Main photo: The Empty Threats // Credit: Nash Blight
From morning to midnight on Saturday 20 June, more than 360 performers will play across 40 venues in the CBD and North Adelaide for Make Music Day.
Following its successful Adelaide debut last year, the free 2026 program stretches across genres, cultures and communities, bringing live music into both iconic venues and unexpected corners of the city. Think indie-pop in a florist, ambient sound in a bookshop and shoegaze in a cafe.
Part of a global movement that began in France as Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day celebrates the creativity, diversity and energy that defines Adelaide as a UNESCO City of Music.
To help you navigate the packed program, we’ve pulled together ten picks to consider for your own Make Music Day trail.
Here’s our round up >>
ADELAIDE RAILWAY STATION
North Terrace // 11am-1pm
Training into the city? Adelaide Railway Station makes an easy first stop on your Make Music Day trail. Primary school students from the Festival of Music Choir bring a sweet welcome to commuters at 11am, followed by a classical performance from 50 young string musicians at midday. Then, wander deeper into the city’s day-long live music takeover.
EAST END FLOWER MARKET
Halifax Street // 12pm-3pm
Three hours of live music surrounded by the colours and scents of fresh flowers. Lucinda Lake kicks things off at midday with her blend of pop, rock and folk, followed by R&B-pop artist Nat Luna, folk-rock songwriter Jack Ray and indie outfit Great Lake. The afternoon wraps up with an intimate set from Naomi Keyte and Grace Vandals. Highly likely you’ll leave with a handful of posies.
SMOKING FISH
Carrington Street // 12pm-3pm
Café, retail space and artist studio Smoking Fish welcomes Radio Gado Gado for a midday set of Indonesian dance music, followed by songwriter and producer Frank Justin with bedroom indie-pop. Author of the Accident, the home-recording project of Allison Chhorn, takes over with a world of shoegaze and dream pop, joined by band members Alister Douglas and Zach Caporale. Enjoy with a pandan lamington and coffee.
TIA LIVE
Hindley Street // 12pm-3:30pm
On the heavier and louder end of the trail, head to revived West End venue TIA Live, formerly known as The Big Ticket. The lineup highlights SA talent with experimental post-hardcore from xGemmini, heavy rock from Nómada, whose roots stretch to Colombia, punk from Death Televised and heavy, cathartic metal from Falter.
OXFAM BOOKSHOP
Hutt Street // 1pm-3pm
For a quieter moment, slip into Oxfam Bookshop. Andy Salvanos performs at 1pm with solo instrumental ambient music between the shelves, followed by Coruscalia Collective at 2pm with contemporary classical sounds.
AUSTRALIAN MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRE
Coglin Street // 2pm-5:30pm
Make Music Day meets World Refugee Day with ‘Café Musica: A Million Stories, A Million Songs’ — an intimate afternoon of music from Afghanistan, Nepal and Ukraine. Presented as part of SA Refugee Week, the event marks the arrival of the one millionth refugee to Australia since World War II.
The program features Afghan music from the Feroz Ansari Group and Farid Drokhshan Trio, followed by Nepalese flautist John Rashin Singh Duo and Leleke Ukrainian Women’s Vocal Group.
THE HOWLING OWL
Vaughan Place // 4pm-8pm
L.I.L.L.I kicks things off at 4pm with disco, Italo-pop and Brazilian funk, followed by Elena’s reggae and island sounds. The Leyla Klasina Quartet brings jazz to the room, before Terry’s Pocket takes over with funk, jazz and groove, followed by Eliza Dickson with neo-soul.
LOWLIFE BASEMENT BAR
Pirie Street // 6pm-11:30pm
Six SA acts head below ground for an intimate night in one of the city’s grungy basement bars. Starting at 6pm, Georgia Oatley opens with electronic and trip-hop sounds, before Ned Baulderstone shifts into folk-rock and Pearly Stars bring alternative indie-rock to the room. My Chérie brings ethereal folk rock, followed by Loopole’s garage-tinged post-punk and Coldwave’s alternative rock to round out the night.
HONEYDRIPPER
Frome Street // 7pm-1:30am
An all-vinyl, back-to-back DJ affair. East End’s Honeydripper hosts Cazeaux O.S.L.O. and Nelson Dialect of Sunset Cities project, spinning hip-hop, funk, soul, disco, boogie and everything in between. Mandatory cocktails here.
THE HOTEL METROPOLITAN
Grote Street // 9pm-11:30pm
Runt Records, an independent events collective created for “queers, freaks and grrrls”, takes over programming at The Metro for the night. Rosie and the Posies kick things off just after 9pm with “four girls screaming”, followed by Witch Spit’s “feral girl” punk energy. The Empty Threats close the show with their post-punk and noise-rock antics.
Make Music Day: Saturday 20 June
