ISSUE 41. What’s on in Sydney this week: longer nights and louder music is finally here

Daylight saving is here, summer is unofficially underway, and Sydney’s live music calendar has suddenly become very difficult to complain about. We’re sure we’ll find something else to take issue with, but for now, the longer evenings are earning their keep.

This week, Effy and Mall Grab take over Carriageworks, Shouse heads to W Sydney’s rooftop, and HÖR and Odd Mob give us even more reasons to go out. Elsewhere, there are poolside cocktails in Coogee, a BLANCA and Reliquia warehouse sale, and seven courses of pasta for Ragazzi’s birthday. Pace yourselves accordingly.

Here are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Shouse at W Sydney

The duo behind Love Tonight are taking their house music and sizeable choruses upstairs to W Sydney’s rooftop this weekend. Kicking off from 8pm, expect a live electronic set and waterfront views that really put any other option to shame. It’s part of W PRESENTS Local Sessions, and tickets starting below the price of most rooftop cocktails. 

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October, 8pm to midnight
• WHERE: 29/30 Rooftop at W Sydney, Darling Harbour
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $16
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Effy & Mall Grab Present: Fragrance

Effy and Mall Grab are bringing Fragrance to Australia for the first time, taking over Carriageworks with multiple stages and a lineup including Atarangi, David Jackson, Mabel, DAYZZI and TASKFORCE. Both hosts are playing individual sets and going back-to-back. Consider it your sign to clear the afternoon.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October, from 2:30pm
• WHERE: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $119
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

The Great Artist Market

Over 60 local artists and makers are setting up at Manly Wharf this Saturday to sell their ceramics, art and things you can plausibly describe as supporting the creative community. The Great Artist Market spreads through Felons Barrel Room and onto the waterfront deck, with food and entertainment along the way. Catch the ferry and give your online shopping habit an outing.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October, 8am to 3pm
• WHERE: Felons Barrel Room, Manly
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Divine Playhouse Presents: An Unholy Funeral

After the controversial shutdown of Unholy/Divine Playhouse earlier this year, Divine Playhouse is hosting a funeral for its former home. Quiet reflection is looking unlikely. The MCA’s Foundation Hall will host performances, processions and hymns, with artists including Stereogamous, Porcelain Alice and Nikkita Iman. There’s also an art auction supporting Heaps Gay events and Divine Playhouse.

• WHEN: Thursday 8 October, 6-11pm
• WHERE: Foundation Hall, MCA
• HOW MUCH: $69 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

BLANCA + Reliquia Warehouse Sale

Sydney label BLANCA is teaming up with sister jewellery brand Reliquia for a warehouse sale this weekend. Known for oversized shirts, bold stripes and relaxed tailoring, BLANCA has your spring wardrobe covered, while Reliquia handles the accessories. A dangerous combination for anyone who was only planning to browse.

• WHEN: Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October
• WHERE: Unit 3, 37/41 O’Riordan Street, Alexandria
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

Homegrown: Writing Queer Sydney

Sydney has always had more going on than its official history tends to admit. Madeleine Gray, Fiona Kelly McGregor and Zoe Terakes join Benjamin Law to discuss writing the city’s queer past and present. Forming part of Sydney Writers’ Festival Homegrown program, the panel will discuss themes from connection and community to lust, danger and resistance.

• WHEN: Friday 9 October, 7:30-8:30pm
• WHERE: State Library of NSW, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free (bookings recommended)
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Quest Bar Talks ft. Alexandra Hudson and Dr Debra Aarons

A comedian and a linguistics professor walk into a pub. Conveniently, that’s the actual event. Alexandra Hudson delivers the stand-up before Dr Debra Aarons unpacks how comedy works, its history and the arrival of cancel culture. Tickets to the new bar talk series also covers finger food and a drink.

