We'll start big, with Noah Kahan at Afterpay Arena in Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday the sixth of October. Kahan is a Vermont singer-songwriter whose 2022 album Stick Season became a genuine phenomenon. This is The Great Divide Tour, named for his fourth album, which digs into success, family and distance with a bigger, more anthemic sound around his honest storytelling.
On Wednesday the seventh, the TikTok Entertainment Centre in Darling Harbour hosts Lord of the Rings in Concert, marking twenty-five years of The Fellowship of the Ring. Howard Shore's score is played live as the film screens, with The Metropolitan Orchestra and two choirs, so the music carries the story.
Then it's back to Afterpay Arena on Friday the ninth for Olivia Dean, a London-born singer trained at the BRIT School, whose heart-on-sleeve songs blend indie pop with a warm, Motown-tinged soul.
Saturday the tenth is the busiest day, so let's go from morning to night. During the day, the Ceramic Business District Market fills the City of Sydney Creative Studios for Sydney Craft Week. Browse everyday pieces, sculpture and studio seconds, buy straight from the makers, and see installations by Wong Ching Yee and Sylvia Zi Xin.
As evening arrives, Monster Jam World Tour rolls into Accor Stadium, with ten monster trucks, including Grave Digger and Sparkle Smash, flipping and jumping on stadium dirt.
Also that Saturday, Lebanese star Elissa plays the TikTok Entertainment Centre. She's the voice behind some of Arabic music's best-loved love songs, like Ayshalak and Halet Hob.
And for a more intimate Saturday night, Sydney's Hourglass Ensemble presents Jazz Nocturne in the Opera House's Utzon Room: chamber music for strings, winds and piano with an after-dark, jazzy feel, mixing Australian composers like Percy Grainger and Elena Kats-Chernin with a world premiere by Richard Grantham.
That's the week, from arena anthems to handmade ceramics. Check the linked event details before you head out.
1 sessionpmFRI 09 OCT - DJ HAZARD @ WAO SUPERCLUBivy · SydneyivySydneyNightlifefrom $20.05Fri, 9 OctFri, 9 Oct
Friday 9 Oct · 9:30pm – 4:00am (next day)
⚡️ Multi-level, revamped venue with Australia’s biggest club capacity ⚡️ Featuring the best current and up-and-coming DJs playing the latest and greatest RNB, Tech House, Techno & Hardstyle
1 sessionpmZURI ft. Alex Wann (FR) - Saturday October 10ivy · SydneyivySydneyNightlifefrom $22.17Sat, 10 OctSat, 10 Oct
Saturday 10 Oct · 10:00pm – 4:00am (next day)
Internationally celebrated for his hypnotic fusion of Afro House, deep house, and emotive melodic production, Alex Wann has become one of the most exciting names in electronic music. The Parisian DJ and producer exploded onto the global stage with his acclaimed remix of Kelis' iconic Milkshake, quickly earning support from industry heavyweights including Keinemusik, Diplo, John Summit, and Pete Tong. From intimate beginnings producing music in his bedroom to performing on some of the world's biggest stages, Alex Wann has built a reputation for delivering immersive, high-energy sets that combine infectious grooves with rich, emotional melodies. His signature sound has taken him to renowned festivals and venues including Tomorrowland, Cercle, and Ibiza's IMS Dalt Vila, where he performed a special back-to-back set with Pete Tong.