One of the best things about being a music fan is the ability to go out and see some of your favourite bands live in the flesh, ripping through some of your most beloved songs in person. But how do you make sure you’re up to date with the artists making their way to your neck of the woods?
Well that’s where we come in. We’ve designed this handy dandy little guide to help you remember the best gigs that you’ve got coming up this month. From some of the big international acts, up-and-coming local acts, to festival sideshows, all the best gigs are included here, so make sure you’ve got your tickets for one memorable night out.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
2018 marks 20 years since the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club first formed, and with the group releasing their eighth album, Wrong Creatures, back in January, these San Francisco rockers have decided to make their way back to Australia for some huge shows. Performing at the Enmore Theatre on March 23rd, fans are set to receive a mind-blowing show, and with Stonefield as one of the brilliant support acts, you’re definitely getting bang for your buck!
Friday, March 23rd
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Enmore Theatre
Bluesfest Sideshows
It’s one of the biggest festivals in Australia, and as usual, Bluesfest have delivered one amazing lineup full of rock royalty and up-and-coming gems. Of course, if you can’t make it up to Byron Bay for this year’s event, the festival has you covered with a series of sideshows making their way to town.
Kicking off between the last week of March and the first week of April, Sydney will be receiving sideshows from the likes of Benjamin Booker, Robert Plant, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Canned Heat, Newton Faulkner, Gomez, Youssou N’Dour, Juanes, Walter Trout, and more. With a series of artists that diverse, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Thursday, March 22nd – Monday, April 2nd
Various Locations, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Bluesfest
Camp Cope
Camp Cope have just released their huge second album, How To Socialise & Make Friends, and they’re getting set to deliver their huge tunes to Aussie audiences with an album launch tour. With Chastity Belt coming along for the ride, Camp Cope are set to hit up The Metro Theatre on March 23rd, where they’ll be delivering one of the most important rock shows that you’ll witness this year.
Friday, March 23rd
The Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Mia Dyson
We recently saw Mia Dyson, one of Australia’s finest blues and roots exports, release her brand new album, If I Said Only So Far I Take It Back. To celebrate, Dyson is set to hit up Newtown’s Leadbelly on March 25th to launch the record to an eager Sydney crowd. With six albums to her name, Mia Dyson has plenty of tunes under her belt to turn this into one of the biggest gigs you’ll see this month.
Sunday, March 25th
Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
More info: Oztix
Download Sideshows
Melbourne is set to see the inaugural Download Festival descend upon it in just over a week, so you know what that means, right? Sideshows! Yes, Sydney is set to get its own fair serving of the brilliant acts heading over to Australia, bringing with them some of the biggest riffs, and coolest live shows you’ll see.
With Limp Bizkit, Prophets Of Rage, NOFX, Good Charlotte, Amon Amarth, The Story So Far, Nails, Arch Enemy, Suicidal Tendencies, and Mastodon all performing shows in Sydney between March 22nd and 26th, there’s bound to be something for everyone to get moshing to.
Thursday, March 22nd – Monday, March 26th
Various Locations, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Download Festival
Angel Olsen
Having only come to widespread attention in the last couple of years, Angel Olsen has been spending close to a decade making a name for herself in the American indie folk scene, performing with luminaries such as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Wilco, and Tim Kinsella of American Football. Now Olsen will be making her way to Sydney on March 23rd and 24th for a pair of shows which are guaranteed to leave you talking for weeks on end.
Friday, March 23rd – Saturday, March 24th
Giant Dwarf Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Giant Dwarf Theatre
Hockey Dad
Hockey Dad are going gangbusters right now, having scored the highest-placing Aussie album on the ARIA charts recently, and scoring triple j’s Feature Album as well. Now, to celebrate the release of their second album, Blend Inn, the Windang boys are heading off on tour. Sadly, with some of their shows sold out, here’s hoping you’ve already got yourself a ticket. With the boys playing their second Sydney show on March 25th at The Metro Theatre, this show is going to go off.
Sunday, March 25th
The Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
WYD? Wednesdays At Marly
Have you been looking for a way to escape the monotonous routine of the 9-5 workday? Well, Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel might have exactly what you’re looking for. Having kicked off just a couple of weeks back, WYD? Wednesdays At Marly is the the hotel’s newest weekly event which sees some of the country’s finest DJs hitting the decks throughout March and April.
With Linda Marigliano appearing this week, and appearances from Shantan Wantan Ichiban, FlexMami, and Thundamentals locked in over the coming weeks, the Marly is definitely the place you’ll want to be finding yourself on a Wednesday night as you try and forget those mid-week blues.
Wednesdays in March and April
The Marlborough Hotel, 145 King St, Newtown
Free Entry
Mental As Anything
It’s not very often you get the chance to see a live show from a group that’s been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, but even now, 40 years after first forming, Mental As Anything are still going strong. Touring in support of their appropriately-titled Mental As Anything – 5 Track EP, the group are set to hit up the Leadbelly for an intimate performance that will serve as an education in Aussie rock.
Friday, March 23rd
Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
More info: Oztix
Darius Rucker
Back in 1994, it was pretty hard to avoid Hootie & The Blowfish’s debut record, Cracked Rear View. Supported by a number of singles, it sold close to 15 million copies, and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
While the band have been a bit quiet over the last decade, frontman Darius Rucker has embarked on a stunning solo career, which will see him hit up Australia for his debut headline tour. Supported by Luke Combs, don’t miss these two musos when they hit up the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday, March 21st.
Wednesday, March 21st
The Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: The Enmore Theatre
Jack River
Jack River (or Holly Rankin if you’re reading her passport) has had such huge success in the last few years that we’re slowly losing that ability to catch her at small club shows where tickets are still available at the door. With Jack River set to hit up the Oxford Art Factory on March 23rd, this could be one of your last chances to catch this awesome muso before she keeps on moving up in the world, playing bigger and bigger venues as her profile rises.
Friday, March 23rd
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Moshtix
Astronautalis
One of the finest purveyors of alternative hip-hop going around, Astronautalis delivers a refreshing blend of indie-rock and rhymes. Back in the country for his third visit, Astronautalis is set to hit up the Factory Theatre on March 23rd for one of the most impressive shows you’ll see this month.
Friday, March 23rd
Factory Theatre, Sydney, QLD
Tickets: Factory Theatre
