Beat 1707

Blak futurism at YIRRAMBOI Festival

“We’re shifting the paradigm of what’s perceived as First Nations art.”

– 6 Jul y / 7. 30p m

Experience an evening of power ful song and sublime stor y telling, One Song will celebrate the enormous legacy of Archie Roach AC AM, as par t of the MSO’s NAIDOC Week program.

Ar t s Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Talia Rinaldo

STAFF WRITER

Kaya Martin

DESIGN

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Bryget Chrisfield, Ben Lamb, Luke Carlino, Joshua Jennings, Jacob McCormack, Tamara Vogl

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PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

SOCIALS

Æ This month, YIRRAMBOI Festival takes over Naarm with 170 shows across 40 venues celebrating Blak futurism and redefining what we think about First Nations art. The State Theatre will become a queer club, Melbourne Town Hall’s Grand Organ will be used for underground techno, Section 8 will explode into a huge Block Party and the Meat Market - renamed the Jack Charles Festival Hub - will transform into a First Nations runway replete with fashion, art, music, trapeze and dance.

Also in this issue, Regurgitator reflect on 25 “weird” years and their unique place in Australian music history. We chat flipping the narrative with Mo’Ju, the origins of the saxophone with Niels Bijl, embracing heritage with Jen Cloher, and diversity in theatre with & Juliet’s Amy Lehpamer and Rocky Horror Show’s Stellar Perry.

We also have guides to the best stage productions, art exhibitions and gigs to catch this month, reviews of the latest local releases, and spotlights of the best venues to check out around the city. Dig in.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS

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

Beat Mag will be distributed free every month to hundreds of locations around metro Melbourne, to enquire about having it at your venue email distribution@furstmedia.com.au

COVER

Our May cover stars are House of Alexander, who are performing BLAKOUT as part of YIRRAMBOI Festival.

First things first, check out our new digs. It’s been 12 months since we re-launched our print mag so we figured a fresh new look was in order. We even have QR codes (in case that novelty hasn’t worn off).

Ç SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS REVEALS FULL LINEUP

The Splendour in the Grass 2023 lineup has been revealed with Lizzo joined by Australian exclusive shows from Flume and Mumford & Sons, plus Lewis Capaldi, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, J Balvin and more.

Ç WANDERER FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST LINEUP

Wanderer Festival has revealed its first lineup announcement, with Jungle Giants, Spiderbait, Kevin Morby, Lisa Mitchell and Melbourne Ska Orchestra all set to perform. Taking place from September 29 until October 1, Wanderer Festival is held at Pambula Beach on the Sapphire Coast.

LIZZO ANNOUNCES HEADLINE TOUR

Straight off the back of being announced as a Splendour in the Grass headliner, four times GRAMMY Award-winner, Emmy Award-winner, songwriter, rapper, flautist and singer Lizzo has announced she’ll be bringing The Special Tour 2023 to Australia and New Zealand this July for a series of headline shows. Catch her when she heads to Melbourne for a show at Rod Laver Arena on July 17, with an added show on July 18.

THE RAILWAY HOTEL IS REOPENING

Great news for Melbourne’s pub scene. The folks behind some of Melbourne’s most popular watering holes – including Corner Hotel, Northcote Social Club and National Hotel Richmond – have announced the acquisition of The Railway Hotel in Fitzroy North. With plans to preserve the pub’s unique character, The Railway is set to remain an authentic and welcoming spot for locals.

Ç JESSICA MAUBOY, YOTHU YINDI LEAD TREATY DAY OUT

Heading to Naarm for the first time, Treaty Day Out has unveiled its incredible lineup. Treaty Day Out promises to be bigger, better, and deadlier than ever before – from Jessica Mauboy to Yothu Yindi, this year’s event is set to feature an outstanding lineup of First Nations talent. Treaty Day Out will be held under the big top at Burnley Circus Site on June 3.

Ç SOUTH SIDE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO FRANKSTON

Frankston boasts a distinctive combination of modern urban amenities, and is set to host the dazzling South Side Festival this May. Featuring a stellar line up of art exhibitions, First Nations Dance, torch lit street art tours, light and sound installations and live music, South Side Festival will take over the city from May 5 to 14.

Ç KIMBRA IS PLAYING MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE

New Zealand-born pop star and two-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Kimbra is playing Melbourne Recital Centre on June 2. Kimbra recently released her fourth studio album, A Reckoning, a record she hopes listeners will find catharsis and connection on, whether they are contending with change in their own lives or processing shifts in the world around them.

Ç SLEAFORD MODS ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Sleaford Mods announce their long awaited return to Australian shores off the back of their latest album UK GRIM. The Nottingham duo will be bringing their latest sounds to every Australian state in June, playing The Forum on June 3.

MUSHROOM RECORDS IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MAKING NOISE

Founded in Melbourne in 1972, Mushroom Records has defined the Australian music scene for half a century. To celebrate, they will be hosting a series of events including a massive blockbuster anniversary concert in November, a feature documentary about Mushroom’s founder Michael Gudinski and a series of reimagined singles covering Mushroom classics from throughout the label’s history.

JAMES REYNE, ELLA HOOPER ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

James Reyne and Ella Hooper have joined forces to record Reyne’s 1992 hit with James Blundell, Way Out West, the song originally released by The Dingoes back in 1973. Reyne and Hooper will take their new version of Way Out West on the road from May through to August this year with a massive run of dates weaving right across the country.

Ç HARD-ONS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND NATIONAL HEADLINE TOUR

Australian punk rock legends, The HardOns, are heading to Melbourne on June 24 as part of their Ripper ’23 tour. The tour is to celebrate the release of their latest album, Ripper ’23, which is set to be released on June 2. Catch them when they head to Brunswick Ballroom on June 24.

BIRDS OF TOKYO TO PERFORM LIVE WITH MSO

Ç CIAN DUCROT SET TO MAKE DEBUT AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Cian Ducrot, the Irish singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, is set to make his debut Australian tour this year. Ducrot is currently on tour as the support act for Ed Sheeran across the UK and Europe, but he will be headlining his own shows in Australia for the first time. Catch him when he heads to Melbourne for a show at Melbourne’s own Howler on May 4.

Ç ACCESSIBLE GROOVE TUNES PARTY ANNOUNCES 2023 HEADLINERS

After a banger inaugural run last year, Groove Tunes is back with a fully inclusive party like no other. Taking place on June 3 at Richmond’s Corner Hotel, the event has unveiled the first round of artists set to perform at the big show. This year’s headliner will be the rising British pop and RnB star KYE. She will be joined by Naarm collective Cool Out Sun and Fijian First Nations soul artist Voli K, plus more.

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT STEPS IN TO ‘PROTECT’ PRESTON MARKET

New planning controls, including a Heritage Overlay, will now be introduced to “protect” Preston Market’s heritage and “put beyond any doubt the importance of the market to the community”, the government stated. A precinct-specific Development Plan Overlay will be introduced, meaning any future development proposal must consider the Heritage Overlay and Development Plan Overlay and show how the market will be protected.

Australia’s beloved rock band, Birds of Tokyo, is set to embark on a tour like no other. Titled Birdsongs, the tour will see the band perform with five different symphony orchestras across Australia. The Melbourne Orchestra will join Birds of Tokyo for a series of electrifying concerts at Hamer Hall on September 21, 22 and 23.

Ç CUB SPORT ANNOUNCE BIGGEST HEADLINE TOUR YET

Indie pop outfit Cub Sport announce their biggest headline Australian tour yet, hitting stages across the country throughout August and September, before closing out the run of shows at Melbourne’s Forum, on September 8.

MARK NORMAND ANNOUNCES DEBUT AUSTRALIAN TOUR

New York comedian Mark Normand will embark on his first-ever Australian tour this May–June. Mark’s Fanny Guy Tour will kick off in Perth on Wednesday 31 May, before heading to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Known for his punchy one-liners, which have made him one of the most sought-after comedians in the industry today, Mark makes his Australian tour debut this May.

Ç GROOVIN THE MOO 2023 ADDS OVER 90 ACTS

Ç MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES STACKED 2023 LINEUP

Ç NGV TRIENNIAL 2023 PROGRAM REVEALED

From robotics to tapestry, weather patterns to war, mysticism to megacities; the NGV Triennial program has been revealed and will display from 3 December 2023 – 7 April 2024 at NGV International.

In just under a month, the national Groovin the Moo (GTM) tour will kick off, throwing the gates open at six regions around Australia in April and May. They might be counting down the days at GTM HQ, but they’re doing some addition too, adding nearly 100 new artists to their Fresh Produce program, each pumped to hit their local GTM stage across the country.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Australian metalcore trailblazers The Amity Affliction have announced their highly anticipated Australian tour Not Without My Ghosts with special guests Silverstein, Earth Caller and Winnerz Circle. This 2023 tour marks two decades since the band formed in 2003. They’ll be starting out in their hometown of Brisbane before weaving across the country and playing in Melbourne at the Forum on October 26.

Ç PRIVATE FUNCTION ANNOUNCE NATIONAL TOUR

Melbourne is in for a treat as Australia’s raucous pub-rock sensation, Private Function, are set to perform at Max Watt’s on June 2. Known for their irreverent marketing tactics, Private Function has attracted international attention for their recent LP, 370HSSV 0773H, which promises to be a bite-sized fever dream of septic tank sonic influences and fierce hilarity.

KATY STEELE IS HEADING OUT ON A NATIONAL TOUR THIS JULY AND AUGUST

Armed with her profound songwriting and ethereal talent, Perth’s Katy Steele has emerged brighter than ever with the news of a second studio album, Big Star, out in June this year, with a massive national tour to boot. Catch her when she heads to Melbourne for a show at The Workers Club on August 4.

The Melbourne Writers Festival has unveiled its talent for this year’s event, running from May 4 to 7. The festival is a must-attend for both readers and writers, featuring a ton of workshops, talks and chances to get your hands on your next favourite novel.

SECRET FLINDERS STREET STATION GALLERY OPENS AGAIN

In June, the exclusive ballroom will host the exhibition as part of Melbourne’s Rising Festival. The exhibition, curated by Yorta Yorta artist Kimberly Moulton, will run from June 7 to July 30.

Ç YOU ME AT SIX ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

One of the UK’s most successful modern rock bands You Me At Six are thrilled to announce they will be returning to Australia this July as part of their Truth Decay Tour with special guests Los Angeles-based trio, Set It Off.

LAUFEY ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR

LA-based, singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) will make her Australian debut this June with shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Catch her when she heads to Melbourne for a show at Howler on June 9 and 10.

Ç DARK MOFO 2023 LINEUP REVEALED

Featuring an impressive list of performers, including Thundercat, Ethel Cain, Sleaford Mods, Trentemøller, HEALTH, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, Laurel Halo, King Woman, Drab Majesty, Eartheater, Witch and Molchat Doma: Dark Mofo is back, baby. Marking the festival’s 10th iteration, Dark Mofo will run from June 8 to 22, showcasing a range of international acts across two huge weeks.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL ARE RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA

Known for their killer rock’n’roll and infectious feel-good vibes – make no mistake, EODM live are a sight to be seen – the shows are part of the band’s 24th Anniversary Tour celebrations. Catch them when they head to Melbourne for a show at the Forum on July 25.

Ç KING STINGRAY ARE HEADING ON A NATIONAL TOUR THIS YEAR

King Stingray is a five-piece Yolŋu (Indigenous people of northeast Arnhem Land) and balanda (non-Indigenous) surf rock band making serious waves across the land. Catch them when they make their way to the Forum on July 1 as part of their upcoming tour.

Ç CULTURE CLUB ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN GREATEST HITS TOUR

Culture Club will return to Australia for a national greatest hits tour this September, featuring special guests 80’s synth pop group, Berlin. They’re coming to Rod Laver Arena on September 9.

SHAHNEE HUNTER WINS DEADLY FUNNY

Shahnee Hunter has won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2023 Deadly Funny competition. Hosted by First Nations comedy legend Sean Choolburra, the line-up of nine finalists was a celebration of the best new First Nations talent from around the country.

Ç YIRRAMBOI’S PROGRAM KEEPS GETTING BETTER

YIRRAMBOI has unveiled phase two of their program – First Nations artists from across Australia will weave through Naarm, creating a citywide ‘blak out’ with Barring Yanabul and a fire live-music line-up for the Uncle Archie Roach Block Party, at Section 8 and the Toff.

Ç HENRY YAN CROWNED RAW COMEDY’S 2023 CHAMPION

Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s RAW Comedy National Grand Final took place on Sunday 16 April and crowned Henry Yan the best new talent in the country. He’ll laugh all the way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he’ll have a chance to compete in So You Think You’re Funny?

EAT GOOEY RACLETTE IN THESE POP-UP FED SQUARE IGLOOS

From May 18 to June 11, Fed Square will be getting a winter makeover with a little French flair. For three weeks, the square will host the Raclette Igloo Experience – an indulgent dining affair that takes place in private igloo domes. Scrape melted cheese atop plates of potatoes, charcuterie and cornichons, and finish it off with mulled wine and fire-roasted marshmallows.

