A post-lockdown Sydney is reopening at long last, and there’s never been a better time to support local music, arts, and hospo.
Lockdown; a word that makes most of us recoil, and one many of us would be happy to never, ever hear again. It was a hard few months for everyone, and our hearts go out to the local music, arts, and hospitality sectors that really took a blow. Now, with restrictions easing and the city reopening, it’s safe to say that post-lockdown Sydney is coming back strong.
With summer slowly starting to bless us with warm arvos and longer nights, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for the city’s grand reopening. From open-air parties to, gallery and museum exhibits and dance-floor revamps, there is an abundance of exciting events, venues, and all-round fun shit to check out in the coming months.
Music
The Fellr Garden of Fizz at the Royal Botanical Gardens
Fellr has opened a pop-up hard seltzer bar in Sydney’s Royal Botanical Gardens, and all through spring and summer they will be hosting a monthly music series in collaboration with art and music agency Fruit Bowl.
Looking over the Sydney harbour, you can chill out on your picnic rug, sipping on some seltzers amongst the gardens while the Fruit Bowl team set the scene with some tasty tunes.
Free-kin Weekends at the Factory Theatre
All throughout November, Marrickville’s The Factory Theatre are hosting weekly open air day parties with free live music, and food trucks in their beer garden – the makings of a gorgeous Spring afternoon.
Each Saturday The Factory are hosting curated parties featuring the likes of reggae and dub party people Article One and Foreigndub, legendary vibe crews Heavenly and Vibe Positive, and Cat Empire’s Ollie McGill.
Sundays will back it up with live acts from Sydney’s greatest emerging bands. Check out the Facebook event for more details!
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The Arts
Carriageworks
Strolling over to the Carriageworks Farmers Markets on a Saturday morning is the Inner West ritual we all know and love, but with Sydney reopening over the next few months, the space is hosting some exciting events you definitely want to check out.
From art installations including Dennis Golding’s The Future is here and Cherine Fahd’s Ecdysis, to digital chef masterclasses and performances with the Sydney Dance Company, Carriageworks are offering an array of artistic and cultural experiences we’ve been deprived of for months.
Powerhouse Museum
You may remember attending the Powerhouse Museum on a school excursion, but if you haven’t revisited the beloved museum in adulthood, post-lockdown Sydney is calling you.
There’s an abundance of interesting exhibitions over the next few months, including Electric Keys, an important private collection of keyboards and synthesizers, and Graphic Identities, highlighting eight groundbreaking Australian design archives which explore the role of visual communication in shaping contemporary Australian culture.
Delve into the niche, and give yourself the chance to soak up all kinds of knowledge.
MCA late at the Museum of Contemporary Art
As museums and galleries start to reopen, there’s so many events you won’t want to miss. MCA are keeping their doors open ’til 9pm on Friday nights for the rest of the year, and are hosting a series of events as a part of the MCA late program.
Sounds on the Terrace will take place on The Sculpture Terrace, the perfect vantage point to experience Circular Quay at dusk. Combine an incredible view with free entry, and acts including Bocconcini, and Jun Wan, and it’s the perfect start to the weekend.
Hospo
Cafe Freda’s
Renowned Chippendale bar Freda’s held a special place in the heart’s of young people all across Sydney, and we shed a collective tear when its closing was announced. Although there is no need to fret, as Freda’s is opening back up in a new location as Cafe Freda’s.
You’d be amiss not to give Cafe Freda’s, now located on the Taylor Square corner of Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, some post-lockdown Sydney lovin’.
Club 77
Dance floors are officially back with NSW restrictions easing for those double vaxxed as of this week, and vibrant Sydney nightclub Club 77 wasted no time. As iconic as ever, they opened their doors at 12.01am on Monday morning, and the people were ready.
A sweaty dance floor boogie is one of the simple pleasures COVID deprived us all of for too many months. If you’re itching to get back to it, Club 77 showcases local and international talent every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.
And remember, most of these venues will happily take any remaining Dine and Discover vouchers off your hands. Go out there and have a good time – you bloody deserve it.
