Help
Wollongong and the Illawarra
Rooms, radio, grants, festivals and support for musicians around Wollongong, Kiama and Shellharbour. Each entry was checked against an official page or recent news in October 2026. Dates can change, so check before you count on one. Lifeline 13 11 14, Support Act and the national help are on the main Help page.
Make It 5
Wollongong Youth Services music roomWollongong
Rehearsal space for young people, price not published
A council-run music room at the Wollongong Youth Centre on Burelli St, with help towards gigs and mentoring. Ask about hours and the age range.
Email [email protected] or call (02) 4227 8222. The council page was updated in May 2026; the Burelli St and rehearsal detail comes from a 2023 article.
SENTRAL StudioKiama
Band room and recording space for ages 12 to 25, price not published
Run by Kiama Council with staff. It has a drum kit, amps, mics and Pro Tools.
The council page does not give a street or suburb, so ask when you book.
Wollongong Music CentreWollongong West
Music shop with a repair workshop
390 Crown St. Guitars, keys, drums, mics and PA gear for sale, a service workshop (restrings, setups and repairs) and instrument rental. Phone (02) 4228 9286.
PA is sold here; we have not confirmed that they hire it out.
The Bassment UnpluggedAlbion Park Rail
Music shop and school, under new owners in 2026
Formerly Haworth Guitars. Instruments, strings, amps and repairs, plus lessons.
The Illawarra Mercury covered the change of owners in June 2026. We could not find a website or social page under the new name.
Merrigong Theatre CompanyWollongong
Free or cheaper rehearsal space, if your project fits
Merrigong says it offers free or subsidised rehearsal space and creative development, and its Made From Scratch nights welcome music. It is a theatre company, so ask first whether a band project suits.
Its MERRIGONGX artists program opens for applications each September to October; the 2026 program lists no music.
Play It 12
UOW UniBar Open MicWollongong (UOW campus)
Tuesday nights, sign up through the Facebook group
An open mic at the university bar, Tuesdays 5:30pm to 10:30pm when it runs.
The last season we could find ran July to October 2024. Check the group to see whether it is running this year.
Railway Sessions open micThirroul
Third Wednesday of the month, 7pm to 10pm
At the Thirroul Railway Institute, 14 Railway Pde, run by the Illawarra Folk Club. Performers put their name on a blackboard.
The listing we saw was for September 2025. Ask the folk club to confirm the next night: [email protected].
WollCon open jam at The ServoPort Kembla
Free open jam from 7pm
WollCon runs a regular open jam at The Servo, mostly Wednesdays in school terms.
The page lists Term 2 2026 dates (29 April to 24 June). Check which term is running.
Busking in Crown Street MallWollongong
Half day permits are free until 30 June 2027
Apply online for a half day permit; it can take up to four business days. Quarterly and annual permits are not available at the moment. No amplified sound, stay at the marked spots, and under 18s need a signed parent or guardian form.
City Centre team: (02) 4227 7778 or [email protected]. For busking elsewhere, call the council on (02) 4227 7111.
Live@Lunch and CBD SoundsWollongong
Council music in the city centre
The council backs lunchtime music in Crown St Mall and the city centre. The last call for Live@Lunch was aimed at promoters and curators, not single acts, and has closed.
Council switchboard (02) 4227 7111.
Council performer registerWollongong
Put your name down for council events
Wollongong City Council keeps an expression of interest and a Creative Wollongong Register for performers at its community events.
When we looked on 14 July 2026 no opportunities were listed.
Thirroul Music FestivalThirroul
Saturday 28 November 2026
A one day festival across several Thirroul venues.
No application process is published. Ask the organisers: [email protected].
Illawarra Folk FestivalBulli
Held each January, 2027 applications have closed
Run by the Illawarra Folk Club at Bulli Showground. Artist applications for 2027 closed in April or May 2026.
Watch for 2028 applications. [email protected].
Wollongong Festival and Yours and OwlsWollongong
Four weekends from 12 September 2026
The council festival, with the Yours and Owls team, took in the Port Kembla Fringe (18 to 20 September) and the Yours and Owls Festival (3 and 4 October).
No application process for local acts is published. Yours and Owls books venues all year and has a sign up page for its festival.
Culture MixWollongong
Performer applications ran 30 April to 27 May 2026
A council festival in the city centre (26 September 2026) for groups based in the Wollongong area, with development grants up to $3,000.
Call (02) 4227 7111 to ask when the next call opens.
Thirroul Open Street FestivalThirroul
Free stage with local acts, 2026 not confirmed
The 2025 festival (29 and 30 November) had a free stage with local acts. We could not confirm a 2026 date or any application process.
Make Music DayIllawarra
Every 21 June, free community concerts
Hosted by WollCon. No sign up process is published.
Get It Heard 10
RadioUWollongong (UOW campus)
Student radio that takes music submissions
The University of Wollongong station. Current shows include Round the Ground, which plays Australian music (Wednesdays 4:30pm to 5:30pm).
To send music, email [email protected] or message @uowtv. Call-in line (02) 4221 4792.
ABC Illawarra 97.3Wollongong
Local ABC radio, no music slot confirmed
We could not confirm a regular local music segment. You can still pitch a story about an act or a release.
Use the contact page, or the office line (02) 4224 5011.
Kiama Community RadioKiama
Volunteer community station
Volunteer run, with podcasts and shows that include country and roots.
No submission process is published. Write to PO Box 753, Kiama NSW 2533.
