Beat 1704

THICK AS THIEVES TAKEOVER

KÖLSCH CRISTOPH KOROLOVA BOOGS WISER

SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL

TALES FROM THE HARDWARE DANCEFLOOR

THIS 440 PAGE EPIC BOOK TRACES THE HISTORY OF RAVE FOLKLORE, FEATURING OVER 1500 PHOTOS, FLYERS AND STORIES OF MELBOURNE AND AUSTRALIAN RAVE HISTORY IN FULL COLOUR (PUBLISHED BY HARDIE GRANT).

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Editorial Note

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Talia Rinaldo

STAFF WRITER

Kaya Martin

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nathan Mossop

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Ben Lamb, Bryget Chrisfield, Zachary Sanderson, Kosa Monteith, Tammy Walters, Andrew Handley, Jacob McCormack, Coco Veldkamp, Luke Carlino, Jasmine Penman, Alexia Petsinis, Matt Parnell

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Rob Furst

The music makes it all worth it, so this month we feature one of Naarm’s fastest-rising renaissance women: DJ, producer, fashion and graphic designer, model and all-round good egg Soju Gang, who’s bringing her acclaimed Sorbaes party back to Live at the Bowl. Melbourne’s famous grassy knoll also welcomes Icehouse this month, so we’ve saved room for a trip down memory lane with the legendary Iva Davies. We also celebrate the return of St Kilda Festival with a big centre spread (they have a bloody ripper of a lineup this year) and peruse Midsumma with blond bombshell Joel Creasey.

Speaking of bombshells - Maisie Peters dropped by for a chinwag before she plays a little venue called the MCG with some bloke called Ed Sheeran. We also discuss aliens in the desert with Freya Josephine Hollick, the state of the union with Civic, meet the artists behind ACCA’s freaky new exhibition Data Relations, and find out what a picó soundsystem is, thanks to our new verbena-starters El Gran Mono. Plus all the regular stuff, it’s a huge issue. We need to lie down, where’s that bloody aloe vera…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Our magazine is published on the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

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Our February cover star is Soju Gang.

Live at the Bowl, St Kilda Festival and Midsumma: it’s February and it’s as hot as it gets down here at the end of the earth. That means we’re also smack bang in the middle of festival season, because you don’t know anything about comedowns until you’ve endured them with red-raw sunburn, in the upstairs bedroom of a ramshackle terrace with no air con.

Brunswick Music Festival reveals international headliners

The iconic Brunswick Music Festival is returning for its 35th installment, along with the Sydney Road Street Party, from March 5 to 13. Niger’s Mdou Moctar and Brooklyn psych-pop band Crumb will lead the BMF ‘23 line-up with tickets on sale right now!

Kurt Vile, Black Midi lead Meadow 2023 lineup

The Victorian surf coast retreat returns with international acts from March 31April 2 next year, with Kurt Vile and The Violators, Black Midi, Jen Cloher, Kučka, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Big Scary, Agung Mango and many more.

Tent Pole expands 2023 lineup

Black Lips, Charley Crockett, The Prize and more join the likes of Pavement and Spiderbait at Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree, the newest festival headed for our region in 2023. The inaugural event is taking place at Geelong’s Mt Duneed Estate, on their newly developed Top Paddock site, on Saturday 4 March.

New bar opens inside Coburg’s Pentridge Prison

Located within the historic E Division building at Pentridge Prison, BrewDog Pentridge is a $3 million project and new destination in Melbourne for craft beer lovers. The restored interiors offer a nod to the history of the site, while the sprawling beer garden offers a modern and casual experience.

Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins unite for Australian tour

Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins, two of Australia’s much-loved musical icons and raconteurs, are teaming up for a tour together in February, including a show at Melbourne Recital Centre on February 17.

Ballet Revolución announces 2023 Australian tour

With distinctive Cuban flair, elasticity, versatility and energy, Ballet Revolución has been recharged, rebooted and is now ready to return to Australian fans with a national tour in May 2023 with a brand new production. It’s playing the Palais Theatre on May 26 and 27.

CresFest adds more acts to folk and roots lineup

Natalie & Brittany Haas (USA), Lucy Wise, Fred Smith, Monique Clare, Archer, Greg Champion, The Maggie Carty Band, Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers and Headphones Jones have now been announced for CresFest 2023. These acts join the likes of Kutcha Edwards, While and Matthews, Charm of Finches and more. CresFest takes place from March 31 to April 2 in Cheswick.

MPavilion announces 250 free events

From underground techno to the future of sex, MPavilion has announced its free program taking place in the Queen Victoria Gardens at the ninth MPavilion, until Thursday 6 April 2023.

La Mama announces 2023 summer program

La Mama’s major show for the season is The Grief Trilogy, the culmination of Liv Satchell’s acclaimed award-winning three shows: I sat and waited but you were gone too long, my sister feather, and let bleeding girls lie. These plays have been created over the last seven years with an ensemble of Melbourne’s leading theatre artists: Chanella Macri, Belinda McClory and Emily Tomlins.

A SUMMER FE STIVAL FOR EVERYONE

JANUARY – APRIL

SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL

BON IVER • DARREN HAYES • FATBOY SLIM • ICEHOUSE

KING STINGRAY • LORDE • MSO FREE CONCERTS • PASIFIX

PIKNIC ELECTRONIK • REMINISCE • SORBAES: SUNDAE

SYNTHONY • TEENY TINY STEVIES • ULTRA

Lightscape will return to the Royal Botanical Gardens

Cameras at the ready, Victoria’s Royal Botanic Gardens will be home to the massive Lightscape light installation for the second time, for a season in winter next year. Featuring an all-new track, that will span two kilometres of colour-changing installations and large-scale illuminated sculptures, catch Lightscape from June 16 until August 6.

Live at the Bowl keeps getting bigger

Arts Centre Melbourne’s four-month long festival Live at the Bowl has added a heap of new artists to the lineup, which includes Fatboy Slim, ULTRA Australia, Soju Gang, Dan Sultan, Piknic Electronik and more.

Melbourne Guitar Show returns to Caulfield

The Melbourne Guitar Show is a gathering of nearly 5000 of the city’s most dedicated musos. Happening on March 4 and 5 at the Caulfield Race Course, it’s the event’s first time back in three years, so guitar fanatics will surely be itching to get their hands on some new equipment.

Ngaiire to perform with the MSO

Ngaiire and the MSO are combining forces on March 18 at Hamer Hall for an all-out concert. A performance that was originally commissioned by the Sydney Opera House and the SSO for the Opera House’s 50th Anniversary, this incredible performance draws upon her latest album, the critically-acclaimed 3, as well as the hits from her career.

ACMI’s new exhibition celebrates game-changing women

From Marlene Dietrich to Pam Grier to Tilda Swinton to Margot Robbie, ACMI’s latest blockbuster Winter Masterpieces exhibition will celebrate the formidable women of the screen through never-before-seen costumes, large-scale projections, interactive experiences and more. A celebration of the game-changing women of film, Goddess will run from April 5 until October 1 at ACMI.

Barbecue festival Meatstock returns

Taking Melbourne Showgrounds on 18-19 March, at the heart of the two-day festival is an unmatched lineup of BBQ pitmasters and authentic ‘low and slow’ barbecue, cooking on some of Australia’s biggest and craziest smokers and barbecues.

Section 8 launches six-month-long series, Level Up

Level Up, which is already underway, is a six-month series scheduled to take place at Section 8 until April 2023. The free-entry series, which happens every second Sunday of the month, is structured into six events that each celebrate different aspects of Melbourne’s creative community.

Melbourne Women in Film Festival drops 2023 program

The annual Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) will return for its seventh year from 23 – 27 February 2023, taking place at ACMI, the official presenting partner of the festival. Through the theme Connections, MWFF will explore creative collaborations with local and international filmmakers.

Victoria’s Pride reveals Melbourne street party lineup

Scheduled for February 12, 2023, Victoria’s Pride street party will transform Gertrude and Smith Street into a multi-sensory festival-type atmosphere that will include a diverse array of performances running from 11am-9pm. Headlining Victoria’s Pride is the multi-disciplinary and highly talented Keiynan Lonsdale.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24

STAY GOLD - BRUNSWICKDOORS 7.30PM - tix - bit.ly/catbitemelb with Admiral Ackbar's Dishonourable Discharge

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25

TI TREE HOTEL - WARRION

DOORS 8.30PM - tix - bit.ly/ti-tree-hotel

1 hour south west of Geelong - onsite camping both shows with

Ska Nation Radio with Beefy - Ti Tree Live - Focus Group Music presents

St Kilda Festival reveals expanded 2023 program

St Kilda Festival is back and better than ever from 18 – 19 February, featuring First Peoples First on the Saturday and then a return to huge crowds on the Sunday, with Hoodoo Gurus, Confidence Man, Genesis Owusu, Christine Anu and Yothu Yindi all on the lineup.

Masked Wolf, Vera Blue coming to Fed Square

Fed Square has announced the return of Fed Live, a free music festival in the heart of Melbourne, featuring some of Australia’s biggest acts. On Saturday February 18, Vera Blue headlines with support from acclaimed indie-pop songstress Gretta Ray. Then on Friday March 24, perhaps the biggest drawcard of them all – Sydney rapper Masked Wolf.

Free Twilight Sounds festival heads to the north

Taking place on February 11, this free outdoor festival will light up Heidelberg Park for a day of soul, jazz, blues and R&B featuring the likes of DJ MzRizk, Mahalia Barnes, Benny Walker, The Meltdown and Mayfield.

Sunset Safari returns to Werribee Zoo

With many African animals being most active at dusk, the return of the Werribee Zoo Sunset Safari is the perfect time to see some of the world’s most iconic animals, sparking awe and wonder among visitors for a fifth exciting year with a new route for the 2023 season. It takes place on Saturday evenings until February 25.

Castlemaine State Festival announces 2023 season

Now in its 47th year, Australia’s flagship regional arts event The Castlemaine State Festival will run from 24 March to 9 April 2023 in Castlemaine, drawing thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas to the regional centre to experience a family-friendly, fun, and accessible 17-day event.

King Stingray to play all-ages $20 show

Breakthrough band King Stingray is ready to bring the heat with a one-off youth show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on March 31 as part of Live at the Bowl. The Northeast Arnhem Land favourites will have the Bowl rocking with their unique Yolŋu surf-rock style combining elements of ancient Indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk.

Hilltop Hoods and more join Ability Fest lineup

Ability Fest have just revealed their 2023 lineup featuring Hilltop Hoods, Sampa the Great, Meg Mac, BROODS, SHOUSE, DZ Deathrays, Telenova, Alex Lahey and more. Taking place on March 25 at Birrarung Marr, Ability Fest is proudly Australia’s first all-accessible music festival and one of the leading inclusive events in the country.

RocKwiz’s Really Really Good Friday returns to Hamer Hall

After 14 seasons, 117 episodes and countless tours around the nation, the television show turned stage show extravaganza RocKwiz is considered by many to be an Australian music institution. The gang are back with hometown favourite RocKwiz’s Really Really Good Friday at Hamer Hall on April 7.

Sugababes reveal headlining tour

Lowrise denim, belly chains and velour tracksuits are back – and so is one of the most era-defining girl groups. No list of the queens of Y2K would be complete without all three members of Sugababes. The iconic Brit-pop girl group will play three shows in Australia this February, including Margaret Court Arena on February 24.

Julia Jacklin announced for OK Charlton festival

OK Charlton have just announced their secret headliner – the indie-pop darling Julia Jacklin. Joining the likes of CIVIC, Party Dozen, Frente, Eaten By Dogs, Ali, ENOLA and more, she will be appearing at the festival in Charlton from February 17 – 19.

Charli XCX announces headline Melbourne show

With over 175 million total Australian streams, global pop star Charli XCX has announced her Crash The Live Tour 2023 is coming to Northcote Theatre on Thursday 2 March.

Beck announces Australian headline tour

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee and eight-time Grammy-winner Beck will perform an intimate and unique acoustic show at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Monday 3 April.

Ella Hooper announces 2023 Australian tour

With her second solo album Small Town Temple, the one and only Ella Hooper has announced a national run of tour dates to showcase the tracks live, along with a selection of new material and some old favourites. She’ll be performing at the Malthouse Outdoor Stage on February 19.

The Grogans are touring Australia

The Grogans are hitting the road for a huge slew of tour dates across the first half of 2022. As well as appearing at Ninchfest on February 10, The Grogans are heading to The Croxton on April 14 and an under-18s matinee performance at The Gasometer on April 22.

Hardwell leads Ultra Australia 2023

Ultra Australia, the leading electronic music festival, will return to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain gardens in Melbourne on Saturday, April 15 and has just announced its Phase 1 lineup for the autumn festival, featuring Hardwell, Darren Styles, Timmy Trumpet.

Charley Crockett is touring Australia

Hailing from sun-baked South Texas, the singer-songwriter is as Americana as it gets. This March, for the first time ever, he’ll be bringing his vintage, blues-tinged sound to Australia for four dates only, including the Northcote Theatre on March 5.

Weird Al Yankovic announces 2023 Australian tour

The prince of parody is heading Down Under for his The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. He’ll be playing the Palais on March 10.

The Murlocs announce Rapscallion tour

Returning from their Headline tour in the United States and sold-out performances at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre supporting King Gizzard, The Murlocs are bringing their highly anticipated and energetic live show back home to Australia with their Rapscallion tour. Catch them when they head to Naarm/ Melbourne for a show at the Northcote Theatre on April 22.

Echo Beach announces bush-boogie event

The crowd pleasing Echo Beach festival is back, but with a twist. The day-long event is forgoing the beach for the bush this year, and will take place at the Collingwood Children’s Farm on February 11. Adriana, Jex Opolis, Mayurashka, Tornado Wallace and more are locked in to play.

