August gig guide: the best live music events on the North Shore this month

As we ease out of winter’s cold, it’s time to get out and about and see some live music. Here’s your guide for gigs on the North Shore this August.

Did we miss something? Let us know: email [email protected]

Felicity Dowd at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club 

Operating since 1978, the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club has been supporting folk music in the Upper North Shore area for more than forty years now. This month, they will be hosting Felicity Dowd, a folk and country musician hailing from New South Wales’ South Coast. 

Tickets are priced at $20 for adults. 

When: August 15, 7pm

Where: Beatrice Taylor Hall, Hornsby

Stop Making Sense - 4K Restoration + Live Show $40 

Like big suits and New Wave? The orpheum will be hosting a screening of The Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, one of the most beloved concert films of all time. The screening will also be opened by a live pre-show performance from cover band The Walking Deads. Tickets are priced at $40 each, with a glass of sparkling wine provided on arrival. 

When: August 15, 7:30pm 

Where: Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne

Herman’s Hermits — Norths Cammeray

As part of their latest world tour, classic British invasion rock-pop band Herman’s Hermits will be playing in Sydney at the Norths Club Cammeray this month. While only a single original member of the band remains in the lineup, it’s still impressive that a band who hit the big stage way back in 1964 — with hits like “I’m Into Something Good” and "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" — is still touring. 

Tickets are priced at $61.

When: August 23, 7:15pm

Where: 12 Abbott St, Cammeray

Check out the Hermits play on the Ed Sullivan Show, way back in June, 1965.

Trevor Gascoigne at Chatswood Bowling Club

Thinking something a little more lowkey? Drop by Chatswood Bowling Club on Tuesday afternoons to see local guitarist Trevor Gascoigne play. 

Gascoigne performs a range of jazz and bossa nova standards, while also incorporating a variety of popular modern music — such as The Beatles and Amy Winehouse — into his repertoire. 

Entry is free.

When: Tuesdays, 3:15pm

Where: Chatswood Bowling Club 

Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto — Hayes Street Studio

This month, Hayes Street Studio will be hosting pianist Lee Dionne, who will be performing Beethoven's fourth piano concerto, accompanied by a string quartet. Tickets are priced at $40.

When: August 23, 6:30pm

Where: 11 Hayes St, Neutral Bay 

Wish You Were Here Tribute — The Concourse 

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s ninth studio album Wish You Were Here, local tribute band Run Like Hell will be performing the album in its entirety at The Concourse Theatre in Chatswood. 

The show will also have a second half featuring records from across the band's run. Standard adult tickets are priced at $88. 

When: August 28, 8pm

Where: The Concourse Theatre

Running in the Shadows 

Paying homage to another classic rock band of the 70s, Running in the Shadows will be covering the hits of Fleetwood Mac at Glen Street Theatre. Tickets are priced at $61. 

When: August 16, 8pm

Where: Glen Street Theatre

Hornsby Inn 

Unlike many venues who seem to put together mish-mash of varying genres and vibes, Hornsby Inn seems to maintain quite a consistent lineup of blues and classic rock bands. They’ll be hosting local bands each Friday of the month, with acts like Red Whiskey, Bluesonic and Downthunder.

When: Every Friday, 7:30pm

Where: Burdett St &, 37 Hunter St, Hornsby

Keep an eye out for…

Expanding on their regular weekend live music, Crows Nest bar Lil’ Darlin seems to be opening a new music venue in the suburb. 

It’s unclear what this will look like, but given the current lack of spots for live music in a suburb that seems to be booming with nightlife, we reckon it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Regular Gigs 

You can also expect regular, weekly live music at the following venues this month.

The Treehouse Hotel, North Sydney — Trad sessions, 5:30pm, first Tuesday of every month 

Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point — 8:30pm Fridays and Saturdays 

Blues Point Hotel, McMahons Point — 3pm every Sunday

KCs Honky Tonk, Crows Nest — 5pm every Sunday

Rag and Famish Hotel — 10pm every Friday 

Crows Nest Hotel — 10pm every Friday

Li’l Darlin, Crows Nest — 7pm every Thursday, 8pm every Friday

The Orchard Hotel, Chatswood — 6pm every second Wednesday from the 6th

Foys, Kirribilli — 3pm every Sunday

Image Credit: Folk Federation NSW