List of music festivals and music stars coming to tour Australia in end of 2022 and into 2023
Australia is about to host some of the biggest music stars in the world. See who’s coming to make plans and get your tickets booked.
SmartDaily
Don't miss out on the headlines from SmartDaily. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Live music is back for its first full Australian summer after the last two years of pandemic shutdowns and extreme weather cancellations.
Despite the ongoing frustrations of supply chain and staffing issues, the Australian industry has band together to keep the show on the road with the cream of our local artists and the big international heavyhitters set to command our arenas, stadiums, parks and wineries.
And if you’re looking for that last-minute Christmas gift, there’s still great tickets available for most gigs – just make sure you buy them from the official artist, promoter or ticketing sites.
Download the wall planner here.
Falls Festival/Heaps Good
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Dec 29-31
North Byron Parklands, NSW, Dec 31-Jan 2
Adelaide Showground, Jan 6
The annual New Year’s music shindig is back for the first time in three years with a line-up featuring popular festival tourists the Arctic Monkeys and Chvrches to local heroes Spacey Jane and G Flip. There’s been some shuffling of venues with the Victorian event no longer a camping situation and being held in the CBD while Adelaide gets the one-day offshoot Heaps Good.
High expectations: Flamboyant pop star Lil Nas X will perform his first shows in Australia.
Tickets: fallsfestival.com
Darren Hayes
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Feb 4
Aware Super Theatre, Sydney, Feb 7
Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Feb 8
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Feb 11
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Feb 12
After owning the Sydney Mardi Gras with his performance in March, Hayes brings his excellent wardrobe and angelic voice back home to celebrate 25 years of Savage Garden and solo hits. Opening will be the iconic Aussie pop duo Bachelor Girl.
High expectations: Hearing Insatiable in 2022 on its 20th anniversary.
Tickets: www.tegdainty.com
Elton John
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Jan 8-9
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Jan 13-14
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Jan 17-18
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Jan 21
The final Farewell Yellow Brick Road shows for Australia come off a sensational couple of years owning the pop charts for the evergreen Elton, courtesy of Cold Heart with Dua Lipa (remixed by our own PNAU) and Hold Me Closer featuring Britney Spears.
High expectations: Perhaps a duet or two with some local heroes.
Tickets: https://www.frontiertouring.com/eltonjohn
Summer Salt
Thomas Dalton Park, Wollongong, NSW, January 28
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, Vic, Feb 4
Torquay Common, Vic, Feb 5
Park Beach Reserve, Coffs Harbour, Feb 11
Broadwater Parklands, Southport, Qld, Feb 12
The much-loved chilled regional run of gigs features its first international artists this year with Ben Harper and City & Colour joining Angus and Julia Stone, The Rubens, Middle Kids and Alex The Astronaut. You can count on some onstage collabs happening.
High expectations: I’m thinking an all-star Aussie anthem cover.
Tickets: summersaltmusic.com.au
Red Hot Summer Tour
Mornington Racecourse, Vic, Jan 14-15
Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley, SA, Jan 22
Berry Showground, NSW, Feb 11
Queens Park, Toowoomba, Qld, April 15
Another epic all-Australian all-star line-up for this Big Day Out for adults, with the 2023 cast featuring Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning, Missy Higgins, Mark Seymour, Vika and Linda, Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley.
High expectations: Keep an ear out for cries of ‘Howzat!’ with the artists determined to stage a backstage cricket comp during the tour.
Tickets: For all dates (there are a LOT), https://www.redhotsummertour.com.au/
Laneway Festival
Brisbane Showgrounds, Feb 4
Sydney Showgrounds, Feb 5
Bonython Park, Adelaide, Feb 10
The Park, Flemington, Melbourne, Feb 11
The alternative music fest for Triple J fans is headlined by LA sisters Haim, with Japanese Australian pop star Joji, Phoebe Bridgers, Finneas, Fred Again and Aussie indie pop star Mallrat among the line-up of acts you should know.
High expectations: Unearthed High 2022 winner Jacotene is shaping up to be one of the stars of 2023.
Tickets: https://lanewayfestival.com
Red Hot Chili Peppers/Post Malone
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Jan 29
Accor Stadium, Sydney, Feb 2 & 4
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Feb 7 & 9
One of those scratch-your-head double bills aiming to bring all of the musical tribes and demographics together. Both are masters of the big stage with dozens of hits between them to soundtrack a great night out.
High expectations: Dare we hope for some kind of collab between the rock stars?
Tickets: livenation.com.au
Ed Sheeran
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Feb 17-19
Accor Stadium, Sydney, Feb 24-25
Melbourne Cricket Ground, March 2&3
Adelaide Oval, March 7
The gargantuan Mathematics stadium spectacular is shaping up to be one of the biggest tours of the year with the Shape of You pop superstar taking over the country’s biggest sports fields with his on-of-a-kind stage and light show. The in-the-round set-up is designed to give even the fans in the nosebleed seats a decent view of the action. Opening for Sheeran will be his latest label signing Maisie Peters and our own star-on-the-rise Budjerah, so get there early.
High expectations: Sheeran should bring Budjerah on to perform their rendition of his hit 2Step.
Tickets: frontiertouring.com
Harry Styles
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Feb 24-25
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, Feb 28
Accor Stadium, Sydney, March 3- 4
The As It Was megastar canned his long-awaited Love On Tour arena run to upgrade to stadiums after the long pandemic pause. One of the biggest tours in the world over the past year celebrates the former One Direction fave celebrating his solo glory off the back of the hugely successful second album Harry’s House. He’s bringing cool Britain indie rockers Wet Leg with him.
High expectations: It would be excellent if Harry added an Australian artist to the stadium-sized bill.
Tickets: livenation.com.au
Florence and the Machine
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, March 8
Qudos Bank Arena, March 13
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, March 17
Sirromet Wines (A Day On The Green), Mt Cotton, March 18.
Florence and the Machine remain one of the most joyful gigs you can experience with the charismatic Florence Welch not only a supreme vocalist but captivating performer.
High expectations: The song that started it all here, Dog Days Are Over, is still a setlist fave.
Tickets: frontiertouring.com, adayonthegreen.com
Rod Stewart/Cyndi Lauper
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, March 14
Duneed Estate, Geelong, Vic, March 18
AEC Arena, Adelaide, March 21
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, March 25
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, March 29
Roche Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW, April 1
Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, NSW, April 2.
Rockin’ Rod’s last big tour of Australia will also feature pop party-starter Cyndi Lauper and one of our big gig regulars Jon Stevens. Sir Rod is promising a greatest hits set for his last hurrah so you can expect all your faves from Do Ya Think I’m Sexy to Young Turks.
High expectations: The leopard print spandex to get one final showing.
Tickets: livenation.com.au; adayonthegreen.com.au
Originally published as List of music festivals and music stars coming to tour Australia in end of 2022 and into 2023
Join the conversation
How our AI bot helps — but it still can’t sack me
AI chatbots are becoming very common in Aussie workplaces. But they can’t replace everyone. Here, experts explain why.
Read more
F1 champ’s Aussie moment with Schumi he’ll never forget
Former F1 world champ Damon Hill reveals the one race in South Australia involving Michael Schumacher that he’s never forgotten.
Read more