Beat 1710

NOW OR NEVER

A Melbourne icon comes alive to the sound of CC:DISCO!

2023

PAMBULA BEACH, NSW 29 SEP - 1 OCT 2023

OCEAN ALLEY

DJANGO DJANGO (UK) • THE JUNGLE GIANTS

THELMA PLUM • SPIDERBAIT

KEVIN MORBY (USA) • SON LITTLE (USA)

ART VS SCIENCE • BABE RAINBOW

BEN OTTEWELL & IAN BALL (GOMEZ / UK) • C.W. STONEKING

KIM CHURCHILL • LISA MITCHELL

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA • MONTAIGNE

STEPH STRINGS • URTHBOY & MORE + CIRCUS, COMEDY, THEATRE & DANCE

TICKETS ON SALE

wanderer.com.au

irds of Tok yo

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

21–23 September

Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

ACID PAULI

ADAM PITS b2b LISENE

BABY G

BINI

BRIA b2b EVIE

CLAIRE MORGAN

DARCY JUSTICE

DEE DIGGS

DEEPA

DENIS SULTA

DJ BONE

DJ FUCKOFF

DJ MELL G

DJ PGZ

DJ SEINFELD

DJVM

DOPPEL

ELI & FUR

ELLI ACULA

HANDSDOWN

HAUSM8S

IN2STELLAR

JAMZ SUPERNOVA

JAZMINE NIKITTA

KERRY WALLACE

KIA

MANAMI

MOKTAR

MONTANA

MOODYMANN

MUSKA JEN

MZRIZK

OTHER WORLDS

OTHER SOUNDS

PHIL STROUD

PRETTY GIRL

ROZA TERENZI b2b

D TIFFANY

SAM SHURE

STÜM

TODD TERJE

UONE

WAX'O PARADISO b2b

LAUREN HANSOM

YI LUM

YIKES

AMADOU SUSO

BARKAA

BIG WETT

BOOKA SHADE

BRICKY B

CARISSA NYALU

CHILDREN OF ZEUS

CINTA

CLOSE COUNTERS

DENNI

EZRA COLLECTIVE

FIRST BEIGE

FLEWNT

FOSHE

JESSWAR

JITWAM

JOY (ANONYMOUS)

JUST EMMA

KERALA DUST

KYOSHI

MINDY MENG

WANG 王萌(SOLO

MINDY MENG

WANG 王萌 & TIM SHIEL

MINYERRA

ODEN & FATZO

QUARTER STREET

RADHEY GUPTA

ROY BLUES

SLEEP D

SLOWMANGO

SNOW BROS

SQUID NEBULA

SWEELY

THE LAHAAR

VV PETE

WULUMBARRA

artwork by aretha brown

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Talia Rinaldo

STAFF WRITER

Kaya Martin

DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Bryget Chrisfield, Ben Lamb, Jacob McCormack, Paul French, Tyler Jenke, Lesleigh Luiten, Andrew Handley, Andy Lloyd-Russell

FOR ADVERTISING OR SPONSORED CONTENT ENQUIRIES advertise@furstmedia.com.au

ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au

DISTRIBUTION distribution@furstmedia.com.au

PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

Melbourne’s massive new arts festival Now or Never is set to take the city by storm this month, running from August 17 to September 2.

Æ The program is incredibly versatile, but one of the clear highlights will be the transformation of the Royal Exhibition Building into a 4,000 capacity concert venue, set to feature this month’s cover star - legendary Melbourne DJ and producer CC:DISCO! - in her triumphant homecoming.

There are so many amazing artists playing in Melbourne over the next few weeks. This month, we have the privilege to speak with the one-and-only G Flip, Scottish chart-toppers The Snuts, You Am I (who’ll be performing The Who’s Tommy), ex-Little Birdy frontwoman Katy Steele, breakout indie darling Tyne-James Organ, and ANAM’s acclaimed composer Michael Kieran Harvey. In one of our personal highlights, we have a long chat with the director of Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, the landmark doco debuting at Melbourne International Film Festival this month.

Then we have our usual range of album reviews and our monthly art, stage, festival, gig and venue guides, plus a brand new section called High Fidelity!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS

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

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DISTRIBUTION

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 August cover star is CC:DISCO!, who’s performing as part of Now or Never.

