Beat 1706

DYLAN MORAN

Live Laugh love

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Talia Rinaldo

STAFF WRITER

Kaya Martin

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Joanne Brookfield, Ben Lamb, Jacob McCormack, Luke Carlino, Andrew Handley, Mia Casey, Noah Redfern, Lucy Andrews

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PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

Editorial Note

Welcome to our Melbourne International Comedy Festival special!

In April, the Comedy Festival takes over the city and this magazine with some of the world’s best comedians across a huge range of performative styles.

Our cover star is perennial festival favourite Danny Bhoy, who takes us through the highs and lows of his incredible career. He’s just one of three British comedy stars in this issue, we also speak with Daniel Sloss and Jordan Gray. We have a massive guide to some of the Comedy Festival’s top picks and unmissable special events. Plus, this packed issue also features interviews with the hilarious likes of Lara Ricote, Scout Boxall, Blake Freeman, John Hastings, Alex Hines, Sean Diao and the crews from upcoming stage shows Faulty Towers and Confetti and Chaos.

We take pause to peruse the captivating Science Gallery Melbourne exhibition Break The Binaries, before previewing upcoming theatrical performances Arterial from Na Djinang Circus, and small metal objects from Back to Back Theatre. It wouldn’t be Beat without rocking bands though. We check out Live at the Bowl’s April lineup and chat with the (also hilarious) Private Function, Seattle grunge godfathers Mudhoney, and local favourites Mother Culture, plus save space for the usual album reviews, venue spotlights and Gig Guide.

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 April cover star is Danny Bhoy, who’s performing as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Lizzo to headline Splendour in the Grass

Set your watches for bad bitch o’clock: Lizzo has been confirmed as the first headlining act for 2023’s Splendour in the Grass. Set to take over the North Byron Parklands from July 21 to 23, Splendour in the Grass will release their full lineup in the next few weeks.

Comedy Festival announces Neighbourhood Sessions

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s beloved Neighbourhood Sessions are returning in 2023 with some of the festival’s favourite faces coming to a suburb near you. Five performances will take place in major Melbourne outer suburbs from March 31 to April 20.

Melbourne Recital Centre announces New Music Days

Premiering April 19 to 21, Melbourne Recital Centre’s New Music Days program offers an eye into the minds of Australia’s most exceptional composers. Spanning over five events, the three-day curation gives the artists a chance to perform and deconstruct their work in front of a live audience.

Stars & Bars Music Festival returns in April

Off the back of its trail-blazing inaugural outing in 2022, Stars & Bars Festival will be returning to Heathcote in 2023. Taking place on April 22, the event will bring together a combination of amazingly talented artists, an exploration of Heathcote’s finest wine, beer, spirits, food and hospitality, and some truly unique locales.

DMA’S are heading on an Australian tour

Hot off the back of How Many Dreams?, DMA’S are heading on an extensive tour of the country. The anthemic trio of DMA’S – comprised of Tommy O’Dell, Johnny Took and Matt Mason – will set off across the country in the spring. Catch them when they head to Melbourne’s own Forum on September 28.

Far East Music Festival adds more acts to lineup

The Far East Music Festival has released its second lineup announcement. Things of Stone and Wood, Delsinki & Sing a Song of Sixpence and MpathSoul are set to join the previously announced Kee’ahn, Kutcha Edwards, The Grogans, Bones and Jones and more for an incredible weekend of music. It takes place on April 7 to 9, over the Easter long weekend in Mallacoota.

Geena Davis to headline new ACMI exhibition

The iconic actor is set to travel to Melbourne as lead ambassador for the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces blockbuster, Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion. The ACMI-curated exhibition opens at Australia’s national museum of screen culture on 5 April before touring internationally.

BABYMETAL announce debut

Australian headline tour

Japanese metal sensation BABYMETAL will be returning to Australia this year for their very first headline tour in June as part of their World Tour. Catch them when they come to Melbourne for a show at Margaret Court Arena on June 11.

ON SALE NOW

Alliance Française French Film Festival reveals 2023 lineup

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is returning for its 34th season this year. The largest celebration of French film outside of France will be in Melbourne from March 8 until April 25.

Shadow Spirit coming to Flinders Street Station

Once abandoned, the often-unseen upper level of Flinders Street Station will soon be home to Shadow Spirit, a curation of the largest collection of First Nations art in Victoria’s history. Led by Yorta Yorta writer Kimberley Moulton and run in collaboration with Metro Trains Melbourne, the exhibition presents rich systems of knowledge, providing a space for reflection on the shadows of Australia’s history. 30 First Nations artists from all across Australia have been commissioned as part of the project.

Fantastic Film Festival program has been revealed

Fantastic Film Festival Australia is returning to Lido Cinemas this April. Broadcasting the latest and greatest of local filmmaking talent alongside a curated selection of international films, Fantastic Film Festival Australia showcases movies that push the boundaries of filmmaking and storytelling. It promises to be a memorable lineup with 27 feature films including Zillion, Holy Shit!, Evil Dead Rise, and Polite Society.

RISING announces full June program

Coming this June, RISING presents over 180 events from over 400 artists in their 2023 program, taking place in locations throughout Melbourne’s CBD. A celebration of the diversity and breadth of our local talent, the collective has stayed true to its name this year, bringing to the streets of the city its most expansive collection of art, culture, food and music to date.

10,000 kazoos coming to Fed Square

Hosted nearby at Federation Square is perhaps the most absurd of RISING’s offerings. Australian-based composer Ciaran Frame brings together one of Melbourne’s biggest musical projects to date in the form of 10,000 Kazoos – a performance in which goers will be provided biodegradable versions of the instrument and encouraged to join in on a charmingly ridiculous piece of kazoo-ey mass participation.

Cash Savage and The Last Drinks announce tour

Melbourne powerhouse Cash Savage and the Last Drinks have announced a new album, So This Is Love, to be released on April 28 by Mistletone Records via Inertia (Australia/NZ) and Glitterhouse Records (Europe). To celebrate, they’ll be heading on an Australian tour in May and June. The tour will kick off with performances at Good Times Festival and Meadow Festival, then will take to Fremantle, Meeniyan, Ballarat, Torquay, Eltham and Melbourne. Catch them at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, where they’ll be joined by Gut Health.

Mould Cheese Festival is coming to Melbourne

Australia’s most celebrated cheese festival, MOULD, returns to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in 2023. Locally, MOULD will head to The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne from on June 2 to 4, running from Friday to Sunday.

The Jungle Giants announce Australian tour

One of Australia’s hottest bands, Jungle Giants, have just dropped their new single Trippin Up and a whopping 12-date Australian tour. They’ll be playing at the Forum on June 23 with Lazy Eyes and AROHA supporting.

Adalita is heading to Melbourne this month

Hot off the release of her third solo album Inland, Adalita is set to head Melbourneway for a show at The Corner Hotel. She’ll be joined by her powerhouse band, which consists of Matt Bailey on bass, Dan

Mitch James is heading to Australia in June

New Zealand singer, songwriter and guitarist Mitch James is hitting the east coast of Australia this winter after announcing his first-ever global tour. The Long Road Home Tour will see James play 50 shows across 15 countries, including eight Australian shows happening in June. Catch him when he heads to Melbourne for a show at The Workers Club on June 10.

Regurgitator announce

UNITS Australian tour

Regurgitator have just announced their Unit anniversary tour, heading around the nation in celebration of their iconic 1997 album, which will be played in full in all its pixelated density along with an extended set of hits. Returning for the national tour will be Unit-era Regurgitator keytarist Shane Rudken, along with Ken Weston turning up the multi-dimensional visuals.

Meg Mac brings national album tour to Melbourne

Aussie singer-songwriter Meg Mac has announced a massive national tour to celebrate her highly-anticipated third album, Matter of Time. Following a triumphant return to the stage with her five-stop sold-out national tour back in May, Meg Mac has announced she will hit each capital city in March and April 2023 as part of the national album tour. Catch her when she heads to Melbourne Recital Centre on April 27.

Na Djinang circus announce Northcote shows

A trip to see Na Djinang circus is a powerful Australian experience. Along with all of the adrenaline-peaking thrills that traditionally come with seeing performers propelled into the air and twisted into unfamiliar shapes, viewers are left provoked to question long after the curtain falls. The group’s latest performance, Arterial, will play at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre from April 20 to 30.

Frente! heading on an Australian tour this May

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Marvin The Album, the 90s icons are heading across the country. Pioneers of quirky, Aussie indie-pop Frente! are gearing up to head back on the road for a series of dates in celebration of their 1992 release. If you missed their headlining set at the Castlemaine State Festival, you can still catch the show at Corner Hotel on May 6.

Matt Maltese announces debut Australian tour

The London singer and songwriter is heading on his debut tour to perform three headline shows accompanied by his UK band in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in May and June 2023. See him live when he plays at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on June 2.

MSO announces all-star Archie Roach tribute

One Song: The Music of Archie Roach will assemble an all-star collection of performers in tribute to one of Australia’s greatest artists for two Hamer Hall dates this July 5 and 6, featuring the MSO, Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan, Deborah Cheetham, Kee’ahn, Radical Son, Sally Dastey, William Barton, Jess Hitchcock, Tamala Shelton and the Dhungala Children’s Choir.

Makers & Shakers Market coming to Melbourne

Taking place at Seaworks on April 22 and 23, the Makers & Shakers Market will feature over 100 stalls from local creators. With a focus on handmade goods, the market seeks to elevate small business and Australian-made products. Entry to the event costs only $4.

Pierce the Veil and Beartooth announce Australian tour

Both decorated veterans of the hardcore scene, the bands have come together for a week-long co-headlining tour that will wrap around the country, starting on the west and then making its way up to Brisbane. They’ll play the Forum on July 26.

P!NK announces third Melbourne show

Due to the extraordinary demand for tickets, P!NK has announced another show on her massive Australian tour in February and March 2024. She’ll now play three dates at Marvel Stadium: February 23 and 24, and March 12.

MaSiWei announces Australian tour dates

Boy & Bear announce Australian tour dates

The band will celebrate their new record by touring Australia and New Zealand, supported by Boo Seeka and FELIVAND. Catch them when they head to Melbourne for a show on June 16 at the Palais Theatre.

The Tote is up for sale

Co-owners Jon Perring and Sam Crupi have decided to pass on the gauntlet and have announced that they’re selling The Tote to someone with “renewed enthusiasm and vision”. They’re predicting that the change of ownership will happen around June, though they will be booking gigs up until then.

This month, rapper MaSiWei is set to play three headlining shows in Australia. One of the most exciting players in the Asian hip hop game, MaSiWei rose to fame as the frontman of the Chengdu-based four-piece Higher Brothers. With the help of the legendary Asian American music company 88rising, the group quickly grew a large local and international following for their video Made in China. He’ll play the Palais on April 12.

The Full Flower Moon Band is playing The Espy

The Full Flower Moon Band is a blazing force in the rock and roll scene, with a name that embodies their boundless creative energy and willingness to explore new frontiers. They’re heading to The Espy for a show in the iconic Gershwin Room on April 7.

NGV announces Pierre Bonnard exhibition

Opening in June 2023, the blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition will feature more than 100 works by Pierre Bonnard – a leading 20th century French painter celebrated for his iridescent palette. His pieces will be presented within a contemporary scenography by award-winning architect and designer, India Mahdavi.

The Smashing Pumpkins announces three Melbourne shows

Buckle up, because the World is a Vampire Festival is set to be huge. The Smashing Pumpkins are bringing some very special guests to town including alt-rock legends, Jane’s Addiction and killer Aussie rock from Amyl & The Sniffers, RedHook and Battlesnake. Catch the event when it heads to Victoria for a show in Port Melbourne on April 22 and 27, plus Ballarat on April 23.

KUČKA announces headline tour

After touring internationally for the past year, electronic producer-vocalist KUČKA has announced an exciting run of select headline shows to coincide with the release of her upcoming single Cry Cry Cry. See her when she heads to Melbourne’s Workers Club on April 2.

DANNY BHOY

Words by Jacob McCormack

Edinburgh-based comedian Danny Bhoy spent nearly three years away from the stand-up comedy scene, often alone in his house in Scotland. Despite still processing the experience of drastically different living conditions, he has come out of the depths of the pandemic with a whole new show ready to be toured in Australia.

“I’m still processing these last two years,” says Danny. “It’s so strange, but you realise everyone has their own story. I did it in a big house in Edinburgh on my own – I think people are ready to hear those stories. 2022 was a year where everyone wanted to get back in the game, but I think now people are ready to share their experiences of what was undoubtedly one of the strangest times of our lives.”

Danny is filled with excitement ahead of the upcoming tour in Australia, but admits that getting back into regular stand-up comedy gigs was nothing short of daunting.

“I am so stoked about coming back to Australia,” he says. “It is my first tour there since 2019. I’ve not been there for three and half years and usually I would be there at least every other year, if not every year.

“This tour is going to be my first actual tour back in the UK, Canada, or anywhere in the world. For that reason, it means an awful lot. I’m champing at the bit to get there, to be honest.

“I only started back in summer last year, but most people had returned to stand-up six months before that. The first few gigs were like my first gig in Edinburgh – it was terrifying. It took a couple of months to find my feet again.”

The return to stand-up reaffirmed the value he places in his comedic career, which spans over 20 years. What’s more, he discovered it was a remedy for a challenging time to be living in the UK.

“It’s definitely been cathartic. I had all of this stuff written, and when I started saying it out on stage as opposed to saying it in my flat on my own, it felt really good, it felt like this is the right environment for this to be said. Then of course, having people laugh because you had originally thought something was funny, alongside the nods of recognition was just great.”

It’s been a long time coming for Danny, since his first five-minute gig on a chilly winter night in Scotland – a time when finding more than five minutes of material was a stretch.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 years or so,” says Danny, “but I remember my first gig well. It was a freezing cold night in January in 1998 and I had booked myself in for a gig in a pub in Edinburgh. I’d been thinking about stand-up for a bit. The booking was six weeks in advance. The lady who had booked me in called me back just before the show and said ‘we have had a drop-out this weekend’, so I went down and did this five-minute slot in Edinburgh and it went really well. I did another two or so gigs in Edinburgh after that. Then I moved down to London because I had a job down there, which eventually fell through. So, I ended up just doing the comedy down there as a hobby. My formative years were in London, but my first few gigs were in Edinburgh.”

Danny concedes that it was much easier to get gigs at clubs in London at the time. Facing many new opportunities, the comedian brought a potent courage that resulted in securing gigs.

“At the time you could pretty much see 20-odd gigs around greater London every single night of the week,” he says. “I was tenacious. I would just turn up at clubs and ask if I could do five minutes.”

“What I would do is finish work and then literally flick through Time Out music and find a shit club that I might be able to blag my way onto the bill. Then I’d get on the tube, find the club, and talk to the promoter and say ‘Can I get on and do five minutes?’. I think the sheer bravery of it meant that they would say ‘fine’ and I’d play the ‘I’ve come the whole way from Scotland story.’ There are lots of clubs I could do that with, which I couldn’t do in Edinburgh.”

But Danny never foresaw he would be able to make a career out of it. Comedy just felt like a suitable complement to a life spent working in London.

“I thought it would be helpful for job interviews and such. It never really felt like it was going to be a profession. I certainly didn’t get paid and you typically don’t get paid for at least the first year, if not longer.”

Although it was a moment of serendipity, or fate, that allowed Danny to consider pursuing a career in comedy.

“I remember this guy booked me for a gig,” says Danny. “I turned up and he said, ‘Look, the headliner’s pulled out, can you do the headline slot and I’ll give [you] 30 quid?’. 30 quid was a huge amount back then. I was living in a cupboard in London. You know, I’d never made a penny off stand-up and suddenly this guy is saying I’ll give you 30 quid to headline a gig. But of course, it was 20 to 30 minutes, whereas I only had five minutes of content. I wasn’t going to turn down 30 quid, so I did it and that was a moment when I had to use banter and talk to the audience a bit. It was absolutely terrifying and I learnt from that.”

“I remember when I got paid, I went out for a Chinese meal and I couldn’t believe I was eating food that had been paid for by me doing comedy. It was such a weird thing and I remember at that moment I thought I could make a career from this. I could definitely get used to this, going and making people laugh and then getting the buzz off that and going out and actually being able to afford food.”

From a b(h)oy that was raised in Moffat, a small town 60 miles south of Edinburgh with a population of around 2,500, Danny has come a long way in comedy. He has struggled through it but maintained his passion and drive.

As he commences touring his new show in Melbourne, you can expect entertainment through stories that are real, original, and utterly hilarious.

“I’ve had to find a way to talk about the pandemic,” says Danny. “I’m aiming for funny routines, and more importantly original routines, because everyone has been stuck at home.”

To say that 2021 and 2022 were strange years would be a blatant understatement. However, to share your experiences of lockdown to an eagerly listening audience – in a show called Now Is Not A Good Time – with the expectation that the crowd should laugh… Well, that’s a whole other beast.

Danny Bhoy is playing the Athenaeum Theatre from April 11 to April 23 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Bohm.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL GUIDE

Our guide to some of the unmissable shows happening at this year’s Comedy Festival.

Swan Power

Prepare for a night of fresh and unconventional comedy with multi-award-winning comic genius Paul Foot’s show Swan Power. Taking to the stage to explore a range of topics, from the sex drive of pandas to La La Land’s Bryan Gosling, he also offers a potential solution to the problem of online trolling and a severely abridged re-enactment of the 1992 film Titanic. Flock to Swan Power at The Famous Spiegeltent from March 30 to April 23.

FUDNUT

Award-winning comedian Larry Dean is set to return to Melbourne with his sellout show FUNDIT. If you missed the show in its limited 2022 run, now’s your chance to catch Glasgow’s finest and funniest millennial. Known for his exceptional ability to mimic accents and voices, Dean is a regular on popular TV shows including Mock The Week and Comedy Central UK’s Roast Battle. Witness the smash-hit special for yourself at Melbourne Town Hall’s Swiss Club, with dates across the entire comedy festival.

The Dead Dad Show

In the aptly named The Dead Dad Show, UK comedian Carl Donnelly unpacks a particularly challenging month where he faced the death of his father and the stress of moving house. With two Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations and the title of Chortle’s Best Club Comedian under his belt, Carl is a rising star in the comedy scene. The Dead Dad Show takes place at The Westin Three every day from March 30 to April 23, except Mondays.