ILLUMINATE ADELAIDE UNVEILS MASSIVE 2023 LINEUP

From June 28 to July 30, the South Australian city will come alight with a vibrant celebration of art, music and technology. Illuminate Adelaide has announced a meticulously crafted lineup of immersive art experiences, public displays and eccentric music from Oneohtrix Point Never, bbymutha, Tourist, Yothu Yindi, Tahlia Petrosian and more.

Ç POND’S NICHOLAS ALLBROOK WILL GO ON TOUR THIS JUNE

Perth musician Nicholas Allbrook, once of Tame Impala and now of Pond, is about to release his fourth solo album Manganese. Witness the magic at Melbourne’s own Workers Club on June 15.

TEDDY SWIMS IS HEADING BACK TO AUSTRALIA

Teddy Swims, the soulful and genre-bending singer-songwriter, is set to bring his electrifying live performance to Melbourne’s Forum on August 25. The Atlanta-born musician gained immense popularity after his YouTube covers amassed millions of views, leading to a record deal with Warner Records in 2019. Swims’ live shows are known for their electric energy, where he is backed by his band, Freak Freely.

Ç PIERCE BROTHERS ANNOUNCE HEADLINE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

The infectious duo will be celebrating with a string of headline shows across the country from April through to August. They’re set to head to Melbourne for a show at the Corner Hotel on May 19.

FRENZAL RHOMB REVEALS MASSIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Notorious 90s punk-rockers Frenzal Rhomb have released their tenth album, The Cup of Pestilence and have planned a huge national tour to show off their new tracks. The 14-date tour will kick off at Melbourne’s 170 Russell on May 19.

Ç NOVO AMOR TO HEAD ON TOUR THIS DECEMBER

The singer-songwriter Novo Amor has announced his debut Australian tour dates. Tender Welsh producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Ali Lacey performs and releases music under the moniker Novo Amor, and has announced his first headline tour in Australia. Playing the Croxton Bandroom on December 9, make sure not to miss his Melbourne debut.

Ç SARAH MCLEOD ANNOUNCES ONE ELECTRIC LADY EAST COAST SOLO TOUR

Australia’s Queen of Rock will be playing songs from her solo records, some broken down Superjesus songs and some special covers. This June, Sarah McLeod is touring throughout Australia with updated reprise of her successful 2021 show One Electric Lady which sees her performing with her dual output guitar. She’ll be performing at The Workers Club in Fitzroy on June 16.

Ç THE SMITH STREET BAND ARE HEADING ON A EAST COAST TOUR

Off the back of wrapping up their Life After Football Australian album tour earlier this month, selling out shows in capital cities all across the country, The Smith Street Band have announced another run of shows for June and July, with local shows on Friday July 28 at All Seasons, Bendigo and on Saturday July 29 at Barwon Club, Geelong.

Ç ELLA MAI ANNOUNCES FIRST MELBOURNE PERFORMANCE

When English singer-songerwriter Ella Mai popped up on Sydney’s Vivid Live lineup, we were crossing our fingers that she might stop by Melbourne as well. It looks like our wish has been granted: she’s added a new show on June 13 at the Palais Theatre.

YIRRAMBOI FESTIVAL

Naarm is gearing up for a spectacular celebration as Australia’s leading First Nations festival returns from May 4 to 14 to show-case the diversity of First Nations culture.

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

Æ YIRRAMBOI returns for its fourth and biggest year yet. The translation of the festival title in the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung languages is “tomorrow”, which perfectly sums up what you can expect to understand by attending the diverse collection of events this May. The ambitious showcase collates a massive 300 artists in just 10 days to perfectly encapsulate the interconnectedness and diversity of First Nations creatives worldwide.

The Uncle Jack Charles Hub will be the centrepiece for this year’s event, paying homage to the iconic First Nations actor, activist, and revered Elder of the arts community. Located at the Meat Market in North Melbourne, the hub will be a cultural haven for visitors to experience First Nations comedy, music, and art.

The rest of the festival - 170 shows - will be spread across 40 venues and locations, with a citywide Blak Out and Archie Roach Block Party on May 6 to take over the city, featuring artists like Kutcha Edwards, Amos Roach, Kobie Dee, Nooky, Yung Warriors and Keely. There’s also The DJ PGZ Live Experience, which will see the Gunai/Kurnai & Yorta Yorta DJ and producer bring his dark, underground club sound to Melbourne Town Hall’s iconic Grand Organ. Plus, the stars of our cover; House of Alexander, set to turn the State Theatre into an immersive queer club for BLAKOUT.

The focus for this year’s event spreads across five brand-new projects under the theme of Blak Futurism. These projects will challenge any preconceived notions of First Nations art, to exhibit the breadth of talent in upcoming generations. Beat caught up with the co-leads of YIRRAMBOI; Sherene Stewarts and J-Maine Beezley, to learn what to expect this year and what they’re most excited about.

Credit: Sapphic Flicks

“This is the largest First Nations festival in Victoria that supports a plethora of mediums, including ones that haven’t been done before in the First Nations space, in an effort to remove the red tape that society has placed around these artists; we’re shifting the paradigm of what is perceived as First Nations art. “Many people look at us in 2023 and still think that we only do dot painting or get painted up and do a corroboree. That’s important to the foundations of who we are and our cultural practices, but we’re much more than that,” explains Sherene.

YIRRAMBOI looks into a world reimagined around the thinking that if Covid bought us to our knees, who would survive in this country?

Sherene adds, “We get to delve into what we imagine as a blak future.” The festival programming is a direct response to current topics, be they political or artistic, and the significant lineup includes new and existing programs with a purpose. All of the producers and curators of YIRRAMBOI are First Peoples, and the curation of such a significant lineup is an achievement in itself. “We want to give an opportunity to as many creatives as we can. There are so many storytellers out there with great stories to tell, and we want to provide a platform for them to do that,” explains J-Maine.

YIRRAMBOI does a beautiful job of balancing stories and expressions from both younger and older generations, who were asked what the future looks like for their community. Sherene explains that YIRRAMBOI is the perfect opportunity for the wider community to experience not only First Nations art, but also get involved.

“Victoria’s First Nations art scene is so niche and so underground, the community that we are a part of every weekend is captured here, so we’re giving everyone an invitation to see our world. We see the festival as a call to action; it’s us asking you for allyship.”

Sherene continues, “First Nations people have a voice; we don’t need anyone to give us a voice; what we need is a platform and opportunity to be heard. I think that’s an important part of the foundations of what YIRRAMBOI is. The throughline that J-Maine and I have created for this festival is the question, what does a Blak future look to the individual? You’ll come to find that we see ourselves in the future as leaders of our country that we’ve looked after for generations.” We couldn’t have had a better guide to help us choose from the 300 First Nations creatives across the 10 days and 40 venues and locations, than artist and curator Rosie Kalina. Rosie is a proud Wemba Wemba/Gunditjmara woman, who is an artist, curator and creative associate for YIRRAMBOI, a position she recently received after starting out as a community arts worker and make-up artist with a range of experience from film and TV to fashion and other community-focused organisations.

If you’ve been to the Footscray Arts Centre, you’ve likely seen Rosie’s work over the years, which has focused on a First Nations future, perfectly in tune with the theme of this year’s festival. “I work with a lot of young people to break down barriers in various institutions,” she says. “It’s a real blessing to do this now with YIRRAMBOI, to bring the ideas we all have together and create an experience for our community.”

YIRRAMBOI is now in its fourth year and Rosie explains how this iteration is not only the biggest, but also one of the most significant. “We are proud to be bringing it back in a collaborative way. It’s an honour to see it back and watch it grow. This year we are really expanding on who we are as First Nations people, showing the diversity, beauty and joy that we bring to our community. After the lockdowns, we’re rising up and coming together in a way that is really celebratory; we’re still here, and we got through some tough times, and that holds a huge amount of significance.”

With performance categories ranging from dance, circus, comedy, visual arts, workshops, conversations, music, film, drag, theatre, cabaret and fashion – YIRRAMBOI is one of Melbourne’s most thrillingly diverse festivals with art for every taste and budget.

The YIRRAMBOI program shows the scope of artistic output from First Peoples in Australia and across the world.

“We’re pushing different mediums and platforming new ways of creating art, but I think this happened naturally with the creative art scene in Melbourne; given the tough times we’ve come through, we’ve seen an amazing shift.”

As for her must-see choice from the massive amount of options?

“I’m going to back myself,” she says, “as I’m curating and directing TOMORROW: the experience.”

First Nations futurism is displayed in a runway-style show in TOMORROW: the experience. It’s the first time YIRRAMBOI is hosting a fashion show, and explores the concept of a post-apocalyptic world through the lens of First Peoples. “I’m really proud of this allFirst Nations lineup of designers with performances by dancers. It will be immersive and different from traditional runways, which I think is such an exciting thing because it’s moving away from the consumerism aspect of fashion and platforming the designers as artists.”

TOMORROW: the experience takes place at The Uncle Jack Charles Festival Hub at the Meat Market in North Melbourne on Friday, May 12 at 7pm. “It is essentially a big performance piece accompanied by the beautiful garments we make. I’m really proud of it, it’s really experimental, and I wouldn’t want to miss it.”

Free activities are also planned throughout the 11-day festival, including a massive, city-wide Blak Out and Archie Roach Block Party, happening on May 6, which will take over the city with music, activities, and art installations.

Before we end our chat, Rosie mentions how important it is for people to realise that this year’s YIRRAMBOI is a true homage to the community’s elders.

“This is for our ancestors, elders that came before us and all of the people who paved the way; we’re also building a future that will nurture the younger ones coming up now. This is a celebration of Blak love and Blak joy, which is the most important takeaway for YIRRAMBOI this year.”

YIRRAMBOI FESTIVAL

WHERE: VARIOUS VENUES, MELBOURNE

WHEN: 04–14 MAY

This article was made in partnership with YIRRAMBOI.

“First Nations people have a voice; we don’t need anyone to give us a voice; what we need is a platform and opportunity to be heard.”

SHERENE STEWARTS, FESTIVAL CO-LEAD / CREATIVE LEAD

LA PRIEST

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Æ With two studio albums already released, Sam is set to release the brand new 7-track Fase Luna on Friday May 5 via Domino Records.

This new album stays true to the unique approach Sam has to songwriting. However, it carries its own nuance. Influenced by the coastal and ecologically rich landscapes of Central America, the album is mainly built by looped guitar sounds, ethereal vocals and ad hoc drumbeats.

“I had this idea left over from a Soft Hair project,” says Sam.

“A 2015 pursuit that I did with Connan Mockasin. The project provided a little window into a sound that we worked on together. We described it as slippery, lizard beach music. Kind of sleazy tropical music. A particular niche.”

It’s easy to attribute the word niche to any music that Sam may release under the moniker LA Priest. But Fase Luna was originally leaning towards becoming an extension of his previous work. It took the process of recording to steer Sam towards a new direction.

“I was actually going to go more into the realm of electronic sound,” he says. “When I was starting stuff out in Mexico, I had made an entire other record. At least the beginnings of it involved hours and hours of music that was just synths.

“I was just looking for a drummer at the last minute. It was about three weeks before we left, I initially thought I was going to do all the drums with my drum machines. “I just started watching stuff on YouTube and this little video popped up of this guy drumming in a field. Playing his little drum kit to Venus

As A Boy by Bjork. At the bottom of the video, it said Puerto Morelos, Mexico. The internet came to the rescue and pointed this guy out to me.”

Sam was located in Puerto Morelos at the time, and what ensued was a quick drum recording session over a couple of days. The album was still unfinished though and it wasn’t until Sam travelled to Costa Rica, which provided a change in scenery, that it assumed its final form.

“It was something where I thought this would be bad for the recording,” says Sam. “Mexico was nice, but it was really built up. They just build it up and make it shiny and concrety for the tourists, but in Costa Rica they just leave it. You can just enjoy nature and not be surrounded by glass and concrete.”

The sunny, tropical and natural paradise of Costa Rica is a significant departure from Sam’s home in Wales. Although he admits that he quickly became accustomed to his new surrounds. An immersion that pronounces itself in the way Fase Luna captures the serenity of nature.

“It is amazing how quickly you get accustomed to your surroundings,” He says. “Within a couple of weeks, I found myself being unaware of some aspects of my surroundings, but only certain aspects. Somethings you wake up and can’t ignore. The sound of all the insects and animals hits you every day. “It’s just dead silent where I grew up and here in Wales. Except for the sound of cars and postmen. The word is dead. Life is hidden, whereas life is all around you [in Costa Rica].”

Not only does Fase Luna exist as a unique album because of the inspiration that came from the environment Sam found himself in, it also acts as a return to playing guitar. An instrument that has contributed greatly to Sam’s musical expression throughout the years.

“When I first started LA Priest, I didn’t want to touch a guitar again for a while because I did a lot of it in my first band. I just thought that’s it, I’m just going to be synth guy. I had a long time where I wasn’t thinking about anything guitar related. I got back into it on the second album.”