THE EIGHTY-SIX ANNOUNCES MASSIVE FULL PROGRAM

The Eighty-Six has announced its massive full program featuring Super Saturday - almost 24 hours of free gigs and a street party thrown by local legends 1800 Lasagna - happening on October 28. More acts have joined the lineup including Ros Bandt, Unknown T, Bez from the Happy Mondays, Dennis Bovell, Otoboke Beaver, Built to Spill and more. Plus, there’ll be a dog parade and costume contest, and an independent music exchange. It’s all happening along High Street between Northcote and Preston from October 23–31.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL DROPS EARLY LINEUP

Melbourne International Jazz Festival has revealed SFJAZZ Collective, Nduduzo Makhathini, William Barton, GoGo Penguin and Cécile McLorin Salvant on its 2023 lineup. The 2023 iteration will run from October 20 - 29.

MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE’S WINTER PERFORMANCES HEAT UP

Melbourne Recital Centre’s Season Three program features performances from an eclectic ensemble of artists in August including classical guitarist Petra Polácková, jazz performer Mama Alto, soprano Cristina Russo, and singer/songwriters Eliza Hull and Liz Martin. It’s a winter offering to warm audiences’ hearts.

MORE ACTS JOIN QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, Katy Steele, The Merindas and Georgia State Line have all joined the lineup. QMF runs from November 23 - 26.

KRAFTWERK TO HEADLINE MEREDITH

This year, German pioneers of electronic music Kraftwerk will be gracing the supernatural amphitheatre from December 8 - 10. Kraftwerk will also be playing a headline show at MCA on December 8.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS DROPS STACKED 2023 LINEUP

DJ Seinfeld, Moodymann, Todd Terje, Roza Terenzi b2b D Tiffany, Pretty Girl and STÜM are just a few of the renowned artists who will be joining Glaswegian sensation Denis Sulta on the Murray River from November 17-19.

DAVID SUZUKI TO FEATURE AT IMAX AS PART OF NOW OR NEVER

See Suzuki live-stream directly into IMAX as part of Now or Never festival, on Saturday 19 August, 12-1pm. Now or Never festival explores the intersection of art, ideas, sound and technology across 17 days from 17 August – 2 September.

SPILT MILK UNVEILS ITS MASSIVE 2023 LINEUP

Featuring Post Malone and Dom Dolla in the top slots, this one-day festival is set to head to Ballarat on December 2. Post Malone will also be playing a headline show at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 30.

MIFF 2023 REVEALS ITS FULL LINEUP

With a blockbuster lineup of 267 films, MIFF raises the curtain on an extraordinary selection of features, shorts, restorations, retrospectives and additional XR experiences. It will be screening in cinemas from August 3 - 20.

DAN SULTAN IS HEADING ON A NATIONAL TOUR

The tour will follow the highly anticipated release of his self-titled album on August 18 via Liberation. Catch him live during his three-city tour when he heads to Melbourne on October 21 for a performance at Melbourne Recital Centre.

BIC RUNGA TO PLAY MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE

The tour will see Runga performing in a largely stripped-back manner, eschewing a full band in favour of both solo sets and duo performances with her husband Kody Nielsen of Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Catch Bic Runga at Melbourne Recital Centre’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall on August 18.

INTERPOL AND BLOC PARTY TEAM UP FOR TOUR

Interpol and Bloc Party, two heavyweights in the indie scene, have joined forces for a highly anticipated joint headline tour. Catch them both when they head to Melbourne for a show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on November 16.

FLOOD-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES BROUGHT TOGETHER BY LIVE MUSIC

Music Victoria’s Live Music for Flood Recovery program, staged in small towns and villages in regional and rural Victoria, will host 30 live music events at local venues for flood-affected communities to revive and gather throughout spring.