• WHEN: Thursday 8 October, 6:30-8:30pm
• WHERE: The Glebe Hotel, Glebe
• HOW MUCH: $30 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Mi Casa, Tu Casa Latin Heritage Festival

Latin American food, music, dance and independent makers are taking over the Overseas Passenger Terminal for a weekend celebrating culture and community. Come hungry, spend some time with the stalls and let the live entertainment dictate the rest.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October
• WHERE: Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: Entry from $7
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

The Galeries x Provider Store Pop Up

Provider Store has turned Incu, Salomon and Books Kinokuniya into three limited-edition candles. Each hand-poured scent comes in a Japanese ceramic vessel, with blends ranging from cedar and sandalwood to hinoki, amber and frankincense. Spend $300 across The Galeries in a single day and you can choose one for free, which is technically a gift and emotionally a reward for losing control in Incu.

• WHEN: Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 25 October
• WHERE: The Galeries, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free candle with $300 purchase
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Ai Wei Wei’s Mushrooms

Ai Weiwei has arranged 500 cast-iron replicas of a military helmet across the lawn outside the MCA. Titled Mushrooms, the monumental public work transforms objects associated with conflict into a reflection on peace, protection and the political helplessness experienced by ordinary people.

• WHEN: Running indefinitely
• WHERE: MCA Lawn, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Harbour Heat at Q Station

For all those looking to invest in some downtime this week, Q Station has opened a wood-fired Finnish sauna at the Quarantine Station in Manly. Each 50-minute guided communal session includes breath work, sauna rituals and the option of an ocean plunge, with space for up to 12 people.

• WHEN: Running indefinitely
• WHERE: Q Station Wharf Precinct, Manly
• HOW MUCH: Entry from $25
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Return of the GODZ

Five Greek gods are descending on Sydney Fringe to perform aerials, human pyramids, fire tricks and an extremely loose interpretation of classical mythology. The adults-only circus combines genuinely dangerous acrobatics with comedy, partial nudity and performers who appear to have been avoiding carbohydrates since birth.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 11 October
• WHERE: Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $45
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Connections: MCA x Tate

The MCA has joined forces with Tate for a major exhibition bringing together works acquired through the two institutions’ international joint collection. Featuring works by 24 Australian artists, the exhibition explores cultural exchange, migration, colonisation and First Nations histories, with several new commissions created specifically for the Sydney exhibition. It’s on now at the MCA until early next year, so you’ve got plenty of time to pretend this is the week you become someone who regularly goes to galleries.

• WHEN: Until Monday 1 March 2027
• WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: $25 adult tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Definitive Dupain at State Library of NSW

A massive Max Dupain retrospective at the State Library of NSW brings together almost 200 iconic, rare and previously unseen photographs from across his 60-year career. Definitive Dupain spans everything from Sunbaker and experimental photography to unseen images of the Sydney Opera House under construction, fashion, architecture and candid personal work, all pulled from an archive of around 250,000 negatives. Best part: it’s completely free.

• WHEN: Until July 2027
• WHERE: NSW State Library
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Black Myth at White Rabbit Gallery

Our favourite Sydney art gallery is officially back in action with its newest exhibition, Black Myth. Drawing from the wildly successful video game, the exhibition explores how ancient mythology can still tell us things about the modern world. Inspired by Journey to the West, Black Myth brings together artists including Sun Xun, Zong Ning and Hou Chun-Ming to explore transformation, transcendence and the darker side of myth through woodcuts, ink painting, photography and plenty of strange, otherworldly figures.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 15 November
• WHERE: White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

HÖR ON TOUR: Australian Weekender

The Berlin platform responsible for a considerable portion of your YouTube DJ-set history is coming to Sydney. HÖR’s first local outing takes over Manning’s open-air courtyards with German artists Ikkimel and MIJA, and Sydney selectors No Chasa, Bacteria Grl and KÄRLA. Expect an energetic afternoon with very little interest in easing you gently into the evening.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October, from 3pm
• WHERE: Manning Open Air at USyd, Camperdown
• HOW MUCH: $89 final release tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Odd Mob at UNSW Roundhouse

Odd Mob is once again bringing his Australian tour to the Roundhouse after a run of international festival appearances and headline shows. The Brisbane producer’s Sydney stop promises house, techno and a solid Saturday-night commitment.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October, from 7pm
• WHERE: UNSW Roundhouse, Kensington
• HOW MUCH: $90 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Dark Nights Film Fest

Get your Halloween preparation in early with a full day of independent horror and dark genre cinema this weekend. Dark Nights packs 30 films into the Reservoir Cinema, including four short-film showcases and the Australian premiere of The Turkish Coffee Table. Choose a session or commit to spending Saturday becoming progressively more unsettled.