Is It A Bird?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Jordan Gray, Britain’s premier transgender comedian, bringing her show Is it a Bird? to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. After a sold-out run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a successful UK tour, she’s set to bring blistering humour that tackles babies, boobies, bigots and Batman to Melbourne Town Hall’s Powder Room. Catch one of the UK’s most celebrated rising comics in recent years every day from March 30 to April 23 except Mondays.

Best of Comedy Zone Asia

Featuring Douglas Lim, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, Anirban Dasgupta and Fakkah Fuzz, Comedy Zone Asia is back for a diverse and dynamic show. Catch Douglas Lim’s razor-sharp wit and keen eye for comedic observations, Indonesia’s first Muslim female stand-up comic Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, Anirban Dasgupta’s sprawling tales of corporate woes and the outspoken humour of Fakkah Fuzz. Best of Comedy Zone Asia goes down across the entire comedy festival at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio.

Return of the Icelandic

Ari Eldjárn, Iceland’s biggest comedy star and first-ever Netflix star, brings his sold-out show Return of the Icelandic to audiences after successful runs in Edinburgh and London’s Soho Theatre. With a unique combination of observations on drum beats, sleep, and parenthood, Ari blends charming storytelling with Nordic quick-witted humour. With President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson himself awarding him the 2020 Icelandic Optimism Award, you’d be mad not to catch Return of the Icelandic from March 30 to April 16 at Melbourne Town Hall’s Powder Room.

Triple Threat

Rosie Jones is set to make her solo debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her show Triple Threat. The UK TV personality and comedian is known for her advocacy for LGBTQIA+ and disability rights, with her stand-up exploring disability and sexuality in an hour of cheekiness, fun and joy. She’s done it all, from covering the 2020 Paralympics as a reporter to writing on the second season of Sex Education - check out Triple Threat from April 5 to 22 at The Westin One.

Re-Enchantment

Award-winning comedian Josie Long is set to make her long-awaited return to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Re-Enchantment, a brandnew hour of stand-up comedy. Known for her unique blend of wit, warmth and political activism, Josie’s latest show tackles big life changes, an ADHD diagnosis and a range of personal and social issues. Catch this underdog Edinburgh Fringe hero at Melbourne Town Hall’s own Cloak Room across the entire comedy festival.

Literally Who Cares?!

Literally Who Cares?! Don’t answer that, it’s not a question - it’s UK comedian Leo Reich’s show that’s making its Australian debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. At just 24 years old, Leo is hot off the back of a Best Newcomer nomination at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2022. Literally Who Cares?! is directed by Adam Brace with music by Toby Marlow, co-creator of the international musical hit Six. See what the fuss is all about and head to Melbourne Town Hall from March 30 to April 23.

Nipless

Multi-award-winning comedian DeAnne Smith explores loss, gender-affirming surgeries, gay marriage, and death with their sharp wit and silly jokes in Nipless. Since their last visit in 2019, DeAnne has recorded a second Netflix special, Gentleman Elf, and won the Canadian Comedy Award. With performances at Just for Laughs, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and more, DeAnne has become a household name in the comedy world. Head to Nipless at the Chinese Museum from March 30 to April 23.

Mulberry

Acclaimed comedian, actor, and performance poet Tim Key is bringing his show Mulberry to MICF this year. Ruminating on life indoors, velour tracksuits, and poetry, Mulberry is a stand-up response to the mandatory isolation of the pandemic. You might recognise Tim Key as Alan Partrige’s sidekick Simon in Mid Morning Matters and his BAFTA-nominated work on The One and Only Herb McGwyer and Wondergate. Chuck on your best tracksuit for Mulberry when it heads to Melbourne Town Hall from April 11 to 23.

GRL/LATNX/DEF

Cleverly exploring intersectional identity and minority experiences, Lara Ricote’s GRL/LATNX/DEF blends fiery comedy with genuine storytelling. Winner of the 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer, Lara delves into what it means to be Latin and deaf, while ‘passing’ as white and able-bodied. With appearances on Comedy Central and a win at the 2021 Funny Women Stage Award, Lara is quickly becoming a rising star in the comedy world. Catch GRL/ LATNX/DEF at The Westin Three from March 30 to April 23.

Search

Tiny Piano Man

David O’Doherty is swinging back into Melbourne, but this time he’s armed with a $15 eBay keyboard. His hour-long pageant Tiny Piano Man promises a show full of laughter, song and maybe even some movement from his chair. In the past year, you might have seen David O’Doherty on popular UK TV shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live At The Apollo. Catch Tiny Piano Man at Forum Melbourne from March 30 to April 23.

Going Up

U.S comedian Sara Schaefer’s new show is a hilarious ‘seminar’ that aims to unlock your comedy potential by teaching you how to defeat hecklers and develop a thick skin. Having sold out in New York and San Francisco, the show also addresses the issue of abuse in the industry and explores what it means to be a creative person in today’s world. Catch the Australian debut of Going Up at Melbourne Town Hall from April 1 to 23.

Award-winning comedian and writer Mark Watson is back in Melbourne with his new hour of comedy, Search. The comedian explores the search for meaning that we all experience, whether it’s his 12-year-old son’s quest to understand technology or his 70-year-old father’s brush with mortality. Watson, known for his Amazon Prime special, This Can’t Be It, and appearances on Live at the Apollo and Taskmaster, invites audiences to join him on this hilarious and introspective journey. Mark Watson’s Search is on from March 30 to April 23 at Melbourne Town Hall.

International Comedy Festival with a 13 night stint at Campari House, running from March 28 to April 9. With his latest one-man show, James dives into his upbringing, his experiences, and how he navigated his culture by reclaiming his cultural identity in a western society.

One-Liner Comedy Show

TikTok killed your attention span and can’t sit still for a full stand-up set? Your prayers have been answered, as The One-Liner Show boasts the best one-liner comedians in Melbourne delivering over 200 jokes in just 45 minutes - at 12.5 cents per joke that’s unbeatable value in this economy. Paul Balsillie, Rhys Halliwell, Mazz Matta, Warrick, Sheany and Milton White will have you keeled over in laughter at their edgy and hilarious humour. Catch it every Sunday from April 2 - 23 at The Rubber Chicken in South Melbourne and prepare for some serious side-splitting laughter.

WrestleBrainia

Pork Adobo

Blending stand-up comedy, jazz piano and personal storytelling, Raw Comedy Competition runner-up Patrick Golamco shares his experience of flying to Manila to have a deep conversation with his dying grandmother. Named after his grandma’s signature Filipino dish, in Pork Adobo Golamco also shares hilarious gags about his mother’s reasoning about marriage, failed therapy, and a cab driver who believed global warming was a hoax. Catch Pork Adobo at Trades Hall from March 30 until April 23.

Champagne Problems

Melbourne comedy mainstay Jess Pearman makes her long-awaited solo debut with Champagne Problems at The Rubber Chicken on March 30, 31 and April 1 at 6.30pm. Expect a playful exploration of minor inconveniences with a sprinkling of filth, in a show that tackles the timely subject of first-world problems. It’s a hot-button issue made for comedy, but if you think you know what to expect, think again. Oh, and if you’re a heckler, Pearman can bring the heat.

A one-of-a-kind comedy show that takes you on a hilarious journey into the world of professional wrestling, WrestleBrainia is packed with games, witty humour, and audience participation. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the world of wrestling, WrestleBrainia features talented comedians and wrestlers, all bringing a unique take on wrestling fandom and culture. It’s got everything from a whacky game of wrestling-themed charades to guessing wrestler’s theme songs - catch WrestleBrainia on April 2, 16 and 23 at The Catfish Bar.

Bogan Shakespeare

Award-winning regional theatre company

HT&E bring their award-winning show Bogan Shakespeare to The Motley Bauhaus on April 6, 7, 8, 9 this year, translating Willy for delighted Australian audiences, in a show that’s been a hit tour for many years now. If you’re a fan, expect a deep and wide-ranging comedic take on his oeuvre that will have you in stitches, and if you’ve never liked or understood him, this is exactly the show you’ve been waiting for.

Badong

All of the best comedy has a grain of truth. That’s what allows James Roque’s new show to shine so bright – he’s never been afraid to get personal. In fact, the title of the show is his childhood nickname, Badong, which he still carries around at the age of 30. The Filipino-New Zealander is bringing Badong to the Melbourne

Poncho: Keep it up!

With tears of laughter, Poncho is a show of sensuality and educating audiences about the self, running from April 3 - 13 at The Butterfly Club Downstairs. Using his celebrated style of clowning meets risqué; this show is about inclusive humour and Dani’s rawest life advice. As an Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund recipient this year, his unique and energetic work continues to be critically acclaimed throughout the industry.

Before/After

Before/After is the latest stand-up comedy show from Ollie Horn, the UK’s most exciting young storyteller. Combining expertly crafted stand-up with moments of improvised banter, Before/ After focuses on trying new things. It’s a fun and uplifting hour of comedy that has already sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe and has toured in over 15 cities globally. Catch the show every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at The Elephant and Wheelbarrow during the festival period.

Not My Audience!

Ready to be in charge of the show? Not My Audience!, the interactive stand-up comedy panel show from the Edinburgh Fringe, is coming to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. At the Belgian Beer Cafe from March 30 to April 23, you’ll pick the questions three top comedians will answer, vote on your favourite answers, and choose the stand-up challenges they’ll have to perform. With every show being unique based on the audience’s choices, you’ll get an exclusive festival experience every time.

Wet Heat

Known for their appearances on Aunty Donna, Just For Laughs, Leftovers and ABC’s At Home Alone Together, Hot Department describe their brand-new show Wet Heat, as “if 2 Girls 1 Cup was a musical, then that would be great, but for now, there’s Wet Heat.” Playing at the Malthouse Theatre from March 30 to April 23, fans of sketch comedy and musical theatre are guaranteed to be in stitches.

Que Suraj Suraj

You may have seen Suraj Kolarkar on Netflix’s God’s Favourite Idiot or Apple TV and Paramount’s epic Shantaram, or heard him performing for the likes of Triple M and SBS. Now witness Suraj flex his comedy muscles in person at the Chinese Museum from April 11 to April 23.

Save The Orangutans

Good Lord!

Lance Corporal, chef, Tik Tok star and acclaimed stand-up Jarryd Goundrey sold out his 2022 festival’s show Incoming, and this year the rapidly-rising comedian returns to the festival as part of his first national tour with his latest hourlong show, Good Lord! He’s playing The Collection Bar in Richmond on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March 30 until April 23.

Emma Holland is returning to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her new show Save The Orangutans, inspired by her childhood growing up in Indonesia and, in her own words, “how I have made it my whole personality”. She’ll be performing eight dates at ACMI’s Gandel Lab in Federation Square from March 30 until April 23.

Timfoil Hat … My Life and Other Conspiracies

If stand-up comedy is about unique ideas then Tim Kershaw is one comedian at this year’s festival to watch out for. In TimFoil Hat … My Life and Other Conspiracies, he brings together his best work from the past five years, covering everything from aliens to the impact of the internet on reality. With Tim’s unique perspective and wit, he’ll have you indulging in the craziness of the world for a while at The Vault Theatre - Speakeasy from April 19 to 23.

Confetti and Chaos

From Interactive Theatre International, the company behind the enduringly popular Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, comes Confetti and Chaos. It’s an improvised, interactive and hilarious satire of wedding receptions that includes a threecourse meal, is making its Australian debut this year and, to make it even more authentic, is being performed at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne from Tuesday April 18 to Sunday April 23.

All Quiet Carriage Along

The Inner Western Line

Dan Rath is a mercurial stand-up comedian, and undoubtedly a comic everyone should see once in their life. He describes his ideal audience as the sort of people who sprint in the park while listening to the Dunkirk soundtrack, pretending they’re under artillery fire and would rather smoke herbal cowardice than drink liquid courage. He’ll be performing at The Victoria Hotel from March 30 to April 23.

Ms Beige Brown Go Beyond

Australia’s leading feminist performance poet Ms Beige Brown is fighting for her artistic freedom. Despite funding her art through job-seeking, Beige must now prove her cultural relevance to a world that doesn’t know she exists. To win a council grant and pursue her art fully, she must convince judges obsessed with ‘sustainability’ that her work is worth funding. Catch the show at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre from April 13 to 22.

Cult Classic

Melbourne actor Courtney Crisfield presents Cult Classic, a stand-up sketch parody of mainstream and cult films. Packed with puns, it’s perfect for movie fans, trivia buffs, and casual cinema-goers who enjoy wordplay and bad dancing. Courtney, with almost a decade of professional experience and training, has performed in various mediums and genres as an actor. Catch her upcoming show at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre from March 22 to April 8, with an extra show on April 18.

Turbo Lover

Slightly chaotic, razor sharp and mercilessly funny, Scout Boxall’s Turbo Lover is not to be missed. The comedian is a rising star on the Australian scene and has swooped up the prize for Best Emerging Artist and the Moosehead Award at recent editions of the fest. Showing nightly from March 30 to April 23 (except for Saturdays), at Melbourne Town Hall’s Regent Room, the show covers Scout’s formative experience with romance and intimacy, including having two microeconomist parents, dating a murderous former Jehovah’s Witness, and having a sexual awakening while playing Sims.

Boothylicious

Sharyn Booth is one of the most exciting new faces in the scene. Best known for her unapologetic attitude and dry humour, the comedian has performed before at the 2019 Melbourne Comedy Festival. She will be coming in hot this year with Boothylicious, which will run from April 4 to 8 at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Underwire

Gemma Caruana, a titan of comedy and song, brings her one-woman comedy cabaret show, Underwire, to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 29 to April 1 and again from April 18 to 22, at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. Directed by emerging powerhouse director Sarah Frencham, Gemma sings and dances her way through her journey of having breast reduction surgery, sharing her experience with humour and sincerity. After a successful run at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2022, Underwire is a show about having ‘too much of a good thing.’

Killah

Blake Freeman is no stranger to the Comedy Fest stage. After a massive year on the road, the comedian will be returning to his hometown (and his parents house) for a run of his latest show, Killah. Best known for his infallible pacing, effortless storytelling, and just generally being a pretty likeable guy, Blake is expected to deliver a wholsome good time. Killah will run from daily March 30 to April 23, except for Saturdays, at Mantra on Russell.

Brown Women Comedy

From getting married and divorced three times to growing up brown in Australia, this award-winning crew isn’t afraid to have a laugh at the big stuff. Featuring Amna Bee, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Daizy Maan, Kripa Krithivasan and a yet-to-beannounced surprise guest, this event will host the largest lineup of South Asian female comedians in Australia. Running from April 6 to 12 at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, the show will be a night of hilarity that is guaranteed to disappoint your parents.

Juniper Rising

Get ready to get a little wacky. Alex Hines is Juniper Wilde – ‘Australia’s one true gay icon’ who has just lost a fatal lip-sync battle. To return to the mortal plane, she has to make a deal with the Devil, but it’s not going to be as easy as she hoped. Playing nightly from March 30 to April 23 at ACMI’s Gandel Lab with Saturdays off, this camp horror comedy will bring all of the drama, the glamour and the laughs.

Everything is a Lie

Charming, cynical and perpetually annoyed, Lauren Edwards is still trying to figure things out. After a sell-out set of shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2021, the comedian and performer will return with her latest work, Everything is a Lie. Playing from April 11 to 15, at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, the show will blend original music, stand-up comedy and storytelling on subjects including (but not limited to) the constant bad news cycle, high school reunions and working at Seaworld.

How to Shave

The body is a strange and unpredictable thing. It’s at once lovely and kind of icky. In their latest show, How to Shave, transmasculine comedian Han Arbuthnott explores this strange dichotomy. In the past two years Han has started testosterone and had a double mastectomy, and they’re looking forward to telling some jokes about it. How to Shave will run from March 29 to April 11 with Sundays and Mondays off, at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Anecdotal Evidence

A storyteller, a standup, a feminist, and a narcoleptic: Maryellen is many things. Her latest work, Anecdotal Evidence, is about dreams of all kinds – how to decipher them and what they could possibly mean for us. High energy and full of surprises, the show will debut on March 30 and 31 before continuing from Tuesdays to Saturdays from April 4 to 15 at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

Become a part of the classic TV show with this immersive theatre experience. Featuring chaotic improvisation and a three-course meal, the two-hour bonanza will give guests the chance to play along with Basil, Sybil and Manuel. The experience will run daily from April 11 to 16 at Stamford Plaza Melbourne. Join in on the fun and try not to laugh with your mouth full.

But Daddy I Love Him

Step back in time to 1997 and experience the cultural power of teenage girls with Haylee Deutrom’s show, But Daddy I Love Him. Through relatable humour and witty storytelling, this autobiographical performance celebrates the intensity of fandom and explores what it means to be a teenage girl in a world that often dismisses their passions and emotions. Witness this blast from the past at The Carlton Club from March 29 to April 2.

Becky and Courtney Do Business

Becky Umbers and Courtney Dawson may look good in blazers, but that doesn’t mean they’re very good business women. They are, however, pretty impressive comedians. Both have written on some of New Zealand’s favourite TV shows, and together, they’ve snatched up enough comedy awards to fill a head office mantelpiece. They’ve come together to reflect on their time in the corporate workplace with Becky and Courtney Do Business, on from April 11 to 22 with Sundays and Monday off, at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Laugh or China Releases a New Virus

Engineer by day and comedian slash podcaster by night, Sean Diao is annoyed by society and he’s ready to tell us all about it. Born and raised in China, he has been doing comedy for the past four years and has quickly developed a reputation for his unique dark, deadpan, and silly style. See him perform on April 4, 8, 11, 14, 18, 19, 21 or 23 with dates at both Club Voltaire and Mantra Studio Kitchen Bar.

The Kaye Hole

An arresting, flamboyant performer with a knack for dry humour, sequined outfits and finding beauty in tragedy (and viceversa), Reuben Kaye is a mainstay of Australia’s festival, cabaret and comedy scenes and his new show is best-described as late night, done right: queer, messy, fast, loose and fucking hilarious. It runs two nights at The Forum Downstairs, April 15 and 22, starting at 11:15pm.

Yarnz

Hosted by Kimmie Lovegrove, Yarnz is a night for some of ‘Australia’s funniest blackfullas’ to come together, let loose, and experiment with comedy. Showing at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre for three days only, punters can expect a one-of-a-kind evening filled with unpredictable moments and crowd-pleasing hilarity. The show will be on from April 13 to 15.

