Cynics of Perth’s live entertainment scene need only look at the first two months of 2025 to be reminded that many global stars do in fact view the west coast as a must-visit when planning their Aussie itineraries.
Or if they don’t, they’ll cop an earful from audiences — and a barrage of DMs online begging them to reconsider.
Famously taking over Langley Park in March last year, British DJ Fred again.. bowed to the pressure of local music fans when claiming he’d experienced “no louder city” begging him to perform.
Days later, the elusive artist announced a massive show in WA and admitted the plan all along was that his tour “must end in Perth”.
Looking ahead to a stacked early 2025, rap megastar Drake will arrive in February and answered the call of unlucky fans who missed out on tickets to his initial show by adding a second.
British ‘brat’ Charli xcx will headline Laneway Festival a couple of weeks later, with the bona fide megastar blazing a party trail through the US with Perth’s Troye Sivan in recent months.
RAC Arena marketing manager Marika Bailey reaffirmed the top-tier talent heading West in the new year.
Predicting both of Grammy-winner Drake’s shows to be sell-outs, Ms Bailey said a couple of industry veterans were also tracking for massive turnouts.
“Another two sell-out shows are Bryan Adams and Kylie (Minogue),“ she said.
“Very limited tickets for both on the ninth and 15th of February respectively, which is just awesome that we’re getting this level of talent and international stardom coming to Perth.”
Rolling through the early stages of 2025, world-class comedians Sarah Millican and Russell Peters will also be putting people on seats at RAC Arena.
With a mixed bag of musical acts in Motown heroes Human Nature, American icon Cyndi Lauper, and pop sweetheart Gracie Abrams, April and May will be far from slim pickings for local music fans.
“The first half of the year is action packed,” Ms Bailey said.
But it’s not just musicians and comedians filling out Perth’s entertainment calendar, with novel sporting festivals and free community events offering residents a taste of their favourite things across the seasons.
David Gardiner, director of PR and events agency DGPR, touted the global HSBC SVNS rugby festival at HBF Park as an event not to be missed in January when it returns to Perth for its second consecutive year.
“It’s rugby meets music festival meets entertainment all day long, for three days straight,” he said.
“You’re watching players warm up. You’ve got food trucks. You can take the family, you can go with your mates. People dress up in costumes. It’s insane.”
Evergreen summer fixture Fringe World will bring the full gamut of emotions and experiences at the back end of summer, along with the sprawling Perth Festival.
At a community level, the annual Joondalup Valentines Concert is always one to circle, while Fremantle’s Sculpture at Bathers will frame local art pieces in the gorgeous landscapes they were inspired by.
With endless events of all sizes popping up throughout the year, Mr Gardiner offered advice to those who subscribe to Perth’s ‘boring city’ tag.
“Stop staring at the screen and look up, there is something happening in Perth every single day of the week, seven days a week, 12 months a year — there is always something to do,” he said.
If big-name artists and heaving crowds are not your scene, the events expert understands it’s not one-size-fits-all.
“It can be something as simple as just going to Kings Park and walking through the space up there, or going to the museum or gallery. There is always something from a cultural experience to a music experience to a gastronomic experience,” Mr Gardiner said.
With many international acts choosing to migrate to the Northern Hemisphere for summer mid-year, Ms Bailey advised we can expect another wave of stars to be announced for the second half of the year.
“At the moment we’ve got Paul Kelly, two massive shows from Tyler, The Creator; Suzi Quatro is coming in and RUFUS Du Sol has also got two massive shows,” she said.
“We’ve already got a few things on the cards for late next year, but there’s plenty still to be announced.”
