The Crawl was concocted by Matt Rule and The Music and Booze Co (MBC) Team back in 2014, inspired by festivals like SXSW and the music-rich streets of Nashville, as a tribute to Sydney's battered and bruised music scene at the time.

Newtown and Sydney's Inner West have always been Sydney's cultural heart, making King Street the perfect vessel for the Crawl. Having spent over 15 years in the area, running the beloved Annandale Hotel until 2013 and later founding Music and Booze Co, Matt knew this community intimately. He had become part of a place where different viewpoints were welcomed, creating a space of creative freedom that encourages artists from all walks of life to explore and grow. This made something like KSC the perfect showcase for the area's vibrant spirit.

The first King Street Crawl hit the streets in 2015 with a simple ambition: to work with the businesses of Newtown to put on a free day of live music, with the intent to create opportunities for musicians to perform and promote their music to new audiences and local businesses to benefit from increased foot traffic.

By using live music as the common thread, ‘The Crawl’ was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredibly diverse, accepting and creative community that has made this corner of Sydney renowned (both nationally and internationally) as a ‘must experience’ destination when visiting Sydney, and the most fertile breeding ground for artistic talent in the country.

The conception year of the Crawl included venues from St Peters to Sydney University, with more than 40 artists between them. Polish Club kicked off the revelries, Alex Cameron and City Calm Down headlined, and there were secret sets from The Preatures (at Waywards Brewery) and Sticky Fingers (at the Botany View).

The Crawl expanded down Enmore and Erskineville Roads. Things got very loose at the Botany View for a secret Skegss set, whilst Rolling Blackouts C.F. and Middle Kids played on the same bill at the Marly. This year also included the Crawl’s first outdoor stage, The Hub.

This year saw 150+ bands play across 25 venues. Stella Donnelly played one of her first-ever Sydney shows at the Waywards’ Vision Party and Private Function performed at Newtown Hotel. DZ Deathrays performed a huge secret set for the I Oh You party!

Straight Arrows set the record for most sets played in one day at the Crawl; playing four shows at four venues in eight hours! Triple One & Andy Golledge Band closely tied for sweatiest sets in Crawl history and it was the first time international acts featured on the bill: The Beths (NZ) & Wax Chattels (NZ).

Scabz beat Straight Arrows’s record with five sets at five venues across the day. Cosmic Psychos played a secret set under the name Slapper Jackson & The Esky Stackers; I Know Leopard and Pist Idiots announced last-minute pop-up shows and Crawl partnered with Fringe to bring live music to shopfronts and a range of eclectic non-traditional venues all around Newtown.

Additionally, many of the artists who were scheduled to play on the outdoor stages have offered to move their shows to smaller indoor venues. These will now be ‘secret shows’ and announced online via email and social media on the day, adding an extra element of mystery and excitement to an already fantastic timetable.

After hard work going for grants to get the event happening again, the team finally hits success and thanks to Aus Government's Reive Live program, the Crawl returns Sunday 13th July as its O.G free event, taking over Newtown, Enmore and Erskinville.