Issue N o 1557 December 28 2016
New Year’s Special Edition
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Issue N o 1557
Contents 10
News
14
Industry
16
Arts Guide
18
Northeast Party House Melbourne Ska Orchestra
20
Deborah Conway The Naked And Famous
The Naked and Famous Page. 20
Editor’s Note
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Publisher: Furst Media Pty Ltd. Editor: James Di Fabrizio Music Editor: Bel Ryan Sub Editor: Gloria Brancatisano Editorial Assistants: Cassie Hedger, Jess Zanoni, Tom Parker, Jacob Colliver, Jen Park, Julia Sansone, Jade Ebinger, Asha Collins Managing Director: Patrick Carr Beat Art Director: Michael Cusack
New Year’s Special
@embermaree
With James Di Fabrizio
I’ll be straight with you Melbourne. 2016 was a hell of a thing. Bowie is dead. So is Prince. Phife Dawg and Sharon Jones gone with them too. A gorilla was fatally shot inside a zoo, only to be reborn as a symbol of absurdity and frustration within a world that seems increasingly bizarre – and more often than not, entirely backwards. The rise of the ‘alt-right’ and cheap populist rhetoric swindled areas from Queensland to France. Brexit happened. Orlando. Trump. Fucking Pokémon Go. Where does this all leave us then? For many, 2016 will be a year remembered by divisiveness and loss. After it’s all said and done, what binds us together in a time in which we are separated – by barriers both virtual and physical – more than ever? After the US election, I was at The Toff having a beer during Melbourne Music Week. I met a man who was revelling in the misery of those still reeling from Trump’s win – myself included. We wasted 45 minutes arguing, too stubborn to consider reason in each other’s views. “Anyway, what’ve you been up to tonight?” I asked him, exasperated. “Mindgamers at The State Library, man. They ruled.” You know what? He was right. That show was killer.
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News
News NGV Summer Sundays Announce killer all-female lineup
Ali Barter
Gabriella Cohen, Camp Cope, Ali Barter and Emma Russack will all be taking to the stage for NGV’s Summer Sundays over four weekly gigs in the NGV Garden. The series will be capped off with DJ sets, a pop-up bar, food, and sweet treats from Gelato Messina who will be making a bespoke flavour for each week. Camp Cope Cookie Crunch, anyone? NGV’s Summer Sundays run weekly from Sunday February 5 from Sunday February 26.
The Sugarcanes
Cherry Awards
Desiigner
The likes of The Harlots, The Bamboos, Cookin’ On 3 Burners and The Sugarcanes are up for the Thursday Night Soul category of the 2016 Cherry Awards, while the Best Saturday Act category sees Zombitches, Draught Dodgers, Elm Street and From Oslo nominated. Awards for 2016 Cherry Act Of The Year, Best International Act and the Best Human Being In Melbourne Award will also be presented, while Draught Dodgers and Stiff Richards will perform at the presentation. It’s all going down at Cherry Bar, AC/DC Lane on Wednesday December 28.
US rap wunderkind Desiigner will hit up Melbourne early next year for a one-off show, joined by some very special guests. At just the tender age of 19, the Brooklynite has already landed a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, put out international hits including Panda and Timmy Turner and recently signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label. He’ll be joined by local rap hero Ivan Ooze, alongside Elizabeth Cambage and MIMI from the CRXZY SXXY CXXL collective when he plays at 170 Russell on Tuesday January 10.
Postmodern Jukebox
The Bendigo Hotel
Following on from their last two successful tours, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox is coming back for more. 2016 saw the group take on a 75-date sold-out European tour, as well as covering North America and selling out their debut Australian tour the year prior. An internet phenomenon, Postmodern Jukebox have amassed millions of views for their style of music, which sees them re-imagine pop hits in various throwback genres. They’ll play The Palais Theatre on Friday September 22 with tickets on sale from Wednesday December 28.
One year on from legendary rock icon Lemmy’s, departure from this Earth sees The Bendigo Hotel celebrating his life the right way – by throwing a fuck-off huge party. In honour of the founding member and frontman of Motörhead, The Bendi will serve up $5 Jack and Cokes and set up two tattoo booths where you can get Motörhead ink all night. Capping it off comes free pool, games of beer pong, and Motörhead pins and shirts – all in true Lemmy style. It’s all happening Wednesday December 28 at The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood.
Celebrate 2016’s finest
Return after sell-out success
Announces epic one-off show
Remember the life of a legend
Gareth Liddiard
Reveals intimate solo show Lauded Australian songwriter and frontman of The Drones, Gareth Liddiard, will play an intimate solo show at The Gaso. The show promises to keep it simple – featuring Liddiard armed with an acoustic guitar that’s exactly the same age as him. In 2010, Liddiard released an acclaimed solo album Strange Tourist in between releases with The Drones. His most recent album with the band, Feelin’ Kinda Free went on to be one of the most revered releases of the year. It’s all going down at The Gasometer on Friday March 17 with special guests.
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News
Shimmerlands
Drop a stack of free shows The likes of Spike Fuck, Mick Turner, Gregor with Sweet Whirl, Slippy Mane with Lalić, Spartak with Aphir, and a special Australia Day performance from Bärra – West Wind are set to feature at the hotly anticipated Shimmerlands festival. More shows to look forward to include free sets from Pikelet, Jazz Party, Claudia Jones with DJ Manchild and Colette, as well as the ticketed SKA-BQ event featuring Melbourne Ska Orchestra. Shimmerlands will screen over 45 films within the University of Melbourne, as well as hosting live music and outdoor dining, from Thursday January 5 - Sunday February 26. Head to their website for full details.
Aphir
King Parrot
Bill Henson
Flippin’ the Bird Festival
NGV will unveil brand new photographic works from celebrated Australian artist, Bill Henson, as part of a new solo exhibition he is holding down next year. The exhibition comes over 40 years after Henson was first displayed at the gallery in 1975, when he was just the tender age of 19. Now, audiences can bask in 23 of his newest photographs, which explore key themes including sublime landscapes, portraiture and classical sculpture captured in museum settings. Bill Henson runs at NGV International from Friday March 10 to Sunday August 27 as part of the NGV Festival of Photography.
The first ever Flippin’ the Bird Festival has set the bar very high for themselves, with a stellar lineup of Australia talent set to bring their noise to the event. Leading the charge comes King Parrot, Clowns, and Batpiss, who’ll be joined by Don Fernando, Join The Amish, Pagan, Grindhouse, The Maggot Men, Desert Kingdom, Elusive Haze and Stiff Richards. And best of all? It’s all going down in a car park, bolstered with an outdoor stage, licensed bar, and food vendors. Be sure to get down to the Singing Bird Studios carpark, Frankston on Saturday February 25 for this massive event. Tickets available via Trybooking.
Premiering new works
Unleashes a massive Aussie lineup
Dr. Jane Goodall Speaking in Melbourne
Conservation icon and primatologist, Dr Jane Goodall, will come to Melbourne for a one-off lecture and conversation in Melbourne next year. Throughout her groundbreaking career, Goodall has brought the world closer to our nearest relatives – chimpanzees – ultimately demonstrating the intelligence of these animals to humans through her studies at the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. The rare speaking engagement will treat audience members to a 20-minute lecture followed by a 40-minute conversation with a special guest host, while they are also able to meet Goodall. It’s all going down at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday June 16. Tickets
Strangers
Lock in headline show Fresh from wrapping up a headline tour with Birds of Tokyo, Melbourne rock outfit Strangers have locked in a headline show. The four-piece will be giving audiences a taste of their forthcoming second album MIRRORLAND. It’s been a big year for the group, who have recently signed with Sony Music and jumped into the studio with Shihad’s Tom Larkin. Strangers will play The Workers Club on Saturday January 28. Tickets via Oztix.
London Grammar Prepare for a secret show
London Grammar have locked in an intimate Australian show, but you’ll need to get lucky to see them in action. Taking place in an unannounced Australian capital city, tickets will be available by ballot invitation only, with all the juicy details revealed on January 2. Australian fans will be among the first in the world to experience new material from the group’s forthcoming second studio album. The show will take place on Thursday January 5 at the yet-to-beannounced location and you can enter the ticket ballot via Secret Sounds.
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10 Ways That 2017 Will Change the Way You Consume Music By Christie Eliezer
Are You Experienced?
Concert Tech To Create Closer Encounters
Streaming Will Continue To Save The Music Industry
Wider Lifestyle Marketing At EDM Events
As music fans increasingly move away from owning music to renting it, user-experience will become the key for growth. Music apps and platforms, for all their hype, lag behind their digital rivals for visuals and sound quality, and in the multidimensional and scalability stakes. Some major brands have started to work at these. But if not quick enough to move in 2017 – reasons including not generating enough revenue or needing to overhaul their staff to younger techsmarter ones – expect a new generation of well-funded, more tech savvy ones to launch and move in. Our tip for the first to disappear in 2017: Tidal, most likely bought out by Apple. Currently there are 103.1 million music streaming services subscribers in the world. It’s expected to be 200 million by end of 2017. The huge gap between the users and the subscribers indicates streaming services need to do more to reel them in. A study by digital agency OMD found that only one in three Australians use music streaming, and only 21% of those subscribe. But half of the latter are open to it – meaning that they’ll do it once they’re happy with current services.
After streaming became the main revenue earner for record companies in 2016, expect it to escalate in 2017. Spotify Australia, which received 4.2 million visitors in late 2016 (up from 3 million early in the year) will focus on more integrated in-car streaming. Pandora Australia promises more new products through 2017. The streaming boom will see major financial companies returning to invest in the music industry after decades of treating it as a pariah. The canary in the mine will be Spotify’s Initial Public Offering (IPO), probably in the first half of the year. If it’s successful, investors will dive back panting hard. If not, there’ll be a crisis of confidence, and its rivals will have second thoughts about expanding at all costs. In December, the Australian Financial Review reported that a number of Australian-made apps have started to draw major investment. The musician-network VAMPR, after raising $650,000 to launch, is heading to the market this year for major injection. Gigged-In, which launched with a $750,000 booster shot from financial institutions, is close to concluding a $1 million bridging fund. Online ticketing platform Pulse Global raised $1.2 million ahead of a 2017 listing on the Australian Stock Exchange.
More Gomo Than Fomo
Until 2015, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) was the catchphrase that Australian promoters and marketers used to get those pesky millennials to their events and products. 40% of Aussies admitted their FOMO was driven by social media. But early last year, ticketing platform Eventbrite’s study of our spending habits found that FOMO was replaced by GOMO (Get Out More Often). Because of the anxiety of missing out, 60% of Australians planned to go to more concerts in 2016 with 28% indicating they’ll spend $300 each time, and 30% planned to attend more music festivals. 14
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The energy and excitement of watching a band with thousands of other like-minded freaks can never be surpassed. But technology has redefined the whole concert experience. Not all are available in Australia yet, but will be. Wearable technology covers cashless payment, paperless ticketing and superior social media connection. Fans entering the venue are handed LED light-up devices — beach balls, wristbands or lanyards – which the lighting director using a console can control and turn the entire crowd into a magnificent screen with changing individual effects. Super-fans in the front rows can be rewarded by bands who may release new tracks only to them or offer discounted merch. The biggest change will be commonplace streaming of concerts. So far it’s limited to major acts because setting up a stream is expensive, time-consuming and a logistical and red tape nightmare. But new companies have popped up in North America and Europe to make future concerts work on parallel universes. The idea is to give the fan on the sofa a different experience to the fan who physically went. This includes experiencing the show from the band’s view of the crowd and going backstage. In Australia, it would be a boon to those in regional areas where major acts don’t play, to those who don’t have the extra rubles to travel and to those who are apprehensive about their safety. Expect the value of the global live music industry, US$25 billion in 2016, to rise in the next 12 months.
Research shows that unlike po-faced rock and alt-rock audiences, dance and hip hop crowds aren’t averse to branding thrown in their faces. Expect more of that in 2017, especially at EDM events and festivals. Because that’s where Aussie millennials (16-34) congregate. A survey last year opened the corporate world’s eyes to possibilities, which they’ll likely put in place this year. Sponsoring a Live Music Event Makes Millennials Trust and Recommend Your Brand! found 93% of respondents like brands that sponsor live events, 81% have the coolest brand experience where music was involved, 80% think the best way to connect with them is via a branded live music event and 37% of these come away with a better perception of the brand. 89% regard those brands as “more authentic”, up to 80% buy a product after the experience, and 80% recommend brands that sponsor a live music experience.
Greater Technology To Drive Festivals
The millennials’ dual obsession with technology and music festivals has seen major changes in that sector’s experience. Ticketing company Eventbrite’s US statistics are probably similar to those in Australia. Biggest attendees are millennial men and college students. 25% of college students attended a music festival in the past 12 months. The festival experience will grow with wider use of virtual reality, drone and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) wristbands. Are we one day looking at promoters offering two-tier ticketing systems: one for actual attendance and the other for virtual attendance?
Radio To Aggressively Chase Listeners
More people are listening to radio than ever before – 10.3 million a week in the five capital cities to commercial radio, while close to 4.8 million a week (or 6% of the population aged over 15) to community radio. Research company GfK’s Australian Share of Audio study found that Australians spend an average of three hours and 23 minutes each day consuming audio “in a dynamic and changing market that includes internet-only services, podcasts and online music videos.” 13% listen to their own music collections, 9.2% to streaming services Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music, 3.7% to online music videos, 3.5% to podcasts, just 2.1% to TV music channels and 2.6% to “other audio” including audio books and music playing at various locations such as gyms or in pubs. A poll by AdNews in December of Australian commercial radio figures predicted that through 2017 we can see more investment in branding and innovative content, and in the multiple platforms where the younger listeners are. The once squabbling radio networks will work together more, to promote the value of radio.
Virtual Reality Enters The Mainstream
After bubbling away for years, VR has become a reality even if flawed and fascinating, and even if the price of headsets limits the audience to enthusiastic early adopters. Games such as House of The Dying Sun and Elite Dangerous were the obvious showcases to its possibilities. So too was 3D painting app Tilt Brush and desktop apps as Bigscreen and Virtual Desktop. Some experts suggest VR is just a fad, destined to go the way of the laserdisc and 3D TV. But given the excitement still whirling around it, that’s not expected to happen in 2017.
You’re The Voice (Recognition)
In 2017, Australians will be expecting their smartphones, music systems, cars and cameras to respond to their voices. As it is, 10% of all queries globally (that’s 50 billion searches a month) are via voice. It’s still a novelty, with a MindMeld study showing that 60% of smartphone owners only began using the feature last year, and 41% in the past six months. Half the searches will be voice-activated by 2020. This is because the speech recognition word error rate is now 8%, compared to 20% in 2014. Similarly, 75% of the world’s mobile data traffic will be videos by 2020.
Twitter Saves Itself?
The expectation was that Twitter would sink in the ocean by 2018. It was turned down by potential suitors Disney, Google and Salesforce.com and the perception was that users saw it as out-dated. But its last two quarters saw audience growth and engagement. In December 2016, it introduced live broadcasting through Periscope and put itself back in the game. Although it needs to play catch with Facebook Live which launched in April 2016. Live video is the future of social media: the total daily digital video consumption by an American adult is expected to reach 72 minutes in 2017. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has also made it more appealing with a block on abusive messages and trimming worldwide staff by 9% to give it a wider financial smile.
