Live music in Newcastle

Whether visiting Newcastle to lock in some epic music memories or just hoping to grab a casual show while in town, our live music venues are primed to deliver a memorable live music experience. 

Newcastle's dynamic music scene showcases up-and-coming local artists through to high-profile international talent. 

Here are some of our top spots to soak up live music: 

The Rogue Scholar is a brewpub and live music venue in Newcastle West. Celebrating craft beer and live music since its inception in 2020, Rogue Scholar showcases live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Plus, Thursdays are Open Mic nights too if that's your jam.

The atmosphere is always buzzing, so be prepared to hit the dance floor. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Underground are all about live jazz. $10 entry for house band nights, plus regular special events for renowned national and international artists.

The Grand upstairs serves delicious pub eats directly to your Underground table, so you can feed your music-loving soul and stomach in New York jazz bar style. 

Part nightclub, part live music venue, King Street Hotel is where visitors can catch a mixture of live music and DJ sets, every night of the week. The tight-packed Band Room frequently hosts renowned groups when the energy in the room is electric.

For live music fans, the Band Room is the place to be. Ticketed tours are pumping out the sounds nearly every Friday and Saturday night year-round. 

Jams Karaoke & Bar is a Newcastle staple for a fun night out. A suite of fully serviced karaoke rooms of all different sizes are available, perfect for belting out your personal favourites amongst friends and travel buddies.

Live music fans, there's something extra special at Jams — fulfil your lead singer fantasies and join the bar's live band on stage for a live karaoke experience every Friday night! 

For fine food and a great live show, you can’t go past Live n Cookin' at Flamingos Live. This Newcastle icon, formerly known as Lizotte's, is in the old King’s Theatre, Lambton.

This unique venue attracts a wide range of local and international acts year-round — artists who have graced the stage include the likes of Richard Clapton, The Whitlams, Gina Jeffreys, and Josh Pyke. 

If you're keen to check out big brass bands, one-of-a-kind orchestral events, choral ensembles or even piano concertos, the Conservatorium of Music is where you should be heading.

Affectionately referred to as just 'The Con', this venue is undoubtedly the cultural heart of Newcastle's eclectic music scene with a full calendar of ticketed events celebrating musical prowess and well-honed skills. 

Did someone say dance? Start your Saturday evening at Greenroof vibing out to some of the best local acoustic musicians in the courtyard, and then hit the dance floor at 10 pm as the DJ hits the decks playing everything from throwback hits to current hits.

Regular trivia, burger and schnitty nights, plus special events like 'Poppin Tags' all add to the festival atmosphere Greenroof brings to Hamilton.

The Lucky Hotel is an urban oasis bringing mid-century Palm Springs energy to Newcastle's live music scene. There are key times best for music at The Lucky are Friday night live music and Saturday DJ sessions. And the best part is that whenever you rock up, there are always great drinks and tasty pub meals ready to be enjoyed.  

The Royal Oak in Islington is a classic Australian pub renowned for championing local live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Plus, the refined menu serves elevated classics alongside fresh takes on bar snacks, with a full range of beers, wines, and spirits too. 

In prime position on Newcastle Harbour, the Queen's Wharf Hotel makes great use of its enviably large outdoor wharf to feature live music on the harbour every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

A popular place to relax the afternoons away means there is always a great atmosphere at Queens Wharf, especially on warm afternoons just as the sun sets. The pub food menu also goes down a treat too! 

Take a stroll along the harbour to Honeysuckle Hotel, a waterfront entertainment hub of Newcastle. The team proudly supports weekly live music with bands and DJs every Friday and Saturday night, plus their infamous Harbour Sessions every Sunday.

With seating right over the water, plus cosy indoor spaces, it's a great venue for soaking up our iconic harbour views with a side of live music. 

The Art Deco front bar has plenty of old-school charm, but it's the beer garden out back where the music magic fills the night air.

Boasting a bustling roster of musicians every Friday and Saturday, The Clarendon's beer garden is a centrally located live music hangout. Feast on pub grub, local wines, and craft beers, and enjoy the good tunes in this chilled-out space. 

Showcasing everything from indie bands to open mic nights, the team at the Great Northern loves supporting live entertainment and local talent — so lucky visitors to Newcastle can soak it all up.

Fridays and Saturdays are the live music nights when the dance floors fill up, which of course makes the freshly poured drinks taste even sweeter. 

Affectionately known as the ABC by locals, Adamstown Bowling Club boasts two live music spaces, The Rinks Stage and The Locker Room. Offering free live music every weekend the ABC has it all — either afternoon sessions on the lawn or late-night tunes well into the evening. 

From big expos and stand up comedy shows, to musicals and show-stopping international artists, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and heritage-listed Civic Theatre are where lasting memories are made. 

Check out the diverse line-up of events coming up and make sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment. 

To make the most of your next visit to Newcastle, check out our What’s On guide for a full list of the best things to do and see in and around the region.

What's On Newcastle