The best gigs to see in Sydney this winter

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...

Dive into the discography of Fleetwood Mac and Country legends at a new pair of concerts that will transform the Darling Harbour Theatre into a starry, softly lit wonderland. The glowing, UK-based Concerts by Candlelight tour is bringing its top musicians and West End singers Down Under in March 2025.  Following a run of sell-out shows across the UK, Concerts by Candlelight will present two sparkling nights of nostalgia and anthemic tunes in Sydney – one celebrating the music of Country legends and the other showcasing all things Fleetwood Mac. The two concerts will reimagine the greatest hits of its featured artists with a talented cast of West End singers and an energetic rock band, paying homage to their most famous songs. Pour yourself a cup of ambition and head down to Country by Candlelight from 7:30pm on Saturday, March 8. The experience is sure to heal any achy breaky hearts with so many hits from artists including Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Shania Twain, Chris Stapleton and more.  The day before on Friday, March 7, the candles will begin to blaze at the same hour, except this time the songs of Fleetwood Mac will be in the spotlight for a concert straight from your dreams. This landslide evening will pack in hits including ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘The Chain’ and ‘Little Lies’, just to name a few. Tickets for both concerts are on sale now for between $90 and $150.  Nab tickets for Country by Candlelight here, or grab some for Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight here.

If you’re a country music fan, you’re almost guaranteed to be familiar with Chris Stapleton. For those of you who are less familiar, let us assure you that Stapleton is a certified big name on the scene. He’s collaborated with Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, not to mention his work with none other than Taylor Swift for the re-recorded version of her song ‘I Bet You Think About Me’.  The Kentucky-born star has won ten Grammys, 15 Country Music Association awards and 10 Academy of Country Music awards – placing him amongst the most celebrated musicians in the United States. Now, Chris Stapleton has announced that he’s finally touring Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever in early 2025.  When is Chris Stapleton in Sydney? The legendary country muso will close out his tour Down Under by playing at the Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. So far, Stapleton has only announced a single show in the Emerald City, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any additional dates. His Sydney show is Stapleton’s last stop on the Aussie leg of his tour, which will also see him perform in Melbourne and Brisbane on February 25 and February 28, respectively.  How can I get tickets to the Sydney Chris Stapleton shows and how much do they cost? The Live Nation presale starts at 11am today (Thursday, April 11) – keen country beans can register here. General sales kick off on Friday, April 12 via Ticketek, also at 11am.  What will the Chris Stapleton Sydney show...