One of the worst things about being a music fan is the horrible sinking feeling you get when you realise that awesome gig that you heard was coming actually turned out to be last night. Thankfully, we’ve compiled a gig guide so that you can make sure you won’t be missing any more unforgettable nights of music.
With plenty for everyone coming up this month, there’s bound to be something here that will turn your plans of a quiet night in into a memory you’ll never forget.
Vivid LIVE 2018
As usual, Vivid LIVE have delivered a lineup good enough to make the rest of the world salivate with envy. Featuring the likes of Solange, Ice Cube, Cat Power, and the Aussie debut of both Daniel Johns & Luke Steele’s Dreams and Mazzy Star, Vivid LIVE is set to turn the Sydney Opera House into a veritable hive of activity from May 25th to June 16th as fans from all over the world descend upon Sydney to witness some of these stunning performances.
This year, Vivid will also be extending its reach into the suburbs thanks to the X|Celerate program, with an array of gigs taking over your favourite smaller venues – and best of all, many of them are either super cheap or completely free! Check them all out below.
Friday, May 25th – Saturday, June 16th
Various venues, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Vivid Sydney
Groovin The Moo Sideshows
Groovin The Moo is about to kick off its 14th year as a festival, and with it comes their usual round of stunning sideshows which allows lucky punters to see some exceptional international acts strutting the local stages and performing a headline set. With acts such as Portugal. The Man, Public Service Broadcasting, and Claptone playing shows this month, these are definitely some performances you won’t want to miss.
Portugal. The Man
Tuesday, May 1st
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Aminé
Wednesday, May 2nd
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Live Nation
Thursday, May (Sold out)3rd
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Live Nation
Lady Leshurr
Wednesday, May 2nd
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Tickets: Handsome Touring
Claptone
Friday, May 4th
Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Claptone
Public Service Broadcasting
Thursday, May 10th
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Handsome Touring
WYD? Wednesdays
Hey, what are you doing on Wednesdays? Well we hope it involved going to WYD? Wednesdays, the new mid-week party hosted by Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel. This month kicks off with Sydney’s groundbreaking producer KLP hitting the decks at The Marly to deliver one of the best mid-week club nights you could ever hope for.
Wednesday, May 2nd
The Marlborough Hotel, Newtown, NSW
Tickets: Resident Advisor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1T409oE30
Dan Sultan
Dan Sultan is arguably one of the most consistently brilliant Aussie muses out there. Following the release of his ARIA Award-nominated album, Killer, Dan is about to drop his Killer Under A Blood Moon EP in just a few weeks.
Featuring some of Australia’s biggest names, including A.B. Original, Camp Cope, and Dave Le’aupepe, this one is set to be a… killer release. To celebrate, Dan’s heading just about bloody everywhere around the country on the Killer tour, which will see him on the road until July.
Wednesday, May 2nd – Thursday, May 3rd
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Sydney Opera House
Tonight Alive
Back in January, Tonight Alive dropped the incredible Underworld – a powerful and blistering statement on self-empowerment, harnessing every element of your being and fighting against society’s constraints.
This month, the band will be taking the album on the road, performing tracks off Underworld and their spanning back catalogue, performing to adoring Aussie crowds who’ve seen the band travel on an upwards trajectory to take over the stages of Warped Tour and headline sets over the world. Supported by Between You & Me and AViVA, these are set to be some huge shows for the awesome group.
Friday, May 4th
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Live Nation
Tropical Fuck Storm
Tropical Fuck Storm have to be one of the most confronting bands on this list, just based on their name alone. Featuring a brutal mix of the irreverent and accomplished indie rock created by The Drones’ Gareth Liddiard, the band are getting set to release their debut album, A Laughing Death In Meatspace, very soon. Don’t miss this stunning Aussie collective when they come to your neck of the woods this month.
Saturday, May 5th
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Tropical Fuck Storm
The Mavis’s
Back in the ‘90s, it was pretty hard to escape the popularity of The Mavis’s. Now, 15 years after the release of their third album, the group are reforming for the 20th anniversary of their second (and best) album, Pink Pills. This show is undoubtedly set to be a huge celebration of the brilliant rock music Australia created back in the ‘90s, so start digging out your old issues of Smash Hits, because this is going to be a huge blast from the past.
Thursday, May 10th
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Metro Theatre
ab [intra]
ab [intra] is the newest collaborative creation from choreographer Rafael Bonachela and composer Nick Wales. This stunning new performance gives a rare chance for audiences to witness the sheer athleticism and virtuosity of some of Australia’s finest Helpmann Award winning contemporary dancers, as they deliver a vivid journey into the extremes of human nature. Taking over Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre this month, ab [intra] is undoubtedly set to be an amazing experience you won’t soon forget.
Monday, May 14th – Saturday, May 26th
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Sydney Dance Company
Jonathan Pie
A bit of change of pace with this one, but Jonathan Pie uses the absurdity of on-the-spot reporting and the live, haphazard nature of this type of television to deliver brutal takes on the U.K. political and social situation.
Although most of his material is resolutely U.K.-aimed, the themes and Pie’s off-kilter/off-the-rail approach makes his particular brand of comedy quite universal. Having said that, his spot-on acting often means that — like Stephen Colbert — many can’t tell these aren’t actual reports.
Saturday, May 19th
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Frontier Comedy
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Having a father who served as the drummer of a legendary rock band must be a hard act to follow, but it must be even more daunting when you decide to go out on the live circuit and recreate the brilliant music your old man made.
Well, that’s exactly what Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening aims to do, and with years of brilliant shows behind him, it appears he does it pretty well. Be sure to catch this performance of rock royalty when it comes your way this month!
Wednesday, May 23rd
State Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Stonefield
Stonefield recently released their much-anticipated third album, Far From Earth, a matter of days ago, and fans are loving it. Full of the brilliant songwriting and bluesy rock riffs we’ve come to expect from the Findlay sisters, Stonefield are heading out on the road to deliver their exhilarating live show to eager fans this month. Be sure to not miss this one, because it’s going to be huge.
Friday, May 25th
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Stonefield
The Whitlams
It’s hard to fathom it, but The Whitlams have been around for 25 years, and what an amazing quarter-century its been. Proving their worth as one of the most celebrated Aussie groups of all-time, The Whitlams are heading around the country, delivering their immersive and affable live show to the dedicated fans who have stuck by them all this time.
Don’t think this is just a nostalgic look back at their career, this is going to be a huge celebration of everything that The Whitlams have put their name to.
Friday, May 25th – Saturday, May 26th
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Augie March
Arguably one of the most underrated Australian groups of all time (yes, despite topping the Hottest 100 countdown in 2006), Augie March recently released their sixth album, Bootikins, earlier this year. Equal parts fierce, emotional, and tender, an Augie March performance has the power to bring you to tears and leave you exhilarated all at the same time. Be sure to catch them when they come your way this month.
Saturday, May 26th – Sunday, May 27th
The Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Oztix
Middle Kids
Middle Kids have continued their domination of the Aussie indie scene by recently releasing the stunning ‘On My Knees’, a fresh taste off their upcoming album, Lost Friends. With a penchant for writing amazing songs and delivering them with the unmatched quality that only this beloved three-piece can, 2018 is definitely shaping up to be the year of Middle Kids.
Sunday, May 27th
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Middle Kids