I’m Trying to Find The Words To Describe This Girl Without Being Disrespectful

When Akon uttered those famous words on David Guetta’s 2010 track, it stuck with comedian and writer Katherine Allen. Who was this mysterious girl? This unidentified ‘sexy bitch’? In her highly anticipated solo debut, Katherine will attempt to answer this age-old question through an investigative evening of comedy. Come find out for yourself at her, on nightly from April 11 to 23 with Mondays off, at Storyville Melbourne.

Grot

Luke Heggie describes this show as “actual stand up”, warning you not to attend if you “consider yourself an aficionado of stand-up comedy (this includes any Australian man who wears a scarf)”. If you’ve seen Heggie before, you’ll know he can afford to pick and choose his audience, he’s one of the most successful Australian stand-ups of recent years for good reason. Grot runs from March 29 to April 23 at Morris House (previously known as European Bier Café).

Legacy

If you’re only familiar with Michelle Brasier from her scene-stealing work with Aunty Donna, then you’ve been living under a comedy rock. Brasier swept a range of accolades over the past two years, from winning Best Writing at the Green Room Awards, to Directors’ Choice at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival in the same year. Legacy recounts Brasier’s epic search for another Michelle Brasier, and the exploration of all the other women one woman could have been if she’d made different choices. She’ll be playing Comedy Republic from March 30 to April 23.

Busy

Nominee for Best Newcomer at the 2021 Comedy Festival, Chris Ryan will once again deliver her signature dry snark, targeting those who deserve it, as she ponders thought-provoking questions like ‘What’s the difference between a good decision and a phase?’ She’ll be playing The Westin Two from March 30 to April 23.

Red Flags Galore!

Winner of Best Show at the influential Chortle Awards last year, Alfie Brown ponders the relevant question; can reading the worst things about yourself on the internet be an educational experience? Is the digital age turning us bad, or is it merely shining a light on the bad previously unseen? He’ll be playing the Greek Theatre from March 30 to April 23.

Sigmund Troy’d

Multi-award winning UK stand up comic and home-schooled investigator Troy Hawke comes to the Comedy Festival after starring in his viral Greeters Guild online series, finding and proving decisive links between IKEA, the CIA and the Nazis. He’ll play the Toff in Town from March 30 to April 23.

Villain

Brodi Snook has had breakout success in the UK over recent years, picking up Chortle’s Best Newcomer award among various Edinburgh Fringe, Just For Laughs and BBC nods. In her own words, Villain is “a story about sending nudes to the government., a transatlantic emotional-support hairball. A story about RSVPing ‘no’ to your own wedding. This, is a love story.” Snook plays Mantra on Russell from March 30 to April 23.

Night Time News Network National News

Osher Günsberg is a household name for his highly-successful broadcast and podcasting career, and now he joins Comedy Festival with his very own live satirical news show: the stories are real, the news is made up. He’ll be joined on-stage by a cast of improvisers and real-life reporters at The MalthouseBeckett Theatre from March 30 to April 9.

If I’m Honest

Ed Byrne is an internationally successful Irish stand-up that’s a veteran of both this and virtually ever other major Comedy Festival. He believes his latest set is his best, where he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has any traits that are worth passing on to his children. He’ll be playing The Malthouse Beckett Theatre from April 18 to 23.

Let Me Start From The Start (N.IRL)

Micky Bartlett, Northern Ireland’s comedy colossus, is coming back to Australia after selling out his latest show all over the world with a “unique blend of razor sharp wit and anecdotes that would make a psychiatrist blush”. He’ll be playing the Basement Comedy Club at Morriss House from April 11 to 23.

JORDAN GRAY

Words by Joanne Brookfield

“I’m a big, six foot toddler running around making jokes about boobs and Batman and babies and dogs. On the way, I’m just chucking in transgender stuff, because it’s my life, it’s my actual lived experience.”

When preparing for an interview, naturally you turn to the internet to begin researching your subject. Not everything you read online will be true, of course, so the interview provides an opportunity to verify certain things.

Some questions are basic fact checks (“are you really completely blind in your left eye and coeliac?”) and others are because the random specificity of the details are assembled in such a way they create a sentence that both delights and demands further investigation.

Such as this gem that leaps off Jordan Gray’s Wikipedia page: “Jordan realised she was transgender while chopping wood in Sweden and came out while accepting a trophy for best original artist… while dressed as a cat”.

Brilliant! And, as Gray tells Beat, all true. Gray is on the eve of her Australian premiere of Is It A Bird?, her smash hit show that in a five star review The Guardian UK described as “a gorgeous, accomplished and deeply funny hour of comedy combining Gray’s musical talents with nuanced, creative stand-up.”

The show was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award 2022 (the highest honour at the world’s largest comedy festival) and has been selling out as it tours across the UK. On the back of this, Gray’s been doing the rounds of the all the TV shows, with an appearance on Ben Elton’s Friday Night Live late last yearthat – well, let’s just say – got everyone talking.

As a result, Gray is one of the fastest rising comic stars in Britain. While relatively new to her celebrity status as a comedian, Gray is no stranger to the stage or screen, having spent a decade as a musician. “I was very, very lucky. I’ve had the most wonderful music career straight out of school, really,” she shares with Beat via Zoom, from her home in Southend in Essex, where she lives by the sea. “It’s as far as you can go before you’re in the water,” she explains.

Her career as a musician had been going very well: “did Europe a bunch of times, and then a bunch of albums and then I did The Voice.” Admitting the old adage ‘every comedian wants to be a rock star and every rock star wants to be a comedian’ definitely applied to her, it was while performing as part of The Voice television franchise that she first experimented with comedy.

“I tried to be funny on live TV, and you don’t get a response from six million people, you don’t know if they’re laughing in their living rooms. But I think it went down quite well, I certainly enjoyed myself in the moment. So I thought, I’d rather do that for the rest of my life, than pour all this money and work into songs that I’m slowly falling out of love with anyway,” she says.

While The Voice was a “wonderful experience” the single she released after appearing on the show in 2016 “was rubbish” and she realised “I didn’t ever want to do that again.”

The high turnover of material that comedy demands, writing a new hour each year, suits Gray better than being trapped having to play the ‘best of’ hits for eternity. “We have to stay on our toes and I get bored so fast, that comedy is the perfect vehicle for me because it keeps my brain ticking.”

Gray released ten albums in various styles but “never really landed on a genre” which she sees now as a virtue with her comedy “because now I can play music in any style I like because I’m not putting out commercial music I’m just trying to make people laugh”.

Along the way, she’s also knocked out several books. “I was way too young to write an autobiography, especially considering nobody asked for it. It’s such a pretentious thing to do at like 21,” she says with a self-deprecating chuckle. There was also a couple of novellas in the mix (“that I’m really proud of”) and there’s more in the works, with Gray currently discussing the possibility of there being a companion book to the live show, Is It A Bird?

Gray believes the show has struck such a chord with audiences because “the point of the show, and everything I’ve ever done, is that you don’t need to know the first thing about being transgendered to hopefully enjoy the show. I talk more about Batman in my show than I do about being transgender,” she says of the “million miles an hour” performance that is punctuated by big musical numbers.

“I’m a big, six foot toddler running around making jokes about boobs and Batman and babies and dogs. On the way, I’m just chucking in transgender stuff, because it’s my life, it’s my actual lived experience.”

This brings us back to chopping wood in Sweden and the cat suit. What was that about? “Wikipedia is such a fun game because I’ve had a weird life,” the 34 year old admits. “There’s some sentences that are like that new chatGPT wrote it, like it was written by AI and they found one sentence in an interview and extrapolated,” she says of the fact it is not true that she is blind in one eye.

She can’t see out of her left eye very well, so “people must think I’m incredible if they think I’m legally blind jumping around on stage the way I do.” Despite a brilliantly written song on the topic, she’s not coeliac, either. “No, my sister has coeliac disease, so that’s why that song’s for her”.

“But the first thing that you asked is correct. Yes, I was living in Sweden. I was engaged to a wonderful Swede – a person, not a vegetable,” she laughs. “A really nice lady who’s Swedish and then I had one of those strange moments, like all-of-nature’s-screaming-at-you type moments…I just realised I was at odds with my body and who I was. So I started to course correct from there and left Sweden and came home to England and slowly began to transition,” she recalls of her life at 24.

“Then I was very sweetly given the Artist of the Decade award at this Essex Entertainment Award Ceremony and I was wearing a cat suit, complete with ears and tail, and I thought this would be a good moment to tell everyone that I’m transgender,” she says, adding coming out on stage “in front of 500 people” in her hometown spared her “100 awkward conversations individually”.

When she arrives in Australia for her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut, it’s bats and not cats that will be the bigger theme. “I’m a little bit jealous of Batman. I’m jealous that the same people that don’t want me using the women’s toilet seem to have absolutely no problem with Bruce Wayne self-identifying as a bat his entire career”.

In order to enjoy Is It A Bird? Gray says you don’t need to know anything about superheroes or transgender people “because I don’t make anybody feel bad for not understanding stuff.” Instead, it’s just joy, she says. “I’m just having fun from start to finish and I think that you very much can live vicariously through me for an hour.”

Jordan Gray is playing Melbourne Town Hall’s Powder Room from March 30 to April 23 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

BLAKE FREEMAN

Fire alarms, big venues, and his new hour, Killah.

Words by Ben Lamb

Blake Freeman’s rise in the comedy world has seen him win prestigious awards, hit the stage at Just For Laughs, and play sell-out crowds across the country, making him a must see performer at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Getting to share your work with crowds across the world is a bucket list item for many comedians, with festivals creating events to showcase that, such as Just For Laughs’ New Faces. Blake notes the experience and stories behind performing at last year’s New Faces in Montreal.

“It was pretty fucking wild,” Blake says. “Right before the show’s about to take off, everyone’s literally sitting backstage, and then an alarm goes off.

“I was like, ‘Oh that must be the show’s about to start alarm’. Then the stage manager runs back and says ‘There’s a fire in the building we have to get out.’ They had to evacuate the whole show. No one was hurt or anything, which is good, it was just a wild experience.

“Then we did the show the next night – it was mad to be on the other side of the world to do this.”

A comedian’s task is arguably the most difficult in the creative world. For most, each year, there’s a need to come up with a brand new hour of hilarious material. Blake notes the process behind his new hour, called Killah.

“It came from stuff that I was writing throughout the year, and then as I was slowly starting to piece it together, I realised that this show - to me anyways, is sort of loosely about, and not in like a pretentious way - identity.”

“I’ve been looking at the people from my childhood that shaped my personality and how that’s playing out in situations like relationships.

“That’s what I was writing, then sort of seeing that natural through-line. I was like, ‘Oh, I think there’s like a bigger story to the show, which is kind of fun, because I’ve never really done a show that has, not a narrative, but a theme, which is exciting. I’m so keen to give it a crack.”

After recent Comedy Festival performances at venues like The Swiss Club, Blake Freeman will be performing Killah at the Mantra on Russell. Many stand-ups change their delivery based on room size, Blake noting the relationship between venue sizes and delivery, and how being comfortable in the room is part of the process.

“I remember last year after the Comedy Festival, for the Comedy Festival Roadshow, there was a crew of us who got to go to Queensland to do shows up there.

“All the shows were in really big theatres and it was awesome to do longer sets in a big theatre environment. But then I’d come back, like the next week, and I’d be in a show with maybe 25 people. I realised halfway through, I’m trying to be a bit bigger and a bit louder,” Blake adds with a laugh.

“I guess with the MICF, where you’ve got the same space for 22 or 23 shows, I always like to spend as much time in the room before the show as I can, that way I can sort of mentally prepare.

“But if it’s just a spot around town, I’m usually pretty sweet to kind-of just rock up. You can just sort it out during the set. Having said that, I also like getting to shows early and just watching the people before and the people after and all that.

“It’s interesting and genuine. I would say it’s almost like my most personal show. But I also think it’ll get real silly. There’s some real silly bits in it that I feel like anyone could get on board with.”

Blake Freeman’s Killah will be at the Mantra on Russell from March 30 until April 23 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Junkyard.

“It came from stuff that I was writing throughout the year. As I was slowly starting to piece it together, I realised that this show - to me anyways, is sort of loosely about, and not in like a pretentious way - identity.”

THE BEST OF ARJ BARKER

POWER HOUR

31 MARCH – 22 APRIL

7:00PM FRIDAY & SATURDAYS

THE PALMS AT CROWN

MAISIE ADAM MARKUS BIRDMAN IAN SMITH

30 MARCH – 23 APRIL

8:30PM (7:30PM SUNDAYS) THE CAPITOL

“LAUGHS CAME THICK AND FAST... DON’T MISS IT” THE AGE MELBOURNE

4 – 9 APRIL

8:15PM (7:15PM SUNDAY)

SIX SPECIAL COMEDY FESTIVAL EVENTS

Raw Comedy National Grand Final

Sun 16 Apr: 5pm

Melb Town Hall – Main Hall, 100 Swanston St, Melbourne

Deadly Funny National Grand Final

Sat 15 Apr: 3pm

Forum Melbourne – Downstairs, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne

Class Clowns National Grand Final

Wed 5 Apr: 1pm

Forum Melbourne – Downstairs, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne

Class Clowns is the Comedy Festival’s national development program for teens, which sends professional comedians into schools to teach kids comedy. Excitingly, it runs a national competition for schoolaged stand-ups to refine and deliver their best material, like a junior version of the festival’s famous RAW Comedy competition. Heats are judged in every Australian state and territory and the state finalists compete in the National Grand Final.

Unsurprisingly, it’s unearthed some of Australia’s best contemporary standups over the years, with Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicholson, Annie Louey, Aaron Chen and William McKenna among past competitors, so this is your chance to see the next big names in Australian comedy at the very beginning of their careers.

The 33rd Annual Great Debate

Sun 9 Apr: 4pm

Melb Town Hall – Main Hall, 100 Swanston St, Melbourne

You only have to take a cursory glance over previous Great Debate topics; cancel culture, fake news, turning off the internet and of course, food versus sex, to know that this event is among the most fertile comedy soil known to humanity.

Six comedians split into two teams argue over an annual issue that ranges from everyday philosophy to hard-hitting political issues. The result is always hilarious, but it can also deliver biting social commentary through a cathartic comedic lense, which is really special.

What could be a better selling point than watching the freshest, fiercest, funniest comedians and yarn-spinners from the oldest culture on earth? Deadly Funny is the Comedy Festival’s national stand-up competition for First Peoples, bringing a unique perspective to Australia’s comedy calendar.

Expect a diverse range of artistic mediums on display, with the 2023 event set to be hosted by Sean Choolburra. Exceptional previous winners include Kevin Kropinyeri, Steph Tisdell, Ghenoa Gela, Jalen Sutcliffe and Shiralee Hood.

The Raw Comedy National Grand Final is the best place to catch the future of Australian comedy, just look at some of the names who’ve come through this competition (and try to think of anyone who hasn’t): Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng, Matt Okine, Becky Lucas, Aaron Chen, Sarah Kendall, Sam Simmons, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor, Rhys Nicholson, Tom Ballard, Anne Edmonds, Sam Campbell, Georgie Carroll, David Woodhead, Cassie Workman and more.

By the time Australia’s best-emerging comedians reach the national final, they’ve perfected their sets, so expect nothing but side-splitting laughs on April 16. In 2023, Dilruk Jayasinha will be your host.

Light The Way Home: A Fundraiser

Wed 12 Apr: 11.15pm

Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston St (opp Town Hall), Melbourne

Rhys Nicholson, Rosie Jones (UK), Laura Davis, Aurelia St. Clair, Charlie Lewin, Han Arbuthnott, Bea Barbeau-Scurla and host Lauren Bok combine for one of the festival’s most exciting lineups, an all-star cast of Australian and international female, non-binary and queer comics.

$5 from every ticket sold for the event will be donated to Light The Way Home – a program designed to provide women, non-binary and other vulnerable performers with a safe way home from comedy venues in or around the Melbourne CBD.

Upfront

Mon 10 Apr: 7pm

Melb Town Hall – Main Hall, 100 Swanston St, Melbourne

Upfront is a one-night-only show that’s long been a pivotal part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The show features some of the best female comics plucked from the festival at large and put into one stellar lineup to bring the house to tears. This year, Upfront features Michelle Brasier, He Huang, Laura Davis, Janty Blair, Rosie Jones, Sara Schaefer, Cal Wilson, Alex Ward, Lizzy Hoo, Georgie Carroll and many more.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from March 29 to April 23.

We dive beyond the headliners at this year’s Comedy Festival to spotlight six of the festival’s special, one-off events that each have their own unique drawcard.

BOOTHYLICIOUS

From throwing confetti, to throwing shade or throwing up in a pot-plant in the corner after one too many prosecco toasts, wedding receptions can get messy in all kinds of ways.

Which makes them an ideal setting for an improvised comedy show. In fact, the makers of Confetti and Chaos are really hoping that their Melbourne International Comedy Festival season “might just be the worst wedding reception you’ll ever go to!” says Jared Harford.

Harford is the Producer and Programmer for Interactive Theatre International, the company behind the enduringly popular Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, which is an immersive dinner and show comedy experience, taking its inspiration from the iconic British television series, which has been performing consistently for the past two and half decades around the UK, Europe and here in Australia.

Confetti and Chaos, which is similar in that it’s improvised, interactive and involves a three course meal, is making it’s Australian debut this year and, to make it even more authentic, is being performed at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne.

“The show doesn’t have to be done in hotels or wedding venues, but we have used them a lot in our tours,” he says of the fact the show has been touring the UK for the past five years, including sell out seasons at Edinburgh Fringe.

“The most important thing is that the audience come into the world and believe they are at a real wedding reception. It’s made easier of course when we use a real life wedding venue,” explains Harford.

The show was created between ITI’s Artistic Director Alison PollardMansergh and the original UK cast, who had performed a sketch show called Bite Size Comedies. “The show is essentially built from this sketch and between about ten different actors working on developing the show, we have ended up with what you see today,” explains Harford.

The Australian cast features Jack Newell, Rebecca Fortuna, Monique Lewis, and Adrian Espulso and between them they will play nine different characters, ranging from bride and groom, Stacey and Will, their family members, best man and more.

“These four haven’t been involved in the UK tours; but Monique was part of the team of actors invoved in re-writing the show for Australia. We’ve developed

CONFETTI AND CHAOS

play as well. “The moment you arrive, you’re part of the world. Like all wedding receptions, there’s some awkward mingling at the start, finding out who you’re sat next to, speeches, everything you would expect,” explains Harford of how completely they are replicating every detail, right down to wedding cake.

