Overview
To get musicians back onstage after the pandemic, the New South Wales government and ARIA launched Great Southern Nights. Following two blockbuster years that saw thousands of gigs pop up across the state, including performances from everyone from Missy Higgins to Partiboi69, the series is returning in 2024 with another 300 shows over 17 nights.
Live music will ring out throughout NSW between Friday, March 8–Sunday, March 24, with musicians big and small performing in Sydney live music institutions and regional hubs. While the lineup hasn't been unveiled yet, event organisers are dropping a taste of what's to come before the end of the year with a mini version of Great Southern Nights popping up in November.
Patrick Stevenson
The Great Southern Nights taster event will feature nine different gigs between Thursday, November 16–Saturday, November 25. This ten-day run of shows will feature some of the country's most beloved musicians popping up in intimate settings across Sydney.
You'll be able to catch The Temper Trap at The Factory Theatre, Thelma Plum at Penrith's Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Jet at Penrith Panthers, Beccy Cole at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre and Alex the Astronaut upstairs at The Bank's gig room Waywards.
Also on the program: Tasman Keith will be performing with special guests Nooky, Dallas Woods and Angus Field at A.C.E Parramatta; metal band Thy Art Is Murder will be taking over the Marrickville Bowling Club; Dami Im will be playing at Q Theatre in Penrith; and Isabella Manfredi will be coming to Marrickville's The Great Club.
Destination NSW
Once the official Great Southern Nights kicks off next autumn, you can expect gigs highlighting seven key music communities across NSW including Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and the Northern Rivers.
"We know that the music industry requires greater support to revive live music venues across the state and support artists and workers in the industry, which is why our government is committed to bring back Great Southern Nights over the next four years," said Minister for Music and Night-Time Economy and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham.
"Globally, and particularly in the UK, markets are seeing a resurgence in the role of small to medium venues for breaking up-and-coming talent," said ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd. "Creating more of those same opportunities for our own recording artists to cut through and build new fanbases is critical at a time where content is increasingly saturated."
Tickets for the taster series of gigs go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, September 19 — and, considering the smaller venues these acts are playing in, they're sure to be snapped up quickly.
Brent Young
Great Southern Nights 2023 will run from Friday, March 8–Sunday, March 24, 2024 throughout New South Wales. The taster series featuring Thelma Plum, The Temper Trap, Jet and more will pop up from Thursday, November 16–Saturday, November 25, 2023.
Top image: Georgia Griffiths.