After months of aching absence, live music is back on Sydney. Venues like the Lansdowne in Chippendale, the Vanguard in Newtown and Marrickville’s Lazybones Lounge have been welcoming back punters for physically distanced gigs. Now, Surry Hills’ retro vibed bar the Soda Factory is joining in on the fun with five nights a week of live music. So put your hair in a high pony and sip on a thickshake, because Tuesday through Saturday, these happy days are yours and mine.
The venue is hidden behind a vintage Coca-Cola fridge door in the phony storefront of ‘Bobby’s Boss Dogs’, and while the decor says jukebox vintage Americana, at the Soda Factory the live music line-up is firmly all about local and now. The venue’s past repertoire of artists includes international acts in the likes of Grandmaster Flash and Foals, and throughout the harshest of the lockout years it booked live entertainment almost every night of the week.
The current lineup champions local musos and diverse genres, from soul and neo-soul to indie rock, with ‘more familiar jams’ on the weekends. You can catch the Soda Factory’s house band the Dollar Dogs along with artists like the upbeat stylings of acoustic folk-pop artist Daniel Tomalaris and funky R’n’B cover band Soul Nights. Check out the program over here. And yes, you can still grab a $1 hotdog on Tuesdays.
The Soda Factory currently trades Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm, with live music from 7pm. As restrictions ease, the venue will be looking to add a sixth night of music and eventually return to being open and entertaining seven nights a week.
Want more live entertainment? We’ve rounded up where to see comedy, cabaret and drag shows IRL.