Wave FM 96.5Warrawong
Commercial station, a long shot for original music
No music submission process is published.
Phone (02) 4275 2965.
Illawarra MercuryWollongong
The daily paper, with regular local music coverage
It ran a guide to the Illawarra music scene on 7 October 2026.
News tips: newsdesk (02) 4221 2206 or [email protected].
The Illawarra FlameIllawarra
Local online paper with a monthly gig guide
The July 2026 gig guide listed venues across the region. No submission method is stated; start from its Contact page.
Region IllawarraIllawarra
Local news site that covers music events
It reported on the Thirroul Music Festival in October 2025. No tip process is published.
Music FarmersWollongong
Independent record shop with its own labels
228 Keira St. New and used vinyl. Phone (02) 4228 0459 or [email protected].
Their site does not mention stocking local releases. Ask them.
Spunk Records and Black GoldThirroul
Record shop and label
Run by Aaron Curnow, who co-founded the Thirroul Music Festival. We could not open its own site, so check hours before you go.
Frank's Wild YearsThirroul
Bar, record shop and live venue
3/2 Raymond Rd. Mostly used vinyl and tapes, with gigs listed through November 2026.
Take It Further 4
MusicNSW WollongongWollongong
Free local help from the state music body
MusicNSW has a coordinator in Wollongong who takes bookings for one to one meetings with local musicians. It also runs free workshops, and Lost Pavements: Live in Wollongong is on 8 November 2026 at La La La’s.
Illawarra Folk ClubIllawarra
Runs the folk festival and keeps a performer contacts page
Folk acts can use it to find gigs and the open mic at Thirroul.
Council Creative DialoguesWollongong
Free talks and workshops for creatives
A series for emerging and professional creative people, with accessibility commitments. No dates are listed on the page.
Call (02) 4227 7111.
UOW Bachelor of Creative Arts, music majorWollongong
Fund It 6
Small Arts and Culture GrantsWollongong
Up to $4,000, next round opens 1 February 2027
For people who live in the Wollongong council area and for arts groups based there. Creative projects, professional development, marketing and small equipment can be covered, and new groups can get up to $1,000 seed funding. Festivals, accredited study, rent and insurance are not.
No closing date was shown on the page.
Bands and Choirs grantWollongong
Next round opens 1 February 2027
For not-for-profit bands and choirs based in Wollongong that play at public events. Senior bands can get up to $2,000, junior bands up to $1,000 and choirs up to $500.
Aimed at open membership community groups, not usually gigging bands.
Sponsorship of Community EventsWollongong
2026 round closed on 31 March
For events run by individuals and not-for-profits. We did not find the next round date.
Kiama Community GrantsKiama
Up to $5,000, artists can apply
Kiama Council lists artists among eligible applicants. The page shows no open or close dates.
The council cut its grants budget in August 2026, so ask first: [email protected].
Sound NSW Contemporary Music Development GrantsNSW
Up to $30,000 for recording, content and promotion
For new original contemporary music. The 2026/27 round ran 20 August to 21 September 2026 and has closed.
Sound NSW also has a Touring and Travel Fund. Its pages disagree on whether it is open, so check with [email protected].
Regional Arts NSW Quick Response GrantsNSW
Assessed monthly, no dates published
For regional artists. We have not confirmed that Wollongong counts as regional for this fund, so ask before you apply.
Phone 02 9270 2500 or [email protected].
Get Support 8
Accessible Arts Next Level mentorshipNSW
For artists with disability or who are d/Deaf
Ten artists each get $3,000 and a mentor. Merrigong in Wollongong is a host partner. The 2026 round closed on 15 March; watch for 2027.
Coomaditchie United Aboriginal CorporationPort Kembla, Warrawong
Aboriginal led, on Dharawal Country
Works through art, cultural consultation, youth programs and bush regeneration. Phone (02) 4274 7477.
Illawarra Aboriginal Medical ServiceWollongong
Health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
150 Church St, including mental health and wellbeing. Phone (02) 4229 9495.
Ask them whether they offer counselling.
Illawarra Multicultural ServicesWollongong
Support for migrants and refugees
Level 1, 67 to 69 Market St. Casework and youth support, including for people with disability. Phone (02) 4229 6855.
We found no website of its own, only a directory listing.
Rainbow LeagueWollongong
Weekly for ages 15 to 24 in school term
A Wollongong Youth Services group for LGBTQIA+ young people. Phone (02) 4227 8222.
Illawarra Rainbow Community and The Rainbow UndergroundIllawarra
Social groups for LGBTQIA+ people
Illawarra Rainbow Community is a social group ([email protected]). The Rainbow Underground offers social and creative opportunities for queer creatives ([email protected]).
Both are listed in the ACON Illawarra guide from October 2024.
headspace WollongongWollongong
Free mental health support for ages 12 to 25
7 Atchison St. GPs are bulk billed. Phone (02) 4220 7660.
Illawarra Women’s Health CentreWarilla
Counselling for women
Bulk billing is available with conditions and fees may apply. Phone (02) 4255 6800.
We took this from a healthdirect listing, not the centre’s own site.
Closed for now
Creative Wollongong Studios (41 Burelli St), council studios let to local artists, are closed from 22 June 2026 for building upgrades. The Music Lounge in Wollongong Town Hall is closed from 29 June 2026 until 2027, and Merrigong’s shows are moving to IPAC in the meantime.
We haven’t found a private rehearsal room, recording studio or PA hire business in the Illawarra that we could confirm yet. If you run one or use one, tell the guide.