TASTE THE MUSIC LEICHHARDT

How a two-day precinct activation used live music and entertainment to bring new energy to Leichhardt’s dining precinct.
Scarlett Songbirds entertaining diners outside Moretti Ristorante during the Taste the Music Leichhardt precinct activation, encouraging visitors to explore Norton Street and support local businesses.

“It was such a buzz on Norton and Marion Streets and we received really positive feedback from business owners and attendees.”Susanna Montrone, Strategic Advisor, VIVA Leichhardt

The Brief

Presented by Little Italy Sydney in partnership with VIVA Leichhardt, Taste the Music Leichhardt was created to bring new energy to the Norton Street and Marion Street precincts during winter.

The goal was simple: create a memorable precinct activation that gave people a reason to visit, dine, explore and stay longer.

The event needed to support local restaurants, bars and retailers while celebrating Leichhardt’s Italian identity, hospitality culture and live music spirit – without relying on a road closure, central stage or major temporary infrastructure.

Presented With

VIVA Leichhardt logo Little Italy Sydney logo

Presented by Little Italy Sydney in partnership with VIVA Leichhardt, with support from Inner West Council and the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy program.
The event combined live music, family entertainment and roving performances to activate the precinct while supporting local businesses during the quieter winter period.

A Venue-Led Music Trail

Enhance designed a distributed live music and entertainment program that worked with the rhythm of the precinct.

Rather than creating one event site, entertainment was placed across participating venues and nearby footpaths, encouraging people to move through the area and discover music, food and atmosphere as they went.

Audiences could encounter smooth jazz over dinner, traditional Italian music between venues, family entertainment near gelato, DJs and live sessions at Crosstalk Records and OTiS Bar, or illuminated performers after dark.

This created a festival-like atmosphere while keeping the activation light, flexible and highly local.

Live band performing to a full audience inside Crosstalk Records during Taste the Music Leichhardt.

Photography: Alana Dimou

Project Snapshot

Client / Partner
Little Italy Sydney & VIVA Leichhardt

Supported by
Inner West Council & NSW Government 24-Hour Economy

Location
Norton Street & Marion Street, Leichhardt

Dates
Friday 19 & Saturday 20 June 2026

Format
Venue-led precinct activation

Delivered by
Enhance Entertainment, Speakers & Activations

The entertainment program combined live music, roving performers, DJs, family entertainment and illuminated acts to create movement, atmosphere and memorable experiences throughout the precinct.

Programming the Precinct

The program combined live music, roving performers and family-friendly entertainment to create movement, atmosphere and memorable experiences throughout the precinct.

Chefs preparing woodfired pizza at a participating Italian restaurant during Taste the Music Leichhardt, celebrating Leichhardt's Italian food culture and dining precinct.

Italian Identity

Traditional Italian performers including Scupriri Sydney and Ross Maio were crowd favourites, connecting strongly with Leichhardt’s Italian community and the character of the precinct.

Roving musicians also took requests from the crowd, creating spontaneous moments that felt personal, local and joyful.

Together, they demonstrated how carefully curated entertainment can strengthen a successful precinct activation by celebrating local identity.

Illuminated performers engaging with venue staff and visitors during Taste the Music Leichhardt, creating a welcoming, family-friendly precinct atmosphere.

Family-Friendly Energy

Saturday afternoon entertainment between The Royal Hotel and Lunetta Gelato proved hugely popular with families.

Face painting, bubbles, magic and interactive performers created a lively reason for parents and children to linger in the precinct.

Families stayed longer, explored more businesses and helped create an all-day community atmosphere.

Illuminated performers engaging visitors outside Crosstalk Records during Taste the Music Leichhardt, helping create a vibrant evening atmosphere across Leichhardt's dining precinct.

After-Dark Atmosphere

With winter darkness arriving early, illuminated performers added visual impact and a sense of occasion.

The mild winter weather helped people dine, wander and enjoy the street atmosphere well into the evening.

What Happened

Taste the Music Leichhardt delivered a noticeable uplift in energy across the precinct during activation periods.

Venues reported being much busier than usual, with increased dwell time as people stayed for the entertainment, atmosphere and food. Several venues experienced long queues or booked-out periods.

One restaurant reported selling out of two menu items unusually early – something it had not experienced before.

A key goal was to attract visitors from outside the local area. The team observed many non-local attendees, including people who said it was their first visit to Leichhardt.

The event demonstrated how strategic entertainment programming can increase visitation and encourage people to experience an established dining precinct in a new way.

Why This Precinct Activation Worked

Taste the Music worked because the entertainment was not treated as an add-on.

Each element was selected to support the venue, location and time of day around it.

Jazz elevated the dining experience. Italian performers reflected the identity of the precinct. Roving acts connected businesses. Family entertainment created a reason to visit in the afternoon. Illuminated performers made the evening feel special.

The result was an activation that felt local, generous and discoverable.

Photography: Alana Dimou

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for an amazing Taste the Music event this past weekend!”Susanna Montrone, Strategic Advisor, VIVA Leichhardt

Results at a Glance

Two-day pilot

Activation across Leichhardt’s dining precinct

Busier venues

Venues reported stronger-than-usual activation periods

Longer dwell time

People stayed for entertainment, food and atmosphere

New visitors

Non-local audiences observed, including first-time visitors

Sold-out moments

One restaurant sold out of two menu items unusually early

No road closures

Festival-like atmosphere without major infrastructure

Unlike traditional festivals, Taste the Music achieved these outcomes without road closures, large stages or significant temporary infrastructure, making it a highly scalable model for future precinct activations.

People came for dinner – then stayed for the music, atmosphere and surprise moments across the precinct.
Visitors enjoying drinks at a local Leichhardt venue during the Taste the Music evening activation.

Photography: Alana Dimou

A Low-Impact Model for Precinct Activation

Taste the Music Leichhardt demonstrated the potential of a scalable, venue-led precinct activation model.

By combining thoughtful programming, strong local partnerships and entertainment that responded to the identity of the place, the event created a compelling reason for people to visit, stay longer and return.

For councils, place managers and destination organisations, this demonstrates how strategic community event entertainment can increase visitation, support local businesses and strengthen community connection.

Visitors enjoying drinks at a local Leichhardt venue during the Taste the Music evening activation.

Photography: Alana Dimou

“We really couldn’t have done it without you and are so pleased with how it all turned out.”
Susanna Montrone, Strategic Advisor, VIVA Leichhardt

Planning Your Own Precinct Activation?

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Photography throughout this case study by Alana Dimou. Images reproduced with permission.