“It was one single thing for the whole record just on a guitar, not even plugged in, it was just me strumming the guitar into the laptop microphone for 40 minutes.”

What has evolved is the hypnotic and dreamy Fase Luna – a journey into the mystery of nature.

LA PRIEST

INSTAGRAM: @TRULYLAPRIEST

You can stream Fase Luna from May 7. This article was made in partnership with Domino Records.

Sam Eastgate has been playing music since he was eight years old. Involved in multiple bands, projects and sonic experimentations, one of the most notable and experimental of them all is LA Priest.

“It’s just dead silent where I grew up and here in Wales. Except for the sound of cars and postmen. The word is dead. Life is hidden, whereas life is all around you in Costa Rica.”

“I see LA Priest as a character. I know the character I am supposed to be playing.”

THU 4 MAY

NIR TSFATY

SAT 6 MAY

SHOTA IKEDA

TUE 9 MAY

TONY J KING

SAT 13 MAY BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS

FRI 19 MAY

ELIZA MITHEN

WWW.MIKEODOWD.COM

SAT 20 MAY THE DAGS

MON 22 MAY DAVID KNIGHT

TUE 23 MAY KATANKIN

THU 25 MAY ALEX TAYLOR

SAT 27 MAY NELSON BEKS TRIO

SUN 28 MAY THAT CHANGES

REGURGITATOR

Their iconic 1997 album Unit will be played in full with an extended set of hits, and some killer supports in May.

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

Æ If you’re the type of Regurgitator fan that likes their old stuff better than their new stuff, you’re in for a treat as the band celebrates and pays homage to their iconic 1997 album, Unit next month. The record will be played in full with a Unit-era line-up that includes keytarist Shane Rudken for two shows at the Forum as part of a nationwide tour.

Surprisingly, this will be the ‘Gurge’s first-ever appearance at the legendary venue. “We’ve never played the Forum, which is a bit weird for us,” Quan Yeomans, Regurgitator frontman, tells us after recovering from a sickness that may or may not have been Covid.

He’s keen to reflect on the classic album after 25 years and the upcoming tour, which features DZ Deathrays, Custard, Butterfingers, and Glitoris. “I have to pinch myself because I’m 50, and I still get to do this shit and level up. It’s amazing; this tour feels like something bigger than we’ve ever done.”

This may actually be the case, as the line-up reads more like a mini-festival than a Regurgitator show with four support acts, all of whom are major drawcards in their own right.

We’ll get to this later, but first, let’s address the fact that for some of you reading this, nothing will make you feel older than the fact that Unit was 25 years ago. For Quan, revisiting the album is somewhat odd:

“I think as an artist, when you are looking back at something so far away, there is a kind of alien artifact element to it because you work on something for such a long time then just kind

of let it go. It doesn’t feel like it’s my music anymore; it’s more like, ‘who the hell wrote this, it is bizarre.’”

Quan says Unit has moments of cohesion, but is ultimately very disjointed. “I do love how unexpected it is; it still surprises me to this day when I listen to some of the tracks that made it onto that record, and how popular it was.

“We just look at each other and think ‘how the hell?’ It is one of the weirdest popular records in Australia; I don’t think that happens all that often.” The record, which won five ARIAs, including Album of the Year in 1998, certainly was a strange one with tracks like The World of Sleaze and I Will Lick Your Asshole, but it also came in heavy with the hits: Polyester Girl made it to 26 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 1998 and ! (The Song Formerly Known As) reached number six, while also being nominated for three ARIA awards the following year.

stage, I thought they sounded better than I’d ever remembered them. A lot of these older bands are really playing brilliantly purely because they’re not as blotto,” he laughs.

I mention I wasn’t surprised that TISM weren’t on the bill, after their and Regurgitator’s very public (and also very fake) feud about sharing the stage at Good Things festival last year.

“Oh my TISM, god bless them. We find it hard to find people who are on the same wavelength to muck around and have fun these days.”

I inform Quan that one of TISM’s secret Good Things warm-up shows was listed as a Regurgitator cover band in the gig guides, which draws more laughter. “It’s strange that there aren’t more bands like that at the moment, isn’t it? There seems to be a lot of seriousness. The whole idea of backlash is quite different now.

“We lived through an era of the idea of selling out, but you weren’t really exposed. Everyone is very exposed now, and this whole idea of exposure makes every move a little bit harder to make because you are overthinking everything.”

While the immediate future is all about celebrating the past, the rest of the year is very much about moving forward for Regugitator, who are deep in the process of writing and recording a new album.

“We just did a session up in Brisbane, which is probably about 50% of the new record. We’ve got about six songs each, and I’m pretty happy with about half of those, I’m actually working on drums today.”

Every second of Unit will be on display for the upcoming shows and tour, and to help warm up to this momentous occasion, Regurgitator have picked a unique line-up of acts.

“With DZs, I was surprised they said yes to be honest. They are lovely guys, and I think they bring a lot to the line-up. I’m really amazed they are on board.

“We met them at the first show in Brisbane, and they were so excited to be there; it’s great when you meet young bands that are in it for the passion.”

The bill balances old and new with an inclusion that will likely get many 90s kids excited - Custard. “Custard have a long history with us, we’ve done numerous tours with them, but I have a weird relationship with their music,” Quan says.

“I can’t remember being that enthralled with it when we were touring with them back in the 90s. I liked some of their songs, and I’ve always loved Dave’s banter; I think his banter is fucking amazing, but to be honest, when I saw them the other day playing on the big

Quan expects the record to be out later this year and is feeling pretty good about it all. “We wanted to go in with a concept, which is very hard for this band because we do jump all over the place. It seems to have a stronger foundation than most of our previous records, post maybe Art?

“We’ve slowed things down and thought about the songs a bit more. It was mainly just fun being up in Brisbane and recording in an actual studio again; we haven’t done that in a long time!”

REGURGITATOR

WHERE: THE FORUM

WHEN: 13, 14 MAY

“We just look at each other and think ‘how the hell?’ It is one of the weirdest popular records in Australia; I don’t think that happens all that often.”

QUAN YEOMANS, REGURGITATOR FRONTMAN

STAGE GUIDE

Stage shows happening this May

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

DRIFTWOOD

It’s been a staple of Melbourne stages for a number of years now, and it’s set to return to the popular Chapel off Chapel stage this May. The show details the story behind Australian / Austrian sculptor Karl Duldig, and his wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig, focusing on their journey from pre-war Vienna until their move to Melbourne, where they became household names in the world of design.

CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL FROM 03 MAY

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

It’s been to other corners of Australia, but this May, it’s Melbourne’s turn for one of the most iconic musicals of all time. Set to star Jason Donovan and Myf Warhurst in leading roles, the Richard O’Brien musical celebrates 50 years in 2023 and has seen rave reviews over those five decades, with classic hits like Time Warp ensuring its timeless appeal.

ATHENAEUM THEATRE FROM 18 MAY

VELVET REWIRED

Also taking place at the Athenaeum Theatre this month, Velvet Rewired is a show hitting Melbourne thanks to star of stage and screen Marcia Hines. It brings the vocal prowess of Hines and mixes it with interesting circus and dancing elements, so it’s set to be a night you’ll never forget.

ATHENAEUM THEATRE UNTIL 07 MAY

ONCE: THE MUSICAL

Another popular musical is gracing Melbourne stages yet again this May, after making its way around the country in the past few months. The story details the journey of an Irish musician who is on the verge of giving up the craft. The book is penned by Enda Walsh, with music by popular co-writing duo Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

COMEDY THEATRE FROM 06 MAY

TOMMY EMMANUEL

He’s arguably one of the most recognisable names in the world of guitar, and has become an influence for many across the world. The Australian is hitting the stage with many of his hits from over the decades, four years since he hit the touring world in his home country. Tommy will be hitting the stage armed only with his guitar when he comes to Arts Centre later this May.

HAMER HALL SUN 28 MAY

GENDER EUPHORIA: MIGHTY REAL

Back in 2019, Gender Euphoria hit the stage as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival, and now a new show is hitting Arts Centre from the same brains. Taking place at the State Theatre, this show will be a cabaret, showcasing an ensemble of transgender and gender diverse performers.

STATE THEATRE FRI 19, SAT 20 MAY

ADRIFT

Coming to the La Mama Theatre this May, Adrift is a brand new show from the same creators as Cuckoo, The Yellow Wave, and Boy Standing In Front of A Girl. This comedy drama relates heavily to every day life, dealing with how we try and find meaning in the crazy world we live in. This show is also set to have a live-streamed session if you don’t feel like leaving your house.

LA MAMA THEATRE FROM 24 MAY

CAVALCADE

This show mixes a number of popular arts mediums together, featuring a pianist / trapeze artist and actors with sprint cyclists. Cavalcade brings them together in an original and distinct way – there aren’t many shows where you’ll be able to experience a cavalcade like this. It stars Peter Dumsday, Tom Considine, Peter Houghton, and John Jacobs.

THE ELEVENTH

HOUR THEATRE FROM 09 MAY

ALI M c GREGOR

with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

★★★★

‘McGregor’s voice is phenomenal…’

The Age

‘…enchanting and superbly talented.’

Adelaide Advertiser

26 May 7.30pm

Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

JEN CLOHER

NICOTEENAGERS

The Melbourne industrial-alt rockers

pivot their sound on new single Crawl.

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

Æ Melbourne’s Nicoteenagers have achieved a lot in the few years since their inception. Their first release also happened to be a full album titled A Tale for Two in 2019, and their subsequent singles Ravolture, First Time’s A Charm, and Heart In A Hold followed quickly in 2020. Of course, we all remember what happened with the rest of that year, but Nicoteenagers capitalised on the world’s shared downtime, enlisting the help of Alain Johannes (QOTSA, PJ Harvey, Eleven, Desert Sessions) for the single What Are We Missing Here?

“Coming out of COVID was pretty sick...pretty sick, what a weird choice of words,” laughs frontman Drew Gardner. “We probably wouldn’t have been able to work with Alain if COVID wasn’t a thing because he was just kind of bumming around doing nothing.”

Gardner explains why Johannes was at the top of the band’s wishlist. “I wanted his sound; he has such an individual personality in everything he touches. I grew up on QOTSA, but as I got older, I realised the things I liked about them was what Alain was pulling into it.”

The result is a driving track that is as close as any local group has ever come to replicating the swagger of QOTSA. Nicoteenagers and Alain perfectly blended their individual styles to create a unique sound that is deathly attractive.

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Æ This year they released their fifth studio album I Am The River, The River Is Me – a 10-track LP that pays homage to their Māori ancestry.

“Māori is such a visually rich culture, so to bring that onto the stage is really special,” they say. “It’s my hometown so I am excited to put on a really good show, we have also got some brass, some horn players, we want to make it something unique.

“I was born and raised in Melbourne, I did live back in Aotearoa. Mum is from the far north, which is about four and a half hours north of Auckland. Dad was from the south island. He was from the West Coast, in a place called Hokitika. They call it the wild west because it is so far away. My mum has Māori lineage, and my dad is Irish.

“It’s weird I kind of got dumped in Australia, not that I see it that way, I mean I really love living here. It’s like they had me and just left.” As Jen continues to immerse into their culture, I Am The River, The River Is Me weaves themes of ecological stewardship and anti-colonial rhetoric into the lyrics.

“The album title is a Māori proverb, or what is known as a Whakataukī. It really encompasses the themes of the album, which is that we are not separate from the earth, we are not a scourge on society, we are not something that just needs to go. “Rather we have been here since the beginning of humanity, taking care of the water, sky and land. That is our responsibility as humans, to be caretakers, custodians, Kaitiaki.”

Drew describes Crawl as an anthem for the misfits, which is a group the band includes themselves in. “We grew up together in high school before we were a band, and we were the kids in school who didn’t really have a spot. I wanted this song to be an anthem for people who feel like they don’t have a place because they do have a place. The Nicoteenagers has always been that for us, so I want it to be that place for a lot of other people who feel like they are a little out of sorts.”

NICOTEENAGERS, CRAWL SINGLE LAUNCH

LEADBEATER HOTEL, RICHMOND

This article was made in partnership with Nicoteenagers.

20 MAY

Jen Cloher has been playing shows for 20 years and is partly responsible for establishing Naarm/Melbourne based record label Milk! Records.