However, if you’re not the extroverted type, you can still enjoy the show without participating, he says. “The actors are really skilled at working out who wants to play and who just wants to sit back and watch. Some people will get given roles to play, but everyone can be as involved, or as not involved, as they choose”.

“If you just want to sit back and watch, you’ll still have a good time, but by the time the show ends, everyone will want to jump up and join in the dance!” he says.

Words by Joanne Brookfield

Given the universal nature of the setting, Harford predicts Confetti and Chaos will appeal to a wide range of audience members. “People in their 20s-30s, as all we think about is love. People in their 40s-50s as they remember all the hilarity of their wedding or weddings they’ve been to; and people 60+ who just want to get out and have a fun night at the expense of a young, naive couple!”

it further and now ready for the big Australian premiere season!”

The premise is that it’s a surprise wedding reception that Stacey and Will “didn’t think they could afford” and it soon degenerates into pandemonium, with uninvited guests showing up and secrets coming out. “Just a traditional wedding reception with a whole bunch of people who shouldn’t be in the same room,” quips Harford.

Given this is an interactive show, audience members have their roles to

However, he’s expecting Confetti and Chaos will appeal most to a younger audience, especially as they are asking everyone to dress up in their wedding finery when they attend the show. “My favourite was a show in Edinburgh where an audience member made a hat out of balloons, and halfway through the show it burst!” he recalls. “Just remember, don’t wear a wedding dress to someone else’s wedding….”

Confetti and Chaos runs at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne from Tuesday April 18 to Sunday April 23. This article was made in partnership with Interactive Theatre International.

While a wedding is supposed to be the ‘happiest day’ of a couple’s life, and they’re usually planned to within an inch of their overpriced life to make that so, it’s at the wedding reception where things can start to go a little, well, awry.

“The most important thing is that the audience come into the world and believe they are at a real wedding reception. It’s made easier of course when we use a real life wedding venue,” explains Harford.

FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE

Words by Joanne Brookfield

In a career spanning two and half decades, performing across film, television and stage, it’s perhaps no surprise that Luke Alleva is going to have a few career highlights. He’s what’s known as a ‘multi-hyphenate’ - he can sing, act, and improvise – and his talents have seen him perform in West End productions through to his own solo show at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

However it was his dancing skills that landed him his first big break. When Alleva was only 18 years old, he was cast as one of the lead dancers in Baz Luhrmann’s lavish feature film Moulin Rouge. “Getting the experience with Baz Luhrmann, and the absolute renowned performers that were part of that, was such a highlight,” he recalls.

Hanging out with Brian May was another. The lead guitarist of Queen might be known as Sir Brian May to the rest of us these days, but when Alleva was in London performing in We Will Rock You - the musical theatre production inspired by the band’s extensive back catalogue of classic rock songs – May was simply a co- performer.

“Brian May and Roger Taylor were special guests in a lot of performances, and performing on-stage with them was just goosebumps galore,” he says, and they’d jam off-stage as well. “It would just be a regular Wednesday and Brian May would just come and have a guitar jam with us, side stage. To sing with him and talk with him was another pinch-me moment,” says Alleva.

Closer to home, playing Eddie Ryan in Funny Girl, working with “cream of the crop” performers Nancye Hayes and Caroline O’Connor, both legends of Australia’s theatre world, also ranks up there for Alleva, as does his recent performance at Hamer Hall.

Earlier in March, he ticked off a bucket-list ambition when his show The Dancin’ Man, played there as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Morning Melody series. “It was an absolute honour to perform my one man show, with my three-piece band, in what for me has always been the absolute best theatre in Australia,” he says.

Working in prestigious venues with such accomplished creatives, Alleva is now drawing on those experiences as he inhabits one of the world’s most famous comedy characters –Manuel, the hapless waiter from Fawlty Towers, in Interactive Theatre International’s Faulty Towers The Dining Experience.

Fawlty Towers, the iconic BBC television series, first screened back in the 1970s. Set in a seaside hotel and run by

the pompous Basil and his wife Sybil, with waiter Manuel looking after the dining guests, it is widely considered to be the best British sitcom of all time.

Even though only a dozen half-hour episodes were ever made, the show has cemented its place in pop culture history. Inspired by these iconic characters and the farcical situations their dysfunctional interactions inevitably degenerate into, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a highly improvised, interactive and fully-immersive live comedy show, which is performing as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Stamford Plaza.

First performed in Brisbane back in 1997, the show has gone on to become a hit around Australia and the UK, where it has been consistently touring for the past 25 years. Alleva joined the cast a couple of years ago and says “Manuel is so much fun to play.”

“The audiences love him, he’s the fan favourite,” says Alleva. In the TV show, Manuel is Spanish, with broken English and a bumbling demeanour that causes no end of tension with the uptight Basil, who was played by John Cleese.

Andrew Sachs, the actor who played Manuel originally, “was British-Italian and when you look at the episodes, he didn’t have the best Spanish accent at all. Which also made it quite funny,” explains Alleva, who is Italian himself.

“You don’t want to go away from the character, but at the same time, you don’t want to mimic the character either,” he says of how he’s approached taking on such a famous role as an actor, looking for the essence and physicality to then “play it in your way”.

Like Faulty Towers The Dining Experience overall, Alleva says they take the “suggestion” of the TV episodes, and for fans of the TV series, “there’s lots of connections” back to the original, but the immersive show they create doesn’t lift directly from those scripts.

Instead, they have their own narrative goal and the structure “does allow for a lot of roleplay and a lot of improvisation with the audience, as well as with each other,” says of the comedy of errors they create each night, as they literally serve food – and sometimes even hurl a dinner roll across the room – as part of it.

“The audience will feel like they are actually in that hotel having their dinner, and because it is so immersive they feel like they’re actually part of that 70s era,” he says. Alleva feels that trip back in time allows the audience to forget about how serious and stressful modern daily life can be and just “have a good, good, good laugh”.

“That’s what it’s about, to just release from the normal world and feel like you are somewhat a part of the show, and have a good laugh for a good two hours or so,” he says, adding you don’t need to have seen the TV series to enjoy the live show.

“We’re getting people who are eight and 10 years old, we’re getting teenagers,” he says of the way Dining Experience is introducing the world of the Fawlty’s to new generations, while reminding older generations of favourite moments. “People will say ‘I watched all the episodes and I forgot about that one. You know what, I’m gonna go back and watch it’”.

Alleva says it’s the funniness of the show that ultimately unites their audiences. “Audience’s absolutely lose it, so come for the comedy, enjoy a feed and have fun with everyone there because it’s immersive, everyone is together in this.”

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is being performed at Stamford Plaza Melbourne from April 11 to 16, as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Interactive Theatre International.

EMMA HOLLAND

Emma Holland’s Save the Orangutans is one of our top picks for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this April.

Words by Mia Casey

Emma Holland is returning to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her new show Save The Orangutans, inspired by her childhood growing up in Indonesia and, in her own words, “how I have made it my whole personality”.

Emma is a fan-favourite of the Comedy Festival for good reason after her incredible show last year, Dreamer in The Mist. That title came straight from an online name generator, which tells you everything you need to know about the brilliantly sardonic nature of her comedy (she described it as the centre of a Venn diagram with Ryan Seacrest and the Vietnam War). She’s also well-known as a writer for Channel 10’s The Cheap Seats and Have You Been Paying Attention?, which she also regularly appears on as a guest.

She attributes her quirky style to a varied career that’s spanned far beyond the comedy landscape as a photographer, collage artist and writer from a visual art background. In 2018, she was runner-up in the RAW Comedy National Grand Final and has since performed worldwide, while retaining her artistic career. When she’s not performing covers of Rage Against the Machine songs from a police officer’s perspective, she’s receiving residencies at the Museum of Brisbane.

Emma’s deadpan and dry humour hilariously juxtaposes her alternative and edgy style, which is all wrapped with mockery and a healthy dose of self-deprecation.

She’ll be performing 21 dates at ACMI’s Gandel Lab in Federation Square from March 30 until April 23 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Junkyard.

HOT DEPARTMENT

Comedy duo Hot Department is back with a vengeance, set to perform a brand-new show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Words by Noah Redfern

Known for their hilarious appearances on Aunty Donna, Just For Laughs, Leftovers and ABC’s At Home Alone Together, Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva are one of the hottest sketch duos in the world. Their iconic and bizarre brand of sketch comedy, mixed in with a good dose of cabaret and some nudity, makes sure that a show by these two is not easily forgotten.

According to Wolff and Durnan Silva themselves, Hot Department is “the breath of fresh gas Australian comedy needs”. Calling themselves a sexually dysfunctional comedy duo with deep trauma and a validation addiction, Hot Department’s key to success is the insane chemistry of their creative partnership.

The pair met while studying theatre in Ballarat and bonded over the character of Kenneth from the cult hit show 30 Rock. The two got along like a house on fire and the rest was history. Since then, they’ve toured their award-winning shows CULL, Poopie Tum Tums and Open For Business. Their latest work, Wet Heat, is guaranteed to drum up the hype that these rising stars deserve.

CULL was about how they planned to cull all their Facebook friends, while Poopie Tum Tums covered how they were going to quit comedy for theatre. In Open For Business, the duo touched on the feeling of returning to work as an artist after the pandemic left all in their field struggling to survive.

Of their brand-new show Wet Heat, they have this to say: “If 2 Girls 1 Cup was a musical, then that would be great, but for now, there’s Wet Heat.” The Hot Department lore is expanding and their surrealist world awaits.

Accolades from previous shows include the Melbourne Fringe Festival WA Tour Ready Award in 2019 and the Green Room Award for Best Ensemble in Cabaret in 2020.

Playing at the Malthouse Theatre from March 30 to April 23, Hot Department is certain to leave fans of sketch comedy and musical theatre in stitches. This article was made in partnership with Junkyard.

JOHN HASTINGS

A conversation with Hastings is peppered with plenty of quick quips, and “sarcastic mirth, he said for some reason not knowing why he chose those two words and regretting them immediately. Why is he talking in the third person?”

Words by Joanne Brookfield

For the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year, he’s presenting a new hour in The Times They Are a John Hastings. “It’s all about being an elder millennial and being a reluctant cat owner and coming to grips with who you are as you hit middle age,” he says, admonishing himself for that not sounding funny enough, so he takes a second shot.

“Listen, it’s got a great cat bit. A bunch of fun sex jokes, an excellent fart joke…it’s got everything you would absolutely want. You know what I’m saying? Funny enough for a date, but with enough big words that people will think ‘hey, he went to university’, you know what I’m saying? I know my demographic – condo owners!”

With a soft spot for Australian audiences (“as a Canadian, it feels like almost home turf”) Hastings has been making annual visits here since 2015, either as part of the Best of the Edinburgh Festival line-up show or doing his solo shows.

Over the past few years, there’s been death, divorce (“what’s even more unfortunate? Not even a fun divorce story!”) and bed bugs, plus plenty of other life events “and all of those things have been translated into fun stand up comedy bits,” he says of the show that he’s performing at The Greek Centre.

“That’s been a fun journey, sort of tracking the tragedy of the last three years, and finding the relatable little chunks,” he says, adopting a little bit of that ‘sarcastic mirth’ tone when he adds “and then throwing them at people’s faces.”

John Hastings’ new show The Times They Are a John Hastings runs at the Greek Centre as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 30 to April 23.

SEAN DIAO

Words by Jacob McCormack

Moving from China to Melbourne at the age of 23 in search of a career in civil engineering, Sean Diao enrolled in a masters degree to study just that, but soon steered away from that path to pursue a life spent as a comic.

He quickly found out that balancing a day job as an engineer and attempting to develop his comedic practice at night was unsustainable, so he ditched the former in hopes of fulfilling a childhood passion for humour.

“As a kid I really liked humour,” says Diao. “I liked cartoons in newspapers, like Garfield. In university, I looked into stand-up on the internet.”

His comedic practice has long since departed from his first experience of performing in China. It was in a fateful moment at a party for the university magazine he was involved in that the director of the publication urged him to provide the entertainment for the party, a Chinese cultural custom.

“One of my very first stand-up experiences was at university in China,” he says. “I was involved in the university magazine, and at the end of the year they usually have a party. In the party, people have to perform, to entertain each other, which is a very Chinese thing. I was picked to do the entertainment, so I made some material, but I was nervous because I had never done that before.”

Rather than erupting into laughter at the hands of an attempted joke, the audience in attendance remained silent. An outcome hard to receive as a comic.

The reception that Diao received back then didn’t dishearten him though and he is now an acclaimed stand-up, garnering plaudits from many seasoned Comedy Festival veterans. He’s set to bring his new show Laugh or China Releases a New Virus to this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Sean Diao will perform Laugh or China Releases a New Virus at Club Voltaire on selected dates from April 4 to April 23, and at Mantra Studio on selected dates from April 8 to 14. This article was made in partnership with Sean Diao.

From engineering to comedy, Sean Diao is bringing his best material to this year’s Comedy Festival.

BEFORE/AFTER

The latest stand-up comedy show from Ollie Horn, one of the UK’s most exciting young storytellers, is heading to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Words by Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Known for blending tightly crafted stand-up with moments of improvised banter, Horn is set to deliver a one-of-a-kind show at Melbourne’s own Elephant and Wheelbarrow.

Before/After is an hour of Ollie Horn’s latest stand-up comedy that centers around the joy of trying new things. Through sharing his experiences of getting stuck in Malaysia and injuring himself in a Zumba class, Horn discusses his mishaps while providing tips on how to pull yourself through moments that might seem bleak. The show offers a fun and uplifting experience that showcases Horn’s comedic talent and unique perspective on life.

Horn is no stranger to sold-out shows and enthusiastic audiences across the globe, with Before/After being a total sell-out at the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe and since going on tour in over 15 cities globally.

Having previously toured his stand-up to packed crowds in more than 25 countries - including Australia’s own Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne comedy festivals - Before/After is poised to cement Horn’s reputation as one of the most exciting young storytellers in the UK comedy scene.

Horn is known for his irreverent and scintillating storytelling, as seen in his previous sold-out show Pig in Japan. As if that wasn’t enough, Horn also founded a bilingual comedy club in Fukuoka, Japan in 2014, where he coached emerging comedians taking to the stage.

In short, Ollie Horn’s latest show is a must see for anyone looking for an hour of pure unadulterated laughter, as Before/ After takes you on a journey of self discovery through humour and witty narrative.

With strictly limited capacity, make sure to book your tickets early for an intimate night of guaranteed laughs from one of the best emerging names on the UK comedy circuit.

Catch the show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday across the festival period at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow. This article was made in partnership with RBG Monster.

NOT MY AUDIENCE!

This interactive comedy panel puts you in control of the show – all through an exclusive app.

Words by Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

The cult hit stand-up comedy panel show from the Edinburgh Fringe Not My Audience! is set to make its debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

This comedy experience offers the audience a chance to have a say in what happens onstage, handing you the reins via an exclusive app. You’ll pick the questions the comedians will answer, vote on your favourite answers and choose the fiendish stand-up challenges they’ll have to perform. Every show is set to be individually unique, based on you and your fellow audience member’s choices.

Not My Audience! puts some of the sharpest comedy minds of the festival through their paces, set to keep the comedians quick on their feet and at the mercy of your fingertips. Since the audience entirely influences the show, you can expect some unexpected and hilarious moments.

Having become a cult hit since its debut in 2018, the show invites the audience to tailor the direction of the comedians’ jokes, all the while also getting to vote and hear from the comedian they like the most. This show is unique because the comedians have to pander to the audience’s every whim, making every show totally different.

After sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, Not My Audience! is finally making its way to Melbourne. Head over to the Belgian Beer Cafe to check out this one-of-a-kind immersive comedy experience that’s sure to have you laughing out loud. Make sure to bring a charged phone so you can be part of the action and shape the show you’re watching in real-time.

Not My Audience! will take over the Belgian Beer Cafe from March 30 until April 23. This article was made in partnership with RBG Monster.

Scout Boxall has quickly become one of Australia’s most recognised comedians: a 2019 Best Emerging Artist at the Melbourne Fringe, 2021 Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and a 2022 recipient of the Moosehead Award, there’s no question why this show is a hot ticket item.

Their new show Turbo Lover brings a different flavour. Scout’s focusing on just jokes, rather than a mix of things, like we’ve seen from them in years past.

With so much incredible comedy coming to our screens and stages from all corners of the Earth, it’s hard to split apart from the pack. The most popular shows in recent years tend to have a clear through-line and are often inspired by real events.

“I think originally, the show was actually going to be more similar to things I’ve done in the past,” Scout says. “It was going to be sort of like a meditation on loneliness, and there was going to be music, and a lot of lighting moments.

“Then I did a bunch of touring and travelling, and I just realised that touring is such a bitch when you have to do sound and lighting stuff. So I was like, ‘Fuck it, I’m just going to do stand up, it’s going to be the lowest maintenance show with the most punchy jokes.’

“Last year, I had a breakup, and I was alone for the first time in a long time. That’s where the show sort of started to germinate. The show has just become a real celebration of all the shit that I really enjoy - like old CD-ROM games that I used to play.”

For all the millennials reading this, the early 2000s was rife with the best time-wasting computer games. Scout’s full of nostalgia for their favourites and the impact they’ve had on their life.

SCOUT BOXALL

The comedian chats The Sims, rock making and their new show, Turbo Lover.

Words by Ben Lamb

“There were games like Convict Fleet to Dragon Boat, which we played in primary school, where you essentially play like a convict coming over on the First Fleet, but it includes a really graphic whipping scene.

“And of course, like any millennial, The Sims Nightlife expansion pack, which changed the game in 2004. It had an indelible effect on how I live, and also how I try to avoid swimming pools without ladders.”

Is turning gaming experiences into relatable comedy a tough ask?

“It’s like rock making, they’re like layers and layers and layers of sediment, placed on each other and crushed together over a long period of time. I think that’s how the majority of shows and jokes are written it’s just layer upon layer upon layer of like, insights and punch lines and ideas. Then it eventually gets solidified into a single joke, or show.

“Sometimes you feel like you really have to put things together to make a joke. Sometimes you’re chipping away, and the joke kind of reveals itself, like a statue out of marble or something.”

Scout’s month long run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicks off in March and runs through April. Scout explains the routine that happens before each show.

“I love constructing rituals around work, I think it’s really hard when you work in a creative field, you have to set your own hours, you have to set your own KPIs.

