Park Sounds Sets Stage for Sydney Olympic Park Live Music Reactivation

Park Sounds the new, months-long festival currently spilling out in the streets of Sydney Olympic Park, is the kick-starter for a reinvigoration programme across the park’s stadiums, arenas and the broader live music community.

Park Sounds will span 50 concerts over the eleven weeks ending May 29, a programme organisers hope will boost the park’s stadiums and arenas that have “experienced dramatically reduced attendances and revenue loss” during the pandemic.

Announced this week, the NSW Government, via Investment NSW, Multicultural NSW & Create NSW, has shelled-out more than more than $500,000 for the free, family-friendly fest.

Also, the Sydney Olympic Park Authority is said to be working on a pipeline of support for promoters to have their acts perform on site as part of a long-term initiative to reignite the venue as an events and entertainment precinct.

“Performers and live entertainers were among the first to be shut down when the pandemic struck and are still yet to reach a level of normality,” comments Anita Mitchell, CEO of Sydney Olympic Park, “so Park Sounds will give them a much-needed boost and create opportunities for the creative sector so heavily affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.”

Hundreds of suppliers, operators and event staff will be employed across the event, as will more than 90 artists, including grassroots and emerging acts booked for the venue forecourts and roving entertainment around the precinct, a statement reads.

Midnight Oil, The Wiggles and Delta Goodrem are among the big names on the bill.

The Wiggles

Park Sounds shines a light on the city’s best creatives, artists, and food retailers, and help reignite the live music industry as a whole, comments Mitchell.

Emerging Western Sydney artists will also get the opportunity to perform before and after NRL matches featuring the Bulldogs and the UFC.

“Activating our streets outside of large major events is a key focus for us and the fact we are supporting local artists at the same time is a win for everyone,” Mitchell explains.

Seven curators across music, art, entertainment, lighting and food are tapped to create the event.

Retail shops and neighbouring hotels are also expected to enjoy a lift from the footfall generated from the festival, which is forecast to attract one million guests by the time it wraps.

Delta Goodrem

Park Sounds closely follows the separate Great Southern Nights 2022 initiative, which featured 500-plus gigs and assembled upwards of 1,000 performers across NSW, all part of a reactivation push for the state’s punished live music community.

“With the economic stimulus provided by the government, we have been able to inject the money straight back into the events and hospitality industry,” enthuses Carla Theunissen, senior manager, place activation and strategy, Sydney Olympic Park Authority.

“We have been able to provide opportunities back to industry practitioners who live and breathe hospitality and event work, as well as struggling music artists whose livelihoods have been crushed the past few years by lockdowns and restrictions.”

The music and events sectors are invited to share expressions of interest with the authority on future projects. 

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.