Regional and Remote Music Summit 2025
From Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 July 2025, we co-hosted the second annual Regional & Remote Music Summit with Music NSW.
The Summit included over 260 artists, industry professionals, policy makers and regional leaders from across Australia.
Together they explored the regeneration of grassroots music communities and regional leadership in the music sector.
Photo credit: Emily Cherie Read
Event highlights
The Summit opened with the NSW Regional Music Roundtable at Byron Theatre. This event gathered insights from around 100 stakeholders to inform future sector planning.
Summit attendees were welcomed with a reception at The Shack, The Beach Hotel. Guests enjoyed:
- Welcome to Country by Cr Delta Kay
- Speeches from all levels of government
- Catering by Mindy Woods
- Performances by Bobby Alu and Ms Renee Simone.
Two-day Summit
The two-day Summit followed at Byron Theatre, featuring:
- panels
- workshops
- showcases.
The focus was on strengthening regional music ecosystems, cultural exchange, sustainability and collaboration.
Mayor Sarah Ndiaye joined a panel on how festivals are building communities and driving renewal.
Evening activations
- Little Bands showcase at Howl & Moan Records
- Live Nation’s ‘Ones to Watch’ at The Northern
- Dashville does the Bowlo at Bangalow Bowlo
These events celebrated the diversity and vibrancy of regional music as well as offering valuable connections, resources and tools.
Tools and insights shared
Key themes explored
- Sustainable touring and local circuits
- Mental health support for artists
- Venue and promoter education
- Cultural exchange and regenerative tourism
- Balancing commercial and artistic outcomes
- Climate resilience in live music
- First Nations leadership and cultural safety
- Creative activation of spaces and places
For more information on this year’s Summit and other music sector content, visit the Music NSW website.