“So I think having rituals around shows and around performances are incredibly useful to just switch your brain into work mode, in the same way that we’d have a commute to get into a day job.

“I’ll probably get there way earlier than I need to, I’ll have a snack. I’ll have a Diet Coke, and then I will listen to a playlist of tunes that just get me really stoked for the show.”

Scout Boxall’s Turbo Lover is taking place at the Melbourne Town Hall’s Regent Room from March 30 until April 23, as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Junkyard.

“The Sims Nightlife expansion pack... had an indelible effect on how I live, and also how I try to avoid swimming pools without ladders.”

Words by Ben Lamb

It’s hard to pull off an original character as successfully as Alex Hines, who has portrayed Juniper Wilde on-and-off for the last few years, playing stages across the state. Her new show Juniper Rising is hitting the stage this Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and we caught up with the comic behind the character to chat about it all.

Whether you’re watching them on your favourite TV show or Tik Tok, characters change with the world around them. Juniper’s maiden performance took place nearly five years ago and the world has changed dramatically since then.

“Juniper Wilde was a character I came up with a while ago,” Alex says. “I was really interested in people in the public eye and the product that they become. It’s almost like a dehumanised state that people in the public eye become, and this is before Tik Tok.

“I was just really interested in people like Lindsay Lohan, Amy Winehouse or Amanda Bynes, how dehumanising it is for them to be in the public eye and how they are treated.

“I also find it super interesting how famous people live in a different reality. Someone like Kanye West, he is in a completely different reality. It’s interesting trying to understand his behaviour through the lens of what we understand to be reality.”

If you’ve seen Juniper Wilde, you’d be aware of the energy the character brings to the stage - she’s someone you can’t take your eyes off. Alex notes the day-to-day transformation from Alex Hines into Juniper Wilde.

“Every time I do Juniper, I always drink Purple Powerade. Always. I don’t know why. But then during the Fringe Festival, I discovered Sugar-Free V, and when I tell you I’m addicted…” Alex adds with a laugh.

“Because she’s so high energy, I always have to stretch before the show because it’s so physical. It’s different to a lot of other shows that I’ve done, where I can just kind-of get into costume and go.

“Juniper is a lot of getting ready, getting into costume, stretch, Powerade. With this 22-show season of a very physical show, it will be super interesting to see physically how it goes on my body as well. I’m kind of excited to see how that will go.”

Alex Hines trained at UCB, Second City and The Groundlings, the three premier Los Angeles comedy training grounds, to network and further enrich her comedic instincts.

“It was amazing, it’s so alive in L.A. I really crave the feeling of being back in that environment where it feels like anything is possible. I remember doing a stand-up class in L.A and somebody came into class, and they’d been at an open mic night, and they said Adam Sandler had rocked up. It was all just so crazy.

These companies also focus on the world of improv, an integral skill that helps all elements of the comedy-creation process. Many popular comics have gone through improv training at these venues, alumni include Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Lisa Kudrow, Aubrey Plaza and Abbi Jacobson. Hines enthuses about the rich value those experiences had on her career.

“Everyone sincerely wants to make good stuff and support each other, on an energetic level, I really miss it. But in terms of what I learned there, I did a lot of different stuff in a really short amount of time and it was really intensive. I definitely still use things like character and improv - a lot of the stuff that I’ve got in this show is from improvising with my director in the room.

“No learning is wasted, and that was a really rich time of learning for me, it all feeds into my process. I think the skills that I learned there are invaluable, it all feeds into this show, for sure.”

Alex Hines’ Juniper Wilde: Juniper Rising is taking place at ACMI’s Gandel Lab from March 30 until April 23 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This article was made in partnership with Junkyard.

“Every time I do Juniper, I always drink Purple Powerade. Always. I don't know why. But then during the Fringe Festival, I discovered SugarFree V, and when I tell you I'm addicted…” Alex adds with a laugh.

DANIEL SLOSS

Words by Joanne Brookfield

He’s been “lying” to himself that if he takes a couple of weeks off drinking that “maybe I’m the type of guy that drinks smoothies every morning, maybe I’m the type of guy that fucking wakes up at seven and goes for a cycle and meditates.”

He’s not. He knows this, but he’s prepared to delude himself with the possibility for a couple of weeks “and then it will probably be ignored for another 11 months”.

Once he’s done talking with Beat, he’ll be doing “the big shop for the week” with his partner but then he’s skipping the Tumble Tots class with his son because “it’s a bit fucking cliquey at Tumble Tots at the moment, and I just don’t feel welcome” the new dad explains, and, frankly, it’s a level of quotidian domesticity that’s incongruous with “Sloss – Scotland’s international

comedy superstar” and “Sloss – one of the world’s most significant and successful touring stand-ups of all time” and other ways in which he is frequently described.

As stand-ups go, Sloss is, by any measure, a very famous one and the self-described “big, useless, lucky cunt” has enjoyed high-profile career success since a teenager. We’re not talking ‘booked as the MC at the local pub weekly comedy night’ type of success, but ‘headlining 500 seaters’ type of success, as a teenager. Signed his first DVD deal, as a teenager. “I’ve known no other life,” he says. “I’ve been successful since I was young because you know, this system is rigged and it’s rigged in my favour”.

“I’ve just descended into a state of marshmallow gooeyness that I’m struggling to come to terms with, really,” Daniel Sloss says of this new chapter of life he finds himself in. He’s in his garden in Edinburgh, more specifically in his studio that also houses pieces of exercise equipment.

Credit Troy Edige

As a result, he was riding high in his twenties “I was the stereotypical fucking Z-list celebrity who thought he was bigger and more important than he was,” Sloss says candidly. Fame, travel, adulation, he loved it. “I lived my fucking 20s and I had the time of my life,” he admits, although lockdown caused him to begin pondering the trickier existential “who the fuck am I?” question.

“It gave me time to self-reflect and realise that a lot of my 20s I was playing the part, I didn’t know who I was. So I was putting on this big fucking outward act of, you know ‘the tortured artist’, the big fucking egocentric drinker, shagger, ‘rock-androll comedy’s the new fucking punk’ shit and now that I’m 32 and playing Dungeons and Dragons again, smoking weed and playing computer games, ‘oh, I’m just a big soft dweeb’,” he says of his evolution.

Recent parenthood (Sloss has a one-year-old) has contributed, but he won’t let that take full credit. “I know parenthood makes you fucking soft, but I was soft before that,” he states. Despite embracing the rock n roll lifestyle of the international touring stand-up (his show Daniel Sloss: X, for instance, which tackled the topic of sexual assault, performed over 300 shows around the world in a 17-month period, including a sold-out arena in Moscow, was filmed for a special screened on HBO in North America, given a theatrical release in the UK and is available to download from his website) he reveals that “I’ve wanted to be a dad since I was 15.”

Listening to Sloss wax lyrical about his baby son, it could be nauseating if it wasn’t so endearing to hear how helplessly smitten he sounds. Marshmallow gooeyness, indeed, as he declares fatherhood “unquestionably and incomparably the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life, and it’s the most consistently fulfilling experience I’ve ever had”. (Ok, maybe just one quick ‘vom’…)

While Sloss is very much enjoying domestic life, it’s worth remembering he’s also famous for having broken up countless relationships. A quarter of a million of them, he estimates, before he stopped counting. He’s heading to Australia to tour his 12th solo show, Can’t – performing in every state and territory except the NT – however it was the impact a previous show, Jigsaw, marketed as his “break up show” that now has this cult status for causing people worldwide to call things off and inspiring some to bring their divorce papers to his shows for him to autograph.

“I never, ever expected it to have the fucking reach and impact that it did,” he says, although extensive live touring, plus

it becoming a comedy special streamed in 190 countries and 26 languages on Netflix, certainly gave it a good nudge.

“At no point in that show do I ever say love doesn’t exist, no point do I ever say that I don’t want to fall in love. My whole point is people are so desperate for any form of love, in any form of relationship, that they lower their standards, and accept less than they’re worth,” he explains.

“I believe in love, and I always wanted it to happen, but I just didn’t think it would happen to me,” says Sloss, who has the whole package now (complete with the week-long buck’s week in Vegas) and you bet he’ll be talking about it in Can’t.

Fatherhood, his own hypocrisy, cancel culture (“if you’re a comedian who believes that you ‘cannot say anything anymore’ look in a mirror, self-reflect and realise that you were devoid of the talent necessary to do it”) there’s plenty of ground Sloss will be covering in his latest hour.

Fans needn’t worry that the pandemic-induced navel gazing has changed him too much, citing a bit from his last show where he had a four-minute routine that involved him “pretending to be Prince Andrew’s wife while I tried to jerk him off, and obviously he wasn’t erect because I wasn’t under the age of 18. By the way, there was no further depth to the bit” which is why he feels it would be “disingenuous” to say his comedy has matured in any way.

“Whenever I say like ‘oh my comedy has matured’ I’m like ‘has it motherfucker? Or do you just say equally horrific shit just in wordier ways?’”

He’s also a lifelong, professional comedian, and while he feels “blessed to have a job which I adore”, he feels it important that people remember that. “When I’m on stage and I have my opinions, I say them with such fucking conviction that it’s sometimes easy to forget that I’m just a fucking comedian. Please remember, I’m not a real person. Right? I’ve not lived a real life. I haven’t worked an honest day since I was 16 years old”.

“At no point in that show do I ever say love doesn’t exist, no point do I ever say that I don’t want to fall in love. My whole point is people are so desperate for any form of love, in any form of relationship, that they lower their standards, and accept less than they’re worth,” he explains.

Daniel Sloss is performing CAN’T at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on April 12 and 22.

Credit Troy Edige

With only two pop cultural reference points for Miami, decades apart but equally dubious – Miami Vice and when various configurations of Kardashians have periodically decided to “take” it – I’m a little curious as to the reality of this seemingly flashy destination.

“Oh it’s a horrifying place to grow up,” comedian Lara Ricote confirms without a moment’s hesitation, smiling as she let fly. To hear Ricote tell it, it seems everyone in this Florida city has an eating disorder, wears bikinis, is obsessed with body image and “you shave your legs when you come out of the fricking womb!”

As the daughter of a photographer father and an actor mother, famous in Latin America, Ricote grew up between Miami and Mexico City, as her mother’s work would often take the family there. “We’re all fine now,” she jokes.

As part of the “middle child rebellion thing”, rather than follow her parents into the arts, Ricote did a u-turn and pursued politics, getting “really involved in the Bernie Sanders campaign...and I was doing Model United Nations and thought ‘this is my thing.’”

Having heard that it was “a very socially responsible place” Ricote then moved to the Netherlands to study political science and has been there for the past five years, that is, when not major winning comedy awards in the UK.

Ricote’s debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year won her the highly prestigious Best Newcomer award. Called GRL/LATNX/DEF, she’s bringing the show – which is billed as being about what it’s like to be Latin and severely hearing impaired, but ‘pass’ as white and abled to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for her Australian premiere season.

“My hour is very much about identity politics, but it’s also sort of about tokenism. Like, we all want to hear me talk about something very clearly, these three things that you know I am, everybody came for these things, so I’m just gonna go ahead and talk about them like you want me to.

“I think it comes more from that place of like, I know that right now minorities are ‘in’ and that’s cynical, so let’s talk about that,” she continues, saying that she feels there’s been a shift in the way the world considers identity politics.

LARA RICOTE

Words by Joanne Brookfield

“I feel like I’m on the end of the wave. We were like, ‘let’s hear these trauma stories’ and hear about everybody’s individ ual experience, and that was a wave, probably 2015-2016 to basically the pandemic. Then the pandemic hit and we were like, ‘we don’t want to hear about anyone’s individual experience’, we’re more about ‘let’s laugh about nothing’. At least it felt that way at the Edinburgh Fringe,” she observes.

So GRL/LATNX/DEF, she says, sits in between those two points. “It’s the post-trauma-hour thing before the comedy-about-nothing-thing.”

Ricote’s journey to comedy began in the Netherlands, at an improv night. “Oh, now this is my thing. This is so fun,” she says of her u-turn back to the arts. The 20-something Ricote has since performed on multiple continents, taught comedy theory and writing courses, run comedy nights, co-hosted a podcast and performs in both English and Spanish.

In a fairly meteoric rise, in 2021 Ricote won the Funny Women Stage Award, a major award in the UK, which generated plenty of buzz ahead of her debut season in Edinburgh last year. While she feels that the Funny Women award was tokenistic (“I’m probably the first Latin American woman to have gotten that and I think that people were vouching for me because of the combination of things that I offer”) the Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer win has been “wonderful” and life-changing.

“It’s been so exciting,” she says. “In the period from August to September my life changed radically. I got to have an agent in the UK, which meant all of a sudden I had access to jobs and I was able to live off comedy. It’s been really wonderful.”

The endorsement means she feels that she can be trusted with the work she creates, which has been liberating artistically. “It’s just given me a lot of freedom. Obviously a lot of fear, but a lot of freedom to feel like maybe now I can be a clown?” she laughs. Until she moves in that direction, you can catch Lara Ricote in stand-up mode in one of this festival’s most anticipated shows.

Lara Ricote performs at The Westin Three from March 30 to April 23 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Auslan sessions are available.

MARCIA HINES

Words by Jacob McCormack

Marcia Hines has been writing songs since the mid ‘70s and performing for even longer. She was only 16 when she starred in the famous production Hair and slightly older when she became the first person of colour to star in Jesus Christ Superstar.

2023 is a year that will see her tour her own music, perform in the nationwide tour of Velvet Rewired, and release a Best Of album.

Although Marcia’s prolific output has evolved through sheer talent, it has also arisen through a strong support network around her and perennially taking on board advice from those that want to see her succeed.

“It’s important to listen to the advice that you receive,” says Marcia. “Only when people mean you well though. Everybody’s got an opinion but not all of them are cut out for you.

“You’ve just got to stay strong and believe what it is you want to do as a musician. Always take advice from people who mean you well, that’s my motto and I still do that too.”

In conjunction with a disposition that is always learning, Marcia understands that in order to develop as an artist, one has to regularly re-learn what they know.

“It’s important to never be a jack of all trades,” she says. “But to continually review and re-learn what you know. I’m always listening, and you’ve always got to listen to what is going on. Music is one of those great gifts that keeps on giving.”

Despite differing inceptions of disco from the 1970s and evolutions after the Vietnam War, it’s relevance has rung true within a contemporary context. For Marcia, disco music of the ‘70s shaped the sound of her album Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s tracks like You that are being played today in the show Velvet Rewired, only emphasising the timelessness of Disco.

“Ladies and Gentlemen was heavily inspired by what was happening at the time it came out. As a musician you get inspired by what’s going on in the musical world, so you try and do your interpretation of what you think is your version of cool. Everything old is new again. I get to sing one of my songs in the show, entitled You, which is great.”

The show Velvet Rewired is the continuation of the show Velvet that was shared around Australia pre-Covid. The show solely features disco music, which Marcia is adamant holds a place for all demographics within the audience.

“That was the whole disco era,” says Hines. “All the songs in the show are really famous disco songs and whether or not you liked them, one of your parents has probably played them at every barbecue you’ve ever been at and embarrassed you.”

For a show that is centred around the famous New York City based disco club Studio 54, which Marcia has visited herself. The show taps into a genre of music that signifies joy and relief. However, for Marcia her experience of the origins of disco remains unique to her.

“When disco was emerging I was living in Australia. The interesting thing was the Vietnam War was winding down, thank god. But a lot of the sailors were coming to Sydney, for a thing called R&Rrest and recouperation. They would come with all the new dances, all the new steps. That was always really fun and as a result the clubs were really pumping in the ‘70s, particularly ‘72 through to ‘74. That was my experience of disco.”

Similar to the influence disco had on Marcia at the time, she still looks to contemporary examples of musical expression to inspire her.

“[Australian Idol] was really cool because music is a great expression and to me all the kids were doing was expressing themselves.

“I was sure that when I was young my mother would scratch her head at the music I would play and she would say ‘what the hell’. But I’m not allowed to do that as a musician because it’s an expression and I’m still expressing myself.”

Marcia Hines performs in Velvet Rewired from April 26 to May 7 at the Athenaeum Theatre. This article was made in partnership with Velvet Rewired.

“Always take advice from people who mean you well” - the reason why Marcia Hines is still shining.

“It’s important to never be a jack of all trades,” she says. “But to continually review and relearn what you know. I’m always listening, and you’ve always got to listen to what is going on. Music is one of those great gifts that keeps on giving.”

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Image: Jeff Busby

MOTHER CULTURE

Mother Culture are Spencer Ward and Darcy Ward, who bond over the pursuit of writing songs that remain authentic to the experiences that inspire them.

Words by Jacob McCormack

Their ambition? To leave an imprint on music that’s yet to come. This aim has birthed a style of music – they’ve previously described it as “a combination of indie, pop, rock, psychedelia… deep-space pop rock” – that they hope will shape the subsequent zeitgeist.

Oh, and they also love their mums.

Mother Culture, as a concept, is multi-layered, and the duet behind the band is still unearthing what it means. In a way it is fermenting, bubbling away, much like a batch of kombucha.

“[Mother Culture is] meant to be the beginning culture that was there at the forefront of society,” says the band. “The culture dies out after a point of time and all cultures that come after it are influenced by the mother culture, its touch will always resonate throughout. Mother Culture also refers to the first scobie if you’re making kombucha.”

Although Mother Culture is eager to influence the world of music in one way or another (as active artists, who wouldn’t be?), all aspects of their identity accept that songwriting is fluid. They allow themselves to be mercurial and for the meaning of their songs to shift as they write them.

“Sometimes we have written songs and we are not really too sure what it exactly is about at the time,” they explain. “But listening to it over time and performing it live, it develops a whole different meaning to what you thought originally. It’s all very lucid in that way.”

Mother Culture released their second EP in three years on March 16. The EP, titled Lust for Love, is a collection of love songs written at different stages of their lives; an ode to shifting imprints and the fluid nature of inspiration. They’re well worth checking out.

Lust for Love is out now across streaming services. This article was made in partnership with Mother Culture.

MUDHONEY

Seattle icons Mudhoney are indeed the godfathers of grunge. Straight off the back of the release of their latest album Plastic Eternity – a solid and energetic release showcasing the band’s signature garage-rock sound with experimentation – they’ll be touring nationally to launch their new LP.

Words by Lucy Andrews

If you don’t already know Mudhoney, these guys were there when grunge was born. The band includes vocalist Mark Arm, guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison, and drummer Dan Peters. They were hanging out with Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder before they became household names. “Nothing comes from nowhere,” Mark says.