Strawberry Fields launch new festival Good Times

With a lineup featuring the likes of Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, CW Stoneking and Floodlights – with more acts to be announced in the leadup – Good Times is set to live up to its namesake on March 25 in Tocumwal, on the banks of the Murray River.

Rone has a new pop-up installation

Relive 2021’s exhibition Rone in Geelong at a new, free pop-up installation in the city. You will find the free Tableau of Without Darkness There is No Light in front of Arts Centre Melbourne.

Mondays from 5:30PM

Mondays from 5:30PM

Hosted by MJ (100% Phat)

Sunday 5 February Big Band Frequency

Friday 10 February

Bush Gothic

Saturday 11 February

Grand Baxter

Sunday 19 February

Songs of Elvis Costello

Tuesday 21 February

Rainee Blake

Thursday 23 February Ruth Hazleton

Friday 24 February Love me or Leave Me

FRONT BAR

Tuesday 7 February Danny Ross

Saturday 11 February Georgia Rodgers

Sunday 12 February Winfield Road Experiment

Tuesday 14 February Shoehorn

Thursday 23 February Dani Forsyth

Saturday

SOJU GANG

Words by Zachary Sanderson

We talk to DJ and streetwear designer Soju Gang about Sorbaes: Sundae - her upcoming festival at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Credit Samad Sayed

Renowned across the city and beyond for her energetic party mixes and equally vibrant style and personality, Soju Gang is bringing her all-ages mini-festival Sorbaes back to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on February 26. Currently in its third iteration, Sorbaes is looking to be more delicious than ever.

Since beginning in 2021, Sorbaes has attracted many across Naarm/Melbourne for its genre-hopping program that spotlights the best in local talent. Originally started by Soju Gang in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne, the festival has come to be known for shining the spotlight on up-and-coming powerhouses through its lineup that encompasses specifically local acts.

Spotlighting both established and up-and-coming acts, Sorbaes promotes nothing but the best in homegrown talent. For Soju Gang, her third year organising the festival is a landmark of progress and passion; in attracting patrons from all walks of life to the mini-fest annually, the young event looks to have an ever-promising future.

Sorbaes: Sundae already has a killer lineup, featuring performances from some of the finest talents in the city that span the genres of RnB, hip hop, soul, house and Afro Dancehall. Joining the bill are the new voice in contemporary soul-pop AKOSIA, OJ Kush, and the South African-born rapper and singer Voldy. Recently announced, Kaylah Truth, Stev Zar, Brown Suga Princess, Nay Nay are also set to join the fresh summer lineup.

“What I’ve always wanted to do when I put on events is just showcase what we’ve got here,” she says.

“You know, everybody’s so concentrated on all the international acts all the time, but we’ve got so much diversity in sound and representation here. Why not want to put on a big event for what we’ve got here?”

To call Soju Gang busy is an understatement. As a streetwear designer with her own label Sawft Wear, a radio host for CADA radio, a DJ, and a show organiser, she has a finger in nearly every pie. As if that’s not enough - as the conversation progresses, it’s revealed that she’s also babysitting and looking after a puppy dog.

The Melbourne local and proud Gunai/Kurnai, Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri artist retains that locality is an integral part of this event. For Soju, the most important part of this event isn’t just diversity, but also community: each year she curates a wildly varied yet extremely delicious lineup of talented artists from Australia’s diverse, ever-evolving music scene.

“We’ve got so many amazing artists who do so many different things it’s endless. I feel like a lot of the events are so curated to have a specific sound and a specific vibe, where I just want it to be a one-stop shop where you might come for one person, but you’re there to experience all of it in its fullness.”

Having expanded significantly since its inception three years ago, this year’s venture features a poster designed by Dja Dja Wurrung/Yorta Yorta artist enoki. The layout of the day will feature a new and intimate setup inside Gate 1, with a specially designed viewing deck for those who opt in for a VIP experience.

Joining Sorbaes: Sundae this year is Cypher Culture’s City Sessions, marking the first time that the collective have collaborated with the event. The freestyle dance collective / project will be strutting their stuff along with some of the best acts Melbourne has to offer.

Given that the day is club inspired, this collaboration only seems fitting into an event of this theme. “I think the dance culture in Melbourne is a really pinnacle part (and) I’ve personally seen (it) as a part of Melbourne’s music culture,” Soju continues, “you know, whether it’s the dancers or the music or the DJs or the artists that get involved, there’s always this crossover.”

Given the club-styled vibe and approach towards the show, the venue itself is an interesting juxtaposition. Because it’s

held at the open-aired Sidney Myer Music Bowl, it breathes fresh air into what defines a conventional rave or party. As a family-friendly event that’s highly accessible, it prides itself on giving that nightclub experience to some who might not have the opportunity.

“Not everybody can go into a club, whether that’s your accessibility or your kids. You’ve got other things going on. Being able to go to those sorts of things during the day is good. I think it’s just mainly that sort of accessibility that you get to have, that energy and being able to participate.”

Hoping to raise awareness on a local level about the disparity that BIPOC communities face here, $2 dollars from every general admission ticket and $5 from every VIP ticket will be contributed towards The Dhadjowa Foundation.

Founded by Soju Gang’s cousin, Apryl Day - daughter of the late Aunty Tanya Day - The Dhadjowa Foundation is an

organisation that supports and amplifies the voices of First Nations families that have suffered the loss of loved ones in custody, as well as providing them with financial assistance.

“It’s a good reminder to be like ‘these issues still exist’, and they still continue on, and that fight is still happening,” she says. “So, think it’s a really big thing about visibility, and having people be aware that things are still going on. There are still ways that you can contribute to aid in the implementation of a great foundation that’s continuing to do the hard work that needs to be done for our community.”

If you find yourself with an open palate during late February, heading over to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for a taste of Sorbaes: Sundae truly is a no brainer. With a cast of diverse acts for you to discover all throughout this unmissable live show, the summer Sunday session is an essential event for anyone. Furthermore, if you identify as First Nations, Soju has exclusively made a limited number of free tickets for Indigenous people interested in coming.

Take a bite out of Sorbaes: Sundae - it’s happening as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Live at the Bowl program at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on February 26. Beat is an official media partner of Live at the Bowl.

“You know, everybody’s so concentrated on all the international acts all the time, but we’ve got so much diversity in sound and representation here. Why not want to put on a big event for what we’ve got here?”

Festivals in February

Words by Ben Lamb

Dragon Boat Festival

Melbourne is an amazing melting pot for different cultures, with thousands of people from hundreds of different backgrounds heading to our shores and sharing their amazing stories, food, and customs with us. A celebration of culture is coming to Melbourne this February, this time celebrating all things Chinese. With 2023’s incarnation of the popular Dragon Boat Festival featuring food trucks, lion dancing and plenty more - you’re bound to find something up your alley.

The Dragon Boat is taking place at the Harbour Esplanade on Sunday, February 19.

Laneway

One of Australia’s most popular festivals is back and it’s coming in big. Laneway Festival will feature a selection of the best artists both in contemporary and indie scenes that traverse many different genres, including Haim, Phoebe Bridgers, Finneas, Fred Again, The Beths and plenty more. On top of that, there’ll be heaps of tasty food, drinks, and merch all available throughout what is set to be a glorious day.

Laneway Festival will take place at The Park in Flemington on Saturday, February 11.

St Kilda Festival

One of Melbourne’s oldest and most beloved festival staples is the St Kilda Festival, which hits the St Kilda foreshore each year. It’s a free event that showcases a selection of our most talented artists, such as Peptalk, Guthrie, Emma Volard, Hoodoo Gurus, Confidence Man, and many, many more. Of course, the fun doesn’t end there; you can also dive into food, market stalls, dancing, activations, and lots more.

The St Kilda Festival will take place in St Kilda on Saturday, February 18 until Sunday, February 19.

Down South Festival

Take a trip down south for Down South Festival this year. Currently in its second year, Down South Festival will take place in Port Fairy’s Star of The West Hotel. With last year’s show being headlined by the iconic Amyl and The Sniffers, this year’s festival is set to live up to that, featuring music from a selection of Victorian artists such as CIVIC, So.Crates, and Queenie, to name just a few.

Down South Festival will take place in Port Fairy’s Star of the West Hotel on Saturday, February 25 until Sunday, February 26.

National Sustainable Living Festival

This festival will dive into the sustainable living world and will do that by spreading the word about social and ecological sustainability. It also will reference current technological advancements in the world and explore the ways that sustainability can keep up.

The National Sustainable Living Festival will happen across Melbourne throughout the month of February.

Live At The Bowl

Melbourne Beerfest

Keen for a pint? Look no further than the Melbourne Beerfest, which is coming to the Catani Gardens in St Kilda this February. There’ll be tons to do; first, dive into delicious craft beer, wine, cider and cocktails, then learn more about beer with masterclasses and food pairing, and finally top it all off with live music and comedy from Luke McGregor, Alex Ward, Brett Blake, and Emma Holland. Cheers! Melbourne Beerfest will take over the Catani Gardens for the weekend of February 24 and 25.

Midsumma

Australia’s most well-known queer arts and culture festival is coming back to Melbourne this February, with many events that span plays, musicals, parties, drag, comedy and plenty more. An annual carnival that’s known for putting on shows of all different shapes and sizes over the years, its a festival run by queer communities, for queer communities. With heaps of free events and installations, you can explore what Midsumma has to offer on a budget.

Midsumma Festival will take place all throughout Melbourne until February 12.

Summertime always brings out the best in live music, festivals and showcases that feature an amazing selection of bands who want to spend the Australian summer on the live stage. Live at The Bowl is a collection of gigs that take place at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with 2023’s incarnation including Darren Hayes, Kehlani, Lorde, Sorbaes, Teeny Tiny Stevies, Piknic Electronik, Share the Spirit and many more.

Live at the Bowl shows all go down at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl throughout February.

Fri 10 Feb

Laura Jean

Fri 17 Feb

Tim Rogers & Tex Perkins

Sat 18 Feb

The Chills + Parsnip

Wed 8 Mar

Sonya Lifschitz

Tue 14 Mar

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Wed 15 Mar

Nakhane

Thur 23 Mar

Monolake + Electric Indigo

January March 2023

melbournerecital.com.au

Where Live Music Lives

CIVIC

Words by Andrew Handley

Vocalist McCullough was struck with Covid, which meant the band rescheduled their headline show at Max Watts. “It’s how it goes, I guess,” he says casually.

The Melbourne punk rockers’ headline show at the sizable Max Watts represents a band that has been on the rise since their debut EP New Vietnam came out in 2018. Coupled with their blistering live shows, Civic have since established themselves as a powerhouse in the Melbourne live music scene and beyond.

The band played The Forum and The Enmore in 2022, “which was always a dream of mine,” he says. “You can play the same venues for the rest of your life if you want, that’s all good, [but] it’s cool to check out what’s going on behind these old stages and seeing how it works.”

The band has already recorded their second album Taken By Force, which is due out early this year. The album was fittingly recorded with producer Rob Younger, frontman of the seminal Australian punk band Radio Birdman, with Australian punk legend Mikey Young of Total Control and Eddy Current Suppression Ring having mixed and mastered the record.

Like Future Forecast that preceded it, Taken By Force captures the band’s live intensity. “I guess our sound is pretty energetic and fast… so definitely trying to capture that on record,” says Hodgson.

The new members of the band, Jim McCullough and Jackson Harry, have helped expand the band’s sound. “They’re both pretty accomplished musicians in their own right,” says Hodgson. “They’re from pretty different backgrounds, so it’s been good to have a bit of diversity in sounds.”

“Blachie was living with Jim, and he plays in The Murlocs and Beans. Jackson I’ve known since high school, but we bumped into each other during lockdown, and we needed someone on guitar so he fit the bill.”

The band built a studio in the house Harry grew up in, in Elphinstone. “We were in the dining room… [which] made the drum sound really boomy … it was makeshift, but it sounded great.”

“It doesn’t really matter how much noise you make out in Elphinstone, that’s kind of the point of it.”

Hodgson says the band went into the recording with more of an open mind than their previous record. “It’s a bit more diverse in the styles of songs I think we’ve written,” he says. “We’ve also added new sounds through it.”

“There’s acoustic guitar, which I would have probably never done back in the day, but now I’m all about it. There are 12-strings, different percussions through it, and more emphasis on backup vocals and melodies. I think previously it was a bit more straight up 70s style.”

One of the standout tracks from the new album is Trick of the Light, a slower track that breaks the five-minute mark where most come in at under three. “I can see us doing more songs like that, or in any other kind of way,” says Hodgson.

“It’s gotten to the point with Civic [where] I’m not going to try and write songs that sound like Civic songs [because] you end trying to sound like yourself [which] is kind of weird.”

The album’s first single End of the Line has an accompanying video directed by New Zealand-born filmmaker James Gorter. “We were able to leave that up to James because Jim had been following him for a while and just liked his style,” says Hodgson. “When it came to getting the first edit back, I was like ‘that’s better than I could even imagine.’”

The video matches the intensity of the song, with a spotlight shining on members of the band as they play in a pitch-black room. “Someone’s going around with a camera with a spotlight attached to it, and getting in your face,” explains Hodgson. “We had to do a couple of run-throughs because the first time we were just like ‘what the fuck,” he laughs.

Taken By Force comes out February 10 on Cooking Vinyl Australia. Civic are playing at Down South Fest in Port Fairy on February 25 and at Brunswick Music Festival on March 10.

Filling in for his bandmate Jim McCullough, Civic guitarist Lewis Hodgson speaks over the phone late one afternoon.

“It doesn’t really matter how much noise you make out in Elphinstone, that’s kind of the point of it.”

Credit Marcus Coblyn

ST KILDA FESTIVAL: FIRST PEOPLES FIRST

2023 sees the return of the long-running St Kilda Festival to its traditional big festival format on Sunday, February 19. It is, however, returning with a big, exciting difference.

