Kings Cross is Getting a New Free Music Festival

Between lockouts and the threat of imposed all-night kitchens, Kings Cross's nightlife has been taking some nasty knocks of late. So it's a relief to bring some good news your way. Key players in the Australian music industry — the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS — have teamed up with the City of Sydney to put on a cracking free live music festival. To be held on Sunday, November 23 from 2pm and forming part of ARIA Week, IGNITE: Heat the Street will see 40 acts perform across ten music venues. And it won't cost you a pretty little penny.

At this stage, the curtain has only been lifted on the first line-up. Leading the charge are indie singer-songwriter Odette, who's been supporting Lior of late; the soulful, gritty, hip-hop influenced Milan; Playwrite, who are currently touring the nation with their latest release; KLP; The Potbelleez; Sun Rai; and loads of others. Keep a look out for the next announcement. Among the venues involved are The X Studio, Uliveto, Gold Fish, Band Room and Kit & Kaboodle.

If you're thinking that the IGNITE terminology is sounding familiar to you, you're probably right. This event is actually the second in a free festival series, which made its debut at Surry Hills on Sunday, 31 August. Following its Kings Cross incarnation, the template, officially dubbed 'Live and Local', will likely be rolled out all over Australia. So, wherever you are, you won't be too far away from an epic live music happening.

Find more info for IGNITE: Heat the Street over here.