Live at the Bowl 5 January – 25 April 2022
After the huge success of the inaugural Live at the Bowl season over 2020/21, Arts Centre Melbourne is proud to announce its return for 2022 spanning four months from 5 January – 25 April.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be welcoming visitors back to our beloved Bowl for a brand new season of live events. Once again, Live at the Bowl will play a significant part in reinvigorating Victoria’s live performance sector bringing local and international artists back to the Bowl. This is another milestone in our recovery and we are delighted that it will be kicking off very soon,” said Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Claire Spencer AM.
As we emerge from yet another year of closure, the second season of Live at the Bowl is a significant moment for live performance. It will reconnect audiences with their favourite artists and with something for everyone across multiple nights of the week, the 2022 calendar never looked so good!
The upcoming season features a stunning program of classical and contemporary music, circus, dance, comedy, family events, community-led events and more as we celebrate and come together in the new world of a vaccinated economy.
“The return of Live at the Bowl with a blockbuster summer season offers Victorians of all ages the opportunity to enjoy some of the biggest live acts as we continue to reopen. Victoria is Australia’s music heartland and the industry is returning stronger than ever, allowing more people to enjoy a summer of great gigs,” said Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson.
With some of the hottest acts from across the country, and the world, the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl will return to its glorious open-air structure for all to enjoy live performances under the twinkling skies, share a picnic on the hill, take in a symphony at sunset or dance the night away to their favourite musicians.
In line with the Department of Health and current government advice, events will allow up to 12,000 visitors making decks a thing of the past as the Bowl operates at 100% capacity. However for some family events, we will welcome 2,000 people in the stalls only.
“We are thrilled to present the second season of Live at the Bowl. With just under 100,000 people attending the first season and over 1,300 artists and performers on stage, it would be remiss of us not to bring it back. We are confident that our audiences will return to our venue feeling safe and comfortable, particularly after the recent success of Play On Victoria,” said Arts Centre Melbourne Executive Director, Performing Arts Melanie Smith.
The Bowl is for all Victorians and we are proud to once again support community-led events during Live at the Bowl including the annual celebration of the survival of First Nations people at Share the Spirit presented by Songlines on 26 January; iconic freestyle dance battle City Sessions; a collaboration between Soju Gang and Footscray Community Arts which will see a jam-packed line-up of some of Burn City’s most exciting talent in SorBaes: Double Dip plus, an all-ages drug and alcohol-free gig curated by The Push and New Slang, a committee of the next generation of music industry professionals. These line-ups will be announced in the coming months.
To kick things off though, families and children can marvel at Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show from 5 – 9 January. In a first for world-class circus company Circa, it will be performed in an outdoor environment in what will be a must-see family event packed full of smart wit, vibrant circus skills and daredevil acrobatics.
The overall season focuses on live music with a broad mix of local artists taking to the main stage including The Teskey Brothers with Orchestra Victoria, The Jungle Giants, Hoodoo Gurus, Lime Cordiale and more. Plus, an extensive program of electronic events like Piknic Électronik, Synthony No.2 and Ultra Australia 2022.
For the first time since March 2019, big names like London Grammar, Flight Facilities, BENEE, Kings of Leon, Peggy Gou, Boris Brejcha and Thomas Schumacher will make their way to Australian shores making Live at the Bowl among the first to host international acts. Then, in February audiences can enjoy their cherished MSO free concerts.
Food trucks will again be onsite offering a variety of delicious bites throughout the season in addition to two choices of food hampers. The first, a selection of cured meats from Melbourne based smokehouse Andrews Choise and the second an Indigenous grazing box created by Pawa Catering. This box will celebrate the unique colours and flavours of native herbs and spices through infused cheeses, grilled and pickled veggies, cured kangaroo and fresh dips. These hampers will only be available to pre-order when buying tickets to select shows.
To celebrate the occasion, our bars will be serving a premium selection of wines, beers, spirits, seltzers and cocktails. Plus, there will be a range of alcohol free drinks from Lyres, NewBlood and Sobah.
All visitors will need to check-in via the Service Victoria app upon entering the Bowl and show proof of vaccination or a medical exemption.
Further programming will be announced across the season.
Calendar of events
| 5 – 9 January | Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show |
| 22 January | The Teskey Brothers with Orchestra Victoria |
| 26 January | Share the Spirit presented by Songlines |
| 29 January | The Jungle Giants |
| 5 February | City Sessions |
| 6 February | Piknic Électronik: Boris Brejcha & Thomas Schumacher |
| 9 February | MSO free concert: A Symphonic Soiree |
| 12 February | MSO free concert: An Evening of John Williams |
| 18 February | Synthony No.2 |
| 19 February | MSO free concert: One Song – The Music of Archie Roach |
| 24 February | London Grammar |
| 5 March | Ultra Australia 2022 |
| 12 March | SorBaes: Double Dip by Soju Gang and Footscray Community Arts |
| 25 March | BENEE |
| 26 March | Flight Facilities |
| 1 – 2 April | Kings of Leon |
| 3 April | Piknic Électronik: Peggy Gou and more |
| 6 April | Hoodoo Gurus |
| 10 April | The Push: Live at the Bowl |
| 12 April | Lime Cordiale |
For more information visit artscentremelbourne.com.au
