Live Music Guide to Wollongong & Illawarra. Find Venues, Bands and Gigs Near Me

Live music in Wollongong & Illawarra. Welcome to What’s on in Wollongong’s Gig, Band, Music & Arts Guide. We’ve got wonderful venues for live music in Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Illawarra. Catch beloved local talents and big-name international music acts. Whether you’re in the mood for something mellow or up-tempo, we have you covered. Read on to find the best spots for Wollongong gigs, bands and grab a drink and (rediscover?) that groove is in the heart…

Find live music & gigs in Wollongong this weekend, festivals, events and our best venues for live music and bands:

Find Live Music This Weekend

Find live music & gigs in Wollongong this weekend. You can find upcoming events and live music and sort by date on our website here.

Read more of What’s on in Wollongong Live Music, Arts, Theatre Guide.

Seeker Brewing

Unanderra’s coolest warehouse vibes with live music gigs! Seeker Brewing is Wollongong and Illawarra’s Best World Music Venue, attracting world renowned and award-winning global artists – hey are bringing the world music scene to Wollongong.

My pick for your next Sunday sesh or a buzzing Salsa night. The house band gets very funky from 4pm-6pm. Their team are all sweethearts and you can really feel the love for the local culture and good vibes in everything they do. They have a selection of 12 taps, a pool table and a basketball hoop and are a welcoming, family-friendly space. Their program of regular live music gigs definitely understands grassroots cool in the local music scene – lots of world music, fusion funk and experimental. Long summer arvos, woodfired pizzas and an incredible range of craft beers = good times. Don’t just take my word for it, check them out HERE

Centro CBD Wollongong

Centro CBD is an Events and Functions Centre right in the heart of Wollongong CBD. This gem of a venue is a fine dining Italian Restaurant that pulls double-duty as an intimate live music and performance venue. The venue specialises in ‘Up Close and Personal Concerts’, where you can relax and dine at the comfort of your own table with a bottle of wine and friends and enjoy listening to your favourite artists in a great acoustic environment. Their Sorrento Room comfortably seats and audience of 200, so you’ll never be far from the stage. Check out their upcoming live music events here.

The Icon, Wollongong

Discover The Icon – Wollongong’s Best Bar, Cafe and Restaurant for DJs, Dining, Cocktails and Functions. Located in the heart of Wollongong, The Icon run a diverse range of events from live music, DJs on Friday and Saturday nights and more. You can stay up to date with all of their Upcoming Events here.

• RnB Fridays: Join them every Friday for old school RnB and Hip Hop with their kitchen open till late.
• Live DJs on Saturday nights till late.

Wests Illawarra

Wests Illawarra’s brand-new live entertainment schedule is here! From Jazz Night to Karaoke, there’s something fun for everyone! Entry is free. Ticketed Music shows start from just $20, so it is cost effective way to see some incredible live music at Wests Illawarra.

Local musicians perform live every Friday evening from 6:30pm-9:30pm in The Lounge.

SATURDAY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT – Jazz, DJ, Piano Bar & Karaoke! 7:30pm-10:30pm.

• 1st Saturday: Jazz Night
  Enjoy the cool sounds of Paul Winn Trio
• 2nd Saturday: Live DJ
  Performing a range of hits from the 80s to Now
• 3rd Saturday: Piano Bar 
  Relax to the chill vibe of our local solo pianists
• 4th Saturday: Karaoke!

Click here to learn more!

Five Barrel Brewing

Five Barrel Brewing in Wollongong (Keira St) is a family-owned and operated brewery. We LOVE them! Live Music | Every Saturday from 5:30pm + Sunday Soul Sessions – Live Music (last Sunday of the month) – stay tuned to their Facebook page for live music events and acts coming to the brewery.

Along with expertly brewed beer, their taproom features their Five Barrel Food Truck, with a huge range of crazy-yummy burgers with gluten-free and vegetarian options. There are always new events happening at the brewery with long-running Jazz Sundays, live music festivals, new beer launch parties, community nights, tap takeovers and more. The vibes are relaxed, its a real catch-up spot and the demographic skews towards younger folk. These guys get very busy, so I recommend booking ahead if you have a group.

