CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
There’s an energy to live music that can’t be bottled. It’s there in the first thrum of a guitar string, the infectious rhythm of the drums, and in that split second when a familiar riff cuts through the noise and the crowd moves as one. Your pulse quickens, the room tightens, and – for a brief electric moment – everything else simply fades away.
WRITTEN BY CHRIS ASHTON
In far northern New South Wales, and just across the border, that feeling is never hard to find. It lives in festival fields and spills out of pub doorways; it hums through sunlit beer gardens and darkened back rooms. It’s as much a part of the region as its beaches and hinterland.
If the recent cancellation of Byron’s Bluesfest proved anything, it’s not that live music is fragile – quite the opposite. What followed that unexpected loss was a reminder of music’s resilience, as venues rallied and the community filled the gap. For a time, the region became one sprawling, improvised music festival. The stages shifted, but the tunes didn’t stop. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
The best part? That spontaneous magic isn’t reserved for one-off moments. It plays out here all year-round, in the bars, the hotels and, occasionally, spilling into the streets beyond.
BEACH HOTEL – BYRON BAY
The word ‘iconic’ is a little overused at times, but here it sticks. Arguably the biggest of the big three – alongside The Kingy and Bruns Pub – ‘The Beachy’ is as central to the Byron experience as the bay itself. Perusing the impressive A-Z of past acts, of which Bernard Fanning, PNAU, Jet, Boy & Bear, Macy Gray, The Rubens and Dizzee Rascal are but a handful, it’s easy to see why. The venue itself more than holds its own too: multiple bars and an easy-going food offering, backed by a front-row seat to Byron’s ever-shifting street theatre.
KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL – KINGSCLIFF
Pairing blistering beats with ocean views, ‘The Kingy’ is among the big three of local live music hangouts. By day, it’s a polished coastal pub; by night, it turns the volume all the way to 11. If you’ve played here, you’ve made it. It’s little surprise then that its outdoor stage has featured top-tier acts like Temper Trap, Wolfmother, Bliss n Eso, Pete Murray and Flume, together with a stream of DJs and indie favourites. It’s not just headliners either – The Kingy regularly backs emerging talent, making it as much a proving ground as a destination.
HOTEL BRUNSWICK – BRUNSWICK HEADS
At first glance, Hotel Brunswick looks every inch the classic country pub: manicured hedges, a solid brick façade, a beer garden drifting towards the river. But something special happens as the light fades, when the humble forecourt stage transforms the ‘Bruns Pub’ – and occasionally the park outside – into one of the region’s most compelling live music venues. From Sunday sessions to ticketed shows, the hotel regularly punches above its weight, attracting an enviable who’s who of stars, from Fred again.. and Jamie xx to The Wailers and The Presets.
SHAWS BAY HOTEL – BALLINA
It’s not every day you can watch a live set with the crunch of sand underfoot. At Shaws Bay Hotel, that’s part of the appeal – positioned between the calm Richmond River and an open-air stage. Though it could easily rely on location alone, it backs it up with a 30-year history of solid live acts. The calibre of artists who’ve graced its stage range from Sneaky Sound System to Resin Dogs and Yolanda Be Cool. A recent renovation has sharpened the experience without losing that laidback core, where an arvo session easily slips into the night.
THE RAILWAY FRIENDLY BAR – BYRON BAY
A local favourite from before Byron was Insta-famous, The Rails is low-key in all the right ways. There’s no gloss – just a narrow stage under a corrugated tin roof, worn timber tables and a crowd that spans generations. It’s unpretentious, egalitarian, and anchored by a simple promise: live music, every night. For more than 30 years, that’s held true. Big names like The Cruel Sea and The Whitlams have passed through, but it’s the steady rotation of local and touring acts that keeps the party going. Food is sensational too.
THE COOLANGATTA HOTEL – COOLANGATTA
Just north of the border, The Cooly Hotel brings a slightly bigger room feel without losing that coastal ease. Positioned right across from the beach, it’s been a mainstay on the touring circuit for decades, with its Balcony stage regularly attracting local and international talent – Baker Boy, The Superjesus and Morcheeba, to name a few – and high-energy cover bands alike. Given the ocean-view location, a cheeky pre-show bite in the beer garden is always a good idea.
EDDIE’S GRUB HOUSE – COOLANGATTA
If The Cooly is about scale, Eddie’s Grub House is about grit. This compact, high-energy dive bar trades polish for personality, serving up loud, close-quarters sets where the line between band and crowd blurs. It’s a haven for punk, rock and alternative acts, and its devoted following shows up accordingly, five nights a week. Jam sessions and karaoke nights allow the fearless to get involved too. Food leans heavily on burgers, wings and rings, the drinks flow freely, and the music hits hard – a reminder that great live music doesn’t need much room, just the right attitude.
THE BURROW COLLECTIVE – CABARITA BEACH
Tucked just off the main drag in Cabarita, The Burrow feels almost like a discovery – part bar, part creative hub, entirely community-driven. It’s smaller and more intimate than many of its counterparts on the coast, but that’s exactly the point. Here, live music feels intimate and personal: stripped-back sets, emerging artists, and the occasional surprise gig that spreads by word of mouth. Open from early morning to the wee hours, it’s the kind of place where you drop in for a drink and end up staying for the music, carried along by the energy of the crowd. Add in wood-fired pizza and a compact, quality menu, and you’ve got all you need for a great night.
Kingscliff
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