It takes more than lock-out laws to stop the swell of live music flooding the city. During Vivid Sydney, X|Celerate supercharges an eclectic mix of 23 inner-city venues and sees them serve up the tastiest tunes and most experimental sounds around.

Who’ll be your biggest discovery this year? Which will be your new favourite haunt?

Don your glad rags, break out your favourite treads and round up the gang... It’s time to explore Sydney’s finest along with stellar imports from near and far. These gigs will get your hips swivelling, heads nodding and grins widening from ear to ear.

City Surrounds

Oxford Art Factory
Darlinghurst

Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory of the ‘60s, Oxford Art Factory fuses The Gallery, Live Art Space and The Cube providing a world-class platform on which artists and musicians can showcase their talents. For Vivid Music, OAF’s X|Celerate program ranges from alt-electro-rockstars City Calm Down and art-pop darlings I Know Leopard to dancefloor dukes Set Mo and singer-songwriter Kim Churchill with a splash from The Clouds taking you back to the ‘90s and many more.

East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (Flying Nunn)
Darlinghurst

Under the banners of Flying Nun and Brand X, a new generation of artists are emerging from the rehearsal rooms of the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre. Over four nights – Alter Native, Sound and Sense, The Experiment and Peaches and Prunes – you’ll be first to tap into these green shoots and support them as they take the stage.

The Dolphin
Surry Hills

The Dolphin’s Italo Dining and Disco Club presents Disgaziato (Disgraced) this June long weekend. Two of Australia’s most prolific restaurateurs – Maurice Terzini of Icebergs fame and Giovanni Paradiso of Fratelli Paradiso – once again join forces and invite you to celebrate all things deliciously Italian with drinks, dining and disco dancing featuring one of NYC’s best, Mike Simonetti.

Hollywood Hotel
Surry Hills

Head to the ‘Hills’ for a Homage to Hollywood featuring Sydney’s seasoned drag stars featuring showgirls Suzie St James and Connie Carter and an array of special guests with a spectacular finale from the one-and-only Carlotta – all in honour of the Hollywood Hotel’s legendary owner Doris Goddard.

Potts Point Hotel
Potts Point

Potts Point Hotel, previously known as The Sugarmill, is one of the last standing late night venues in Kings Cross. This a four-level venue is focused around the central ethos of promoting live music, entertainment and good times. Help The Delta Riggs Make Boogie Great Again on 7 June and join the new-gen hip-hop stars at Too Rad on 14 June.

Inner West

107 Projects
Redfern

107 Projects cultivates spaces for all kinds of creatives to thrive. The floors are proudly un-polished, because the truth is, art has dirty beginnings. Stepping into 107 is a bit like stepping inside the creative mind. Experiments happen, sh*t gets weird – and ultimately great work emerges from a rich, creative culture. Head to 107 for Bad Vibrations – the fuzzed out rebrand of PsychFest – and Come Together celebrating creativity across the LBTQIA, fem*le-identifying artists, First Nations and POC spectrum.

Camelot Lounge
Marrickville

Camelot Lounge is one of Sydney’s favourite boutique music venues, and home to the world’s finest singer/songwriters, world music, jazz, folk, blues, cabaret, comedy and other outstanding acts from Australia and beyond. Cut a swathe to Camelot during Vivid Sydney to find yourself in the good company of Tex Perkins, Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates, Katie Noonan, Mucho Mambo, Bondi Cigars, Monsieur Camembert and friends.

Freda’s
Chippendale

Much loved Freda’s does a stellar job showcasing Sydney's best party crews, local up-start dance labels, some of the world’s most exciting DJs as well as the best underground bands the harbour city has to offer. Their non-stop Vivid Music party continues with Wax’o Paradiso, 20 Years of Beats in Space, the Extra Silky Extravaganza and Pure Space Aurora II.

The Imperial
Erskineville

See this grand old dame transformed with two light installations that will make her shine brighter than a diamond – in all the colours of the rainbow. The Imperial gets a gay-glo makeover to celebrate her proud history as an inclusive LGBTQIA+ venue. Sashay and shimmy your way to the front of the queue for the Qween’s Ball After Party, lycra-loving RetroSweat Takeover and Canned Fruit: Short Circuit.

The Vanguard
Newtown

Inner Westival returns to showcase a melting pot for hot talent. 2019 sees the inner west’s vibrant culture bubble into a hub of artistic expression. Beeline to The Vanguard for top-shelf talent including jazz artists Alemay Fernandez and Evelyn Feroza singing the music of Michael Pignéguy, radical performer Ezekiel Ox and Texan swampadelic trio Wo Fat.

X|Celerate is presented by Vivid Music and The City of Sydney.