Georgia Rose, Shell Cove

Experience a series of intimate acoustic performances every Saturday night from 6pm – 9pm. Plus – they are bringing you the perfect lazy Sunday afternoon every week with their Sunset Sessions, 3pm – 7pm + drink specials & 2 DJs providing the perfect tunes for a groovy afternoon by the Marina. Georgia Rose is located in the Shellharbour Marina Dining Precinct. Plan your visit now here.

ilu ilu Bar

ilu ilu is an exciting Indian inspired cocktail bar serving Indian tapas, located in the heart of Wollongong! They are feature the following regular & weekly live music nights:

• Live Jazz Night every Thur from 6.30pm – 9pm
• Friday Night Live Music from 8.30pm – 10pm
• + DJ tunes every Sat night from 9pm till late
• Bookings essential for dinner here. Food service closes at 9pm however the nibbles are available till late.

Bundanon

Relax at Bundanon just one hour south of Wollongong (it is worth the trip!). Enjoy afternoons at Ramox Café and enjoy live music from South Coast musicians, local wines or treat yourself to a signature Bundanon cocktail. 

Over a series of weekends Bundanon has curated a program of free live music by South Coast musicians. The chefs at Ramox Café have created a specialty Bundanon tonic, brewed with botanicals sourced from the Bundanon site, served exclusively at these events.

The Lagoon Restaurant

Enjoy live music every Friday and Sunday on the deck at The Lagoon Restaurant whilst sipping on their Happy Hour specials. They have a brand-NEW tapas and cocktail menu to quench your thirst.

• Friday 4-7pm
• Sunday 3-6pm

Looking for something more relaxed and DIY? Try their takeaway cheese boxes with a bottle of wine on the sand only footsteps away from the water. his event is also both a kid-friendly and dog-friendly event – so grab your mates and other families and plan a date at The Lagoon!

Their kiosk will be trading longer hours on Friday and Sunday afternoons. So soak up the sun and join in for an unforgettable time at The Lagoon!

Dreams on Crown, Wollongong

Dine, dance and sing the night away with friends & family at Wollongong’s newest restaurant and bar! Dreams on Crown – Restaurant & Bar Wollongong hosts weekly entertainment with a variety of musicians and DJs from 8.30pm Fridays and Saturdays. Swing by for some cocktails and dancing to kick off your weekend!

The Tap House at Groundz Precinct, Dapto

The Tap House, Dapto, offers live music and great food every Saturday and Sunday

The Tap House offers live music every Sunday 2pm to 5pm on the outdoor stage and at the Whisky Bar every Saturday 6pm to 9pm.

Whether you’re looking for a casual spot to grab a drink with friends, a delicious meal from a food truck, or a relaxing afternoon listening to live music, The Tap House has something for everyone. Nestled amongst the green and leafy surrounds, with shaded areas, landscaped gardens, the theme of The Tap House connects to the rich heritage of the site and has a vibrant and rustic appeal. The integrated space offers a seamless and relaxed rural vibe that is both family and pet friendly.

Steamers Bar & Grill

Join in every Thursday at 6pm for live acoustic music by some of the gong’s best artists at Steamers Bar & Grill.

There’s nothing better than grabbing a drink and a meal with mates and listening to some great acoustic music. Showcasing a variety of talented local musicians every Thursday night from 6pm, this is the ideal spot to enjoy some incredible acoustic music. Their favourite artists perform a chilled acoustic dinner playlist – all the atmosphere of live music at an easy conversation level. 
CLICK HERE for their upcoming live music events.

The Balgownie Hotel

The historic Bally Hotel attracts some great bands and live music. We’ve got a lot of love for this local gem. The views are incredible, the interior is only recently renovated and there’s always something happening down at the The Bally Hotel. The crowd are mostly locals, and always a real mix of ages. The bistro serves up a wonderful variety of pub favourites, and they’ve got cheap mid-week lunch deals.

Monthly Band Nights – Second Saturday of every month at The Bally! Band Night starts at 9pm, is completely free entry and open to anyone over 18. You are welcome to book a table if you want a certain spot or want to come in for a meal beforehand – but are also welcome to just walk in.

The Fraternity Club

A great mix of all your favourite music in one great place, The Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow

Maybe not as well known as others on this list, the Fraternity Club is highly recommended for music lovers. They host free live music literally every weekend and on Saturday nights. They always have a good mix of bands and musicians among other events in their Friday and Saturday night line-up. The vibes are relaxed and enjoyable. All of their Saturday night music is free from 8pm in their Sunken Lounge. Check their website for Friday night music for a mix of your favourite cover bands. 