Arts Guide
Beat’s Pick Beat’s Pick Theatre Film Season
Pip & Pop
Rodney Rude Jim Jarmusch: Rock ‘n’ Roll One Mna Show
Mystery Train
A dent omnite nam raturia quamet quae pres molupienest am re, quo consentiur, sequasi maximenda rae the es etchance volor to ACMI voloriaecum are bringinga idellestion movie buffs After dazzling sell-out in Berlin, London, dive deep into the shows films of legendary American Paris and Glastonbury, is their Jim set to glitter director, Jim Jarmusch, Briefs as part of Jarmusch: bomb Melbourne week. Let yourhas glamorous Rock’n’Roll film this season. Jarmusch been a major andcomponent idiotic hostofShivannah guidecinema you through the independent scene since a the jaw-dropping, eye-popping 1980s, directing films such evening as StrangerofThan extravagant too-close-forParadise, birdbath Down Byboylesque, Law, Mystery Train, Dead comfort valiant aerial Man, yo-yo Coffeetricks, And Cigarettes and acrobatics, more. Catch a irreverent and show-stopping selectioninterludes of his finest work at ACMI fromdrag Tuesday artistes. Loaded a dollop of Christmas December 27 towith Wednesday January 18. cheer, Briefs is the most outrageously entertaining way to kick off the party season. Wednesday December 14 - Sunday December 18 at Arts Centre Melbourne. eat laccupt asperis prae qui ut anditatum explabo rersped eost, vendis et eossunt occum quatium res soloris estrunt ioribus explatur et res que sumqui inciend antio. Est aut volupta quisitat adi odis dolorer rovitat ecaborum, utam nis eos modit, es sim quas a volent haritas inctatet fugiate ratur? Faceat laccupt asperis prae qui ut anditatum George’s Comedy explabo rersped eost, vendis et eossunt occum quatium res Comedy soloris estrunt ioribus et res the George’s will return nextexplatur year, bringing que third sumqui inciend aut volupta quisitatwith season of ‘Aantio. re YouEst Funnier Than George’ adi them odis in dolorer rovitat ecaborum, utam on nisThursday eos 2017. It all kicks off once more modit, es sim volent haritas inctatet fugiate January 12.quas 120 aJohnston St, Fitzroy. ratur?
Comedy
Comedy Rochester Comedy
After a huge year of hosting a slew of comedy’s brightest stars, Rochester Comedy will return Thursday January 19. Expect more good things from one of the most popular comedy nights in town. 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Chris D’Elia US stand-up hero Chris D’Elia has announced a Melbourne show. Best known for his storing roles in Whitney and Undateable as well as cult hit Workaholics, this’ll be the first time Aussie audiences get to catch the laugh-master in action. Catch him at the Athenaeum Theatre from Tuesday April 18 Saturday April 22.
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On Days Like This There Are Always Rainbows Perth-based artist Tanya Schultz – AKA Pip & Pop – creates garish, brightly coloured installations that pull together aspects of storytelling and feelings of childhood together with glitter, stickers and powdered sugar to create worlds inspired by fictional lands. Catch it up until January at NGV Australia.
Café Society
Shimmerlands
Open-air cinema perfect for summer From the team behind Shadow Electric comes your new go-to summer festival. Incorporating open-air cinema, live shows, top-notch food and more than a healthy dose of good vibes, it’s shaping up to be something spectacular. Our top picks include the Australian premiere of The Rolling Stones Ole, Ole Ole!: A Trip Across Latin America and Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals. It’s all happening Sunday January 2 – Sunday February 26 at the University of Melbourne.
Melbourne’s Drive-In Rooftop Cinema Now Open
A Life in Art: Albert Tucker
The worlds of rooftop cinema and drivein cinema will collide with Melbourne’s newest entity, The Backlot Rooftop Drive-in. The only drive-in of its kind in Australia, The Backlot Rooftop Drive-in will operate seven days a week nightly throughout the year, presenting first-release films against a dazzling, 360-degree view of Melbourne’s stunning nightscape. It opens Monday December 26 in Dockland’s Harbour Town precinct.
Featuring paintings from across Albert Tucker’s career, this exhibition traces the trajectory of his work as one of Australia’s most distinctive artists. Beginning with his fierce social commentaries set within 1940s wartime Melbourne, the exhibition moves through key paintings from his travels in England, Europe and America. Catch it at Heide Gallery up until Sunday March 19.
A look into Australian Modernism’s founding father
Review:
Your Name For those with no experience in anime, Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name) would be an excellent starting point, given its romantic vibrancy, its awing flights of fantasy, and its minimal reliance on the young adult genre’s more annoying tropes. Mitsuha (Mone Kamishiraishi) has spent her whole life in Itomori, a quiet country town, and longs for the city. After expressing a wish to be a “handsome Tokyo boy” in her next life, she wakes up having transported into the body of city kid Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki), only later realising that he has woken up in hers. As the film opens with a trite and gaudy music video sequence backed by pop-rock soundtrackers Radwimps, one feels cause for concern. This kind of seishun eiga (youth film) cutesiness isn’t often toyed with by creator Makoto Shinkai, who is frequently referred to as the next Hayao Miyazaki. Fortunately, it’s short-lived, and there’s only one other pop sequence to grind your teeth through before settling in to Shinkai’s gripping
narrative. For all its cheesiness, Your Name compels with its fascinating interplay of dreams, time and identity. As Taki and Mitsuha swap bodies and lives, they develop a system of communication, a set of guidelines and, ultimately, a powerful friendship. Shinkai is knowing and coy in portraying how the teenage protagonists explore gender and their bodies, but rarely distasteful. For a Japanese director to tell a story in which young boys and girls can learn about themselves from each other is remarkably progressive, given the strong gender lines adhered to in Japanese society, but this is not Shinkai’s focus. Your Name is, almost inevitably, a tale of romance, and one whose greater implications ripple across space and time. Even as the story transforms into something grander, and Mitsuha is somewhat damselled, it is not up to Taki to be the hero, or for lines of agency to be so boldly demarcated. Naturally, the
ending is to be expected, but it is drawn so vividly as to sucker you completely into its emotion. After all, there’s more at stake than infatuation. It’s full of bluster, melodrama and teeny-bopping saccharine, but despite it all, Your Name is a thrilling young adult story of discovery, romance and the unfathomable complexity of time. By David Molloy
Catch Your Name at ACMI up until Wednesday January 11.
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Interviews
Northeast Party House
“I’m a real sucker for those gigs at small venues, where the crowd is right in your face and the six of us can barely fit on the stage.”
The perfect New Year ’s Eve party is a mythic beast, as rare and elusive as it is desirable. You can set out to a shindig with all the best intentions in the world, but nine times out of ten you’ll still find yourself in a corner of some cramped apartment at quarter to midnight, chatting to your partner’s mate’s neighbour while necking some cheap red wine and wishing you were drunker than you are. And yet there are the lucky few out there who know how to nail a great New Year ’s Eve party, blessed sods like Oliver Packard. The bass player for celebrated rising stars Northeast Party House knows how to send off the depleted old year in style. “A couple of years ago we put on a show at Ding Dong Lounge for New Years,” he says. “At the pinnacle of the night we blasted Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, showered the audience and ourselves with champagne and confetti cannons, all the while our drummer, Malcolm [Beasley], crowdsurfed his way to his wife who was at the back of the audience to give her a New Year’s kiss. It was a special time.” It looks like the fortunate bugger is going to have an even better time this year. He and his band are set to host the party of all parties at the Corner rooftop, leading a massive lineup of local legends. It’ll be the perfect way to cap off a packed year for the band, one that has seen them tour extensively off the back of their latest release Dare. Indeed, while others in Packard’s position might be exhausted by all that hard work on the road, for the young muso it’s more difficult to spend time off it, back at home. “Being on tour almost feels
like real life to me,” he says. “When we finally finish the shows and come back home it feels super weird and it’s difficult to adjust. I always feel like I’m late for soundcheck or have missed my flight and am wondering where the rider is.” Surprisingly, for Packard, the year’s real highlight wasn’t one of the larger shows the band played – one of their numerous packed-out headlining gigs – but the smallest. “I’m a real sucker for those gigs at small venues, where the crowd is right in your face and the six of us can barely fit on the stage,” he says. “Our [album show] in Hobart was just that: messy, dirty and loud. Before any music was even being made the crowd was getting real loose. I copped a headstock to the face when I got a little too close to Mitch [Ansell, guitarist] as he pulled some moves. Loved it.” Unlike so many other musicians, Packard has neatly dodged the bullet of stage fright, and for him, taking to the stage to perform is as natural as drawing breath. “I was that annoying kid always doing drama, musicals, debates and was the first to put their hand up for any sort of attention, so performing is second nature to me.
“As a band it really comes about through an interaction between the members and the crowd. If you see someone getting into it, it really drives you to feel what they’re feeling and, usually, start headbanging with them.” Ultimately, that’s why Packard is so obsessed with touring, and the rigours associated with making it as a full-time musician: he loves the crowds that flock to him and his band, and is always driven by the need to make them proud. And make them proud he will in the New Year. 2017 looks like it’s going to be a special one for Northeast Party House. “It’s already looking to be fantastic,” he says. “We’ve got our own studio that we are decking out and are going to immediately start working on new tunes from January. We’ve got some big shows and tours in the works that we’re all super hyped for. I feel after the atrocity that was 2016, 2017 is going to have to make up for it in a big positive way. Can’t wait.” By Joseph Earp
Melbourne Ska Orchestra “There are certain things that resonate with different individuals about ska. For me ska has a sense of community. “From a musical perspective, ska has a percussive aspect that’s almost from another world, the one-drop, the skank and the sharp guitar,” says Nicky Bomba, drummer and notional leader of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra. “The important thing about ska is that it has many different layers of rhythms. You can dance to it fast, you can dance to it half-time. It’s all simple. It comes together like cogs in a machine. Still to this day I’ll put on some ska and I can’t help moving and being sucked into that vortex.” Bomba first came across ska via Two Tone, the UK label that released records by such legendary ska bands as The Specials and the British Beat. There was a vitality about the music, and an attractive aesthetic. “There was a sense of belonging about those bands, the way they were all styled up,” Bomba says. “I thought ‘I wanna be part of that.’ ” When Bomba realised that ska songs such as The Specials’ Message to You Rudy were in fact covers, he immersed himself in the rich history of ska and its Caribbean antecedents. “That’s when the whole world exploded and I realised about Prince Buster, Elton Ellis, Allan Gray, Toots and the Maytals. There was a really fresh energy about the music.” In 2003, Bomba and PBS DJ Mohair Slim decided to celebrate the release of arguably the first ska record, Millie Small’s 1963 hit My Boy Lollipop. A one-off gig at the Esplanade Hotel became an annual ska celebration; by 2009 the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, featuring anywhere between 17 and
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35 members, was touring regularly in Australia. A recording contract with Four Four Records followed, with Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s eponymous debut album released in 2013. A second album, SierraKilo-Alpha, followed in April this year, affirming the Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s reputation. “Initially the label just wanted us to do covers, but we said we had our own songs as well, and we wanted to have our own voice,” Bomba says. “We’ve got so many great musicians, and we’ve got a really strong multi-cultural mix as well: Scottish, Venezuelan, Trinidadian, Maltese, English, everything’s there. We’ve got the library to choose from. “The first album was very much a tribute to the old school and the pioneers, and we also started exploring some hybrids. With the second album, it’s an advancement of that, it’s a more thought-out production. The first album sounded more vintage, and the second album can stand up against any contemporary release. We think we got the formula right. And I think we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can do. The idea is to be constantly creative, constantly trying new ideas.” By the time the Melbourne Ska Orchestra had finished recording for Sierra-Kilo-Alpha, it had 22 songs, only 11 of which were featured on the album.
Northeast Party House will take over the Corner Hotel on New Years Eve with Bleeding Knees Club, The Pretty Littles and more. Dare is out now via Stop Start/Inertia.
Unwilling to ignore the other tracks, Bomba and the band decided to release another record, Saturn Return. Like Sierra-Kilo-Alpha, which came with a 3D album cover, booklet and comic book-style images, Saturn Return has a distinctive presentation: a spaceshipshaped USB and electronic liner notes that refer to the orchestra’s search for “the eternal S.K.A. codes” in the “Saturn scene”. “Music has been reduced to files a lot of the time, so when you’re presenting something, it has to be something that makes people notice,” Bomba says. “That’s why we went with the USB spaceship design for Saturn Return. That’s one of the different things we’re doing with the Orchestra. It’s a tactile, artistic product that you can really have fun with.” 2017 promises to continue Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s quest to ‘discover the eternal frequencies’ of ska. In late January the Orchestra plays Shimmerlands at the University of Melbourne, followed by shows in March in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. The Orchestra will also head back overseas. “We have a great band, great energy, and some of our shows are absolute mayhem,” Bomba says. By Patrick Emery
“The important thing about ska is that it has many different layers of rhythms. You can dance to it fast, you can dance to it half-time. It’s all simple.”
Melbourne Ska Orchestra will play Shimmerlands at the University of Melbourne on Saturday January 28 with Ska Vendors, NoNonsense and more.
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DAVE STUART / ACID SAFARI VS DYLAN GRIFFIN SARANTIS / CHIARA KICKDRUM / LOUK / RETZA WALTER JUAN / JONATHAN DAVIES / MALOU THECAMILOS VS ALEX ANDERSON
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Interviews
Deborah Conway
“It’s part of the human condition to want more. We are always striving, always searching. We are curious, always pushing boundaries.”
Gillian Welch’s lyrics appear in the liner notes of Deborah Conway’s latest album, Everybody’s Begging. They conjure the image of an artist faced with the songwriter’s eternal dilemma: how do you fill the blank page with something meaningful and worthwhile? Conway, a legend of the Australian music scene, could quite easily have sat back and taken pleasure in the recognition she has received for all of her successes and hard work – but that isn’t her style. As a restless artist, Deborah Conway has continually sought out new challenges. “I like having to be pushed to think about new ways to do stuff. I find that if I’m given a challenge, that’s good meat to me,” says Conway. “It’s part of the human condition to want more. We are always striving, always searching. We are curious, always pushing boundaries. There are a lot of things to write about at the moment.” There certainly is, and Conway has a lot to say. Everybody’s Begging serves as a parable for our times by exploring themes of religion, creativity, family, grief, love, inequality, and fear (or perhaps confusion) in a rapidly changing world. These motifs are scrutinised through the Talmudic tradition of commentary and this involves a sort of ‘riffing on a theme’, whereby Conway and her partner Willy Zygier, draw on the works of their idols and contemporaries by engaging with and expanding upon ideas from the past and present. The musical partnership of Conway and Zygier is an association cultivated over a 25-year period. “It’s a long time isn’t it?” says Conway. “We’re getting
better at it. It’s become more seamless”. Although Conway typically handles lyrics, with Zygier shouldering compositional duties, this is by no means the rule. In fact, the collaborative process on the new record has been particularly synergistic with the pair handballing ideas backwards and forwards as intuitively as a flag-winning AFL squad. “To be honest we’ve worked so often together that we forget,” says Conway. “One thing melds into another and it’s almost difficult to remember who wrote what.” Recently Conway has been revisiting her back catalogue for shows celebrating the 25th anniversary of her debut solo record, String of Pearls. The album was a success for Conway, reaching number 20 on the charts and resulting in an ARIA award for Best Female Artist. “It’s been nice revisiting that material,” says Conway. “It’s not an unpleasant trip to be thrown back to that time [and] the states of mind that I was in when writing that material”. From all accounts the fans have enjoyed the nostalgia trip too. “They love it. There’s something special about hearing music that was the backdrop
to your life when you bought your first car or when you were dating your first boyfriend,” says Conway. Nostalgia might be as comforting as a warm bath, but Conway is keen to keep on moving forward. “I imagine there are people that can never shake the affection for the earlier stuff, and that’s fine, it’s theirs, it belongs to them now,” she says. With 2017 fixed squarely in her sights, Conway is preparing for the upcoming concert at Sunset Sounds, a festival that combines musical performances with a fleet of Melbourne’s favourite food trucks. It’s an opportunity for families to spread out the picnic rug and enjoy the City of Stonnington’s beautiful parks and gardens. Conway is hoping to make the gig a family affair, with plans for her daughters, all of them adept vocalists, to join the band onstage. “I’m really looking forward to it, it’s such a beautiful park, and I’m looking forward to performing in it,” she says. By George Hyde
The Naked and Famous “The Naked and Famous might very well be the most successful thing I ever do. I like to think I’m realistic. I can’t imagine I’ll be flipping my hair around singing ‘E-yeah, e-yeah, e-yeah, e-yeah,’ forever.” Thom Powers of The Naked and Famous possesses one of the most refreshing qualities a musician can boast: self-awareness. Awareness of the fragility of his career choice, and the increasing difficulty to stay relevant without entirely losing himself. More than three years since the release of his band’s sophomore album In Rolling Waves, third release Simple Forms arrived. Though the break may seem somewhat long, the process behind creating the follow-up album has been anything but as easy as the title suggests. “In reality Simple Forms began as soon as In Rolling Waves was complete, but the road was poorly lit and rather bumpy this time around,” says Powers. Simple Forms is an album that very nearly didn’t happen. 2014 marked a hiatus for The Naked and Famous, after the breakup of the eight year romance at the centre of the band. “Everything liquefied when Alisa and I separated. The future of the band was uncertain. And although we did go on hiatus, my nagging inferiority complex has never fully permitted me to relax. My ‘vacations’ are spent daydreaming, anxious to get back to my ‘real life’,” says Powers. The five-piece, fronted by Powers and Alisa Xayalith, went eight months without speaking before making their way back together to create the album. 20 BEAT.COM.AU
The announcement of Powers and Xayalith’s breakup prompts a very personal kind of analysis of the album. But the relationship and subsequent breakdown is far more complex than lyrical allusions can accurately express. “Lyrically The Naked and Famous albums are like diaries. I’m able to identify vague themes in hindsight but not while I’m in the thick of it. The title Simple Forms is somewhat a reaction to your question [about the album’s themes]. I don’t have a simple answer to anything. This album, like all The Naked and Famous albums, are about mine and Alisa’s thoughts, feelings and experiences,” says Powers Sonically, the album is very authentically The Naked and Famous, reminiscent of their 2010 debut Passive Me, Aggressive You. They’re one of those bands with a distinctive sound, largely due to Xayalith’s exceptional vocals. “I wanted it to be a vocal-centric album. This meant the song structures, production and mix needed to cater to more immediate pop sensibilities,” says Powers. “I’m not able to set out to write an entire album with a singular mission statement. I find that to be restrictive and unrealistic.” Powers expresses that he probably sounds cynical, but the realist attitude that colours his opinions about himself and his work has allowed the band to challenge themselves. One such endeavour saw them publish visually stunning lyric videos for every track
Deborah Conway will play at Sunset Sounds, Victoria Gardens on Sunday January 8 with Willy Zygier and Sal Kimber.
