Seasoned photographers Chris Frape and Anna Warr have each captured hundreds of gigs across the Illawarra and beyond, and were handpicked for the new revitalisation project driven by Wollongong City Council.

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They were tasked with shooting gigs in February and March with the images now placed on giant billboards in the Crown Street Mall for a "City of Sound exhibition", as well as featuring on a new website which details gigs and events in the city centre - www.wollongongcbd.com.au.

"It's a great idea to support an industry that's really struggling at the moment, giving everyone a bit of hope," Frape said. "And highlighting diversity in the music culture in Wollongong."

The website and billboards have only appeared in recent days and feature a variety of artists from different genres like Floodway at the Wollongong Youth Centre, Eishan Ensemble at The Music Lounge, Classic at The Shy Postie, CLYPSO at The Illawarra Hotel and Steel City Strings at Wollongong Town Hall.

"It was an interesting time, it was right when things were starting to happen again," said Warr (who also is employed by the Illawarra Mercury)

"I was surprised how many people were out and about and there was a real vibe of people really appreciative that there was music again."

Warr said some of the venues she photographed she hadn't known about prior, like Centro CBD where around 600 patrons can have dinner and watch live music.

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Frape agreed the project "opened his eyes" to different styles of music and new venues he wouldn't normally be photographing.

"It was great to have an excuse to go to The Shy Postie," he said. "That's a really great new space and a great addition to the live music space in Wollongong."

The new website also has an event calendar highlighting events from free family activities, charity fundraisers, markets, sporting matches, while it also lists activities to do when out in the city.

"By celebrating this diversity, it's hoped this activation-focussed campaign will encourage all of our community to visit a venue and experience some live music this winter," a council spokeswoman said.

"There are around 20 venues that offer live music in the CBD - from dedicated venues, to bars and restaurants that offer acoustic music weekly.

"Most of these are locally owned, small businesses and this initiative provided an opportunity to highlight these enterprises as well as to draw attention to the diversity and vibrancy of the Wollongong live music scene."

Adam Murphy, owner of small bars Humber and Heyday, welcomed the initiative and hoped it would be successful in guiding people back to the city centre.

"It's really great to see that Wollongong Council are addressing and acknowledging the need to entice more local residents into the CBD, and it's great that this website is one part of the overall strategy in getting them back," he said.