There’s a new energy at Manly Wharf and it’s arriving with a soundtrack. Felons Brewing Co. is opening its Barrel Room with a three-day celebration that feels less like a venue launch and more like the Northern Beaches getting its own summer festival, headlined by Winston Surfshirt and Classic rock band, Mental As Anything.

On Friday 5 December, Winston Surfshirt will set the tone. Their sun-soaked blend of soul, funk and coastal cool couldn’t be more perfect for a harbourside room lined with French oak barrels and glowing at golden hour. It’s the kind of setting where you settle in early, drink something cold and let the mood take over.

The next night, Mental As Anything brings a hit of classic Australian nostalgia, timeless tracks in a brand-new space built for live music, community and that easy Manly vibe. And on Sunday, the party flips again as Sweat It Out brings in the dance-floor heat. It’s all free, all weekend, and very Manly in the best way.

Felons Barrel Room itself is a standout: part microbrewery, part cultural hub, part late-summer daydream. Think Vietnamese share plates, freshly poured lager straight from the tank, and an audio-lighting setup made for artists, not background noise. It’s warm, textured, and designed for people who love good music and good moments in equal measure.

More than just a new venue, it feels like the start of something, Manly’s next chapter as a place where food, craft, music and beach culture meet. And with Winston Surfshirt and Mental As Anything christening the stage, the vibes are set exactly where they should be: cool, coastal and unmistakably Australian.