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Live music in Sydney turns up the volume with massive summer line up

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Justice brings their live show to Sydney
Chris Singh
Published By
Chris Singh
Chris Singh
Chris Singh
Chris Singh was born and raised in the Western Sydney suburb of Greystanes and has lived in many places across the city since he was 18 years old. With 16 years of experience in online media, Chris has served as both an editor and freelance writer across publications like The AU Review, Boss Hunting and International Traveller. His favourite suburbs in Sydney are Darlinghurst, Manly, Newtown and Summer Hill.
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Updated On
October 2, 2025

Sydney is about to enjoy one of the best summer of live music line-ups in years with concerts blazing through Sydney’s touring circuit in the coming months.

Live music series like Sydney Opera House’s On The Steps summer takeover and massive tours from the likes of Doja Cat, Ricky Martin, Justice, and RUFUS DU SOL are just the start of it. Venues like City Recital Hall have began to really diversify their live music offering beyond high-brow styles of classical and jazz, and some of Sydney’s favourite halls like Enmore Theatre and Hordern Pavilion are gearing up for

Sydney is fast becoming a “something for everyone” city, and nowhere is this more obvious than with its live music scene. EDM, hip hop, jazz, rock—whatever your tastes, it’s going to be hard to avoid having fun with packed crowds this spring and summer.

There’s a lot to get through so I’m going to break it down by month, offering an easy work-through to anyone who wants to get those tickets booked in before they all sell out.

carriageworks cockatoo island
Carriageworks will host the annual Mode Festival in October (photo supplied).

October has everything from Afrobeats to Gen-Z hip hop and toothy Aussie rock

Key concerts:

After an unpredictable start to spring, it’s now looking like Sydney’s weather is set to shine with one of the biggest outdoor dance festivals of the year. For one massive day, MODE Festival will be taking over the heritage bones of Cockatoo Island for a massive party that includes big names like Four Tet, Floating Points and Kink. And that’ll be more than enough to take care of Sydney’s everlasting hunger for more outdoor day parties.

Look to our best venues for the rest. Australian darlings Sarah Blasko and Royal Otis will both be putting on special performances at each end of the month, while big internationals like Afrobeats star Burna Boy and sentimental singer-songwriter James Blunt perform one-night-only concerts out in Sydney Olympic Park.

a group of people on a stage
Ricky Martin will shake his stuff over to Qudos Bank Arena in November.

November’s packed with Latin pop flair, nostalgic alt-rock and big-room electronica

Key concerts:

November keeps the tempo high with a lineup that stretches across genres and generations. Nostalgia runs strong early in the month as Rob Thomas settles into the Enmore for a three-night run and Katie Noonan reimagines Jeff Buckley’s Grace. Ricky Martin brings his unmatched charisma back to Sydney before the Pixies and Evanescence light up mid-month with back-to-back doses of alt-rock.

Then it’s straight into arena territory. Jelly Roll makes his Sydney debut, Lenny Kravitz returns with his rockstar swagger, and homegrown heroes RÜFÜS DU SOL close the month with a three-night takeover of Qudos Bank Arena. It’s been a huge year (decade, even) for the Sydney EDM trio so expect just about everyone under the age of 40 to be there.

Doja Cat in Sydney
Doja Cat opens December with two huge concerts at Qudos Bank Arena.

December ends the year with stadium stars, warehouse raves and beachside festivals

Key concerts:

December signs off the year with a mix of stadium spectacles, soulful performances and warehouse raves. Doja Cat kicks things off with two nights of high-energy pop at Qudos Bank Arena, while the Sydney Opera House forecourt series opens with Chet Faker setting the summer soundtrack. Mid-month, gospel legend Kirk Franklin brings his unforgettable energy to the Concert Hall, reminding Sydney that live music can move the soul as well as the feet.

Later in the month, electronic heavyweights Justice and Underworld take over Qudos Bank Arena and Carriageworks, proving that Sydney still knows how to party after dark. The year finishes where it belongs, on the sand, with Bondi NYE Festival promising sun, sea and music for the ultimate beachside send-off to 2025.

Headline image: Justice / Julian Bajsel.

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