The best local and international music acts return in September for this year’s huge line-up of Night at the Barracks 2024 concerts.
Starting as a pre-Covid dream in the creative minds of Brendan Maher and Cam Coghlan, Manly’s annual Night at the Barracks concert series has quickly become a spring staple for lovers of truly epic live music performances.
“We want to constantly improve every element of the event,” says Cam. “From first learning how best to use the space and understanding the right style of artists to fully bring the site to life, we’re always focused on capturing the audience’s imagination, getting everyone up and dancing, making memories, having the best experience possible.”
Beyond the performances, Cam and Brendan go to great lengths to team up with local businesses, charity partners and community stakeholders to fully maximise the upside that 3,000 visitors to Manly on twelve separate evenings can have on the local economy, employing all local staff for the crew and ushering roles, while also utilising the best sustainability practices across all aspects of the event.
This year’s series kicks off with legendary rock band ICEHOUSE. Their massive string of hits from We Can Get Together, to Electric Blue and Hey, Little Girl and Great Southern Land, under the shimmering Manly stars signals an incredible program of live performances to come. Pete Murray joins the line up on night two with his spectacular band, before the opening weekend rounds out with Gospo Collective, an exceptional gospel choir showcasing the repertoire of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
The second weekend showcases Birds of Tokyo, a band who have swept all before them. Jon Stevens: Noiseworks & INXS Collection takes control on the Saturday before The Australian Rock Collective thunders home on Sunday, a supergroup of members from Spiderbait, Powderfinger, The Wrights and You Am I.
Week 3 heralds the first ever unseated Barracks show, with legends of the Australian Electronic scene The Presets joined by Bag Raiders, both bringing their incredible live shows to North Head, with all of the seating removed for max party vibes! New Zealand pop rock superstars SIX60 hit the stage on the Saturday night and concluding that weekend is Taylor Made – a tribute to Taylor Swift featuring the vocal talents of Clare Bowditch, Alex the Astronaut, Clementine Ford, Charley, Emily Wurramurra and Lucy Durack. Friendship bracelets are optional, but welcome!
Winding up the final weekend of this year’s series is sublime singer songwriter Matt Corby and his band in a rare live show on Friday 4 October. Having delivered one of the most memorable performances in the first ever Night at the Barracks 2022 show, Australia’s sweetheart, dynamic pop superstar, Jessica Mauboy takes the stage on Saturday 5 October, before the curtain falls on Sunday with the mesmerising singer and guitarist Xavier Rudd closing out the epic month long run of performances.
Tickets are on sale and selling fast! Visit nightatthebarracks.com.au now to secure your seats and follow @nightatthebarracks on socials for all updates.