Here’s whats hot in Sydney this month starting with Genesis Owusu at Volume Festival

BY: Kartya Vucetic

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the debut of the one and only guide you’ll need for this month in Sydney. My god, we are tired of those sponsored plugs and gimmicky events that cost you a small fortune. If you’re sick of seeing shit recommendations, you’re not alone.
It’s official, we’ve been summoned to deliver a full list of what’s actually hot in Sydney right now.
It’s a bit like we’re your really cool and in-the-know friend who also happens to be living paycheck to paycheck. Unlike them, we won’t rat you out when you steal our idea for your next hot date.
Anyway, I’ll shut up now. Here’s what’s good in Sydney this July. Send us a tip if we’ve missed something.
MUSIC
Club Mute Launch @ Carousel
It’s about bloody time Sydney scored a consistently good house/techno Friday night event, and it appears our prayers have finally been answered. Carousel is launching their new Friday night offering, Club Mute, which starts this month. Bondi Lines is describing it as a cross between SASH and Lost Sundays, so expect it to be good (and busy) from the get go. Side note: Jaden Thompson, Jordan Brando and Luke Alessi will all be playing opening night. If you don’t know, that’s an insane fucking lineup.
When: Friday 12 July, from 10pm
Where: Carousel Bar & Ballroom
How much: $28
Check it out here.
TKAY Maidza at Volume Festival
image: Dana Trippe
Kicking off the second week of The Art Gallery of NSW’s Volume Festival is none other than TKAY Maizda, an LA based singer-songwriter and rapper who’s collabed with the likes of Dua Lipa and Lizzo. If you don’t already know her, you might just be a lost cause. The Zimbabwean-born Aussie is headlining for one night before returning to the US, expect tickets to sell out.
When: Saturday 13 July, from 6pm
Where: The Art Gallery of NSW
How much: From $70.
Check it out here.
Charlie XCX Brat Release Party @ Mary’s Underground
Charlie XCX may have single-handedly destroyed the virtue-signalling, ‘wellness era’ that’s pervaded the entire globe for far too long now. Mary’s Underground is here for it, and thus the fabulously seedy venue will be celebrating the iconic album release with a party that the popstar would be proud of. Goodbye clean girl aesthetic and hello rat girl era.
When: Friday 19 July, from 9pm
Where: Mary’s Underground, Circular Quay
How much: $23, final release only
Check it out here.
Boo Seeka – Raw Files @ Mary’s Underground
image: instagram @booseeka
Mary’s literally doesn’t miss. Back-to-back nights of gold. Saturday’s show will have more chill, sit-down vibes as you go through the raw and unedited clips from the iconic Aussie duo’s music. For sure it’ll be giving sexy wine in the lounge room energy, which we love.
- When: Saturday 20 July, from 7pm
- Where: Mary’s Underground, Circular Quay
- How much: $51
- Check it out here.
FOOD + BOOZE
Bastille Festival @ Circular Quay
image: supplied: BBR Agency
Forget the dickheads already posting about their Euro summer this month. Why spend all that money when you can get a taste of France here? Look, it might not be exactly the same, but we’re all here for living in a little delusion. This month marks the return of the Bastille Festival at Circular Quay. We could talk to you about all the masterclasses and ticketed events happening during the program, but we’d be lying if we weren’t just going for the market food. You’ll get enough of a raclette and crepe fix to see you through until next year.
When: Thursday 11 July to Sunday 14 July
Where: Circular Quay
How much: Free to attend
Check it out here.
$15 Marg Month @ Salty’s Bondi
Last time I checked, it wasn’t a crime to be basic, and thank god for that, because Salty’s is exactly where I’ll be having every post-work drink this month. The Bondi institution will be serving up $15 margaritas everyday, all day, for all of July. It’s also timed perfectly with National Tequila Day on July 24, just in case you hadn’t already marked it in your calendar.
When: All of July
Where: Salty’s Bondi
How much: $15 margs
Check it out here.
$12 Paella Lunches @ Quay Quarter Lane
Calling all Sydney CBD corporates in North Face puffer vests, this one’s for you. Whoever said it was impossible to find a solid and reasonably priced lunch in the city just wasn’t trying hard enough. This month, the Basque-style pintxos bar in Circular Quay is slinging generous takeaway portions of seafood paella for just $12. Now you know.
When: Every Thursday and Friday, lunchtime
Where: Deux Frères, Quay Quarter Lanes
How much: $12
Check it out here.
CULTURE
Fashion Thrift Society
image: Fashion Thrift Society via facebook
Attention all fashion guys and girlies, Fashion Thrift Society is coming to town this month to serve up all the preloved and vintage goodies you can think of. It’s also officially Australia’s biggest fashion market, so you can expect a fight-to-the-death kind of arrangement over those y2k Coach handbags that you used to judge your mum for owning.
When: Saturday 13 July, from 10am
Where: Jenko Pavillion Sydney Showground
How much: From $5.
Check it out here.
King Lear by Bell Shakespeare
Might be the English nerd in me but low-key this hits. A Shakespeare tragedy, especially one performed by Bell Shakespeare, has never disappointed. Tickets also start at $42, which is less than two Aperols at Thursday post-work drinks. Peter Evans directs this iconic classic on filial ingratitude (look it up), and you’ll probably learn a great Victorian insult to keep up your sleeve.
When: Until Sunday 20 July
Where: The Neilson Nutshell
How much: From $42.
Check it out here.
METROPOLIS Music and Coffee Festival
The only thing better than coffee and booze is those things plus being able to brag to your mates that you’re actually being socially conscious. Enter METROPOLIS, FBR ROM’s inaugural fundraiser they call a ‘rave for research’, which sees all proceeds going directly back to funding waste reduction research in the coffee industry. There’ll be boiler-room style sets at hairdresser Usfin Atelier, a brew bar come hard groove sesh at FBR cafe, and a hosted finale at Club 77. It’s by far the most exciting thing to happen on a Monday night in Sydney for a while.
When: From 12pm Monday 29 July to 5am Tuesday 30 July
Where: Across five venues
How much: Free
Check it out here.
Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett
image: Bernie Dieter via instagram @berniedieter
It’s official, Bernie Dieter is back to hosting her opulent eastern Berlin kabarett at the Sydney Spiegeltent. Think debauchery, theatrics, and circus acts all in one show. It feels as if cabaret has suddenly become trendy again this year, and we’ll be the first to admit that we’re here for it. Besides, I’ve personally always wanted to see a hair-hanger. This one’s not for your weak stomached mates.
When: Until Sunday 28 July
Where: The Entertainment Quarter
How much: From $50
Check it out here.
Dracula at the Sydney Theatre Company
Go on, have your goth moment. If you feel like treating yourself to some culture this month, book a ticket to Kip Williams’ theatrical adaptation of Dracula. The director’s latest iteration of the hybrid genre ‘cine-theatre’ should be interesting at the very least. Besides, if you’re going to go into full angsty mode you might as well do it under the guise of dinner and a show.
When: Until Sunday 4 August
Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre
How much: From $70
Check it out here.
Laozi’s Furnace @ White Rabbit Gallery
Our favourite (and free) Chippendale gallery is back this month with its new installation, Laozi’s Furnace. Artists featured in the exhibition explore Tang Dynasty alchemists and their quest for immortality, applying these principles and artistic techniques to a modern day environment. Definitely a strong rainy day option.
When: Until November
Where: White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
How much: Free
Check it out here.