A free afternoon of grunge, a Tina Turner tribute and an intimate night with Katy Steele are just some of the highlights of the Lake Macquarie spring arts program.
Running from late September through October, the line-up brings live music and independent cinema to Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima and Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba.
There’s plenty beyond the usual stage-and-spotlight experience, too, with a jazz gig combining music with responsive visuals and a global short-film event.
MAP mima Rocks
Date: Saturday 26 September 2026, 3–9pm
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima
Five bands will bring an afternoon of alternative and grunge sounds to MAP mima, with a bill celebrating local talent and the raw energy of the ’90s.
Glycerine opens proceedings, followed by Smacked Youth, The Janes and Empress, before STOMP takes the final slot. Whether you grew up on distorted guitars or are discovering your next favourite local act, this one offers six hours to settle in and turn it up.
SET TIMES
- Glycerine: 3–3:45pm
- Smacked Youth: 4:10–4:55pm
- The Janes: 5:20–6:05pm
- Empress: 6:30–7:15pm
- STOMP: 7:40–8:30pm
Entry is free, but places are limited and you’ll need to book.
Manhattan Short Film Festival
Date: Friday 2 October 2026, 7:30pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
Fancy having a say in which film takes the honours? Manhattan Short puts the audience in the judge’s seat, with ten finalist films screening at more than 500 venues worldwide.
The Warners Bay audience will join more than 100,000 film lovers across six continents, watching the finalists and voting for their favourite. It’s a local night at the movies with a much bigger conversation attached.
SIMPLY THE BEST: Rebecca O’Connor as Tina Turner
Date: Saturday 3 October 2026, 7:30pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
Rebecca O’Connor brings her Tina Turner tribute to Warners Bay as part of a 2026 international touring schedule, channelling the powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll.
The show celebrates Turner’s music and spirit, combining nostalgia with O’Connor’s own performance energy. The supplied release even carries an endorsement attributed to Turner herself: “Rebecca is so good, it’s scary.”
Jazz at MAP mima
Date: Friday 9 October 2026, 6–8pm
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima
The Benny Rowdy Quartet will perform inside MAP mima’s 360-degree projection Cube for a jazz experience that surrounds the audience with more than sound.
Full-circle visuals respond to the notes and rhythms as the quartet plays, creating a shifting backdrop to the live performance. It’s a chance to hear jazz in a setting where the room becomes part of the show.
Pavilion Film Festival
Dates: Thursday 22–Sunday 25 October 2026
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima
The inaugural Pavilion Film Festival will celebrate independent filmmaking, with bold and diverse storytelling from local, national and international filmmakers.
Screenings will make use of the Pavilion’s spaces to create an intimate viewing experience, while the program extends beyond the films themselves. Filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, masterclasses and community workshops will give audiences opportunities to hear from the people behind the camera and explore how their stories reach the screen.
SONIDO: Andean & Latin American Roots
Date: Saturday 24 October 2026, 7–9pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
SONIDO brings decades of Latin American musical tradition to Warners Bay, performing original songs made in Australia with a multi-instrumentalist line-up.
Formed in 1977, the group began with traditional Andean music and instruments including the charango and zampoña. A new generation took up the mantle in the 1990s, introducing broader, more contemporary influences while retaining the group’s connection to Latin American folkloric sounds.
That long musical journey sits at the heart of a performance grounded in tradition and shaped by fresh influences.
THIS IS ME, UNDRESSED: Katy Steele
Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 7:30–9:35pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
Following a national run of UNDRESSED shows earlier this year and the release of her limited-edition Undressed album, Katy Steele is bringing the intimate live experience to regional Australia.
The stripped-back approach revisits songs from her solo catalogue alongside Little Birdy favourites, giving familiar material space to breathe. The album also features interpretations of Because the Night, Perfect Day and Ben, known through Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Michael Jackson respectively.
For the Warners Bay show, expect a raw performance with Steele’s voice and songwriting at its centre.
GET TICKETS & Make a season of it
Bookings are open across the program now, with limited places available, so make sure you grab your tickets early.
If you’re planning to catch a few events? Lake Mac Arts membership starts at $56 per year. The advertised benefits include two complimentary tickets to a 2026 event, 10 per cent off tickets throughout the year and a complimentary drink at eligible events, while supporting the growth of Lake Macquarie’s local arts.
