Isn't summer in Perth the best?! The hot weather is showing no signs of slowing down and there is a plethora of exciting events and gigs on the horizon which gets us all kinds of excited.
So rally up your people, put on your best festival attire and make sure to catch at least one of these Perth bangers.
Here's 10 gigs to catch before the end of Summer...or before the hot weather ends anyway.
St Jerome's Laneway Festival
It's just two sleeps away and we are pumped! Craft beer, an array of tasty local treats and a killer line-up means Laneway 2016 is gonna be big! Laneway has mastered the art of hunting down the biggest upcoming acts to keep on the radar. Gear up for huge sets, summer vibes and some V Day love.
Where: Esplanade Reserve and West End, Fremantle
When: 14 February
For more information, click here
Castaway
Mix Rottnest Island with some killer tunes and you have yourself a heavenly match. Castaway is a new addition to the Aussie festival scene and definitely one to mark in the diary. Drop your anchors while artists What So Not, Golden Features, Sable and Tina Says drop the beats! Expect a varied offering of bright trap beats, deadly dark bass, saccharine club-pop and a whole bunch of party fun in between. Breathe in the salty sea breeze and soak up the backdrop of aqua blue Rotto waters that frame the stage. Yep, you’re on Island time now.
Where: Rottnest Island
When: 21 February
For more information, click here
Sufjan Stevens
If you haven’t seen this guy live, do yourself a favour and try and nab a ticket because he is amazing! Just over a decade on from 'Illinois' and five years from his 'Age of Adz,' Michigan-born songwriter Sufjan Stevens will return to Perth on the back of his latest critically acclaimed album, 'Carrie & Lowell.' Stevens will bring his special talent for haunting and captivating storytelling to Perth’s Red Hill Auditorium and we couldn’t be more excited.
Where: Red Hill Auditorium
When: 2 March
For more information, click here
Enchanted Garden Party
Nature is calling and there ain’t nothing like a good old-fashioned roadie with your besties. Enchanted Garden is a new three-day boutique festival in Manjimup, featuring a mix of local and international artists including Hayden James, ShockOne, Wave Racer, Slumberjack, Jack Beats, Yolanda Be Cool, Basenji, Kilter and Sable. Swim in fresh spring water by day and dance under the stars by night, this new festival guarantees all kinds of sensory overload and will be the perfect playground for a summer weekend getaway.
Where: Manjimup
When: 19—21 February
For more information, click here
Sundown Sessions | St. Germain
As the waves lap on the shore and that familiar orange glow takes over the WA sky, there’s no better place to farewell the warmer weather than at Sundown Sessions. Kick back and chill to St. Germain this March at Freo’s Port Beach for a delightful mix of jazz and house inspired music. Pack the picnic blanket and enjoy the beachside setting with gourmet nosh and some cold bevvies.
Where: Port Beach
When: 12 March
For more information, click here
Sets On The Beach
Good tunes + coastal vibes = Sets on the Beach. There’s no better way to soak up those lingering summer rays than with sand between your toes and a cold one in your hand at the ‘End of Summer’ party coming to Port Beach this March. Unique to Perth, Sets On The Beach has become a summer institution and we love it! Tickets sell out like salted caramel pancakes so book yours now to avoid gig envy. Would be rude not to.
Where: Port Beach
When: 13 March
For more information, click here
Sunset Sounds
Freo’s spanking new art space and live music hangout J-Shed has teamed up with Sunset Sounds to bring us a concert series to keep an eye on this summer. J-Shed will play host to intimate gigs including Missy Higgins, Kate Miller Heidke, Koi Child and local legends San Cisco. The concept behind the space is about creating a unique beach concert experience and these guys have nailed it. Will we be there? With bells on!
Where: J-Shed
When: Various dates
For more information, click here
The Cat Empire
With their latest album and tour appropriately titled ‘Rising with the Sun’, The Cat Empire takes its rightful place on our list of best summer gigs! A fusion of jazz, ska, funk and rock with heavy Latin influences, the ever popular Aussie band will be playing at the Fremantle Arts Centre this March. Front man Felix Reibl explains the new album as “an explosive world, filled with fireworks, exotic flavours and deep rhythm”. Prepare yourself for a night out that will inevitably involve cutting shapes on the d-floor!
Where: Fremantle Arts Centre
When: 4 March
For more information, click here
Ship-Wrecked
Embrace your inner pirate at Ship-Wrecked, a newly launched two-day festival gracing the sandy shores of WA this summer. Described as a mythical water oasis of music, summer and experience, Ship-Wrecked plans to transform Victoria Park’s foreshore into Perth’s largest artificial beach. Two stages, a giant sandspit playground, waterslides, a market place and chillout zones are a few of the many surprises you can expect. Ahoy!
Where: Victoria Park Foreshore
When: 9 April
For more information, click here
Rufus
After recently dropping their second album 'Bloom', Aussie electric trio RUFUS are backing it up with their 2016 album release tour. In the lead-up to the new album, the lads released a number of badass singles including You Were Right, Like An Animal and more recently Innerbloom—a massive nine-minute track that will leave you hanging on to the very last beat. Soooooo good.
Where: Red Hill Auditorium
When: 30 April
For more information, click here
Looking for more things to do in Perth? Check out 50 Things To Do In Perth Under $50!
St Germain | Image credit: Sundown Sessions