Can’t decide what gig to see? We’ve got you covered

You Am I
Enmore Theatre, April 4-5
Sydney’s You Am I were on an absolute tear in the ’90s. Pop-rock classic Hi Fi Way, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was the first of three consecutive Number One albums, and the band snagged eight ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year in 1996 for Hourly, Daily. That album and Hi Fi Way will be played in full by Tim Rogers and co at these shows, with tracks like Purple Sneakers and Soldiers set to scratch the nostalgia itch for ’90s Oz Rock fans.

Tim Rogers celebrates Hi Fi Way’s 30th anniversary this year.Credit: Aurora

SummerSalt
Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla, April 6
Summer may officially be over, so fingers crossed the sunshine puts in an appearance at this nationally touring outdoor festival when it hits town. Fans of Australian music will likely find something to enjoy on the line-up, which includes Missy Higgins (an ARIA Hall of Fame inductee in 2024), Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning and Something for Kate’s Paul Dempsey showcasing their synth-influenced new band Fanning Dempsey National Park, roots rocker John Butler, folk outfit The Waifs, The Whitlams and Josh Pyke.

ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Missy Higgins is part of the SummerSalt line-up.Credit:

Miss Kaninna
The Vanguard, April 6
Singer and rapper Kaninna Langford has got her stage presence down pat after appearing in the acclaimed 2022 theatre production of The Sapphires. Lately, she’s been making a name for herself by releasing raunchy, bold pop music under the moniker Miss Kaninna. 2023’s Blak Britney became the first independent release from an Aboriginal woman to be nominated for a debut single at the ARIA Music Awards, and last year’s Kaninna EP is a great showcase for one of the country’s most promising new talents.

Miss Kaninna is making a name for herself by releasing raunchy, bold pop music.Credit:

Cyndi Lauper
Qudos Bank Arena, April 8
“Farewell” tours are rarely that, but iconic singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper is promising to call it quits once her current run of shows is over. Hearing, potentially for the last time, classic ’80s hits like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time, and True Colors is reason enough to see this show, which is sure to be a celebration of a woman who’s done it all, from acting to scooping numerous awards (including an Emmy, Grammy and a Tony) and becoming a queer icon thanks to her advocacy for LGBTQ rights.

Cyndi Lauper says she is definitely calling it quits after this tour.Credit: WireImage

The Libertines
Enmore Theatre, April 12
There was a time in the early noughties when the Libertines, the ramshackle indie rock outfit co-led by singer-songwriters Carl Barat and Pete Doherty, were the hottest band in the UK. The hype may have simmered down after a few decades lost to Doherty dealing with a debilitating drug addiction, but against all odds the London four-piece are back in action, releasing new music and jumping back on stage; get along to see if the former indie “it” boys still have the goods.

Do The Libertines still have the goods?

Allison Russell
City Recital Hall, April 17
If you’re unfamiliar with Canada’s Allison Russell, here’s a quick primer: she makes music that falls under the Americana umbrella (essentially what happens when you throw folk, blues, soul, country and R&B in a cowboy hat and give it a good shake), has released two acclaimed albums (2021’s Outside Child and 2023’s The Returner), and has been nominated for eight Grammys, winning one. There’s a gentle beauty to Russell’s voice; expect it to sound bewitching in a live setting.

Allison Russell ’s voice is bewitching in a live setting.Credit:

Gary Clark Jr.
Enmore Theatre, April 17
Masterful performer Gary Clark Jr, a guitar wizard who plays a raw mix of blues, rock, R&B and soul, is no stranger to Australia – his wife Nicole Trunfio is an Aussie, and he was out here in 2020 playing bluesman Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in Baz Luhrmann’s movie Elvis. If you’re in any doubt about his bona fides as a live performer, be reassured by the fact the Stones have invited him to play on stage with them on multiple occasions.

Gary Clark Jr played bluesman Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in Baz Luhrmann’s movie Elvis. Credit: Rick Clifford

Toto with Christopher Cross
ICC Sydney Theatre, April 19
If the idea of having a spirited singalong to Toto’s Africa and Christopher Cross’s Ride Like the Wind with a theatre full of people doesn’t fill you with giddy excitement, you may need to check your pulse. Other soft rock bangers you can expect to get the crowd going include Hold the Line, Rosanna and Georgy Porgy from Toto; Cross will undoubtedly bring the heat with Arthur’s Theme and Sailing, the song that practically birthed the Yacht Rock genre.

Toto’s Africa, Hold the Line and Rosanna should get the crowd going.Credit:

Chaka Khan
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, April 22-23
Under the stage name Chaka Khan, Yvette Marie Stevens has kicked more goals in music than most. She was dubbed the “Queen of Funk” in the 1970s thanks to a string of hit albums with Rufus, has won 10 Grammys and recorded a heap of hits with her former band (Tell Me Something Good, Ain’t Nobody) and as a solo artist (I’m Every Woman, I Feel for You, Through the Fire). Here’s a rare chance to see a living legend sing those songs, and more, live.

Living legend Chaka Khan has has kicked more musical goals than most.Credit: Martin Philbey

Hans Zimmer
Qudos Bank Arena, April 26-27
It’s a rare thing to see a film composer play a stadium, but when you’re Christopher Nolan’s go-to guy and have scored countless blockbusters, drawing a sizeable crowd doesn’t seem to be a problem. Hans Zimmer will be joined by Australian singer Lisa Gerrard for this show, with Zimmer and his band bringing the bombast with music from movies including Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, The Lion King and Dune, for which Zimmer picked up his second Academy Award.

Hans Zimmer has scored countless movie blockbusters and can fill stadiums.Credit: Ed Robinson

Other locals playing shows this month include Delta Goodrem, Tina Arena, Mallrat, Safia, The Jungle Giants, Pierce Brothers, Pseudo Echo, Stiff Gins, Lime Cordiale, Human Nature, Illy and The Wiggles. From the UK there’s Duke Dumont (playing with Hayden James and Trilucid as part of Electric Warehouse), Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Feeder, Soft Cell and Rag’n’Bone Man. US visitors include rising Americana star Sam Barber, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, BJ the Chicago Kid, Yellowcard, John Summit and Vapours of Morphine (the surviving members of ’90s band Morphine). From the rest of the world there’s Death From Above 1979 and Crash Test Dummies (Canada), Day6 (Korea), Zhou Shen (China), Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico) and Trentemøller (Denmark). Who will you be seeing? Let us know in the comments.