“These are artists and music we’ve been listening to for decades now. When I listen back to these tracks, I hear a drum beat from Janis Joplin, the guitar sounds from the Stooges and Black Sabbath, and hardcore punk, especially southern California hardcore punk.

“It’s about moving music forward, rather than making up something someone’s never heard before. In our case, no matter what we intend or write, it ends up sounding like [us]. That’s where the originality comes from.

“Once you put something out there, it’s out of your hands,” he adds. “You can try and come up with some narrative about how you want some people to listen to you. Good luck forcing people to do that.”

The album starts with Creeps Are Everywhere, a track that sets the tone for the rest of the LP. It’s a fast-paced, punk-influenced number about taking on the establishment. “I see them on the TV screen, they’re telling me how to think,” Arm snarls. “I’m sick and tired of their lies, I’m gonna take ‘em down tonight.” It’s a classic Mudhoney sentiment and delivered with all the attitude fans have come to expect from the band.

When asked what sort of news media Arm consumes, he explains, “the content I’m consuming is grounded in rationality rather than conspiracy” – mainly NPR, the New York Times and the Washington Post. He stays clear of everything else, including social media and what he calls “the fucking lame-stream media man.”

Mudhoney are playing the Corner Hotel on April 27 and Cherry Rock Festival on April 30.

NA DJINANG CIRCUS

BACK TO BACK THEATRE

An inventive and unique piece of theatre, small metal objects invites its audience to witness a personal drama played out against the backdrop of our city.

Words by Kaya Martin

A trip to see the Na Djinang Circus is a powerful Australian experience. Along with all of the adrenaline-peaking thrills that traditionally come with seeing performers propelled into the air and twisted into unfamiliar shapes, viewers are left provoked to question long after the curtain falls.

At the end of April, Na Djinang will showcase their latest piece of work, Arterial, presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy. The show illuminates the ancient connections tying First Nations people together, the power of bloodlines, and the irreparable damage of colonialism.

Performers Tamara Bourman, Johnny Brown, Maggie Church-Kopp and Dylan Singh use breathtaking acrobatics, displays of physical prowess, and simple-yet-impactful stage design to create an emotionally moving display scored by the avant-garde sound designer Danny Esposito.

Headed by Wakka Wakka director Harley Mann, the award-winning contemporary circus group takes a social and political approach to its work. Since its conception in 2017, Na Djinang has completed three shows to great acclaim – alongside Arterial, they’ve performed Common Dissonance, which grappled with modern and traditional modes of reasoning, and Of the Land On Which We Meet, which encouraged viewers to forge a deeper connection with the country we call home.

Using circus to explore Indigenous Australian stories, Na Djinang hopes to become a vessel for change within the community. The group seeks to make audiences challenge their views on modern Australian society and consider the ideas of the next generation. With Arterial, they look at the lifeblood of our country. It’s a dazzling display that celebrates First Nations heritage in all forms and is sure to touch the hearts and minds of all those present.

The Na Djinang Circus will show Arterial at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre from April 20 to 30. The event will take place at 7:30pm from Thursday to Saturday, with an early showing on Sundays at 5pm. Tickets are available through the Darebin Arts website.

Words by Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Challenging the audience’s assumptions of what it means to live with disability, small metal objects is a unique play that unravels amidst the hustle and bustle of urban foot traffic, heading to Melbourne’s Federation Square from May 3 to 7.

“SMO draws on this polite voyeurism and creates a rich drama in a constant sway of the surrounding environment,” says director Bruce Gladwin. “Anything can happen in the public arena, the sense of possibility charges the story.”

Each audience member watches from a raised bank with individual sets of headphones, allowing them to be wired into the intensely personal drama. As the story unfolds, the audience is drawn into the world of two men, Gary and Steve, who are normally unnoticed but tonight, they play a crucial role in the plans of two ambitious executives.

small metal objects explores how respect is often withheld from those who are deemed ‘unproductive’ by society, such as the disabled or unemployed.

“This is my favourite character to play,” says performer Simon Laherty, who hasn’t missed a performance since it premiered in 2005, “it’s just me and Jim and Gen and Brian and the crowd and the audience, and we’re asking ‘what is more valuable than money’?”

Devised by Back to Back Theatre, winners of the highly acclaimed 2022 International Ibsen Award, small metal objects was the recipient of the 2008 Bessie Award and has been selected for the VCE playlist drama 2023.

“Most of the creators are untrained, some refer to themselves as intellectually disabled, some neurodiverse, others as simply artists,” says Gladwin. “Performance, like democracy allows people to be seen and heard; to have a voice.”

A play that cleverly uses the urban landscape to tell a deeply personal story, small metal objects will stay with you long after the proverbial curtain call.

Small Metal Objects takes place from May 3 to 7 at Fed Square. This article was made in partnership with Back to Back Theatre.

The Na Djinang Circus explores the link between people, place and culture through acrobatics.

The group’s latest performance, Arterial, will play at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre from April 20 to 30.

LIVE AT THE BOWL Events in April

Words by Luke Carlino

Ultra Australia

Just as gob-smackingly exciting is the announcement of Slowdive as the main support, who reformed in 2014 and released a self-titled album in 2017, their first album in 22 years. The legendary shoe-gazers were last in town in 2018 for Laneway festival and some headline sideshows, a rare glimpse that many lifelong fans thought might be their last; luckily, Daydream offers another!

King Stingray, Gretta Ray, George Alice

This cracking gig from three Aussie favourites sneaks into our April guide. In 2022, King Stingray took out the ARIA Breakthrough Artist Award and finished things up by playing to over 18,000 people at Falls Festival, one of Live at the Bowl’s first events. They’re kicking 2023 off with a bang, returning for a huge all-ages gig with support from fellow future superstars Gretta Ray and George Alice. King Stingray play on March 31.

Lovers of electronic music can hit the world’s largest electronic music festival in April to experience a multi-stage production that will take place across four separate areas at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain. Along with the Main Stage, there will be the Resistance Stage for the underground sounds, the UMF Radio Stage, which will feature Australia’s top regional DJs, and for the first time, a fourth stage dedicated entirely to hardstyle.

Headliners include Hardwell, Deborah de Luca, Timmy Trumpet, Sub Zero Project and Darren Styles, with a lineup filled with a range of favourites and up-and-comers like Ferry Corsten, Acraze, Ben Gold, Jonas Blue, Juliet Fox, Solarstone and more.

This is the perfect way to say goodbye to the summer months with 50 different DJs across the four stages on Saturday, April 15th from 3pm - 11pm.

This already awesome line-up is made more so with local heroes Tropical Fuck Storm, Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils, Ohio’s Cloud Nothings and local surfpsych five-piece Majak Door. All corners of the indie-rock genre are covered with this impressive line-up on Saturday, April 22nd from 3:45pm.

Piknic Électronik #10: Ben Klock, Trym, Shlømo, Taahliah

The Piknic Électronik program has run all summer, running a once-a-month Sunday event that comes to its culmination at the start of April. Piknic Électronik kicks April at the ‘Bowl off with the highly anticipated season finale, featuring an incredible lineup of four international artists. Hailing from Germany, Ben Klock is a fixture in Resident Advisor’s top 10 DJs and needs little introduction. Joining him for their Australian debut is France’s Trym, known for his unique and constantly evolving musical universe.

The lineup also includes France’s Shlømo and the UK’s Taahliah, making this a send-off party that won’t be forgotten. Head to the Bowl for the final Piknic party on Sunday April 2 from 2pm.

Daydream

Indie rock fans are well and truly catered for this April at the Bowl thanks to Daydream, a mini-festival that brings headliners Modest Mouse back down under for the first time since 2016! The band will float on down to Melbourne to celebrate last year’s 25th anniversary of The Lonesome Crowded West and share tracks from their seventh studio album, The Golden Casket.

Fatboy Slim

The legend himself, Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook), will make his return to Australia with his Y’all are the music; we’re just the DJs 2023 tour to round out this run of events at the Bowl in April. Anyone that has been to a Fatboy Slim show knows they are much more than your average DJ set, and as this will be the British producer’s first Australian tour since his headline shows in early 2020 (where he also played Sidney Myer), we can likely expect something very special.

As a regular visitor to our shores, the three-year gap has been an unusually large one for Norman. As a result, we expect the energy levels to be high for his iconic EDM tunes like Praise You, Right Here, Right Now, Weapon Of Choice and more. Catch the ultimate dance party at the Bowl on Friday, April 28th at 6pm.

Beat is an official media partner of Live at the Bowl.

Vera Ellen IDEAL HOME NOISE

Album Reviews by Bryget Chrisfield

“I’m an imposter” – so commences Ideal Home Noise, before Vera Ellen later elaborates, “It isn’t easy being like this.” Even if Vera’s brilliant second solo album is just playing in the background, startling lyrical phrases jump out to demand our full attention and lure us into this vivid collection of vignettes (eg. “I wanted to jump at Broadway Junction/ Feel the tracks against my back” – like watching through fingers, we feel a harrowing sense of dread as this story unfurls).

As well as a solo artist, this award-winning Wellington musician is also lead singer of the LA group Girl Friday and her previous Kiwi bands include Gaol Bait and Maple Syrup. She stumbled across the phrase Ideal Home Noise in a book, while house-sitting a Malibu property formerly occupied by The Beach Boys.

“I’m my own homewrecker,” Vera has explained of Homewrecker, her song about self-sabotage. And how’s this for a closing line? “I would kiss you if I knew how” – damn, she really knows how to pique listeners’ interest through intriguing, thought-provoking lyricism, hey?

Jaunty drumming and jangly riffs –which glisten like tears of joy – are often at odds with Vera’s lyrics, which navigate complex, conflicting thoughts and emotions. Her self-deprecating humour also adds much-needed levity.

“Isn’t it a drag to be free/ To be free and young” – Smell Of An Oily Rag (as in “Running off the...”), with its sheeny, conversational guitar lines, recounts nostalgic, wholesome childhood memories until a sing-songy refrain delivers mood whiplash: “I was just a kid and the world was kinda big and I’m angry what you didn’t do/ I was just a child and the world was kinda wild and you’re lucky what I didn’t do.” The piano-led Carpenter gets sticky as well: “If you saw how close I was you would pick up the phone...” – welfare check, please?

Vera has described Lenny Says as “a track for us whining broke losers with unattainable dreams; having a laugh and a moan at the same time”, which is brilliantly accentuated when two voices sing concurrently: “I’m 23 and I’m a bloody loser/ A blood-sucking, dim-witted drug abuser…” Including recorded snippets of a child’s chit-chat adds resonance to Vera’s intermittent reflections on inherited traits as well (see: “I think he might be like my sister”, “I’m just like my father”).

A richly rewarding listening experience, Ideal Home Noise encourages us to sit with discomfort. This record should put Vera on the map.

Label: Flying Nun Release date: March 31

DMA’S How Many Dreams?

The lyrical idea for Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend spewed forth after a mate of Johnny Took’s phoned, trying to rally him down the pub for a pint (or a thousand) on a Thursday night. And this phrase alone also informed the song’s melody. Inspired by How To Write One Song – a book written by one of their musical heroes, Jeff Tweedy –DMA’S adopted a different songwriting approach for album number four; the Wilco singer-guitarist’s perception that lyrics inherently arrive with melodies attached particularly striking a chord.

“Satellite/ You’re one in a million to flyyyyyyyyyy!” – the octave leap into Get Ravey’s belated chorus signals a handsin-the-air, pinger-just-kicked-in moment. But then there’s nostalgic, crestfallen ballads (eg. Jai Alai) that guarantee arms‘round-your-mates screech-alongs – aka mass, swaying PDA – during future DMA’s gigs. “You’re my friend, don’t you know?” – ouch, my heart hurts thanks to Tommy O’Dell’s earnest vocal delivery in Forever, with its staccato-strings underbelly dealing Bitter Sweet Symphony vibes. Also, sometimes seismic tonal shifts occur within a single song (see: I Don’t Need To Hide – wait, dat Vocoder? – which oscillates wildly between intimate verses, with minimal instrumentation, and explosive, fleshed-out, euphoric choruses.

Closing track De Carle, which channels The Prodigy, is peak DMA’S. This mostly instrumental banger, resplendent with anticipation-building breakdowns, is Underworld-level biblical. Confession time: around this standout track’s 1.40minute mark, chair dancing escalated into an upstanding Melbourne Shuffle.

Label: I Oh You

Release date: March 31

King Ivy Brown

From the very first coupla wonky strums that introduce opener Red Velvet, we’re already intrigued. “Somethin’ ‘bout you felt so fake to me/ Maybe it’s the bigheaded boys in your DMs...” – just add smooth-as-silk-sheets vocals plus dreamy “Haaaa-ah-AH-haaaa” BVs, which conjure heat haze, and we’re completely hooked!

Brown sees King Ivy drawing from his own personal experiences surrounding identity, heartbreak and navigating the clusterfuck that is modern dating while also contemplating what truly matters in life: “Don’t wanna feed addiction/ Don’t wanna fear religion/ I follow intuition/ Never politicians.”

Described as “the anthem for anyone stuck in a situationship”, Complicated’s rapid-fire vocal delivery – “Was-talkin’-crazy-just-a-week-agobut-now-I-just-can’t-leave-you-’lone/ Trippin’-’bout-some-shit-you-did-lastweek-screa-min’-through-speakerphone…” – makes us feel like we’re watching an invisible tennis match and can’t stop rhythmically head turning back and forth. This one’s funky riffs plus clap-happy accents will have you reaching for the replay button.

Although Paranoid navigates “feelings of anxiety and insecurities in relationships”, instrumentally it’s cruisy AF. Elsewhere, the chirpy, pogo-paced Take My Love and closing track Refund – which sees King Ivy wishing a refund was available for time wasted on insignificant matters over gently strummed guitar accompaniment – further showcase this Meanjin alt-R&B sensation’s diverse sonic palette.

An astonishingly accomplished debut from this genre-fluid artist to watch, Brown is a snapshot of music royalty in the making.

Record label: Valve Records Release date: April 7

Fenn Wilson

Honey Dates

Death/Ghazals

Opening with intensifying guitar shimmer, Fenn Wilson’s latest single Dancing – with its celebratory, swinging waltz rhythm –evokes Jeff Buckley; it’s the contrast between instrumental buoyancy and soul-wounded vocal delivery, for us: “Baby, if you took me dancing/ Maybe, I’d learn how to step again…”

Tim Rogers rates Fenn as “one of [his] favourite singers in the world”, and justifiably so: check out the vocal prowess on display at the tail end of Ravens! Although Fenn’s delicious timbre requires exactly zero embellishment, instrumentation throughout his second album serves only to cradle and enhance. Despite Fool’s Gold’s exuberant orchestration – propulsive drumming, textured brass – his vocals shine brightest.

“Maybe one day I’ll be a man/ But I’ve only just grown to fit my father’s coat” – Ghazal, a stripped-back guitarand-voice number in 3/4 time, reminds us Fenn’s late dad is Chris Wilson (aka the “gentleman of Australian blues”).

Honey Dates Death ponders, “What is love if not to rescue us?” and Laying With The Bones (“...of someone you love”) chronicles the different ways immediate family members process grief: “My mama cries, I press flowers/ And brother hasn’t slept in a week.” Heart-soreness weeps from every pore, presenting Fenn as an old soul who feels deeply, before closing track Turn The Leaf – which concludes with the repeated phrase, “Be a shame to never love again” – suggests he’s now ready to face the world with an open heart.

Label: Independent Release date: April 13

Flyying Colours You Never Know

The playing on display here is immediately impressive, especially Andy Lloyd Russell’s so-powerful-you-might-flinch drumming. Unison male/female singing throughout Long Distance echoes the difficulties of sustaining a relationship in different time zones, with the song paring back to a single guitar line that perfectly encapsulates the misery of it all.

I Live In A Small Town’s choruses sound like relocating to the Big Smoke: jubilantly hooning down the highway in your Toyota Corolla that’s jammed with belongings, a mattress strapped to the roof. Oh’s percolating synths and distorted, elongated guitar nod towards Loveless-era My Bloody Valentine – it’s mesmeric stuff. Hit The Road’s guitar parts ride the same slipstream.

Guitarist/vocalist Brodie J Brümmer wrote the ‘80s synth-dominating lead single Goodbye To Music while managing a guilt spiral over having neglected his ear health – particularly inexcusable as a touring musician, right? – over the years. And this one channels The Last High by The Dandy Warhols. Never Forget closes proceedings with aplomb; what sounds like a buzzing beehive poked by occasional keys plonks.

Sunshiny melodies slice through You Never Know’s incessant vibratory guitar squall with some regularity and vocals are often treated as just another instrument; definitely listen through headphones if you’re a lyrics fancier.

Label: Poison City Release date: 17 March

There’s a sense of urgency in Chris Penney’s voice on the phone one afternoon. “I’m just trying to find a toilet,” he explains. Due to plumbing works at his house, he’s mid-journey to his friend’s house to use theirs. “Crisis averted,” he tells me with a sense of relief when calling back shortly after.

PRIVATE FUNCTION

Words by Andrew Handley

“It’s fucking outrageous how little public toilets there are in Melbourne. It started when 7-Eleven bought heaps of petrol stations, and then closed the toilets to the public. If you’re going to be serving coffee and food and shit you need to have a toilet,” he jokes, sort of.

This kind of humour and candour isn’t surprising from the vocalist of Melbourne punk group Private Function – a band known for not taking themselves too seriously. Penney is recovering after playing a raucous sold-out show at Brunswick Ballroom the weekend prior, which featured B1 and B2 joining them on stage and a whole lot of crowd surfing on inflatable pool toys.

“Brunswick Ballroom ask us to play there all the time, and they’re like ‘do whatever you want’. There’s some venues now, I guess because of insurance laws, who are like ‘you can’t do this, you can’t do that,’ but they’re just like ‘go for it, let’s see what happens.”

Previous live performances have featured pro wrestling at the Forum and being joined on stage by Joanne to sing her song Jackie at Meredith Music Festival. “Most of the money they paid us for that show we put back into the show,” says Penney of their Meredith set.

“When we have a big show, we spend heaps of time thinking about what ideas to do and then we go to costume stores and prop hire places… and then other times, just before the show, we’ll go to Kmart or walk around and go to the pub and think of something dumb to do on the night. I like doing the bigger shows, but I couldn’t do it for every show. Sometimes it’s good to just have just a pub rockin’ show.”

