🟡 The ultimate live music guide

Including: What does $400 weekly rent get in South West Rocks versus Kempsey right now?

Author

Ellie Chamberlain
April 01, 2026

⏱️ The 108th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.

✋ Hello, it's Ellie – your Mid North Coaster reporter.

📢 Today’s call out: I’m still hoping to talk with someone who applied for the Home Repair Grant (up to $25k) following the May floods last year. I’m keen to hear about your experiences, so if you’re up for a chat just reply to this email. Thank you!

🗞️ In today’s newsletter we have two main stories:

1️⃣ Live music guide

  • A new month means new What’s On coverage. Today I’ll share live music events happening in April across the region from Aussie bands on tour to beer garden gigs. Keep an eye out for my other event guides including family-friendly and free activities.

2️⃣ Coastal rentals VS inland real estate

  • I took a look at what’s on offer for $400 a week across inland Kempsey versus the shire’s seaside town of South West Rocks. The options are limited. One unit is a short walk to the beach and shops, but you share the backyard and laundry.

Plus another video from our National reporter, Archie. I hope you like it as much as the last one with Punters Politics.

Let’s crack in…

🏡 What does $400 weekly rent get in South West Rocks versus Kempsey right now?

As of Tuesday afternoon, only eight properties were available to rent in Kempsey and South West Rocks for $400 or under per week, which is around the median rental price for the area.

The median household income is about $1,000 a week. When you take into account the current cost of fuel, groceries and utilities, there’s not much left to play with, leaving many residents in this Mid North Coast LGA under rental stress.

A unit in South West Rocks.

And as the Macleay Valley grows and people are priced out of major cities, it is becoming ever more difficult to keep a roof over your head. 

Buying a home remains a distant dream for residents on low income, and those looking for a lease are competing with holiday lettings.

The Mid North Coaster compared one coastal town in Kempsey LGA – the tourist destination of South West Rocks – with the inland town of Kempsey, to see how far your money goes.

Coastal choices: If you’re looking for a rental in South West Rocks for $400 or less per week you’ve got two choices – a one bedroom unit or a three bedroom house.

  • The unit is a short walk to the beach and shops, has a bath tub and water is included in the rent. The catch: you share the backyard and laundry. 

  • The house is across the road from the local primary school and has a single lock-up garage. 

There’s also a fully-furnished one-bedroom unit in Arakoon – a suburb with the same postcode as South West Rocks. It’s available for $380 per week.

The one bedroom unit is on Landsborough Street, South West Rocks. Image credit: Realestate.com.au

Inland reality: Head 30km inland to Kempsey and you have six options for $400 or less per week, and they’re only suitable for singles or couples.

There are one-bedroom units in the CBD – on West Kempsey’s Elbow Street and Smith Street closer to the Macleay River – as well as one in South Kempsey, all for $350 per week or less.

  • The cheapest rental on offer is a one-bedder unit for $295 per week on the east side.

  • If you’re looking for a two-bedroom option, there’s two units in South Kempsey – one on Bloomfield street and the other on Goonbi Street.

Laundry/bathroom at the Goonbi Street unit.

Show me the stats: According to PropTrack , the Median rental price for units in Kempsey is $340 p/w. That’s a 6.3 per cent increase in the past 12 months.

For South West Rocks, the median rental price sits at $400 per week – an 8.1 per cent increase over 12 months. For one-bedroom units it’s $350 per week. In the past month, five units have been available to rent in the coastal town.

📹 VIDEO OF THE DAY

Over at The National Account, our reporter Archie Milligan says NSW Police can track people without a warrant. The force says the spying isn’t illegal and it won’t be stopping. Find out more…

Watch the video:

@midnorthcoaster

Did you know NSW police can track you without a warrant? Reported by@archie_milligan from@thenationalaccount#australia #NSW #policesurveil... See more

👀 You can also watch on YouTube here or via our Instagram page.

🎶  Live music events across the MNC in April

April on the Mid North Coast is that sweet spot – warm evenings, long weekends and a steady stream of touring acts weaving their way between Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Taree.

While some larger festivals are feeling the squeeze this year (RIP Bluesfest 2026), the regional circuit is still very much alive.

Here’s what’s on in our region including Christine Anu, Keli Holiday and Hammers on tour, an afternoon of jazz and Sunday sessions at a pub.

🟡 Christine Anu & band

Christine Anu’s musical career spans 27 years, including 17 ARIA nominations and platinum albums.

Her best known songs include Party, My Island Home and Sunshine On A Rainy Day.

🗓️ Wednesday 1 April, from 6pm
📍Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
🎟️ Tickets $55.10 from OzTix

🟡 Holiday at the Hoey

Keli Holiday (Adam Hyde) took the number two spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100 at the start of the year with the single Dancing2.

Holiday is now touring his new album Capital Fiction.

OzTix

🗓️ Friday 3 April, from 6pm
 📍Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
🎟️ Tickets $55.10 from OzTix

🟡 Hammers Death Wobbles tour

Something for the metal heads – the Gold Coast’s Hammers is stopping by on its Death Wobbles album tour.

Expect a loud and sweaty night of heavy rock in the backroom at The Coffs Hotel, and to wake up with a sore neck and raspy vocal chords.

🗓️ Friday 17 April, from 7pm
 📍Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour
🎟️ Tickets $23.50 from OzTix

🟡 Jazz on the Terrace

On the first Sunday of every month from 1pm there is live jazz at The Bowl in Port Macquarie.

Jordan Jive Swing Band and special guests gather for a family (and dog) friendly afternoon of smooth tunes.

🗓️ Sunday 5 April, 1pm
 📍The Bowl, Hastings River Drive Port Macquarie
🎟️ Free

Jazz on the terrace at The Bowl.


🟡 Beddy Rays for Easter Sunday

Beddy Rays is taking over Finnian's Tavern for an Easter Sunday party with guests Lazy Ghost & MIKK.

OzTix says to expect a “high energy, head banging Sunday sesh”.

🗓️ Sunday 5 April, 6pm
 📍Finnian’s Tavern, Port Macquarie
🎟️Tickets $44.40 from OzTix

🟡 Gigs at Gladstone’s Heritage Hotel

The Heritage Hotel in Gladstone on the Macleay River has a beer garden, well-run kitchen and live music.

April gigs
Sunday 5:  Singer, songwriter and guitarist Craig Stewart.
Sunday 12: Brody Ireland combines acoustic guitar, vocals and stompbox to perform covers from the 1960s and beyond.
Sunday 19: Graham Howle is a vocalist, guitarist and storyteller.

🗓️ Sundays in  April, 3- 6pm
 📍The Heritage Hotel, Gladstone.
🎟️Free

That’s all for now.

Make sure you’re following along on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and our website to keep up to date with local news throughout the week. I’ll be back soon with another newsletter.

Thanks for reading,
👋 Ellie