Embarking on its third year, much loved Manly concert series Night At The Barracks returns to thrill music lovers with an outstanding line-up of Australian superstars and special live shows, running across four weekends from September 13 – October 6.
The line up has just been announced…
Kicking off the first night of the 2024 series on September 13 is legendary rock band ICEHOUSE, led by iconic singer Iva Davies. With a massive string of hits – from We Can Get Together, to Electric Blue and Hey, Little Girl, and entirely appropriately, Great Southern Land amongst many more – all showcased under the shimmering Manly stars, it promises to be an unforgettable opening evening, with an incredible program of live performances to come.
Revered singer songwriter Pete Murray, one of an elite group of Australian artists to have sold over 1.2 million records across his illustrious career, will join the lineup on night 2 with his spectacular band. Rounding out the first weekend of performers is Gospo Collective, an exceptional gospel choir who will showcase the repertoire of Whitney Houston and the Jackson siblings with a live band and their clever arrangements of the hits.
The second weekend showcases the superb Birds of Tokyo on the Friday night, a band who have swept all before them since the massive impact of Lanterns in 2013.
The Saturday night sees superstar vocalist Jon Stevens paying tribute to the legendary bands that catapulted him to Australian rock royalty, with The Noiseworks & INXS Collection showcasing an outstanding catalogue of hits. On the Sunday, supergroup AUSTRALIAN ROCK COLLECTIVE (ARC) featuring members of Spiderbait, Powderfinger, The Wrights and You Am I, will perform the ‘Best of ARC’ with 2 blistering sets of their favourite hits from iconic artists such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Neil Young, The Easybeats, Jet, Powderfinger, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Midnight Oil.
Week 3 takes it up a notch with the first ever unseated Barracks show – legends of the Australian EDM scene The Presets will be joined by Bag Raiders, both bringing their incredible live shows to North Head. All of the seating will be removed for maximum party vibes!
New Zealand pop rock superstars SIX60, a band that has enjoyed global success, 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!
The series will go out in style, with the final weekend, running from October 4-6, delivering three of Australia’s most compelling artists. First up on the Friday night, sublime singer songwriter Matt Corby and his band, in a rare live show. On the Saturday night is Australia’s sweetheart, dynamic pop superstar, Jessica Mauboy. Performing to a packed house at the very first Night At The Barracks series in 2022, Mauboy delivered one of the most memorable performances of the series to date, and tickets for her live show this year will be highly sought after! Closing the event on Sunday October 6 is mesmerising singer and guitarist extraordinaire Xavier Rudd, playing songs from his latest album Jan Juc Moon, alongside all of his much loved material.
Night at the Barracks has announced Future Super as Presenting Partner as well as major partners Engie, Northern Beaches Council, Gage Roads, Tempus Two, and Manly Spirits, alongside venue partner, Harbour Trust.
Future Super CEO and Founder, Simon Sheikh said “Together with Night at The Barracks we’re looking forward to mobilising the community to celebrate environmental sustainability and live Australian music. There’s some really simple, powerful ways everyone can tackle climate change. We can choose a fossil-free bank and renewable power retailer. We can be active citizens and reach out to our local, state and federal politicians. And we can change where we invest our super – our research with UTS shows just 7.2% of super investment could transition our energy sector to 100% renewable energy.”
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said today, “We are delighted to see Night at the Barracks return for another year. This wonderful event deserves its success, supporting local businesses and providing entertainment in an iconic location on the Beaches. I look forward to seeing our community share in the many wonderful performances by world-class musicians, with family, friends, neighbours and visitors this September and October – a great night for all.”
“North Head’s natural beauty also enhances the overall experience for attendees and contributes to the event’s distinctive atmosphere”
Janet Carding, Executive Director of The Harbour Trust added, “We are pleased North Head Sanctuary’s historic architecture plays an integral part in bringing Night at The Barracks to life under the stars. North Head’s natural beauty also enhances the overall experience for attendees and contributes to the event’s distinctive atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming new visitors to this special place to enjoy this year’s diverse line up of talented artists.”
Ticket holders will be encouraged to use public transport and there will also be bike racks on site to encourage visitors to cycle to the event.
North Head Sanctuary is a hidden wonderland, and ticket holders can journey into this enchanting location steeped in historical significance and natural beauty, gazing up into the night sky whilst experiencing some of Australia’s most extraordinary talent.
As with previous years, the event will also host an array of local food and beverage providers bringing concert-goers a taste of the Northern Beaches, and will proudly support businesses in the surrounding area.
With North Head Sanctuary and the Barracks forming an integral part of Australian history, event organisers said they feel extremely privileged to again be able to share this event series with the general public. To discover more information about North Head Sanctuary, visit the Harbour Trust website HERE.
General public tickets on sale: Wednesday 29 May.
For event and ticketing information head to
Night at the Barracks is a sponsor of Manly Observer. This was a press release, slightly edited.
