SYDNEY – TEG Live and Live Nation have teamed up with the New South Wales Government to present The Greatest Southern Nights – two major COVID Safe concerts to be staged at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for more than 12,000 fans.The Greatest Southern Nights will be headlined by Ocean Alley on Saturday 28 November and by Bernard Fanning and Matt Corby on Saturday 5 December, with each concert hosting more than 6,000 music-lovers in a fully seated, COVID Safe setting.
More details from Great Southern Nights (www.greatsouthernnights.com.au):
Joining Ocean Alley on 28 November are Jack River, Ruby Fields and Jack Botts. Tickets for the show are priced at $91.60 and will go on sale at 10:00am on Monday 9 November via www.ticketek.com.au.
Joining Bernard Fanning and Matt Corby for the 5 December concert will be special guest Merci, Mercy. Tickets for this show are priced at $99.90 and will go on sale at 10:00am on Tuesday 10 November via www.ticketek.com.au. Ticketek is the only authorised seller for both shows. Fans should not pay more than the prices listed for your tickets.
Bernard Fanning said that these gigs are crucial to getting the industry back on its feet and workers back into jobs: “I’m so happy to be part of the reopening of the live music scene in NSW. It’s a great opportunity to get people safely together again, but just as importantly, to give the music industry workers whose lives have been so upended by COVID, a chance to get back to doing what they do best.”
Ocean Alley said: “We’re absolutely stoked to be getting back on stage as part of Great Southern Nights. We’ve missed every part of touring – last year we spent every other day in a new city, so it’s exciting to see live music making a comeback in NSW. The opportunity to headline Qudos Bank Arena in our hometown makes this show that extra bit more special for us, and we can’t wait to finally play our latest album Lonely Diamond in a live setting.”
Geoff Jones, Chief Executive of Promoter TEG, said the Greatest Southern Nights concerts are part of a crucial push to reignite the live industry and thanked the NSW Government and Destination NSW for their strong leadership and support. “These shows are vital for our industry because they will show that we can stage big live concerts safely and that Australians cannot wait to get out and share great live entertainment experiences with their friends and family,” said Jones.
“We have seen the successful and safe return of large crowds to major live sport and it is time for live music to make a return at scale at a world class venue, Qudos Bank Arena, which we will operate in a reduced, COVID Safe capacity for these shows,” Jones added.
Roger Field, President of Co-Promoter Live Nation Asia Pacific, said these concerts would not be possible without the support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW. “After eight long months of zero arena shows, these concerts will see great musicians bring thousands of fans back together. Not only will these two wonderful nights of entertainment deliver significant employment but they are sure to inject a vital economic boost to our industry and the economy.”
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Greatest Southern Nights aligned with the NSW Government’s ambition to kick start the state’s economic recovery, create jobs and drive visitation and spending through major events.
“NSW has led Australia in reigniting the live music industry through Great Southern Nights, and now we are excited to announce these landmark concerts that will be the hottest tickets in the country. The NSW Government is proud to be getting artists, roadies, venues, hospitality staff and tourism businesses back to work and we hope this heralds the safe return of major indoor arena events.”
The Greatest Southern Nights concerts are supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and are part of the Great Southern Nights program delivered in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). For more information go to www.greatsouthernnights.com.au