BAND ROOM

Thursday 4th May

Beth Winter

Sunday 7th May

Claire Tonti

Friday 12th May

Milandra

Thursday 18th May

Ryan Martin John

Saturday 20th May

Lovegrove

Friday 26th May

Colin Lillie

Sunday 28th May

Jane Cameron

FRONT BAR

Tuesday 2nd May

Hugh McGinley

Friday 5th May

Dani Forsyth Electric Trio

Saturday 13th May

Elly Blackham

Trio

Saturday 20th May

Nils & Josh

Friday 26th May

Luca Brading Trio

Sunday 28th May

Phoebe Parsons

FRI 5TH MAY

CROSSWIND

SAT 6TH MAY

JEREMY BEGGS

SUN 7TH MAY

ADRIAN DEAKIN (RESIDENCY)

THU 11TH MAY

BUD

WILKINS

SUN 14TH MAY

ADRIAN DEAKIN (RESIDENCY)

THU 18TH MAY

OCEANIQUE

SAT 20TH MAY

BETH WINTER TRIO

SUN 21ST MAY

ADRIAN DEAKIN (RESIDENCY)

THU 25TH MAY

KARLO

ARCINUE

FRI 26TH MAY

TAYLAH CARROLL

SAT 27TH MAY MARK MORAND

SUN 28TH MAY

ADRIAN DEAKIN (RESIDENCY)

ARTS GUIDE Exhibitions to see this May

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

SUSIE RALEIGH AND NAOMI NICHOLLS: COMPLEX ORCHESTRATIONS

Susie Raleigh and Naomi Nicholls bring a unique combined perspective to Melbourne’s art world; their paintings are some of the most distinct out there. Taking place at the West End Arts Space this May, you’ll be able to experience the pieces during the opening reception on May 4.

WEST END ARTS SPACE 04–20 MAY

CERITH WYN EVANS:

C=O=D=A

Coming to the NGV this May from popular artist Cerith Wyn Evans, this exhibition is a large collection of neon drawings that truly stand apart from the pack. Wyn Evans’ work traverses different areas of meaning, focusing on abstract notions of language and space. The exhibition will be taking place in the beautiful Federation Court within the National Gallery of Victoria.

NGV FROM 19 MAY

DAVID FRENEY-MILLS:

HYPERGLYPH

This exhibition brings work from the popular David Freney-Mills to Gallery Elysium. With work focusing on the evolutionary process, using a collection of bright colours and shapes, this is set to be one of May’s most popular art exhibitions happening across Melbourne.

GALLERY ELYSIUM 06–28 MAY

ALWAYS MODERN: THE HEIDE STORY

An exhibition about the namesake gallery is coming this May, set to include a significant collection of pieces from the 1930s through until the 1950s, each telling the story behind the popular art gallery. Artists include Sam Atyeo, Moya Dyring, Danila Vassilieff, Arthur Boyd, Joy Hester and many more.

HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART FROM 13 MAY

IMANTS TILLERS

Imants Tillers is one of Australia’s most recognised artists, having been a staple of the scene since the 1980s. His work is often inspired by current events, brought to the canvas in interesting ways. This exhibition, coming to the Arc One Gallery this May, portrays familiar landscapes in exceptional ways.

ARC ONE GALLERY 27 MAY

GODDESS NIGHTS

With last month’s premiere of the now popular Goddess exhibition, a new element is being added this May. Goddess Nights will bring the exhibition to the evening hours, with artists performing until the sun is well and truly down, alongside the amazing visual works. A number of the artists involved include DJ JNETT, CD, Pookie, Ayebatonye, and many more.

ACMI

THROUGHOUT MAY

PETE CROMER: SHOWCASE EXHIBITION

Pete Cromer is an artist based in the beautiful Otway region of Victoria, an inspirational space that heavily influences a number of his works, both the people and the wildlife. This exhibition will be showcasing a collection of his best works, usually full of dazzling colours and textures. There’s no question you’ll leave the Outre Gallery with a smile on your face.

OUTRE GALLERY FROM 12 MAY

JOHN MEZZINI: PRIMAVERA

John Mezzini’s Primavera is a collection of paintings that deal with isolation, physical expression and sexuality. The works in Primavera also focus on a rather specific collection of personal moments that we all experience. Each piece brings an interesting story to the exhibition, you’ll be able to spend hours there. FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS FROM 30 MAY

WORDS BY JOSHUA JENNINGS

MO’JU

Æ Should it be said, even right-wing social and political commentator Andrew Bolt piped into the discourse. Mo’Ju, a third-culture artist of mixed Indigenous Australian, white Australian, and Filipino ethnicities, hit on the disconnect between place and identity experienced by a large number of Australians.

The conversations Native Tongue generated were largely positive but ultimately exhausting for Mo’Ju themselves.

“I feel like there was a lot of talk about the last record – so it’s nice to have something fresh to talk about,” Mo’Ju says. “That album was deeply personal, and that song (namesake, Native Tongue) was deeply personal. And it was politicised… and it just came out at a time when everybody was ready to have this particular conversation, and I got caught up in the whirlwind of that.”

Naarm-based artist Mo’Ju’s previous full-length album, Native Tongue, sparked a lot of conversations about identity, heritage, and belonging in Australia.

Five years later, they’re happy to be having a new conversation about new album, Oro, Plata, Mata.

Oro, Plata, Mata, Mo’Ju’s fourth studio album, pays homage to the work of their late uncle, acclaimed filmmaker Maurice Ruiz de Luzuriaga Gallaga (better known as Peque Gallaga).

Gallaga, whose filmography includes Shake, Rattle & Roll, Magic Temple, Tiyanak, and Sonata, is best known for directing Oro, Plata, Mata (Spanish: Gold, Silver, and Death), a historical war drama that earned him various awards, including from the International Film Festival of Flanders-Ghent and the Manila International Film Festival.

Oro, Plata, Mata, the film, is an epic that tells the story of two affluent Filipino families whose fortunes deteriorate in the course of Japan’s occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

Mo’Ju’s album has its own narrative but also shares commonalities with the film. The album, like the film, is split into three themed sections – ‘oro’ (gold), ‘plata’ (silver), ‘mata’ (death) – that nod to the Filipino architectural superstition that essentially forbids building in multiples of three, since the number ‘three’ in these sequences is counted as ‘mata’.

The familial thread throughout this record extends beyond Mo’Ju’s homage to their uncle.

They became a first-time parent during the making of the record, and Mo’Ju’s aunt, Madeline Galaga, voices introductions to each themed section of the record over instrumental interludes.

Mo’Ju’s longtime collaborator and bassist Harry Jenkins produced the new record, with further production from bandmates Lewis Coleman (keys, samples, BVs in the band) and Milan Ring (guitars and vocals in the band).

The songs are an ornate mix of traditional percussion, woodwind, piano, and synthetic electronic elements, all bedding under and around the electric force of Mo’Ju’s voice. The record, which encompasses soul, R&B, and hip-hop sensibilities at turns, is an epic for the concept album tradition.

Mo’Ju laughs when they think about how ambitious the record was. “I think it’s a wild thing we’ve done – to look back at it now and say, ‘Wow, we really went to town.”

“I’ve said this so many times: I don’t want to make the same record twice. For me, a huge part of the creative process is about being outside of my comfort zone, and trying new things, and challenging myself.”

One of the silver linings of frequent lockdown periods during the pandemic was the opportunity it afforded Mo’Ju to dig really deep into the album.

Like a lot of great concept albums, Oro, Plata, Mata is built ground-up, layer on layer, with a fully concentrated vision.

“Usually I’d get to this point and be doubting it and hating it, and just looking forward to the next thing, and wondering how I could do better. But this time around… I’m really proud of this record… and I’m really excited to get to do that live.” Mo’Ju’s strong start to 2023 follows a great 2022.

Last year included a slew of sold-out stadium shows supporting Hilltop Hoods on their national tour. Mo’Ju earned a Music Victoria Award nomination for Best, Soul, Funk, RnB, or Gospel release, a National Indigenous Music Awards nomination for Song of the Year, and a Rainbow Champion honour, in conjunction with WorldPride, for their outstanding contribution to the Australian LGBTQIA+ community and culture.

Oro, Plata, Mata’s thematic terrain is custodian for a wide range of big ideas, including those centring on the glorification of wealth and fame, political change, and eco and existential anxiety. At the same time, the record is designed for people to make their own meanings.

“You want to say enough that you evoke certain feelings and that it is relatable to people,” Mo’Ju says. “But you also want to leave enough space so that the listener is able to project their own meaning in between the lines.

“Then it becomes a personal experience for them. It is something that they feel very much like it is speaking directly to them.

“Growth comes from being challenged like that,” Mo’Ju says. “As an artist, I want to continue to evolve and get better and better.

“That’s the confidence I am talking about. The confidence in trusting my own creative instincts and the confidence to follow my intuition in my artistic practice.

“If there’s no risk involved in what you are doing creatively, then you don’t learn anything. It’s not like I’m a surgeon. No one is going to die if I fuck it up.

“It’s part of the creative process. If you try something and it doesn’t work, then you try something else.”

MO’JU

WHERE: HOWLER, BRUNSWICK

WHEN: 27 MAY

Oro, Plata, Mata is out now.

“I think it’s a wild thing we’ve done – to look back at it now and say, ‘Wow, we really went to town.”

NIELS BIJL

For most, the saxophone is associated with jazz.

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Æ Images of John Coltrane spring to mind, taking audiences on intricate sonic journeys transcendent of the music that preceded him. However, the saxophone was not designed for jazz, rather it was created for chamber and classical music.

Niels Bijl is a chamber music saxophonist pushing the boundaries of how the saxophone has been used in composing classical music. He’s currently undertaking a residency with the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), where he is set to present an assortment of saxophone compositions with ANAM musicians on Friday May 12 at the Rosina Auditorium, part of the Abbotsford Convent.

“When I arrived in Australia I left a music scene behind in the Netherlands,” says Niels. “In the Netherlands for the last number of decades, saxophone has been completely and utterly embraced by the classical music world. Even though there have been people active in the classical music world with the saxophone in Australia – namely Peter Clinch, who was one of the biggest pioneers when it comes to development of classical music for saxophone – the overall assumption if I talk saxophone in Melbourne and Australia is that it is a jazz instrument. Which I completely understand. But if I was to say the saxophone wasn’t a jazz instrument, how would you respond?”

The saxophone was an instrument invented in 1844 by Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax. There needs to be an emphasis placed on it being invented, rather than a further adaptation of a pre-existing instrument, as this remains important to the story of the saxophone.

“The saxophone is, as far as I know, one of the few or the only instruments that has been invented,” says Niels. “The harpsichord is just a step in development over centuries of what ultimately became the grand piano, but the saxophone in itself is actually an invention that was brought to the world. It was introduced to the world in Paris in 1844, which is still 56 years before one could talk of the birth of jazz music.”

“He wanted musicians to be as quick and nimble as possible – virtuoso as flute or a clarinet – so technical abilities are easy to play, as are fast passages. He wanted the sound to project a lot, therefore the body needs to be made of brass. He invented it originally as a bass brass instrument with a woodwind mouthpiece.”

For Niels, “everything is all about exploration”, as his upcoming ANAM performance seeks to redress a lost era of saxophone experimentation in Australian classical music.

“After Peter Clinch sadly passed away in the ‘90s, the last 15 to 20 years have seen only a small number of people pushing the envelope when it comes to saxophone in chamber music.” “When ANAM asked me to do a program, they said ‘we should really do a program with a number of pieces that include saxophone’, and I gave them a book of pieces because there are thousands of pieces written over more than 200 years on the saxophone.”

However, Niels is set to condense the innumerable saxophone compositions into one show, at least for now.

It was introduced into the world of classical and chamber music to provide a bridge between woodwind and brass instruments. With the mouthpiece inspired by a bass clarinet, the saxophone was modelled off of the clarinet and flute to ensure that musicians could play fast sections of music.

“When Adolphe Sax presented the instrument, in his design he was looking for a bass woodwind instrument. Sax was himself a bass clarinetist. When you look at the bass clarinet you can actually see it looks like the saxophone: it has a bent metal neck and it has a bell at the end of the instrument that curves upwards.

“It’s a selection of pieces from the last 200 years,” he says. “I have to say it was one of those processes that most writers would call ‘kill your darlings’. There were so many pieces to choose from and what we ended up with was what I would call ‘Saxophone in Chamber Music: Chapter One.’”

NIELS BIJL, WITH ANAM

WHERE: ROSINA AUDITORIUM, ABBOTSFORD CONVENT

WHEN:

This article was made in partnership with ANAM.

“The saxophone is, as far as I know, one of the few or the only instruments that has been invented.”

NIELS BIJL, CHAMBER MUSIC SAXOPHONIST

Credit: Liam Davidson

& JULIET

WORDS BY TAMARA VOGL

Æ The production proposes a simple premise - what would happen if Juliet survived the tragic ending of Shakespeare’s most famous love story? What isn’t simple, however, is its diverse exploration of gender and sexuality. Performing in one of Melbourne’s most popular venues, the Regent Theatre, & Juliet offers a fresh lens to delve into important subject matter that has often been neglected for mainstream consumption within our city. We chat with veteran musical theatre actress, Amy Lehpamer, about the importance of diversity, representation and working motherhood.

& Juliet’s was written by Emmy Award-winning Schitt’s Creek writer David West Read and is stuffed full of bonafide pop hits courtesy of the legendary five-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter/ producer Max Martin. Martin is the genius behind more number-one hits than any other artist this century and has penned music for Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Robyn and Celine Dion.