on Simple Forms, serving as an accompanying art piece to the record, rather than a separate entity. “It’s a stark time to be navigating the industry. Being semi-independent for this album, we weren’t able to see the value in a singular music video. I thought if we’re going to do one, we’d need a brilliant concept because the reality is we would be losing tens of thousands of dollars,” says Powers. “Lyric videos are, traditionally, just a way to direct traffic. I thought it would be subversive and challenging to take that approach and make it art. “These lyric videos have Lynch-ian narrative. They’re stylized and conceptual. They represent what Ride Or Cry heard in our music. They tell a story and it’s up to our fans to put them in order.” Powers almost always comes back to a few major themes, hard work and gratitude. “We were living paycheck to paycheck back when we recording Passive Me, Aggressive You. I was headstrong, naive and had everything to prove. It was a simpler time, ripe with cognitive dissonance. My only goal was to make an album. I didn’t have a clue how to do it. “Like my grandfather always says, ‘Talent is common. All you need in life, Thomas, is perseverance and determination.’ ” By Claire Varley
“We were living paycheck to paycheck back when we recording Passive Me, Aggressive You. I was headstrong, naive and had everything to prove.”
The Naked and Famous hit 170 Russell on Sunday January 8.
New Year’s Special
However your 2016 went down – good, great or terrible – one thing’s for sure, it’s come to a rather dramatic conclusion. Now, all that’s left to do is to leave it behind in a wave of good music, good friends, and even greater memories. From house parties to live music at your local, bucket-list New Year’s festivals to New Year’s Day action, there’s something in here for you. All you’ve got to do is choose. From all of us here at Beat, thanks for joining us throughout it all. Here’s to catching you at a gig in 2017.
The Bendigo Hotel
Beyond The Valley The Nation BLue - pic by Kane Hibbard
If you’re keen for some live music this New Year’s Eve – raw, dirty rock live music – and want to see the year out with a headbang, The Bendigo Hotel is the place to be. They’ll be preparing a non-stop hardcore lineup of some of Melbourne’s best thrashers so audiences will be able to ring in the New Year with a beer in one hand and raising the horns with the other. Punk rockers Clowns and the always intense The Nation Blue will lead the charge into the new year. The latter’s 2016 record Black, a bursting collection of thick and furious rock songs, was recently longlisted for the Australian Music Prize, not to mention that they toured with national treasures The Smith Street Band all throughout November, making The Nation Blue an unmissable fixture on the lineup. They’ll be followed up by great local talents like Flour, who just finished up their national tour, as well as punk newbies Würst Nürse, a five-piece band ready to blow the roof off of their first show ever. bendigohotel.com.au
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It’s all going down at the Bendigo Hotel on Saturday December 31. 125 Johnston St, Collingwood.
Set in the stunning surrounds of regional Victoria, Beyond the Valley is back for another year, bigger and better than ever before. Leading the charge is Chance The Rapper, who had a massive 2016 on the back of his album Coloring Book. Then you’ve got Alex Lahey, Ali Barter, Audiojack, Dune Rats, Ecca Vandal, Harts, Hermitude, Japanese Wallpaper, Ladyhawke, Roland Tings, Safia, The Delta Riggs, Vera Blue and one of the last sets your likely to see from Sticky Fingers, if they’re you’re cup of tea that is. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole bucket load of acts to round out the good times that are sure to happen. Now in its third year, Beyond The Valley has gone from strength to strength in the short time it’s been kicking around becoming one of the most hyped New Year’s festivals on the summer roster. The mainstage will stretch a whopping 60 metres long, capped off with top-class visuals, lighting and decor to bring performances to the next level. Rounding out the experience comes visual spectacles and art installations, as well as a variety of camping options from pleb to glamper – the choice is yours. Naturally, a tasty selection of food and beverages are on site that have all been handpicked for your enjoyment, while three stages will keep you moving to some of the finest acts New Year’s has ever witnessed. All in all, this one’s a no-brainer. beyondthevalley.com.au
Beyond The Valley goes down from Wednesday December 28 - Sunday January 1 in Lardner Park, Victoria.
New Year’s Special
Cherry Bar
The Curtin
DJ FeeFee
GL
As one of the best rock’n’roll venues in the land, you can be rest assured that Cherry Bar are throwing an absolute shredder of a party this NYE. For this year’s incarnation, it’s all about the ladies. Three top female DJs – DJ Mary M, DJ FeeFee Starr and DJ Billie-Jean – will be obliterating the decks with your favourite rock and metal tunes, and everything in between. Still hankering for some live music? Don’t stress, because party legends Keggin’ will play a 1am set in the Jenni Bar to pop a goon-drenched cherry on top. Not that you’ll need your cask on the night. Rather, keep it classy and spend the night sipping on the deliciously famous Sailor Cherries – an A+ combination of Sailor Jerry’s rum and tasty cherry cola. It’s all kicking off nice an early at 5pm, with entry a cool $10 for the whole night. Should you decide to barrel you way into 2017 with the gang at Cherry, you won’t regret it. Although your liver might.
The NYE Party at Cherry will take over AC/DC lane on Saturday December 31. AC/DC lane, Melbourne CBD.
New year’s eve at The Curtin sees the beloved pub transformed into a glittering house of gold and good times over two levels. Featuring the ‘80s-infused synth funk of duo GL, the eclectic masters of tropical funk Broadway Sounds and party people DJs Manchild (PBS - The Breakdown), Pjenne, Sam Hunt + MaS, Arks and friends - this’ll be one to put the old buildings foundations to the test. GL released their debut album Touch in 2016 to much acclaim. Fourteen tracks of crunchy retro drum machine inspired beats, perfect synth-funk basslines, soaring strings and the ever-alluring vocals of Ella Thompson. Touching on disco, RnB, funk and sultry pop, it translates to the live stage perfectly. Broadway Sounds have a reputation for bringing the party, their heavy-percussion infused live-sets will make even the most determined rigor mortis sufferer break out in dance and no doubt they’ll be in fine form this New Year’s Eve. So don the gold hot pants, cover yourself in gold glitter, do whatever it takes - just get really, really gold (GL are promising a love song dedication to the best dressed if you need an incentive) and get down to The Curtin for some golden good times.
cherrybar.com.au
johncurtinhotel.com
Falls Festival
Freedom Time
For The Love Of Gold kicks off at 8pm on New Year’s Eve Saturday December 31 at the John Curtin Hotel - 29 Lygon St, Carlton.
Childish Gambino
As far as iconic Australian New Year’s festivals go, are there any greater than Falls Festival? Who knows. Maybe. But that doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic New Year’s experience that is essentially a bucketlist item for any true festival head. As you’d expect, this year’s event doesn’t disappoint. Leading the charge is Childish Gambino playing his only Australian show – so if you’re keen to catch the man himself then this is your only chance. Elsewhere on this juggernaut of a lineup comes The Avalanches, Violent Soho, Matt Corby, Alison Wonderland, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Bernard Fanning, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Ta-Ku, Jamie T, Broods, Northeast Party House, AlunaGeorge, Gretta Ray and a whole heap more. Seriously, this is going to be good. Of course, there’s a lot more to Falls than just killer acts. Check out Rancho Relaxo for some chill vibes and holistic workshops, as well as a late night silent disco, and a selection of markets and stalls. What other weird shit can you get up to? The world’s your oyster here, son. Go dig a hole with your bare hands before it cops a ceremonial re-filling. Elsewhere, there’s interpretive dance, karaoke, a wedding factory, and a whole lot more that’ll promise to make this a New Year’s to remember – as long as you don’t drink too much, ya big drongo. fallsfestival.com
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Falls Festival goes down in Lorne (sold out), Marion Bay, Byron Bay (sold out) and Fremantle. Head to their website for full details and tickets.
New Year’s Day is the new New Year’s Eve. Don’t believe us? Look at the lineup for Freedom Time and try to resist. After last year’s acclaimed edition, Freedom Time will return to the Coburg Velodrome with three stages and a stunning curation of local and international DJs, live acts and more. This year’s selection of acts is poised to make for their biggest event yet, featuring sets from 30/70, Andras Fox, Cazeaux O.S.L.O, DJ Jnett, DJ Precious, Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda, Izabel, Krakatau, Millu, Nick The Record, Noah Slee, Pjenné, Prequel, Raaghe, Swooping Duck, Theo Parrish and Tako. Rounding it out comes the Uncomfortable Science All Stars, Vulture Street Tape Gang, Wax’O Paradiso and Winters – all making for a perfect day to kick off 2017 when the Velodrome is transformed into an epic dance arena. As well as expanding to three stages, Freedom Time will also be family-friendly this year. Bring your younger sibling along for a musical education while stopping by the Ferris Wheel and market place. Of course, food trucks will be on site to keep you dancing the day away without any problems. As far as our tip for an unmissable act goes, make sure you catch Nick The Record busting out an extended set in an intimate setting when he takes over the Wax’o Paradiso stage. Let the good times roll. freedomtime.com.au
Freedom Time NYD will go down Sunday January 1 at the Coburg Velodrome. 30 Charles St, Coburg.
New Year’s Special
Khokolat Bar
The Great Britain Hotel
What’s a New Year’s Eve party without a theme to it? For this year’s NYE celebrations at Richmond’s quirkiest pub, The Great Britain Hotel will open their doors for punters to join a Hawaiian extravaganza that’ll go down till the early hours of 2017. Don your best colourful floral shirt, plastic lei, or swishing grass skirt and hula the night away with all your mates in style. Kicking off early in the evening and with a ticket in hand, party animals will also get to enjoy five hours of free drinks and roving finger food that you can pluck straight off the plate, and the package will include most tap beers, ciders, basics, and house wine for all your needs. Not only that, but the venue’s beer garden will be open and buzzing with energy throughout the night, with entertainment scattered along the way so you can make the most of the moment. And when celebrations inch closer towards the stroke of midnight and gradually come to a halt, partiers will be able to catch an eyeful of the popping city fireworks from the GB, just in time to clink glasses and welcome the New Year.
Celebrations at the Great Britain go down Saturday December 31. 447 Church St, Richmond.
Did somebody say free beer? Sounds like music to our ears. If you want to celebrate in style, with a New Year’s ticket to Khokolat Bar you’ll be treated to free beer, champagne and wine from 8.30pm until 10pm. Nobody likes bevs on an empty stomach, so they’ve also got you sorted with complementary finger food until 11pm. There’s even going to be a ripper BBQ happening in the Hardware Lane outdoor area, from 8.30pm until 9.30pm. It’s important to note though, the night isn’t purely about booze and barbecue. But trust us – you’ll want to be sufficiently fuelled for some serious getting down as the night goes on. The finest purveyors of R&B and soul will be blasting the floor fillers well into the early hours of the New Year. No less than six DJs will be hitting the decks, with sets from Damion De Silva, Durmy, 53X, Nathanial, Johnny M and Boris. With all that and more, it’s safe to say you’ll be bumping and grinding your way into 2017 on one of the hottest dance floors in town. Grab your tickets online now through Khokolat Bar and Moshtix.
thegreatbritainhotel.com.au
khokolatbar.com.au
Lucky Coq
Maxine’s
Not everyone has money pouring out of their pockets, and even though it’s New Year’s Eve, sometimes you just wish you could save money and have fun night out. Lucky Coq’s No Frills NYE is offering just that, and 2016 being its eighth year at the venue, it’s guaranteed that the place will be practically jumping with excitement. Their usual no frills approach won’t be sacrificed going into the New Year, and a night out at Lucky Coq won’t force you to fork out those last bucks in your wallet. There’ll be reasonable drink prices, $4 pizzas, $5 pots and $7.50 schooners of Young Henrys beer, and free pool to entertain you up until midnight and beyond. Upstairs, house DJs will be pumping some loud bangers, with grayskull, 99 Prblmz, and Matt chief-Checken all lined up for the night. Downstairs, it’ll be an R&B and hip hop party, with the likes of MC D’fro, the techno stylings of Matt Radovich, and DJ B.TWO leading partiers into the wee hours of 2017. Best of all, it’s free entry, which means soaking up all those good vibes will be priceless. luckycoq.com.au
No Frills NYE goes down at Lucky Coq on Saturday December 31. 179 Chapel St, Windsor.
Maxine’s Gentlemen’s Club welcomes you to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a platinum six-hour bar package that’ll keep you going from 9pm through to 3am. They’ll be hosting a special guest live DJ that’s so top-secret we don’t even know about it, dancers, door prizes, pool tables, special entertainment, canapés and pizza all night long. They’ll take care of you, so you don’t have to worry about a thing except rocking up and having a good time. But hey, we know what you’re thinking. This is a gentlemen’s club right? Well, yeah. It is. But that doesn’t mean men and women aren’t allowed to go together. In fact, we’ve got it on good authority from Maxine herself that women are invited to ring in the New Year at the ‘rippers with the rest of the fellas. If nothing else, let 2017 be the year of gender-diverse strip clubs. For a fun way to kick off the New Year, drop by Maxine’s. Tell ‘em Big Money sent you.
New Years Eve at Khokolat Bar kicks off on Saturday December 31. 43 Hardware Ln, Melbourne.
Bring in the New Year at Maxine’s on 676 Sydney Road, Brunswick. $125 a ticket, group booking discounts available.
maxinesgentlemensclub.com.au
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New Year’s Special
New Year’s Eve In The City
Sure, you could head to a club, pub, or hell – even your mate’s place. But there’s something to be said about getting amongst it all with the rest of Melbourne and taking advantage of the free, communal events that’ll be ringing in the New Year. The early evening program will see Yarra Park brimming with free onstage entertainment, films and a spectacular fireworks display that kicks off at 9.30pm. To ease the congestion, all entertainment will be duplicated across two zones to help assist with large crowds. Early eve at Footscray Park will be perfect for a picnic too. For some family-friendly good times, this is your jam. Make sure to catch Horns of Leroy while you’re down there. Those guys rule. Other acts to catch include Mental as Anything, King Bell & Soukous Ba Congo, The Mudcakes, Nathaniel, James Franklin, The White Tree Band, and heaps more. Naturally, midnight is when things start to heat up and fireworks light up the sky. The midnight rooftop fireworks display can be viewed from anywhere in the greater Melbourne area where the city’s skyline is visible. That means vantage points can be found all over Melbourne. Who says City of Melbourne don’t look after us? Bring a portable radio and listen to the official synchronised soundtrack live on FM99.7 for extra points before DJs keep things loose up until 1am at Treasury Gardens, Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, and Kings Domain.
