Looking for a great spot for the Australia Day long weekend? We asked some top Sydney venues to tell us what’s going down…
1. THE ARGYLE
It’s called:
Get Down Under at The Argyle
What to see and do: Party it up at the extravagant Hed Kandi party, grab some snags, shrimp skewers or an Aussie burger with the lot off the giant Aussie BBQ and slurp down the Snake Bite cocktail. Don’t forget your dance shoes, because you’ll also want to dance up a storm with the live band, triple j Hottest 100 countdown live and DJs all weekend.
For our ears:On Friday January 23, it’s the Hed Kandi Residency Launch Party with Piero, Adrian Benedek, Tass, Sabio and more. Saturday January 24 sees Arrnott Olssen Trio, Erin Marshall, Tass, Lavida and Liam Sampras. On Sunday January 25, it’s Gemma Lyon, Erin Marshall and more, while Australia Day has the triple j Hottest 100 countdown live from midday, Martini Club and Crazy Caz live.
Bevvy of choice: Snake Bite cocktail – a true blue Aussie concoction of apple cider, beer and Monin blackcurrant.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: The moment you realise you’re absolutely killing it with babes by your side, beers in your hand and surrounded by your besties listening to the number one track of 2014, which hopefully isn’t Taylor Swift.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… we have a Great Barrier Reef, an Uluru, plentiful wineries, pristine beaches, rainforests and landscapes and generally a very cheerful bunch of people that live here.
Cost: Door charge is variable (dependant on time). $14 Aussie Burgers with the lot, $12 shrimp skewers and $10 hot dogs with all the trimmings.
Where: 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks
When: Friday January 23 – Monday January 26, 11am till late
Website:www.theargylerocks.com/
2. ROCK LILY AT THE STAR
It’s called:
Rock Lily at The Star
What to see and do: Rock Lily is celebrating Australia Day with drink specials and a range of free live music across the long weekend.
For our ears: Check Your Head featuring Mahalia Barnes – Sunday January 25 from 8pm. Musician Mahalia Barnes (daughter of rock royalty Jimmy Barnes) will perform her own songs and a range of Aussie classics. Six-piece soul and R&B band Suite Az will also perform a repertoire of your favourite hits. Hosted by DJ D-Flat and DJ Troy T.
Shannon Noll – Australia Day, Monday January 26 from 5pm. The quintessentially Australian singer who rose to fame as runner-up of the first series of Australian Idol will perform at Rock Lily this Australia Day. Shannon will perform some of his popular hits such as ‘What About Me’ and ‘Shine’, just to name a few.
Bevvy of choice: $14 Rum Rebel and $14 The First Fleet cocktail, $8 Convict Juice and $8 schooners of James Squire 150 Lashes Pale Ale and Tooheys New.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… we love to party!
Cost: Free entry all night long
Where: Level 1, Casino, The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont
When: Open daily from 12pm until late
Website:www.star.com.au
3. MARRICKVILLE BOWLO
It’s called:
Marrickville Bowlo Australia Day Long Weekend
What to see and do: Marrickville Bowlo has a massive long weekend lined up for the Inner West.
On Friday January 23, Iron Dubz meets Inner West Reggae Disco Machine, 10pm till late. Tickets are $15 at the door.
On Saturday 24th, Dungeon and Inner West Reggae Disco Machine presents Thelem, 10pm till late. Ticket details TBA.
Saturday January 25 is ourSka-BQ, featuring Strange Tenants with All Nighters, Club Ska, The OzSkas, The Hangovers and Ska’d For Life, plus DJs. 1pm till midnight. Tickets are $50 through Stickytickets. Kids under 15 are $15.
On Australia Day, we’re your official triple j Hottest 100 countdown venue. The day features the countdown on the green plus $5 barefoot bowls all day and $10 Resch’s jugs. It runs from midday till late.
Where: 91 Sydenham Road, Marrickville
Website:www.marrickvillebowlingclub.com.au/
4. THE WORKERS BAR AND KITCHEN
It’s called:
Australia Day Eve Party
What to see and do: Warm up for Australia Day by celebrating Australia Day Eve at The Workers Bar & Kitchen. We’ll get you fit for the real thing with tinnies of Foster’s, $10 Aussie burgers and sweet tunes on the rooftop so come Monday you can smash through your Aussie Day like a true champion.
For our ears: Live music and DJs playing classic Aussie tunes till late.
Bevvy of choice: Foster’s tinnies, of course. At a measly $5 it’d be rude not to.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: Summer beats, brews and burgers on the roof – what’s not to love? Couple that with a few games of pool, some ping pong, a bit of foosball and a go on the pinball machines and you’ve got yourself a cracker of a Sunday.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… we make great music, great beer and know the importance of a good rooftop bar.
Cost: It’s free! If you want to reserve a table for you and your mates just email [email protected].
Where: 1/292 Darling Street, Balmain
When: Sunday January 25 from 12pm
Website:www.theworkersbalmain.com.au
5. THE GLENMORE
It’s called:
The Glenmore
What to see and do: We’ve got some great entertainment all weekend, culminating in a rooftop party on the Monday pumping out the triple j Hottest 100 countdown.
For our ears: Friday it’s Matthew Hoare from 5pm till late. Saturday is Dan Wheeler from 5pm till late. On Sunday it’s London Cries, then the triple j Hottest 100 countdown on Monday.
