Since opening at Manly Wharf in December 2025, Felons Manly's latest addition has wasted no time making its mark. With sold-out gigs, big-name bookings, and a program that only gets better. Live music is back in Manly, and it has found an electric home base. Lined with barrels, centred around a stage and kitted out with the best in audiotechnics and lighting, Felons Barrel Room is built to make musicians shine.

Felons Barrel Room launched with a bang. In early December 2025, Sydney-based soul sixpiece Winston Surfshirt and new wave pop rock band Mental As Anything headlined a three-night opening weekend that drew crowds from across Sydney and beyond.

Since then, the momentum has barely let up. Gig after gig has sold out or come close, with the venue quickly establishing itself as one of the most amped up places to see live music anywhere on the Beaches.

More than sixty French oak barrels line the walls and a state-of-the-art brewery sits behind the bar, brewing its first beer this winter.

The stage sits at the centre, framed by a purpose-built sound system from internationally recognised German audio manufacturer d&b audiotechnik, and a lighting rig designed for eye-catching performances. The venue holds seven hundred people, seating over three hundred for dining, and feels, somehow, both grand and welcoming at once.

The programming is eclectic. Piano bar evenings. Salsa nights. Comedy showcases. Running through it all is Felons’ commitment to original live music, from emerging local acts finding their feet to established names making the Barrel Room a destination stop on tour.

Trivia Night Wednesday

Weekly cash jackpot + prizes to be won from the Wheel of Fortune, valued up to $1,200! Including beers, merch and vouchers. Every Wednesday night, Jimmy from Trivial Things hosts a lighthearted evening of friendly competition, brain teasers and epic prizes that pulls a crowd every single week. Competitors enjoy an extended Happy Hour from 8:30 to 10:30pm. Register from 7pm for a 7:30 start, lock in your friends and make it a regular.

Jazz Club Thursday

Jazz Club night has earned its following, and it's not hard to see why. Every Thursday from 7pm, the Barrel Room shifts into a lower, cooler gear. Good music, good company and absolutely no reason to rush home.

What's On this Winter

Coming up through the winter months, Felons Barrel Room's calendar continues to deliver.

Featuring DJ Morgs, Jeswon and the rest of the crew, Thundamentals is a much-loved Australian hip-hop outfit known for high-energy live shows and a deeply loyal Thundakats following. On Saturday 13 June, they'll be tearing up the stage at Felons with a balance of ballads and bangers, just one stop on a sweeping tour through NSW and up to Queensland. Tickets essential.

Following close behind is genre-blending Aussie DJ and producer TSEBA, bringing free entry on Saturday 20 June. Inspired by Todd Terry and Kerri Chandler, TSEBA knows how to work a room. With collabs alongside EDM legends including Don Diablo, he's earned his stripes. Expect unreleased material mixed with old favourites, disco and soul that will keep feet moving all night.

Big Wheels

One act that perfectly captures the Barrel Room spirit is Brisbane-based rock duo Big Wheels, who grace our cover this issue. Co-fronted by Cass Ford and Lawson Doyle, they deal in what they call "golden rock," a sound somewhere between Fleetwood Mac, The Black Keys and The Last Dinner Party. Formed on the Sunshine Coast in 2021, they've built a following well beyond Queensland's borders, with support from Triple J, BBC Music Introducing and Amazon Music along the way.

Felons Barrel Room has become one of their Sydney homes. Their sound, layered vocals over gritty riffs, is big enough to fill the room and intimate enough to feel personal. Timeless, modern and a little nostalgic, when
Big Wheels play, you feel it.

More Than Music

On the food and drink side, the Barrel Room serves the much-loved Felons Manly menu. Think dry-aged ribeye, freshly shucked oysters and woodfired pizzas, alongside weekly specials, all grounded in simple cooking and the best local produce.

Better yet, enjoy Happy Hour Monday to Friday from 4 to 6pm, featuring cold pints at $10, wine at $10 and signature cocktails at $15.

On the Beaches, live music is a rite of passage. With Felons Barrel Room, there's never been a better reason to show up, stay late and come back next week. •

Open: Wed–Fri, 4pm–late | Sat & Sun, 11am–late | Manly Wharf