While the band appears to have some momentum behind them, Penney says he’s just taking it as it comes. “I don’t really give a fuck about anything anymore,” he laughs. “I feel like once upon a time I did, and now this is just a hobby to me.”

“Whatever idea I can come up with, everyone [in the band] is in a similar boat. We’ll just do it and see if it works. Maybe it doesn’t work, maybe it does. [The band] just gained popularity on its own, which is awesome.”

The band’s new album 370HSSV 0773H is out March 31. “We’ve had a couple of people get it straight away and then some people immediately start thinking about the numbers and letters… trying to crack the code,” says Penney of the curious album title. “I love the simplicity that to read the album name you have to turn the album upside down.”

Like the album title, the band enjoy having fun with their fans, even if they’re not always in on the joke. “We like making fun of them a lot,” laughs Penney. After the band released a shirt featuring their name with the iconic Neighbourhood Watch logo, the band went one step further.

“I think after the first load of those, we sent everyone who bought one a letter that was a cease and desist from Neighbourhood Watch. We had their addresses in our file, so we

sent them a piece of paper that had the Neighbourhood Watch letterhead and the current CEO. It was this full legal disclaimer telling them to return it. Two people sent us back the shirts, I couldn’t believe it,” laughs Penney.

The first 3,000 vinyl copies of the band’s new album will have a scratchable cover with Australiana-themed icons underneath each scratchie. Only one will have three matching icons, and the owner will be rewarded with a test pressing of the record, $2,999 in cash and their face printed on every subsequent pressing of the vinyl. “I got the idea when I was playing the pokies,” says Penney. “I think that pokie machines are absolutely fucked up and are disgusting, but scratchies are a bit of fun.”

“The ultimate irony is we’re kind of gambling with our career, people could have a serious problem with this because I know that gambling reform is a red-hot issue in Australia, so maybe we’ll get cancelled,” says Penney. “Do we get a top ten album or do we stop playing music forever?”

370HSSV 0773H features songs titled Jusavinageez and Good Fight, Good Night, which are rich with satire. “I find it easy to write silly billy songs… because music that has some sort of weird depth to it, I find it’s hard, for me at least, to do anything new with that,” explains Penney. “If you take it too seriously, you’re very much stuck into these pigeonholes of what you can and can’t do.

“We also don’t particularly have a genre, like the last one we released was [a] metal/hardcore song… and I’m already writing songs now that have acoustic guitars in them. That’s the lucky thing about being in a band like this, you don’t need to stick to a genre or sound, we just do whatever [and] it seems to work pretty well.

“What happens is we’ll be at the pub and someone will say something funny and then we’ll think of a melody for that, and that’s kind of the song writing process in a nutshell,” laughs Penney.

Their new album also features a cover of Coldplay’s Yellow. “I realised it’s just a three-chord song, and we like all three-chord songs,” says Penney. “Then I got my guitar and played it down-stroking, and I was like ‘this sounds like a fucking Buzzcocks song.’ We’d never do a cover of a song that is already perfect, there’s no point. As for Coldplay, you know, fuck ‘em.”

Penney isn’t thinking too far into Private Function’s future, but likes how it’s going. “The thing I love most about this band is that it’s just so easy,” he says. “I think I’ve found the right group of people.”

“Every other little band I’ve been in [has been] such a slog, as being in a band should be – it’s really hard to be in a band and really fucking annoying. Everyone except me, I think I’m the one that makes things most difficult for everyone. Everyone else is an angel.”

“The ultimate irony is we’re kind of gambling with our career, people could have a serious problem with this because I know that gambling reform is a red-hot issue in Australia, so maybe we’ll get cancelled,” says Penney. “Do we get a top ten album or do we stop playing music forever?”

THE NATIONAL THEATRE

LIVE THEATRE takes place on the glorious stage at The National Theatre. If you’re a theatre fan and are looking for an iconic venue to catch a show, this St Kilda joint is a must-visit destination.

FAMOUS FOR being home to Australia’s longest-established drama school and the National Ballet School, established in 1939.

INFAMOUS FOR its storied history throughout the 20th century – from a cinema in the 1920s to its conversion to a live venue in the 1970s, The National Theatre has worn many hats over its hundred years of existence.

Boasting a whopping 783 seats, The National Theatre is a beautifully grand venue that transports visitors back to the golden age of theatre. As you walk through the doors and become immersed in the venue’s royal Beaux Arts-style atrium, you’ll feel like you’re walking back in history.

As a not-for-profit theatre, The National Theatre is committed to supporting the next generation of emerging artists. It’s a space for grassroots performance artistry, making it the perfect destination for those who are passionate about supporting local talent. Currently hosting the Candlelight classics series, The National Theatre is the place to go to catch stunning renditions of beloved songs.

Whether you’re interested in drama, dance, or music, The National Theatre has options for everyone. With a diverse range of shows and performances on offer, there’s always something new to discover. From cutting-edge musicals to faithful adaptations of Shakespearean plays, you’re sure to find something that will capture your interest.

Make a night of it and see a show at The National Theatre. With its rich history and commitment to supporting emerging artists and live entertainment, it’s a venue that you won’t want to miss.

It all goes down at 20 Carlisle Street, St Kilda. Check out their website to check what’s on.

DOGS BAR

LIVE MUSIC is at the heart of all things Dogs Bar, featuring a varied mix of local and touring artists at the front bar. It’s the perfect place to meet up with mates all the while supporting the local arts.

FAMOUS FOR being the beating heart of the bustling Acland Street – its relaxed and friendly atmosphere is sure to make you feel like a local, whether you’re visiting for the first time or have been there every night since it opened in 1989.

INFAMOUS FOR its polaroid wall of pooches. If you bring your four-legged friend to Dogs Bar, expect them to be the centre of a photo opportunity.

A beloved St Kilda institution, the Dogs Bar is one of those rare venues that have retained its distinctive charm through the years. It’s a fantastic watering hole that captures the bohemian culture of the area with its fabulously old-school cool atmosphere.

It’s almost impossible to try their Sunday roast and not rave about it – at just $25 for an authentic British-style meal by the roaring fireplace, the food at Dogs Bar hits the mark every time.

The bar’s outdoor seating area is the perfect spot to soak up the sun and seaside vibes on a warm St Kilda day, while the interior invites you in with its distinctive character – stepping inside Dogs Bar is like stepping back into the roaring ’20s.

It’s the kind of venue that every suburb needs, with intimate live music, great prices on beers and the crunchiest curly fries this side of the bay. Why not sit out the front, catch a few rays and enjoy a drink or two at Dogs Bar? You’d be barking mad not to.

Mosey on over to 54 Acland St, St Kilda for a howlin’ good time. They’re open from 3 pm on weekdays and midday on the weekend.

BREAK THE BINARIES

Science, art, and technology come together in Science

Gallery Melbourne’s latest exhibition to explore questions of gender, identity, and sexuality.

Words

by Jasmine Penman

Credit Alan Weedon

A show like BREAK THE BINARIES would have hardly been conceivable a few decades ago. The fact that this exhibition is taking place in Melbourne today – not least of all in our Science Gallery – shows that we have made significant progress as a society in acknowledging and celebrating gender diversity.

Originally commissioned by Science Gallery London (in collaboration with King’s College London), BREAK THE BINARIES is a kaleidoscopic exploration of identity and gender. Art, science, and personal narratives come together in this interdisciplinary exhibition to present new perspectives on society’s binary codes.

For Dr Ryan Jefferies, Director at Science Gallery Melbourne, this exhibition is a reminder that diversity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and that transformative social change always begins with the community. “Allowing people to live in an environment where they’re not discriminated against is so crucial,” Jefferies tells me before we step into the exhibition. “It’s an underpinning narrative of this show.”

When we enter the exhibition space, the first work that captures my attention is WAYFINDING, a collaborative project led by Melbourne-based artists George Goodnow and Simona Castricum. This project considers our relationship to built urban environments and explores the possibility of a world that radically affirms queer and trans perspectives.

“We’re playing off signage that you would see in the street,” explains Castricum. “We build these cognitive mind maps from a very early age and we’re thrust into this very straight, male/ female world.”

Goodnow and Castricum’s project challenges these urban markers by spelling out, quite literally, an alternative message – one that puts queer and trans perspectives first. Walk closer to the signs and you’ll be able to make out the message that the artists are trying to share with the world: “It took a radical dream to find your way here; radical belief makes queer futurity possible.”

As with all Science Gallery Melbourne exhibitions, BREAK THE BINARIES was developed in collaboration with a Curatorial Panel of young people. “I think young people are leading the way in breaking [these binaries] down,” Jefferies remarks. “We really want to step into that space and be welcoming around that.”

Enter BUGS AGAINST THE BINARY, a project created by 18-year-old artist Lauri Pavlovich. Drawing upon examples from

the natural world, Pavlovich’s dioramas contain living bugs and insects that challenge conventional perspectives of sex and gender. There’s a hermaphroditic snail, a feminist phasmid, and a fluorescent scorpion – all living and breathing inside a cluster of glass tanks located at the back of the exhibition space. “Lauri came through our School’s Program as a high school student and put in a submission through the open call,” Jefferies explains. “Again, it’s about centering around younger people and providing them with opportunities [to share their experiences and perspectives].”

One of the most compelling and thought-provoking works in the exhibition is a work that takes the form of an interactive video game. Created by UK artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT is an immersive work that invites visitors to enter a world built for and built by Bla(c)k Trans people based in the UK and Australia.

When I sit down in the gaming chair for the first time, I am given a set of terms and conditions. “You must agree to centre Black Trans people and use your privileges to help them,” declare the words on the screen. “This is not a place where we make you feel better! Your actions will tell us if you stand in support of our existence. Press 1 to agree. Press 2 to decline.”

For Brathwaite-Shirley, the video game format is a powerful way to elicit a sense of responsibility from viewers. “In the interactive format, as you are responsible for what you are seeing, you can’t passively pivot away from strongly political messages or meaning as easily,” says Brathwaite-Shirley. “Your actions begin to have meaning as they affect the game world and the responsibilities become yours to bear, no one else’s.”

“I am very tired of art being just beautiful, consumed, and thrown away,” continues Brathwaite-Shirley. “Many of the messages are lost by the viewer being able to digest the work in their own comfort zone, often ignoring bits of the work that are hard to digest and admiring the portions that speak to them.”

As users wander through Brathwaite-Shirley’s underground world, they are prompted at various points in the experience to acknowledge the privileges that certain identities have or have not provided them. The narratives in the game unfold based on the user’s identity and their individual choices. They become fully responsible for what they see.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT builds on Brathwaite-Shirley’s ongoing project to preserve the Black Trans narratives that have been forgotten or erased from our historical records and archives. In doing so, Brathwaite-Shirley continuously crafts spaces that affirm, amplify, and enshrine Black Trans individuals and their voices. “People need to know [that] this space is crafted for Black Trans people as a whole. For them, by them, alongside them,” the artist tells me. “The everyday space we walk in is not that.”

As I step out of the virtual streets of Brathwaite-Shirley’s city and step back into the physical streets of Melbourne, I think back to one of the first messages that appeared on the artist’s screen: “We can’t continue to fight with each other. I need you to use your privilege to help us.”

Exhibitions like BREAK THE BINARIES remind us all that there is still much work to be done to destigmatise non-binary and genderqueer experiences.

Ultimately, the point of the exhibition is to build a space in which people are empowered to start having more of these conversations more often. “There’s a lot of seating across the exhibition,” says Arie Glorie, one of the exhibition’s curators. “We hope that people will feel like they’re in a safe space and that they can sit down and have a chat.”

Break the Binaries continues at Science Gallery Melbourne until 17 June 2023. Entry is free.

Credit Alan Weedon

Gig Guide Mar30 – Apr29.

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

Thursday March 30

BLOW. The Horn African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

MFWF: LOCAL YIELD FEAT: SLOW BAND, TUMI THE BE, DR CONDIMENTS

Bodriggy Brewing Company. Abbotsford. 6pm. $91.

BARNEY MCALL: FREESTYLE

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

TAMARA KULDIN + AARON

MICHAEL WITH JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET Golden Gate Hotel. South Melbourne. 6.45pm. $15.

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

TUCK SHOP LADIES: IN REAL LIFE. The Butterfly Club. Melbourne. 7pm. $30 - 37.

RAGTIME TAVERN OPEN

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

BUDDHADATTA, THE PAUL

KIDNEY EXPERIENCE. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

OPEN MIC THURSDAYS. Ringo Barr. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

DAVID KNIGHT. Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 6pm. Free.

SHOEHORN. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

CANDICE ALISHA. Wesley

Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

MONIQUE CLARKE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

ASHNIKKO. Northcote

Theatre. Northcote. 2pm. $79.90.

MITCH SANTIAGO. Hotel

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

VALLIS ALPS. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $39.51.

RJ ANDREW. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.15.

ELLEN SORENSEN. The Carringbush Hotel. Abbotsford. 7pm.

HOLD//FIRE, IVY BLACK, AMBULANCE. The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $10.

LYRA CALTABIANO, ZOMBIE HUNGER, STELLA DELMENICO. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $22.45.

THE D4, GRINDHOUSE, THE STRIPP, DENTAL PLAN, FLY. The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $49.

OSCAR LADELL TRIO + PRISCILLA STANLEY BAND. Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

ORPHIX, COOLDAD. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. Free.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $39.

ALI MCGREGOR: LATE-NITE

VARIETY-NITE NIGHT. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 9.45pm. $35.50.

BARNEY MCALL: FREESTYLE FOURTET. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7pm. $20 - 25.

Friday March 31

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

TUCK SHOP LADIES: IN REAL LIFE. The Butterfly Club. Melbourne. 7pm. $30 - 37.

YASMIN DE LAINE, TERESA DUFFY-RICHARDS, CITRONELLA CANDLES

Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 6pm. $10.

DUNCAN SCHMOLL & FRIENDS. The. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

WEST END RIDDIM

EXCHANGE FEAT: ZJOSO, SAVAGE THE GIRL, KIEFFAIIRY, GOODY’S HIFI. Kindred Studios. Yarraville. 6pm. $15.

I AM WOMAN FEAT: AMELIA RYAN, LIBBY O’DONOVAN

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

DUNCAN SCHMOLL & FRIENDS. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

SPAGHETTI FUNK WITH PIETRO + FRIENDS. Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

LILLY & THE LOVEBITES, EMERALD WOODS. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SARAH LIGHT, LIBBY INGLES, ANGELINA CUTURIC. Ringo Barr. Brunswick. 7.30pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

LOUI FROIA. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

BRETT FRANKE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

DAVID MCCREDIE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $23.50.

DJ STEELY ANN. Rebel Rebel. Preston. 8pm.

SHAKE IT: THE BEST OF BURLESQUE, CIRCUS & CABARET FEAT: MINNIE ANDREWS. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $26 - 49.50.

LEGENDARY: FRIDAY NIGHTS

Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 10pm.

LARRY CRESTANI & THE STANDING CIRCLE + LANEOUS. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8.30pm.

EDDIE CHACON & JOHN CARROLL KIRBY. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm.

BRAT FARRAR + S:BAHN. The Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

LIL DEVIL, ONENINE NARCY, BAD GRAMMAR, RUKU. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $19.90.

SPEED MULLET, SLAUGHTERHAÜS SURF CULT, IMAGO LOOP. The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

SOUTH SUMMIT, DES CORTEZ, FRANKIE. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

BLACK CAB, MAT WATSON, WITH OOLLUU. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $24.

DOGGEREL. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

COOLABAH KINGS, ASTRONAUGHTY, ZOBB, WORLD’S BEST NEIGHBOURS Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.

THE CROOKEDS, PAINTJOB, ARABELLA & THE HEIST. The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $17.35.

RIDE TO THE RIVER, TRUX, ALANNAH & JACK. The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $13.30.

LUX TREVIS: LIVE N LATE. The Tote. Collingwood. 11.30pm.

DAVID CRAVEN + JON

S WILLIAMS. Bar 303.

Northcote. 5.30pm.

WENDY RULE. Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $25.

NEARLY NEIL WITH BOBBY BRUCE & THE SOLITARY BAND

The Yarraville Club. Yarraville. 8.40pm. $32.

DOLE MANCHILD, SANDY DISH. Yah Yahs. Fitzroy. 9pm. $10.

KIDS WITH CAPES, JURASSIC, GOLDSOCKS. Cherry Bar.

Melbourne. 8pm. $15.

WILDFIRE MANWURRK (2AM SESSION). Cherry Bar.

Melbourne. 11pm.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

ALI MCGREGOR: LATE-NITE VARIETY-NITE NIGHT. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 9.45pm. $40.

KING STINGRAY, GRETTA RAY, GEORGE ALICE. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 6pm. $20.

STEPHAN MOCCIO

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $85.

ON A CLEAR DAY (OEHLERS/ GRABOWSKY/ANNING/ VANDERWAL). The Jazzlab.

Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Saturday April 1

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP

Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

TUCK SHOP LADIES: IN REAL LIFE. The Butterfly Club.

Melbourne. 7pm. $30 - 37.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery.

Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

ECHO CHAMBER SOUND - A DECADE OF DUBPLATES FEAT: KLOKE, MIDNIGHT DUBS, LQ, SUBZ, BRONX, RICK HOWE, SCOTT STORM, C:1, ERNEY D, MC MANAKI, MORE. Kindred Studios. Yarraville. 4pm. $25.

WINE MACHINE YARRA VALLEY FEAT: HOT DUB TIME MACHINE, LIME CORDIALE, BLISS N ESO, VERA BLUE, NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE, KLP, GRENTPEREZ, THE POOF DOOF DRAG JAMBOREE

Rochford Wines. Coldstream. 1pm. $89 - 184.

TRIPLE DROP #2 FEAT: COE-XST, TRIP HAZARD, VIRUS SOUND SYSTEM. Geddes Lane Ballroom. Melbourne. 10pm. $30.

ZEN MONKEE, RAMONA SKY, IVY STREEP LEADBEATER HOTEL. Richmond. 8pm. $15.

TWINKLE DIGITZ. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

BELLAQUEO FEAT: DANI PADRON, CHARLEZ MEZA, SKR, JULIA TOWERS, GABS, MAD RHYTHM, SLIM SHADY + MORE. Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

PURPLE DYE, DETSI. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

CATEGORY 3. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

SCARLETT COOK. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

COLLINGWOOD PUPPY PUB CRAWL YORKSHIRE. Stingo Hotel. Abbotsford. 3pm. $27.24 - 39.84.