The Old Bar
Head to the City of Melbourne website for more details.
The cover band has so often been underestimated – just because they pay tribute to their favourite bands doesn’t mean they’re of less merit. In fact, a cover band will be leading the pack this New Year’s Eve at everyone’s favourite modest Fitzroy venue, The Old Bar. The great Crap Sabbath will play hits from Black Sabbath’s first six albums, and are bound to entertain punters with their ‘crap’ covers. The band features members from local talents like Tankerville, Shepparton Airplane, Space Junk, and indie rock four-piece Ohms, with the NYE show also being a reunion of former members of Craptallica. Supporting them will be Hownowner, a three-piece rock outfit influenced by “Jamesons Irish Whisky and Shane Warne”, who are bound to get hearts racing with their performance, as well as Fleetwood Crap, another glorious ‘crap’ band addition to the list. Come on down to The Old Bar and watch band members from all corners of the Melbourne rock scene come together for a non-crap, wild night with some allegedly-crap-butdefinitely-not-crap bands.
nye.melbourne.vic.gov.au
theoldbar.com.au
Piknic Electronik
The Retreat
After a hugely successful 2016 summer run, Piknic Electronik returns this New Year’s Day with an illustrious lineup to fill its most majestic setting. British-via-Ibiza techno legends Audiojack will be shuddering through the headline slot, bringing their uptempo grooves to the grand dancefloor of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Revolver stalwart Spacey Space is a household name, becoming one of Melbourne’s most revered DJs due to his ability to adapt his sound to all settings with grandeur. His work has featured in video games, movies and in residencies across Melbourne – Spacey will be bringing in the second-to-last slot. Other highlights on the bill include the face of Cutting Shapes, Jesse Young as well as German juggernauts Session Victim Live, Francis Inferno Orchestra and Damian Laird. Coinciding with the quintessential festive atmosphere, the first of 12 events also brings together eclectic food options and family friendly activities. With 11 other Sunday sessions set for the Royal Botanic Garden’s epic amphitheatre, the party doesn’t stop there. The likes of Post Percy, Tornado Wallace, Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda and Misstress Barbara will be bringing the summer vibes across three months. Something special is slated for week two with Underground Resistance presents John Jammin’ Collins and Matt Radovich performing while Space Terrace resident Paul Woodford, local great Honeysmack and Picnik favourite Boogs headline the later schedules. piknicelectronik.com/melbourne
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Crap Sabbath rocks the Old Bar on Saturday December 31. 74-76 Johnston St, Fitzroy.
Bring a hamper when Piknic Electronik takes over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on January 1 from midday.
The Retreat is known to have one of the biggest, greenest and most spacious beer gardens in Melbourne. Now that we’re running full throttle into summer, pack your sunscreen and get ready for a NYE in the sunshine. Flinging open their doors at midday, The Retreat are treating punters to a head start on the festivities. Once you’re nice and toasty, DJ Crispi will start spinning the wax in the garden from 4pm. After you’ve had a bit of a boogie, there’s going to be live music to coast you into the evening. Dave Holmes Gang will be providing some smooth as country rock from 5pm in the front bar. Following that, pop your dancing shoes back on for DJ Jeff Leppard, kicking off in the main room from 10pm until late. For those watching their wallets, entry is a glorious free and there will be drink specials to celebrate the coming of 2017. We recommend heading down early to secure your spot, as this one is sure to pack The Retreat to the rafters. retreathotelbrunswick.com.au
New Years Eve at The Retreat goes down on Saturday December 31. 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
New Year’s Special
The Reverence Hotel
Spotted Mallard
Adalita
The Reverence Hotel continues its annual tradition of throwing one of the biggest New Year’s bashes this side of the Maribrynong in 2016. This year the west’s best venue will once again be dedicated to hosting some of the country’s best up and coming live music talents. The hotel’s front bar, bistro, band room and bustling beer garden will burst at the seams with revelers all thanks to yet another killer musical lineup. The Rev’s usual kitchen will be cooking up their tasty Mexican-inspired menu, with a healthy balance between vegetarian or vegan options as well as carnivorous ones. And if you feel like a cold beer from the tap, you can enjoy one in the old-school front bar while you knock back a game of pool or foosball. In the band room, there’ll be a score of local musicians ready to take you into 2017 with Kate Alexander and Ali E along with her band kicking things off, and Georgia Ifyouwannarocknroll and Grant von Garske firing up the DJ decks. The dulcet tones of the East Brunswick All Girls Choir will make their first ever Rev appearance and much adored Melbourne ensemble Lincoln Le Fevre + The Insiders will rouse at least a couple spirited singalongs. Capping off the exciting lineup is Adalita, who is sure to deliver a powerful performance and tear the house down as the clock ticks to midnight.
NYE at The Rev is all happening Saturday December 31. 28 Napier St, Footscray.
Bob Log III
One would have to be in a pretty foul mood not to be entertained by the mysterious glory of Bob Log III. His guitar growls like a rabies-infested mutt, straight from the backyard of an Alabama juke joint. The expletives he squawks are absolutely unintelligible, at least while the groan of his six-stringed demon viciously dominates the aural realm. When the blanket of perfectly distorted guitar ends – always coinciding with a powerful victory stance – Mr. Log displays his propensity for what is only describable as ‘not giving a fuck’. In his case, it makes for a stage presence like no other. Ring in the New Year with Bob Log and special guests. As an extra bonus, why not pop down to the Mallard earlier for a bite to eat before the show starts. Some of their menu items include a Red Angus beef and bacon burger, a seafood hotpot with mussels, calamari and house made chermoula along with a side of fresh bread, and slow cooked pork scotch served with fennel, orange and mint salad. That’s one tasty start to 2017 you’ve got there. Of course, an extensive beer and wine list is available, with craft brews ranging from Thunder Road to Prickly Moses all ready to keep things nice and loose.
reverencehotel.com
spottedmallard.com
Yah Yah’s
Unfold NYE Day / Night
It’s all going down Saturday December 31 at The Spotted Mallard, 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
Trinity
Orb
For most, New Year’s brings to mind raves, fireworks and strobe lights. The gang at Yah Yah’s have decided to give that the flick, and treat you to some rad live music instead. Earlier this year, Geelong’s ORB dropped their beautifully sludge-soaked baby, Birth. They have been continuing to kill it for the remainder of 2016, so you know they will be partying hard to cap it all off. Joining them will be Melbourne garage trio Dumb Punts, who are sure to be spewing their punchy punk rock all over the joint. Well, in the band room at least. In between bands you can even start your New Year’s resolution to exercise more frequently, by cutting some serious shapes on the dance floor. Yah Yah’s DJs will be spinning indie bangers all night long to get you suitably sweaty, and there will be some ace drink specials to keep you hydrated. Snap up a presale ticket for just $16.67+bf online. Or you can take a gamble when doors open at 8pm. Keep it local, keep it real, and keep it Yah Yah’s this NYE. yahyahs.com.au
Orb and Dumb Punts will tear Yah Yah’s a new one, on Saturday December 31. 99 Smith St, Fitzroy.
The techno collective Unfold are throwing a monster warehouse party for New Year’s Eve right in the heart of the city at 1000 £ Bend, who are opening up the full warehouse venue for the occasion. The unique industrial space is practically made for a rave, and with a Funktion One sound system hired for occasion, Unfold are not leaving anything to chance. Featuring two stages and an outside/inside chill area, they’re blending Australia’s finest techno producers, DJs and motion graphics artists. Behind the decks you’ll see Trinity (Nightimedrama/SYD), Eddie Hale (Chameleon Recordings), Dave Stuart (Something Else/SYD), Dylan Griffin, Acid Safari (Stable Music), Chiara Kickdrum, Sarantis and Louk on the Warehouse stage. On the Chapel stage catch, Retza (Rework), Walter Juan, TheCamiloS (Stable Music), Alex Anderson (Stable Music), Jonathan Davies and Malou (Unfold Music). The visuals are set to be of the highest calibre, being produced and mixed by the incredible Kit Webster and Hexananigans – be ready to have your mind bent. This is a day and night affair - kicking off at 2pm, so load up on carbs, keep hydrated and wear comfy shoes you can dance forever in. Well priced drinks, cocktails and food will be available through the day and night too, so settle in for the long haul.
Unfold NYE goes down at 1000 £ Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne. Saturday December 31.
unfoldmusic.com
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The 2016 Annual Beat Writers’ Wrap Up Who doesn’t love lists? Here’s a heap of them. Our writers’ favourite albums, singles and gigs of the year.
Name: Augustus Welby
Name: David James Young
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Feelin Kinda Free, The Drones 2. Blackstar David Bowie 3. Skeleton Tree Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 4. Atrocity Exhibition Danny Brown 5. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service A Tribe Called Quest 6. A Moon Shaped Pool Radiohead 7. My Woman Angel Olsen 8. Blood Bitch Jenny Hval 9. Anti Rihanna 10. A New State Emma Russack
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. The Past Beats Inside Me Like a Second Heartbeat Urthboy 2. Lemonade Beyoncé 3. Wildflower The Avalanches 4. 22, A Million Bon Iver 5. Camp Cope Camp Cope 6. Quitting Will Improve Your Health HANNAHBAND 7. Inland Sea Marcus Whale 8. A Seat at the Table Solange 9. The Life of Pablo Kanye West 10. Cardinal Pinegrove
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Augustine Blood Orange 2. Cranes In The Sky Solange 3. Fade Kanye West 4. Destroyer Kevin Morby 5. Formation Beyonce
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Drive Gretta Ray 2. Into You Ariana Grande 3. Dang! Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak 4. Somebody Else The 1975 5. Too Good Drake feat. Rihanna
Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. The Drones 170 Russell 2. You Am I Dingwall’s London 3. Kate Tempest Sugar Mountain 4. Ferla The Old Bar 5. Alex Cameron Moth Club London Highlight of 2016: I moved to London. Lowlight of 2016: I moved to London the day before Brexit. A Wild Prediction for 2017: We all just get along.
Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Prince Sydney State Theatre 2. Kendrick Lamar Qudos Bank Arena 3. At the Drive-In Enmore Theatre 4. Gillian Welch Enmore Theatre 5. Bon Iver Sydney Opera House
Name: Eben Rojter
Name: Dan Watt
Name: Jacob Colliver
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Let Them Eat Chaos Kate Tempest 2. The Past Beats Inside Me Like A Second Heartbeat Urthboy 3. Reclaim Australia A.B. Original 4. Waco Violent Soho 5. Seven Mirrors Drapht 6. End of Time Ecca Vandal 7. Introverted Extroverts The Gooch Palms 8. Divas and Demons Remi 9. Wisdom Machine The Bennies 10. Become L-Fresh The Lion
Top Six Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. NULLABOR 1988-1989 friendships 2. Wear It Well Emily Ulman 3. Soft Rock For The Anxious The Pretty Littles 4. The Smackwave EP Spike Fuck 5. God Forbid Anyone Look Me In The Eye Two Steps On The Water 6. Black / Blue The Nation Blue
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Let Them Eat Chaos Kate Tempest 2. Nonagon Infinity King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 3. Illirion Lubomyr Melnyk 4. The Peace & Truce Of Future Of The Left Future Of The Left 5. You Want It Darker Leonard Cohen 6. El Sol Average Rap Band 7. Feelin Kinda Free The Drones 8. The Mountain Will Fall DJ Shadow 9. Masterpiece Big Thief 10. Monolith Of Phobos The Claypool Lennon Delirium
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Take Me Home A.B. Original 2. Europe Is Lost Kate Tempest 3. Dhinawan Touch The Stars The Mob 4. Ketamine for Breakfast Kate Tempest 5.1955 Hilltop Hoods ft. Montaigne Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Drapht 170 Russell 2. Urthboy Howler 3. Waax Howler 4. Hilltop Hoods Restrung Tour Rod Laver Arena 5. Fat Freddy’s Drop Forum Highlight of 2016: Return of my two favourite Aussie rappers, and discovering the incredible Kate Tempest. Lowlight of 2016: Ventured into Glamorama more than once. Once is more than enough. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Aussie hip hop will make my top ten again.
Highlight of 2016: Being in the same room as Prince. Lowlight of 2016: Among countless others, losing Prince. A Wild Prediction for 2017: At the Drive-In make a masterpiece.
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Work Rihanna 2. Satan D.D. Dumbo 3. Bum Bum Die Antwoord 4. Nightcrawler Planete 5. A.I. Rat&Co Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Vasco Era Keep Star Shining benefit at The Corner (This show is so far ahead of anything else it could take up all five) 2. The Nation Blue The Gasometer 3. Band Of Horses The Forum 4. Paradise Music Festival 5. Spike Fuck The Tote Highlight of 2016: A 28-year-old from Barbados turned pop music on its head with a song featuring a chorus descending from a clearly audible Work to a barely recognisable warble thus allegorising the mind numbing repetition we all face in our working lives…. And the word ‘lit’ being a thing. Lowlight of 2016: Realising that by describing positive situations incessantly as ‘lit’ has disempowered the true wonder of this very special idiomatic adjective. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Channel 7 will air a new reality show called: ‘Who Wants To Be A Cokehead Millionaire Who Cheats On Their Wife.’
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Old Green Thumb Eastward 2. Watch Your Back The Coathangers 3. The Plan The Timbers 4. Drummers & Lovers The Con & The Liar 5. Girlie Bits Ali Barter Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats 170 Russell 2. Aunty Donna Max Watt’s 3. Enter Shikari 170 Russell 4. Oh Pep! Melbourne Music Week 5. Mind Gamers Melbourne Music Week Highlight of 2016: Working for Beat, celebrating a wonderful year together with my partner, and Penny Arcade Expo. Lowlight of 2016: That spectacularyterrible Meat Loaf album, and getting some mad food poisoning (again, from spoiled meat) the night before writing this. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Ska’s coming back. Just for a bit.
Name: Gloria Brancatisano
Name: Bronius Zumeris Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Lost Cities Ed Kuepper 2. More Rain M Ward 3. Delerium Tremens Mick Harvey 4. The Skeleton Tree Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds 5. Hole In Your Pocket The Panics 6. You Want It Darker Leonard Cohen 7. M: FANS John Cale 8. Painting Of A Panic Attack Frightened Rabbit 9. No Exit Marianne Faithfull 10. Remember Us To Life Regina Spektor Top Four Singles of the Year: 1. Kerala Bonobo 2. Don’t Say A Thing Mick Harvey 3. Die Like A Rich Boy Frightened Rabbit 4. When Things Fall Apart The Augustines Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Black Cab Howler 2. Histrionics Private Party 3. David Bowie Retrospective Hamer Hall 4. Lisa Gerrard Hamer Hall 5. The Triffids The Corner Hotel Highlight of 2016: An illegal hairstyle is no barrier to taking over the world. Lowlight of 2016: Passing of a triumvirate of irreplaceable icons: David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Alan Vega. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Donald Trump goes bald.
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Name: Michael Cusack Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Afterlife NO ZU 2. Priestess / Bravado Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda 3. IV BadBadNotGood 4. 8 Prince of Denmark 5. Escapism II Sam Gellaitry 6. Utopia Defeated D.D Dumbo 7. House of Dad Andras 8. Red Leopard Thriftworks 9. Swim Against The Tide The Japanese House 10. House of Silk Throwing Shade Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. That’s O.K Jonwayne 2. Eyes Closed Roland Tings 3. Subways The Avalanches 4. Nightcrawler Planete 5. Kerala Bonobo Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Jon Hopkins Let Them Eat Cake 2. Antigone My Aeon 3. BadBadNotGood Meredith Music Festival 4. Violent Soho Laneway Festival 5. NO ZU Max Watt’s Highlight of 2016: Making music with pals. Lowlight of 2016: The week after Meredith. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Jungle back in a big way.
