Live Music on the Gold Cast

Because the Gold Coast is a holiday town, most venues prefer to put on cover bands than take a risk with local original talent, however a few venues do give you the chance to see local, national and international touring bands and artists.

Most taverns and hotels also offer live music after dark. Larger venues such as the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre and The Star Gold Coast have also been home to some major international acts.  

There is a good local live music scene on the Gold Coast, with a plethora of metal bands, house music, punk outfits, roots artists, hip hop and a splattering of funk and soul. Find out who's playing where in our gig guide. You won't be disappointed.

Live Music Venues on the Gold Coast

Nightjar

Tucked away on Justin Laneway lies Nightjar, Burleigh's hidden Rock n’ Roll dive bar. Follow the neon sign and roller doors for live music, your favourite drinks, and laid-back anti-establishment fun. From 7pm to midnight, enjoy cold beers, cocktails, and spirits. Hospo Tuesdays cater to servers, while Sailor Jerry Thursdays invite all to drink freely. Any night offers live music, drinks, and great vibes in this cozy spot.

Mo’s Desert Clubhouse 

Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, a haven for tequila, tapas, and live music, boasts a creative vibe with cacti-filled drums and psychedelic murals. The space offers a cozy setting with homely couches and unique pallet tables and delicious food. Regular live music and events ensure a packed calendar. Grab margaritas and tacos at their sister bar El Ranchero before their main events. Stay updated on gigs via Mo’s Desert Clubhouse's ever-evolving gig list for a vibrant experience.

HOTA

HOTA or Home Of The Arts, has charmed both locals and tourists as a vibrant performing arts hub. Each visit guarantees a unique and family-friendly experience. Experience the enchantment of live performances by skilled artists across concerts and theater productions. HOTA is a stage for diverse talents, from globally acclaimed artists to rising stars, fostering creativity, inspiration, and unfiltered artistic expression.

The Lawn (Garden Kitchen & Bar) @ The Star

At The Star Gold Coast, the outdoor Garden Kitchen & Bar offers Live on the Lawn sessions every weekend—a delightful alternative to headlining acts. From Friday evenings to late Sundays, diverse music caters to all tastes. McKenzie's Sunday residency brings energetic pop-rock vibes to bid the week adieu. Enjoy the dedicated lawn bar and container kitchen; leaving this vibrant spot becomes a challenge.

Vinnies Dive Bar

One of the newest live music venues on the Gold Coast and already much-loved by locals, Vinnies is the epitome of a punk/metal dive bar that's all about the music. It's not uncommon to see crowds at this small venue on the weekends checking out some awesome live bands both local and national. Get amongst it at Vinnies Dive Bar!

The Avenue

At Surfers Paradise's heart, The Avenue pulsates with non-stop entertainment, hosting various shows and events daily. With comedy nights, vibrant drag shows, DJ sets, and soulful live bands, it's a hub of diverse entertainment. Embrace Surfers Paradise's finest bars, clubs, and restaurants nearby. Whether craving rock, pop, country, or R&B, The Avenue showcases burgeoning talents, ensuring a dynamic experience for all music enthusiasts.

Cambus Wallace

Prepare for an evening immersed in the magnetic charm of blues melodies, intimate acoustic performances, and a delightful array of vintage vinyl tunes at Cambus Wallace. Situated at 2237 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach, this venue offers an irresistible invitation to indulge in their expertly crafted cocktails, ensuring a night oand rhythms that cater to every discerning taste. Join the maritime escapade and let The Cambus Wallace be your port of call for an unforgettable experience and captivating entertainment.

Surfers Paradise Beergarden

Recently revamped with a cutting-edge sound and lighting system the Surfers Paradise Beergarden has live bands performing every Thursday through Sunday. Regarded as the home of live music on the Gold Coast the Beergarden follows a proud tradition of supporting loud and local Australian and international acts.

The Broadbeach Tavern

Situated in the heart of Broadbeach and providing live bands every Thursday to Sunday night, the Broadbeach Tavern caters for all music tastes. With great food and drinks on offer, the tavern provides a great atmosphere of fun and excitement.

Coolangatta Sands Hotel

Coolangatta Sands provides free live music every Friday and Sunday night with a Piano bar on Saturday nights. Come in for a meal, a drink or just the live music amid a crowd of locals and backpackers.

The Coolangatta Hotel

The Coolangatta Hotel hosts live entertainment weekly and can cope with a crowd of 1000 in their ‘Cooly Bandroom’. Situated on the Coolangatta beachfront the Cooly is close to public transport and beach views.

Elsewhere Bar

Elsewhere Bar has a philosophy of creating an intimate, stylish venue to support the entertainment arts, promoting great alternative live music. They’ve done just that, regularly hosting world class performers such as Faker and Steve Aoki.

Miami Shark Bar

Hosting a barbeque, bikini girls and live bands every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights the Miami Shark Bar is an ideal live music venue for young people on the Gold Coast. Catering all genres of live music there’s something for everyone.

SoundLounge (Currumbin RSL)

Recently refurbished, the SoundLounge is one of the Gold Coast's premier live music venues for original local, home grown and international artists. With modern production, excellent room acoustics and numerous capacity and seating options the SoundLounge is one venue not to be missed. Most events are held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. View their website for details and ticket purchases!

The Wallaby Hotel

One of the oldest classic Queensland hotels in the Gold Coast area is also home to some of the best live music on offer. Regularly featuring 80s themed nights, Bon Jovi tribute bands and a range of other performers keep locals and tourists alike piling into The Wallaby Hotel.

Miami Marketta

Every Friday and Saturday night (and to a lesser extent Wednesday) the Miami industrial area comes to life with Miami Marketta - grab a bite to eat from one of the beautiful food stalls, visit the bar and catch one of their live acts. The bands are only on the Friday and Saturday nights and cover a pretty broad range of genres so make sure to check out the gig guide on their website. 

Gold Coast Gig Guides

Through our partnership with Gigl, we can provide you with this awesome Gold Coast gig guide!

Gigl is a live music marketplace that connects music lovers, musicians and venues in one simple platform, providing hundreds of upcoming gigs and giving bands and musicians a space to promote their tours.

Images courtesy Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast & Getty Images