Help
Community
Where musicians find each other, get on bills, put on their own nights, and get written about by people who were there.
An audience is built in rooms. Play the open nights, share bills with the acts you meet there, put on your own night, get your record into a local shop and onto community radio. Every entry here is run by people, most of them volunteers.
Clubs, Collectives and Circles10 Nights That Take New Acts8 DIY and All-Ages Rooms7 Putting on Your Own Show1 Independent Media4 ↑ Clubs, Collectives and Circles 10
SIMA: Sydney Improvised Music Association
Sydney-wide
What Jazz and improvised music, with workshops, an emerging composer award and a fellowship. Get in Contact form. They want to hear about gigs and collaborations. Link sima.org.au
Splinter Orchestra
Sydney
What Large improvising orchestra, radically inclusive, plays weekly. Get in Contact form. Link splinterorchestra.com
Southern Sydney Folk
Mortdale
Loaded Dog Folk Club
Addison Rd, Marrickville
What Acoustic, ten nights a year, February to November. Each night opens with two or three floor spots; the door is split among the acts. Get in $20 at the door. Floor-spot booking isn't advertised, so ask on the night. Link folkfednsw.org.au
The Shack
Warriewood
What Folk club at the Ted Blackwood centre. Get in Through their Facebook. Link facebook.com
Songsalive!
Online and the mountains
What Songwriter organisation. Monthly online workshop, third Wednesday, 7:30pm. Get in Through their site. Link songsaliveaustralia.org.au
NIMA
Newcastle
What Gigs every Tuesday at The Underground, Grand Hotel. Jazz jam every Thursday, 8–11. Get in Turn up to the jam. Under-18s with an adult. Link nima.org.au
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club
New Lambton
Illawarra Folk Club
Wollongong
What First Fridays and third Saturdays at City Diggers, plus a Railway Session. Get in $10 members, $15 otherwise. Link illawarrafolkclub.org.au
Troubadour Central Coast
Empire Bay
What Folk club, second Saturday of the month, 7pm. Get in Through their site. Link troubadour.org.au
Nights That Take New Acts 8
Petersham Bowling Club
Petersham
What The club takes nothing from the door or merch: artists keep 100%. Get in Email [email protected] with your links. Not by phone or socials. Link thepbc.org.au
Sydney Electronic Music Open Mic
Mothership Studios, Marrickville
What Monthly. Fifteen minutes each to play, demo gear or talk production. Get in Register on the form, then be there at 6pm sharp. Link sydney.emom.me
Manly Library Open Mic
Manly
What Original songs, comedy, poetry. Two songs or ten minutes. Free. Get in Sign up from 5pm on the night. Performers 16+. Link northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Open Mic Night Newtown
852 King St, Newtown
Gasoline Pony
Marrickville
Sydney Jams
All over Sydney
What Weekly jams and open mics, every night but Saturday. Get in Turn up. Link sites.google.com
Wollongong Youth Centre: On Stage
Wollongong
What Free fortnightly live music and open mic, Thursdays 6–7:30, ages 12–24. Rehearsal room $5 a person for two hours. Get in Turn up; book the room. Link wollongong.nsw.gov.au
The Hub Erina: Battle of the Bands
Erina
What Unsigned bands aged 10–24, first come first served. Free info night with a jam. Get in Through Central Coast Council youth services. Link facebook.com
DIY and All-Ages Rooms 7
Red Rattler
Marrickville
What A community-owned, queer-run volunteer venue with room for 300 standing. Children are welcome with a parent, and it runs an artist residency. Get in Hire: [email protected] . Link redrattler.org
Gifts of Mercy Emporium
Petersham
21 Shepherd
Marrickville
What 300m² room, grand piano, small PA, licensed. Subsidised hire for artistic use: you keep the door less ticketing. Get in Rates on application. Link livingroomtheatre.org
Frontyard
Marrickville
What Not-only-artist-run space with a library. Free for unfunded and not-for-profit projects. Get in Email, or come to the open house, usually the last Sunday of the month. Ask before anything amplified. Link frontyardprojects.org
Jimmy Little Community Centre
Lilyfield
What Inner West Council hall, 100 standing, music events a listed use. Get in $78/hr. Book online, more than a week ahead. Link innerwest.nsw.gov.au
Addi Road: Gumbramorra Hall
Marrickville
Putting on Your Own Show 1
Put On Your Own Show
Sydney
What The step-by-step guide: finding a room, costing the night, PA hire, tickets, licences, insurance, posters and paying everyone. Get in Link Own-show page
emus
Sydney
What Volunteer calendar and newsletter for improvised and experimental music. Also a show on Eastside 89.7. Get in Submit your event on their form. Free. Link emus.space
Community radio
What FBi, 2SER, Skid Row, Eastside and the rest, with how each takes music. Get in See the Radio page. Link Radio page
Commercial outlets
What Happy Mag takes submissions through a form. The Brag takes tips. Pilerats and Purple Sneakers now redirect to The Music. Get in Know they are businesses. Link submit.happymag.tv
No hip hop cypher, punk crew, First Nations collective or PA-hire co-op in Sydney publishes a public way in. If you run one, tell the guide.