Trophy Eyes, Sneaky Sound System & More Announce Free Newcastle Gigs

For live music lovers in New South Wales, Great Southern Nights is a dream come true: more than 300 one-of-a-kind gigs will take place over 17 incredible (and incredibly stacked) days and nights, sprawling all across the state and the musical spectrum. And now, it’s been announced that heavyweight acts like Trophy Eyes and Sneaky Sound System will wrap it all up with some extra special – and free – club shows.

ICYMI, the annual Great Southern Nights concert series will kick off its 2024 edition this Friday (March 8), running until Sunday March 24. In addition to shows in Sydney’s CBD and outer suburbs, Great Southern Nights will bring one-off shows to some of the cities less travelled by Australia’s biggest artists, including (but certainly not limited to) Wollongong, Newcastle, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and the Northern Rivers.

For punk fans in Newcastle, one show to keep on your radar is this just-announced headline show from Trophy Eyes, slated for Saturday March 23 at the King Street Hotel. A press release confirms that support will come from fellow locals Loons, Butterknife and PIT, and according to the official website, we can also expect to see Dear Seattle take the stage.

The following night (March 24), Sneaky Sound System will hit the King Street Hotel for their own eruption of sonic euphoria, headlining a bill rounded out by the Hot Potato Band, Jump, Skyepaint and DJ K-Lee. It’ll be the second of two shows Sneaky Sound System have lined up for Great Southern Nights, following their Wagga Wagga show at Tilly’s on Friday March 22.

Free tickets for both Newcastle shows will be available at 8am this Thursday (March 7) – head here to register for exclusive access.

They come as part of the Great Southern Nights Street Party, which in Newcastle will also feature a ticketed show from Drapht on the Thursday – supported by Dazastah, Conflikt and yungblonde – and two from Ruby Fields on the Friday: an all-ages matinee supported by Woofer, and an 18+ night show supported by Jet City Sports Club. See here for more info on the Drapht show, and here for more info on Fields’ two.

In a formal statement, a spokesperson for the King Street Hotel said of these twice-in-a-lifetime experiences: “We’re excited to take part in the Great Southern Nights Street Party. I think Newcastle as a city has really matured and grown, and to see events like this be supported by our state & local government is fantastic, this event and all the other amazing shows happening around Newcastle is great for our economy”.

Also announced today (March 5) was the Great Southern Nights Gig Trail, taking over the Hollywood Quarter precinct in Surry Hills from 12pm on Saturday March 23. Details are scant for the moment, but the press release promises the Quarter will be “bursting with cultural expression”, with the “curated walk invit[ing] music lovers to embark on a live music journey as streetlights shine down on performances at a range of nearby venues”.

Venues taking part in the Great Southern Nights Gig Trail include the Ace Hotel, The Soda Factory, Alberto’s Lounge, The Burdekin, the Golden Age Cinema & Bar, the Hollywood Hotel, Hotel Harry, the Butter and The Paramount House Hotel. Keep an eye out here for gig details.

“We’re excited to host Great Southern Nights here at Hollywood Quarter,” says a spokesperson. “With a mix of pubs, restaurants and bars hosting live music – add to that some of the best hospitality in Sydney – you’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to a good night out.”

Sharing the excitement for all the new events is ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, who said in a statement of her own: “I'd love to see Sydney and our regional cities enjoy live music inside and outside venues, where passers-by can encounter exceptionally talents artists performing in public spaces, adding to the lively atmosphere of destinations. I think it's a clever way to drive audience development and weave music into the fabric of cities. It's also the final chance for people to experience the last weekend of Great Southern Nights, so I encourage people to get out and enjoy some great live music!”