Introducing Great Southern Nights, the new live music series conceived by the NSW Government and ARIA. The series will bring live music back to Sydney and regional NSW this November, with the likes of Jimmy Barnes and Tones and I taking part. All events will be programmed in line with the current health advice.
Great Southern Nights will present 1000 gigs across the state this November, all of which are being curated by ARIA and an industry advisory committee. The series boasts a power-packed nucleus of 20 headliners, but it’ll also shine a spotlight on bounteous emerging talent.
Stuart Ayres, the NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, made the announcement. “This celebration of outstanding Australian artists and incredible live music venues across NSW gives us all something to look forward to, from event-goers to industry,” said Ayres.
12 headliners have already been announced including the aforementioned Barnesy and Tonesy (does that work?). The list also includes venerable songwriter Paul Kelly and enduring crowd favourites Birds of Tokyo and Missy Higgins. Sydney electronic duo The Presets will get a chance to do what they do best, and so too will The Veronicas.
A cast of triple j darlings rounds out the roster, with Queensland acts The Jungle Giants, Thelma Plum and Amy Shark, and Melburnians Tash Sultana and The Teskey Brothers. “We’re proud to create this opportunity for Australian musicians, and help bring back the live music scene right across NSW,” said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.
The significance of bringing shedloads of gigs back to the state capital can’t be understated, especially given how the city’s nightlife has suffered over the past eight years. “With the NSW Government’s 24-hour economy strategy set to reinvigorate Sydney’s nightlife, Great Southern Nights will be a big step forward for our state’s live music and hospitality community that has been hit hard in recent times,” said Ayres.
The series will wrap up with the 34th annual ARIA Awards in Sydney. Venues and artists can register interest at greatsouthernnights.com.au.
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