ISSUE 43. What’s on in Sydney this week: your quiet weekend has been cancelled

It appears that Sydney is showing zero signs of slowing down as we approach the final few months of the year. Frankly? We’re not mad about it.

The highlights of this week include none other than Australian music royalty himself, Tame Impala, playing shows tonight and tomorrow at Afterpay Arena. Sonny Fodera is also back on home soil, and another round of Surf + Sound in Manly will reign on this weekend.

If that wasn’t enough, you’ve also got Parramatta Lanes, a St. Agni exhibition and Hawkeye Vintage designer pop up to keep you occupied. Just to name a few.

Okay breathe. All set? Here are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Tame Impala at Afterpay Arena

Kevin Parker is giving Sydney two more chances to spend a weeknight inside his psychedelic universe as Tame Impala’s Deadbeat tour wraps up its local run. Ninajirachi opens proceedings, making this an outrageously strong double bill. Believe it or not but there are still tickets available.

• WHEN: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, from 6:30pm
• WHERE: Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $119.90
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Surf + Sound Festival

Over in the Northern Beaches, Manly’s Surf + Sound Festival continues this week. This time, Mudhoney, Teenage Joans, Skeggs and Babe Rainbow are taking turns at Felons Barrel Room. Between gigs, the free Jeremyville outdoor art trail gives you a reason to wander the wharf before settling in for something cold.

• WHEN: From Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October
• WHERE: Felons Barrel Room, Manly
• HOW MUCH: Art trail free, gigs separately ticketed
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Parramatta Lanes

Parramatta is turning its laneways, rooftops and car parks into a four-night playground of street food, live music and public art this weekend. Saturday’s programme brings Genesis Owusu, Shady Nasty and aja monet, alongside plenty of smaller discoveries. Even better is that entry is free.

• WHEN: Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October
• WHERE: Across Parramatta CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

St. Agni: Material Dialogue

St. Agni is taking its Resort ’27 collection beyond the wardrobe with Material Dialogue, an exhibition bringing together ten artists. Each has responded to a single garment or accessory in the collection through their own medium, with Ash Holmes, Fomu and Kitty Callaghan among the contributors. The public run lasts just three days, so consider this your sign to put it on the weekend agenda.

• WHEN: Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October
• WHERE: Mass Practice, Suite 301A, 77-83 William Street, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Sonny Fodera

Sonny Fodera brings his Australian homecoming tour to the Hordern for a Saturday night of vocal-heavy house and very enthusiastic crowd participation. His catalogue includes Somedays, Asking and Think About Us, so wear something you can move in and accept that Sunday morning may require a slower start.

• WHEN: Saturday 24 October, from 7pm
• WHERE: Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park
• HOW MUCH: $101 GA tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

Trinny London Paddington Pop-Up

Trinny London has temporarily moved into Paddington while founder Trinny Woodall visits Sydney this week. The public pop-up gives beauty obsessives and Trinny fans a chance to explore the brand in person, including its recent launches across makeup and skincare.

• WHEN: Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 October
• WHERE: 410 Oxford Street, Paddington
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Hawkeye Vintage Designer and K-Beauty Pop-Up

Hawkeye Vintage brings its online treasure trove to Paddington for four days of shopping authenticated, pre-loved designer bags, jewellery and accessories this weekend. Expect Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada, alongside a Korean beauty edit.

• WHEN: Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October, 10am to 7pm daily
• WHERE: 300 Oxford Street, Paddington
• HOW MUCH: $10 entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller & Further Away)

David Hockney’s paintings, photography and experiments in perspective take over Carriageworks in an immersive exhibition opening this Thursday. Large-scale projections, the artist’s narration and a score by Nico Muhly guide visitors through his work and the ways he sees the world.

• WHEN: From Thursday 22 October
• WHERE: Bay 17, Carriageworks, Eveleigh
• HOW MUCH: Entry tickets from $39.90
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Sculpture by the Sea

It’s official, the annual hot-girl migration is back. This time, there are over 100 sculptures returning to the Bondi-to-Tamarama coastal walk for the exhibition’s 30th edition. If you didn’t already know, Sculpture by the Sea is kind of a big deal, with the free outdoor gallery attracting roughly half a million visitors each year. Most of them will become trapped behind a tourist photographing an artwork from six separate angles.