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. All Our God’s Have Abandoned Us Architects 2. The Ride Catfish & The Bottlemen 3. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It The 1975 4. If This Is All We’re Going To Be Luca Brasi 5. Don’t Let The Kids Win Julia Jacklin 6. Quality Of Life Hellions 7. Spring Forever Columbus 8. Every Now and Then Jagwar Ma 9. Glorious Heights Montaigne 10. Dare Northeast Party House Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. No Longer Lovers Billy Davis 2. All For You Residual 3. Instant Coffee Bugs 4. 501’s Fortunes 5. Alive Warbly Jets Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Unify Gathering Tarwin Lower 2. The Used In Love and Death 170 Russell 3. The 1975 Hisense Arena 4. Luca Brasi/Moose Blood Corner Hotel 5. Bigsound Fortitude Valley Highlight of 2016: All the incredible new artists coming out of Australia. The future of our industry is really fucking bright. Lowlight of 2016: I’d need a lot more space to get through this list. A Wild Prediction for 2017: I’ll learn how to fly.
Name: Peter Hodgson Name: Isabella Ubaldi Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1.Moodyman DJ-Kicks 2.Awaken, My Love! Childish Gambino 3.Lemonade Beyonce 4.IV BadBadNotGood 5.untitled unmastered Kendrick Lamar 6.Blonde Frank Ocean 7.Yes Lawd! NxWorries 8.The Colour In Anything James Blake 9.99.9% Kaytranada 10.Skeleton Tree Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Top Five Singles of the Year: 1.Cliff Lapsley 2.Redbone Childish Gambino 3.Livvin NxWorries 4.Idee Fixe Methyl Ethel 5.1-5-9 Koi Child Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1.Mac Demarco 170 Russell 2.Motor City Drum Ensemble Let Them Eat Cake 3.BadBadNotGood The Corner 4.The Pretty Littles Northcote Social Club 5.Late Nite Tuff Guy Rainbow Serpent Highlight of 2016: Visiting Little Soul Café in Tokyo. Lowlight of 2016: Chump Trump. A Wild Prediction for 2017: World peace.
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Blackstar David Bowie 2. Hardwired …To Self Destruct Metallica 3. Scambot 2 Mike Keneally 4. Periphery III: This Time It’s Personal Periphery 5. Dystopia Megadeth 6. The Serenity Of Suffering Korn 7. Handmade Cities Plini 8. Outlier Twelve Foot Ninja 9. Transcendence Devin Townsend Project 10. Sorceress Opeth Top Five Singles of the Year: Singles aren’t metal. Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. The Cure Rod Laver Arena 2. Black Sabbath Rod Laver Arena 3. Steve Martin & Martin Short Santa Barbara Bowl 4. Plini Max Watt’s 5. The Cult Festival Hall Highlight of 2016: Interviewing the mighty Mr. Tony Iommi, a goal I’ve had since I was 13 years old. Lowlight of 2016: Knowing that even a kickass new Metallica album and the glory that is Rogue One weren’t enough to offset the loss of Bowie, Prince, Alan Rickman, Garry Shandling, Sir George Martin, Lonnie Mack, Scotty Moore, Kenny Baker, Leonard Cohen… A Wild Prediction for 2017: Slayer Pez Dispensers.
Name: Julia Sansone
Name: Tom Parker
Name: Claire Varley
Name: Bel Ryan (Music Editor)
Name: James Di Fabrizio (Editor)
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Uninvited Mallrat 2. Honey Bones Dope Lemon 3. The Dream Is Over PUP 4. Digital Zodiac Dorsal Fins 5. Telluric Matt Corby 6. Utopia Defeated D.D Dumbo 7. Everyone Is Good At Something Skegss 8. Is the Is Are DIIV 9. 2003 Dream Jarrow 10. The Altar Banks
Top Ten Albums of the Year: 1. 99.9% Kaytranada 2. Palm Haus Spaceman 3. In Search of Free Time Free Time 4. Human Performance Parquet Courts 5. Bloom RUFUS 6. Tyrannamen Tyrannamen 7. Around the House Chook Race 8. Light Upon The Lake Whitney 9. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service A Tribe Called Quest 10. Birth ORB
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Let Me Be Clear Gang of Youths 2. WACO Violent Soho 3. Don’t Let The Kids Win Julia Jacklin 4. Dangerous Woman Ariana Grande 5. Awaken My Love Childish Gambino 6. Reclaim Australia A.B Original 7. Raleigh St James Moloney and the Mad Dog Harrisons 8. My Woman Angel Olsen 9. Blonde Frank Ocean 10. Conscious Broods
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Arctic Thunder Darkthrone 2. Abbath Abbath 3. II Crowhurst 4. I Want Your Blood Tankerville 5. Left With Nothing Choke 6. Shape Shift With Me Against Me! 7. Tyrannamen Tyrannamen 8. Band Of The Future Ausmuteants 9. Birth ORB 10. Errata Convulsing
Top Ten Albums of the Year: 1. Modern Country William Tyler 2. A Seat at the Table Solange 3. Colouring Book Chance The Rapper 4. Emily’s D+Evolution Esperanza Spalding 5. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service A Tribe Called Quest 6. Time Is Golden Big Smoke 7. 22, A Million Bon Iver 8. Golden Sings That Have Been Sung Ryley Walker 9. IV BadBadNotGood 10. Goodbye To Language Daniel Lanois
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Wolfie (feat. Julia Stone) Golden Features 2. Do You Ever Glow Green Buzzard 3. Because I’m Me The Avalanches 4. Lauren Men I Trust 5. Long Holiday Flyying Colours Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Violent Soho/DZ Deathrays/Dune Rats The Forum 2. Dope Lemon 170 Russell 3. Matt Corby Palais Theatre 4. Alex Lahey/Ainslie Wills/Nai Palm State Library Of Victoria (Face The Music) 5. Tomppabeats The Workshop Bar Highlight of 2016: Getting my bank account stable enough to buy Spotify premium. Lowlight of 2016: Missing out on The Strokes at Splendour. And missing out on Festival Of The Sun. So much FOMO. A Wild Prediction for 2017: The return of some big name hardcore/ post-hardcore acts.
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Ultimate Painting Bills 2. No Woman Whitney 3. Tutti Frutti New Order 4. Glowed Up Kaytranada, Anderson Paak 5. Priestess/Bravado Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring Golden Plains Festival 2. Free Time The Tote 3. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Wollongong Uni Bar 4. RUFUS Festival Hall 5. Client Liaison The Forum Highlight of 2016: Grasping Brendan Suppression’s panties as he glided across the Golden Plains crowd. Lowlight of 2016: Missing Gizzfest and Meredith... ahhhhhhh. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Collingwood wins the premiership.
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Me and your Mama Childish Gambino 2. On Hold The xx 3. Don’t Let The Kids Win Julia Jacklin 4. How to Taste Violent Soho 5. Creepin Kingswood Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Violent Soho Laneway Festival 2. Smith St Band Max Watt’s 3. Karnivool The Croxton 4. Foals Festival Hall 5. Chvrches Laneway Highlight of 2016: I met a dreamy man, who makes me happier than my own company, and got to share many wonderful musical adventures in this wrap up with him. Lowlight of 2016: Losing a job with no warning. But it was okay, I found my way to Beat and better things. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Surprise posthumous release of a festive David Bowie album: The Freakiest Christmas.
Top Five Songs of the Year: 1. DVP PUP 2. You Should Leave Him Tyrannamen 3. Bartender’s Lament Tankerville 4. Figurehead Wise Child 5. Boss Bitch Lazertits Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Cut Sick The Tote 2. We Lost The Sea Progfest 3. Miss Destiny & Spotting Labour in Vain 4. Lazertits, Billy Davis & Confidence Man Corner Hotel 5. Baroness Meredith Highlight of 2016: Should prob say becoming music editor at Beat, but I also ate some really good sandwiches. Lowlight of 2016: Missing out on At the Drive-In. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Bieber does black metal.
Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Real Love Baby Father John Misty 2. Glorious Tetrahedra 3. Friends Francis and the Lights ft. Bon Iver and Kanye West 4. Do You Still Love Me? Ryan Adams 5. Garden Romeo Moon Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Jason Isbell Melbourne Recital Centre 2. BadBadNotGood Meredith Music Festival 3. Tallest Man On Earth Melbourne Recital Centre 4. Tedeschi Trucks Band The Forum 5. Joshua Hedley Out On The Weekend Highlight of 2016: Witnessing the State Library transform into a hub of music and good times, courtesy of Melbourne Music Week. Lowlight of 2016: Post-Meredith blues. A Wild Prediction for 2017: ‘Spice’ becomes national shorthand for breaking news.
Name: Lachlan Kanoniuk Name: Naj Name: Krystal Maynard Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Roses Never Die Sarah Mary Chadwick 2. Human Performance Parquet Courts 3. Cosmetic NOTS 4. Demo CS Spotting 5. Terry HQ Terry 6. Snack Pappy 7. Temporary Mutilation Useless Eaters 8. Saturn Returns Loose Tooth 9. Black Star David Bowie 10. You Yang Lost Animal Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Phone Drone School Damage 2. Cut Me Down Cable Ties 3. Boss Bitch LAZERTITS 4. Lazarus David Bowie 5. Gardenia Iggy Pop Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring Golden Plains Festival 2. Peaches Meredith Music Festival 3. Pissed Jeans Cropped Out Festival 4. Fred and Toody Meredith Music Festival 5. The World GonerFest Highlight of 2016: Seeing Fred & Toody perform three times. Lowlight of 2016: Not seeing The Cure. A Wild Prediction for 2017: The VR device that they joke about in Portlandia that allows you to experience music festivals from the comfort of you own home will become a reality.
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Skeleton Tree Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 2. Emotional Mugger Ty Segall and the Muggers 3. Feelin’ Kinda Free The Drones 4. A Weird Exits Thee Oh Sees 5. IV Black Mountain 6. Zone JEFF The Brotherhood 7. Live at Third Man Death From Above 1979 8. Jesu Jesu/Sun Kil Moon 9. Blackstar David Bowie 10. White Denim Stiff Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. To Think That I Once Loved You The Drones 2. The Axis Thee Oh Sees 3. (I’m the One) Big Big Fun White Denim 4. CHEETAHT7b Aphex Twin 5. The Greatest Conversation Ever In The History Of The Universe (30 Days, 30 Songs) Sun Kil Moon Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Prince State Theatre 2. Chelsea Wolfe Dark Mofo 3. The Flaming Lips Mona Foma 4. Thee Oh Sees Howler 5. Kamasi Washington Prince Bandroom Highlight of 2016: Eight different renditions of Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses at Winery Walkabout. Lowlight of 2016: Sometimes it snows in April. RIP Prince. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Acca Dacca hang up the boots.
Name: Joseph Earp Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Feelin’ Kinda Free The Drones 2. The Hope Six Demolition Project PJ Harvey 3. Joy The Peep Tempel 4. Blank Face Schoolboy Q 5. Blackstar David Bowie 6. Skeleton Tree Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds 7. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service A Tribe Called Quest 8. Don’t Let The Kids Win Julia Jacklin 9. Queen’s Speech EP Lady Leshurr 10. Full Closure And No Details Gabriella Cohen Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Boredom The Drones 2. January 26 A.B. Original 3. Lazarus David Bowie 4. Where Are You Now? Lady Leshurr 5. You’re A Fucking Joke Bec Sandridge Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. The Drones Metro Theatre 2. The Drones Fairgrounds Festival 3. The Drones Melbourne Town Hall 4. MK-Ultra (AKA The Drones) Sydney Opera House 5. Kendrick Lamar Qudos Bank Arena Highlight of 2016: Henry Rollins called me ‘man’. Lowlight of 2016: I miss Bowie. I miss him a lot. A Wild Prediction for 2017: The insane thing the polls tell you won’t happen will 100 percent definitely happen.
Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. A Seat At The Table Solange 2. The Smackwave EP Spike Fuck 3. My Woman Angel Olsen 4. Roses Always Die Sarah Mary Chadwick 5. Reclaim Australia A.B Original 6. Hard To Handle Hi-Tec Emotions 7. Tronc Pikelet 8. Terry HQ Terry 9. #TriggerWarning40 Simona Castricum 10. Inland Sea Marcus Whale Top Five Singles of the Year: 1. Guts Spike Fuck 2. To Think That I Once Loved You The Drones 3. January 26 A.B Original 4. Makin’ It Work Sarah Mary Chadwick 5. Cranes In The Sky Solange Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Western Bulldogs d. GWS Giants Preliminary Final, Spotless Stadium 2. Western Bulldogs d. Sydney Swans Grand Final, MCG 3. Western Bulldogs d. Port Adelaide Round 12, Adelaide Oval 4. Western Bulldogs d. Hawthorn Semi Final, MCG 5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Golden Plains Highlight of 2016: Have a guess. Lowlight of 2016: That it’s all downhill from here. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Despite all odds, my wild prediction for this year came true (Bob Murphy holding up the Cup). So with this great power I predict in 2017 that Trump will cark it on the dunny after caning too much rack.
Name: Joe Hansen Top Ten Albums or EPs of the Year: 1. Paradise White Lung 2. Bottomless Pit Death Grips 3. Stake My Claim Big Eyes 4. Band of the Future Ausmuteants 5. Colleen Green EP Colleen Green 6. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service A Tribe Called Quest 7. Wildflower The Avalanches 8. Nonagon Infinity King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 9. You Will Never Be One of Us Nails 10. Reclaim Australia A.B. Original Top Five Songs of the Year: 1. Dead Weight White Lung 2. You Will Never Be One of Us Nails 3. Giving Bad People Good Ideas Death Grips 4. January 26 A.B Original 5. Kill the Warden Career Suicide Top Five Gigs of the Year: 1. Sleater-Kinney The Croxton 2. Screaming Females The Curtin 3. Rort The Tote 4. Hard-Ons Northcote Social Club 5. Mindsnare The Bendigo Hotel Highlight of 2016: Going to as many shows as possible. Lowlight of 2016: Barely remembering any of said shows. A Wild Prediction for 2017: Every band quits music.
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Reviews
(Barely Dressed / Remote Control Records)
Singles of the Year
Album of the Year
With Lachlan Kanoniuk “I’d like to call Bob Murphy to the stand, you deserve Single Of The Year more than anyone mate.”
Single of the Year:
Spike Fuck
Guts (Independent)
Can’t think of a way to say it without coming across as hyperbolic, so I’ll just come across as hyperbolic. I listen to Guts and I think of the songs venerated in the Australian songwriting canon. Wide Open Road. Shivers. Under The Milky Way. Guts is up there, for me. No matter how many times you lose yourself in it, the emotion lands a devastating, and rewarding, punch to the sternum.
The Drones
To Think That I Once Loved You
Big Smoke
Gaz is ruthless. Absolutely ruthless, meticulously ripping your heart out as rapture sets in. It’s assuring: The Drones are still painting masterpieces.
Editor’s Note:
(Tropical Fuck Storm)
A.B Original feat. Dan Sultan
January 26 (Golden Era/Universal)
Briggs, Trials and Dan go to town on a G-funk banger, a celebration of classic West Coast hip hop married with protest to Australia’s fucked-ness. It goes hard, as great hiphop does. This is great hip hop.
Sarah Mary Chadwick
Makin’ It Work (Rice Is Nice)
Sarah Mary Chadwick doesn’t do triumphant choruses, which makes Makin’ It Work’s triumphant chorus that much more potent. Less like fireworks, more like a meteor storm.
Solange
Cranes In The Sky (Sony)
This year doesn’t deserve a song so perfect. Imbued with an otherworldly class – lyrics raw, yet it all sounds like heaven. Close your eyes and you’re there.
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Time Is Golden
In the face of tragedy, Time Is Golden shines – against all odds – as a beacon of optimism and hope. Musically, passion spills forth from every note. It’s a reminder for all of us that beauty can be born from hardship and above all, that to look for it is something worth striving for. Something worth preserving. For all this and so much more, it takes out Beat’s Album of the Year.
