Our 9th birthday party is only a matter of days away.
Planning and preparations are well underway - and today we can reveal more details about our shindig at North Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel.
🎧 On the night we’ll be dancing to Sydney DJ, Thomas Knight.
A well known name in the Sydney trance and Hi NRG scene, his sets are full of energy. Thomas has honed a true talent for reading the crowd and getting everyone up on the dance floor.
Expect plenty of top 40, 90s and 00s tunes throughout!
🍽️ Our food order is now confirmed. On the night we’ll be supplying vegan, vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options as we serve up fritters, tartlets, satay skewers, tempura king prawn frittos, spicy pork belly, chilli tofu boa, beef and falafel sliders.
👕 Merchandise will also be available to purchase: on the night we’ll be selling exclusive Gig Buddies’ t-shirts.
🏆 And as always, we’ll be giving away three $50 gift vouchers, courtesy of our lucky door prize. Everyone who joins us at the Greenwood will be given a raffle ticket.
📸 And, for the first time, we’ll be running a social media competition: take a photo or record a video from our 9th and tag Gig Buddies Sydney, either via Instagram or Facebook, and you'll go in the draw to win a FREE DOUBLE PASS to our Christmas party.
🔗 All updates - including a full list of food options and more on the evening’s entertainment, can be found via the ticket link below.
Tickets are selling fast! Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, we invite you to dust off those dancing shoes and party with us.
To join us for our 9th birthday, click here.
Are you looking to volunteer?
We need volunteers! Click on the image above for current roles on the Central Coast and the graphic below for opportunities in Sydney.
If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us via Facebook or email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org
Viva Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House
May is a busy month. Not only are we celebrating our 9th, but Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House is set to take over the city once again - and we’re delighted to offer Gig Buddies’ participants discounted tickets to a number of top events.
This May you’ll find us at the Sydney Opera House for the following:
Tia Gostelow
Venue: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Friday 24 May, 7:00pm
Information: A shapeshifting singer-songwriter with a knack for folk, pop and synth grooves alike, rising Queensland star Tia Gostelow is among Australia’s hottest young musical talents. This is her Vivid LIVE debut.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
dstreet Studio Party (18+)
Venue: Studio, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Saturday 25 May, 9:00pm
Information: Lighting up the Sydney Opera House Studio with guest DJs Mad Miran, Piezo, Kate Miller and Emelyne, Sydney underground dance music collective dstreet. make their Vivid LIVE debut.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Air play Moon Safari
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Sunday 26 May, 4:00pm
Information: Marking their era-defining debut album Moon Safari, French pop duo Air return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall to play the classic album for the first time live in its entirety.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Astral People present Spice Trail: Sid Sriram, Priya Ragu, Raf-Saperra & more
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Tuesday 28 May, 7:00pm
Information: A celebration of the South Asian diaspora as South Indian Carnatic, playback superstar Sid Sriram, Tamil R&B soulstress Priya Ragu and bhangra beat kahuna Raf-Saperra headline an unmissable party from cutting-edge Australian tastemakers Astral People.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Thelma Plum
Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Wednesday 29 May, 8:00pm
Information: Fresh off a Hottest 100 smash with “We Don’t Talk About It”, award-winning, multi-platinum-selling indigenous star Thelma Plum returns for her first Vivid LIVE show – and solo headline debut – since performing with Paul Kelly.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
BARKAA
Venue: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Date/Time: Friday 31 May, 7:30pm
Information: One of Australia’s most thrilling live performers, Malyangapa and Barkindji musician and hip-hop queen BARKAA returns to the Sydney Opera House with her solo debut at Vivid LIVE.
For more information about the event, click here.
Tickets: Gig Buddies’ participants can purchase tickets for $20 each (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
How can I buy tickets?
We’ve had a great uptake so far.
To take advantage of the discounted prices, email the team with the name of the event you’d like to attend along with the number of tickets required. We can be reached at: info@gigbuddiessydney.org.
Once we receive your email, we’ll then forward a unique ticket link.
Please note, the reduced rate only applies for Gig Buddies’ participants. Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, all fully signed up buddies and volunteers are welcome to purchase discounted tickets.
