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, the series is returning in 2024 with another 300-plus 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, including Newcastle, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and the Northern Rivers.
With such a huge lineup, it's hard to know where to start — but let's break it down. If you love the classics, you'll be able to catch sets from Jimmy Barnes, Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos, The Church, You Am I, Yothu Yindi, The Whitlams Black Stump Band, Hoodoo Gurus and Kate Ceberano.
Local hip hop heads can hit up gigs from Barkaa, 360, JK-47, Bliss n Eso, L-Fresh the Lion, Illy, Drapht, YNG Martyr and Jesswar.
If you're an indie-rock aficionado, Ball Park Music, Sarah Blasko, King Stingray, The Buoys, Ruby Fields, Budjerah, Alex Lahey, Gordi, Gretta Ray, The Vanns, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers will be coming to a stage near you.
If your prerogative is to dance, The Presets, Havana Brown, Tigerlily, Sneaky Sound System, Hermitude and Anna Lunoe are all part of the Great Southern Nights program.
The Buoys, April Josie
Plus, there will be shows from Becca Hatch, Cub Sport, Dune Rats, Vika and Linda, A.Girl, Xavier Rudd, David Campbell, Fanny Lumsden, Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Redhook and Northlane — and also a special tribute to Rowland S Howard.
"We're extremely excited to be involved again with the Great Southern Nights program. This time we'll be heading to Northern NSW to play our first-ever show in Brunswick Heads," says Ball Park Music.
"A few of us grew up in this area, so it feels really special to come back and play. We'll have our good friends Bean Magazine in tow, too. It's gonna be a ripper of a gig."
Check where your faves are playing and what shows are happening near you via the full gig guide.
GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS 2024 PROGRAM:
360
A.Girl
Alex Lahey
Anna Lunoe
Ball Park Music
Barkaa
Becca Hatch
Big Skeez
Bliss n Eso
Budjerah
Cub Sport
Dan Sultan
David Campbell
Drapht
Dune Rats
Elixir
Fanny Lumsden
Godlands
Gold Fang
Gordi
Gretta Ray
Havana Brown
Hermitude
Hoodoo Gurus
Illy
James Blundell
James Reyne
Jawbreakers
Jessica Mauboy
Jesswar
Jimmy Barnes
JK-47
Jon Stevens
Kasey Chambers
Kate Ceberano
Kate Miller-Heidke
King Stingray
Kye
L-Fresh the Lion
Lydia Lunch and Joseph Keckler
Northlane
Pacific Avenue
Pania
Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos
Pop Crimes – The Songs of Rowland S Howard
Raechel Whitchurch
Redhook
Ruby Fields
Sarah Blasko
Sneaky Sound System
Sophiya
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
The Buoys
The Church
The Cruel Sea
The Presets
The Primitives
The Vanns
The Whitlams Black Stump Band
Tigerlily
Vallis Alps
Vika and Linda
Xavier Rudd
Yng Martyr
Yothu Yindi
You Am I
Great Southern Nights 2024 will run from Friday, March 8–Sunday, March 24 throughout New South Wales. Tickets are on sale now via the festival's website.
Images: Enmore Theatre, Ben Sanford.