APRIL FOOL’S DAY FEAT: THE HALF PINTS, KNIFE, BLOWHOLE, FIREPOWER, YXNOT. Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 1pm. $10.

ATTENTION SEEKERS: DOLLY

DIAMOND & TASH YORK. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 7.30pm. $29.

SEX ON TOAST: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION - NEVER LET GO. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $25.

FLIPPERS! CUMBIA

PHSYCHEDELICA. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $15.

ALIEN NOSEJOB + SOUTHERN

CRUSTACEAN. The Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free.

HYPNO SEX RAY. The Gem Bar. Collingwood. 9pm. Free.

DEAR NELLY: NELLY THOMAS

FEAT: CAL WILSON, HARLEY

BREEN, SCOTT BRENNAN. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 2pm. $38.86.

PBS FM PRESENTS SOUL A GO GO. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $29.68.

SHAKY STILLS. Brunswick

Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 4.30pm. Free.

ADAM RUDEGEAIR DEEP

FRIED AND FONKY. Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free.

WINTERBOURNE, TILLY

VW. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $48.05.

EGGY, SUNBEAM SOUND MACHINE, HOOPER

CRESCENT, MINDY MENG WANG. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $24.

RADIO FREE ALICE, PLANET BITCHY, DEAD RODEO. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $14.30.

RIFLEBIRDS + LITTLE FAITHS

The Tote. Collingwood. 3pm.

DEAD ALREADY, PHOTOSPASM, THE FCKUPS, RUB, BEAT PANIC. The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25. JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS. The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $28.60.

PINKO COLLECTIVE. Bar 303. Northcote. 4.30pm. Free.

THE TRAUMADOLLS, STEPDAD ADVICE, TRUX, KILLING LEADERS. Bar 303. Northcote. 9pm. $10.

PAPER TIGER (OEHLERS/ MAGNUSSON/VANDERWAL).

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Thursday April 6

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

DON’T THANK ME SPANK ME, ZIG ZAG. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

WILSON & WHITE. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

THE JADED OPTOMETRISTS

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

AILSA. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

LADY FOX: A NIGHT WITH ELLA. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $15.

KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS, MARTIN FRAWLEY, DJ TONY PEPPERONI. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $77.01.

SHREK RAVE: GOOD FRIDAY

PUBLIC HOLIDAY EVE. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 9pm. $22.95.

COOP PRESENTS : THEY’RE ENERGISED. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $34.56.

THE BREADMAKERS + THE BLUEBOTTLES. The Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

DR AHONA GUHA IN CONVERSATION WITH GEORGIA KARTAS. Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 6.30pm. Free.

COY FOX, CHAMP RUBY, CLAUDE. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $14.80.

BUMPY, DANIKA, WILD GLORIOSA. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm. $29.10.

THAT GOLD STREET SOUND

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 9pm. $22.45.

AUSTRALIAN OUTLAW

WRESTLING PRESENTS

VICTORIAN BARS, BANDS & BRAWLS TOUR. The Tote. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $28.60.

CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE. Bar

303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $39.

ALI MCGREGOR: LATE-NITE

VARIETY-NITE NIGHT. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 9.45pm. $35.50.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE

ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $33.

COUNTING CROWS, FRANK

TURNER. Hamer Hall. Melbourne. 8pm. $109.90.

PEGGY LEE’S OPEN THREAD

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7pm. $20 - 25.

Friday April 7

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP

Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

FAR EAST MUSIC FESTIVAL

FEAT: THINGS OF STONE & WOOD, DELSINKI & SING

A SONG OF SIXPENCE, MPATHSOUL, BLACK SATIN, KETZIA WOOD & BAND, MORE Various Locations. Mallacoota. 3pm. Free.

A GUY CALLED GERALD

Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

PERFECT STRANGERS FEAT: NO NAME NATH, NICKNAME, MATT RADOVICH, HIJACK Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

ROMANIE, ART SLUMBER. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

FULL FLOWER MOON BAND, SPLIT SYSTEM, METDOG

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $15.85.

ESPACIO-TIEMPO PRESENTS

FRANCESCO DEL GARDA

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $35 - 42.

FRANJAPAN, FLOOZY, GOODBYE BUTTERFLY Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

SAY IT AIN’T SO: WEEZER PARTY. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $35.30.

EVIL FRIDAY 2023 FEAT: HAND OF FEAR, CHARIOT ARCANA, DISTORTION, LILL CHII, THALLIUM, IRIAK. The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $17.35.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

ROCKWIZ’S REALLY REALLY

GOOD FRIDAY. Hamer Hall. Melbourne. 8pm. $94.

MELBOURNE BACH CHAMBER

CHOIR. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 2.30pm. $70.

THE PEARLY SHELLS SWING ORCHESTRA WITH YVETTE

JOHANSSON. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Saturday April 8

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

CONVENIENCE STORE, FLIMSEY LOHAN, CASSELS.

The Catfish. Fitzroy. 8pm.

SEAN SULLY. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

INDU MULLIGAN TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

POET STREET. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

SWIM + SPECIAL GUESTS

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm.

SMOOCH, ROT TV, NO CLASS, SPLIT SYSTEM, ROMERO, STEEL WHEELS, SHOVE

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7pm. $35.30.

MALAM BUSUK #2 FEAT: FACELESS BURIAL, KILAT, ALGOR MORTIS. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $24.

THE PIRATESKA REBELLION Bar Open. Fitzroy. 9pm. $17.35.

DYNASTY, MONROE, BAREFOOT AVE. The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $11.25.

MEGAN BERNARD & THE INDULGENCE. Alice Williams. Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

RACHAEL BEESLEY

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 5pm. $40.

FEM BELLING WITH THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Thursday April 13

BLOW. The Horn African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

BUD WILKINS. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

THE LUKA CORDEDDA QUARTET. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

EMILY BURKE & JONATHAN MAHER: NO INTERVAL

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $35.00.

BRENDA BRESSED: BRESSED OF DOLLY. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $15.

MARCUS KING, VINTAGE TROUBLE. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 6.30pm. $94.86.

CATHOLIC GUILT. Hotel

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

BAILEY JUDD. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $23.35 - 29.46.

PAUL MCDERMOTT PLUS ONE: BLOOD ORANGE. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $49.06.

CONNOR MOREL: A LOVELY DAY TO BE ONLINE. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 9pm. $33.76.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY

DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

WILSN. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $24.

GUN LAWS. Mousse

Cannon, Cat Crawl. The Tote. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $11.25.

GLASSHOUSE JAM SESSION

Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $39.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE

ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $33.

TENZIN CHOEGYAL & PHOENIX COLLECTIVE QUARTET

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6pm. $37.

Friday April 14

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP

Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery.

Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO

PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

MICHAEL MEEKING.

Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

MATURE THEMESMAGIC

BEAN GUILLOTINE. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

EMILY BURKE & JONATHAN

MAHER: NO INTERVAL. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $35.00.

ALUMINUM MONSTER, THE BALLS, BASTARD NORTH, THE MURDERBALLS. Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $15.

PRIDE LIVE. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $20.

JACK HOWARD & THE LONG LOST BROTHERS. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda.

8.30pm.

DES CORTEZ. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm.

COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $39.66.

HAUS OF MAFIA FT: YO!

MAFIA, COLETTE, TINIKA + BILLIE JEAN. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $18.25.

PAUL MCDERMOTT PLUS ONE: BLOOD ORANGE. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $49.06.

CONNOR MOREL: A LOVELY DAY TO BE ONLINE. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 9pm. $33.76.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

DELIVERY, PROGRAM, PARTNER LOOK. Northcote Social Club. Northcote.

8.30pm. $25.

ELECTRIC MARY, TRUCK Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $35.30.

FLYING DUTCHMAN, COSA NOSTRA. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.

CHAOS IN COLLINGWOOD

FEAT: DEADWEIGHT 80, DWELLER, OUTER WORLDS, RANSOM REVUE, ATRIOX The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $13.30.

PARDALOTE, INDIGO KING, NOLESS. Bar 303. Northcote. 7pm. $17.50.

LONGBOYS. Yah Yahs. Fitzroy. 9pm. $10.

BEC STEVENS. Eaglemont Hotel Westwood. Footscray. 8pm. $17.19.

LÖÖKS THÄT KÏLL + POIZON’US. Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $25.65.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne.

6.15pm. $35.

ENSEMBLE 642, JACOB LAWRENCE. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $50.

DOUBLE BILL: LABCATS & THENNOWWHEN WITH DJANGO ROWE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Saturday April 15

BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE: BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ENUSHU. Night Cat. Fitzroy.

6.30pm. $34.56.

MORE FIRE 22ND ANNIVERSARY. Kindred Studios. Yarraville. 8pm. $20.

THE JACKIE BORNSTEIN QUARTET CLASSIC SOUTHSIDE. Elsternwick. 6pm. $30.

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

ULTRA AUSTRALIA. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 10am. $140 - 300.

LOUI FROIA. Mystic Park. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

NUFF RESPECT FEAT: D MATTHEWS, JAH TUNG, TRIPLELAN, SHOTTAZ, VERSE@ILLE, SARAH, AL GOOD, LEGO, MAX SHOTTA Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

SHADOW TUSSEL, CULACCINO. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free. SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

TRIPLIKATZ. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

EMILY BURKE & JONATHAN MAHER: NO INTERVAL Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $35.00.

TEMPERAMENTAL, UNBROKEN EXPANSE, FORKLIFT ASSASSINS. Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $15.87.

CHILD. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $23.05.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

LUCY FRANCESCA DRON, NICOLE MCKINNEY. The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 4pm. Free.

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

EARTH CALLER, AVIANA, CABAL, APATE, RUN. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $56.15.

ROB EDWARDS, ALEXANDER FLOOD, JAMIE LENA. Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $22.45.

THAT CHANGES, GARETH

SKINNER. The Tote. Collingwood. 3pm.

THE DALLAS TERRORS + THE CRISPS. The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $14.60.

HOLY SERPENT, SMOKE WITCH, HONEYBONE, TTTDC

The Tote. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $22.45.

DAREBIN SONGWRITERS

GUILD. Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm.

THE PINK STONES HOTEL

WESTWOOD. Footscray. 2pm. $27.78.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE

ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $35.

MILOŠ. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $59.

JEMMA CHER. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Thursday April 20

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

NEW MUSIC DAYS: ELISIONEXTINCTION EVENTS & DAWN

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

NEW MUSIC DAYS: THE ANAM SET - DIRECTOR’S CUT

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6pm. $30.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO

PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

MADI LEEDS. Edinburgh

Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

PETER BIBBY. Hotel

Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $22.95.

APODOMI COMPANIA

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $54.67.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY

DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

THESE NEW SOUTH WHALES, BITUMEN, GUT HEALTH

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm. $29.10.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $39.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE

ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne.

6.15pm. $33.

NORTHERN REFLECTIONS:

SIBELIUS AND SHOSTAKOVICH. Hamer Hall. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $75.

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

Friday April 21

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP.

Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm.

$30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

NEW MUSIC DAYS: LISA ILLEAN & ANAM - FINDING

OUR VOICE. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $49.

CANDLELIGHT: 100 YEARS

OF WARNER BROS FEAT: ECLECTIC STRINGS. The National Theatre (Melbourne). St Kilda. 8.30pm. $38.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

LOT 56. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

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

PROPERTY, IT THING + MORE The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM

THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

THE FRINGE DWELLERS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

ROSS ANDERSON TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

ISABEL RUMBLE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

THIS SINKING SHIP, HORNY ELKS, JUSTICIERO. Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $10.

CALLUM HAWTHORNE + JXCKY. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $15.

OCEANICAX MUSIC

FESTIVAL FEAT: YOUNG

DRUGS, LIL CHII, THE PIPE DREAM, NOBODY’S HOME, TETSUIANS, HOLOGRAM, MORE. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 3.30pm. $129.

CASEY LOWRY. Hotel

Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $46.20.

UNTITLED PRESENTS LUKE

ALESSI. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $34.90.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY

DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

EVADE, CHAMP RUBY, CHLOE JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT

BAND, HUSKEES. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $15.85.

THESE NEW SOUTH WHALES, BITUMEN, GUT HEALTH

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm.

URBAN GUERRILLAS GREEN

GOODNESS FUNDRAISER. Bar 303. Northcote. 6.30pm. $20.

JACK HOWARD & THE AMBASSADORS OF LOVE

PRESENT BACHARACH & BEYOND. The Yarraville Club. Yarraville. 8.40pm. $25.

HETTY KATE NEW WAVE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Saturday

April 22

ANDREW HANSEN IS CHEAP Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.40pm. $30 - 38.

STEW WALKER: SILLY

LOVE SONGS. FAD Gallery. Melbourne. 5pm. $22 - 29.

STARS & BARS FESTIVAL HEATHCOTE FEAT: THE SEVEN UPS, KARL S WILLIAMS, LESLIE D KING & THE TREMBLING SHAKES, JUNGLE JIM SMITH, NATHAN SEECKTS, RILEY CATHERALL, RHIANNA FIBBINS, PETE

DALY. Palling Bros Brewery. Heathcote. 10.30am. $40 - 100.

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE: OTTO & ASTRID’S JOINT SOLO

PROJECT. Malthouse Theatre. Southbank. 7.15pm. $20 - 42.

KAT GRETA, GECKO THEORY Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

LOVE ME NOT SINGLE LAUNCH, DAY DREAMER + FENNEC. The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SEANN WALSH: BACK FROM THE BED. Trades Hall. Carlton. 7.45pm. $39.90.

ISABEL RUMBLE. Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 8pm. Free.

HENRY CAMERON + SYLVIE

EVANS. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

ROSIE & THE RABBLE. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

THE MURLOCS, BEANS, BLONDE REVOLVER

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 8pm. $51.

THE ROOKIES. The Night Cat.

Fitzroy. 9pm. $34.56 - 44.76.

CLOWNS, PIZZA DEATH, SANDY DISH. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $38.86.

BLAKE PAVEY: LITERALLY DYING. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.30pm. $40.

PISCO SOUR: RETURN OF THE PISCO, THE GROUNDSWELL, CASCADE BLOOM. The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $17.85.

THE SHADOW MINISTERS, PERSECUTION BLUES, LONG HOLIDAY, JAMES HOOKER. The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $15.

ZUHAIR, DORA TRAN, JOSIAH

SAAV, R3SH. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $29.10.

ROLLING STONES KOOYONG ANNIVERSARY, MADDER

LAKE. Corner Hotel. Richmond.

12.30pm. $79.90.

MORNINGMAXWELL, TENTENDO, SEB SZABO Corner Hotel. Richmond.

8.30pm. $29.10.

SWANBIRD, CREEP DIETS, SHALLOW. Bar Open. Fitzroy.

8.30pm. $22.45.

THE KICKHEAVY. Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm.

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

THE BLACK HEART DEATH CULT (2AM SESSION). Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 11pm.

TRIPOD. The Famous Spiegeltent at. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $45.

BEST OF COMEDY ZONE

ASIA. Arts Centre. Melbourne. 6.15pm. $35.

NORTHERN REFLECTIONS: SIBELIUS AND SHOSTAKOVICH. Hamer Hall. Melbourne. 2pm. $69.

DAYDREAM FEAT: MODEST MOUSE, SLOWDIVE, TROPICAL FUCK STORM, BEACH FOSSILS, CLOUD NOTHINGS, MAJAK DOOR

Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 3.45pm. $129.90.

FERRUCCIO FURLANETTO IN CONCERT. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $49.

HETTY KATE NEW WAVE. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.

Thursday April 27

BLOW. The Horn African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

NAMA. Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free. THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF THE COWARD AUSSIE ROB

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

PRIDE COMEDY: AUSTRALIA’S BEST MONTHLY QUEER STAND-UP NIGHT. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 7pm. $22.19.

MUDHONEY. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm.

BUTTERED LOAF. Bar 303. Northcote. 9pm. $20.

TIM ROGERS & THE TWIN SET HOTEL WESTWOOD Footscray. 7pm. $54.26.

BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY. Hamer Hall. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $65.

MICHAEL JORDAN - AIM

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6pm. $25.

MEG MAC. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $59.90.

Friday April 28

FATBOY SLIM. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 6pm. $119.90 - 149.90.

LIAM DWYER, THE SILENCE

ENGINE. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

SPUNK + FRIENDS. The Beast.

Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

PAUL BURKE’S FUNK

COLLECTIVE. Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 8pm. Free.

MISTY HARLOWE + AIDEN

EFRON. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

MINOR GOLD. Alex Hamilton. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

LR MARSH, BILLI SINCLAIR, STEPH FISCHER-IVANCSY

Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $10.

ORVILLE PECK TRIBUTE

NIGHT. Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. Free.

PEACH PRC. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 8pm.

BOOTLEG RASCAL. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $33.15.

BIG WETT. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $23.35 - 34.56.

TIM ROGERS & THE TWIN SET. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $54.67.

TAMMY HAIDER, STANDARD

AMERICAN DIET, PRETTY IN PINK. Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

SOPHIE MAY. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $51.10.

GARDENIA (2AM SESSION) Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 11pm.

HANIA RANI. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $75.

Saturday April 29

LIVE AT THE COUNT’S FEAT: THNDO THE IAN POTTER CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS. Clayton. 7.30pm. $10 - 25.

RICH WEBB BAND THE LOMOND HOTEL. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

RIDE THE SOUNDWAVE

FESTIVAL 2023 FEAT: BOY & BEAR, THE WAIFS, BUSBY MAROU, TULLARA, MORE

Town Beach Park. Port Macquarie. 10am. $90.

THE DELVENES. Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

8TH ANNUAL MELBOURNE

CHILLI EATING

CHAMPIONSHIP. The Beast. Brunswick East. 12pm. Free.

MESA COSA, SANDY DISH

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

PAUL MCIVER TRIO. Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free.

RAISING RAVENS, HOWLING

MOUNTAIN, HZED, ASH ACID.

Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $20.98.

PEACH PRC. Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 8pm.

PETE MCCREDIE. Hotel

Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm.

BIG WETT. The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm.

HANA & JESSIE-LEE’S BAD HABITS, AL MATCOTT BAND. The Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

SONGS IN THE ROUND FEAT: SARAH CARROLL, CATE

TAYLOR, MANDY CONNELL Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 2pm. $21.01.

VULGARGRAD. Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.86.

MURPHNICK. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 1.30pm. $18.40.

ADALITA. Amaya Laucirica, Charm of Finches. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $46.

LAGOM. Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $37.

CANNONBALL WITH CHANTAL

MITVALSKY. The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30 - 35.