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Returning for a second year, The City of Parramatta’s award-winning Parramatta Nights event will transform the CBD into a live performance hub with an impressive range of free performances and activities during its six-week outdoor run kicking off on 17th March.

On offer is an eclectic line-up of outdoor performances including Jazz After Dark, followed by Parramatta Nights Street Festival on 18th March.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis notes “the streets of Parramatta will be filled with the sound of music as the 2022 Parramatta Nights program gets underway with Jazz After Dark and the Parramatta Nights Street Festival.

“It’s great to be able to host such an incredible array of artists and performers in our City for the return of Parramatta Nights. I encourage everyone to come and join in the fun!”

Department of Planning and Environment Executive Director Public Spaces Caroline Butler-Bowdon said the NSW Government was supporting the state's economic recovery by funding councils in the 13 LGAs that were most impacted by last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns to reimagine their streets and laneways.

Butler-Bowdon advised “our public spaces, including our streets, have become a focal point during the pandemic and we’re enabling Councils to revitalise their laneways, streets and squares to help local economies and the hospitality, arts, and music sectors to get back on their feet.

“It’s all part of our Open Streets program, which is about re-energising and reimagining our streets, and creating a sense of excitement and discovery with community activities that the public can get out and enjoy.”

Jazz After Dark | Parramatta Square | Thursday–Sunday, 17th–27th March

Running over eight nights, Jazz After Dark will captivate audiences with a mix of international-inspired sounds, from a New Orleans-style street party with Eamon Dilworth's Crawfish Po Boys to Persian chamber jazz from the award-winning Eishan Ensemble, and electronica by improvising duo Sumn Conduit featuring artists Ben Carey and Dharawal woman Sonya Holowell. There will also be performances by 343 Brass Band, Cope St Parade, Anna Salleh, and the Kate Wadey Trio.

With a program curated by Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA), attendees can indulge in food and drinks from Parramatta Square’s popular eateries – CicciaBella, LILYMU, Ruse Bar and Brasserie, Betty’s Burgers and Rivareno Gelato – while soaking in a world of global music culture.

Parramatta Nights Street Festival | Phillip Street and surrounds | Friday–Sunday, 18th–27th March

A new addition to this year’s program, Parramatta Nights Street Festival is a multi-venue event with five stages across the CBD offering a variety of electronica, hip-hop, soul, funk and punk music performances, along with collaborations by organisations, record labels, radio presenters and more.

Festival-goers are invited to experience and celebrate the diverse culture and talent that Western Sydney has to offer over two huge weekends.

Weekend one highlights include: music from Jamaican dancehall DJ and singer Sister Nancy, African-Australian guitarist and rapper Blessed, and Triple J Unearthed winner A.GIRL; family-friendly performances by Soul of Sydney DJs, accompanied by MCs, break dancers and kids dance workshops; roving magic by Jackson Aces; a Holi  community celebration; and street science with Children’s Discovery.

Weekend two highlights include: two nights of hip-hop on a carpark rooftop by The Area Movement featuring Day1, Huskii, Rops, along with Harvey Sutherland; Australian punk rockers Pist Idiots, an all-female and non-binary line-up of music led by Jesswar and Kymie. There will also be Canned Fruit LGBTQIA+ night; a Sunday session with Emma Donovan and The Putbacks, and Ausecuma Beats; a giant octopus installation, Octopoda; Off the Radar DJs presented by FBI Radio; and a Kids Disco featuring DJ Levins.

Pop-up bars, food stalls, art installations and roving performers can also be found throughout the precinct.

Parramatta’s autumn event series runs over six weeks and all events will be delivered in line with public health orders.

All events are FREE to attend; no ticket or registration is required.

Jazz After Dark and the Parramatta Nights Street Festival is funded by the NSW Government’s The Festival of Place in association with City of Parramatta Council.

Jazz After Dark is a City of Parramatta partnership with Parramatta Square and Sydney Improvised Music Association.

For more information and the full program, visit atparramatta.com/parramatta-nights

Image top: Jazz After Dark; Image above: Parramatta Nights 2022 Alma Orchestra. Credit: Cassandra Hannagan 

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