Live Music Returns with the Biggest Indoor Events Held in Australia Since March
In fantastic news for fans of live music, TEG Live and Live Nation have teamed up with the New South Wales Government to present The Greatest Southern Nights – two major COVID Safe concerts at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for more than 12,000 fans.
The concert on Saturday 5 December will be headlined by one of Australia’s biggest stars, Bernard Fanning. Bernard has accumulated one of the most celebrated and distinct songbooks on the Australian rock spectrum. A multi-award winning and platinum selling artist, his solo career now spanning 15 years, Fanning has firmly cemented his position as one of Australia’s finest songwriters and lyricists. From the country folk-tinged charm of his multi-platinum debut solo album Tea and Sympathy to the rock grooves and horn breaks of its follow up Departures and the exquisitely crafted Civil Dusk / Brutal Dawn – a two-part album series released across 2016 and 2017.
Joining him for this very special evening will be Matt Corby. For a decade, the multi-platinum-selling musician has been pushing his own boundaries, embracing a journey of self-discovery that’s seen him wrestle a few pre-conceptions and stare down his share of demons. With two ARIA Song of the
Year awards and a #1 debut album behind him, Corby can genuinely lay claim to some hard-earned perspective.
With support from the wonderful Merci, Mercy, an affordable ticket price and a city of five million people eager for the return of live music, this is sure to be a night to remember. The Greatest Southern Nights concerts will be co-promoted by TEG Live and Live Nation, with support from the New South Wales Government, as part of its Great Southern Nights initiative to kick-start the recovery of the live music, hospitality and tourism industries which have been so dramatically impacted by the pandemic.
This concert will be held with a commitment to a COVID Safe environment, with a reduced capacity of just over 6,000 in a venue that can normally hold around 21,000 fans. TEG Live and Live Nation will work closely with and comply with all requirements of the public health authorities in respect to these shows. While operating at reduced capacity, this event will mark the largest indoor music event held in Australia since the shutdown of the live entertainment industry in March, due to the pandemic.
Tickets are priced at $101.70 and will go on sale at 10:00am on Tuesday 10 November via www.ticketek.com.au. Ticketek is the only authorised seller. Do not pay more than the prices listed for your tickets.
Bernard Fanning said that these gigs are crucial to getting the industry back on its feet and workers back into jobs: “I’m so happy to be part of the reopening of the live music scene in NSW. It’s a great opportunity to get people safely together again, but just as importantly, to give the music industry workers whose lives have been so upended by COVID, a chance to get back to doing what they do best.”
Geoff Jones, Chief Executive of Promoter TEG, said the Greatest Southern Nights concerts are part of a crucial push to reignite the live industry and thanked the NSW Government and Destination NSW for their strong leadership and support. “These shows are vital for our industry because they will show that we can stage big live concerts safely and that Australians cannot wait to get out and share great live entertainment experiences with their friends and family,” said Jones.
“We have seen the successful and safe return of large crowds to major live sport and it is time for live music to make a return at scale at a world class venue, Qudos Bank Arena, which we will operate in a reduced, COVID Safe capacity for these shows,” Jones added.
Roger Field, President of Co-Promoter Live Nation Asia Pacific, said these concerts would not be possible without the support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW. “After eight long months of zero arena shows, these concerts will see great musicians bring thousands of fans back together. Not only will these two wonderful nights of entertainment deliver significant employment but they are sure to inject a vital economic boost to our industry and the economy.”
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Greatest Southern Nights aligned with the NSW Government’s ambition to kick start the state’s economic recovery, create jobs and drive visitation and spending through major events.
“NSW has led Australia in reigniting the live music industry through Great Southern Nights, and now we are excited to announce these landmark concerts that will be the hottest tickets in the country. The NSW Government is proud to be getting artists, roadies, venues, hospitality staff and tourism businesses back to work and we hope this heralds the safe return of major indoor arena events.”
The Greatest Southern Nights concerts are supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and are part of the Great Southern Nights program delivered in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). For more information go to greatsouthernnights.com.au
