Concerts & live music in Sydney

What’s on & coming soon

For headline superstars

Some of the world’s biggest stars have graced stages across Sydney, with top performers like Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney packing out stadium shows at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park and Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. Nearby, Qudos Bank Arena draws more big names, as does ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour. For more intimate – but no less iconic – shows, the Sydney Opera House offers seven different stages right on the harbour. On balmy summer nights the Domain serves up alfresco (and often free) shows on its stage between the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Art Gallery of NSW, and has welcomed legends such as Kylie Minogue, Arctic Monkeys, RÜFÜS DU SOL and more.  

Art for All Concert, The Domain

For local acts and indie names

Inspired by Andy Warhol’s 1960s New York nightclub The Factory, Oxford Art Factory is one of Sydney’s top live music venues, responsible for launching the careers of many local artists and offering up international acts, up-and-comers and local DJs in the dynamic venue’s two performance spaces. The heritage listed Enmore Theatre is the longest-running live music venue in NSW, drawing crowds for more than 110 years. Enter the mosh pit at the Roundhouse or Metro Theatre for high-energy rock bands, see international acts at Hordern Pavilion, or catch a diverse range of performers at Liberty Hall, both in Moore Park. In the west, the Sydney Coliseum Theatre brings in Australian stars as well as the occasional big name from further afield. 

Patrons enjoying live music at the Oxford Art Factory in Darlinghurst, Inner Sydney

Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Then there’s the more under-the-radar spots. Local bands tend to make their names at local venues, and you can find a range of incredible performance spaces in the most unlikely spots. Phoenix Central Park combines unique performances with bold, architecturally striking spaces. Created by philanthropist Judith Neilson AM (founder of the White Rabbit Gallery), Phoenix manages to squeeze a breathtakingly unique curved timber performance space and art gallery into a tiny Chippendale footprint, filling them with daring, artist-led collaborations. Tickets to performances are free and allocated exclusively through a ballot system. The Marrickville Bowling Club is a sunny favourite, where by day both lawn bowl pros and social bowlers get together for a game. Come night, it transforms into a legendary hub of live music serving up-and-coming acts, album launch shows and epic parties. Dee Why RSL has taken the traditional sport club and respectfully reinvented it into a modern bar and restaurant with a performance space for DJs, live music and dance.

A grand piano sits in a large performance space as people gather for Phoenix's Fazioli pianoforti - Phoenix Central Park, Chippendale

Phoenix Central Park, Chippendale - Credit: Jordan Munns

Sydney’s also home to plenty of pubs that draw in local acts and the occasional international name, like the DJ-backed ‘Dusty Sundays’ sessions at Bondi’s beloved Beach Road Hotel. Or check out the line ups at The Lady Hampshire, The Botany View, The Vic on the Park and The Lansdowne, plus Hustle and Flow for hip-hop and Crowbar for metal.

Band performing on stage at The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale

The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale - Credit: The Lansdowne Hotel

For jazz lovers (and more)

In Marrickville, the cosy Camelot Lounge specialises in jazz and folk music, as well as being one of the few Sydney venues where under 18s are welcome (as long as they’re accompanied by an adult). Just around the corner is Lazybones Lounge, offering live music throughout the week. Golden Age Cinema & Bar (part of the Paramount House complex) has a small, moodily lit space dishing up a buzzing atmosphere and a wide range of acts, while Tiva lets you catch both Australian and international jazz and indie acts in luxurious surrounds with a menu of cocktails and Champagne. 

Band performing at Camelot Lounge, Marrickville

For cabaret and drag

As the home of Mardi Gras, Sydney has been famous for its drag shows for more than 50 years. Oxford Street is an LGBTQIA+ hub where you’ll find drag acts at Universal and on Sydney’s oldest drag stage at Stonewall. Stop by The Imperial Erskineville on Friday or Sunday for a Drag ‘n’ Dine show at this legendary LGBTQIA+ spot. Hit up Mary’s Underground just near Circular Quay for a diverse line-up of performers from emerging bands to cabaret. At The Vanguard in Newtown you can see local musicians and impeccable burlesque acts grace the stylish performance space surrounded by luxe velvet curtains. 

Patrons enjoying a Drag n' Dine night at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west

The Imperial Erskineville, Erskineville

For dance music and DJs

In the mood for a late-night party? Sydney’s got you covered. The ivy – a slick inner-city club – has a space for every mood. For a transformative experience, Lost Paradise throws a mini-version of its tropical electronica festival at the rooftop venue each Sunday. In Darlinghurst, basement bunker Club 77 offers a heavy-hitting mix of industrial, techno and house. In Western Sydney, El Patron is a high-class party hub with a luxurious menu and top-shelf tequila alongside local R&B and high-energy DJs. The Albion Hotel in Parramatta transforms from a relaxed pub into a raucous nightclub come Friday and Saturday nights. 

ivy, Sydney City - Credit: Jordan K Munns

For festival-lovers

Sydney loves an outdoor music festival. After the biggest party of the year, Field Day offers grassy knolls and a variety of sounds on the first day of the new year at the Domain. At Laneway Festival, held in late summer, expect big names in the indie, pop and electronic scenes. On 26 January every year, Koori Radio transforms Victoria Park in Redfern into Yabun, where you’ll find a bustling marketplace and a mixed-genre lineup of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.  

Crowd at 100 Gecs at Laneway Festival Sydney 2023, Sydney Olympic Park

Laneway Festival, Sydney Olympic Park - Credit: Daniel Boud

Good Things Festival brings some of the world’s biggest punk, metal, emo and rock artists in the world to Centennial Park near the end of the year, and don’t miss the music line-up during Vivid Sydney, which lights up the cityscape and stage with a diverse mix of international acts and emerging local artists during late autumn and winter (with plenty of free shows, too). 