The best gigs to see in Sydney this winter

If there’s one thing Sydney does spectacularly well, it’s slow summer evenings – the kinds that see the sky turn sherbet-pink and the whole city look a little softer around the edges. This summer, Cockatoo Island/ Wareamah is handing us a very solid excuse to make the most of it: Sunset Sessions is back, taking over the lawn of historic Biloela House with a weekly dose of live music in the open air. Running on Saturday evenings from January 10 2025 to April 4 2026 (except from Saturday, March 7), the island’s curated open-air gig series is one of those annual events that reliably sells out – and for good reason. The formula is foolproof: pack a picnic rug, stretch out on the grass and let a line-up of emerging local artists soundtrack the slow fade into night as the sun sets behind the city. RELATED READ: These are the best sunset spots in Sydney This year brings a particularly juicy mix of genres and rising talent to Sydney Harbour’s largest island. Expect lush vocals from Charlie Collins, dreamy pop by Mia Lovelock, and globe-spanning grooves courtesy of Immy Owusu and Dom Diaz. You’ll also catch Bella Amor, Mina Siale, PA777IENCE, Skyscraper Stan, Lady Lyon and Lucienne – with more artists still to be announced. If you’re not the type to pack your own snacks, Biloela House will have refreshments ready to go – or you can pre-order a hamper of treats when you book your ticket. And if you’ve ever entertained the fantasy of running away to an island for the night, Cockatoo...

Summer is approaching, and in excellent news for dance music enthusiasts, Sydney’s cultural calendar is about to get a whole lot sweatier. Renowned music curators Finely Tuned (the team behind Lost Paradise and Lost Sundays) have just unveiled a brand-new event series, and it’s on track to bring a whole heap of fun to the Harbour City this summer.  Enter The Works: six warehouse-scale events taking over Carriageworks across summer 2025/26, bringing some of the planet’s biggest electronic music acts to one of Sydney’s most progressive creative spaces. Benefitting from the influx of international DJs hitting Aussie shores for Lost Paradise and other summer festivals (including Victoria’s Beyond The Valley), the lineup is top-tier. Over four weeks, more than 20 local and international acts will roll through, with headliners spanning festival heavyweights, underground heroes and fun, forward-thinking taste-makers who are just starting to make their name. The beloved British electronic duo Underworld will launch the series on December 29, bringing their genre-defining live show to the industrial inner city setting (and yes, you can expect 'Born Slippy'). They’ll be joined by Ross From Friends’ new club-pop project Bubble Love, plus homegrown favourites Roza Terenzi and Reenie. From there, the energy won’t let up. I Hate Models will unleash raw, frenetic chaos on Carriageworks on January 2, flanked by techno maximalist VTSS and rising Scottish DJ Sim0ne. The following night,...