• WHEN: Friday 16 October to Monday 2 November
• WHERE: Bondi-to-Tamarama coastal walk
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

ECHOFORM

Twisted Element’s immersive dance work moves into a Marrickville warehouse to explore identity, conditioning and female rage. Directed by Angela Hamilton, the performance follows two fragmented selves through questions of what we inherit, what we suppress and what eventually comes out. It’s an intense alternative to the usual Saturday plans, which we of course love.

• WHEN: Saturday 24 October, 6:30 to 9pm
• WHERE: Rikota Studios, 43 Sydney Street, Marrickville
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $56
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

XChange Markets

Over 70 stalls of second-hand fashion arrive at the Entertainment Quarter for yet another afternoon of wardrobe negotiations. Have a browse for something with a little more history than your latest online impulse purchase, then congratulate yourself for keeping it in circulation. Entry also gets conveniently cheaper throughout the day.

• WHEN: Sunday 25 October, 10am to 4pm
• WHERE: Market Canopy, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
• HOW MUCH: Up to $10 entry
• 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.

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

Drawing from the wildly successful video game, Black Myth explores how ancient mythology can still tell us things about the modern world. Inspired by Journey to the West, the exhibition 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

Gretta Ray at Chatswood Chase

Gretta Ray heads to Chatswood Chase for an intimate acoustic performance as the centre launches its Moments of Light series. The set includes familiar favourites and a preview of new music, giving fans a chance to catch her in a smaller setting. It’s also free, which certainly sweetens the deal.

• WHEN: Thursday 22 October, 7 to 8pm
• WHERE: Level One, Chatswood Chase
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Word on the Street

Haiku Hands joins emerging artists from The Street University for a free show launching Street Uni Radio this Friday night. The Playhouse performance puts young talent on one of Sydney’s most recognisable stages, with a lineup worth arriving curious about. Register ahead and give your Friday evening over to discovering someone you can later claim you knew about before everyone else.

• WHEN: Friday 23 October, from 6pm
• WHERE: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free (registration required)
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Soul Wun at Oxford Art Factory

Soul Wun brings his charged blend of breaks, bass and jungle to Oxford Art Factory for a late Friday session. His sound draws on jazz and the more reflective corners of electronic music, while still of course giving the dancefloor plenty to work with. Final-release tickets are already on sale, so this is one to organise before it definitely sell out.

• WHEN: Friday 23 October, from 11pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $47.20 final release tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Secretsundaze: PLAY NICE CONFIDENTIAL 020

London institution Secretsundaze lands at the Abercrombie this weekend, with James Priestley taking the controls for PLAY NICE CONFIDENTIAL 020. House, breaks and trance are all on the cards, with enough room in the six-hour event for Saturday to develop a second wind.

• WHEN: Saturday 24 October, 10pm to 4am
• WHERE: Abercrombie Hotel, Chippendale
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $15
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

THE LIGHT, Vol. 1

This week, a new R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul party launches in Potts Point with AVELE, DJ ANGEL JAY and FALLBACK on the lineup. THE LIGHT puts its selectors inside a 360-degree setup, bringing the crowd into the immersive action around the booth. This is the type of event you can flex to your friends about knowing before everyone else.  

• WHEN: Saturday 24 October, 10pm to 3am
• WHERE: Room 22, Potts Point.
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $17
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

The Duke’s Sixth Birthday: Ragnarök ’n’ Roll

The Duke of Enmore officially turns six this Saturday, and Barbarion, Astrodeath and Valhalla Lights are supplying a suitably loud birthday soundtrack to celebrate. There’ll also be barbecue turkey legs, a horn-blowing competition and a Young Henrys blood orange IPA brewed for the occasion. Battle-ready attire is encouraged, which feels entirely plausible.

• WHEN: Saturday 24 October
• WHERE: The Duke of Enmore, Enmore
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• 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

Amé’s Opening Weekend

The group behind Itō and Jōji are opening Amé on Oxford Street this Thursday, with executive chef Erik Ortolani exploring Japanese-Peruvian cooking. The menu includes spanner crab causa croquettes, tuna nigiri acevichado and duck rice okoge, giving the indecisive diner several new problems to consider.

• WHEN: Opens Thursday 22 October
• WHERE: 90 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: Price varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Norton Street Italian Festa

Norton Street is celebrating 40 years of Festa with a full Sunday of cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and community festivities. Food stalls, local businesses and Italian cultural groups will take over Leichhardt for one of the neighbourhood’s biggest days of the year. Arrive hungry and wear comfortable shoes.

• WHEN: Sunday 25 October, 10am to 5pm
• WHERE: Norton Street, Leichhardt
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• 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 launched across the long weekend and continues 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.