Basement Social: The Night That Kicked It All Off
It's called Basement Social, and yes, it was held on the first floor. We never said we were good at naming things.
On Friday July 17, BASE Music Studios in Crows Nest opened its doors for the very first Basement Social, an intimate live music night built around one simple idea: put genuinely talented local artists in front of an audience that actually wants to listen.
No distractions, no background noise, just three incredible acts and a room full of people who came to hear something good.
Aloe opened the night and set the tone immediately. Their songwriting drew the room in from the first note. Every song came with a story, and by the second track, the audience wasn't just listening, they were locked in. If you've ever wanted to discover an artist before everyone else catches on, Aloe is exactly that kind of find.
Matthew James Lyons brought a special moment to the stage with the live premiere of Object of My Rejection, the lead single from his newly released EP Somewhere In Between. The track has since gone on to become a semi-finalist in the Unsigned Only Music Awards 2026, and hearing it live in a room of maybe fifty people felt like being in on something before the rest of the world catches up.
Daft Country closed out the night as the headlining act, and the energy shift was immediate. What started as an intimate seated showcase turned into a full-blown singalong. The room was on its feet for covers of Olivia Dean and The Killers, and for a debut performance, they played like they'd done this a hundred times.
What made it work? Basement Social isn't trying to be a massive production. It's a small room, a great sound system, and three acts who genuinely deserve to be heard. That's it. And honestly, that's what makes it worth showing up for.
The next Basement Social is on September 11, 2026. Details and lineup coming soon. If you're a musician in Sydney's North Shore looking for a proper audience, or you just want a quality night out in Crows Nest without spending a fortune, keep an eye on this one.
BASE Music Studios is located at Suite 102, 25 Falcon Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065. For upcoming events in Crows Nest and across North Sydney, check our events page.