Great Southern Nights is returning to reignite NSW’s live music scene, with major artists like Thelma Plum and Dami Im set to perform in Penrith later this year.
NSW will come alive with the sound of music from March 8-24 next year, with 300 live music gigs set to take place across the state.
The NSW Government is partnering with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) to bring back the much-loved concert series, ensuring it proceeds over the next four years.
But to tie music lovers over until then, the NSW Government will be hosting a special ‘taster’ event this coming November, which will feature 10 nights of live performances in western Sydney and the Inner West.
In Penrith, Thelma Plum will take the stage at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on November 24.
Dami Im will perform at Q Theatre on November 18, while Australian rock band Jet will entertain locals at Penrith Panthers on November 23.
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 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,” he said.
“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.”
With a revitalised program, Great Southern Nights 2024 is designed to reignite the state’s live music culture by attracting visitors through a shared passion of music.
By doing so, the NSW Government said the gigs will help to infuse energy into local districts, support jobs across the hospitality and entertainment sectors, as well as “supercharge” the state’s night-time and visitor economies.
CEO Annabelle Herd said ARIA is “absolutely thrilled” to bring Great Southern Nights back for another year and provide artists with a 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,” she said.
“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.”
The 2023 Great Southern Nights preview program will take place from November 16-25.
Tickets to all shows are on sale now via www.greatsouthernnights.com.au.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other projects.
