CULTURE
Venue Spotlight: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
One of Naarm/Melbourne's most iconic venues has long stood as the pearl in its city's musical offering. This NYE, it plays host to New Year's At The Bowl. We spoke with them about what the rising electronic music use of the space means for new audiences.
Many venues across the globe become synonymous with the city they’re in. One of the country’s most iconic, The Opera House, is what many people think of when they think of Gadigal Land/Sydney.
For Naarm/Melbourne, that venue is the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
The amphitheatre, nestled on the cusp of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Yarra River and the city itself, was Naarm’s first major purpose-built outdoor venue, and opened in 1959. Since its opening, it’s played host to some of the world’s biggest acts, including the likes of The Seekers, AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond, Metallica, Florence and the Machine and many more. In recent years, the Bowl has undergone a massive modernisation of its programming, making it the home of some of the world's and the city’s most revered electronic acts, too.
Recently, that’s seen it host events for Freeform Festival, Circoloco, Jamie xx, Sara Landry and a growing list of others.
This NYE, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl adds the NYE countdown to that list, with brand new festival New Year's At The Bowl bringing Naarm to life, and featuring a stacked lineup of local and international talent, led by electronic music icons Underworld and Carl Cox, as well as featuring Berlioz, Confidence Man, Joy Crookes , Ross From Friends pres. Bubble Love, Tornado Wallace, Sam Gellaitry, Good Neighbours, INJI, Emma-Jean Thackray, Harvey Sutherland, Roza Terenzi, Kamma & Masalo, Prosumer, Alex Kassian, Aldonna, X & IVY, Big Wett, Any Young Mechanic, and Shantan Wantan Ichiban.
To better understand how the Bowl will act as the perfect place to set its city alight come NYE, we spoke with Fiona Stafford, the venue’s Operations Manager.
Q: What does the Sidney Myer Music Bowl represent to you within Melbourne’s cultural landscape, and how has its role evolved over time?
FS: The Bowl feels like a cultural constant in Melbourne as it’s been a place where people have gathered for decades, across generations, to experience music and shared moments.
Historically, it’s been synonymous with orchestral music and large civic gatherings, but over time, it’s evolved to reflect the city itself. It’s become more diverse, more experimental, and more open to different ways of experiencing live music.
What hasn’t changed is its sense of occasion. Whether it’s a free concert, a major international tour, or a community event, there’s always a feeling that what’s happening matters.
Q: You’re about to host NYE at the Bowl. How does it feel knowing the Bowl will house such a big moment on a culturally significant day?
FS: New Year’s Eve feels like the perfect extension of what the Bowl already does best: bringing people together for shared moments. Hosting such a significant cultural event in a venue with so much history adds an extra layer of meaning.
There’s something special about welcoming a new year in a place that has witnessed so many milestones. It feels celebratory and distinctly Melbourne all at once.
Q: In your view, what distinguishes the Bowl from other outdoor venues in Australia?
FS: Its location is unparalleled, being set within the lush gardens of Kings Domain and minutes from the CBD, yet it feels like you’ve stepped into a different world.
The natural amphitheatre and permanent stage structure give it a sense of scale and intimacy at the same time, which is quite rare.
Many patrons haven’t just attended shows here; they’ve grown up with the Bowl. It’s a place woven through their lives, carrying memories across generations. So many people have a Bowl story – they’ve gone to their first gig here or had such a fond and memorable experience.
Q: Which aspects of the venue’s design contribute most to both performer and audience experience?
FS: The sweeping canopy is iconic, but it’s also incredibly functional as it frames the stage beautifully while supporting acoustics and offering weather protection for the stage and reserved seating area.
The sloped lawn creates a genuine connection between the audience and performers; even from the back, you still feel part of the show. From a performer's perspective, the scale of the stage combined with the openness of the setting creates an atmosphere that’s both exciting and uniquely Melbourne.
Q: What do you think has driven the rise of dance and electronic events being hosted at the Bowl?
FS: Melbourne’s electronic and dance music culture has matured, and audiences are looking for experiences that feel bigger and more immersive. The Bowl offers scale without sacrificing atmosphere, allowing dance events to feel expansive while remaining connected to nature and place.
We’ve also noticed a shift toward daytime and sunset events, which suit the Bowl beautifully and align with how people want to experience electronic music now.
Q: Do you see this shift toward electronic music as a natural evolution of the venue or a challenge to its traditional identity?
FS: Very much a natural evolution.
The Bowl has always reflected the city’s cultural tastes, and those tastes change over time.
What matters is that the core values remain of accessibility, quality, and shared experience. Electronic music absolutely fits within that framework.
Q: How has the audience demographic responded to these newer styles of programming, and what reactions have you noticed more broadly?
FS: We’re seeing younger audiences discovering the Bowl for the first time, which is incredibly exciting. At the same time, long-standing patrons are often pleasantly surprised by how well these events sit within the space.
Broadly, the response has been one of excitement, and people are embracing the idea that the Bowl can hold many identities at once.
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See set times for New Year's At The Bowl's inaugural edition below:
Tickets are available via New Year’s At The Bowl’s website.