8.0
Big Smoke’s debut album could only ever be called Time Is Golden. A true testament to vocalist Adrian Slattery’s love of music and creating with his bandmates, the album was recorded throughout his battle with cancer that he sadly lost in May. Opening track Something Good is a buoyant number with an addictive country flavour and organ style keys, while Best of You stuns with its gigantic chorus, culminating in a grand outro that feels life affirming. When You Dance is an eight-minute epic that dazzles with its harmonies before reaching its crescendo, the song carried out by a saxophone that provides a moment of pure bliss. Closing track Honey I is gloriously triumphant, but knowing the album is at its end is an aching reminder that this will forever remain the only Big Smoke album we’ll get to hear. Time Is Golden is the product of five people relishing in the art of collaboration, acknowledging that while life can throw you some challenges, there’s still a chance to make something beautiful out of your difficult experiences. Thank you for sharing your phenomenal talent Adrian, may your memory live on through this tremendous album. By Holly Pereira
Reviews
Honourable Mentions
We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service Released days after the US election, A Tribe Called Quest come charging out of the gate with Space Program, a song about the continuing marginalisation of African Americans, ‘a mass unblackening’ as Jarobi puts it. One of the immediately striking things about We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service is how energised everybody is. Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Jarobi and honorary members Consequence and Busta Rhymes bring the type of A-game group dynamic rapping not heard since 1992’s Scenario. The death of Phife, who passed away in March before recording was completed, is all over this album. The pain felt by his bandmates, expressed in several songs such as Black Spasmodic and Lost Somebody is heartbreakingly raw, but the project celebrates him, not least because he raps his arse off throughout. Tribe’s youthful message of optimism proclaimed on Can I Kick It is still intact, if seen through the somewhat weary eyes of grown men in troubling times. On their strongest output since Midnight Marauders, A Tribe Called Quest’s final album is one of the year’s most important artistic statements about American race and class politics, unity and loss. By Alex Watts
(Chapter Music)
(Poison City Records)
(Sony Music)
A Tribe Called Quest
Camp Cope
NO ZU
Camp Cope
Afterlife
Camp Cope’s honesty is both unnerving and admirable. While the lyrics are at times deeply personal, the band also make important statements about issues in society. Lead singer Georgia Maq’s vocals are heart-wrenching and earnest, but rather than overshadowing the music they complement the band’s raw instrumentation. While tracks vary in their aggression and pace, even the slower numbers carry a significant amount of power. Standout track Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams is an unflinchingly realistic account of the struggles many women face. The song is direct in conveying its message that women have the right to feel safe and to be taken seriously. Album closer Song For Charlie is a touching tribute to a lost friend, with the lyric, ‘I still listen to your songs everyday’, a beautiful sentiment. There’s no room for obscure literary references or complicated metaphors on this album. Instead you get eight songs that document the trials and triumphs of everyday life set against the backdrop of Melbourne’s western suburbs. Camp Cope write and record because they give a shit about what’s happening around them, and they’ve quickly established themselves as one of the loudest voices in Australian music.
Afterlife, the second album by Melbourne collective NO ZU, is a party. A very well thought out and expertly delivered party, designed to hit you deep in the pleasure glands, as the music shifts and reveals its changing layers. The tracks are built around simple grooves and insistent kick drums and topped with layers of synths, re-pitched and chanted vocals, percussion, gated snares and horns. These elements come and go throughout, with the focus always remaining on the beat. The eight-piece group are the brainchild of Nicolaas Oogjes, whose adventurousness can be heard throughout this 45-minute album. There’s plenty of variety in the mix – After Lifestyle exhibits the Latin influence more explicitly, and closer Zeus Zam, with its pulsing rhythm and pitched male vocal, strongly recalls Yello’s Oh Yeah. Ui Yia Uia is built around a simple synth bass line and kick drum rhythm, but the hand drums, weird synth effects and vocals build and descend, creating moments of anticipation as well as genuine euphoria as the track reaches its peak in a blast of horns and wild sax soloing. This is powerful, funky stuff, true believers.
By Holly Pereira
By Alex Watts
The Peep Tempel
Blackstar
Joy
David Bowie’s long been one of rock and pop’s finest directors, seizing on a vision and assembling the necessary players to bring it to life. Tis a Pity She Was A Whore places Donny McCaslin’s saxophone and Jason Linder’s Wurlitzer organ side by side in a competitive jazz freakout. Gospel backing vocals from Erin Tonkon appear later in the piece, which follows a straighter path than the opening track but is by no means a by-numbers soul pop song. Lazarus lets us breathe again. Bowie dons an electric guitar, providing stabbed accents that impress like streaks of paint hurled at a canvas. He sings of being free, which fits – as weird or darkly irreverent as Bowie can be, he never sounds weighed down. Bowie steadfastly brushes past what might be expected, and the album doesn’t contain what might be deemed a hit. Dollar Days adopts a familiar descending chord progression and melodically alludes to English folk music. As the album progresses you forget that this is David Bowie – an artist with so much pop cultural history and artistic significance – and fall under the spell of a masterful innovator.
At first glance, The Peep Tempel’s decision to name their new record Joy seems like a sick joke. After all, this is a band famous for writing the world’s least glamorous love song; a band who tell tales of pathetic gangsters, and the slow, sad dance of divorce. But quite quickly Joy reveals itself to be a distinctly hopeful record. Sure, it’s still full of old drunks, as on Kalgoorie, and semi-veiled, semi-slurred threats, as on the exemplary Constable, but there’s a kind of manic brilliance to the piece too. It’s an adrenaline rush of an album, full of the sticky rush you get after doing something ever-so-slightly illegal, and the puncha-wall chorus of Totality has an ear-hooky brilliance solely of its own. Indeed, even when songs wade knee-deep into human filth and stupidity, as on Rayguns, there’s still a grit-yer-teeth dignity about the piece – something that defies evil and comes bloodily birthed into the world with its mangy head held high. After all, the lyric on the record that lingers most is the clenched fist chorus of Neuroplasticity, a song that features the closest thing the Peep Tempel have ever offered to life advice: “Don’t stress / Think about it less.” One of the records of the year? You betcha.
By Augustus Welby
By Joseph Earp
(XL Recordings/Remote Control)
(Wing Sing)
(Columbia/Sony Music Australia)
David Bowie
Kaytranada
99.9%
You mightn’t have been aware of how much you needed a Kaytranada full-length. 99.9% is unbelievably well-crafted, encompassing vocal-led hits and instrumental wonders. Bursting with a lineup of guest vocalists and instrumentalists including AlunaGeorge, Anderson .Paak, Karriem Riggins, Little Dragon, Syd, BadBadNotGood and Vic Mensa, the record shows off the best of these powerhouse talents while retaining Kaytranada’s magic touch. Got It Good, heralding the re-emergence of Craig David, is a standout. It channels the lyrical sweetness of David’s Fill Me In with some extremely sexy bottom-end thrown in for good measure. You can’t call yourself a neo-soul producer without some sensuality, and 99.9% has it in spades. You’re The One (with Syd) is smooth and moreish as hell; while the instrumental Bus Ride seamlessly moves from Dilla-esque hip hop to the world of nu-jazz before you even realise what’s happening. 99.9% is one of those exceptionally rare albums where every single track – even the more experimental ones – could be repurposed for multiple settings and fit in just as well every time. Seriously, Kaytranada is the newborn king, and 99.9% is his ascension to the throne. By Ali Schnabel
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Gig GuideGigs Featured
Cherry Awards
Cherry Bar Come celebrate the awesome selection of bands that have graced the stage across 2016. With performances from Draught Dodgers and Stiff Richards, get down from 7pm this Wednesday December 28 for a ripper night.
Soula
The Evelyn It’s time to emerge from the post Christmas food coma and shake out those dusty legs. You need to shake your body and Soula’s got you covered Wednesday December 28. Just $10 from 8.30pm with their funk/rock feast. Let the music getcha!
Soul in the Basement
Cherry Bar Things are gonna get funky as Funkedalic Side pay tribute to the 10th anniversary of the passing of legendary singer/songwriter James Brown. So go show your respects by getting your groove on at Cherry Bar. It’s on for 8pm Thursday December 29. Tickets an easy $10.
WARS
The Old Bar Are you ready to witness pure aesthetic and auditory beauty? To be moved by a duo with enough intensity and talent to fill an orchestra? Well maybe you’re ready for WARS. Doors 7.30pm Thursday December 29 for a measly $8.
Gig Guide This Week Wednesday 28 Dec Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Beyond The Valley - Feat: Chance The Rapper + Montaigne + Safia + Vera Blue + More Beyond The Valley Site, 12:00am. $380.00. Coq Roq - Feat: Mr Moonshine + Agent 86 + More Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm. Dragoons + Sophisticated Dingo + King Cnut & The Waves Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00. Draught Dodgers + Stiff Richards Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. Falls Festival - Feat: Childish Gambino + London Grammar + The Avalanches + More Falls Festival Site (Lorne), 12:00am. Murder One - A Party For Lemmy Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm. One Day Bender + King Groaker + Tali Mahoney Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. Resin Moon + Don + Phia + Edward Francis Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Rubix Radio On Kissfm Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:30pm. Score 1988-1989 - Feat: Miss Paoli + Agent 99 + Gio Garcia Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. So Fresh - Feat: George Ikon + Change Le Disque Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. Soula Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Theme Team + The Sand Dollars Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Bopstretch Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. Clavemania Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. Heavy Rotation - Feat: Cosi & Wallace Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm. Hey Gringo Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. Tamo Junto - Feat: Mike Gurrieri + Paz Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk
Scarlett Cook
Whole Lotta Love Get yourself prepared for some power piano. Blend that up with dissonant, neo classical goth and ethereal vocals, and you’ve got Scarlett Cook. Venture down to Whole Lotta Love Thursday December 29 from 7pm then and entry is free.
The Songroom - Feat: Monty Cotton + Wally De Backer Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $14.59.
Thursday 29 Dec Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Brooklyn ’86 Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. Melbourne Improvisers Collective Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Midnight Express - Feat: Prequel + Edd Fisher + Mas Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. The Backburners Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. The Funkadelic Side + Dj Vince Peach + Dj Pierre Baroni Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. Timbalero Thursday La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. Very Good Jazz Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers
Human Rites
The Bendigo Hotel It’s the launch of their album In The Wooden Eye and you’re cordially invited. There’s a doomy/post rocky kinda vibe to the eve (with a pinch of punk thrown in for good measure – just like mama used to make). Friday December 30, doors 8pm for free.
Here Come the Girls of Rock‘n’roll
The Tote Celebrate strong women in music with Stevie & The Sleepers, The Hustle & CASH. On Friday December 30 they’re honouring the legendary ladies of rock while forging their own fearlessly femme way forward. Doors from 8pm and tickets $10.
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Beyond The Valley - Feat: Chance The Rapper + Montaigne + Safia + Vera Blue + More Beyond The Valley Site, 12:00am. $380.00. Boss + On Top Allstars + Ivan Castaldi Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Common People Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm. Creek + Kooyeh + Stevie & The Sleepers Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. Falls Festival - Feat: Childish Gambino + London Grammar + The Avalanches + More Falls Festival Site (Lorne), 12:00am. Latreenagers + Miss Miss + Puffer + Zockapilli + Thots Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. Mama Golem + Misssta + Bittersweet + Teenagers Weekly Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. Molasses + Ding Dong Death Hole Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. Natalie Gauci Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $25.00. Oh Yay! Thursday Greenwood Loft, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Resident Thursdays - Feat: Dj Shadow Pier Live, Frankston. 9:00pm. The Dorks + Scout + Gee Seas Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
Throwback Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. Your Local The Irish (Knox O’zone), Wantirna South. 7:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Benny James & Blue Flames Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. Scarlett Cook + Shiver Canyon + Meg Nightjar Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. The Basics + Monty Cotton Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $25.00.
Friday 30 Dec Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Global Safari - Feat: Dj Eddie Mac Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm. Jet Set Fridays - Feat: Eddison + Sean Vagg Blue Diamond, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. Nebulosa - Feat: Russ Dewbury + John Bailey + More Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. Pressuredrop Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. Roddy & The Fellas Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Sleazy Listening - Feat: Arks + Richard Kelly + Hysteric + K Hoop Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. Soul Sacrifice- The Music Of Santana Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00. Spencer Street Soul + Emilia And The Scarlettes + Chicago Dime Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm. Tim Pledger 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. What The Funk Fridays Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Barely Standing Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 9:00pm. Beyond The Valley - Feat: Chance The Rapper + Montaigne + Safia + Vera Blue + More Beyond The Valley Site, 12:00am. $380.00. Captain Spalding Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:30pm. Cold Red Mute + Demonic Cowboys + Stone Djoser + Cosa Nostra Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00. Detonators + Dj King 7 Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. Falls Festival - Feat: Childish Gambino + London Grammar + The Avalanches + More Falls Festival Site (Lorne), 12:00am. Frankenbok + Aeonian + Blunt Shovel + Vulture Culture Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00. Hang Out - Feat: Donny & Friends Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. Hey Hey It’s Friday - Feat: Astro Boys Royal Hotel (Essendon), Essendon. 10:00pm. Human Rites + Cascades + Gee Seas + Mink Mecha Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. La Danse Macabre + Brunswick Massive Resident Djs Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. Mezz Live Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights. 5:30pm. Nye On The Hill - Feat: The Belligerents + Columbus + Camp Cope + Ceres + More The Farm, 12:00Am. Pale Trip + Keggin + Latreenagers + Mild Child Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Stevie & The Sleepers + The Hustle + Cash Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. The Cherry Dolls + The Velvet Addiction Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. The Nelipots + Phlo + Barbiturates Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Andrew Roberts Tuxedo Cat, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $10.00. Chris Wilson Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:15pm. Daisy West + Griya Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm. Mark Campbell & The Ravens Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. Pierce Brothers + Josh Cashman + Little Georgia Torquay Hotel, Torquay. 7:00pm. Prayer Babies Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. Scott Darlow Band + Dj Shaky Memorial Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
Traditional Irish Music Session Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. U Tuxedo Cat, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. Whoopie Cat + The Deja Vus + Johnny Danger Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
Saturday 31 Dec Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Absolutely 80’S Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster. 8:00pm. Adalita + Lincoln Le’fevre & The Insiders + More Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $25.00. Adalita + Lincoln Le Fevre & The Insiders + East Brunswick All Girls Choir + More Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:00pm. $25.00. Beyond The Valley - Feat: Chance The Rapper + Montaigne + Safia + Vera Blue + More Beyond The Valley Site, 12:00Am. $380.00. Black Sorrows Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $52.00. Clowns + The Nation Blue + Flour + Würst Nürse Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. Crap Sabbath + Hownowmer + Fleetwood Crap Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. Falls Festival - Feat: Childish Gambino + London Grammar + The Avalanches + More Falls Festival Site (Lorne), 12:00Am. For The Love Of Gold - Feat: Gl + Broadway Sounds + Dj Manchild + More John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. $25.00. Jakubi Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. Keggin Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 1:00pm. New Years Eve - Feat: Dj Crispi + Dj Jeff Leppard Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. New Years Eve Bad Hawaiian Shirt Party Feat: The Rum Scullers Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm. New Years Eve Party Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. New Years Eve Party - Feat: Einsteins Toyboys Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $30.00. New Years Evie - Feat: Jazz Party + Dorsal Fins + Whipper + More Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook . 12:00Am. New Years Party House - Feat: Northeast Party House + Bleeding Knees Club + The Pretty Littles + More Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $49.26. New Year’s Eve - Feat: Dj Mary M + Fee Fee Starr + Billie-Jean Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $10.00. Nye Glow Party - Feat: Riffinery Royal Hotel (Essendon), Essendon. 8:00pm. Nye On The Hill - Feat: The Belligerents + Columbus + Camp Cope + Ceres + More The Farm, 12:00Am. Orb + Dumb Punts + More Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Phantom Panda Power Wizard Master Smasher + Orbis Tertius + The Monotremes Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $16.35. Raw Brit’s New Years Eve Countdown Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $33.00. Rolling Stones Celebration Nye - Feat: Nick Barker & The Monkey Men + Steve Boyd’s Rum Reverie Yarraville Club, Yarraville. 8:00pm. $24.00. Stand & Deliver Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston. 8:00pm. $15.00. The Bridge Hotel Bourbon Street New Years Eve Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 7:00pm. $15.00. Waco Social Club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. Xylouris White + Laura Jean Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $33.50.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Big & Horny Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone. 8:00pm. $40.00. Camp Nong - Feat: Lena Willikens + The Senegambian Jazz Band + Dj Jnett + More 24 Moons, Northcote. 9:00pm. High Society Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. New Years Ease Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. New Years Eve - Feat: Sebastian - Foreign State Records Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm. New Years Eve - Feat: Dj Jason Goodman Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. New Years Eve 2016 - Feat: Marina Prior + Silvie Paladino Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 2:00pm. $70.00. New Years Eve 2016 - Feat: Marina Prior + Silvie Paladino Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $70.00.
