By Billie Eder
Sydney is full of culture and arts live events in February.Credit:Janie Barrett/AP/Supplied
The summer festivities continue into February, with Sydney providing a long list of festivals, theatre and live music for everyone to enjoy.
International headliners are coming down under as part of world tours, while homegrown artists are selling out venues and making a name for themselves. New performances are hitting the stage from Belvoir St Theatre to the Sydney Opera House, and some old favourites are also returning.
There’s something for everyone in Sydney this summer, but here are some of our highlights.
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
February 5 / Sydney Showground / General admission tickets $209
The six-city trans-Tasman concert returns to Sydney for the first time since 2020 with a spectacular line-up that includes Haim, The Jungle Giants, and Mallrat alongside many others. The 16+ festival offers both general admission and VIP tickets but if the price is a bit steep, there is also a long list of sideshows from artists such as Girl in Red and Finneas.
Laneway Festival is returning for the first time since 2020.Credit:Edwina Pickles
Live And Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert
February 24 / The Domain / Resale tickets $249.02
While it’s technically not a festival, the opening concert for Sydney WorldPride is basically a music festival, with a number of acts performing to celebrate the beginning of the mammoth cultural event. You can expect Australian icons like Kylie Minogue and Jessica Mauboy, along with international star Charli XCX.
For The Love
February 26 / Thomas Dalton Park (Wollongong) / Third release tickets $136.90
Nestled in the middle of Sydney WorldPride celebrations, this fun and vibrant music festival is hitting up the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Melbourne, and Perth with headliner Charli XCX and dance icon Duke Dumont. Just an hour and a half south of Sydney, the festival is easily accessible by car or train, and other crowd favourites performing include Snakehips, Cosmo’s Midnight and Sonny Fodera.
One Woman Show
February 1-19 / Sydney Opera House / Tickets from $55
Straight from London’s West End, Sydney expat Liz Kingsman is bringing her smash-hit One Woman Show to the Opera House for its international premiere. The highly anticipated show follows the travails of a chaotic 20-something in London, and has been awarded five stars by major British publications such as The Guardian and The Telegraph. This is one you do not want to miss!
Comedian Liz Kingsman is bringing her One Woman Show to the Sydney Opera House.
Night Time News Network National Nightly News, with Osher Günsberg
February 3,10,17/ Factory Theatre / Tickets $20
Bachelor host and Australian sweetheart Osher Günsberg is hitting up The Factory Theatre with his satirical news show where the stories are real, and the news is made up. The 24-hour news cycle means that no two nights are the same, but it promises one thing will always stay true: sometimes, laughing while the world burns is an appropriate response.
Bangarra Dance Theatre: Dance Clan
February 7-18 / Studio Theatre at Bangarra / Tickets from $35
First Nations’ dance company Bangarra has been performing Dance Clan for 25 years, fostering a new generation of Bangarra storytellers, designers, dancers and choreographers. This year, three artists, Glory Tuohy-Daniell, Ryan Pearson and Sani Townson, will tell their stories in three original works, which are a beautiful display of self-expression and storytelling.
Hairspray
From February 5 / Sydney Lyric / Tickets from $65
The much-loved Broadway hit Hairspray returns to Sydney with well-known Australians taking on the iconic roles. You’ll catch Shane Jacobson as Edna Turnblad (the role that John Travolta played in the 2007 movie), and Todd McKenney as Wilbur Turnblad, while Carmel Rodrigues is stepping into the role of the musical’s lead, Tracy Turnblad, who dreams to dance on The Corny Collins Show.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
From February 11 / Capitol Theatre / Tickets from $79
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is set to be an experience to remember. Australian singer-songwriter Paulini is playing the role of the narrator, Euan Fistrovic Doidge is Joseph, and Trevor Ashley is Pharaoh.
Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is heading to Sydney in February.Credit:Daniel Boud
The Rocky Horror Show
From February 14 / Theatre Royal Sydney / Tickets from $69.90
Let’s do the Time Warp, and head out to the Theatre Royal for the new Australian production of the iconic rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show. A must-see for musical enthusiasts and first-timers alike, it has a bunch of local stars in the show, including Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter and Myf Warhurst as the narrator.