Words by Kosa Monteith

For the first time, the traditional Big Festival Sunday will be combined in the same weekend event with First Peoples First on Saturday, February 18. This is a family-friendly community celebration of diverse First People’s culture, talent, creativity, storytelling and more. This year they’ll be supporting emerging musical talent alongside big-name artists, as well as paying tribute to industry great, Archie Roach.

First Peoples Arts, Festivals & Events Officer, Fred Gesha, has been with the festival for 10 years, but the changes ahead for 2023 are some of the biggest and most exciting.

“We’ve gone through a few different variations of the festival,” he said. “It was time for a change in formatting and presenting the festival. It normally took place the week before in O’Donnell Gardens, but in 2023 we’re also on the main stage at the St Kilda Foreshore. Saturday is a celebration of First People’s artists, culture and community. This year, it raises the profile of our event to another level, by partnering with the huge Sunday festival. Now we’re under the one banner. It’s also impacted the programming of the Sunday, with the inclusion of more First Nations artists across the whole weekend.

“We want everybody to come down and experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage,” Fred said. “The diversity of it, the music and artworks.”

The festival across both days has also facilitated proactive accessibility and inclusivity for the 2023 iteration, and First Peoples First on the Saturday will, for example, include a bus service and dedicated festival space for Elders, as well as targeted outreach ahead of the event with print materials and community advertising across First People’s media and a live broadcast on 3KND, Melbourne’s first Indigenous owned and managed radio station.

Of course, music is still a huge component. Stages at O’Donnell Gardens and the foreshore will showcase varied programming throughout the day.

“It is a platform for showcasing young and very talented emerging artists, and they’re complemented by seasoned artists and legends of the Indigenous music scene,” Fred said.

“The festival exposes new artists to very diverse audiences, giving them a chance to network and form collaborations of their own while playing a big festival and trying out their new material and presenting their songs. We’ve had the likes of Baker Boy and Alice Skye at this festival, who’ve gone on to do great things. Hopefully these young artists will also become big names.”

The St Kilda Festival has a partnership with the Archie Roach Foundation, with programming planned over both Saturday and Sunday. Roach died in July of 2022, but had performed many times at the festival over the years.

“The focus on Saturday is the tribute to Archie Roach and his contribution to the industry and the festival as a whole,” Fred said. “He was homeless in the St Kilda area, so it’s a significant place to him. He made a lot of connections with local Traditional Owners. The Archie Roach Foundation will be presenting their Singing Our Futures program, supporting 5 young emerging artists. There’ll also be an Archie Roach tribute featuring prominent established artists. It’s very much a dedication to him and his contribution to the festival. Now, we’re seeing the next generation of First People’s artists coming through. They’re the ones carrying on his legacy to the Australian music scene.”

The Saturday lineup, which has just been announced, includes headliner Christine Anu, Lady Lash, Jem CassarDaley, Jungaji, Dean Brady and Loren Ryan on the Main Stage, alongside Caution, Creedence Blanco, Robert Bamblett, IO-P Hip Hop Crew, Small Ant Brothers and Pirritu on the O’Donnell Gardens Stage. The First Peoples First day of the St Kilda Festival promises to be a significant event in the summer festival calendar, bringing diverse communities together to celebrate Australia’s First People’s cultures, icons, history and shared future.

First Peoples First will be celebrated on Saturday February 18 as part of St Kilda Festival 2023.

ST KILDA FESTIVAL: BIG SUNDAY

Headliners for Big Festival Sunday include Hoodoo Gurus, Yothu Yindi, Confidence Man, Genesis Owusu, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers, Mick Harvey and many, many more.

After two years of Covid disruption and adaptation, the St Kilda Festival’s Big Sunday is back and bigger than ever in 2023 for its 42nd iteration. What this means is a huge weekend of free Australian live music, family-friendly activities, food and markets, drawing crowds into the foreshore, gardens and streets of St Kilda.

St Kilda Festival Lead, Sullivan Patten, fully expects a return to the big festival numbers of pre-pandemic celebrations.

“This is our first big re-emergence after Covid,” they said. “February 2022 was presented in a more spaced-out format, with smaller events over nine days. We’re heading back into that big festival format where we’d historically expect around 400,000 visitors on Big Festival Sunday alone, from Melbourne and beyond.

“Now with the inclusion of First Peoples First on the Saturday, we’re bringing together an incredible weekend-long celebration of the best of Australian music. Thanks to additional funding support from the Victorian Government, we’ve been able to bolster the programming budget to get a few more big-name headliners, and we’re pretty excited that we’re able to present multiple stages and around 70 artists.”

The St Kilda Festival has long been a platform for emerging artists to find their feet in the industry and play alongside some big names. For 2023, artists will perform at the Main Stage at the foreshore, O’Donnell Gardens and The Push Stage, Catani Gardens Stage, Triangle Stage, Locals Stage on Acland Street, and the New Music Competition stage on Fitzroy Street, as well as roving musicians, entertainers and buskers.

“It offers a real range of live music, with different genres and feels,” Sullivan said. “I’m really excited about the line-up. We’ve got a lot of great up-and-coming acts and emerging artists, programmed alongside more established performers and some highly-recognisable names. Hopefully you’ll see some you already know and discover some new favourites.”

While the focus is on live music, the festival also sees the closure of several roads to become pedestrian promenades

and markets. The site extends across a kilometre, featuring an eclectic mix of performers, demonstrations, workshops, market stalls and family activities. And when it comes to the array of food, there will be something for everyone.

There’ll be extended trading along Fitzroy St and Acland St, showcasing the existing brick-and-mortar businesses, and also itinerant traders with market stalls and food trucks.

Continuing the legacy of supporting and highlighting community groups is vital to the St Kilda Festival.

“As a community festival it’s important to offer community groups the chance to be involved as well,” Sullivan said. “Everything from dance groups to local fishing groups and sporting groups. It’s a festival with a 42-year history, so it’s seen changes that are reflective of how St Kilda has evolved over the years. Each year we’re trying to adapt, adjust and grow with the climate of the industry and community. It started as a small community festival and a celebration of live music, which have always been at its core, and that mindset is important to why people value it and its place in the festival landscape. We would never want to lose that.”

In fact, a number of changes to the festival this year will further improve access in line with this community-minded spirit of inclusion.

“We’ve been fortunate to receive a grant from the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria to build upon our accessibility,” Sullivan said. “We’re adding Auslan to the stages, will be providing some shuttle buses and buggies that can ferry people with access needs, creating some ‘chillout’ spaces and quiet zones, providing mobility equipment hire and a more dedicated space in O’Donnell Gardens to improve physical access and ease of flow for people with prams and small children, rather than battling it out in the crowds down by the beach.”

St Kilda Festival’s Big Sunday is on February 19 and totally free, happening across St Kilda Foreshore and surrounds. These articles were made in partnership with City of Port Phillip.

DROP COFFEE

Words by Ben

No wonder we’re the coffee capital of the world.

There’s nothing worse than getting out of bed and lumbering towards your espresso machine only to see the last scoop of your $59 ground espresso was used by your roommate, and he’s replaced it with a home brand bag that cost $3. Those days will be no more with Melbourne’s new coffee delivery business: Drop Coffee.

There’s no question that when anyone from afar thinks of Melbourne, the first thing that comes to mind is coffee. Our state is jam packed with so many killer cafes and coffee vendors, each bringing something new and fun to the scene.

But it can often get difficult to actually get out there and see them all, buy fresh beans and find that perfect cup. Drop Coffee will save you time and money with a few different inexpensive coffee packs, delivering them to your door on a regular basis with their subscription packages.

Unsurprisingly though, where Drop Coffee really stands out is the quality of the roasters they offer, including Small Batch, Market Lane, Fieldwork, Mecca and Sample, just to name a few. Perhaps most interestingly, you’ll never receive beans from the same roaster twice in a row. Drop Coffee often updates their website with information about the roasters they are using in their packs, so you’re able to really enhance the whole experience.

When it comes to their subscriptions, Drop Coffee have thought of everything. For all home coffee connoisseurs, you’re able to build your subscription box however you like, so you can really make sure your subscription is worth it.

Drop Coffee allows you to pick and choose how your coffee pack will come, starting with the amount of coffees you drink each day (from 1–7), they’ll send you the relative amounts, so you’ll never be without that cup of joe to start off your day.

After you choose your coffee pack size, next up is choosing a roast type, tailoring it to every connoisseur. You can choose espresso or filter roast; espresso roast hotter for longer and often thicker, whereas filter roast is hotter for only a short period and will be finer once put into the machine.

Often you won’t use filter coffee in an espresso machine, but you can use espresso in a filter, so based on the machine you have, Drop Coffee will be able to deliver you the right coffee pack.

After you’ve chosen your roast, the grind is up for selection - one of the things Melburnians love most about buying their own beans. There are a few different types available for purchase; espresso, AeroPress, pourover, stovetop, and plunger.

Once again, Drop Coffee offering numerous options to ensure that coffee’s worth it.

You can also choose fortnightly or monthly deliveries, really making coffee shopping a thing of the past.

With online shopping and subscription food and drink services becoming increasingly popular over the last few years, there’s been an increased call for changes in packaging, with a lot of materials from online orders going straight into landfill. Drop Coffee has ensured this isn’t the case with their eco-friendly packaging, so there’s no reason to feel bad about a fresh bag of coffee rolling up to your door every few weeks.

In a town with $6 espresso shots and beans that’ll put you behind on rent, Drop Coffee is the shop we all need, delivering the stuff we love to our doors. Who can complain about that?

Check out more information and purchase your subscription over at drop.coffee, just scan the QR code below.. This article was made in partnership with Drop Coffee.

Drop Coffee is Melbourne’s coffee delivery service, bringing specialty beans to your door.

Lamb

Drop Coffee allows you to pick and choose how your coffee pack will come, starting with the amount of coffees you drink each day (from 1–7), they’ll send you the relative amounts, so you’ll never be without that cup of joe to start off your day.

ARCHIE ROACH FOUNDATION PRESENTS SINGING OUR FUTURES

PLUS NEW MUSIC COMPETITION • LOCALS STAGE ARTISTS AND PLENTY OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Do we control technology, or does it control us?

This question runs through Data Relations, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art’s current exhibition. Curated by Miriam Kelly and Shelley McSpedden, this new exhibition centres around major new commissions and site-specific installations from six Australian and international artists and collectives.

LA-based artist and computer scientist Lauren Lee McCarthy wants you to think about how data influences your day-to-day behaviour. “I’m fascinated by the ways we’re taught to interact with data, and how this shapes the way we interact with each other.”

McCarthy explores this idea in LAUREN, one of the first works we see when we step inside ACCA’s sweeping exhibition space. In this video work, we see McCarthy transform into a human version of Alexa, in all its omnipresent glory. Using a series of custom-designed smart devices like cameras, microphones, and switches, McCarthy monitors the day-to-day movements of her participants while remotely controlling the conditions within their homes.

It’s a fascinating work that offers profound insight into how technology has come to play an increasingly intimate role in our lives. And in a world where tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple are all racing to introduce artificial intelligence into our homes, McCarthy’s insight is as compelling as it is provocative.

For London-based artist Zach Blas, data has assumed an almost mystical form in recent decades, as companies and governments around the world are increasingly relying on it as a means of predicting and policing the future.

In Blas’s multi-channel installation, Metric Mysticism, we are lectured (literally) by a celestial troll who steers us through the transfiguration of big data into a magical substance that, much like a crystal ball, holds the power to predict and forecast the future.

“Paying attention to how data is turned into information is of course of the utmost importance today, because in our age of big data and surveillance capitalism, information is often presented as an unwavering and incontestable truth,” says Blas. “But information is a primary mode in which the world and its peoples are governed and understood today.”

DATA RELATIONS

Words by Jasmine Penman

Equal parts authoritative and menacing, Blas’s troll shines a light on the ways in which raw data can be manipulated to construct present and future realities.

Hong Kong-born artist, researcher, and coder Winnie Soon also grapples with the question of digital authoritarianism in her practice. In her works Unerasable characters I-III, we see the politics of censorship play out in the context of Weibo, China’s largest social media platform. Based on real-world datasets of censored Weibo posts, these three works give visual constitution to the dark realities of tech-based censorship in China.

As human data continues to be weaponised by big tech and authoritarian governments around the world, how can we take back control? Is it even possible to do so? New York-based artists Tega Brain and Sam Lavigne seem to think it is.

In Synthetic messenger, we see Brain and Lavigne turn clickbait logic on its head by using it to artificially inflate demand for climate change reporting. For Brain and Lavigne, this is just one example of how we, as stakeholders in the global data economy, can reclaim some agency in how our data is used and presented. The work appears to us in the exhibition as a 20-channel video installation, in which we see a bot sweep the internet for news articles on climate change.

“The bots attempt to synthesise human-like data in order to amplify climate reporting,” says Brain and Lavigne. “And as they click on the ads running alongside articles, the value of that article would therefore theoretically increase and the story would become shared in more places online.”

Synthetic messenger draws attention to the ever-expanding capabilities of AI to profoundly steer public discourse and generate real-life outcomes. It’s a playful work, but it’s also unmistakably provocative.

Data Relations presents us with an opportunity to critically reflect on one of the most fundamental features of contemporary life. And as we move into a new era of technology dominated by artificial intelligence and Web 3.0, the question of how we interact with data has become more salient than ever.

ACCA’s latest exhibition lyrically wrestles with some of the most pressing questions of our time.

Where’s the pen? Where’s the line? Maisie Peters wants to sign up (sign up) to be a fully-fledged Australian and our arms are wide open to welcome the British songbird.

