Having toured Australia off the back of Lonerism in late 2012, it was ambitious of Tame Impala to book Hordern Pavilion just a few months later, but the crowds arrived in droves in anticipation of a more refined show following their overseas ventures.

Tame Impala brought their psychedelic sounds to Sydney's Hordern Pavilion - their biggest headline show ever in the city - supported by the Midnight Juggernauts. Photography by Pete Dovgan.

It would be hard to not be overwhelmed if you were Flume; the Sydney producer’s whirlwind success is continually shooting forward at a rapid pace, selling out gigs nation-wide and proving to be the most bankable DJ in Australia right now. Two all-ages concerts at the Hordern Pavillion with his pal Chet Faker - both sold out – kicked off his massive tour and put to rest any doubts about whether or not he deserves all this attention.

Flume and Chet Faker perform in front of a massive sold out crowd at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney with a brand new light show and more... Gwendolyn Lee was there to capture all the action.

Around 5000 volunteers traded four hours of their time for a nice initiative called Optus RockCorps. The idea: encourage youth to help around the community and in return, reward them with tickets to a massive concert with four big-name acts. It’s a concept that has been happening in cities around the world, with artists like Snoop Dogg and Lady Gaga getting involved to help promote a community spirit.

The Optus RockCorps concert was held for 5000 volunteers last night at Hordern Pavilion. Acts include The Faders, Guy Sebastian, The Potbelleez, Tinie Tempah and The Script (pictured).

There is no denying the very distinctive sound of The XX and whether or not they put on a good show, the question was always ‘’how are they going to adapt their intimate sound to larger venues.’’ From a couple of hundred at 2010’s Laneway festival, to last year’s dizzying show at Metro Theatre, and now to the Hordern Pavillion where they played to their biggest – and most enthusiastic – Australian crowds to date. There were parts that worked extremely well, but English trio seemed to get too ambitious at times, sacrificing their soft, poignant melodies, for house-influenced re-works that proved hit or miss.

The Prodigy is one of the few live dance acts that can give you an unbridled amount of adrenaline, absolutely demanding you give 110% at every one of their concerts and leave drenched in a pungent combination of sweat and alcohol. The English veterans, now in their 40’s, are still re-inventing their live shows and outlasting the many mosh pits they inspire; they really are a live act not to be missed.

Pictured: The Prodigy.

When Leonard Cohen launched his revival concerts earlier in the decade, his stature ensured he would tour the world with the finest musicians in the industry; the sort who have instruments named after them. But he's far from the only legend to accumulate such talent. Since the mid-90s, The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr has been touring the world with his aptly named All-Starr Band, all of whom are established names in their own right (look no further than legendary guitarist Steve Lukather and you get the idea). It gave Starr the opportunity to play shows with musicians he admired ("spend my summers playing music with my friends" as he put it), enhance his own music and pad out the nature of his performance.

The Beatles' Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band featuring Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera, Gregg Rolie (Santana & Journey) and Gregg Bissonette played Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. Photography by Pete Dovgan.

National tours must be draining experiences. Playing two New Year’s Eve shows in different locations, flying to a New Year’s Day festival and then travelling back up two days later for your headline Sydney show. Oof! Even with such a hectic schedule, it was great to see the increasingly popular Two Door Cinema Club absolutely light up the Hordern with an electrifying performance.

In news that's pleased many a fan, Alexisonfire has announced that they'll be stopping by Australia for two farewell shows at the end of the year, as part of their upcoming world tour. Beginning in London and winding up in Canada, the band will be touring through December, celebrating their 10th anniversary and saying a final goodbye to their immense fan base.