Five Places To Catch Live Tunes In Bars

Olivia Watson
6th Feb 2018

Sydney is bursting with music, from festivals and international tours to club nights, to local jazz bars, folk nights and beyond. Last year we gave you a round up of some of our favourite live music venues, now we're taking a look at some of the standout bars in Sydney offering up ripper live music events. You'll find touring gigs, house bands, open mic nights, casual live backing music and more. Most of the events listed here are free and the bars come well recommended in their own right. 

Low 302

Hiding in plain sight is the sultry delight that is Low 302. You've probably walked past it on Crown Street without realising what lies inside - a cozy den of music, cocktails and food. There's R&B, Blues and Soul, but the real highlight here is the old school Jazz Sundays. Sink into a booth with a classic cocktail and kick on into the early hours - kitchen and bar open until 2am.

302 Crown Street, Surry Hills

Moya's Juniper Lounge 

One of our Best of 2017 picks, Moya's is not only all about the gin (okay, it is still mostly about the gin)... it is also about the jazz. Who could argue with gin & jazz? Every Tuesday and Sunday are jazz nights at this boutique Redfern bar, with The Pocket Trio on Tuesdays and The Squares on Sundays. Also negronis - don't forget the negronis.

101 Regent Street, Redfern

The Little Guy

Glebe darling The Little Guy hosts regular blues and roots nights on Thursdays (from 8pm), plus a Sunday Vibes session under the stairs every weekend, with more special events here and there to be announced online. The cocktail list and the rotating beer tap are changed on a regular basis, and the spiced popcorn keeps flowing into the night.

87 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Cafe Lounge

Open seven nights a week, Cafe Lounge delivers an assortment of music, comedy, burlesque, DJs, pizzas, drinks and all round good times, just around the corner from both Crown and Oxford Streets. On top of their well known Monday night Comedy, Wednesday night is Folkswagon folk night, Thursdays deliver a funk jam session (BYO instrument and join in), and there are other special events throughout the year.

277 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills

The Temperance Society

Summer Hill's neighbourhood bar has earned itself a solid local following, with its homely vibe, local produce and weekly bands. There's pickles and sides from Cornersmith, local Inner West made gin and a mostly-Inner-Westie lineup of craft brews on the rotating taps. The Temperance Society is host to regular live music on Thursdays, with a different artist each week, plus more one-off gigs. Check out the Facebook page for upcoming shows.

122 Smith Street, Summer Hill