Sydney’s original Speakers' Corner in the Domain was historically a place for activism, eccentricity and free speech – where anyone could jump on a milk crate and make themselves heard. This summer, Sydney Festival is swapping out the milk crate for a main stage sidled up next to St Mary's Cathedral and Hyde Park, and audiences of up to 1,000 people, giving a platform to an eclectic line-up of Australia’s finest musicians and comedians.
Take your pick from 22 nights of live music, DJs, a dash of comedy and a fat splash of street art in the CBD. With sunset sessions and late shows catering to the early birds and the night owls, acts include the fierce new face of Aussie punk, Amyl and the Sniffers; indie-pop songstress Washington will pay tribute to her EP Insomnia on its ten-year anniversary; B Wise presents Jaime, a special collaboration show with a cast of friends to celebrate his new hip-hop record and ode to Western Sydney; and you can also catch sets from Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Emma Donovan and the Putbacks, King Stingray, the Beths, and loads more. The season runs throughout the festival from January 5 to 30, and tickets range from $39 to $59 plus booking fee.
Note: some acts have withdrawn from the festival and the evolving Covid situation means things change quickly. Always check ahead to make sure an event you're planning to attend is still going ahead. All visitors to Speakers Corner will be required to check in with a QR code and provide proof of double-vaccination or a valid exemption. Find out more here.