Woonona Bulli RSL

Live Music Sundays at Woonona Bulli RSL!

Join WBRSL for lunch and live music Sundays! Woonona Bulli RSL Club is located in the centre of the northern suburbs of the Illawarra and sits between the escarpment and the ocean. Whether you’re after fun family dining, a great place for drinks and catch up with friends, their new Brasserie (open 7 days for lunch and dinner) menu has been winning locals over in the Illawarra for many years. Click here for what’s coming up on their Live Music Sundays!

WIN Entertainment Centre

Want to see the international, biggest music acts live in Wollongong? Cold Chisel, Roxette, The Script and many more? You can! No schlep to Sydney required. Check the upcoming bands and stars coming to WIN here.

Waves – Towradgi Beach Hotel

Tucked away at Towradgi Beach Hotel just 10 mins North of Wollongong, is Waves. An atmospheric venue for live music, with capacity for over 1 thousand, it attracts some well known names across the year. Some of the gigs are open to under 18’s, so take your mates / teens and rock on together! Most bands play on Saturday nights here. We did hear that epic rock legends, Grinspoon are heading there way this year…

The Music Lounge Wollongong

Large enough to have party vibe and attract well known artists, small enough to stay intimate. The Music Lounge is Wollongong’s premium live music venue! Renowned enough to attract world class acts and with its own bar (essential of course!) This ‘underground’ spot is tucked away inside the Wollongong Town Hall. Always atmospheric, with attention to detail – the mood lighting and acoustics level up at The Music Lounge. Demographic is generally determined by the gig.

Check out the upcoming gigs, live entertainment and bands and book in advance – CLICK HERE

Franks Wild Years – Thirroul

This small vibey bar in Thirroul is awesome! Amazing cocktails, and live music and bands on Saturday Night or Sunday Arvo’s – click to see Franks Wild years upcoming live music and gig schedule here.

Anita’s Theatre – Thirroul

The gorgeous Anita’s Theatre is the cultural hub of vibrant Thirroul Village. This enormous performing-arts venue has all the old-school charm you could wish for, and proximity to plenty of local restaurants and night spots to make for a great night out. The venue started out life as a Cinema in the 1920s, and has since gone through many changes! Now a versatile theatre, Anita’s hosts big name touring musicians, comedy acts and film screenings. They attract a wide variety of both artists and audiences, check out their upcoming line-up here

Wombarra Bowlo

Long time supporters of local live music, the Wombarra Bowlo is a great spot to get your fix of tunes in an open air setting. Their line up is always something fresh! From DJ parties to mini-festivals, home-grown favourites to Big Names – the Bowlo brings in big crowds. Traditionally very popular with locals, the demographic here shifts depending on who is playing. On the whole there is a good mix of people, and a very welcoming vibe. Drinks are cheap, food is delicious. Their events are all ticketed events so jump on the website for more information and tickets – https://www.bowlo.com.au/whats-on

Beaches – Thirroul

Probably best known for showcasing fabulous tribute bands, like the Fleetwood Mac show, The Beaches Hotel is always a great place for live music on Saturday nights. It’s a vibrant spot and you can yourself have a whole night out here. Guaranteed to get you in your nostalgic feels with their impressive selection of professional cover bands from all over the state. The crowd skews a little older here, and they love their music. People go off at Beaches! Some of the events have a cover charge and others are free so always best to check the website for the full line up and tickets.

The Shellharbour Club

A fun night on the dancefloor at The Shellharbour Club

Saturday Night Live Music! Dust off your dancing shoes at The Shellharbour Club, pull up a seat in the Lounge and enjoy some electric live music, alongside some delicious refreshments from one of their many bars. Click here for their upcoming and regular live music acts.

The Illawarra Hotel – Wollongong

The Illawarra Hotel is somewhat of an institution in the ‘Gong and it’s now better than ever. With live music Friday’s and Saturdays, the urban independent pub is a rare beast, and with its strong community focus, The Illawarra is a champion of the live music scene.