Art Express
February 2- May 7 / Art Gallery of New South Wales / Free
Celebrating its 40th year at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Express features a selection of art from students in the 2022 HSC examination in visual arts. The exhibition covers a range of approaches and forms including ceramics, collection of works, drawing, graphic design, and painting, and is a pull-back-the-curtain exhibition that lets you peer inside the creativity of students’ individual projects.
Van Gogh Alive
The Grand Pavilion, Entertainment Quarter / Until 26 February / Tickets from $39
After a successful season in Sydney, and across Australia, the Van Gogh Alive exhibition will finally come to an end, so it’s your last chance to get a ticket and head along to this incredible visual experience. All-encompassing installations bring the world of Van Gogh to life using some of the artist’s most iconic pieces of art.
Van Gogh Alive is coming to the end of its season in Sydney.Credit:Grande Exhibitions
Yirrkala Prints
Until April 2023 / Museum of Contemporary Art / Free
An exhibition that brings together a selection of collagraphs by six senior Yulnu artists, Nongirrna Marawili, Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Barayuwa Munungurr, Mr. W. Wanambi, Ms. M. Wirrpanda and Ms. N. Yunupinu. The artworks showcase the individual languages of each artist and possess expressions of clan and country. The prints were produced together with printer Richard Smith at the Yirrkala Print Space at Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, the oldest Aboriginal owned and run print studio in Australia, founded in 1995, in north-east Arnhem Land.
Hubris & Humiliation
Until March 4/ Sydney Theatre Company / Tickets from $54
A laugh-out-loud comedy about a down-on-her-luck mother who sends her son off to Sydney to find a rich husband, Hubris & Humiliation is a satire of life and love. Described by the STC as ‘Muriel’s Wedding-meets-Kath & Kim with all the queer fabulousness of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, topped off with a twist of nineteenth century charm,’ this play is likely to have you on the floor before it even ends.
Roman Delo as Elliott Delaney and Ryan Panizza as voracious opera director William in Hubris & Humiliation.Credit:Prudence Upton
Blessed Union
February 11-March 11 / Belvoir St Theatre / Tickets from $47
From the mind of Maeve Marsden, Blessed Union is a lesbian divorce comedy for anyone who has looked at their life and wondered if there might be a better way to live it. Ruth and Judith have been together for a long time, and have a house in the inner west and two kids to prove it, but sometimes life’s ideals can come undone. As part of the Sydney WorldPride events, this is a must-see for theatre lovers and newcomers alike.
Sex Magick
February 17-March 25 / Griffin Theatre Company / Tickets from $38
An exploration of queerness, masculinity and South Asian-Australian identity, Sex Magick is from playwright Nicholas Brown and stars Raj Labade. After a workplace indiscretion shatters Ard’s dream of an elite footy physiotherapy career, he finds himself selling green juices to yummy mummies in Bondi. A hilarious concept brought to life on stage, you won’t regret buying a ticket for this rollercoaster ride.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
February 2 and 4 / Accor Stadium / Tickets from $79
The Chili Peppers are coming back to Australia as part of their global stadium tour following the release of their 12th and 13th studio albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen, which mark the return (yet again) of guitarist John Frusciante. As well as the new material, the band will perform songs from much-loved albums including Californication (1999) and By the Way (2002). Opening for them at all Australian shows will be six-time Grammy-nominated rapper and singer Post Malone.
Sting
February 15-16 / Aware Super Theatre / Tickets from $167.95
Seventeen-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting is back on Australian shores after nearly seven years for his My Songs tour, which features hits from the singer’s career both as a solo artist and with The Police. With a repertoire including Roxanne, Every Breath You Take and Message in a Bottle, the 71-year-old English musician and actor is likely to wow Australian audiences with an accompanying rock ensemble.
The UK artist is bringing his world tour to Australia before heading to North America.Credit:Christopher Pearce
Ed Sheeran
February 24-25 / Accor Stadium / Tickets from $109.90
Busker-turned-international superstar Ed Sheeran is bringing his Mathematics tour to Australia for a massive run of stadium shows, his first Down Under since 2018. The English singer-songwriter, who found international success in 2011, will be performing hits off his newest album (titled =, following albums +, × and ÷) and is expected to play songs such as The A Team and Lego House, which first catapulted his career.
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