MAISIE PETERS

Words by Tammy Walters

Since releasing her debut studio album You Signed Up For This under Ed Sheeran’s label Gingerbread Man Records in August 2021, Maisie Peters has been taking the world by storm.

2022 saw her further expand her relationship with the Bad Habits and Shape of You pop star, joining Ed Sheeran for a hefty 54 shows in the UK and Europe for his sellout + – = ÷ x Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour) and has recently wrapped up the United States run of both supporting and headline shows.

“It has been pretty nonstop but once this tour is over, which is in a few days, we’re not on tour again until January so I definitely have a month or two off to finish my album and get ready for the next big tour,” Peters explains.

The + – = ÷ x Tour saw Peters play a sold-out residency in her hometown on one of the world’s biggest stages, Wembley Stadium, a highlight for the new industry frontrunner.

“Playing Wembley Stadium was amazing because obviously that’s where I live, it’s where I’m from. So getting to sort of play it for a week as well, it was like a weird residency, was pretty iconic and was super fun,” she says.

“My parents came, my grandma came, my friends came, my sister came, my housemate came. Actually, my friends in Australia came. So yeah, I had a good amount of groupies.”

In similar fashion to Ed Sheeran becoming the next big thing following his supporting tour with Taylor Swift for the Grammygiants Red Tour in 2013, the 21-year-old has experienced many ‘pinch-me’ moments throughout the touring schedule.

“Well you get it all the time, I guess in waves, but I guess it also becomes fairly normalised because it’s what you do every day.

“I definitely never take it for granted, like what a huge opportunity this is, and I feel very lucky and grateful that Ed has taken me around the world. I couldn’t go around the world with anyone greater. So I feel very lucky.”

Now the ultimate duo are venturing south, with Peters supporting the sold-out AU/NZ tour, while also selling out and adding additional dates to her own eight headline shows for 2023, including two appearances at Melbourne’s Prince of Wales on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March.

It’s no wonder with plenty of Australians following the likes of Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Smith in calling themselves fans – a whopping 37 million Maisie Peters streams are attributed to Australian listeners, earning us her fifth-largest streaming territory.

“Next year is looking massive already and it hasn’t begun yet. I have another album coming out next year, I’m going to Australia with Ed, we’re going back to America. I’ve got my own tours in the UK and Europe and it’s definitely looking like a pretty busy year, but I’m really excited for it,” she says.

“I’m a big fan of Australia. I’ve never been but I have a lot of friends from there and I’m just really obsessed and I’m so glad – anything so I can stay in Australia for longer is good with me. I think Australia will bring the vibes.”

She continued, “I want to become a full-fledged Australian by the time I leave, like I want to be fully, fully taken within society. So that’s my plan.”

Whilst supports for the headline shows are yet to be confirmed, Peters aims to showcase the Australian artists that she loves.

“I’m not sure who I am bringing along yet but I will have some wonderful guests I’m sure. There are a lot of Australian artists that I love, so I can’t wait to stay with them and play and work with them all.”

The tour will follow the singer’s sophomore album release, due for arrival in early 2023. Leading in with the anthem Cate’s Brother, Blonde and the newly released Not Another Rockstar,

the album continues in the same vein as You Signed Up For This, allowing room for experimentation and expansion.

“I love everything I did on my first album. I really only want to build on that and expand from that world, because I do think that I love so much of what we did with that album.

“I think that this year I’ve just had a little fun experimenting and throwing things out and seeing what feels fun and I had so much fun doing that. But I do think the album has a lot more depth to it than that. And it’s definitely a direction, but there’s also a lot of other different flavours and feelings to it.”

The album developed across countries with recording taking place across London, Stockholm and Bergen with Peters’ enlisting some familiar faces and some new ones as well. The album itself has nods to the likes of My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, All Time Low and Arctic Monkeys, while tracks like Cate’s Brother looked to punk-pop anthems Stacy’s Mom, Sk8er Boi and Teenage Dirtbag.

“I think with all the music I make, I always wanna make sure every note and lyric and chord is purposeful,” she explains.

“I had the idea of writing a song about my friend Cate’s brother going into the studio. I just thought it would be funny. And then I got in the studio with Max [Grahn] and I sort of told him the idea and we were talking about Teenage Dirtbag as well, and that era of music and then the song kind of came together pretty organically.

“I haven’t got to sing Cate’s Brother that many times to headline shows, but when I have it’s been so fun. I got to sing it in Toronto the other day and it was the most fun ever – when it says, “You said “Get a flight to Canada”, the singing was pretty loud. It was pretty good.

“I need to have a song with the word Australia in it. That’s my new goal.”

We’ll wait and see if we can slip in a mention on album number two or three. For the time being we’ll have to substitute country names when the song is played live next year.

Maisie Peters plays the MCG with Ed Sheeran on March 2 and 3, then the Prince of Wales on March 4 and 5.

“I want to become a fullfledged Australian by the time I leave, like I want to be fully, fully taken within society. So that’s my plan.”

STAGE GUIDE Stage shows in February

Words by Ben Lamb & Juliet

A brand new musical that’s heading to Melbourne this February - & Juliet is quickly gaining a lot of attention. Having only recently opened in the UK, this inventive reimagination has already won a number of renowned Olivier awards. It’s coming to the Regent Theatre this month, along with a star-studded cast featuring Amy Lehpamer, Rob Mills, Casey Donovan, and Hayden Tee, alongside newcomer Lorinda May Merrypor in the leading role. & Juliet is playing at the Regent Theatre throughout February.

Mary Poppins The Musical

Yet another new musical is flying into Melbourne this February - an Australian production of the timeless classic Mary Poppins is heading to Her Majesty’s Theatre this month. Based on the popular children’s film of the same name, it features all your favourite moments complete with incredible musical numbers. The cast involves Stefanie Jones, Jack Chambers, Tom Wren, and many more.

Mary Poppins will be hitting Her Majesty’s Theatre throughout February.

John Mulaney

One of the world’s most popular comedians, John Mulaney - known for his work on shows like Saturday Night Live and Big Mouth - is heading to Melbourne for one show only. Hot off the back of a soldout arena tour across the US, the Emmy award-winning comedian is bringing his popular From Scratch show to Margaret Court Arena this month.

John Mulaney will be heading to Margaret Court Arena stage on February 10.

The Mouse Trap

One of the world’s most popular plays - and one of Agatha Christie’s most well-known and popular pieces of workis coming to Melbourne this month. The Mouse Trap is a murder mystery, with the show urging the audience to keep all details of the show and killer quiet, so the fun and mystery are preserved.

The Mouse Trap is hitting the Comedy Theatre this February.

Much Ado About Nothing

A reimagining of the popular Shakespeare play that has been performed a significant deal over the years. This version, coming to Melbourne thanks to the Australian Shakespeare Company, will feature a collection of music from the 90s - so make sure you’re ready for a singalong.

Much Ado About Nothing is currently playing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, until February 4.

Cruel Intentions

Due to popular demand, Cruel Intentions is returning to Melbourne stages this month. The jukebox musical is based on the 1999 movie of the same name that starred Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. The musical features a collection of the era’s most popular songs, such as Genie in a Bottle, No Scrubs, Torn, Iris, and Bitch, among many more.

Get nostalgic with Cruel Intentions at the Atheneum Theatre this February.

Tick, Tick…BOOM!

Based on the life story of Rent writer and composer Johnathan Larson and his journey to creating a hit musical, Tick, Tick … BOOM! Is heading to Melbourne this month. It’s one of the most popular shows of all time, perhaps thanks to the 2021 film starring Andrew Garfield. The Melbourne theatrical version will star the popular face of stage and screen, Hugh Sheridan, among many more.

Tick, Tick…BOOM! Is coming to the Comedy Theatre for the first two weeks of February.

Nosferatu

Based on the popular 1922 film of the same name but with a twist; Malthouse Theatre’s Nosferatu is set in Tasmania’s Bluewater. Following a group of locals who want to reinvigorate their town, they are helped by a mystery person with a hunger for blood. It stars Jacob Collins Levy in the leading role, alongside Sophie Ross, Keegan Joycs, Max Brown, and Shamita Sivabalan.

Nosferatu will be at the Malthouse Theatre from February 10.

Broadway Unplugged

If you love the music in musicals but not the dialogue, then this is the show for you. Broadway Unplugged features a selection of amazing tracks, there are bound to be a few tracks to get you on your feet and singing your lungs out.

Broadway Unplugged will be taking place at the Royal Botanic Gardens on February 19.

An Evening with David Sedaris

David Sedaris is one of America’s most renowned comedic non-fiction writers, with his work adored by audiences and comedians alike all around the globe. Hot off the back of his recent book, Happy-Go-Lucky, his show will involve storytelling, Q&As and book signings. An Evening with David Sedaris will be taking place on February 6 and February 7 at the Arts Centre.

MO’JU x

Award-winning artist Mo’Ju joins forces with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in a special one night only event, conducted by Nicholas Buc.

FRIDAY 17 MARCH / 7.30pm

Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

BOOK NOW

mso.com.au/moju

Kimbra A RECKONING

Album Reviews by Bryget Chrisfield

“So go on and save me/ I’m sinking into my feelings/ And I’m scared they’re gonna drown my confidence… I might look capable, but I’m not/ These days you’re all that I’ve got” – ever lost your identity in a doomed relationship? A Reckoning’s mesmeric, contemplative opening lead single Save Me – Kimbra’s first new song in three years – chronicles the collapse of a codependent long-term relationship. Kimbra’s vocal delivery – at times quivering like an uncertain internal voice struggling to be heard – is incredibly intimate; the listener feels like a trusted confidant. This song’s stunning arrangement also conjures Björk and the striking accompanying film clip, shot in Iceland,

wanted to have something to say in my work that spoke to that shift we’re all experiencing.”

This two-time Grammy-winning artist started writing material for A Reckoning with co-producer Ryan Lott while touring with his experimental project Son Lux in 2018. Lott also features on the piano-driven album track Foolish Thinking, during which his tremulous vocal delivery oozes unchecked vulnerability.

A Reckoning is eclectic yet accessible, with each of the ten tracks utilising distinct sonic palettes: vibratory bass, ominous synth drone and startling dynamic shifts (Gun); funky-fresh Prince vibes for getting your groove on (La Type feat. Tommy Raps & Pink Siifu); and R&B leanings (Personal Space). GLT (feat. Erick The Architect) opens with an annoying Voicemail from a bloke who basically says that although the last few weeks “hanging out” with its intended recipient was “amazing”, he’s “not looking for anything too serious at the moment” [facepalm] – a timely reminder to have those difficult convos IRL, ‘cause Voicemails can be saved, shared and even repurposed.

Baby Cool Earthling On The Way To Self Love

A side-project of Nice Biscuit co-frontwoman Grace Cuell, Baby Cool drips with psychedelia and should ideally be experienced in the presence of a giant lava lamp.

We appropriately feel submerged in water as The Sea washes in, its keys intro conjuring a heart haze before gently jangling tamba flourishes and enchanting harp strums massage our eardrums. Cuell has deemed Lisa Kelly’s harp playing here “one of the most treasured parts of the record” and we wholeheartedly agree. This opening song and the album’s overall concept were inspired by a daily ritual Cuell implemented to improve her mental well-being while trying to manage some emotional turmoil: “I wrote myself a love letter on a piece of pink handmade paper and I read the letter to myself every morning,” she shared (“pink paper” is thrown into The Sea’s lyrics as well).

follows a narrative that reflects Kimbra’s reality as she “seeks to heal her relationship to self, to other women and finally to Mother Earth”, according to the presser.

Kimbra’s unapologetic, careening follow-up single Replay! is a minimal, industrial-electro banger with a syncopated beat that evokes a frantic, irregular heartbeat: “What’s the matter with my head? Stuck. In. Au-to-ma-tic” – choruses battle a barrage of intrusive thoughts.

“We’re in a reckoning around spirit, race, our earth and how people walk in the world with a sense of conscience,” Kimbra has said of creating her fourth album. “I

Closing, acquiescing piano ballad I Don’t Want To Fight – with its minimal arrangement incorporating sleigh bells and fluttering harp accents – is the perfect vehicle for showcasing Kimbra’s astounding vocal agility.

Simultaneously personal and universal, A Reckoning is career-defining work. Yet again we’re reminded Kimbra is so much more than somebody that we used to know.

Label: Inertia/ [PIAS]

Release date: January 27

Country Song is soul-achingly lovely – with plaintive slide guitar cradling Cuell’s lonely coos – and Daydream transports us to a tranquil Hawaiian paradise before erupting into a freak, stacks-on instrumental storm.

This record sounds like that section of the Christmas break where you literally forget what day it is – utter bliss. If the going gets tough, chuck Earthling On The Way To Self Love on; it’s bound to slow down your heart rate and make you feel more zen.

Label: Virgin Music

Release date: February 10

Bumpy Morning Sun EP

The millisecond your ears tune into the airy wonderment of Bumpy’s timbre, you’ll be hooked – it actually needs to be heard to be believed (see: the wow-factor vocal runs in her latest single, Hide & Seek!). This Naarm/Melbourne-based artist’s interpretive ability is also top tier; goosebump-inducing, in fact. Bumpy fronts the neo-soul outfit Squid Nebula as well and her self-produced debut solo EP is intoxicating – we’re talking Martina Topley-Bird-level artistry.

Opener Waiting Game is dynamically intricate and effortlessly classy in a Rebirth Of Cool compilation kinda way. Meandering guitar noodling opens the poignant, strings-enhanced Return Home:

“I feel those stories that we couldn’t speak of/ And I feel your power flowing through my blood/ But I don’t know my native tongue...” – Bumpy truly embodies her work while also demonstrating extraordinary melodic intelligence. Measured and understated at first, Leave It All Behind satisfyingly drip-feeds instrumental parts – one at a time – until we’re carried away by the synergetic fullband arrangement. Playful closer Hide & Seek ducks, weaves and soars – inspired, ever-shifting and jazz-infused.