The Australian cast stars noughties Australian Idol legends Rob Mills as William Shakespeare and Casey Donavan as Angelique, alongside Amy Lehpamer as Anne Hathaway - not the actress, but Shakespeare’s wife. Lepahmer has earned her musical theatre chops over the past decade starring in productions including The Sound of Music and Dusty.

Serendipitously, before hearing that & Juliet would be coming to Australia, Amy had read Hamnet - a historical fiction novel all about Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare, providing helpful background information on the pair’s relationship.

Upon the announcement of the upcoming Melbourne season of & Juliet, Lehpamer was keen to audition after hearing that the show was terrific and suspected the role could fit her age range and vocal style. But when she got the audition scenes, she says she was “bowled over in the best way”.

After an initial audition in Brisbane, this was the first hour Lehpamer had spent away from her newborn son. Her call-back in Sydney similarly posed complications as a new mother, where it proved to be a big logistical effort for Amy to fly with a four-weekold baby.

“Being a mum, even in my short experience of it, has informed so much of my role,” Amy explains, “Time is a whole different experience to me now, and Anne feels that keenly. She has devoted herself to her domestic life and enters the play with a drive to reconnect with her husband, whose life is very different from hers. In the course of it, she reconnects to her own personhood and finds her voice. And she does it over the course of a couple of nights. Talk about time management!” The show packs a punch with David West Read’s witty comedy, but also its contemporary exploration of themes of sexuality, gender and relationships. “Visibility is everything!” Amy says, “And wrapped in such a joyous package - it has been a true celebration of gender diversity on and off stage and I’m so lucky to be witness to it. Our trans and non-binary cast and crew are connecting with so much of our audience, too. It feels important and special, and necessary.”

Australian producer Michael Cassel had previously spoken on the effort placed on the diversity of the casting, reflecting that they wanted the people that the audiences see on stage to look like the faces they see around them in everyday life. Commenting on representation in the cast, Amy says, “Theatre is for everyone! And it really does have an effect on the next generation of performers. Kids in the audience will see themselves represented on stage and see a place for themselves one day. That’s incredibly important for the longevity of our industry, and for the relevance of it too.”

Amy also attributes part of the success of the show to the cast feeling represented and heard. The show was directed to give a lot of autonomy to every cast member, even down to the costuming, which allowed for individual personalities and preferences to shine through their characters.

& JULIET

WHERE: REGENT THEATRE, MELBOURNE

WHEN: UNTIL 04 JUN

Melbourne has become the third city in the world, behind London and New York, to stage the awardwinning musical & Juliet.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

The 50th Anniversary Production stars Australian superstars Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter, and Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Joining them is Stellar Perry as Magenta, who became a household name when she was a finalist in contestant shows such as Australian Idol, X-Factor and The Voice. Despite never acting professionally before, Stellar successfully auditioned for the role of Oberon in a Bell Shakespeare production of The Lovers.

the choreographers Nathan Wright and Danielle Evrat. They’re all open to suggestions, caring and patient. I enjoyed every single second.”

The days that have been challenging, whether it be on account of emotional or hormonal stressers, admittedly can feel like a slog for Stellar. But she says that the stage and cast are like medicine to her soul.

WORDS BY TAMARA VOGL

Æ For its 50th Anniversary production, the show will be playing a strictly limited season from May 18 at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre. We chat with Stellar Perry, cast in the enviable role of Magenta, about her journey to playing her dream part, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the special production and Magenta’s “mad cougar energy”.

Seen by over 30 million people in more than 30 countries, The Rocky Horror Show has captured audiences with its unique and mischievous energy. The hit music, characters, freedom and sexual awakening has become a cult-classic for people across all walks of life for decades.

“I’m so grateful to Laura Murphy, the writer of The Lovers, for thinking outside the box and casting an ‘alternative’ looking person,” Stellar says of her tattooed and pierced look. “It’s not really the ‘done’ thing and it’s consequently changed my life. I imagine there are a lot more talented people than myself with more body modifications that should get a look in.”

Stellar’s role in The Lovers resulted in being scouted by a producer for The Rocky Horror Show. The powers that be decided Stellar possessed Magenta-like qualities. An audition was teed up, and the producers and Stellar clicked immediately.

“Truth be told, I was just honoured to even be considered,” Stellar recalls, “But getting the part was life made!”

Like many who have seen the iconic movie adaptation, Stellar was obsessed when she first saw the film as a teen.

“Tim Curry raising his eyebrow and then saying, ‘How ‘bout that?’” she jokes, “Also a staple in the wank bank.”

Of the role, she says, “Magenta is honestly a dream part. I get to be a sci-fi obsessed and innocent usherette who opens and closes the show. Then I get to play a raunchy-fiend-Magenta who switches from a sub to a playful dom with a mad cougar energy. And then my favourite…an alien with a thick Transylvanian accent. I don’t know if it gets better than that!”

A “well-oiled machine”, the show has been exceptionally organised and efficient, making the rehearsal process fun, despite the hard work. “The director Chris Luscombe is one of my favourite humans ever to listen to and watch,” Stellar says, “As are

“Our cast are stupidly talented and in my opinion the best versions of each character that I’ve ever seen in a theatre production capacity,” she gushes, “So it’s just a bloody honour to share the stage with those freaks.” But of course, no stage production goes without its hiccups. Stellar’s favourite slip up involved Rocky stumbling his line while saying “piss off” with a heavy lisp. The entire cast all broke and lost it. “I guess I enjoy laughing at other people’s expense,” Stellar jokes, “It’s called method acting. That’s the story I’m sticking to anyway.”

Pictured (L–R): Darcey Eagle, Dierdre Khoo, Stellar Perry. Credit (all images): Pierre Toussaint

50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

WHERE: ATHENAEUM

THEATRE, MELBOURNE

WHEN: 18 MAY–09 JUL

Since it first opened in London in 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has paved its way into history as one of the rock ‘n’ roll classics of musical theatre.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

“Tim Curry raising his eyebrow and then saying, ‘How ‘bout that?’” she jokes, “Also a staple in the wank bank.”

STELLAR PERRY, MAGENTA

Jesus At The Gay Bar

Æ The title of Cub Sport’s fifth album, Jesus At The Gay Bar, shares its name with a poem by Jay Hulme. During said poem “a boy” approaches Jesus on the dancefloor, begging to be “healed… to be anything other than this”. Instead, Jesus reassures him: “...there is nothing in this heart of yours that ever needs to be healed.”

Cub Sport’s lead singer Tim Nelson has said he wishes he’d read this perspective-shifting poem while struggling to overcome his own identity-based shame surrounding queerness and religion (“having literally spent years of my life praying every day that I wouldn’t be gay anymore”), and hopes this set of songs will, similarly, help guide others towards self-acceptance.

“Always got the love/ Always got the love when it’s me and you…” – Cub Sport’s lyrics are extra poignant in light of their intraband love story: initially still closeted and in denial about their true feelings for one another, Nelson and keyboardist Sam “Bolan” Netterfield – who both grew up as members of a super-conservative and homophobic Pentecostal church – eventually came out and, in 2018, they tied the knot – squee!

Keep Me Safe is a postcard to Nelson’s former self – “Went and got a girlfriend/ Just to throw them off track” – back when the couple’s intimate moments were shrouded in secrecy and fear. “And I miss it/ But I don’t want it back…” – Replay, which flutters like a racing heartbeat, captures the excitement of stolen kisses and forbidden love. High For The Summer feat. Shamir (“We get high/ Just to get by”) floats in a suspended state of euphoria before Keep Me Safe (“I just wanna drive forever/ I don’t wanna come back ever”) careens down the freeway of love, full-tilt.

This album’s outstanding fourth single, Songs About It – a piano-house banger –transports us to the middle of a heaving dancefloor, lost in music worship and vibrating on the same frequency as our chosen congregation.

A smattering of vocal effects add ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere throughout (eg. the pitched-up “No one else around”s during Beg U – with its delightfully unexpected industrial-clank percussion – add desperation and emotional resonance). Nelson has described Mallrat’s chopped vocals, which elevate the record’s penultimate track Yaya, as sounding “like a little alien angel” – love! Then closer Magic In U – “You’re going to be alright/ And I’m always on your side/ I can see the magic in ya” – pulls listeners in for a comforting hug.

Jesus At The Gay Bar finds Cub Sport proudly celebrating queer joy – spiritual shackles, begone! – and more comfortable in their own skin than ever before.

ALEX LAHEY

The Answer Is Always Yes

Æ “Everyone’s a bit fucked-up, but they think they’re okay…” – are the first words sung by Alex Lahey – in her trademark effortlessly laidback, conversational style – on this album’s shiny opener Good Time. Lahey, who is queer and a daughter of migrants, has said that “living in a world that wasn’t made for you” teaches you how to laugh in the face of adversity and her charming third album is littered with humorous takes on traditionally shit scenarios such as two exes getting married, separately (Congratulations), and fake friendships (“I bet you when they’re on their own/ They’re shit talkin’ all the way home”). Earworm alert: that Shit Talkin’ chorus is impossible to shake!

How’s this for inventive rhyming!? “Puts me in an awful mood to test my social aptitude.” And the lyrical gifts keep coming: “Michael Bolton on repeat/ Give me something else to eat” (The Sky Is Melting: a cautionary tale about the overconsumption of weed gummies).

Bass-driven, penultimate standout They Wouldn’t Let Me In marks the first time Lahey has opened up about her queer teenage years in song. Then a repeated phrase (“I don’t want it all to be the way it was before it changed”) drives Lahey’s point home during the closing title track, which concludes with some downright dirty guitar distortion.

Self-described as “a collection of songs that embrace the absurdities of life and existing on the fringe”, The Answer Is Always Yes is ebullient and infinitely relatable.

CUB SPORT

CASH SAVAGE AND THE LAST DRINKS So This Is Love

On album number five, Cash Savage considers what love means to her “as a queer woman coming to terms with a marriage breakup and a mental breakdown”. Savage’s lyrical contemplation during the opening title track (“I’m not mine/ You’re not yours/ So this is love/ It’s everything I wanted it to be...”) is accompanied by minimal instrumentation, which gradually intensifies until The Last Drinks activate full beast mode.

“Inside my head sounds like a birdcage/ And the birds are waging war with cohesive thought/ And it’s loud in there” – Hold On is disquieting, with Savage opening up about her declining mental health.

Steeped in fury, Push’s backbone – a menacing, trance-inducing single-note riff – conjures QOTSA’s Feel Good Hit Of The Summer as Savage’s downward emotional spiral threatens to engulf her (“I’m not feelin’ too hot today/ I’m not feelin’ too hot today...”

Penned by Savage inside her one-bedroom flat in the middle of Melbourne’s fifth lockdown, this diary of an unravelling mind is heightened by a suffocating arrangement.

Just three songs in and we’re already fully spent! Then Every Day Is The Same offers some temporary respite, with Kat Mear’s mournful violin cushioning Savage’s fall. As Savage navigates heartbreak while also grieving the loss of the future she’d imagined for herself, we’re moved by her unflinching honesty. Brace yourselves for a harrowing and cathartic listening experience.

LA PRIEST Fase Luna

Æ When former Late Of The Pier frontman Sam Eastgate (the mastermind behind LA Priest) found himself stranded in Puerto Morelos – unable to cross the border to Belize due to travel restrictions – he created Fase Luna. Inspired by the Mexican port town’s ancient connection to the sea, guitar parts shimmer like sun glitter throughout.

“Late at night I can hear your voice in the ocean/ In the night time I see your motion… Nothing can keep you away from my arms” – It’s You is a dreamy song about falling in love with a mermaid, but the incredible accompanying music video portrays a different kind of aquatic love story: between a woman and a sewage fatberg.

LA Priest’s previous release, 2020’s GENE, was named after the modular drum machine he designed, built and used to create that record. Eastgate has since developed a DIY chord progression generator (available for use on his website: earthwindow.org), which helped him write half the songs on this bewitching follow-up album. He also used a translation tool to write the Spanish lyrics in Fase Luna’s “fairy story”, Sail On.

Surreal, innovative and loaded with wonky melodies, Fase Luna is a work of astonishing beauty and boundless depth.

Sidenote: How much does the creature on Fase Luna’s cover look like an Empire Of The Sun backup dancer?

LOCAL THE NEIGHBOUR Hume31 pt. 1

Æ Through his musical project Local The Neighbour, Taiwanese-Australian multi-instrumentalist David Quested hopes to provide “an approachable music companion” for those in need of some hope while stumbling through the messiness of life. He trained as a jazz drummer, both here and in the States, and Quested’s virtuosity is undeniable. Opener Cancel Me shimmies in – tambourine jingles, inquisitive riffs – before spotlighting Quested’s brilliant execution of drum patterns as they gradually complexify. Point Guard sounds like the raising hands emoji. “Wanna let down my guard, but only with you!” – this explosion of sunshiny melodies and jangly guitars celebrates finding that special someone you feel comfortable being vulnerable around. The curiously titled, acoustic guitar-driven Olivia Rodrigo // Lewis Hamilton (Bye Jeff) provides a ringside seat to Quested’s brain: “Fuck it, I guess I’m kind of lame/ I watch Disney on TV and I love Lord Of The Rings.” Quested also sings of Questlove as a “future friend” here, which we totally ship. Then Ruin Me – featuring sauntering bass supplied by Ryan Monro (The Cat Empire) –weighs up the risks of sacrificing everything to chase your dream.

