The best gigs to see in Sydney this winter

Golden hour in Sydney is a magical time – when the glare of the day fades and the dropping sun coats the city in a buttery glow. And there’s one particular spot in Sydney that seems to catch the light perfectly – a failsafe sunset spot with views across the Harbour, and one of the best places to stargaze when daylight disappears entirely. We’re talking about Sydney Observatory, and for the next five Fridays, golden hour here is going to the next level – elevated by a series of (free-to-attend) live performances programmed by the creative people behind Powerhouse.Sunset Variations will kick off this evening (Friday, January 31) with a performance by the ridiculously multi-talented artist, composer and producer xmunashe. Tonight only, there will also be 500 scoops of free gelato on offer from the good people at Messina – first in, best dressed, so get there when doors open at 5pm.Next up, on Friday, February 7, ambient instrumental duo Wilson Tanner (Andras and Eleventeen Eston) will soundtrack sunset with a mesmeric three-hour set.  On the day of love (February 14), experimental electronic artist e fishpool will set the tone as the light disappears from the sky above the Harbour City. Friday, February 21 will welcome the spellbinding Maryam Rahmani to the Observatory, and the series will come to a close with a powerful three-hour set from the magnificent force that is RONA. Remarkably, the event series is entirely free – though you’ll need to RSVP to secure your spot....

It’s summertime in the Harbour City, and you know you can't go wrong with some picnic blankets, antipasto snacks, and live music. Bonus points if there's a sunset and a harbour view involved.  Sunset Sessions – Cockatoo Island's family-friendly outdoor gig series – is back and running every Saturday evening from January 11 to April 5 (except February 8, when the island will be taken over by the Nowhere Festival). A carefully curated line-up of local and not-so-local acts (brought together by Sydney tastemakers The Music & Booze Co) will be playing on the lawn of the Biloela House every Saturday evening, where there will be grazing boxes and refreshments aplenty.  There's a broad range of talents to take in, with artists hailing from all over Australia – with a mix acoustic sets, folk, contemporary and feel-good sounds. Highlights from the line-up so far include First Nations traditional language storyteller Maanyung, sibling doo-wop duo Surely Shirley and etherial physch spaceman Misty Lanes, with more acts still to be announced.You can catch Sunset Sessions on Saturdays from 5.30pm, but get there early when the gates open at 5pm to soak in the atmosphere. Tickets are $35, and children under 12 can attend for free. If you find yourself wanting more of Cockatoo Island’s out-of-this-world views, you can turn your Sunset Session into a sunrise by booking a night at the island’s heritage listed lodgings or the waterfront campground. For the first few events (from January 11...

Many of cinema's most unforgettable scenes owe their magic to the sweeping scores of Hans Zimmer. From the dark streets of Batman, to the ancient arenas of Gladiator and the mind-bending world of Inception, his music has been the elevating soundtrack to movie-going for decades.  After three sold-out concerts in 2023, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra joins forces with the Art of the Score podcasters to bring back The Music of Hans Zimmer for an epic one-night-only encore concert performance at the ICC Sydney Theatre this February – featuring some surprise new scores that haven’t been heard in Sydney before, to boot. Led by conductor Jessica Gethin, you can immerse yourself in the breathtaking soundscapes of some of the most memorable film scores of all time. The co-hosts of Art of the Score, self-described “film score geeks” Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding will be there on the night – sharing insights into Zimmer’s Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning career and exploring what makes his work so impactful.  For decades, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has performed film scores and soundtracks from the world’s greatest blockbusters, including the complete Harry Potter™ Film in Concert Series, as well as The Lord of the Rings films. Following the sell-out success of The Music of John Williams series in 2024 (which included theme songs from Jaws, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and more) this collaboration promises to be another extraordinary night for film music lovers.  The Music...