19/08 - BODY TYPE

23/08 - THE FOOTY PODCAST (EALY AND LATE SHOWS) SELLING FAST

24/08 - THE FOOTY PODCAST (EALY AND LATE SHOWS) SOLD OUT

25/08 - MAGIC DIRT SELLING FAST

26/08 - I AM MORBID (USA)

01/09 - DZ DEATHRAYS

02/09 - BUSBY MAROU

07/09 - WHERE’S YOUR HEAD AT? PODCAST

08/09 - JEFF MARTIN

16/09 - GYROSCOPE & BODYJAR SOLD OUT

17/09 - GYROSCOPE & BODYJAR (LATE MATIEE) SELLING FAST

27/09 - HISS GOLDEN

PLUS HEAPS MORE VIA CORNERHOTEL.COM

MASEGO ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Jamaican-American musical virtuoso Masego is set to ignite Australian stages once again with a series of dazzling performances this October, including a show at the Forum on October 16.

WYNTON MARSALIS’ JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER IS TOURING

Wynton Marsalis is bringing the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center to Melbourne for performances of All Rise with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on August 25 and 26.

ORCHESTRA VICTORIA ANNOUNCE INDIE SYMPHONY

Indie Symphony, presented by Orchestra Victoria at Hamer Hall on Friday September 8, offers a rare opportunity to experience a selection of independently developed video games with a live performance of their scores.

OK MOTELS UNVEILS ITS FIRST LINEUP

OK Motels’ first line-up for 2024 is led by The Slingers, Watty Thompson & His Total Fire Band, The Belair Lip Bombs and The Clams. It’ll be held in Charlton from February 23 - 25.

OUT ON THE WEEKEND ADDS EVEN MORE ACTS

Jenny Don’t And The Spurs, Texan schoolteacher-turned-troubadour Summer Dean and hot young Kentucky roots ‘n’ blues musician Nat Myers join an already stacked lineup in Williamstown on October 14.

RONNY CHIENG RETURNS FOR LIMITED HOMECOMING TOUR

The actor, comedian and performer will be heading our way in September, playing MCA on September 16.

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE IS COMING TO MELBOURNE

The Brian Jonestown Massacre are set to bring their distinct brand of psychedelic rock to Australia this November, playing the Forum on the 21st.

OLIVER TREE IS HEADING TO AUSTRALIA

The internationally acclaimed, chart-topping artist Oliver Tree is coming to Melbourne for a show on October 18 at Festival Hall.

FRI 4 AUG

SAT 5 AUG

FRI 11 AUG

SAT 12 AUG

SUN 13 AUG

THUR 17 AUG

FRI 18 AUG

SAT 19 AUG

SUN 20 AUG

WED 23 AUG

FRI 25 AUG

SAT 26 AUG

SUN 27 AUG

MON 28 AUG MON

BEER GARDEN - DIVE BAR - BANDROOM

DOPE LEMON IS PLAYING MELBOURNE IN SEPTEMBER

Dope Lemon, aka Angus Stone, will play Melbourne’s Forum on September 14 showcasing his forthcoming album, Kimosabè (out on September 1).

UPCOMING SHOWS

PRET T Y MOI ' VOL 1' EP L AUNCH W/ R AMONA SK Y + DAY DREAMERS

DOLE M ANCH ILD 'NEPO B ABY’ SINGLE L AUNCH W/ BIFF + CHAMP RUBY

THE GET DOWN 20 SHOWCA SE - 50 YEARS OF H IP HOP CELEBR ATION

EXCUSE FOR AN EXIT W/ BELLWETHER + EVERGREENER

ZEN BUTLER B AND W/T Y L A BE + JAG

K AILIN KEEGAN ‘EP L AUNCH’ W/ HARRIS + FR ANKIE

BL ANCO TR ANCO EP L AUNCH W/ GREAT AUSTR ALIAN B ANK + WILDING + TOTAL CARE

ALER A + HEADWRECK - CO HEADLINE SHOW W/WOLF & CHAIN + SILVERFANG

EMM A B OULT STUDIOS SHOWCA SE

JAM BIG B AND ADORED W/ GUESTS

TH IRD EYE ‘LISTEN TO THE TALES’ - AN EVENING OF TOOL

REAL SONGWRITERS OF MELB OURNE - KIDS OPEN MIC NIG HT

A VERY FUNNY NEAR THE BRUNNY LIVE COMEDY SHOWCA SE SPECTACUL AR AR

` BANDROOM OPEN TILL 3AM FRI + SAT

TICKETS AVAILABLE

BLISS N ESO ANNOUNCE FLYING COLOURS 15TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Legendary Australian hip-hop trio Bliss n Eso are doing what they do best and heading back to the stage in 2023 with their Flying Colours 15th Anniversary Tour this October. They’ll be playing Melbourne’s 170 Russell on October 13.