Usually on Fridays and Saturdays they feature two acts – The line ups are a healthy mix of DJs and bands, starting early from 6pm on Fridays and 5pm on Saturdays. Their website has the full line up so you can plan ahead. (And on Saturday nights if you just can’t leave there is always a DJ on til late.)
The Illawarra Hotel also have your Sunday Session sorted with talented acoustic performers from 3 – 6 pm. There is no better cure for Monday-itis than a cruisy music filled Sunday arvo.

The Servo Truck Food Bar – Port Kembla

If you haven’t been to The Servo – get there! This is a fabulous collective initiative put together by passionate Port Kembla community members. It is a very inclusive and diverse venue, with a big outdoor area where kids and fur kids are very welcome. There is an ever changing roster of food trucks so you will never get sick of the food! These guys have a very varied program of live music as well as other entertainment, from hard thrash metal to bluegrass. All under the watchful eye of the huge beautifully lit Servo mushroom. Yep, not a typo. It’s a thing. And it’s magnificent!

The Figtree Hotel

Live music Saturday nights. Right on the Highway at Figtree you can’t miss the Figtree Hotel. It’s a big space with a welcoming courtyard, and plenty of ambiance to soak up. Not in the least of which is the Gigtree at the Figtree Hotel. Every Friday and Saturday night from 8pm you can enjoy a meal from the Bistro (The Brisket Burger is pretty special!), while you sit back and enjoy the tunes. A regular at The Figtree is the amazing Emily Markham. This very talented woman has the voice of an angel. She has recorded in Nashville and we are very lucky to have her living local so we can enjoy her all to ourselves! – Check out their upcoming events here!

Mount Kembla Village Hotel

This is a glorious old pub, that has been beautifully restored. There is a fantastic beer garden that is surrounded by huge white birch trees. Perfect in summer, and with an outdoor fireplace, not too bad in winter as well! In the warmer months, the Sunday show is perfectly placed on a small stage in the beer garden. In the cooler seasons you can find the tunes in the welcoming front bar. Being big supporters of the live music scene you can catch local entertainers at Mount Kembla Village Hotel on Friday nights from 7 – 10pm and Sunday arvo’s from 2 – 5. While you are there grab a pizza from the Wood Fired Oven – they are seriously delicious!

La La La’s, Wollongong

Well, gigs nearly every night! Get your pool game on upstairs and enjoy some tasty (and cheap!) snackies at La La La’s while downstairs hosts diverse artists and bands. Self-described as ‘part dive bar / part live music venue’, this joint is always inclusive and LGBTQIA+ friendly. There is a dedicated dance floor for those who want to dance and get close. The music is LOUD so when the bands are on, conversation is not possible! Crowds here can skew towards the younger side. This spot is the heart and soul of the buzzing music scene in the Gong.

Click for the upcoming Gig Guide and to buy your tickets (it is generally OK to pay on the door if they don’t sell out)

Uni Bar – Wollongong

One of the biggest and most popular live music venues, The UniBar at the University of Wollongong is definitely not just for students!

Their line up is a fabulous blend of internationally-renowned musicians, local bands, artists and comedians — a big mix of genres and demographics keeps things interesting. The atmosphere is always inclusive and welcoming. Since they book names your younger mates and family might be keen to see, just note that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian 25 years and older.

Pickled Poet – Thirroul

If laid back acoustic tunes are more your style, accompanied by an excellent selection of wine and tapas then The Pickled Poet is for you.

They bring local live music every Friday and Saturday night from 6pm and a sensational Sunday Session from 5pm. All acts are in the courtyard, but don’t be discouraged on a cooler night – they have heaters! This welcoming and intimate environment is perfect for listening to original sets by renowned local acts. Sundays can usually be counted on the have a bit of a jazzy vibe if that’s your jam. The crowd here is very hip, mixed ages. Walk-ins welcome or reserve a table online.

Dicey Rileys Hotel

Dicey’s is the only Irish Pub in Wollongong. It’s a diverse crowd, vibey and a great venue for bands and DJ’s. Plus has pool tables and great food. If you like your gigs from the middle of a busy dance floor, this venue is for you! Most gigs are on Friday & Saturdays, visit the what’s on pages here.

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We offer our gratitude and deep respect to Dharawal Country: its lands, waters and skies. We stand in solidarity with its traditional custodians, the Dharawal and Wodi Wodi people, whose sovereignty was never ceded.