The latest recipient of Music

Victoria’s Archie Roach Foundation Award For Emerging Talent, Bumpy sounds like liberation. Releasing her Morning Sun EP the day after Survival Day is a deliberate move from this proud Noongar woman.

Label: Astral People/ [PIAS]

Release date: January 27

Gena Rose Bruce

Deep Is The Way

What an enchanting vocalist! Gena Rose Bruce’s voice is capable of sounding dreamy (see: Future), gutsy (Destroy Myself’s choruses) and everything in between, as required, and her delicious timbre brings Abby Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride) to mind. The incomparable Bill Callahan (aka Smog) co-wrote two songs on Deep Is The Way: the subtly boppy Foolishly In Love and the title track, a duet, during which his soothing vocals float in and out of the arrangement like sweet temptation.

Bruce wrote her second album while processing the death of her partner’s mother, navigating Melbourne’s endless series of lockdowns and also questioning the viability of continuing to pursue a career in music: “I wanted to be a star/ But I’m tired of believing in a future so bright,” she sings in Future. Reading the book Revolutionary Road during this time, Bruce particularly identified with the character April Wheeler – an actor whose ambitions are thwarted by domesticity – and their shared vexations bled into album closer Captive, with its gently rolling undercurrent evoking Ravel’s Boléro (albeit on Valium).

Elsewhere, the chord progressions throughout the standout track Harsh Light lean into her Beatles fandom and during the Electric Light Orchestrainspired I’d Rather Be A Dreamer, Bruce has an epiphany that validates her creative pursuits: “I’d rather be dreaming than admit defeat.”

Label: Dot Dash/ Remote Control Release date: January 27

Kingswood  Home

It’s typically impossible to get through listening to a Kingswood song without pulling at least one stank face while nodding appreciatively – talk about riffs of fury! However this album’s lead single Burning Holes is acoustic, emotional and reflective; a kind of campfire singalong moment (more s’mores, please!) during which Alex Laska and Fergus Linacre’s swoon-inducing vocal harmonies immediately remind us why Kingwood truly rule. Good Whiskey, our second taste of Home, features scintillating slide guitar and surprisingly romantic lyrics: “Your beauty and your grace will one day surely start a war.” God & Gun’s old-worldly lyrical charm (“On a night like this under the stars I reminisce...”) offsets its jaunty pace and cheeky instrumental tone. Startling examples of guitar virtuosity occur on the reg throughout this Melbourne four-piece’s fourth record (see: the call-and-response riff dialogue at the tail end of Gone Gone Baby Gone – what show-offs!).

Boasting an irresistible clap-along tempo, swaggering penultimate track Movin On is a hat tip to T. Rex’s Get It On, during which Linacre channels Bon Scott. Riches – the acoustic guitar-driven closer – takes it down a notch: Western feel, waltz rhythm, strings, Willie Nelsontinged vocal delivery – you wouldn’t pick it as a Kingswood song without prior knowledge. Home veers into previously uncharted, nuanced territory to showcase a showroom-condition, restored Kingswood.

Label: MGM Release date: 24 February

ARTS GUIDE Exhibitions to see in February

Words by Ben Lamb

Lives of Their Own: Stories Behind Precious Objects

A number of the Flinders Lane Gallery’s most popular artists will be part of Lives of Their Own: Stories Behind Precious Objects, including Margaret Ackland, Kim Anderson, Julie Davidson, Chelsea Gustafsson, Bronwyn Hill, Michael Simms and guest artist Christine Webb, among many more. An intimate still-life exhibition, the paintings exhibited seek to understand the world a little bit better through inanimate objects.

Lives of Their Own: Stories Behind Precious Objects will be taking place at the Flinders Lane Gallery from February 7.

Naadohbii:

To Draw Water

Coming to the Melbourne Museum, Naadohbii: To Draw Water is a brand new exhibition in partnership with Aotearoa’s (New Zealand) Pātaka Art and Museum, and Turtle Island in Canada’s Winnipeg Art Gallery. It’s one of the most important exhibitions in 2023, featuring a selection of the best multidisciplinary works from Indigenous artists of the partnering countries.

Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium

Barbara Hepworth is one of Britain’s most popular artists, with her work being featured in a number of the world’s most renowned galleries. In this exhibition, coming to the Heide Museum of Modern Art, there’ll be a bit of everything from international to local pieces. Hepworth quickly came to prominence back in Britain with her unique sculptures, often focusing on abstract ideas.

Barbara Hepworth is taking place at the Heide Museum of Modern Art throughout February.

Splendid: The Roger Brookes Bequest

If you’re a lover of all things antique, this exhibition is the one for you. It’s a different type of exhibition - this one featuring silverware instead of traditional art - which was gifted by Roger Brookes. As a collector who obtained a collection of the most sought-after silverware pieces, there’s a bit of everything showcased at this exhibition: from clocks to paintings, and everything in between.

China: The Past is Present

China is a country of such ornate architecture, fashion and artworks. China: The Past is Present showcases contemporary and historical works, emphasising themes such as prestige and spirituality. Highlights from this free exhibit include pieces from Xiao Lu, who is renowned as China’s first feminist artist.

China: The Past is Present is showing at the NGV International in Southbank throughout February.

Naadohbii: To Draw Water is taking place at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the Melbourne Museum throughout February.

Splendid: The Roger Brookes Bequest is taking place at The Johnston Collection throughout February, running Wednesdays through Sundays.

Alexander McQueen – Mind, Mythos, Muse

This December, the NGV will become home to a brand-new exhibition from one of the world’s most renowned fashion designers - Alexander McQueen. In partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the exhibition will showcase over 100 garments, giving patrons a unique look at the designer’s originality and fashion. Mind, Mythos, Muse will be separated into four sections, each with a distinct style.

New Works from Warlukurlangu

Alexander McQueen’s Mind, Mythos, Muse will be taking place throughout February at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Rone - Time

Rone’s Time can be found hidden within a staple of many Melburnian’s lives, the Flinders Street Station. The exhibition is placed on the station’s long-forgotten third floor, with the art collection fitting the peculiar shapes of the floor. It’ll make you feel like you’ve moved into a nostalgic older era when you walk through this ambitious project, with many pieces set in the WWII era.

Time will be taking place throughout February at the Flinders St Station – Floor 3.

The Flinders Lane Gallery is exhibiting new works from Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in Yuendumu - one of Australia’s oldest art centres that first opened back in 1985. Featuring depictions of traditional Dreamtime stories, this exhibition will involve a selection of art pieces from the centre. Many of the beautiful pieces will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition as well, so you can really make that feature wall shine.

New Works from Warlukurlangu is taking place at Flinders Lane Gallery in the Nicholas Building until February 4.

Peter Tyndall Retrospective

If you’re an art lover, there’s no doubt you’ve come across Peter Tyndall’s pieces in the past. This month, catch an extensive collection of his best pieces in one place with this retrospective that spans 50 years of his influential career.

Peter Tyndall Retrospective is taking place at Buxton Contemporary throughout February.

by Amelia Jean O’Leary

ICEHOUSE

“I never understood the way people reacted to Great Southern Land and I probably still don’t – it was a kind of magic that everyone but me heard.”

Speaking from his home in Sydney’s Whale Beach, Icehouse frontman Iva Davies seems surprisingly avuncular for an Australian music legend who toured with David Bowie.

Icehouse is coming to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, February 11 to celebrate 40 years since the release of the single Great Southern Land; an enduring centrepiece of Australian national identity and music culture.

For Davies, the mastermind behind Icehouse, the story starts in the small New South Wales town of Wauchope, where his early musical influences saw him on a trajectory to be playing to a much different tune.

“Classical music was a complete accident at both ends – getting in and getting out,” he says. “When I was about four-years-old, there was a parade going on in town and I heard this extraordinary sound approaching. It turned out to be the local Scottish pipe band. Believe it or not, I fell in love with the bagpipes – so much so that I pestered my parents to let me learn.”

After a high school music teacher encouraged him to play something more practical, he transferred to the oboe.

“Apparently, I became very good at it because I won a scholarship to the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music and became the principal oboist of the ABC National Training Orchestra,” he says.

Although the band was fun, it wasn’t exactly profitable. Davies even debated ending the band before they struck gold with the single Can’t Help Myself.

“I made a bet with one of our record label owners that we wouldn’t get into the top 40,” says Davies. “I lost that bet.”

Upon returning from tour, Davies was under immense pressure to produce a second album. The inspiration for Great Southern Land came on Icehouse’s first international tour, inspired by homesickness and awe at having flown over Australia’s red centre enroute to London.

“I was staring out the window for a while, looking down at the outback; dried-up creek beds and not a lot to look at,” he continues. “I went to sleep and many hours later I looked out the window and it was exactly the same. It was a real light-bulb moment for me.”

In 1982, Icehouse released Great Southern Land as a lead single for their sophomore album Primitive Man.

While it didn’t enjoy the chart success as other Icehouse hits, it has a uniquely enduring quality. Having had Qantas Dreamliner’s named after it, the Australian cricket team use it as their walk-out song, and an orchestral version played at the Sydney Opera House to ring in the new millennium, the song continues to embed itself in Australia’s lifeblood.

“I played Great Southern Land to the studio as my first song of ten to show that I was getting to work and everything was underway,” he says. “The studio reacted straight away and knew we had something.”

Words by Coco Veldkamp

In a twist of fate, his oboe career would quickly dissipate after a repair gone wrong ruined his instrument. Finding himself unemployed and struggling for rent, he began working two cleaning jobs. This is how he met Keith Welsh. Welsh was the son of Davies’ manager and played bass, while Davies had been teaching himself guitar. The two co-founded the band then known as Flowers in 1977.

They bonded over a similar taste in music. During their pub circuit era, they played covers of T.Rex, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Brian Eno.

“At the start, Keith went around to pubs asking if we could play there on a Friday night,” Davies says. “Our first show was in a pub that had never had a band play before, so we just set up in the corner. It was very DIY.”

Icehouse is playing Sidney Myer Music Bowl on February 11 as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Live at the Bowl program. Beat is an official media partner of Live at the Bowl.

Icehouse front-man Iva Davies reminisces on the band’s golden days and the enduring impact of Great Southern Land.

Credit Serge Thomann

A celebration of Afro-Colombian music is the essence of picó culture as it exists in downtown neighbourhoods of cities on the Caribbean coast. But Melbourne-based picó collective El Gran Mono is proving it’s about more than just the music.

The group is creating a diverse cultural community of music-makers and selectors, hosts, dancers, artists and designers and of course fans, who become immersed in its live-show experiences. But first, what do you need to know about picós?

They are huge technicolour (often fluorescent) sound systems that are custom-built to blast out vinyl records of predominantly AfroColombian music. They are culture unto themselves, dominating the streets of Colombian cities like Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta where crowds gather around them to connect, eat, socialise and of course, dance.

Thanks to El Gran Mono founders Tom Noonan and Johnny El P, Melbourne has had its very own picó since 2018 – EL GRAN MONO – the first to be built outside Colombia. Noonan, who was living in East Africa in 2013, visited Barranquilla and connected with members of the city’s local music industry who introduced him to picó culture, which was vastly different from his experience of sound systems in Australia.

Their imposing size and sound, their art and psychedelic colours, and the atmosphere they created at Barranquilla’s picó parties captivated Noonan, and he reflects on being “completely overwhelmed” by the energy and social connections that were forged around them.

“I came back to Australia feeling really inspired to explore a similar project here; a cultural exchange between Colombia and Australia through music and other performance elements. The project was a way of reinforcing positive narratives around sound system culture,” he says.

Noonan worked closely with a picó crew he met in Barranquilla to

create a Melbourne-based sound system and surrounding community that authentically reflected Colombia’s music culture. In 2018. he and Johnny El P oversaw the creation of EL GRAN MONO (which literally translates to The Great Monkey) in Melbourne, a sound system giant measuring over three metres high. Even by Columbian standards, it’s big. Picture a fierce, King Kong-like ape atop Flinders Street Station, with vinyl recordings flying through the sky and

EL GRAN MONO

“There are some challenges with local government and authorities in Barranquilla connecting sound system culture to drugs and violence. One of the key reasons we wanted to involve the Barranquilla crew in the El Gran Mono project is to help them flip some of these negative narratives,” Noonan adds.

“Picó culture is viewed as a tool of resistance against Colonialism,” explains Jimenez. “The music played by these picós originally comes from Afro-Colombian communities who wanted to reconnect with their African roots. The physical picó is really a symbol of identity and culture, it’s a very powerful tool that represents music, art, dance and connection all at the same time.”

terrified Melburnians washed in a surge of apocalyptic, acid-green paint. Bueno!

The group has been invited to perform at a string of festivals and events, including Womadelaide, RISING’s Heavy Congress, Vivid Sydney and Spilt Milk, in addition to their own verbenas (picó parties) like their recent Barrio Trópico New Year’s Eve party at Retropolis Studio in Melbourne.

“I grew up in Barranquilla, so I almost took the picó music and community culture for granted, it’s embedded in my being,” says Oscar Jimenez, singer, producer and one of El Gran Mono’s MCs. “El Gran Mono is not just about being a source of entertainment or putting on fun events. There is a deeper element of education to it. It’s about exposing people to what is happening in the Caribbean with sound system culture.

With plans to record and produce its own album, El Gran Mono has evolved organically towards being a creative entity that redefines sound system culture both locally and abroad. From Colombia, to Greece, to Italy and the UK, promoters, DJs, performers and fans are hearing about El Gran Mono’s initiatives and events, and the safe and inclusive environment they offer people who want to explore an authentic experience of picó culture. The group’s long-term vision is to produce an annual Caribbean Carnevale event in Melbourne, and a possible tour in 2024 that will see the EL GRAN MONO sound system taken back to Barranquilla with an Australian delegation.

