Sweet Summer Sounds

Overview

Okay, it hasn't exactly turned out to be the hot vax summer we deserve, but one thing we can be thankful for is the return of live music. And after a tough couple of years for the Australian music industry, there's probably never been a better time to celebrate homegrown talent.

For all of January, The Rocks will be celebrating summer — and our incredible live music scene — with a month-long series of events. Rounding things out will be Sweet Summer Sounds, a two-week mini festival of live gigs featuring over 50 local music acts. The best part? It's absolutely free.

The jam-packed bill bound for First Fleet Park includes the eclectic sounds of three-piece collective Haiku Hands who have garnered a global fanbase thanks to genre-bending tunes and big-energy live shows; and electrifying Western Sydney rapper, producer and engineer Kwame, Triple J's Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2018 who has shared a stage with heavyweights including Skepta and Migos.

Mia Wray by Lisa Businovski

Also taking to the Sweet Summer Sounds stage is the excellent Melbourne singer-songwriter Mia Wray, whose 2020 debut single 'Work for Me' was plugged by Elton John on his Beats 1 radio show; Northern Beaches indie-folk band Sons of the East (who are set to embark on a headline tour of Europe and North America later this year); and the alluring, cinematic sounds of Melbourne three-piece Telenova.

To complete the festival experience, you can stay fuelled thanks to a pop-up prosecco bar, Bubble Bambino, as well as stalls slinging burgers, falafels and loaded hot dogs — each perfect for an afternoon session in the sunshine soundtracked by some of Australia's most exciting musical acts of the moment.

For the full lineup and gig times, head the The Rocks website.