Holiday Bands Expands To Three Sites and Throws Its Largest Combined All-Ages Showcase Yet

The annual school-holiday program is bigger and better than ever.

Image Nash Blight

South Australia’s annual school-holiday music program, Holiday Bands, is back bigger and better this festive season. Next year’s event will be spread over three SA creative hubs for the very first time.

Kids can now join the fun from January 18-22, 2026, at Sound System (NSS), Base 10 and Carclew, with Holiday Bands culminating in a combined all-ages showcase at Adelaide UniBar on Thursday 22 January.

Aimed at young teens aged between 13-17, Holiday Bands helps connect young, up-and-coming musicians with the local creative community and experienced mentors. Here, they can learn practical skills and gain real-world experience through all-ages opportunities involving AGSA’s Neo Teen Takeover events and all-ages friendly venues, including The Metro, The Gov, Jive, Arthur’s Art Bar and Adelaide UniBar.

Held across four days, participants will be involved in the following activities:

• Form bands and write original music with guidance from emerging and established artists

• Jam, record and workshop practical skills like booking gigs and creating merch

• Record a demo of an original track and shoot press photos

• Perform at a live gig featuring bands from all three programs at Adelaide UniBar

“Just imagine the future of Adelaide’s music scene when we’re creating heaps of new bands every school holidays,” says Nick O’Connor, Music Specialist at Carclew. “We are on the lookout for partners from all over the state who are interested in running iterations of the program in their communities. Is that you?”

Program, locations, dates and registration details are listed below.

Northern Sound System (NSS), Elizabeth, City of Playford (Jan 18 – 22). Book here

Base 10, Reynell, City of Onkaparinga (Jan 19 – 22). Book here

Carclew, North Adelaide (Jan 19 – 22). Book here

All events run from 10:00am–4:00pm daily for those aged 13–17.

The Holiday Bands Live Showcase is a free, all-ages event that takes place at Adelaide UniBar on Thursday 22 January 2026 at 6:00pm.

For more details on Holiday Bands, visit carclew.com.au.

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