TUE 03/01
OPEN MIC NIGHT SOUL NIGHT WITH GUEST DJS CHARLIE TRY HARP THE IN THE OUT + FUZZSUCKER FACEMELT CENTRAL RAIN OPEN MIC WED 04/01
Thurs 29th December
8pm:
Fri 30th December 6pm: Traditional Irish Music Session
Mark Campbell & The Ravens
8.30pm:
THU 05/01
Sat 31st December NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE POET:
Troy Wilson & Alex Burns
9pm:
FRI 06/01
Tues 3rd January
Weekly Trivia
8pm: $75 bar voucher up for grabs! Wed 4th January
SAT 07/01
SUN 08/01 TUE 10/01
HAPPY HOUR 5-7PM MON-FRI 744 HIGH ST, THORNBURY Band Bookings and venue hire: clubtagomago@gmail.com
Very Good Jazz
WINE, WHISKEY, WOMEN:
8pm:
Kimberley Wheeler
Fri 6th January 6pm: Traditional Irish Music Session
Dan Dinnen 3pm: Stephen Kennedy 9pm: White Lightning 8.30pm: Sat 7th January
The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au
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Featured Gigs
Clowns & The Nation Blue
Bendigo Hotel Bring in the New Year in style, by spending your night at The Bendigo Hotel. Clowns will be joined by The Nation Blue, Flour and Wurste Nurse for a huge fiesta. Saturday December 31, from 8pm for $26.85. Tickets from the Bendy website.
Adalita
The Reverence Hotel The Rev will once again be bursting at the seams with their epic NYE bash, as Adalita, Ali E, East Brunswick All Girls Choir and a stack more take over. Have your party poppers ready for Saturday December 31 from 8pm. Tickets through Ticketscout for $25.
Gig Guide Nye Party (Cumbia Massive) - Feat: Saca La Mois Dj + Galambo + More Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $14.30. Sam Boon Bar Open, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. Slow Grind Fever Nye - Feat: Benny & The Flybyniters + Mojo Juju + More Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $50.00. Soul-A-Go-Go - Feat: Vince Peach + Miss Goldie + Matt Mcfetridge + Ronin Hamill + More Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:30pm. $40.00. The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Austin Floyd Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. Dave Holmes Gang + Dj Crispi Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. Duncan Phillips & The Last Stand Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. Hanksaw Surabaya Johnnys, St Kilda. 7:30pm. Troy Wilson & Alex Burns Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm.
Sunday 1 Jan Xylouris White
Northcote Social Club On Saturday December 31 Xylouris White will be ringing in the new year, Cretan style. The collaboration of Cretan singer and laouto player George Xylouris and Australian drummer Jim White is an innovative project, that simply must be experienced. Doors at 8.30pm, tickets via Eventbrite.
Swytch
Cherry Bar Keep your NYE flame alight, or get a hair of the dog down your gullet. Cherry Bar is putting on an excellent Sunday session to kick off 2017. Will contain: metal, garage and heavy delta blues from 6pm, and it’s free – shit yeah.
Pugsley Buzzard
The Drunken Poet There’s a chance you won’t be feeling as fresh as you’d like to on Sunday January 1. Good news is that Pugsley Buzzard’s funky set is a restorative musical elixir of all ills – promise. From 4pm for free, it doesn’t get better.
Public High
The Old Bar The first Mundane Monday for 2017 at The Old Bar is set to be a corker. On Monday January 2 Public High will be tearing into the new year, alongside The Hermusans and Tony Dork. $15 jugs of ale, just what the doctor ordered. Doors 8pm for a fiver.
Brunswick Beats Republic
Railway Hotel If you didn’t quite get enough dance floor action in your NYE celebrations, here’s your chance to get your boogie on to the best hip hop and R&B getting around. From 6pm, tickets from only $5. Pencil this puppy into your diary for Tuesday January 3.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Beyond The Valley - Feat: Chance The Rapper + Montaigne + Safia + Vera Blue + More Beyond The Valley Site, 12:00Am. $380.00. Freedom Time - Feat: Theo Parrish + Tako + Andras Fox + More Coburg Velodrome, Coburg North. 12:00pm. New Years Evie - Feat: Jazz Party + Dorsal Fins + Whipper + More Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook . 12:00am. Nye On The Hill - Feat: The Belligerents + Columbus + Camp Cope + Ceres + More The Farm, 12:00am. Swytch + White Lightning + The Lesser Giants + More Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. The Black Sorrows Torquay Hotel, Torquay. 2:00pm. $28.60. Wax On Wax Off Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Rizky’s Block Party Nyd - Feat: Ken Walker + Lady Langers + Ac N Seymour + More Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. Sunday Soultrain Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston. 3:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Carla Troiano Sake Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 2:00pm. Catfish Voodoo + Pugsley Buzzard Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. Elwood Blues Club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 5:00pm. Michelle Gardiner Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 3:00pm. Sunday Session - Feat: Brunsy Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm. Sunday Sessions - Feat: Various Artists Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
Monday 2 Jan Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Jaron Freeman-Fox The Who Club, Warburton. 7:00pm. $20.00. Mundane Mondays - Feat: Public High + The Hermusans + Tony Dork + More Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. New Years Evie - Feat: Jazz Party + Dorsal Fins + Whipper + More Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook . 12:00Am.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music 303 Yarra Banks Jam Night 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
Tuesday 3 Jan Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Culte
The Workers Club On Tuesday January 3, Culte are chucking their first ever headline gig at The Workers Club. Treat yourself to surfy, lo-fi pop bringing back sad girl jams for 2017. Weatherboards and LARSØN are supporting. Doors 7.30pm for $8.
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Blaise Adamson & Alison Erlanger Art Show Feat: Benign Girl + Smoky Seas + More Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $7.00. Catfish & The Bottlemen 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. Culte + Weatherboards + Larsøn Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00. Tago Mago Open Mic Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. Take Your Time + The Curse + Sakisoda Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.
The Avalanches Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. Them Rumblin’ Bones Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Klub Muk 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. Wilson & White Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
Wednesday 4 Jan Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music 12 Tone Diamonds 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. Heavy Rotation - Feat: Cosi & Wallace Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm. Soul Night Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Catfish & The Bottlemen 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. Coq Roq - Feat: Mr Moonshine + Agent 86 + More Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm. Don Bosco + Department + Lizard Queen Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. Haelos + Yeo + Christopher Port Howler, Brunswick. 7:00pm. Hi Tec Emotions + Root Rat + Plaster Of Paris Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00. Highasakite + Bec Sandridge Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $53.99. Open Mic Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 6:00pm. Parcels + The Lovely Days Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $20.00. Petrichora + Spicy Boys + Deflator Gator Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $5.00. Poppongene + Way Dynamic + Great Outdoors Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. Rubix Radio On Kissfm Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:30pm. Shura + Woodes Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $34.55. So Fresh - Feat: George Ikon + Change Le Disque Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. The Fred Holmes Alternative + Dole Cheque + Foundlings Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. The Velvet Addiction Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Highway Beauty + Dom Kelly Open Studio, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5.00. Moses Jones & The Special Guests Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. Open Mic Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. Open Mic Night Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. Wine Whiskey Women - Feat: Kimberley Wheeler Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
Thursday 5 Jan Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite Of Everything + The Devil Goat Family String Band Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $16.35. Leroys Hammond Trio 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. The Cactus Channel + Tetrahedra + Wvr Bvby + Dj Manchild Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $15.00. Timbalero Thursday La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Common People Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm. Eater Of The Sky + Murphy + Dead Planet 1964 + Drongoz Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Fuzzsucker + The Bits + The Marquis Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. Headspace Fundraiser - Feat: Hayden Calnin + Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird + More Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $10.00. Jamie T + Hockey Dad The Croxton, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $69.90. Lemaitre + Saatsuma Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $39.40. Lovision + Pastiche + Crystal Myth + More Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $7.00. Max Mannix Djs Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Moonlight Arch + The Night Shifters + Mad Mellow Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00. Mø + Nicole Millar 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $57.50. Oh Yay! Thursday Greenwood Loft, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Parquet Courts + Tyrannamen + Ausmuteants + More Shimmerlands Outdoor Auditorium, Parkville. 6:30pm. $51.00.
Resident Thursdays - Feat: Dj Shadow Pier Live, Frankston. 9:00pm. Swamp Moth + Dead Buddy Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. Throwback Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. Wallis Bird + Lucie Thorne Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $22.99. Your Local The Irish (Knox O’zone), Wantirna South. 7:00pm. Zól Bálint + The Atlas Room + Thomass Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Charlie Try Harp Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. Open Mic Night Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 7:00pm. Trickbox + Ungus Ungus Ungus + Mondo Kain Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
Friday 6 Jan Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Ace Of Spades + Envenomed + Atomic Death Squad + More Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $15.00. Alunageorge Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm. Captain Spalding Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:30pm. Cryptic Abyss + Cyanide Teeth + Illaturba Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. Customer Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. Daryl Braithwaite + Rusty Brown Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $35.00. Dead City Ruins + Kults Of Vice + The Balls Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. Einsteins Toyboys Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00. Finishing School Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 9:30pm. $10.00. Grand Element + Seattle Fix + Cyclone Diablo + Time Robb Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $15.00. Grouplove + Tigertown + Middle Kids Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. Hang Out - Feat: Donny & Friends Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. Hey Hey It’s Friday - Feat: Astro Boys Royal Hotel (Essendon), Essendon. 10:00pm. Indigo Children + Dozeys + Zockapili + Side Stare Djs Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $10.00. La Danse Macabre + Brunswick Massive Resident Djs Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. Mezz Live Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights. 5:30pm. Modern Baseball + Camp Cope + Foxtrot 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $52.90. Norachi + Miris + Loure Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10.00. Opal Ocean + Amber Isles + Kit Watts + Lucky Moore Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Peter Bibby + Lost Talk + Cool Band Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. Rock For The Rainforest - Feat: Winter Moon + Creek + The Dead Amigos + More Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $12.00. Roxy Lavish & The Suicide Cult + The Bleeding Flares + Tenderloins + Small Town Fiasco Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Spit Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm. The In The Out + Fuzzsucker Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. The Smokes Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. The Tiny Giants + Hollie Joyce Band + Special Guests Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Wombat State Djs Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Zond + Masses + Kollaps + Bead John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $10.00.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Disco Exotica - Feat: Dj Tropical Breeze Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. Fem Belling Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. Global Safari - Feat: Dj Eddie Mac Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm. Jackie Bornstein Quartet Lido Jazz Room, Hawthorn. 8:00pm. $25.00. Jet Set Fridays - Feat: Eddison + Sean Vagg Blue Diamond, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. Lake Street Dive + Jazz Party Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $50.00. Mel Searle - An Ella Fitzgerald Tribute Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00. Rua Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $10.00. Safari Motel Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. Sangria Serenades Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $25.00. The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm. Vintage Roots Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00. What The Funk Fridays Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.
Featured Gigs
Moses Jones
The Retreat Chill out with dark themed blues, roots and soul tunes from Moses Jones with his tantalising voice and resonator guitars, Moses will be joined by Miss Mali on vocals and John Smith on electric guitar and lap steel. From 8.30pm at The Retreat Wednesday January 4.
The Credits
Cherry Bar The Credits are taking it to new extremes this Wednesday January 4 as they play the first of their new January residency shows. They’ll be joined by Sydney’s rebellious rockers: Bad Moon Born at Cherry Bar. Doors open 8pm with entry a devilish $5.
Fourth Place
The Workers Club Get pumped for Thursday January 5 as hip hop duo Fourth Place bring an energy packed performance at The Workers Club. They’ll be joined by electronic duo Kodachrome, established rockers New Hat and producer/songwriter Civique. Doors open 7.30pm, just $10.
Fuzzsucker
Whole Lotta Love Who wants to hear some abusive rock? Well Fuzzsucker have got you covered my friend (possibly in a blanket of woven insults) with supports The Bits and The Marquis at Whole Lotta Love Thursday January 5. Get in from 7pm and it’s free.
Wallis Bird
Northcote Social Club Wallis Bird has flown all the way from Ireland for Woodford Folk Festival, but she will be treating Melbourne to a very special sideshow. Hit up Northcote Social Club on Thursday January 5. Tickets are $25 on the door.
AlunaGeorge
The Corner The magical AlunaGeorge will be playing their Fall’s sideshow at The Corner on Friday January 6. The duo combine soul, pop, R&B and down-tempo dance – culminating in rich, textural soundscapes. Doors 8pm and tickets via Eventbrite.
The Tiny Giants
The Workers Club The Tiny Giants bring their flowing bass and loose drum staggers this Friday January 6. The winners of the Queenscliff Music Festival’s emerging artist grant will be showing off their new stuff from 8.30pm for $10 at the door.
Ironic Meme Loving Fuckery Fest 17
Bendigo Hotel Headlining death metallers: Cryptic Abyss. Supported by Triple with their new single BLADES, Cyanide Teeth and Rick Grimm’s Illa Turba. From 7.30pm for $10, which includes free entry into the raffle for some sweet merch. Too easy.
Gold Class
NGV Friday Nights There’s something really special about the NGV Friday Nights series. Not only do they have some of the best live music in town, you can also enjoy after-hours access of current exhibits. On Friday January 6 Gold Class will be bringing it hard and fast. Doors at 6pm, tickets via NGV.
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Gig Guide
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Box Of Blues - Feat: Chris Wilson + Geoff Achison + Phil Manning + Marco Goldsmith Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads. 9:30pm. $25.00. Dan Dinnen Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. Rand Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm. $20.00. Traditional Irish Music Session Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. Wendy Rule 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $20.00. Zerafina Zara & Alleged Associates Smokehouse 101, Maidstone. 7:00pm.
Canyon Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00. Gregory Page + Rob Snarski Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $18.00. Late Nights + Jo Neugebauer Old Bar, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. Lucie Thorne Trio Union Hotel (Brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. Pierce Brothers + Josh Cashman + Little Georgia Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool. 7:00pm. Smalltown Romance Union Hotel (Brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm. White Lightning + Stephen Kennedy Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 3:00pm.
