The Cat Empire open Great Southern Nights 2025 with a free pop-up performance at lunchtime

Australian Jazz/Funk band The Cat Empire surprised Sydneysiders with a free performance
The pop-up show marked the beginning of Great Southern Nights 2025
More than 330 live music performances will take place across NSW
READ MORE: Over 330 gigs across NSW in March & April

Great Southern Nights has played a vital part in helping the live music, entertainment and hospitality sectors to recover from the pandemic, since it was launched in November 2020. Returning for its fifth iteration this year, more than 330 live gigs are expected across New South Wales during the next 16 days.

As well as inner Sydney, concerts are set to take place across Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, the Hunter Valley, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba.

The Cat Empire kick things off

To launch this year’s Great Southern Nights, The Cat Empire performed a free show today in Sydney’s Martin Place. Sydneysiders enjoying their lunch break were treated with some surprise entertainment as Felix Riebl and bandmates performed classic hits and tracks from their new album, Bird in Paradise.

The Cat Empire started in 1999 as a nine-piece band called Jazz Cat, which debuted here in Sydney at the Manly Jazz Festival. Since then, their form and sound has evolved and they now encompass jazz, funk, ska and rock with heavy Latin influences too.

The Cat Empire open Great Southern Nights 2025 with a free pop-up performance in Martin Place. Image our own. — The Cat Empire opened Great Southern Nights 2025 with a free pop-up performance in Martin Place. Image our own.

What’s on at Great Southern Nights 2025

The line up ranges from Australia’s most recognised names alongside the next biggest artists.

Australian rock’n’roll icons Hoodoo Gurus are set to play at The Vineyard in Windsor on March 30. They will play live on the lawn with special guests Spy vs. Spy. Known for their unmistakable sound that blends garage rock, punk and power pop, Hoodoo Guru’s hits include What’s My Scene and Like Wow-Wipeout. They continue to impress audiences worldwide, selling out tours even 40 years into their career.

Papua New Guinea born Kaiit (pronounced Ky-yeet) burst onto the scene with her debut single Natural Woman in 2017. Since then, she has amassed more than 30 million streams, completed several sold-out Australian tour and supported numerous international heavyweights including SZA and The Internet. She will play at The Vanguard on April 2—you can enter a ballot to see her perform the night before at Phoenix Central Park, one of Sydney’s most cutting-edge venues.

Other acts set to impress include King Stingray, Birds of Tokyo, Troy Cassar-Daley and Lime Cordiale. The full program can be found at greatsouthernnights.com.au

FAQs

When is Great Southern Nights?

Great Southern Nights will run from 21 March to 6 April 2025 and is proudly delivered by Destination NSW in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

How can I buy tickets?

Visit greatsouthernnights.com.au to explore the full gig guide and to purchase tickets. Many are free, though some require pre-booked tickets.

Where can I see performances?

Venues across New South Wales are taking part, from inner Sydney and Western Sydney to Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, the Hunter Valley, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba.