WE'RE a month into 2020 and we've already had massive shows from Elton John, The Growlers and Starcrawler and Cold Chisel. Here's some of the must-see gigs coming our way.
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FEBRUARY 15 - RED HOT SUMMER, ROCHE ESTATE
Hunters & Collectors have only toured sporadically since their initial break-up in 1998, so anytime Mark Seymour and the boys reunite it's a special occasion. The Throw Your Arms Around Me and Holy Grail hit-makers will headline an all-star Australian line-up that also includes James Reyne, The Living End, The Baby Animals, The Angels and Killing Heidi.
FEBRUARY 29 - RICK ASTLEY & A-HA, A DAY ON THE GREEN AT BIMBADGEN
Fans of '80s dance-pop will love the double bill of Englishman Rick Astley and Norwegian band a-ha. You've never watched an '80s teen movie if you haven't heard Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up or a-ha's Take On Me. It won't be the hippest show, but it'll be a guilty pleasure.
MARCH 5 - CEDRIC BURNSIDE, LIZOTTE'S
The 41-year-old from Memphis mightn't be a household name in Australia, but his family's roots run deep in the blues. Cedric Burnside is the grandson of the legendary guitarist R.L Burnside and son of drummer Calvin Jackson. The hours he spent learning from his accomplished relatives is evident on his Grammy Award-nominated 2018 album Benton County Relic.
MARCH 7 - THE DROP FESTIVAL, EMPIRE PARK
The Surfest-affiliated music festival returns for its second year at its new home in Bar Beach. Organisers have again secured a stellar line-up of Australian indie acts featuring The Presets, Boy & Bear, Ball Park Music, Allday, DZ Deathrays and more.
REVIEW & GALLERY: What happened at the inaugural The Drop Festival
MARCH 14 - AMYL & THE SNIFFERS, NEWCASTLE HOTEL
Since Melbourne punk band Amyl & The Sniffers made their Newcastle debut last September they've won an ARIA and been nominated for the prestigious Australian Music Prize. It is visceral rock'n'roll at it's finest, led by arguably the country's most electrifying frontwoman, Amy Taylor.
APRIL 4- SOUND STATION, THE STATION
Newcastle produces some seriously great music these days (despite what the naysayers tell you) and some of that talent will be showcased at the inaugural Sound Station Music & Arts Festival. The free concert supported by the City of Newcastle features The Gooch Palms, Grace Turner, Eat Your Heart Out and more.
APRIL 18 - PATTI SMITH, NEWCASTLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
Newcastle have secured a massive coup luring the Godmother of Punk, Patti Smith, to town for her only non-capital city show. Smith remains one of the most influential musicians of the '70s with the appeal of albums like Horses reverberating across multiple generations.
MORE GUM BALL NEWS: Harts discovered love of guitar in Jimi Hendrix's purple haze of freedom
APRIL 24-26 - THE GUM BALL, DASHVILLE
The Hunter's biggest camping festival returns for its 15th year headlined by The Church, Harts, The Beautiful Girls, iOTA, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks and Dyson Cloher Stringer. But the real highlight is often the new artist you discover.
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