Although thematically varied, this six-track EP remains musically upbeat throughout. And the closing Waiting Room – a cute instrumental boasting cruisy melodies and crisp woodblock chocks – will sound groovy at our next fondue party.

THE MOTLEY BAUHAUS

LIVE THEATRE, music and arts all takes place across this intimate venue’s many spaces. Regularly hosting a range of shows and events, The Motley Bauhaus hosts theatre from Melbourne’s emerging and established creatives.

FAMOUS FOR their focus on grassroots theatre. As the beating heart of Melbourne’s theatre scene, The Motley Bauhaus is run by a committed and creative team with a passion for supporting artists and bringing our community together.

INFAMOUS FOR boasting one of Australia’s largest selections of gluten-free tap beers. Celiacs, rejoice.

Æ Hosting everything from stand-up comedy to experimental theatre and daring burlesque, this grassroots theatre and arts space located in Carlton is a true meeting place for artists and art lovers alike. It’s a place where you can catch a show from some of our city’s most exciting creators, grab a drink at the bar, mingle with fellow creatives and soak up the energy of a thriving artistic community.

The Motley Bauhaus is more than just its cosy bar front - it’s a multi-purpose space with a range of artistic offerings. Upstairs, you’ll find a theatre, separate cabaret and performance space, a gallery, art studios, a recording studio, a dark room and plenty of space just to hang out. Whether you’re interested in visual art, theatre, music, or performance art, there truly is something here for everyone.

The Motley Bauhaus is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the arts scene in Melbourne. It’s a place where you can let your creativity run wild, meet like-minded people and experience the vibrant energy of a grassroots arts community. If you’re looking for a truly unique night out in Carlton, head down to The Motley Bauhaus - you won’t be disappointed.

Check out their website for their full independent theatre and art event program, themotley.com.au

WHERE: 118 ELGIN STREET, CARLTON

OPEN: 4–11PM TUE–THU, 4PM–1AM FRI–SAT

BABY SNAKES

LIVE MUSIC takes place in the front bar. Known for their incredible residencies, Baby Snakes attracts some of Melbourne’s coolest live acts and DJs.

FAMOUS FOR their upstairs bar, with a DJ, nice wines and matched snacks, and their occasional parties and events in the laneway.

INFAMOUS FOR their natural wine and a creative extensive cocktail list. You’ll just have to keep coming back to try them all.

Æ Located in the heart of Footscray, Baby Snakes is a hip and happening bar that is known for its good vibes, unique cocktails, excellent selection of wine and domestic beers, talented DJs and local live acts. The friendly staff, fantastic atmosphere, and delicious drinking snacks make it the perfect place for a great night out, a chilled afternoon session or a sneaky knockoff.

The small but tasty selection of tap beers, interesting twists on classic cocktails, and an extensive wine list make Baby Snakes a fantastic addition to the ever-growing Footscray bar scene.

The interior design is great, and the atmosphere is filled with funky music and a smoking area, creating a feel-good ambience that is perfect for relaxing and unwinding. With many faces, this is a great venue for any time of day. The staff are friendly and the service is excellent. You can even order in delicious pizza straight to your table from next door, which is a perfect accompaniment to your drinks.

Whether you’re looking for a great place to hang out with your friends, try new cocktails, or just unwind after a long day, Baby Snakes is definitely worth checking out. The bar has quickly established itself as one of Footscray’s must-visit bars, and it’s not hard to see why. So, next time you’re in the area, do yourself a favour and come say hi to the staff at Baby Snakes.

WHERE: 30 CHAMBERS ST, FOOTSCRAY

OPEN: FROM 3PM MON–FRI, FROM 1PM SAT–SUN

THE LOMOND HOTEL

LIVE MUSIC is one of the standout features of the Lomond Hotel - they’re well-known for supporting all musicians and showcasing top-quality performances on a regular basis. If you’re a music lover, this is definitely the place to be.

FAMOUS FOR its laid-back and welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of a rural family pub. The sense of community and support that surrounds this bastion of Brunswick is palpable, making it one of the last true musician’s pubs left in Melbourne.

INFAMOUS FOR being the best damn place in Melbourne to grab a Guinness. Proper, Irish quality.

Æ A proper local - step into The Lomond and you can catch actors, Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling crew, local and international musicians and music enthusiasts from all walks of life rubbing elbows with painters and bricklayers at the bar.

Situated at the intersection of Nicholson Street and Blyth Street in Brunswick East, The Lomond has a rich history dating back to its opening in 1888. With a menu spouting a wide variety of bistro-style meals, come and see why guests rave about the great food and impeccable service.

The Lomond offers an impressive wine list and a tantalising menu catering to a wide range of palates, from classic bangers and mash to the gourmet end of the culinary spectrum.

Special mention to the homemade desserts, which are particularly delicious. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite before a show or a leisurely dinner with friends, the Lomond Hotel has got you covered.

It’s an absolute hidden gem of a pub for bands and music lovers alike. The quality of the music is unbelievable night after night, and the food, beer and atmosphere are all top-notch. Drop in for a Sunday session or a Friday or Saturday night to catch some great bands. Conveniently located across the road from 3RRR FM, The Lomond Hotel is a popular spot for grabbing a drink before a live-to-air show.

MERRI CREEK TAVERN

LIVE MUSIC is what this cosy local hangout thrives on. Serving as a hub for Melbourne’s burgeoning music scene, its intimate setting is the ideal spot to gather with friends and experience performances from new and established local, touring and international artists.

FAMOUS FOR its lively and inviting atmosphere. This boutique watering hole truly is the perfect place to catch up with friends and listen to some of Melbourne’s best indie bands, all the while sipping on a variety of local beers, independent wines and classic cocktails.

INFAMOUS FOR their Appalachian-style Old-Time Jam Session every Saturday, when pickers of all skill levels are welcome to join in, are known to draw punters in from the street!

Æ From the moment you enter the Merri Creek Tavern, it becomes clear that this homey establishment embodies the very soul of the inner north. Located in the heart of Westgarth, the snug confines of a small band room play host to a diverse lineup of Melbourne’s top indie musicians, creating an intimate and unforgettable experience. In this unique establishment, vinyl records are the soundtrack to the cosy bar area, while the back room comes alive with the sounds of live bands. With an impressive selection of beers on offer, you’ll be spoiled for choice as you take in the welcoming atmosphere and friendly vibes. If you’re feeling peckish, you can easily order in from the many nearby eateries which range from Sri Lankan, Indian, Italian, Thai, Japanese and good old-fashioned fish’n’chips.

Regular events include the Old-Time Jam Session, laid back gigs every Sunday evening, and Enjoy Your Stay - a free Monday night double-header featuring some of this town’s (and the country’s) best up-and-coming pop, punk and indie acts.

Whether you’re in the mood for an intimate conversation or an energetic night of music and drinks, the Tav has something for everyone.

WHERE: 225 NICHOLSON ST, BRUNSWICK EAST

OPEN: FROM 12PM 7 DAYS

WHERE: 111 HIGH STREET, NORTHCOTE, OPEN: 7 DAYS

GIG GUIDE

MAY 2023

THU 04 MAY

BETH WINTER & BAND

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

BURNING B3 TRIO

Dogs Bar. St Kilda. 7pm. Free.

WINSTON SURFSHIRT

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $54.90.

HIGHER POWER

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $70.

3AM

ALREADY,ƝOAH, SINEAD BC

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.35.

MAGGIE LINDEMANN

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $64.90.

ACCESS ALL AREAS BAND COMP: HEAT SEVEN

Bonnie Rust, Electric Funeral, Madoja, Fire & Crown

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

IN HEARTS WAKE DIVINATION 10 YEAR TOUR.

Stray From The Path, Diamond Construct, The Gloom

In The Corner

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm.

THE BIN STOMPERS, ZERO CITY, FORKLIFT ASSASSINS

The Workers Club.

Fitzroy. 7pm. $18.10.

OHMEGA, ABLE8, BACTERIAL

BLEND, MADSKI, BART3K, LATENCY ERR_R, RAKISH, NIIX

Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

LO’99, TBIB, JOSH JAMES, WUNDERKIND, CARA MURPHY, YANNI ARSENAKIS

OneSixOne.

Prahran. 9pm.

THE BOITE PRESENTS

SUITCASE 3

FEAT: Minhy, Y.C.

Liu, MONRXE

Open Studio.

Northcote. 7pm. $15.

GROOVE DIMENSION

Bird’s Basement.

Melbourne.

7.30pm. $40.

TONGUE & TOOTH

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

7.30pm. $20 - 25.

BLOW THE HORN

African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

JACKIE BORNSTEIN’S SCREEN SONG

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne.

7.30pm. $40.

THE AUDREYS Sooki Lounge.

Belgrave. 8pm. $35.70.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 5pm. Free.

CIAN DUCROT

The Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury.

7.30pm. $49.90.

MASAYA, KOKO

Northcote Social Club. Northcote.

8pm. $18.40.

BUTTERED LOAF

Bar 303. Northcote. 9pm. $20.

INNER SANCTUARY

FEAT: DJ JNETT, Jimmy James Whitehart Bar.

Melbourne. 3pm. Free.

PABLO NARANJO

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

OPEN PIANO

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm.

FRI 05 MAY

ARROWS OF DESIRE, THE WAXEATERS, WILD CITY

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

HOLY HOLY, KWAME, CLEWS Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $66.30.

GAUDION

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8.30pm.

WINSTON SURFSHIRT

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm.

WILLIE J & THE BAD BOOKS, EILS & THE DRIP, HEADSPIN

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick.

8.30pm. $28.15.

ALEXANDER GAVRYLYUK

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7.30pm. $49.

SORBO AMPLIO, AL GUSTO Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $22.45.

THE FOUR SCOOPS

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

SPAGHETTI FUNK

FEAT: Pietro, Ed Fisher, Marco Raido Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

DËRTY BËRD + RENELOPHUS

Open Studio. Northcote. 9.30pm. $16 - 20.

COCO’S LUNCH

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne.

8.30pm. $45.

BLOOM SINGS

THE EVA CASSIDY SONGBOOK

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35.

JOHNNY LONGSHOT

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

SUPERMODELS, BABE

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

THE PRETTY LITTLES, THE BELAIR

LIP BOMBS, SHIPS PIANO

The Curtin. Carlton. 8.30pm.

UNSCORED, SKERZO, DADDY ISSUES

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $10–15.

KIM SALMON

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $29.34.

SUNSET STRIP

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.30–18.40.

OK HOTEL, OKAY DANE, SICK VISOR

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $18.10.

HOUSE TOO CROWDED

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

TELENOVA

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $29.59.

THE MAGGIE PILLS, LAST QUOKKA, ZIG ZAG

Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $20.

ATLVS + VILIFY, EVERLYNE, CEREMENT Cactus Room. Thornbury. 8pm. $15.

WILL SPARKS PRESENTS SPARKSMANIA

170 Russell. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $76.60.

DICKY TRISCO, LUKE MCD, LEBRON, FUNKY COL, DNE OneSixOne.

Prahran. 9pm.

SUBB-AN, DYLAN GRIFFIN, JOZEF CONOR, FRO, DANI WESTT, MORE Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 10pm. $21.42–31.62.

BADCOCK BROTHERS

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8.30pm. Free.

DAVE EVANS

Open Studio. Northcote. 6.30pm. Free.

SWAMP DOGS Micawber Tavern. Belgrave. 7pm. Free.

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION

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

THE AUDREYS

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $35.30.

MAT MCHUGH & THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $56.80.

SLIKNITA, ALL IS VIOLENT, REIGN MAKER, SKIN THIEF, BACCHANAL

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $17.35.

STILL HERE BY DAVE & THE DAVES Bar 303. Northcote. 7pm. $30.

MOTHERSLUG Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

NIGHTFALL WITH CLADDY Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

TRUMPET

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

SAT 06 MAY

GAVIN MAC Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. WITH WITCH, CREEK, THE KICK HEAVY Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $15.87.

MUM THINKS BLUE, MERAKI MINDS, JAYDA JEAN

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

NOW HERE THIS ALL STAR BAND

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11.30pm. $15.

PBS FM PRESENTS

SOUL-A-GO-GO

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $29.68.

YIRRAMBOI: OH

MY GOD I’M BLAK!

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7pm. $25.

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7.30pm. $60.

HELLPHX, LAZERLIPS, SNUB, KAI CULT

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $23.75.

FENN WILSON, BAD BANGS, GEORGIA KNIGHT

The Curtin. Carlton.

8.30pm. $22.85.