“This music – Afro-Colombian dance music – doesn’t have a language. It’s universal, it’s about feeling and body,” Jimenez says. “Coming out of the pandemic, people have a lot of energy and an urge to release it, and I think the El Gran Mono experience encourages people to connect and celebrate life.”

Follow El Gran Mono @elgranmonomelb

They say you should be able to feel the beat of a picó sound system reverberate through your heart.

Words by Alexia Petsinis

Arts Projects Australia

KRONOS

“…the most far-ranging ensemble geographically, nationally, and stylistically the world has known “

Los Angeles Times

ALBANY / 01 March

Perth Festival, Albany Entertainment Centre

PERTH / 04 March

Perth Festival, Perth Concert Hall

MELBOURNE / 07 March

Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

HOBART / 09 March

Ten Days on the Island, Federation Concert Hall

ADELAIDE / 11 & 12 March

WOMADelaide, Botanic Park

ADELAIDE / 13 March

Adelaide Festival, Festival Theatre

SYDNEY / 14 March

Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall

Celebrating 50 years of Kronos Quartet

2023 lineup includes

ANGEL OLSEN USA AURORA Norway BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE Aus BECKAH AMANI Aus

BILLY BRAGG UK BON IVER USA CIMAFUNK Cuba FANTASTIC NEGRITO USA FLORENCE + THE MACHINE UK GRATTE CIEL PLACE DES ANGES France KEE’AHN Aus KOKOROKO UK

KRONOS QUARTET USA MADELEINE PEYROUX USA MEUTE Germany NAKHANE South Africa

ONDATRÓPICA Colombia THE PROCLAIMERS Scotland SAMPA THE GREAT Zambia SOUL II SOUL UK YOUSSOU N’DOUR & LE SUPER ÉTOILE DE DAKAR Senegal ...and many more.

10–13 March 2023

Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla Adelaide womadelaide.com.au

photo: Musical Instrument Museum

George Lane

LIVE MUSIC is for appreciating at George Lane. The crowd is relaxed and it’s common practice to post up in one of their comfy chairs or chaise lounges, grab yourself something to sip on, and enjoy the sweet, sweet sounds of blues, folk, country, rock n’ roll, roots and alternative music.

FAMOUS FOR its stunning heritage architecture. Everything feels luxurious to the touch – glossy polished wood, marble countertops and plush velvet upholstery. It’s the kind of space that’ll put you in the mood to order an Old Fashioned or a Martini. Something classy.

INFAMOUS FOR being a little tricky to locate. Not to be eclipsed by its neighbours at the George Ballroom and the George Lounge, George Lane is a force of its own. Follow the map, peek around in the alley, and don’t be afraid to ask for directions.

If you’re hanging around St Kilda, you’re pretty spoiled for options when it comes to getting your kicks on a night out. But trust us when we tell you there’s nowhere quite like George Lane.

It’s one of those situations where the inside and outside don’t match up. The facade is graffitied to the nines and the interior is a decadent delight, with dim lighting and ornate art deco motifs. Honestly, the ambience is pretty hard to beat.

In a way, this mismatch represents the eclectic vibe of the space. You never know exactly what to expect, but you know it’ll be good.

During the show, treat yourself to some of the venue’s “music food”, including snacks, pizzas, souvlaki, and even Korean fried chicken. Though the menu offers limited options, they’re all crowd favourites.

When it comes to the music, it’s a mixed bag in the best way. Genres vary from night to night, but performers always bring their A-game. The venue is just the right size to be intimate but still spacious and the acoustics are just right.

Next time you’re looking for a laid-back place to enjoy some tunes, George Lane is your girl.

Hotel Westwood

LIVE MUSIC takes place seven days a week on their huge bandstage. Hosting acts from diverse genres across Melbourne’s vibrant music scene, there’s no venue quite like it in Footscray.

FAMOUS FOR their pop culture trivia night each Thursday. Leave any knowledge about politics, sports and book learning at the door, because they only ask questions about the fun stuff: music, movies and TV.

INFAMOUS FOR the unfairly delicious burgers from chef Simon O’Keefe aka Simmo. Crafting his burgers from his world-famous Martin’s potato buns complete with a healthy dash of housemade kewpie sauce and a juicy patty to boot, you’ll never want to eat dinner anywhere else.

A bustling venue with all the local, authentic feel of an Aussie pub in the mid-70s, Hotel Westwood is an iconic locale that is a favourite of the Footscray community.

Located on the site of the former Reverence Hotel, which was marked for demolition after the hotel closed its doors back in 2019, the pub was transformed into something new by James Young - the owner of Cherry Bar and Yah Yah’s - and his team.

“The rock was missing for a long time and it’s finally landed,” says co-owner James Young. “And I’m feeling that the right ripple is going out and things are going to be a lot better for Footscray and for Melbourne.”

Welcoming all, including children and dogs, through their doors, this Footscray watering hole and bandroom is decidedly a meeting place for the local community. “It has to be for everyone,” Young continues.

“That means we expect to have the hi-vis construction working women and men coming in for a pot and parma, but we also want the families with the prams, dog walkers, people on their bikes, the students, the punks.”

Get in on the action by heading to 28 Napier Street, Footscray. They’re open from 4 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, midday on the weekend and closed on Monday and Tuesday.

George Lane proudly sits at 1 George Lane in St Kilda. They’re open only when shows are on but generally from Thursday to Sunday.

Credit Peter Nichols

Lulie Tavern

LIVE MUSIC is almost always free at the Tav. They’re a generous bunch! It usually starts at 9pm, so grab a few brews before hitting the D-floor.

FAMOUS FOR free pool. In this economy? Say goodbye to the fluorescently lit, jam-packed pool halls, and hello to the Lulie (if you can manage to secure a spot at the table). This is how the game is meant to be played: a few pints deep, with friends and strangers.

INFAMOUS FOR the rough-and-tumble, unapologetically old school vibe. Think neon beer signs, raw brick, and a disco ball twirling above it all. A cowboy would feel right at home.

Aaaah, the good old Lulie. Combining the raucous energy of a classic pub with the modern fixings we all love, Lulie Tavern is a favourite of locals and visitors alike.

If you’ve been on the hunt for an authentic Americana dive, then this will be your place. Though Lulie Tavern may only be in its early years, you wouldn’t be able to tell – it’s got that cozy, lived-in feeling, like it’s straight out of 1969. Warm and unpretentious, the space is only made better by the super friendly staff.

Sun seekers can head on up the stairs to the brandspanking-new rooftop. We couldn’t think of a better way to end a busy week than crushing a few on the roof while the thud of rock n’ roll echoes from the bandroom below.

The Lulie is known for their massive celebration of the best of Melbourne nightlife too, hosting a massive Luliepalooza each year, a one-day mini festival praising all things live music. This year, their lineup included the likes of RVG, Pist Idiots, Grace Cummings and Children Collide.

Check them out by heading down to 225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford. They’re open ’til late from 4 pm on weekdays and midday on Fridays and across the weekend.

Howler

LIVE MUSIC of all flavours takes place on the Howler stage, from cabaret to heavy metal. But one thing is for certain – if you head to a gig at Howler, you’re going to get up-close-and-personal. Plus, the sound quality is always top notch.

FAMOUS FOR their amazing architectural sunroom and beer garden, where you can bask in the summer heat over a pint or two. It’s worth heading over just to check it out.

INFAMOUS FOR drawing a too-cool-for-school crowd. I’ll be honest, the people who fill Howler’s halls tend to skew towards hipster, artsy and hot. Don’t let this intimidate you, though – the vibe is always super welcoming.

Brunswick’s much-loved Howler is a staple of the community for good reason. Born out of an old warehouse near the station, it’s one of those great hidden gems that keeps you coming back time and time again.

You’ll find the venue, which is tucked between the Brunswick Baths and RMIT’s Brunswick campus, by locating the massive zebra mural on the outside.

In their dining room slash chill-out spot, they’re kept the industrial edge of their warehouse predecessor and added potted pants, angular lanterns, and warm wood – it’s an all-tooeasy space to spend your idle hours, chatting with friends over frosty cocktails.

When it comes to the music, they do it right. Boogie down in the sizable bandroom before cooling off with drinks at the bar. And don’t miss out on the eats – they’ve got classic pub fare, pizzas, and a handful of healthy options. Vegans and veggos won’t have trouble getting a feed.

If your taste in beer tends to be a tad unconventional, you’re in for a treat. From sours to dark beers, they’ve usually got an assortment of funky stuff to keep you going.

Head down to 7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick to see what all the fuss is about. They’re open every day except Mondays.

While the genre draws from country, it seems to be more defined by how it intersects with other genres, such as soul, rock, and blues. As that relates to this record, it gives Hollick space to operate outside of not only genre but the perception of genre.

“I feel it is my duty here to send out a vibration, to invite people in to be a part of a community, to do away with the ‘country music is for rednecks’ narrative and try to initiate change in the only way I know how,” she says.

FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK

Hollick describes her sound as ‘cosmic country’. Despite the futuristic-sounding title, cosmic country has deep roots in country that’s more California than Nashville, more outlaw than “countrypolitan”.

Words by Matt Parnell

like the universe had called me there, to be there with those people,” she says. “It wasn’t a place I chose, the place chose me, the wonderful people I worked with chose the band, chose the studio, chose the place, and I showed up.

The experience of recording in spaces used by Iggy Pop, Kurt Vile, PJ Harvey among others, as well as with artists like Greg Leisz, gave the album its size as well as its scope. Recording in the desert gives you somewhere to revel in the emptiness of, well, the desert, leading to something that feels less confined because it is less confined. She talks about amps being kept outside the studio proper due to lack of room, being afforded the opportunity to record differently given the locale. It’s hard to say how much bearing it has on the final sound, but it’s clear it had an impact on the outlook.

“I felt as though I was existing in a new dimension,” she describes, “one where people’s intentions were so obvious, where my path was so obvious. I felt connected to an eternal hum, like my power cord had been plugged into a new socket, and I needed to let all the dead weight fall off.”

The record’s centrepiece is its title track, the album’s fifth track of nine but also third single of five – perfectly in the middle of both. It’s a song that uses poetry to lament, longer and slower than the tracks around it, a palpable sense of loss. In the album context, after Vivienne, June, Dolly & Jolene, it’s almost jarring and a clear sign that the album’s going in a different direction. The key link is in its genre similarity, a testament to the multifaceted cosmic country as she delivers it.

Country music’s history in Australia is inextricably coloured by its American roots and associations, but with her latest record

The Real World, Hollick strives to create newer, more homegrown comparisons. That’s the root of her attraction to cosmic country: it has a different history to the Nashville country that people think of when they hear the genre. Music like hers has the opportunity to dismantle these stereotypes.

Her attractions to country music were more to do with its history in storytelling than any particular sound, inspired by its strength of song and poetry as well as artists like Townes Van Zant and Alan Toussaint. This is particularly evident in Hollick’s latest record The Real World.

Hollick began recording the album at the Rancho de la Luna in the Mojave desert. “I ended up there in the Mojave desert,

Something that comes up a lot is the idea that, in addition to everything else contained within the record, it’s also music for aliens. Partly tied into the mythos of country music and the desert, partly due to the cosmic half of ‘cosmic country’, partly due to the idea of the awakening.

“That desert is a powerful place, with a powerful history that stretches so far back before the capitalist machine put its devastation there,” she concludes. “The death place of Gram Parsons and a good place to go looking for aliens, I felt so at home, I can’t even explain it.”

Hollick will be bringing her cosmic country to Ninchfest on the Mornington Peninsula’s St Andrew’s Beach, from February 10 and 11.

“I felt as though I was existing in a new dimension,” she describes, “one where people’s intentions were so obvious, where my path was so obvious. I felt connected to an eternal hum, like my power cord had been plugged into a new socket, and I needed to let all the dead weight fall off.”

However, it isn’t just the pursuit of cooling down by any means necessary that fuels summer for Melburnians. Rather, this time of the year signifies that we are in store for another Midsumma festival.

Midsumma has been the premier LGBTQIA+ festival in Melbourne for decades now, and this year the team behind the event organisation have pieced together a festival spanning three weeks that will showcase Queer arts and culture in spectacular fashion.

celebration of

Victorian Queer community on such an iconic, huge stage. It’s not like 30-40 years ago where it was

MIDSUMMA

Summer is in full swing. Consecutive hot days, overcrowded beaches, lines for gelato stores spilling out onto the sweltering asphalt of the sidewalks. These scenes are all too familiar for those who reside in Naarm throughout the first two months of the year.

Words by Jacob McCormack

normally perform together. It’s like a community catch-up, a meeting.”

The festival boasts parties, performances and gatherings that encompass all mediums and facilitate the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Australian stand-up, actor and radio host Joel Creasey is so committed to the event he made a special trip from W.A., where is currently part of the filming for an upcoming documentary series based on the rehoming of dogs.

“I had to beg production to let me leave W.A,” he says. “I’ve always attended fair day. Drunk too much and gotten burnt to a crisp. I’ve done several shows at Midsumma, I did one years ago called Twunks. It’s just a fun time in Melbourne because the weather is great, everyone is in a good mood.”

While Creasey has already hosted the Midsumma Extravaganza at Sidney Myer Music Bowl - an event that featured the who’s who of Australia’s contemporary Queer artistic scene - Melburnians can eagerly look forward to more major events as Midsumma heats up February.

The Midsumma Pride March will return to St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street on February 5, bringing together over 53,000 people for Melbourne’s iconic march celebrating solidarity in gender and sexuality diversity. As is tradition, it begins with the roaring motors of the Dykes on Bikes as per tradition, before the march itself is led by the Boon Wurrung Elders, Rainbow Aboriginal Float, and LGBTQIA+ youth. This will be followed by free entertainment and festivities, including DJs and live performances by St Kilda beach.

