Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, King Stingray, Birds of Tokyo, Troy Cassar-Daley, Lime Cordiale and The Cat Empire are among the Australian artists who will light up NSW stages from 21 March until 6 April for Great Southern Nights 2025.
This celebration of live music will deliver more than 300 gigs in entertainment precincts across the state, including Inner and Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast, Byron Bay, Broken Hill, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba, reinforcing NSW’s position as the nation’s premier destination for cultural vibrancy and world-class live entertainment.
Great Southern Nights 2025 will showcase the very best of Australia’s music talent alongside young rising stars, creating unforgettable experiences for visitors and locals alike. By activating venues from the city, coast and to the outback, the event is set to provide a significant boost to local hospitality businesses, generate employment opportunities and energise the NSW visitor and night-time economies.
Great Southern Nights shares the stage on the state’s unrivalled cultural events calendar for the new year with other events, including Australia Day, Sydney Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Parkes Elvis Festival, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour and the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, Vivid Sydney.
Aligning with the NSW Government’s vibrancy reforms and shift towards experience-led tourism, the live music series underscores the commitment to revitalise live music, support artists and venues and turbocharge the state’s $52.9 billion visitor economy through authentic and immersive cultural experiences.
Great Southern Nights is a NSW Government initiative delivered via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
To purchase tickets and to see the artist line-up, go to www.greatsouthernnights.com.au. Further artists are set to be announced in early 2025.
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “These stars will light up the night around the state. This is all part of the plan to boost live music and vibrancy across NSW. We’ve scrapped the rules that get in the way of live venues and we’re backing our bands to hit the stage. NSW has an incredible history of pub rock, east coast touring and outdoor shows. We hope Great Southern Nights will remind people just how good our live music scene can be.”
CEO of ARIA Annabelle Herd said: “This year, the momentum in our music community has been electric and it’s a privilege to continue fuelling that energy with another incredible lineup of artists for Great Southern Nights in 2025. From intimate venues in small towns to iconic city stages, these nights are about celebrating the astounding talent of our artists and sparking human connection in communities.”
Great Southern Nights performing artist Charley said: “I am so excited to be playing a show for Great Southern Nights as this one will be a special one. I’ll be playing some songs from my upcoming album for the first time ever at one of my fave intimate Sydney venues, Oxford Art Factory! I also have some incredible special guests performing before me and with me!! This will be such a fun show.”