ROLLERBALL, THE PLANET OF THE 8’S, DUNEEATER

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood.

7pm. $29.41.

THE IRON MAIDENS

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $66.30.

GET BACK: THE SONGS OF THE BEATLES

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne.

8.30pm. $40.

KINGDOM CALM, EDGECLIFF, ALI AVENUE, THE KOI FISH

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 1pm. $15.

BLOOM SINGS

THE STEVE NICKS, LINDA RONSTADT & CAROLE KING SONGBOOK

The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury.

7pm. $43.50.

COOL CHANGE

Bird’s Basement.

Melbourne.

7.30pm. $35.

VWLS, SUSAN SKINTAG

Post Office Hotel.

Coburg. 5pm. Free.

SAND BROTHERS, NIC HUIGSLOOT

San Remo Hotel-Motel. San Remo. 9pm. $15.

THE PRIZE, THE JUDGES

Cactus Room. Thornbury. 8pm. $15.

THE JOHNNY

O’KEEFE STORY, STARRING

VICKY O’KEEFE

The Palms at Crown. Southbank.

7.30pm. $65.

CULACCINO. SAPPHIRE STREET, GECKO Bar Open. Fitzroy.

8.30pm. $17.35.

WOMBATUQUE: SAMBA DE RAIZ

Open Studio. Northcote.

9.30pm. $17.19.

SHOTA IKEDA TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.

AN EVENING WITH MISS GEORGE

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

RITA SATCH

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

TRIPLE BILL: NEUTRALISER + THE TONALISTS + THE NOISE Cross Street Music Hall. Brunswick East. 7pm. $25.

EBI (EBRAHIM HAMEDI): LIVE IN CONCERT Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 6.30pm.

CEEKO, NIASHA, MORE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.30.

UNCLE ARCHIE ROACH BLOCK PARTY

FEAT: Kobie Dee, Julai, Miss Kaninna, Nooky, Lixxxtrado, more

Section 8. Melbourne. 1pm. Free.

OTIS NAMRELL TRIO

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 9pm.

THE DISTANT SOUTH, THE BURNING BRIDGES, CATE TAYLOR

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $23.64.

SEAL PRINCE & THE ROOF RATS, WIDE BRIMS Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 2.30pm. $12.25.

SUNFRUITS, SCREENSAVER, EGGY

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $26.55.

FRENTE!, SALLY SELTMANN Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $67.50.

DISDAIN RECORDS

PRESENTS: THE LAST SPEW

FEAT: Pizza Death, Kuntsquad, Nepahlem, Endless Bore, Scraepe, Sidesplitter, Protospasm, Dental Plan, more The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 5.30pm. $27.

THE SUBORDINATES, ANAM STONE

JET, ZERO CITY Bar 303. Northcote. 7pm. $10 - 15.

LA FURIA

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

MERLO SHINDIG #8: PROGRESS FEST

FEAT: Martin & Camille, Cayn Borthwick, Powerful Owl, Chris MolnarThe Blue Shift

Merlynston Progress Hall. Coburg North. 12pm. $10 - 15.

LOOP DREAMS WITH BEN EAMES Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. Free.

ANJA JOY + HAMISH THOMPSON

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

NITIDA Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

TIN POT CLAY MAN, MAYBESITTER, KEAPER, SERF, LEO The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick.

7.30pm. $11.75.

THU 11 MAY

KIDS BREAK GLASS + AWAKING TYLER Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm.

GLORIA & THE FOUR SEASONS

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7pm. $30 - 185.

FROSTBITE, SICK BICKIES, MONGEESE Bar Open. Fitzroy.

8.30pm. $17.35.

KAREN & THE MANAGERS, DIRTY GWEN, BRUNETTE RED DRESS Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $12.25.

NONNA’S KITCHEN, ROMANIE, BIG MOIST & THE SMOKING DURRIES Cactus Room. Thornbury. 7pm. Free.

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $64.90.

CHLOE: THE BRAND

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $18.10.

GYPSY KING

JONES

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 9pm. Free.

OCIE ELLIOTT

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $46.95.

NATURE IN THE CITY

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.

MY LLARKTA SOUNDSCAPES

FEAT: Sarah De La Cerda, Alcides Neto, Ezequiel Balseca

Open Studio. Northcote. 7.30pm. $22.49.

NATHAN SLATER QUARTET

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

NORIA LETTS & AXLE WHITEHEAD Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $28.

ADAM MILLER

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

BLOW THE HORN

African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

XANI, KYLIE

AULDIST (DJ SET) , DJ ANDREW MCCLELLAND

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

GLASSHOUSE

JAM SESSION Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm.

INNER SANCTUARY

FEAT: DJ JNETT, Jimmy James Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 3pm. Free. OPEN PIANO

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm.

FRI 12 MAY

BEAT PANIC, COLD REGARDS, POST GHOST, GUN LAWS

Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $15.

MILANDRA, CLAIRA J, TOMALIA, KAMANU DENNIS

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

TAMSIN OTWAY & FRIENDS

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

ALEJANDRO ADAMS & THE SITUATION

Dogs Bar. St Kilda. 8pm. Free.

OCIE ELLIOTT

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $44.76.

LIZ STRINGER

Brunswick Ballroom.

Brunswick.

8.30pm. $43.96.

THE POOR

Leadbeater Hotel.

Richmond. 8pm. $25.

PORPOISE SPIT, SCRATCH MATCH

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

THE EXILES, THE MAGGIE PILLS, THE VALIANTS

The Curtin. Carlton.

8.30pm. $27.95.

RIPPER OWENS, MANIAXE, FLITCRAFT, DJ

ASH LIGHTNING

Bendigo Hotel.

Collingwood. 8pm. $41.87.

THE EMPTY THREATS, FAIRTRADE NARCOTICS, COLDWAVE, BELLHOP

The Workers Club.

Fitzroy. 8pm. $18.10.

INXSIVE

Bird’s Basement.

Melbourne. 8pm. $35.

SHAKE RATTLE

‘N’ ROLL

Athenaeum Theatre.

Melbourne. 7.30pm.

$89 - 129.

VERMANTICS, LUNA VEXA

The Toff In Town.

Melbourne.

7.30pm. $17.12.

AL MATCOTT, FULL CREDIT TO THE BOYS, THE HOT BLOODS Cactus Room.

Thornbury. 8pm. $10.

EL COLOSSO + GUTTERFIRE!, LAMASSU, GLYCEREENS

The Tote Hotel.

Collingwood. 8pm. $15.

MOLER, FONT, THE GOLDEN RAIL Retreat Hotel.

Brunswick.

7.30pm. $20.

CHRIS HOFFMANN

Micawber Tavern.

Belgrave. 7pm. Free.

THE FRUITY PICKERS

Bar Open. Fitzroy.

5.30pm. Free.

THE REDGUM YEARS STARRING JOHN SCHUMANN & THE VAGABOND

CREW

Memo Music Hall. St

Kilda. 7pm. $55.

SHELTER MELBOURNE

FEAT: Mark Blair, Thelma, Ango, EVA, Exray, Jade Fox, Mannoah Kenna, Slick, missé, Pat Bannister

170 Russell.

Melbourne. 10pm.

CRUSH3D

Max Watt’s. Melbourne.

9pm. $35.70.

LATE NIGHT

JAZZ WITH THE IRREVERENCE TRIO

Open Studio. Northcote.

9.30pm. $17.19 - 35.

JESSICA YOUNG QUINTET: THE MASQUERADE IS OVER

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne.

5.30pm. $45.

ALMA ZYGIER

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

8pm. $30 - 35.

THE SEBEN BROTHERS Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

THE KID LAROI EXPERIENCE: A NIGHT OF NON-STOP HITS

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.30.

KATIE NOONAN:

JONI MITCHELL’S BLUE 50TH

ANNIVERSARY, GEORGIA FIELDS

The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7.30pm.

BATTS, BRAILLE FACE Northcote Social Club. Northcote.

8.30pm. $24.

SIMON HOSFORD PLAYS YNGWIE MALMSTEEN.

Guitar Wars Corner Hotel. Richmond.

8.30pm. $39.

RUSS SPIEGEL SEPTET

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $15.

PINT OF ORIGIN

+ BUBBLE

Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

JAMES MARPLES + JESSIE L .WARREN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

HUMAN JUKEBOX

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

FIELD DREAM, SUNBATHER, KELSEY

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

SAT 13 MAY

ELLY BLACKHAM TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SOLAR WAX, SUPER TART, PORTAL GUN

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

L.N.C. Dogs Bar. St Kilda. 8pm. Free.

THEDELIRIOUS. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $15.

SUPERMERCADO

LIVE

FEAT: Honeysmack, Vanessa Worm, Hedchef, Jani Ho

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $29.46.

LIZ STRINGER

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm.

MORE MONEY

LESS PROBLEMS: MS FUNDRAISER

FEAT: That, Blui, Floss, Mistral Men, Tilly VW Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $28.85.

SPLIT SYSTEM EU TOUR FUNDRAISER.

FEAT: Phil & The Tiles, Stepmother, Doe St The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $25.

DYSSIDIA, WALLET INSPECTOR, SINES, AIDAN BLACK Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $18.69.

KISSTERIA + RIOT ACT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $34.95.

SEATTLE

TRIBUTE: ALICE IN CHAINS, SOUNDGARDEN & NIRVANA

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $30.

TEMTRIS, DEMONHEAD, FLITCRAFT, CHARIOT ARCANA

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $18.10.

THE FLEETWOOD PAC

The Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $61.20.

SHAKE RATTLE ‘N’ ROLL

Athenaeum Theatre. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $89 - 129.

MOTHER’S DAY

EVE: KAT GRETA + FULL BAND

The Palace Hotel. Camberwell. 6pm. $10.

LAWSON: A LIFE IN WORDS & MUSIC

FEAT: John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $50.

MAISIE, FAIRTRADE NARCOTICS, DANDECAT, ASTRO ELEVATOR

Cactus Room. Thornbury. 8pm. $10.

EL COLOSSO + GUTTERFIRE, GLYCEREENS, PLANET OF THE 8S, LAMASSU

Barwon Club Hotel. South Geelong. 6pm. $15.

DOUBLE BILL

FUNKTION 2.0: G

TANO + RHIA JOY

Open Studio. Northcote. 9pm. $16 - 20.

CRAIG SMITH QUINTET PLAYS

BILLY JOEL: IN A JAZZ STATE OF MIND

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

EMMA PASK

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

PETER CUPPLES: THE CAPTAINS QUARTET

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

VARDOS: THE HUNGARIAN DANCE HOUSE REVIVAL

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6.30pm. $30 - 37.

JOHN SCHUMANN & THE VAGABOND CREW PRESENT

HENRY LAWSON: A LIFE IN WORDS AND MUSIC Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $55. THE VELDS Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

1D VS 5SOS Night Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11.15pm. $15.30 - 20.

LOSER, MOANING

LISA, DIVERS Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

WRESTLEROCK

FEAT: ODYSSEY Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $45.45.

PINKO COLLECTIVE Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm.

CINCO SAVAGE, SPUNK, CAMMI KOI Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

SPAGHETTI FUNK & GUESTS

Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

THE BACKYARD BANJO CLUB

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

LEE GRAND

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm.

EZRA LEE

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

KANDALINI, TEAM VOM, MY SAFE WORD IS MURDER

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

THU 18 MAY

RYAN MARTIN JOHN

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. THE NECKS

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $49.06.

TORRIO! JAZZ IN CONTRAST

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $55.

MOSAICAS QUARTET

Open Studio. Northcote. 7.30pm. $22.49.

HENRY MANETTA & THE TRIP

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

TOQUI [TO.KI]

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

BLOW THE HORN

African Cafe & Restaurant.

Collingwood. 7.30pm.

NILS & JOSH EDINBURGH

Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.

ESTELLE CONLEY, QUINNY, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. $12.25.

JEFF LANG

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $35.

1300, MULALO, SRIRACHI

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7.30pm.

TIM FREEDMAN

Sooki Lounge.

Belgrave. 8pm. $56.10.

GUARD, SOARER, MINISKIRT

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm.

KISSCHASEY, TOWNS, BEC STEVENS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm.

MOUNT KUJO Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

INNER SANCTUARY

FEAT: DJ JNETT, JIMMY JAMES Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 3pm. Free.

OPEN PIANO

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm.

FRI 19 MAY

CASABELLA

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

BIFF & FRIENDS

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

BROWN SUGAR Dogs Bar. St Kilda. 8pm. Free.

THE NEW GEN(E): TAKE OVAH

Pride of Our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 9pm.

STATIC-X + SOIL Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $94.86.

GALLERY 3RD BIRTHDAY

FEAT: Cassettes For Kids, James Pepper, Jazz, Lex, Rino, Suki The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $23.35 - 44.76.

ROBERT FORSTER

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $52.12.

SOPHIA KIRSANOVA: BLOSSOMING WORLD

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7pm. $37.

PINK LADY, SUNDAY HONEY, SLEDGEHAMMER HONEY

Leadbeater

Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $14.80.