On February 12 - the final day of a massive program - the party moves northside, with a full-day and night street party in Gertrude and Smith Street precinct. Australian/Nigerian triple threat performer and queer advocate Keiynan Lonsdale (aka Rainbow Boy) will headline Victoria’s Pride, joined by Casey Donovan, Banoffee, Chela, Alter Boy, Jaguar Jonze, Cry Club and many more.

“It’s a rainbow, if you will, of Queer Australian artists,” Creasey describes. A seasoned veteran when it comes to attending Midsumma events, as well as having performed at a number of festivals, Creasey is aware of the significance of the festival. The pressure of performance and playing to a large crowd aside, Creasey is incredibly proud to be a part of a celebration of the Victorian Queer community, a festive take on a meeting of community members.

“I think it’s great that there is a celebration of the Victorian Queer community on such an iconic, huge stage. It’s not like 30-40 years ago where it was all a bit cloak and dagger. It’s now become out, loud and proud with people who are killing it in mainstream media and entertainment. It’s nice for us to all get together because we don’t normally perform together. It’s like a community catch-up, a meeting.”

A feat that Creasey notes, without the support of the Victorian government, would not be able to exact the scale it has amounted to.

“They [The Victorian Government] have been incredibly supportive, and they’ve been incredibly supportive of Midsumma and the St Kilda Pride Centre and the community in general.”

Midsumma Festival runs until 12 February across Victoria. This article was made in partnership with Midsumma.

“I think it’s great that there is a

the

all a bit cloak and dagger. It’s now become out, loud and proud with people who are killing it in mainstream media and entertainment. It’s nice for us to all get together because we don’t

Gig Guide Feb02 – Feb25.

For thousands more gigs head to beat.com.au/gigguide

Thursday February 2

JULIE O’HARA + ANTON DELECCA WITH JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET

Golden Gate Hotel. South Melbourne. 6.45pm. $15.

PAPRIKA. Araminta, No Less. The Toff In Town. Melbourne.

7.30pm. $15.

THE PUTBACKS. Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

MINGUS THINGUS. Paris

Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne.

7.30pm. $35.

MAHALIA BARNES + THE SOUL MATES. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne.

7.45pm. $45.

BARNEY MCALL: TONGUE AND TOOTH COLLECTIVE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

7.30pm. $20 - 25.

LIFEWORLD. The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $15.

COWBOY JUNKIES

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $89.90.

CAISHA SPROUT, STELLA WHO, DAISY KILBOURNE

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 5.30pm. Free.

OPEN MIC NIGHT. The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 7pm. Free.

DUDI SHAUL. Open Studio. Northcote. 7.30pm. $22.19.

RAGTIME TAVERN OPEN

PIANO. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6.30pm. Free.

LAB RAT, PRESTON SKATE

MASSIVE, JOSH 10. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25.

GEOWULF, GEORGIA STATE

MIND, MORE. The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $19.15.

ABBOTSFORD CONVENT’S MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL

2023: STRANGER THAN USUAL. Abbotsford Convent. Abbotsford. 8pm. $18 - 28.

EMOTION PICTURE, DINOSAUR BEARD, SEAMUS MCCORRY & THE TELEVISED MIND. Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. Free.

CANDLELIGHT: SOUNDS OF JOY. The National Theatre (Melbourne). St Kilda. 6.30pm. $60 - 75.

3181 THURSDAYS. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 6pm.

COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD (SOLO). Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 8pm.

MIA + JACK. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.

Friday

February 3

KING OF SPAIN, CREATURE FEAR, BAILEY JUDD. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $22.45.

TRUMPET. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

OPA! BATO BALKAN BRASS Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $30.

THE FRINGE DWELLERS

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

NAZIA IQBAL & DELAGHA

SUROOD. Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 7pm. $69 - 145.

THE IRREVERENCE TRIO

Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $20.

REBECCA MENDOZA SINGS

BILLIE, SARAH & ELLA. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

MAHALIA BARNES +

THE SOUL MATES. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.45pm. $45.

AUDREY POWNE: A

FAREWELL FOR NOW. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

KATANKIN. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. Free.

THE FOUR SCOOPS. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

PAUL LEWIS: INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS

2023. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $49.

VOLT JOLT. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

THE BACKSEAT LOVERS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm.

AGNES BLUE, MADDY PETCH, BAZ RAVISH, THE BLUEPRINTS, DJ GALACTIC RAINBOW. Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $15.00.

DELIVERY. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $18.72.

FANDANGO. Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 9pm. Free.

PLINI, PROTEST THE HERO, I BUILT THE SKY. 170 Russell. Melbourne. 8pm. $59.90.

COCKNEY REJECTS. Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $57.71.

TINY MOVING PARTS, EAT YOUR HEART OUT, LOOSE END. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 8pm. $59.90.

SWITCHFOOT. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $69.90.

YOU MIGHT HIT THE SUN Guitarbarella. Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

YOUNG HENRYS PRESENTS: AT LULIE TAVERN FEAT: SALARYMEN, FAN GIRL. Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 6pm. Free.

YORKE. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $29.10.

KNUCKS. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm.

REWIND 80’S. Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $30.60.

MITCH KING. Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

ABBOTSFORD CONVENT’S

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL: FOUNTAIN BY MAX LAWRENCE & FOREST. Collective. Abbotsford Convent. Abbotsford.

7.30pm. $20 - 34.

SIN CITY, BEN MASTWYK & THE MILLIONS. Gem Bar. Collingwood. 7pm.

SIMON HUDSON, THE TOUGH GROOVES. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC

SESSION. The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

REVOLVER FRIDAYS

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm.

KIKI BOUBA FEAT: KIKI BOUBA DJS, ELLEN STOKES Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 9pm. $20.

OFF LICENCE FEAT: FOURA, MORE. Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

Saturday

February 4

SONGS FROM MERMAID AVENUE. George Lane. St Kilda. 3pm. $20.

TIM MCMILLAN & RACHEL

SNOW, TIM WOODZ & THE DIRTY SHOES, ISHAN

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

ALETHIA. Open Studio. Northcote. 2.30pm. $10.

LILY & KING. Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $25.

DEAR BUFFALO. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. Free.

ILYA GRINGOLTS

PLAYS BRUCH. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7.30pm. $49.

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA PRESENTS

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne.

7.30pm. $55 - 97.

VIRGIN MARY DISCO, CLASSROOM, THE CAP GUN KILLS. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

DISTURBING THE PEACE. Hotel Westwood. Footscray. 8pm. $17.19.

BLOODY RIPPER BIRTHDAY

BASH: FRONTSIDE BACKSIDES + COCO JUMBO

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $11.25.

DRACOREX, ARTIFACT, PENDLE HILL, RARE OLIVES Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $22.45.

WASTEMAN. Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $22.94.

SWEDISH MAGAZINES, THE DOUBLE AGENTS, TRUE SOUND. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $28.15.

AZURE. Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 7pm. $25.

WEDNESDAY 8TH FEBRUARY

SHOL + THICKEN 8PM, $10

THURSDAY 9TH FEBRUARY

THE MODERATE THEMES + THE CANS 7:30PM

TUESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY KLUB MUK 7PM, FREE

WEDNESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY SHOL + TOM FRYER BAND 8PM, $10

THURSDAY 16TH FEBRUARY

MOUNT KUJO 8PM, PAYF

FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

BILLIAM & THE SPLIT BILLS, SPECCY MCGEE. Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm.

QUEEN OF HEARTS: THE MUSIC OF ENNIO MORRICONE & THE WILD WEST. The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $39.80 - 51.

MUSIC & MAYHEM FEAT: JUDO CHOP, NO QUARTER, BRODOWN, ALL HOPE REMAINS. Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $15.

TRACKSUIT LARRY. Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $16.91.

COCKNEY REJECTS. Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $57.71.

JUST ANOTHER FESTIVAL FEAT: EGGY, THE NATIVE CATS, GUY BLACKMAN, CHIMPANZEE, LUNAR DIRT Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 6.30pm. $20.

JAYDEN BLEAKLEY, ODYSSEY TO THE SUN, CONVENIENCE STORE. The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $18.10.

BRIAN CADD, ABBEY STONE. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $50.

PAIGE & RONAN. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

SUNEDEN & THE SEG STREET JAM, SKERZO. Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm.

SATURDAY 18TH FEBRUARY

PINKO COLLECTIVE 3:30PM, FREE

MEGAN BERNARD 8PM

SUNDAY 19TH FEBRUARY

WENDY RULE 5PM, $25

WEDNESDAY 22ND FEBRUARY SHOL + TOM FRYER BAND 8PM, $10

THURSDAY 23RD FEBRUARY

‘KICKIN THE B AT 303’

THURSDAY HAMMOND SESSIONS:

JAKE MASON TRIO 8PM DOORS, $20

FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE & MODERN

HYPNOSIS 8PM

LP3. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

CLUNK ORCHESTRA. Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm. Free.

QUARTER STREET. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

IMMY OWUSU. Open Studio. Northcote. 5.30pm. $10.

ANDREW SWANN: ORIGIN OF FUNK. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9pm. $40.

REBECCA BARNARD, VICTORIANA GAYE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

BELTIN’ ELTON WITH NITIDA. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $38.86.

ABBOTSFORD CONVENT’S MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 2023: STRANGER THAN USUAL. Abbotsford Convent. Abbotsford. 8pm. $18 - 28.

DARREN HAYES, BACHELOR GIRL. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $99 - 546.75.

ON REPEAT: TAYLOR SWIFT - MIDNIGHTS PARTY. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 9pm. $29.90.

RUN IT RED: ECHO CHAMBER VS THE BLEND. Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

TANDEM RESERVE & FRIENDS VOL 3: HOUSE & DISCO DAY PARTY, HNRY ST,

FEBRUARY

YARRA BANKS JAM 8PM, FREE

HOMEBASS 8PM, $15

RHATH, S.T.P, AB1. Lucky Coq. Windsor. 2pm. Free.

BINGO LOCO MELBOURNE. 170 Russell. Melbourne. 6pm. $51.41 - 53.55.

RISE & SHINE FEAT: SUNSHINE. Revolver

Upstairs. Prahran. 7am.

Thursday February 9

ASHBEL. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm.

SIME NUGENT & THE CAPES

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

BRAT FARAR + LONG HOURS

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm.

ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS (SOLO). 170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $64.90.

TURPENTINE BABYCINO, DANDECAT, YARA. Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

DARKEST HOUR. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $67.35.

THE JACKRABBITS, EL BEBE, LSDOOM. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $22.45.

THE WILBURY LEGENDS: CELEBRATING THE TRAVELING WILBURYS

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $45 - 65.

FIREBIRD TRIO. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $25.

RAGTIME TAVERN OPEN

PIANO. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm. Free.

100 GECS, DAINE. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $69.90.

3181 THURSDAYS. Revolver

Upstairs. Prahran. 6pm.

DAIMON BRUNTON QUINTET.

Open Studio. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

BARNEY MCALL: TONGUE AND TOOTH COLLECTIVE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

7.30pm. $20 - 25.

JACQUELINE GAWLER + TONY HICKS WITH JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET

Golden Gate Hotel. South Melbourne. 6.45pm. $15.

Friday February 10

THE SOUL MOVERS. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.

THREE BASE HIT. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

DOM LA FERLITA - HUMAN JUKEBOX. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

30/70 NIGHT CAT. Fitzroy. 9pm. $32.37.

THE THOMAS TAPS TRIO

Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $15.

GEORGIA BROOKS TRIO.

Open Studio. Northcote. 7pm. $15.

DEATH OF GUITAR POP, SUNNY COAST RUDE BOYS

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $35 - 47.

THE JAIMZ PROJECT. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9pm. $45.

THNDO: LIVE IMPROV. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $40.

PROJECT RUTH SOUL. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 9pm. Free.

F#CK VALENTINES FEAT: SKYE MEDUSA & KERRYX, COFFIN CAROUSEL, OCEANLORD, ZOMBIE

HUNGER. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $22.45.

THE EXPLOITED, THE CLINCH, THREAT. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $59.90.

ED KUEPPER & JIM WHITE. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $54.67.

QUEEN FOREVER: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 2023 TOUR. Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 8pm. $65 - 69.

00_ WITH PUNTER. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

OSEES. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $69.40.

GRENADE JUMPER, CHEAP DATE, DAMAGED GOODS CLUB, PRETTY BLEAK. Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. Free.

HOLY SERPENT, PIZZA DEATH, MAMMON’S THRONE, GIANT. Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $23.75.

HORROR MY FRIEND. Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

MAKE EMO GREAT AGAINAN EMO + POP PUNK PARTY Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.30 - 18.40.

XILE, BLOOD ON MY HANDS, ALGOR MORTIS, HEAT. The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.30.

PRISCILLA’S NIGHTMARE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

BRIAN CADD. Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $46.95.

BOWLOS, AMY FLIGHT. Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

YOUNG HENRYS PRESENTS: AT LULIE TAVERN FEAT: SALARYMEN, FAN GIRL. Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 6pm. Free.

DREST, R.EM.EDY, MATILDA PEARL, JJXCKY. Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $17.85.

ZACK FOX. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $67.35.

BUSH GOTHIC. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

REVOLVER FRIDAYS. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm.

LAURA JEAN PRESENTS

AMATEURS. Melbourne

Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $45.

JAM HOT PRESENTS JKRIV

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 9pm. $25 - 35.

Saturday

February 11

THINGS OF STONE & WOOD (ACOUSTIC SET). Hotel Westwood. Footscray. 1pm. $33.08.

GRAND BAXTER, KHRISTIAN MIZZI. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

GEORGIA RODGERS, JEANE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

THE STETSON FAMILY. Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

KISSIT, ACOUSTIKISS Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN: THE JOE COCKER SHOW Yarraville Club. Yarraville. 8pm. $27.

