Stuart Ayres Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney MEDIA RELEASE Saturday 17 October, 2020 TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR HUNDREDS OF GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS GIGS More than 2,500 artists and 300-plus live music venues across NSW are primed for the Australian-first music event, Great Southern Nights, with tickets for over 900 gigs now on sale. A NSW Government initiative, Great Southern Nights has been created to kick-start the recovery of the live music, hospitality and tourism industries in a COVID-safe environment. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Great Southern Nights would provide music lovers from across the country many reasons to get out in NSW this November. “NSW will come alive with great Australian music in November with gigs taking place in many of the state’s best music venues, pubs, bars, bowling clubs and wineries,” Minister Ayres said. “With 2,500 artists performing in 300-plus venues across Sydney and more than 130 NSW towns, there is a gig spanning every genre and destination – check out the gig guide for details, book your tickets and start planning your Great Southern Nights adventure now. “Shows range from Jimmy Barnes playing The Sydney Coliseum in Western Sydney, Tones And I performing at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle, Ian Moss at Lizotte’s Restaurant, Matt Corby embracing the North Coast vibe at Brunswick Heads and Shannon Noll rocking out in Deniliquin. “The NSW Government is proud to be getting artists, roadies, venues, hospitality staff and tourism businesses back to work through this ambitious initiative and now it’s over to the public to show their support by booking tickets to a gig or two, or more.” Joining the feature artist line-up are Lime Cordiale, Jessica Mauboy, Vera Blue, Hoodoo Gurus and Ruel, keeping company among Australian music champions Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley, The Angels, Thirsty Merc and Kate Ceberano. Great Southern Nights will comprise 1,000 individual COVID-safe gigs across NSW during Australian Music Month in November. Music lovers can book tickets to a show via the gig guide at www.greatsouthernnights.com.au. Tickets are now on sale for over 900 gigs with more coming online daily. Great Southern Nights is delivered by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). ARIA CEO Dan Rosen said the Great Southern Nights program was coming at a critical time for the industry. “This is an extremely important moment for the Australian music industry,” Mr Rosen said. “Great Southern Nights is an innovative and effective way of getting artists back on stages safely and ensuring money starts flowing back through the live music ecosystem - to artists, venues, agents, tour managers and sound and lighting crew. “We can’t wait to see the shows getting underway from 5 November.” See the gig guide and buy tickets at www.greatsouthernnights.com.au Media materials are available at bitly.com/GreatSouthernNights Great Southern Nights - feature artists (in alphabetical order): A.B. Original Horrorshow Missy Higgins Alex the Astronaut Hot Dub Time Machine Montaigne (Mardi Gras Amy Shark Hurricane Fall showcase) Ash Grunwald Ian Moss Ngaiire Bad // Dreems In Hearts Wake Ocean Alley Bag Raiders Jack River Pete Murray Benji & The Saltwater Jaguar Jonze Phil Jamieson and Pat Sound System Jessica Mauboy Davern Birds of Tokyo Jimmy Barnes Polish Club Boo Seeka Josh Pyke Rai Thistlethwayte Casey Barnes Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton Chalkie White Band Troy Cassar-Daley Ruby Fields CXLOE Kate Ceberano Ruel Diesel Kian Sarah Blasko Donny Benet Kim Churchill Set Mo Emily Wurramara & Kirin J Callinan Shane Nicholson Tasman Keith KLP Shannon Noll Emma Pask Kota Banks & Sons of the East Fanny Lumsden Ninajirachi present Sneaky Sound System George Alice True North Sophie Hopes (Tired George Maple Lime Cordiale Lion) Gordi Maddy Jane Sycco Graace Mahalia Barnes Tash Sultana Hands Like Houses Matt Corby Tex Perkins Hayley Mary Merci, Mercy Thandi Phoenix Hoodoo Gurus Middle Kids The Angels The Black Sorrows The Veronicas Urthboy The Jungle Giants Thelma Plum Vera Blue The Presets Thirsty Merc Waax The Sally-Anne Whitten Tim Freedman Wendy Matthews Band Tones and I William Crighton The Screaming Jets Tori Forsyth Winston Surfshirt The Superjesus Trophy Eyes Yorke The Teskey Brothers Tumbleweed .