Music to the ears of live gig lovers, Great Southern Nights is back from 8 to 24 March 2024 supercharging the line-up of vibrant cultural events in NSW and reigniting the state’s live music scene, including a special preview event in Sydney this November featuring Alex The Astronaut, Dami Im, Jet, Thelma Plum, The Temper Trap and more.
The much-loved event will deliver more than 300 live gigs in March 2024 at venues across Sydney’s inner city and Western Sydney, as well as shows in Wollongong, Wagga, Newcastle, the Northern Rivers and Tamworth.
Great Southern Nights’ performing artist Alex the Astronaut said:
"There’s nothing quite like putting on a live gig in front of fans and music-lovers, I can’t wait to put on a show for the return of Great Southern Nights. It means a lot that the government is continuing to add bricks and support to a music industry that is still rebuilding itself.”
With the initial line-up to be announced in December, Great Southern Nights 2024 is set to showcase established household names to emerging talents and grassroots acts, spotlighting a diverse array of artists across 17 nights – the perfect excuse for an unforgettable weekend away in Greater Sydney and NSW.
And in a special sneak peek preview of Great Southern Nights 2024, 10 nights of incredible live performances will light up stages from November 16 2023, across Enmore, Marrickville, Newtown, Parramatta and Penrith.
Great Southern Nights Credit: Great Southern Nights_Dami Im Isabella Manfredi The Hon John Graham Alex The Astronaut, Annabelle Herd_Waywards Newtown
Great Southern Nights - Taster Media Call 2023. Dami Im, Isabella Manfredi, The Hon John Graham, Alex The Astronaut, Annabelle Herd at Waywards Newtown
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Great Southern Nights Credit: Great Southern Nights_Dami Im Isabella Manfredi The Hon John Graham Alex The Astronaut, Annabelle Herd_Waywards Newtown
Great Southern Nights - Taster Media Call 2023. Dami Im, Isabella Manfredi, The Hon John Graham, Alex The Astronaut, Annabelle Herd at Waywards Newtown
Great Southern Nights Credit: GSN22_ElectricFields_OxfordArtFactory_GeorgiGriffiths
Great Southern Nights 2022 - Electric Fields
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Great Southern Nights Credit: GSN22_ElectricFields_OxfordArtFactory_GeorgiGriffiths
Great Southern Nights 2022 - Electric Fields
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
“Bringing back Great Southern Nights aligns with the policy direction the NSW Government is taking – we're shifting the focus from destination travel to experience tourism with an emphasis on creating a cultural identity for the state.
“We know that the music industry requires greater support to revive live music venues across the state and support artists and workers in the industry, which is why our Government is committed to bring back Great Southern Nights over the next four years.
“We have enormous potential here in NSW to create an immersive, unique visitor experience that combines the nation’s best natural encounters, great cuisine and local hospitality with a world-class cultural experience.
“This is more than a series of live gigs – it's a display of how the collective passion for live music can deliver rich cultural moments that resonate with locals and visitors alike to create unforgettable experiences.”
Making its stamp on the state’s cultural events calendar, Great Southern Nights will share the limelight with other world-class events such as South by Southwest Sydney, which will make its Sydney debut next month, as well as Vivid Sydney, the Sydney International Art Series, Sydney Festival and Sydney Biennale.
The artist line-up and ticket-sales to the 2024 Great Southern Nights event, across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Wagga, Newcastle, the Northern Rivers and Tamworth, will be announced this December.
The 2023 Great Southern Nights preview will take place from 16 to 25 November 2023. Tickets will go on-sale at 9am on 19 September 2023 via www.greatsouthernnights.com.au. Artists confirmed for the November program include Alex The Astronaut, Beccy Cole, Dami Im, Isabella Manfredi, Jet, Tasman Keith and 3% plus Guests, The Temper Trap, Thelma Plum and Thy Art is Murder.
CEO of ARIA Annabelle Herd said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring Great Southern Nights back for another year and provide artists with an increasingly important platform to connect with new fans and long-term lovers of live music
“Globally, and particularly in the UK, markets are seeing a resurgence in the role of small to medium venues for breaking up-and-coming talent. Creating more of those same opportunities for our own recording artists to cut through and build new fanbases is critical at a time where content is increasingly saturated.
“Enormous thanks to the NSW Government for valuing the significant economic and cultural contribution of Australian music and understanding the importance of keeping our creative industries thriving in cities and regional communities.”
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).
Great Southern Nights
Great Southern Nights - The Hon. John Graham MLC, Waywards Newtown
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Great Southern Nights
Great Southern Nights - The Hon. John Graham MLC, Waywards Newtown
Great Southern Nights
Great Southern Nights 2022 - DearSeatlle - ViolentSOHO
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Great Southern Nights
Great Southern Nights 2022 - DearSeatlle - ViolentSOHO
Peppers Craigieburn, BowralCredit: Destination NSW
The heritage property at Peppers Craigieburn, Bowral.
