Great Southern Nights has added two outdoor program highlights to its already massive calendar. Following on from the success of similar offerings last year, Newcastle and the vibrant Hollywood Quarter in inner Sydney will offer unique, walkable gig trail experiences for music and food loving patrons.
Known for its rich cultural heritage and thriving arts scene, Newcastle is gearing up to host its own multi-venue live music Gig Trail throughout Midtown Newcastle from 2pm Saturday 29 March through to 2am Sunday 30 March. The trail will offer live music, interactive experiences and local food and drink specials at venues including;
BERNIE’S BAR | JAMS KARAOKE & BAR | MAD POET | THE HAPPY WOMBAT
THE KOUTETSU | THE ROGUE SCHOLAR | THE SCHOLAR’S DEN
Patrons can wander from venue to venue, interacting with a troupe of performers, buskers, jokers, circus acts, musicians and impromptu acting moments along the way, providing an immersive festival-wide experience. Signature spots like rooftops and pop up laneways will offer surprise performances.
The Midtown Gig Trail is just a taste of an electrifying journey through Newcastle’s Great Southern Nights program. With iconic acts like King Stingray, Running Touch, Sarah Blasko, Xavier Rudd, The Cruel Sea and many more leading the charge, the city’s nightlife is set to hit a whole new high over the 17 nights.
From 12pm Saturday 5 April through to 4am Sunday 6 April, Sydney’s Hollywood Quarter precinct in Surry Hills is set to transform into a haven for music fans with the return of the Hollywood Quarter Gig Trail, presented by Great Southern Nights. The curated walk throughout the Hollywood Quarter invites music lovers to embark on a live music journey as streetlights shine down on performances at a range of neighbouring venues including;
ACE HOTEL SYDNEY | ALBERTO’S LOUNGE | BURDEKIN HOTEL | BUTTER
GOLDEN AGE CINEMA AND BAR | HARRY’S | HOLLYWOOD HOTEL
PARAMOUNT HOUSE HOTEL | SURRY HILLS HOTEL | THE SODA FACTORY
All within walking distance of each other, the venues will each provide a music and dining experience along with Great Southern Nights food and drinks specials. A program highlight is Space is The Place Vol. 2, on the Paramount House Rooftop. A unique evening curated by esteemed artist Jono Ma sees him host some of his favourite musicians from Sydney and abroad including Jonti, Ben Freeman, Sudek (Royel Otis), Kirin J Callinan and more.
Joining the Gig Trail fun, a range of hospitality venues will also offer Great Southern Nights food and drinks specials including Tio’s, Poly, The Rover, Nomad, Butter and Gildas.
News of these program highlights comes weeks before the 2025 Great Southern Nights series kicks off, delivering over 330 live gigs to areas including Sydney, Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast region, along with Bathurst, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, the Hunter Valley, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba.
Tickets to Great Southern Nights are a hot commodity, with some shows selling out within weeks of initial announce, including Bec Sandridge, The Beths, Boo Seeka, Boy & Bear, Lime Cordiale, Missy Higgins and The Cat Empire and shows like Hoodoo Gurus, SAFIA, Xavier Rudd and You Am I selling fast, now is the time to get your hands on some tickets to New South Wales’ most sought after music event.
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “Great Southern Nights is all about bringing back live music in New South Wales. I can’t wait to see these gigs lighting up the venues and streets of Newcastle. This will be a great night out in Newcastle, with the live music trail allowing visitors and locals to move from venue to venue, enjoying an amazing vibe in the streets along the way.”
CEO of ARIA, Annabelle Herd said: “Great Southern Nights brings an incredible energy to local communities across NSW, transforming a Saturday night into a vibrant celebration of live music. Through Great Southern Nights, ARIA collaborates with local venues, artists and councils to create a fun festival atmosphere where doors stay open late and streets come alive with music bringing joy and connection for audiences of all ages.”
Owner, Hollywood Hotel, Brody Peterson said “The Hollywood Hotel has a deep history of live music dating back to the early 70s. Its an iconic small venue for young bands to play in. The GSN initiative allows us to book more well known bands which then drives younger bands to want to come and perform at the venue. Because of initiatives like GSN we get bands that want to play at the venue and will call us directly to book a gig.”
Owner of The Rogue Scholar and The Scholar’s Den, Adam Hardy said: “All of us Midtown venues are so excited for Great Southern Nights to hit the precinct next month! We can’t get enough of all the fantastic local talent that Newy has, and it’s always a blast to work together to promote live music and the region’s nightlife. The Great Southern Nights gig trail will be a standout event on the calendar for us, drawing people from all over the region to join the Midtown Party!”
Taking place from 21 March – 6 April 2025, Great Southern Nights will bring some of Australia’s finest acts to all corners of the state, supercharging arts and cultural events in NSW. The eclectic line up of artists coupled with the best live music venues across the state create the perfect occasion for visitors to turn a gig into an unforgettable weekend in Greater Sydney and NSW, exploring the state’s glittering coastline, thriving regional towns and stunning natural landscapes.
Click here to visit the Great Southern Nights 2025 gig guide.
