Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

214  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Music Venues and Nightclubs others, and the line-ups
now also include increasingly
Sydney attracts some of the biggest names in modern music popular world music and hip
all year round. Venues range from the ICC Sydney showpiece hop bands. Slide, in a converted
in Darling Harbour to small and noisy back rooms in pubs. Art Deco bank building on
Visiting international DJs frequently play sets at Sydney clubs. Oxford Street, is a combination
of a Parisian-style nightclub
Some venues cater for a variety of music tastes – rock and and a New York-style lounge
pop one night, jazz, blues or folk the next. There are free bar. It plays host to both local
online gig guides, including www.themusic.com.au, and international performers.
www.thebrag.com.au and www.inthemix.com.au, where Experimental jazz is offered
you can find out what is on. on Fridays and Saturdays at the
Seymour Theatre Centre (see
pp210–11). Leadbelly also offers
Getting In Rock, Pop and Hip Hop dinner and show deals, as well
Tickets for major shows are Pop’s big names and famous as show-only tickets, and has
available through booking rock groups perform at the been drawing an excellent
agencies such as Ticketek and Qudos Bank Arena, Hordern roster of jazz, blues and roots
Ticketmaster (see p209). Prices Pavilion and sports grounds talent. The Fitzroy Hotel in
vary considerably, depending such as the ANZ Stadium at Windsor, north-west of Sydney,
on the type of show. You may Sydney Olympic Park (see p140) holds a blues festival in October,
pay from A$30 to A$70 for a gig in Homebush Bay. More intimate and the Cat & Fiddle Hotel in
at the Metro, with tickets for locations include the State Balmain offers acoustic music
concerts by major international Theatre (see pp210–11), Enmore and folk at weekends.
artists ranging from A$100 to Theatre and Sydney’s best venue,
A$350, depending on the seats. The Metro Theatre. Hip hop acts House, Breakbeats
Moshtix also sells tickets for usually play in rock venues rather
smaller venues across Sydney than in nightclubs. You are and Techno
and their website gives a good almost as likely to find a crew Darling Harbour’s super club,
idea of the line-up at various rapping as a band strumming Home Sydney in Cockle Bay,
venues. Buying online also saves and drumming at the Metro, features three levels and a
you from having to queue early The Gaelic Club, The Bridge gargantuan sound system.
for tickets on the door. Hotel and The Merton in Rozelle, Friday night is the time to go, as
You can pay at the door while up-and-coming acts from the DJs present house, trance,
on the night at most places, rock to punk can be found at the drum and bass, and breakbeats.
unless the show is already sold inner west’s grungy The Bald In the city centre, the multi-venue
out. Night clubs often have a Faced Stag. A little further west, Ivy Complex at Pacha features
cover charge, but some venues The Factory Theatre in live music, DJs and special inter-
will ad mit you free before a Marrickville hosts live perfor- national artists every Saturday.
certain time in the evening mances by both established A mainstream crowd flocks to
or on weeknights. and emerging artists, as well as the nearby Bungalow 8 with its
Most venues serve alcohol, dance and small cabaret shows. fresh seafood dishes and great
so shows are restricted to Pub rock is a constantly views of the Harbour. Once the
those at least 18 years of age. changing scene in Sydney. Check sun has set, house DJs turn the
This is the usual case unless the websites of the venues or place into a club. The Marquee,
a gig is specified “all ages”. the printed or online version of at The Star, hosts international
It is advisable that people the free local publication, The DJs in the venue’s three distinct
under 30 years old carry photo Music (see p208). Music stores spaces, while Cargo Bar show-
identification because entry to are also full of flyers. Many pubs cases a diverse mix of performers
some venues is very strict. You host live music only on Friday in its mainstream house club.
are also not allowed to carry any and Saturday nights. Note that For something a little
kind of bottle into or from most gigs by international acts and more hip, try the underground
nightclubs or other venues. popular Australian bands, on Candy’s Apartment with its
Similarly, any professional every week at the Metro Theatre bunker-style bar on Bayswater
cameras and recording devices and Gaelic Club, usually sell out. Road, or the buzzy World Bar
are usually banned. on the same street. Based in
Dress codes vary, though a converted Victorian terrace,
flip-flops are generally not Jazz, Folk and Blues World Bar is known for serving
welcome and are considered For many years, the first port its cocktails in teapots designed
a safety hazard. Wear thin layers of call for any jazz, funk, groove for sharing. Or try the low-
that you can remove when you or folk enthusiast has been The ceilinged Chinese Laundry
get hot. Many venues provide a Basement. Visiting luminaries on Sussex Street, tucked under
cloakroom, but sometimes this play some nights, talented but the gentrified pub, Slip Inn (see
incurs a cost. struggling local musicians El Loco, p190).

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