By Billie Eder
Sydney is packed with live music in February 2023.Credit:AP/Getty/Nick Mckk/Supplied
February is jam-packed with live music in Sydney, and there is a fantastic combination of home-grown talent and international headliners.
Legendary rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers are visiting on their world tour, while Ed Sheeran returns before heading to North America.
If those big international superstars aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of smaller gigs sprinkled across the city at a range of venues and prices.
Here’s a selection of our must-see gigs in February.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
February 2 and 4, Accor Stadium
The Red Hot Chili Peppers bring their world tour to Australia with special guest Post Malone.Credit:Matt Sayles
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are returning to Australia as part of their global stadium tour following the release of their 12th and 13th studio albums, marking the return of guitarist John Frusciante. The band will be performing songs from much-loved albums such as Californication (1999) and By The Way (2002) along with new albums such as Unlimited Love.
Joining the band will be six-time Grammy-nominated rapper and singer Post Malone (real name Austin Richard Post), who will be performing with them at all Australians shows.
Jessica Mauboy
February 2, Sydney Opera House
Jessica Mauboy will be playing at the Sydney Opera House for a World Pride event.Credit:Dean Sewell
As part of World Pride events, Jessica Mauboy will be performing the Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert for World Pride at the Sydney Opera House along with Deborah Cheetham AO and Casey Donovan.
The event, made by and for First Nations people, will feature Mauboy, who will later Kylie Minogue and Charlie XCX at The Domain on February 24 for the Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert.
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
February 5, Sydney Showground: Sydney Olympic Park
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is returning for the first year since 2020.Credit:Edwina Pickles
The six-city trans-Tasman concert returns to Sydney for the first time since 2020 with a blockbuster line-up that includes Haim, The Jungle Giants and Mallrat alongside many others.
The 16+ festival offers both general admission and VIP tickets, but if the price is a bit steep, there is also a long list of sideshows from people such as Girl in Red and Finneas.
Phoebe Bridgers
February 6, Hordern Pavilion
Phoebe Bridgers will be performing at the Hordern Pavilion for a Laneway sideshow.Credit:AP
American singer-songwriter and indie-rock sensation Phoebe Bridgers returns to Australia for St Jerome’s Laneway Festival with a couple of sideshows after the booming success of her 2020 album Punisher.
Her melancholic love songs about heartbreak and healing have captured international audiences, and the eyes and ears of fellow celebrities such as Taylor Swift, who said the “vulnerability” the singer expresses gives her so much impact as an artist.
Girl in Red
February 6, Metro Theatre
Norwegian alt-pop artist Girl in Red (real name Marie Ulven Ringheim) returns to Sydney for the first time since 2019 after amassing more than 1.85 billion streams.
The queer artist, whose hits include Serotonin and we fell in love in October will be performing her debut album If I Could Make It Go Quiet in Sydney off the back of mega-performances at Coachella, Glastonbury and Lollapalooza.
Sting
February 15-16, Aware Super Theatre
Sting returns to Australia for the first time in nearly seven years.Credit:Martin Kierszenbaum
Seventeen-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting is back on Australian shores after nearly seven years for his My Songs Tour, which features famous hits from the singer’s career both as an individual artist and with The Police.
With hits such as Roxanne, Every Breath You Take and Message In A Bottle, the 71-year-old English musician and actor is likely to wow Australian audiences with an accompanying rock ensemble.
Vengaboys
February 16, Big Top Luna Park Sydney
The Vengaboys return to Sydney for their 25th anniversary tour. Credit:Rick Clifford
Nostalgia will be at work at the Luna Park Big Top when Dutch eurodance and pop group the Vengaboys return to Sydney for their 25th anniversary tour.
Bound to be the ultimate throwback experience, the group, starring Cowboy Donnie, Captain Kim, PartyGirl D’Nice and SailorBoy Robin, will be performing well-known bangers such as We like to Party!, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom and We’re Going To Ibiza!
Empire Of The Sun
February 21-22, Enmore Theatre
Award-winning duo Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore are playing two gigs at the Enmore Theatre.Credit:Edwina Pickles
Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun (real names Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore) will take to the stage at one of Sydney’s favourite venues for the pair’s first shows in Australia since 2017.
The Aria Award-winning duo famous for their songs Walking On A Dream and Alive return after performing on the international stage at events such as Coachella and Korea’s Ultra Festival.
Ed Sheeran
February 24-25, Accor Stadium
The UK artist is bringing his world tour to Australia before heading to North America.Credit:Christopher Pearce
Busker-turned-international superstar Ed Sheeran is bringing his + – ÷ X tour (pronounced “The Mathematics Tour”) to Australia for a massive run of stadium shows, his first down under since 2018.
The English singer-songwriter who found international success in 2011 will be performing hits off his newest album and is expected to play songs such as The A Team and Lego House which catapulted his career more than a decade ago.
Julia Jacklin
February 25, Enmore Theatre
Australian artist Julia Jacklin will be performing at the Enmore Theatre.
Originating from the Blue Mountains, Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin is bringing her folky tunes to Sydney following the release of her third album Pre Pleasure.
The singer’s first Australian shows with her full band since 2020, Jacklin returns home after a string of international shows and ahead of the 2023 APRA awards where she is shortlisted for song of the year for her song Lydia Wears A Cross.
Which gigs are you looking forward to this month? Tell us about them in the comments.
A cultural guide to going out and loving your city. Sign up to our Culture Fix newsletter here.
Most Viewed in Culture
Source: Read Full Article