NANCY & THE JAM FANCYS, PERSECUTION BLUES, COCO JUMBO. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $11.25.

SLIDE MY WAY, CITY. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 3pm.

THOT DOMINATION: TERMINAL SLEEP + VOLATILE WAYS. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

THE VALIANTS, RAMONA SKY, ALPHA GOOSE Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $17.85.

ME FIRST & THE GIMME GIMMES, WURST NURSE, THE THORAZINES. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $69.90.

RICHARD CLAPTON. Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 8pm. $69 - 89.

OSEES. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $69.40.

BRIAN CADD & BAND. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40 - 65.

BEING AS AN OCEAN, STEPSON & BLOOM, TAPESTRY. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm.

LOS MAS ALTOS. The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.20.

THE BADLOVES. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $30.

ICEHOUSE. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 7pm. $111.85 - 218.70.

BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH 20 YEARS

ANNIVERSARY FEAT: DEFSTAR, RAS JAHKNOW BAND, JESSE I, STICK MAREEBO, ZARE DEMUS, RAS CRUCIAL, LADY ERICA Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $29.10.

THE JL TRIO. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

THE PEARLY SHELLS: SUMMER BALL. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $33.76.

KAHLUA BREEZE. Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm.

CONVENIENCE STORE

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

BUSTED CHOPS: FUNK GROOVE & JAZZ PARTY

Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $16.91.

FEELIN’ GROOVY: THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL PROJECT

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9pm. $45.

THE LATE SHOW. Revolver

Upstairs. Prahran. 11.59pm.

LARA BELLO, VICTORIANA GAYE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

STEVIE. Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Brighton. 8.30pm. $55.

BOWIE BALL 2023. Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7pm. $44.60.

RHYTHM DISTRICT X HOMIE FEAT: DJ JNETT, BRIGGS, COCOMO, DJ CONSIDERATE, M80. Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

MICHAEL STANGEL. Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

RISE & SHINE FEAT: SUNSHINE. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7am.

FILTH FRIENDS: SUBSONIC + SOLOMON FRANCE. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $20 - 30.

ONESEVENFOUR: FEB FEAT: SUPERCURVE, ARTSEA, EDAN, ENFUSE, TALIX. The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 11pm. $10 - 15.

Thursday

February 16

YO CITY: ELLE SHIMADA WITH CO-DREAMERS Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $37.

GALLAGATH, THE HEARTS, BROAD SPECTRUM PLACEBO. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.35.

3181 THURSDAYS. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 6pm.

THE PLEASURE MAJENTA, VANESSA WORM, SUPERSWAN. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $22.45.

BLUE SKIES TONIGHT FEAT: BRYDAN MEREDITH & MATT MANNING BAND, SEARCH COMMITTEE, DEAR CHARLIE Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $10.

MOUNT KUJO. Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

FRESHLY JUICED, DADDY ISSUES, UNSCORED, BABY SHOWER. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $13.30.

STEVE KILBEY PLAYS THE CHURCH SINGLES

(1980 - 1992). Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $49.90.

FRENTE: 30 YEARS OF MARVIN THE ALBUM Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $54.67.

SHAKY STILLS. Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

KEEP THE CIRCLE

UNBROKEN. The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $49.

RAGTIME TAVERN OPEN PIANO. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm. Free.

BAREFOOT SPACEMEN + CHERRY FACTORY. Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm.

ANGELA LIBRANDI: BEATLES REIMAGINED. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

BARNEY MCALL: NON COMPLIANCE TRIO. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $20 - 25.

Friday February 17

LF SYSTEM. Bottom End. Melbourne. 7pm.

ORGANISED NOISE PRESENTS BELL TOWERS + SECRET INTERNATIONAL. Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $29.46.

PERTURBATOR + GOST. 170 Russell. Melbourne. 8pm.

REVOLVER FRIDAYS

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm.

SYNTHONY NO.3: Part of Live at the Bowl. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 6pm. $100.80 - 202.55.

THE OPERATIVES FEAT: JPS, NAM, MORE. Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

TIM ROGERS & TEX PERKINS. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $65 - 77.

LOSER, R.U.B. Yah Yah’s. Fitzroy. 9pm. $12.37.

SEMANTICS, RUBY MAE. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

EVERCLEAR - 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $70.90.

THE COMFORT: EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING, LIVE AND DIE. Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 7pm. $20.

CRASHDIET, SISTERS DOLL. Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 8pm. $70.40.

DRINK O’CLOCK AT THE BENDI FEAT: THE CHEVALIERS, FLITCRAFT, DAY OF CLINT, RIFF RAIDERS Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $18.08.

GOLDSOCKS. Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $22.45.

YOUNG HENRYS PRESENTS: AT LULIE TAVERN FEAT: SALARYMEN, FAN GIRL. Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 6pm. Free.

KYRAN DANIEL: LIKE THE NIGHT ITSELF. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6pm. $25.

SONS OF THE EAST. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $51.10.

HENRY WAGONS & THE ONLY CHILDREN. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $43.96.

BACKSLIDERS, ALISON

FERRIER. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35 - 50.

SUGAR BOOT. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

BOOF. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

HORNS OF LEROY’S 10TH

BIRTHDAY PARTY, THNDO

Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $25.

CASABELLA. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

DAYTIME MUSIC THEATRE: TOM BURLINSON - NOW WE’RE SWINGIN’. Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 1pm. $22.

JON HUNT TRIO. Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $15.

THE LAUREL CANYON

SCENE: LA IN THE 1970S WITH MISS GEORGE. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6pm. $45.

HARRY JAMES ANGUS & FRIENDS. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $40.

RAMONA SKY, WILLOWBANK

GROVE, FAIRTRADE

NARCOTICS. The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $20.

DAYTIME MUSIC THEATRE

SERIES: TOM BURLINSON, NOW WE’RE SWINGIN’

FEAT: TOM BURLINSON

Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 10.30am. $22.

GRACE KNIGHT. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

AFRIKAANSE SOMER

TOER DOWN UNDER 2023

FEAT: LIANIE MAY, JAY, IRENE-LOUISE VAN WYK, IVAN ROUX. The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7pm. $36 - 110.

CHARGED UP: LIL PEEP

NIGHT. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.30 - 17.50.

QUINN XCII. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $69.90.

FONT, LOS DOMINADOS

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

Saturday February 18

JACKSON FIREBIRD. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.

RUSSELL MORRIS. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $54.67.

STONETRAIN, LAUREL & THE PAINKILLERS. The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $20.

AC/DSHE. Hotel Westwood. Footscray. 8pm. $22.49.

PSPSPS PRESENTS, I AM

DUCKEYE, LAZERLIPS, SUN TRAITORS, FAWKNER. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $17.35.

SEMANTICS, SILURIAN, DAMAGED GOODS CLUB, CHEAP-SKATE. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $17.35.

BLONDE REVOLVER, SCREENSAVER, SHOVE, SILVA. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $21.45.

PLAN F, RIFF RAIDERS, MONROE. Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $10.

SOCCER MOMMY. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $64.90.

THE LOUD NOISE ESTATE PRESENTS SINGLES NIGHT FEAT: REX DANTE, SECRET LUNG, DAYLIGHT AVENUE, CITRUS GROVE. Bad Decisions Bar. Fitzroy. 7pm. $15.

GAOLED, TERRITORY, GELD, HORSEPOWER, INFORMANT. Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $23.75.

THE EAGLES STORY. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35 - 50.

AMONG THE RESTLESS, COLOURBLIND, CREATURE

FEAR, INSTYNKT. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6pm. $20.40 - 28.60.

PARLE GREEN. Post Office

Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

THE CHILLS + PARSNIP. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $59.

THE JIVES (ASRC CHARITY

GIG). Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $23.75.

BONNIEMUSE + REFLEJOS. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

PINKO COLLECTIVE. Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm. Free.

G TANO + CONTE MILANO

Open Studio. Northcote. 9pm. $18.26 - 20.37.

NOT SO BIG BAND: THE MUSIC OF FRANK SINATRA. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

ALBARE 66 PLAYS BRAZIL 66, NICHAUD FITZGIBBON, MAT JODRELL. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $44.

DOUBLE BILL: LABCATS + ROXY LEBRASSE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

ROSARIO DE MARCO

THE THORNBURY LOCAL Thornbury. 8pm.

THE BROOKLYN BLOCK

PARTY FEAT: NITTY SCOTT, QUEEN P, SMILEZ, IJALE Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

FED LIVE WITH VERA BLUE, PRICIE, VETTA BORNE, GRETTA RAY. Federation Square. Melbourne. 6.30pm. Free.

MAZZIE & JAKE. Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

THE LATE SHOW. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 11.59pm.

RISE & SHINE FEAT: SUNSHINE. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7am.

STEEL CITY DANCE DISCS

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 9pm. $24.50 - 35.70.

CARMINA BURANA. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 7.30pm. Free.

Thursday

February 23

JORDI SAVALL & HESPÈRION

XXI. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $75.

OMNIVERSAL HUM PRESENTS: JASMINE GUFFOND, THIRD SPACE, JASMINE GUFFOND, JANNAH QUILL, SARA RETALLICK. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $29.10.

3181 THURSDAYS. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 6pm.

DODIE. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $69.90.

RUTH HAZLETON. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

SAMANTHA FISH, GEORGIA RODGERS. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $75 - 85.

THINGS OF STONE & WOOD (ACOUSTIC SET). Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $35.70.

MEGAN KENNEDY, LOW KEY CRUSH, CHELSEA DE WITT Old Bar. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $15.

RAGTIME TAVERN OPEN

PIANO. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm. Free.

DANI FORSYTH, JEANE Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SALLY FORD & THE IDIOMATICS. Open Studio. Northcote. 8pm. $14.01.

JEMMA CHER. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

NIKKI NICHOLLS PRESENTS

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

BARNEY MCALL: FREESTYLE FOURTET, VICTORIANA GAYE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $20 - 25.

ANVIL. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $60.60.

Friday

February 24

BARBOD VALADI QUARTET. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $25.

THE FOUR SCOOPS. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

JUMPING JACK JORDAN

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME: A TRIBUTE TO NINA SIMONE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

ELLY POLETTI SINGS THE A LIST: ARETHA-ADELEALICIA-AMY. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

HARRY JAMES ANGUS & FRIENDS. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $40.

JORDI SAVALL & HESPÈRION

XXI. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $75.

THE RYMAN HEALTHCARE SEASON OPENING GALA: ZENITH OF LIFE. Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $69 - 121.

THE HERE HERE’S. Hotel

Westwood. Footscray. 7.30pm. Free.

1000MODS, JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS, PIECES OF MOLLY. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $51.65.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE, SUNDOWNER, CLASS TRAITOR, GHOSTSMOKER. Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.35.

SIGH, TAROT, ELEGEION.

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $59.

BE’LAKOR, KEYAN, SULDUSK, THE ASCENDED

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $49.90.

HONEST CROOKS, KRUELTY.

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $33.40.

THE DELVENES. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. Free.

YOUNG HENRYS PRESENTS: AT LULIE TAVERN FEAT: SALARYMEN, FAN GIRL. Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 6pm. Free.

CATBITE, ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE, THE RESIGNATORS. Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $42.53.

VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm.

SAMANTHA FISH, GEORGIA RODGERS. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $75 - 85.

MAT MCHUGH & THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $46.95.

THINGS OF STONE & WOOD (ACOUSTIC SET). Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

REVOLVER FRIDAYS FEAT: ELUIZE, HENRY WHO, CHIARA KICKDRUM, MORE Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm.

LIVE SIMULATION FEAT: KAYO, ROLES, FULL FLESHED, THE TECHNO BIDDIES, 3RD ORBIT. Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 6.30pm. $20.

Saturday

February 25

ALMA ZYGIER. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

CHARLIE + JAKE

(AUSTRALIAN DEBUT). The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 5pm.

ONUR PUZA MYCORRHIZAL

BAND. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $25.

ALEX LANDRAGHAM

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

KAHLUA BREEZE. Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm.

SUMMER SOUNDS 2023

FEAT: DJ TINIKA, JACKI TUT, AMARU TRIBE, SPOONBILL

Bunjil Place. Narre Warren. 5.30pm. $15.

JACK HOWARD’S EPIC BRASS. Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $29 - 45.

SOLOMON SISAY & HIS BAND. Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9pm. $40.

MANISH PINGLE + JAY

DABGAR. Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

ALMA ZYGIER. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $30 - 35.

KARIN SCHAUPP + FLINDERS

QUARTET. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $40 - 158.

THE RYMAN HEALTHCARE

SEASON OPENING GALA:

ZENITH OF LIFE. Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 2pm. $69 - 121.

LOST SOULS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE FEST, ANTY!, CAPTIVES, GUSH, MELBOURNE PERSECUTION

BLUES, SPACEJUNK, FLY!, DENTAL PLAN, MORE. The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 5.30pm. $22.45.

DOG TRUMPET, DAVE

GRANEY, CLARE MOORE

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 1.30pm. $35.30.

JUST THE SALLYS, ABBEY ROSE, TRACKSUIT LARRY

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $12.75.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD, CLAMM, THE PRIZE. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $81.60.

LOCAL THE NEIGHBOUR. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

KINGSWOOD. The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $50.50.

SIGH, WHITEHORSE, DESTRUKTOR. Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 10pm. $59.

CRUSHED LAVENDER, MR PINK, COOLDAD. Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 2.30pm. $10.

MAT MCHUGH & THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $56.80.

ORANGE LAURENCE. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 9pm. Free.

JAMES HOOKER. The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. Free.

RISE & SHINE FEAT: SUNSHINE. Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7am.

X CLUB, DJ HEARTSTRING, MILEY SERIOUS, SAM ALFRED, YARRA. The Timber Yard. Port Melbourne. 3pm.

RITVIZ. Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $49 - 99.