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Promenade back in time as Netflix’s Regency-era romp returns for Season Three, escorted by the elegant Bridgerton in Bowral extravaganza from 16-23 April. And whether you’re visiting The Ton for these enchanting festivities or simply searching for a sophisticated sojourn, all year round Bowral offers decadent feasts, opulent stays, charming countryside and more – all just 90 minutes from Sydney. Read on, Gentle Reader, to learn why the Southern Highlands are the Diamond of the Season and beyond.
Make your grand entrance
Emerald hills garnished with vineyards, grand estates and a bewitching village atmosphere… Bowral’s highlights harken back to a most refined moment in history – and now they’re celebrating Bridgerton’s greatly anticipated return with a host of soirees. As befits such a momentous occasion, Empire Cinemas Bowral will host four exclusive screenings for The Ton before the new episodes hit Netflix (from May 16). Plus, you’re cordially invited to a Regency-themed Garden Party amid the stately grounds of the Milton Park Country House Hotel, where you’ll see and be seen in sprawling formal gardens, and enjoy a host of Bridgerton-themed entertainment. Nearby, Retford Park also entices with a picturesque 1887 homestead, self-guided art trail and a picnic-perfect historic garden for all seasons.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Bendoley Estate, Berrima.
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Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Bendoley Estate, Berrima.
Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral.
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Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral.
Sip your way around The Ton
Raise a toast to Lady Whistledown’s long-awaited new chapter with Sohi’s mouth-watering tipples – their premium gin, vodka and vermouth are available to quaff all over town, including at Hearth by Moonacres, Bistro Sociale and The Royal Hotel. And, let your thirst for discovery lead you along the Southern Highlands Wine Trail, where you’ll sample the region’s cool-climate drops at more than 60 vineyards and 15 cellar doors. Swill Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Albariño, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer at Centennial Vineyards; unwind between the vines at the grand Bendooley Estate; and clink glasses at Mount Ashby Estate, where red, white and culinary delights are served alongside French antiques and lashings of bucolic charm.
Shall we promenade?
Whether you’re courting a suitor or slipping out of the drawing room for fresh air, a gentle wander is one of life’s simple pleasures. Take a leisurely turn through historic Berrima; Australia’s best-preserved Georgian village unveils an intriguing selection of Regency-era relics, including the 1830s Courthouse, convict-built Surveyor General Inn and the National Trust-listed Harper’s Mansion. Bask in the majesty of manicured gardens in Bowral, Mossvale, and Robertson, where lavish plantings reveal nature’s extravagance – especially during the Tulip Time festival each spring. Afterwards, assemble your favourite dukes and duchesses to while away the day with croquet, cycle between quaint villages, or saddle up your trusty steeds for a relaxing meander along the Canyonleigh Trails.
Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a romantic getaway at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
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Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a romantic getaway at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Autumn at Bendooley Estate, Berrima.
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Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Autumn at Bendooley Estate, Berrima.
Discover the talk of The Ton
Bowral boasts a bounty of treasures old, new and noteworthy if you’re seeking a modiste-crafted frock for your society debut, exploring the arts, or collecting key pieces to makeover your manor. Start with a visit to Dirty Janes, a unique marketplace where 90 individual sellers peddling all manner of retro, vintage, antique and artisan-made finds. Indulge your guilty pleasure for scandalous storytelling at Books Ever After, a romance-genre specialist home to an impressive selection of special editions to tantalise your imagination. And, take your cue from Bridgerton’s elite and let your impeccable taste in art and furnishings do the talking. The Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery, Bowral Art Gallery and Milk Factory Gallery showcase the cultured art and soul of this inspired region, while Suzie Anderson Home has a wide range of premium style essentials to create your own Regency-influenced sanctuary.
Retreat to elegant chambers
From plush private residences to luxe suites catering for your every whim, the Southern Highlands offers a host of auspicious accommodations worthy of society’s highest echelon. Revel in the prestige of a grand estate to call your own on the grounds of The Rift Estate. This palatial 19th Century mansion presents a self-contained Coach House to accommodate 13 people, complete with cosy fireplaces, claw-foot bathtubs and lush lawns perfect for croquet and bocce. For a gracious stay amid rustic vistas reminiscent of the English countryside, look no further than the five-star boutique hotel, Osborn House. Nearby, the chic comforts continue at the Georgian Moss Manor, where thoughtful creativity and interior design unite for an exclusive art-hotel experience. Around the town, the historic flair also rolls into the early 20th Century, with the Berida Hotel, Peppers Craigieburn and the Links House Hotel delivering memorable stays where modern amenity and heritage flourishes converge. Wherever you choose to rest your tiara-toting head, you can find your own Bridgerton in Bowral all year round.
Osborn House, Bundanoon Credit: Stephanie Hunter
One of the Premier Suites at Osborn House.
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Osborn House, Bundanoon Credit: Stephanie Hunter
One of the Premier Suites at Osborn House.
Bradman Museum, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Exploring sporting history at the Bradman Museum, Bowral, Southern Highlands
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Bradman Museum, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Exploring sporting history at the Bradman Museum, Bowral, Southern Highlands