Two icons of modern music — The Pogues and Buddy Guy — will headline the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall in April 2026, each marking a milestone in their remarkable careers.
On Sunday 5 and Monday 6 April, The Pogues return to Australia for the first time in 14 years to celebrate 40 years of their groundbreaking album Rum Sodomy & the Lash. Emerging from London’s early-80s pub circuit, the Irish folk-punk trailblazers forged a sound that was both raucous and poetic, equal parts rebellion and heartbreak. The performances will see original members Spider Stacy, Jem Finer, and James Fearnley joined by guest vocalists Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac, and John Francis to perform the 1985 classic in full — including Rainy Night in Soho, Sally MacLennane, and Dirty Old Town — alongside B-sides, deep cuts, and fan favourites.
Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall described the concerts as “a raucous honouring of The Pogues’ legacy and the memory of Shane MacGowan,” referencing Pitchfork’s 2024 review that called Rum Sodomy & the Lash “a fever dream of a pub session.” These shows promise to be both tribute and celebration — a toast to a band that transformed Irish folk music into something electric and timeless.
Earlier that week, on Wednesday 1 April, Buddy Guy will take to the same stage for what is set to be an unforgettable night of blues. At 89 years old, the eight-time Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducteeremains a master of his craft. Performing songs from his 2025 album Ain’t Done With the Blues alongside career-spanning classics, Guy continues to embody the spirit of Chicago’s electric blues scene — the sound that shaped generations of musicians from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton.
A recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor and one of America’s most revered cultural figures, Guy still plays with the same unguarded fire that has defined his career for over six decades. “Slick, magnetic, and impossibly cool as ever,” Marshall added, “his showmanship and searing guitar work remain electrifying every time he takes the stage.”
Across three nights, two musical worlds — the defiant poetry of The Pogues and the soul-drenched virtuosity of Buddy Guy — will converge on one of the world’s most iconic stages, reminding audiences that legends don’t fade; they evolve.
EVENT DETAILS
WHO: The Pogues
WHEN: Sunday 5 & Monday 6 April 2026, 8pm
WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
TICKETS: From $119.90 + booking fee // sydneyoperahouse.com // +61 2 9250 7777
WHO: Buddy Guy
WHEN: Wednesday 1 April 2026, 8pm
WHERE: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
TICKETS: From $129.90 + booking fee // sydneyoperahouse.com // +61 2 9250 7777
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