The Seymour Centre is turning its Chippendale courtyard into an outdoor live music space this summer. Seymour Sounds runs across six weeks in November and December, with twelve free shows from some of Sydney’s best players in nu-jazz, neo-soul and R&B. It’s a jam-packed selection of outstanding artists, and the perfect way to ease our way into the festive season.
The series takes over from the venue’s much-loved Seymour Nights program. Seymour Sounds has been designed to celebrate the diversity and creativity of Sydney’s contemporary music community. With performances taking place every Thursday and Saturday evening, the courtyard will be transformed into what organisers describe as an “outdoor living room”, creating an intimate setting where audiences can discover new artists, catch up with friends and enjoy some exceptional live music.
Curated by John Troughton, the inaugural program reflects the depth of talent emerging from Sydney’s underground, bringing together established performers and rising artists whose music frequently crosses traditional genre boundaries.
Seymour Centre Artistic Director Joanne Kee sees the series as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the venue, local artists and the wider community.
“This reimagining of our courtyard series celebrates those who live, work, play and create in our neighbourhood. Find new sounds, hang out with local artists, fans, friends, situational peeps, or just come as you are, and enjoy the music, as we build an exciting new space in our city.”
She adds: “In my first year, I’m thrilled to be placing music at the heart of Seymour. Through Seymour Sounds, under the curation of John Troughton, we’re creating space for artists and audiences to explore and to gather and to fall in love with Seymour’s Sydney sounds.”
All shows start at 6pm. Entry is free. The Seymour Centre is on the corner of City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale. Here’s who’s playing.
SETWUN opens the series on Thursday 5 November. The producer and bandleader has spent years building a catalogue that runs through contemporary jazz, deep house, neo-soul and hip-hop. He performs both solo and with his live band The Soulstranauts.
Ella Haber follows on Saturday 7 November. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist builds alternative soul and jazz arrangements around a strong voice. Her records clearly know their jazz and R&B history, but she isn’t interested in repeating it.
Ugandan-born, Sydney-based AGUM plays Thursday 12 November. Her pop-soul draws comparisons to Nina Simone and Erykah Badu, and her live sets swing between vulnerable and forceful.
Flux State bring something different on Saturday 14 November. The hybrid electronic/acoustic group came out of the Inner West DIY scene and make experimental dance music that mixes live playing with controlled electronic chaos.
Western Sydney’s TAHKOE plays Thursday 19 November. The musician and producer was nominated for Next Best Thing at the 2024 FBi SMAC Awards. He has worked with Sollyy, Cherry Rype and emjaysoul, and sings over beats that pull from hip-hop, soul and R&B.
Anieszka comes home on Saturday 21 November after a year spent building her audience overseas. The Australian/Mauritian R&B and soul artist has passed 10 million streams and had support from triple j, BBC Radio, Capital XTRA and COLORS.
Ruby Jackson takes the Thursday 26 November slot. The songwriter and producer has supported Ngaiire and Morcheeba alongside her own headline shows, and her soul and R&B is polished without feeling laboured.
Saturday 28 November is likely to be one of the less predictable nights. Manfredo Lament is an improvised jazz collective led by Kurt Lam and Gabriel Haslam, with more than 30 members on rotation. Each show brings together a different mix of local and interstate players.
Yasmina Sadiki opens December on Thursday the 3rd. Her alt-jazz and neo-soul draws on her own life, with songs about womanhood, love and philosophy, and her shows have built a following in Sydney’s underground.
RIAH, from Sydney’s southwest, plays Saturday 5 December. The R&B singer-songwriter is of Tongan, Fijian, Italian and Aboriginal (Kamilaroi) descent and won triple j Unearthed’s Indigenous Initiative in 2024. Since then she has supported The Kid LAROI, Electric Fields and BARKAA. Her music comes from a love of ’90s R&B, so think Aaliyah, with some SZA and H.E.R. in the mix.
Five-piece instrumental collective Hey, Love play Thursday 10 December. They mix jazz, soul and hip-hop into warm, groove-driven sets and leave plenty of room to rework songs on the night.
Jerome Blazé closes the series on Saturday 12 December. The artist and producer draws on electronic music, trip-hop, soul and neo-classical, and his work has been compared to Moby, Air and Rotary Connection. I’m looking forward to catching Jerome. I saw him support Ngaiire at the City Recital Hall in 2022, and was blown away.
It’s the perfect opportunity to discover your next favourite artist from an impressive lineup of talented musicians, all in a wonderfully relaxed and welcoming setting. All shows are free. The Seymour Centre is on the corner of City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale.
SEYMOUR SOUNDS 2026
Seymour Centre Courtyard, City Road & Cleveland Street, Chippendale
Thursday 5 November – SETWUN
Saturday 7 November – Ella Haber
Thursday 12 November – AGUM
Saturday 14 November – Flux State
Thursday 19 November – TAHKOE
Saturday 21 November – Anieszka
Thursday 26 November – Ruby Jackson
Saturday 28 November – Manfredo Lament
Thursday 3 December – Yasmina Sadiki
Saturday 5 December – RIAH
Thursday 10 December – Hey, Love
Saturday 12 December – Jerome Blazé
Images supplied