If your buddy is unavailable but you’d like to attend any of the six events, you’re more than welcome to purchase extra ticket(s) for friends, family members or support worker(s).
Once again, we are indebted to the generosity of Vivid Sydney organisers and the Sydney Opera House. Thank you for your ongoing support and for providing participants with the opportunity to sample some of the best live music at this year’s event.
Foodies unite
We also have two additional Gig Buddies’ events scheduled to take place in May.
Firstly, on Saturday 18 May you’ll find us in Gregory Hills for burgers, shakes and street art. Then later in the month, on Wednesday 29 May, we head to Long Jetty for a catch up over some Aussie pub grub.
To sign up for either gig, jump on the links below:
If you have questions about any of our forthcoming events, get in touch: we can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0411 252 228.
Give me five
On the subject of our socials, we facilitated an epic FIVE gatherings in the past week.
We hosted a double-header in Penrith on Thursday. Firstly, we connected with buddies over a spot of aqua golf, held in conjunction with Penrith Youth Week. Then later that evening we retreated to Penrith Panthers Leagues Club for our grand Greater Western Sydney launch.
As for the rest of last week, we caught up with buddies in Chatswood, Hornsby, Burwood and Helensburgh.
Gatherings out west, pub trivia, pickleball, another of our successful over 40 gatherings, and a trip to Symbio Wildlife Park: we certainly got social in the last seven days!
Thank you to everyone who joined us. To see more snaps from our five recent outings, click here.
Keep trying
Last week we shared the sentiments of long term gig buddy and current member of our user-led team, Soul Fly Buddies, Alex.
Speaking about the issue of mateship, this week he follows it up with an article on the importance of not giving up.
“Being part of Gig Buddies, I’ve had my fair share of great volunteers, who I’ve been to great gigs with, but there was a time, and still are times, when I want to see a gig without a volunteer.
When thinking about it, this can be quite irritating: ‘I wish my Gig Buddies’ volunteer could be available…… but they’re not, so what do I do?’
So here’s what you can do if your volunteer is unavailable, or if you’re waiting to be paired:
Don’t think: ‘I can’t go, that’s that’ as you need to keep trying. Instead, give yourself three chances.
Chance number one is asking either one of your parents or your support worker to go. While it might not be as fun as having a volunteer, you can still see what you enjoy.
If they say no, chance number two is to ask one or more of your friends, as that could be just as fun (in some cases, even more fun). If they’re part of Gig Buddies, maybe also ask if their volunteer wants in on the activity as well.
If they also say no, that is when you go for chance number three: if you still really want to go, then simply just go alone.
While it might seem scary or weird, it might help you gain confidence, as well as perhaps meet someone new. And if you’re feeling uneasy at any time while you’re alone, just remember that you can always either call someone who you trust, or find someone who looks helpful and say that it’s your first time attending that particular gig alone, and hopefully they’ll help you.
Maybe also mention that you’re part of Gig Buddies, which can be a powerful way of getting more information about Gig Buddies out there.
- Alex
Updated plan?
And lastly, we’ve a friendly reminder for our buddies that have NDIS plans’.
If you have an unscheduled plan review or the dates/details of your plan change for any reason, it’s very important you let us know.
Any changes to an NDIS participant's plan dates will automatically make your Gig Buddies' service agreement void.
We need to be informed of any date changes so we can update your service agreement and ensure you’re still covered by our public liability insurance when out with your volunteer.
If there have been any changes to your plan or if you’re unsure about your current service agreement, please contact Chelsea, our NDIS Coordinator, either via email: chelsea@assistcom.org or phone: 0412 145 819 or 02 9419 6951 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am - 5pm).
Matthew: Central Coast coordinator (0402 708 814)
Carol: CEO (02 9419 6951)
Chelsea: NDIS coordinator (0412 145 819)
Tony: Funding and sponsorship coordinator (02 9419 6951)
Bec: Sydney coordinator (0411 252 228)
Aylin: Western Sydney coordinator (0466 389 961)
Lara: Greater Western Sydney coordinator (0478 045 121)
Sandon: Southern Sydney coordinator (0478 043 996)
Would you like more information about Gig Buddies Central Coast? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
Gig Buddies Central Coast is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.