FRENZAL RHOMB, THE MEANIES 170 Russell. Melbourne. 8pm. $60.79.

RICHARD CLAPTON’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 7pm.

ZEP BOYS

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $66.85.

MICK THOMAS’ ROVING COMMISSION

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40 - 50.

MAKE EMO

GREAT AGAIN: AN EMO POP & PUNK PARTY

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.30 - 18.40.

LUCA BRASI, EAGLEMONT, OK HOTEL

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $57.15.

OPELOUSAS

The Lomond Hotel. Brunswick East. 9pm. $10.

THE FOUR SCOOPS

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

GEORGIA BROOKS TRIO

Open Studio. Northcote. 6.30pm. $17.19 - 35.

AN EVENING WITH THNDO, JAYDEAN GABRIEL & JAMES BOWERS

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

JOHN MCALL’S BLACK MONEY

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

LABCATS

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

JESSIE MAZZ

Micawber Tavern.

Belgrave. 7.30pm. Free.

GO-JO, PORTAIR

The Curtin. Carlton.

8.30pm. $22.85.

TOMMY MCLAIN WITH CC ADCOCK

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $60.

LUKE O’SHEA + LYN BOWTELL

Noojee Hotel. Noojee.

7pm. $15 - 35.

OPELOUSAS

The Lomond Hotel. Brunswick East. 9pm. $10.

1300, MULALO, SRIRACHI

The Workers Club.

Fitzroy. 8.30pm.

THE OPERATIVES

FEAT: JPS, NAM, MORE

Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

THE HIGH KINGS

The Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm.

LULUC

Northcote Social Club. Northcote.

8.30pm. $35.30.

PIERCE BROTHERS, WOODLOCK

Corner Hotel.

Richmond.

8.30pm. $46.

ROSS WILSON CELEBRATES

50 YEARS OF EAGLE ROCK

Yarraville Club.

Yarraville. 8pm. $40.

BETTY TAYLOR

Yah Yah’s. Fitzroy. 9pm. $10.

RISKY BISKIT

Whitehart Bar.

Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

ALETHIA

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

PAUL SPURLING

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

FLYING DUTCHMAN, FORKLIFT ASSASSINS, IRIAK

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

SAT 20 MAY

JOSH LOVEGROVE

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm

OSCAR LADELL & THE EARTH TONES

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

NORTHEAST

PARTY HOUSE, DAWS

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 8pm. $56.10.

MOODY BEACHES, PORPOISE SPIT, THE DACIOS

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.35.

MADELEINE CLARE + RICH WEBB

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $23.05.

LEARNING TO FLY: A CELEBRATION OF TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $54.67.

THE RADIOHEAD PROJECT

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $37.

THE NICOTEENAGERS, KAI CULT, DEMO DISK

Leadbeater

Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $23.75.

PORTAL GUN, MELT, LILY ANNA & THE MAVERICK QUEEN

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.

FACELESS BURIAL, SHITGRINDER, VILE APPARITION, SIN TAX

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $17.75.

SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB ORCHESTRATED Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 6.30pm.

HOLY DIVER–40TH ANNIVERSARY, SYSTEM OF A DON’T, ZEPHER Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $18.69.

ROBERT FORSTER

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $45 - 50.

CALVIN CLONE, ORANGE ORANGE, 2RU Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

HE IS LEGEND, HAMMERS

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $58.25.

THE FAUVES (LAZY HIGHWAYS 25TH ANNIVERSARY)

The Workers Club.

Fitzroy. 8pm. $38.50.

SAND BROTHERS, MURPHNICK

Archies Creek Hotel. Archies Creek.

8pm. $23.

JAMES ELLIS & THE JEALOUS GUYS PRESENT

SWINGING

DOORS: A CELEBRATION OF MERLE

HAGGARD

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

THE MELTING POT, SUSAN SKINTAG

Post Office Hotel.

Coburg. 9pm. Free.

RACOON DOG, EVENING NEWS, JE BAHL, CALL THE DOCTOR

Cactus Room.

Thornbury. 8pm. $22.

LUKE O’SHEA + LYN BOWTELL

Mantra Studio

Kitchen & Bar.

Yarraville. 6pm. $35.

SHAKY STILLS

The Rainbow Hotel.

Fitzroy. 10pm. Free.

LA RUMBA

Open Studio. Northcote.

9pm. $17.19 - 35.

NOT SO BIG BAND: THE MUSIC OF FRANK SINATRA

Paris Cat Jazz Club.

Melbourne. 9pm. $45.

COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS

Bird’s Basement.

Melbourne.

7.30pm. $30.

ON REPEAT: JUICE WRLD NIGHT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11.15pm. $15.30.

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS PARTY Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $29.90.

BRATZ 2000’S PARTY Ballers Clubhouse. Melbourne. 9pm. $11.42–37.24.

KITA ALEXANDER, MOLLY MILLINGTON, ALEKSIAH

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm.

REDHOOK, BAD/ LOVE, BELLEHAVEN, GRENADE JUMPER Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $35.30.

NO LONGER KIDS, VAN CRYNES

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 3pm.

HELLO SATELLITES + WOLF ARROW RAIN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

BONNIEMUSE + REFEJOS

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

THU 25 MAY

INDU MULLIGAN TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

PRIDE COMEDY: AUSTRALIA’S BEST MONTHLY QUEER STAND-UP NIGHT

Pride of Our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 8pm. $20.

HANNAH CAMERON

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.15.

ANTHONY MARWOOD & STEFAN CASSOMENOS: INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 2023

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

ALEX TAYLOR + LISETTE EDINBURGH

Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.

VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $80.

THE DARYL MCKENZIE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Paris Cat Jazz Club.

Melbourne. 7pm. $45.

BALLGRABOWSKYMCLEAN

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

7.30pm. $20 - 25.

BLOW THE HORN

African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS #5

FEAT: Phat Albert, The Middle Sparks, The Ripoffs, Primary Scream, The P.O.G.S, The Last Port, ABCD, Parental As Anything

2.0

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $29.60.

TAXIRIDE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne.

7.30pm. $28.

EL NOVA, KIWAT KENNELL, LADY FERN

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $18.10.

CIRCA WAVES

The Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm. $69.90.

ELLA THOMPSON, HAYCH, DJ FRIDAY

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $29.10.

KISSCHASEY

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $55.70.

COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

INNER

SANCTUARY

FEAT: DJ JNETT, Jimmy James

Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 3pm. Free.

OPEN PIANO

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm.

FRI 26 MAY

COLLIN LILLIE

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

OUTTATIME & FRIENDS

The Beast.

Brunswick East. 9pm.

THE WHISTLIN’ DONKEYS

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $78.54.

EGGY, COOL SOUNDS, CONG JOSIE & THE TEARDROPS, PALM SPRINGS

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.15.

MELBOURNE

JAZZ COOPERATIVE: 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $55.

DIDACTIC

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.

THE REAL BAY CITY SHIT TOUR

FEAT: Speed, Scowl, Sunami

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7.30pm.

VADER, HATE, THY DISEASE

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $59.95.

GOOD LEKKER

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $18.10 - 23.20.

KOI KINGDOM

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.

TAMARA KULDIN & PAUL COYLE

PRESENT ELLA & LOUIS: CHEEK TO CHEEK

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

ALBARE PLAYS

JOBIM & MORE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $39.

ALI MCGREGOR WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $55 - 97.

STÜM 170 Russell. Melbourne. 9pm.

BALLET REVOLUCION

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 7.30pm.

NATURE IN THE CITY

One2Three Bar. Clifton Hill. 7.30pm. $12.

SWAMP DOGS

Micawber Tavern. Belgrave. 7.30pm. Free.

CHRIS MASUAK + DOG SOLDIER, RIVER OF SNAKES, THE FICTION Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $29.10.

DICE, DEAR SUNDAY Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm.

MOUNTAIN WIZARD DEATH CULT

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

BRAD KEEGHAN, PRISCILLA STANLEY, PARDOLOTE Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm. $20.

HONEY FEAT: Z RIZK, MORE Whitehart Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

MIJO BISCAN + ABRAHM GUNN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

JUMPIN’ JACK JORDAN & FRIENDS

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

AL MATCOTT, STEEL WHEELS, ALEX HAMILTON, EMOTION PICTURE

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

SAT 27 MAY

THE SWEETHEARTS

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm.

JEN CLOHER

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $51. RELAX WITH MAX

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $15.

YACHT ROCK REVIVAL

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $59.77.

LA COMPAÑIA

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $55.

BALLET REVOLUCION

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 7.30pm.

COOL BRITANNIA

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $40.80.

HATE FROM PAIN AUSTRALIAN TOUR

FEAT: Nicolas Cage

Fighter, Xenobiotic, Zeolite

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $22.49.

PAINTERS & DOCKERS GET DOCKED 40

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

KISS ALIVE III 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $23.30.

BOB ’BONGO’ STARKIE’S SKYHOOKS SHOW

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

SOPHISTICATED LADY: A TRIBUTE TO JAZZ’S FIRST LADIES OF SONG

Paris Cat Jazz Club.

Melbourne. 9pm. $45.

ZACHARY LEO, RAMONA SKY, OUTTA TIME

The Workers Club.

Fitzroy. 8pm. $15.05.

THE PEARLY SHELLS SWING ORCHESTRA WITH JULIE O’HARA

The Jazzlab. Brunswick.

8pm. $30 - 35.

LIVE AT THE COUNT’S: LAUREN ELIZABETHTHIS IS JONI FEAT: LAUREN ELIZABETH

The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts. Clayton.

7.30pm. $10 - 25.

KATE CEBERANO: MY LIFE IS A SYMPHONY Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $69 - 121.

HOLY MOSES HEARTACHE Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. Free.

SHAKY STILLS The Lomond Hotel. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

MOUNTAIN GOAT CANS & BANDS 2023

FEAT: Teenage

Joans, Bakers Eddy, Sophisticated Dingo Northcote Social Club. Northcote.

8.30pm. $30.

DESPISE YOU, CHOOF, MORE

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood.

8.30pm. $44.90.

BASEMENT SPACEMAN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

THE HORNETS

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

DAMAGED

GOODS CLUB, THE LAZY SUSANS, JURASSIC, GRASS STAINS

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

THU 01 JUN

BLACK MARILYN BY LADY FOX

Pride of Our Footscray

Nightclub & Bar.

Footscray. 8pm. $15.

ÁSGEIR

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $65.

MAKE THEM SUFFER, OCEAN SLEEPER, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $59.90.

DEAFHEAVEN, CLOSURE IN MOSCOW, RUN

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $67.35.

WENDY MATTHEWS

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $70.

MOON PHASE

JAM FEAT: ED MOON, MORE Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

EMERSON PRESENTS SOUL AND RNB CLASSICS REMIXED: THE B SIDE

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7pm. $40.

BLOW THE HORN

African Cafe & Restaurant. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

SHAKY STILLS

The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. Free.

HAMMOND SESSIONS: KICKIN THE B @ 303 Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

OPEN PIANO

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6pm.

FRI 02 JUN

BALL PARK MUSIC, THE BUOYS, ELIZABETH M DRUMMOND

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm.

THE KILLER QUEEN EXPERIENCE

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $46.45.

VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $70.24.

KIMBRA

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank.

7.30pm. $69.

NATASA THEODORIDOU

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 7pm.

LONDON BY NIGHT: THE SONGS OF JULIE LONDON WITH NIKKI NOUVEAU

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

PRIVATE FUNCTION, SMOOCH

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $40.80.

MADDER LAKE + SPECTRUM

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne.

7.30pm. $25.

MATT MALTESE

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm.

THE HARD ACHES Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $39.90.

PARMY DHILLON & THE REAL KHILLERS + THE ENGAGEMENT Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

STELLIE Yah Yah’s. Fitzroy. 9pm. $15.

TIGER DRIVER (2AM SHOW) Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 11pm. $10.

RUBITA The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

TRUMPET Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

AM RERUNS, THE MAGGIE PILLS, FRANCIS GLASS BAND

The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

SAT 03 JUN

HARRY HOOK IS REAL Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

BALL PARK MUSIC. THE BUOYS, ELIZABETH M DRUMMOND

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $85.68.

SNARSKICIRCUSLINDYBAND

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 3.30pm. $38.86.

GARRICK OHLSSON

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $66.

UMBRA MOON. REM, ONDREY, MIA & CHLOE

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $14.80.

ALIEN NOSEJOB. ROT TV, DRAGNET, DJ FLAMIN BOOBIES

The Curtin. Carlton. 8.30pm. $20.80.

I BUILT THE SKY

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $45.90.

THE AUSTRALIAN BLONDIE SHOW

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

THE WAIFS, JEFF LANG, MISSY HIGGINS

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 6.30pm.

SHAKY STILLS

Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues. Geelong. 9pm.

THE ARETHA FRANKLIN PROJECT WITH JOYS NJAMBI

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8.30pm. $45.

ADRIAN DZVUKE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $23.20.

ALFA MIST

The Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm. $64.90.

KINEMATIC, ACAPELICANS, RYAN STERLING

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 12pm. $29.10.