Overview
Back in June, Great Southern Nights promised to bring 1000 gigs to the greater Sydney and regional NSW regions this November. Now, it has delivered, unveiling hundreds of gigs across over 300 venues all taking place next month. More than 2500 artists will take the stage across Sydney and in regional hubs including Wollongong, Newcastle, Albury, and Bowral this November in a much-needed leg-up for the NSW live music, hospitality, and tourism industries.
Some highlights you'll be able to catch around Sydney include Jimmy Barnes performing at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre in Rooty Hill with his daughter Mahalia Barnes, Amy Shark performing a stripped back solo set at Leichhardt's Crowbar, Alex the Astronaut's intimate shows at Marrickville's LazyBones Lounge, and teenage heartthrob Ruel taking to the MCA rooftop in Circular Quay.
Regional NSW will be treated to Missy Higgins, Matt Corby, Kasey Chambers, and The Jezabels' Hayley Mary in venues that stretch from Brunswick Picture House to the Albury Entertainment Centre. The Great Southern Nights website even provides a road trip feature that allows you to see which parts of regional NSW have been blessed with gigs. So, if you've been looking for an excuse to get out of Sydney for the weekend, what better reason than catching Sneaky Sound System at the Lake George Winery.
MCA rooftop by Jacqui Manning
"NSW will come alive with great Australian music in November," NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said in a statement, while affirming how important this initiative is to everyone involved in the music and hospitality industries. A survey conducted by the Australian Live Music Business Council in August spotlighted the worrying state of our live music industry, with nearly 70 percent of Australian live music venues saying that would not survive the next six months without government support.
Great Southern Nights is the initiative of several NSW organisations including Destination NSW, ARIA and the Australian Council for the Arts. ARIA Chairman Denis Handlin summed up the excitement around the return of gigs, saying, "music fans will once again have the opportunity to experience those spine-tingling moments that the power of artists and live music provides."
Tickets are already on sale for the gigs, so if you're keen to get out there and enjoy some live music, head on over to the Great Southern Nights website.
The gigs will kick off from Thursday, November 5. You can find them and buy tickets through the Great Southern Nights gig guide.
Top image: Destination NSW