Saturday 7 Jan
Sunday 8 Jan
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers 4Tress Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. Bang - Feat: I Killed The Prom Queen + Alpha Wold + Oceans To Athena + Gravemind Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00. Bateman - Feat: Grand Bateman + Rot + A Gazillion Angry Mexicans + Rogues Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $5.00. Bowie Unzipped - Feat: Jeff Duff Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. $38.00. Cloud Tangle + Culte + Hachiku Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $5.00. Cold Irons Bound + Sean Mcmahon &The Moonmen + Dj Shaky Memorial Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Colour Dazed + Defects + Lovebone + The Burbs 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. Dear Thieves + Hpkns + Greenthief Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Dispossessed + Habits + Friendships + Divide & Dissolve + More Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $19.40. Facemelt Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. Five & A Half Men Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. Forever Ends Here Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 1:00pm. $15.00. Gods Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $10.00. Hedonistic Pleasures + Auntie Leo & The Backstabbers + The Jesus Apocalypse Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. Jukebox Racket Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. Kings Of Oz - Feat: Strait Shooters Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $15.00. Kissing Booth + Pacific Union + Crunch + Lincoln Le Fevre Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. Lizard Queen + Melbourne Cans + Electric Mud Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. $5.00. Melt Ya Face Fest - Feat: Odiusembowel + Alkira + Hailgun + More Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 12:00pm. More Important + River Yarra + Liluzu + Millu Shimmerlands Outdoor Auditorium, Parkville. 1:00pm. Naberus + Toxicon + Windwaker + Armoured Earth Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $15.00. New Age Notion + Kid’s In Control + Btwn Us + Future Static Wrangler Studios, Footscray. 1:00pm. $15.00. Ry X + Lanks Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $44.90. Saturdays Rock - Feat: Riffinery Royal Hotel (Essendon), Essendon. 10:00pm. Slowly Slowly + Max Quinn Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. The Tropes + Parsnip Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm. Tiny Giants Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $10.00. Twelve Foot Ninja Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $38.75. Waco Social Club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Derailed - Feat: Wonderboy + Skinni + More Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. Fem Belling Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran. 8:00pm. $35.00. Heather Stewart Sing String Swing Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $30.00. Olivia Chindamo Band Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. Quarter Street Open Studio, Northcote. 9:00pm. $12.00. Rebecca Mendoza Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00. Summer Of Soul - Feat: Lake Street Dive + Felix Riebl + The Sugarcanes + More Mossvale Park, 12:00pm. $85.70. The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel (Collingwood), Collingwood. 8:30pm. The Jc Little Big Band Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $25.00.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Burnt Letters + Carolyn Oates Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. $5.00.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers A Blonde Moment Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. Andy Baylor’s Banksia Band Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm. Backyard Mafia + Gexy + Rafaellas + Kill The Darlings Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. Bench Press + Shit Sex + Powerlines Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.00. Bowie In Berlin - Feat: Kylie Auldist + Dave Graney + Ron Peno + More Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $79.90. Bowie Unzipped - Feat: Jeff Duff Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 2:30pm. $35.00. Central Rain Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. Gem Bones + Piss Factory + Slow Fires + Ostraly Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 6:00pm. $5.00. Hownowmer + Cuddleman Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. Jam At Musicland Sundays Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. James Reyne Torquay Hotel, Torquay. 2:00pm. $39.80. Lake Street Dive Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. Myvanwy & The Girl Behind Me + Peter Dickybird + The Faculty Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Pat Bruce & The Bacchanalians + Mr Alford Country + More Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 4:00pm. The Naked & Famous 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $54.90. Wax On Wax Off Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Big Band Frequency Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. Krakatau Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 2:30Pm. Lunatones 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. Moreland City Soul Revue Union Hotel (Brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. Skyroku Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. Sunday Soultrain Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston. 3:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Andy Phillips & The Cadilac Walk Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. David Grimson + Joe Guiton + Vic Meehan + Pete Akhurst Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 3:00pm. Elwood Blues Club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 5:00pm. Harry Fl Vincent + Sam Gun Old Bar, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. Michelle Chandler + Jerome Smith Duo Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. Michelle Gardiner Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 3:00pm. Moonshine Family Band + Michael Yule + Jimi & Sam Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. Ryan Downey + Luke Brennan Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. Sunday Session - Feat: Brunsy Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm. Sunday Sessions - Feat: Various Artists Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm. The Sensational Hurricanes Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 3:00pm. Vieux Farka Toure Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $33.50.
Gig of the Fortnight:
Modern Baseball
170 Russell After selling out all shows in their first ever Australian tour earlier this year Modern Baseball are back to do Falls Festival… and a few little side shows. Philadelphia’s indie/punk Modern Baseball along with supports Camp Cope and Foxtrot will be taking over 170 Russell Friday January 6. Tickets from $52.90 +bf (available though moshtix), doors open 7.30pm.
Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Jazz Party + Dj Chinabone Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Zoe K Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Charles Jenkins Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
Tuesday 10 Jan Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Anna’s Go-Go Academy Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 6:30pm. $10.00. Milonga Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm. $10.00. Transient Tuesday - Feat: Keller + Anning + Wilson Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $18.00.
Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Auntie Leo & The Backstabbers + Renegade Joe + Chuck Jim Mooney Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. Bowie – 70 Years Of Stardust - Feat: Ashley Naylor & The Diamond Dogs Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $20.00. Divide & Dissolve + No Sister + Miss Miss Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. Sliknita + Primm + Red Soaking Wet Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. Tago Mago Open Mic Tago Mago, Thornbury. 6:30pm. Uncomfortable Science - Feat: Lachlan Mitchell Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.
Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk James Fahy + Joe Oppenheimer Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $8.00.
Monday 9 Jan Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers King Stag + Creature Fear + Sunborne + The Great Emu War Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. Monday Night Mass - Feat: Sweet Whirl + Lower Plenty + Callan Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. Mundane Mondays - Feat: Miles & Simone + Collingwood Casanovas + The Grand Magoozi Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
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Featured Gigs
Gig Guide
MØ
170 Russell On Thursday January 5 MØ will be playing at 170 Russell while she is in the country for Falls. The enigmatic electro pop artist has worked with huge names like Bieber and Major Lazer, proving she is one bad-arse lady. Tickets via the venue, doors 8pm.
Slowly Slowly
The Tote Slowly Slowly are doing a mini-residency at The Tote front bar. On Saturday January 7 they will be providing a smooth summer afternoon session, joined by Max Quinn. Nip down at 5pm.
Cold Irons Bound
The Retreat Cold Irons Bound will be showing off their new album stuffed with three part harmonies, twin guitar leads and tunes that stick in your head for days. Supported by Sean McMahon and The Moonmen. The Retreat on Sunday January 7. Doors at 8pm.
Bateman and ROT
Whole Lotta Love After six years and two albums Bateman will play their last ever show along with local act ROT on Saturday January 7 at Whole Lotta Love. Get in for your own slice of (soon to be) history from 7.30pm for only $5.
Naberus
The Workers Club Melbourne metallers Naberus are all set to launch their album at The Workers Club on Saturday January 7. The Lost Reveries has been released by US label Eclipse Records, and sees Naberus hitting harder than ever. Supports are Toxicon and Windwaker. It’s on at 8pm for $15.
Kissing Booth
The Old Bar It started out with a kiss, and now it’s ended like this. Kissing Booth will be saying goodbye forever, with a show at The Oldie on Saturday January 7. Get down and give them a big smooch for old time’s sake. Supports are The Union Pacific and Crusch. $10 at 8.30pm.
Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier Victoria Gardens The first instalment of Sunset Sounds is finally happening on Sunday January 8. The free summer series is held in the picturesque landscape of Victoria Gardens to help you cruise through the warmer months with stellar live music, and delicious offerings from top food trucks. First up are celebrated folk duo, Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier. Potter on down with a picnic blanket from 6pm.
Hurricane Hearn
The Retreat Sunday January 8 The Retreat will deliver Hurricane Hearn to us. Bringing a fresh approach to blues and intelligent lyrics and fronted by one of Australia’s top vocalists: Bruce ‘Hurricane’ Hearn. They be rockin’ from 3pm.
Backyard Mafia
The Evelyn Get down on Sunday January 8 to see Backyard Mafia, they’ve got a shiny new drummer and they want you all to meet him. Act cool, but not too cool, you don’t want to wind up sleeping with the fishes. Entry is just $5, doors from 8pm.
Jazz Party
The Evelyn Jazz Party are back for round two of their January residency at The Evelyn. They’re bringing their slippery mix of rhythm n blues, boogie and jump blues from 8pm Monday January 8, to ease you into the week in style. It’s free entry and bound to be a fun time. Swish. 38 BEAT.COM.AU
Coming Soon Metro Boomin 170 Russell January 13 Moose Blood The Evelyn January 12, 13 Tim Finn Arts Centre Melbourne January 13 – 15 Elliot Smith Tribute Show Feat. Sarah Mary Chadwick, Jack Parsons, Christopher Coleman Collective, Lisa Crawley And More The Corner Hotel January 13 Ed Kuepper Howler January 14 We Lost The Sea Northcote Social Club January 14 Wominjenka Festival Feat. Frank Yamma, Kutcha Edwards, Robbie Bundle And More Footscray Community Arts Centre January 14 - 21 The Australian Open Feat. Birds Of Tokyo, The Living End, Missy Higgins And More Rod Laver Arena And Margaret Court Arena January 14 - 22 So Frenchy So Chic In The Park Feat. Deluxe, The Limiñanas, Bertrand Belin And Nouvelle Vague Werribee Park Mansion January 15 Amanda Palmer And Missy Higgnins The Astor Theatre January 15 Alexisonfire Festival Hall January 17 Urban Spread Feat. The Jezabels And Alex Lahey The Wool Exchange January 19, Chelsea Heights Hotel January 20, Jan Village Green Hotel January 21 Dinosaur Jr The Croxton January 20 Airbourne Trak Lounge Friday January 20 Stick To Your Guns Corner Hotel January 20 Woodlock Howler January 21 Sugar Mountain Feat. Blood Orange, Pantha Du Prince, Big Scary, My Disco And More Vca January 21 Pj Harvey Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 21 Puscifer Plenary, Melbourne Convention Centre And Exhibition Centre(Aa) January 22 Sunset Sounds Feat. Deborah Conway, Willy Zygier And More Victoria Gardens, Malvern Gardens And Central Park January 8, 15 & 22 Refused & Sick Of It All Prince Bandroom January 24 Baby Animals The Corner February 24 Passenger Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 25 White Lung Northcote Social Club January 25 Z-Trip Laundry Bar January 26 Electric Gardens Festival Feat. Eric Prydz, Mark Knight, Hernan Catteneo And More. Moonee Valley Racecourse January 26 Beechworth Music Festival Feat. Stonefield, Gabriella Cohen, Tracy Mcneil And More Madman’s Gully Amphitheatre Beechworth January 27, 28 Drunk Mums & The Pin Heads Howler January 27 Strangers The Workers Club January 28 The Bats Northcote Social Club January 28 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 27, 28 Rainbow Serpent Festival Feat. Astrix, Andhim, Guy J And More Lexton, Victoria January 27 – 30 Melbourne Ska Orchestra Shimmerlands Melbourne University January 28 Laneway Festival Feat. Tame Impala, The Julie Ruin, White Lung, Julia Jacklin And More Footscray Community Arts Centre January 28 Panic! At The Disco Festival Hall January 28 Pierce Brothers The Corner Hotel January 28 The Cat Empire & Xavier Rudd North Gardens, Ballarat January 29 Nothing Northcote Social Club January 29 George Martin Tribute Show Feat. Deborah Conway, Dan Kelly And Ella Thompson The Athenaeum February 1 Winterbourne Sooki Lounge February 2 Bruce Springsteen Aami Park February 2, 4
Yalukit Wilum Ngargee O’donnell Gardens February 4 King Parrot, Clowns & Batpiss Singing Bird Studios February 5 Gabrella Cohen Summer Sundays At Ngv February 5 Periphery 170 Russell February 5 Bring Me The Horizon Margaret Court Arena February 5, 6 Opeth 170 Russell February 7, 8 The B-52’S & Simple Minds Margaret Court Arena February 7 James Taylor Rod Laver Arena February 8 I Know Leopard Gasometer February 8 Party In The Paddock Feat. Sticky Fingers, Hermitude, The Smith Street Band, Tash Sultana And More Burns Creek - Tasmania February 10 -12 Heads Of Charm Bar 12 February 10 Sunnyboys The Croxton February 10 The Menzingers The Reverence Hotel February 10 Like Royals Musicland Fawkner February 10 My Disco Howler February 10 Fractangular Gathering Festival Feat. Melbourne Ska Orchestra Buckland Tasmania February 10 -12 Sir David Attenborough The Plenary February 11 Ali Barter Summer Sundays At Ngv February 12 Hands Like Houses The Corner Hotel February 12 D.R.I Bendigo Hotel February 12 Lost At Sea Feat. Camp Cope, The Nation Blue, Loose Tooth And More. The Victoria Star February 12 St Kilda Festival Feat. Phia, Georgia Mulligan, Smoke Rings, David Spry And More St Kilda February 12 Guns N’ Roses Mcg February 14 Bliss N Eso 170 Russell February 15 Evan Klar The Gasometer February 17 Jakubi The Corner Hotel February 17 Harts 170 Russell February 17 Trash, Blast And Grind Festival Feat. Revocation, King Parrot And More Max Watt’s February 17 Riverboats Music Festival Feat. Paul Kelly, Charlie Owen, Hoodoo Gurus And More Echuca-Moama February 17 –19 Tiger Army Prince Bandroom February 17 Thrash, Blast And Grind Festival Feat. King Parrot, Tasmanics Psycroptic, Revocation And More Max Watts February 17 Mother’s Cake The Evelyn February 17 The Great Australian Beer Festival Feat. The Potebelleez, Richard Clapton, Reuben Stone And More Geelong Racecourse February 18 Blackalicious Belleville February 18 Appice Brothers Max Watts February 18, The Croxton February 19 Moreland And Arbuckle Caravan Music Club February 18, Spotted Mallard February 19, Prince Bandroom February 20 Neurosis Croxton February 18 Suzi Quatro Hamer Hall February 18 Mat Mchugh Memo Music Hall February 18 Emma Russack Summer Sundays At Ngv February 19 Descendents 170 Russell February 20 Explosions In The Sky Melbourne Recital Centre February 20, 21 Nuclear Assault Max Watt’s February 22 Kid Ink Prince Bandroom February 23 Methyl Ethel Howler February 23 Yellowcard Max Watt’s February 23, 24, 25 Pvt Ngv February 24 Warpaint Melbourne Zoo February 24 Big Thief Northcote Social Club February 28, Melbourne Zoo February 24 Timberwolf Grace Darling Hotel February 25 Camp Cope Summer Sundays At Ngv February 25 Animals As Leaders 170 Russell February 28 Pixies Margaret Court Arena March 4 Killswitch Engage 170 Russell March 5, 7
Brunswick Music Festival Feat. Aziza Brahim And Hot Brass Band Brunswick March 5 - 19 Tinie Tempah Prince Bandroom March 7 Sublime With Rome 170 Russell March 8 Don Henley Rod Laver Arena March 8 Tegan & Sara Melbourne Zoo March 8 Nathanial Ratecliffe & The Night Sweats And C.W Stoneking Seaworks March 9 Babylon Festival Feat. Claude Vonstroke, Joris Voorn, Lee Burridge, Magda, Carl Cox And More Northern Grampians March 10 – 13 Port Fairy Folk Festival Feat. Paul Kelly, Charlie Owen, The Warsaw Village Band And More Port Fairy March 10 – 13 A Festival Called Panama Feat. Big Scary, Emma Louise, Ngaiire, Julia Jacklin And More Lone Star Valley, Tasmania March 10 - 12 Justin Bieber Etihad Stadium March 10 Dead Letter Circus Max Watt’s March 10 Martha Wainwright Melbourne Zoo March 10 James Vincent Mcmorrow Recital Centre March 10 A Weekend In The Gardens Feat. John Farnham, Boy & Bear, San Cisco And More Royal Botanic Gardens March 10 – 12 Chain And The Gang The Tote Saturday March 11 Golden Plains Festival Feat. Neil Finn & The Specials, Nicolas Jaar, Chain & The Gang And More The Sup March 11 – March 13 Katy Steele Northcote Social Club March 11 The Damned 170 Russel March 12 Frightened Rabbit Corner Hotel March 12 Teenage Fanclub The Corner March 13 Meshuggah 170 Russell March 15 Willie Watson Melbourne Recital Centre March 15 Dori Freeman Northcote Social Club March 16 Violent Femmes Hamer Hall March 16 Adele Etihad Stadium March 18 Little Big Town Hamer Hall March 22 Kingswood Sookie Lounge March 23, 170 Russell March 24 The Hills Are Alive Feat. Cloud Control, Dope Lemon, Remi, Northeast Party House And More South Gippsland March 24 – 26 Jack Carty Bella Union March 25 Balance & Composure Arrow On Swanston March 25, Corner Hotel March 26 Holly Throsby Northcote Social Club March 26 By The Meadow Festival Banoffee, Jaala, The Pretty Littles And More. Bambra March 31 – April 2 Shady Cottage Feat. Sex On Toast, Wax’o Paradiso, Planete, Sunbeam Sound Machine And More North Blackwood March 31 – April 2 Illy Festival Hall April 1 I Prevail Corner Hotel April 1, Arrow On Swanston April 2 Dixie Chicks Rod Laver Arena April 1 Bec Sandridge Northcote Social Club April 1 Parcels The Gasometer Hotel April 1 The Peninsula Picnic Feat. Cat Empire, Bob Evans, Harrison Storm And More Mornington Racecourse April 1 Blondie And Cyndi Lauper Rod Laver Arena April 6, A Day On The Green April 8 Shapeshifter 170 Russel April 7 Windhand & Cough Corner Hotel April 7 Snarky Puppy Melbourne Recital Centre April 8 Bonnie Raitt Hamer Hall April 10 Mary J. Blige Hamer Hall April 12
RUMOURS Danzig, Arcade Fire, Darkest Hour
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