• WHEN: Saturday 10 October
• WHERE: The Reservoir Cinema, Surry Hills
• HOW MUCH: $20 individual tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Maybe Sundays: Maybe Sammy Takeover

Maybe Sammy is taking its cocktail operation poolside for the first instalment of Maybe Sundays at the InterContinental Coogee. There’ll be signature drinks, DJs and snacks including scallops with miso brown butter and buttermilk fried chicken. Your ticket includes an arrival cocktail, and while swimming is reserved for hotel guests (alas), you can admire the pool from the bar. Lol.

• WHEN: Sunday 11 October, 2-6pm
• WHERE: Pool Bar, InterContinental Coogee
• HOW MUCH: $30 ticket includes an arrival cocktail
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Jazz Sessions are continuing to transform The Rocks Square into a free open-air jazz spot every Thursday night. Curated in collaboration with the Sydney Improvised Music Association, the lineup remains mixed, the pizza remains $10, and the pop-up bar remains pouring mulled wine. Consider this your new go-to date night idea.

• WHEN: Every Thursday night, 6:30-8:30pm
• WHERE: The Rocks Square
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FOOD & DRINK

Free Coffee at The Grounds ft. Spiderman

Spider-Man is shouting Sydney coffee on Thursday, which is a welcome development for both public morale and the morning budget. Head to The Grounds of the City for a free regular takeaway coffee in a themed cup, with the superhero himself appearing until 11am.

• WHEN: Thursday 8 October, 7am to 12pm
• WHERE: The Grounds of the City, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Ragazzi’s 7th Birthday

Ragazzi is turning seven, and to celebrate, they’re hosting seven courses of pasta (necessary). The Sunday long lunch brings back favourites from its history, including asparagus ravioli with burnt honey and pecorino, duck ragù pici, and beef-cheek rotolo. There’s also an optional wine pairing, too, if that’s your vibe.

• WHEN: Sunday 11 October, lunch seatings
• WHERE: Ragazzi Wine + Pasta, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $130 for seven-course sharing menu
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Ockerfest at CBH

Coogee Bay Hotel is spending an entire month replacing Oktoberfest’s steins, lederhosen and German sausages with cold tinnies, hot snags and several aggressively Australian uses for a beer garden. Ockerfest launches across the long weekend before continuing through to November, with bogan BBQs, Aussie DJs, backyard games, Bundy drinks, mullet competitions and giveaways. 

• WHEN: Thursday 1 October to Sunday 1 November
• WHERE: Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Island Radio Bottomless Yum Cha

As Sydneysiders, we’re almost all well-versed by now in the weekend bottomless brunch session. But bottomless yum cha, however, is something that we hadn’t tried until now. Introducing Island Radio’s bottomless Dim Sum Saturdays, which serves up the likes of dumplings, steamed buns, wagyu nigiri and other yum cha classics alongside 90 minutes of bottomless booze for $90 a head. Honestly, after trying it for ourselves recently this one has instantly shot up to the top of our list.

• WHEN: Every Saturday and Sunday
• WHERE: Island Radio, Redfern
• HOW MUCH: $90 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Oyster Happy Hour at Morrison’s

If you didn’t already know, Morrison’s is kind of the go-to place for happy hour oysters in town. In fact, they sell a minimum of 6,000 oysters every week. Every Wednesday from 6-7pm, you’ll be able to snag those little gems for $2 each, which is kind of insane. Or if you want to check out the other oyster happy hours currently happening around town, head over here.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm
• WHERE: Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $2 per oyster
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.