What’s on in Perth in early 2025
January
Fremantle ParkJanuary 7
A Day On The Green — The Teskey Brothers (music festival)Burswood ParkJanuary 8
Australian Cycling Road Race (cycling)Kings ParkFebruary 11-12
Funmantle (community event)Victoria Quay, Bathers Beach, Walyalup KoortJanuary 13-19
Summer Lights (community event)Elizabeth QuayJanuary 11-18
Juicy Festival (music festival)Fremantle OvalJanuary 25
Fringe World Festival (live entertainment)Perth and surroundsJanuary 17 — February 16
Bear Grylls: Never Give Up (public figure)Perth Convention And Exhibition CentreJanuary 23
HSBC SVNS (rugby and music event)HBF ParkJanuary 24-26
Australia Day (community event)Langley ParkJanuary 26
February
Chinese New Year Fair (community event)Northbridge/Perth CBDFebruary 1-2
Drake (music event)RAC ArenaFebruary 4-5
A Day On The Green - The Script (music festival)Burswood ParkFebruary 5
Perth Festival (arts and live entertainment)PerthFebruary 7 — March 2
Bryan Adams (music event)RAC ArenaFebruary 9
Jack & Michael Whitehall Live (comedy)Perth Convention And Exhibition CentreFebruary 10
Ross Noble (comedy)Kalamunda Performing Arts CentreFebruary 12
Valentine’s Concert Joondalup — Fleetwood Mac tribute (music festival)Joondalup ResortFebruary 13
Jesus Christ Superstar (stage show)Crown PerthFebruary 13 — March 8
Kylie Minogue (music event)RAC ArenaFebruary 15
Laneway Festival 2025 (music festival)Wellingston SquareFebruary 16
Rottnest Channel Swim (community/sport)Cottesloe Beach — Rottnest Island
February 22
South Perth Sounds (music festival)Sir James Mitchell ParkFebruary 22
Birds of Tokyo (music event)Astor TheatreFebruary 25-26
Fontaines D.C. (music event)Red Hill AuditoriumFebruary 27
March
New Order (music event)RAC ArenaMarch 5
Guenther Steiner Unfiltered Live (public figure)Perth Convention and Exhibition CentreMarch 5
Roxette in Concert 2025 (music event)Kings ParkMarch 5
The Kooks (music event)Red Hill AuditoriumMarch 6
An Evening With Graham Norton (comedy)Perth Convention and Exhibition CentreMarch 10-11
Sarah Millican (comedy)RAC ArenaMarch 14
Joondalup Festival (community event)JoondalupMarch 15 — April 5
Lookout 2025 (music festival)Whitfords Nodes ParkMarch 15
Port to Pub Swim 2025 (community/sport)Leighton BeachMarch 16
The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale (stage show)Crown PerthMarch 19 — TBA
Ben Lee (music event)Mojos FremantleMarch 20
Cody Johnson (music event)RAC ArenaMarch 20
Jurassic Park in Concert (stage)Perth Convention and Exhibition CentreMarch 21-22
Red Hot Summer 2025 (music festival)Sandalford Wines, Swan ValleyMarch 22
The Stranglers (music event)Astor TheatreMarch 25
Russell Peters (comedy)RAC ArenaMarch 28
Nelly (music event)HBF StadiumMarch 29
Hyper (music festival)MidlandMarch 29
April
Boorloo Heritage Festival (community event)Boorloo (Perth)April 1-30
Sculpture at Bathers (community event)Bathers BeachApril 4-21
Human Nature (music event)RAC ArenaApril 5
An Evening With Bob Geldof (music event)Perth Convention and Exhibition CentreApril 5
Cyndi Lauper (music event)RAC ArenaApril 12
NRL Double Header — Sharks vs Sea Eagles & Rabbitohs vs Cowboys (sport)Optus StadiumApril 12
Fremantle International Street Arts Festival (art/community)FremantleApril 18-21
Perth Comedy Festival (comedy)The Rechabite / Regal TheatreApril 24 — May 21
Sister Act (stage)Crown PerthApril 26 — May 25
Tina Arena — Don’t Ask . . . Again Tour (music event)Perth Convention And Exhibition CentreApril 27
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man (music event)Metro CityApril 27
May
Kasey Chambers (music event)Astor TheatreMay 15
Gracie Abrams (music event)RAC ArenaMay 16-17
Tommy Little (comedy)Astor TheatreMay 17
Joel Creasey (comedy)Regal TheatreMay 17
Train — with KT Tunstall (music event)Red Hill AuditoriumMay 18
HBF Run for a Reason (sport/community)PerthMay 25
The Ten Tenors 30th Anniversary Tour (music)Crown PerthMay 30
Jimeoin — Pandemonium (comedy)Crown PerthMay 31