor and fancy technology are the hallmarks of this newish live music venue, inspired by some of New York’s finest. Unfortunately the response from big international acts wasn’t quite as strong as Justin Hemmes hoped, but it now thrives as a hotbed for local talent — minus the sticky countertops and shifty patrons that come with many other no-cover venues.
THE SANDRINGHAM HOTEL
At the other end of the spectrum is King Street mainstay The Sando. The only thing glittery you’ll find here comes out of a pokie machine, but its scruffiness is precisely what makes this place so appealing. Their Sunday Session is a few decibels louder than those without hearing aids might care for on the day of rest, but if you like your alt country loud then kicking back here with a Sando Ale or five might just be the perfect way to end the weekend.
BEACH ROAD HOTEL
The Beachy is as good for seeing free live music as it is for causing people to go to work on Monday morning with sandy hair and excruciating hangovers. Bands to have graced the upstairs lounge in recent weeks include The Laurels, Wolf & Cub, Deep Sea Arcade and other acts that would normally charge at least the price of two beers, making it way easy to justify buying those beers.
SCHWARTZ BREWERY HOTEL
Beer is also the keyword at the old Macquarie Hotel, fondly dubbed The Mac, which has been pumping out quality craft beer along with free live tunes for over six years. Its name now sounds more fancy — and upstairs folk/acoustic venue The Raval has sadly closed its doors — but in the front room you can still listen to wailing harmonicas, murky swamp rock and New Orleans brass for free while tucking into a pasta from the adjoining Alice’s Thai.
GALLERY BAR
With the demise of The Raval sprung up the weekly night of nu-folk/alt-country/melodramatic pop. Wednesday's Folk Club has now moved on from art deco charmer Hotel Hollywood to Gallery Bar at Oxford Art Factory, and though the fit-out is slightly more modern the community vibe and the entrance fee both remain unchanged.
THE GREEN ROOM LOUNGE
In theory The Green Room should be a great bar on any night of the week. It’s got reupholstered furniture (here orange and brown ‘70s sofas), plastic pot plants and retro cocktails to match. Unfortunately the stretch of road beyond Enmore Theatre doesn’t see much foot traffic, but this also means that on the otherwise-manic drinking nights between Thursday and Saturday you can stop by for not only a seat but some excellent gypsy-jazz and sleazy ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll.
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