Marrickville Music Festival 2025

The seven-stage Marrickville Music Festival is a celebration of Sydney’s most creative suburb, returning this Sunday, October 12, filled with live music, local flavour, and community spirit.

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By Melissa Mantle

The Marrickville Music Festival returns on Sunday 12 October, 12-5pm, packed with free entertainment across the suburb’s main street and laneways. 

Known for championing the creativity, colour and flair of the Inner West, the Festival offers seven stages of live music as well as a range of dining, creative markets and a rollicking street party atmosphere.

This year’s program showcases more than 40 Sydney-based acts spanning rock, pop, hip-hop, funk, folk, blues and world music, alongside community ensembles and international collaborators. Festivalgoers can look forward to sets from headlining favourites Yours Truly, Southey, byjaye, The Colliflowers, and the No Frills Twins, with something new to discover around every corner – quite literally, as there will also be ‘roving’ performances.

And the party doesn’t stop when the sun sets. Official kick-ons will keep the vibes rolling into the evening at The Marrickville Hotel, who have teamed up with The Grifter Brewing Co. for its Annual Party featuring DJ sets from 2pm to 7pm.

The festival is sponsored by Wests Ashfield. Partnerships with live music venue Gasoline Pony, Koori Radio, and the Inner West Artist Market (IWAM) ensure the streets are filled with not just music, but also the best of local food, drinks and handmade goods.

Marrickville Music Festival is designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. AUSLAN interpreters will be available for performances on the Amp’d Up Stage, a Sensory Space will be located on Silver Street, and noise-cancelling headphones will be available on request. Limited accessible parking is provided at the Frampton Street Carpark.

Although Marrickville Road will be closed between Illawarra Road and Victoria Road for the event, public transport remains available, with bus services on routes 418, 423, 425, 423X, and 426 running throughout the day.

Here’s what’s going on across the seven stages:

• Amp’d Up Stage

  • The heart of the festival, Amp’d Up delivers the biggest names and high-voltage sets. Expect rock, pop and standout headline acts, including performances from pop-punk band Yours Truly and sun-soaked indie rock outfit The Colliflowers.

• Blues and Brews Stage

  • Set in a laid-back beer garden, Blues and Crews pairs smooth sounds with a cold drink. The lineup features internationally acclaimed vocalist Zoe K, alongside a program of blues, roots and acoustic grooves. Festivalgoers can sip offerings from local favourites including Batch Brewing Co, Unexpected Guest Distillery, The Grifter Brewing Co., Lily Fields Distilling Co, and Sundowner Brewing Co.

• Plaza Palooza

  • Plaza Palooza is about celebrating cultural expression and experimentation, serving up everything from world music to community-driven performances. The line-up includes the Marrickville Public School Rock Band, now in its third year, alongside the Marrickville High School Rock Band Program, a “misfit crew” of dedicated rockers from grades seven to twelve. Also featured are the Marrickville Glee Club, and Colombian artist collective Dica, Dyfuzo and The Changuas.

• Beats Boulevard

  • On Frampton Avenue, Beats Boulevard brings high-energy sets spanning pop, rock, hip-hop and R&B. Expect festival favourites like alt-pop artist byjaye and the eccentric No Frills Twins delivering you the good times.

• Jam Junction

  • For something a little more smooth and soulful, Jam Junction offers funk, folk and dreamy tunes. Don’t miss Anna Dine, bringing her dream-pop stylings to the stage, and Southey, playing his heartfelt indie folk.

• Gasoline Pony Stages

  • One of Marrickville’s iconic music hubs, Gasoline Pony, hosts two stages for the Festival. On the Indoor Stage, acts like revered five-piece band Love Me keep things original on the Outdoor Stage, while the Indoor Stage lights up with the theatrical energy of eclectic troupe Meshky.

• Koori Radio Tent

  • Sydney’s only First Nations radio station takes residence for the day at the Illawarra Road end of the festival. With DJs spinning tunes all day, Koori Radio brings the pride and celebrates music and culture from Redfern, Australia’s Black capital.

• Roving Performances

  • Expect surprises on the move! The roving program includes Dangerous Mountain Terrain Pancakes, a Celtic funk seven-piece making weird, danceable magic; King Street Brass, delivering New Orleans party energy with a twist of pop; and Scupriri, a Sicilian folk ensemble filling the streets with rhythm.