Bevvy of choice: Foster’s tinnies.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: Bringing the Aussie backyard BBQ vibe to Sydney’s hottest rooftop. Think turf, Hills Hoist, Foster’s tinnies, great food and killer tunes, all whilst enjoying our stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the CBD.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… we’ve got everything that makes up a brilliant lifestyle at our doorstep. Great food and culture and plenty of sunshine!
Cost: Free entry, regular food and drinks menu with a special on Foster’s tinnies.
Where: 96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
When: Friday January 23 – Monday January 26, 12pm-late
Website:www.theglenmore.com.au
6.NEWTOWN HOTEL
It’s called:
Newtown Hotel
What to see and do: Friday and Saturday see our usual offering of evening DJs. Sunday sees the King Street Dub boys come through with their monthly offering of reggae and dub. For Australia Day, we are hosting our own Hottest 100 party followed by our DJs: PhDJ, Shantan Wantan Ichiban, Tokoloshe and Shag. On Australia Day we’ll also be putting on a pool party in the cider yard complete with Super Soaker action.
Bevvy of choice: We’re offering cheap two-litre cider towers all month in the cider yard.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: You spend your Australia Day chilling by a pool, listening to the Hottest 100, sipping on cheap cider and dancing away to the best DJs Newtown has to offer.
Where: 174 King Street, Newtown
When: Monday January 26 from 12pm
Website:newtownhotel.com.au
7. THE ROCKS
It’s called:
The Rocks Australia Day
What to see and do: The Rocks is the only place to party on George Street on Australia Day and is the perfect place to listen to free live music with up-and-coming Aussie artists. With two live stages, astroturf, breakdancers, croquet, beatboxing and The Rocks markets, there will be something for everyone at the transformed precinct with street party games, and of course triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown.
For our ears: The Green Stage at First Fleet Park will host some of Australia’s best contemporary performers, including Thelma Plum, Dustin Tebbutt and Saskwatch. The Laneway Stage at Atherden Street will showcase the harmonies of female folk trio Little May, Fishing feat. special guest Al from Cloud Control, and The Morrisons.
Bevvy of choice: Grab a drink and some mouth-watering treats from your favourite local at The Rocks Markets on Argyle Street and refresh with a hand-crafted beer or cider at The Rocks Brewing Company open-air bar at First Fleet Park.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: Come to enjoy the unforgettable summer and street festival in celebration of our country with more than 100,000 others, with the sun on your shoulders and sea breeze in your hair.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… from the foreshore to the beautiful weather Aussies never need to miss the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy themselves.
Cost: Free activities and concert performances will entertain a huge array of people from all age ranges. Prices vary at each individual food and drink vendor.
Where: George Street, First Fleet Park and Atherden Street, The Rocks
When: Monday January 26, 12-6pm
8.CODE PRESENTS SANKEYS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR
Venue Name: Greenwood Hotel
What to see and do: Open-air daytime clubbing with a slice of Ibiza in Sydney!
For our ears: Three international headliners: Darius Syrossian, Yousef and 16 Bit Lolitas plus local legend Robbie Lowe and 25 Sydney DJs across four rooms from Start:Cue, Digital Therapy, Engine Room and Summit DJs.
Bevvy of choice: Vodka Red Bull so we can dance all day long!
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: Sankeys is the undisputed leader of house music in Ibiza – voted best nightclub in the world by DJ Mag. Their parties in Ibiza, New York and Manchester are infamous, because for Sankeys it’s all about the music playing. Sydney is their only exclusive show in Australia.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… we get to party outside in the sunshine with our mates all year long!
Cost: $55 +BF via Moshtix
Where: Greenwood Hotel, 36 Blue Street, North Sydney
When: Sunday January 25, 1-10pm
9.FRANKIE’S PIZZA BY THE SLICE
It’s called:
Vulgar Display Of Pizza II
What to see and do: We’re giving our staff the public holiday off so will be working them extra hard over the weekend. Punters can see Frankie’s at full tilt with hot pizzas flying out of the ovens, craft beer taps rotating, a curation of amazing rock’n’roll DJs and our trademark debauchery in the lead-up to Sunday January 25’s Vulgar Display Of Pizza heavy metal festival.
For our ears: DJs spinning classic tracks on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday we’re in meltdown mode with the most impressive metal lineup in Oz all on the same bill: Bastardizer, Arteries, Sumeru, Rise Of Avernus, Gutter Tactic and Sorcery. Prick and the Big Dog Beer Monster will be spinning metal from 6pm. Bands wrap around midnight.
Bevvy of choice: One of the 18 revolving Oz and international craft beers or your selection of 100 weird and wacky bottles.
Waving the flag – what’s the highlight: Despite the bombastic moshpit, Frankie’s refuses to install a barrier between crowd and band. Full-frontal, face-to-face interaction is the order of the day and is often the most talked-about aspect of a big show at Frankie’s. We’ve had icons like Angry Anderson wrestling fans off the stage. Always makes for a very exciting, no-holds-barred experience.
Finish this sentence: Australia is the lucky country because… the salt of our seawater counterbalances the tang of pussy juice beautifully, a pairing no scientist could concoct!
Cost: Free entry always. Pizza goes from $5 slice to $20 whole pie. Beers from $7 (Pistonhead) to $160 (Duvel Jeroboam).
Where: 50 Hunter Street, Sydney
When: Sunday January 25, 4pm-3am
Website:frankiespizzabytheslice.com