THE CAT EMPIRE ANNOUNCE ALBUM TOUR

Set to release their much-anticipated ninth studio album Where The Angels Fall on Friday August 25, beloved band The Cat Empire have announced they will be coming to the Forum on October 6.

TRIPLE J ANNOUNCES NEW 24/7 HOTTEST 100 STATION

IL DIVO, PATRIZIO BUANNE ARE COMING TO MELBOURNE

Il Divo, one of the world’s leading classical crossover groups, will make their longawaited return to Australian stages, playing the Plenary on November 4.

MILK! RECORDS TO CLOSE AT YEAR’S END

After 11 years, Milk! Records is set to close at the end of 2023 and they’re going out with a final release from Courtney Barnett. An instrumental album and the soundtrack to the film Anonymous Club, End Of The Day is slated for release on September 8.

The station exclusively features songs that listeners have selected for past triple J Hottest 100 countdowns, which stretches back more than 30 years. Triple j Hottest will be available to listen to 24 hours a day online through the triple j and ABC Listen apps.

JACKSON DEAN ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER AUSTRALIAN SHOWS

He’ll be bringing his distinct brand of Maryland twang on tour this October, playing the Corner Hotel on October 25.

RIDIN’ HEARTS REVEALS DEBUT LINEUP

Ridin’ Hearts festival is bringing the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, Danielle Bradbery and Sam Barber to Melbourne Showgrounds on November 5.

LAUV ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES

He’ll be bringing The Between Albums tour to Australia this October, playing the Forum on October 24.

PHONE: 03 9917 2844

ADDRESS: 10A Campbell St, Yarraville, VIC

DEVIN TOWNSEND ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN

TOUR

The Strapping Young Lad and Devin Townsend Project mastermind is coming to Australia, playing the Forum on November 10.

PROFESSIONAL RECORDING STUDIO, KITCHEN, LIVE MUSIC, BAR, FUNCTIONS, EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

ELECTRIC KINGDOM TO TRANSFORM BIRRARUNG MARR

Running from September 7 to 17, Electric Kingdom is Melbourne’s after-dark exploration of light and wonder. The family-friendly event welcomes visitors to the banks of the Yarra River to check out illuminated animals, travelling performers, a dynamic soundtrack and so much more, all for free.

TISM EXHIBIT COMES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VAULT

TISM’s larger-than-life sock costume is part of a new exhibit at the Australian Music Vault. The Strength in Sound display is on now as part of the Australian Music Vault’s free exhibition space inside Arts Centre Melbourne.

GRINSPOON ARE COMING TO MELBOURNE

Grinspoon are touring Australia between October 29 and December 23, playing hits from their legendary albums Easy and New Detention. They’ve just announced a new Melbourne date on December 22 at the Forum.

THORNHILL ARE HEADING ON THEIR PROM

QUEEN CITY TOUR

Commencing in Melbourne on Friday October 20 at the Forum Theatre, the tour will feature special guests Holding Absence, Thousand Below and Bloom.

THE VEGAN MARKET RETURNS TO MELBOURNE

Australia’s travelling Vegan Market is set to return to Melbourne for a full day of plantbased goodness on August 6. Taking place at Seaworks, the event will feature 100 businesses sharing their nature-focused wares.

ANGIE MCMAHON ANNOUNCES MELBOURNE SHOW

Angie McMahon is bringing the Make Mistakes Tour to Melbourne, playing the Northcote Theatre on September 28.

AUSSIE ROCK LEGENDS TO TOUR THE WHITE ALBUM

Chris Cheney (The Living End), Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon), Tim Rogers (You Am I), and ARIA Award-winning solo artist Josh Pyke are once again taking to the stage to celebrate one of the great albums of all time: The Beatles’ White Album. They’ll be playing Hamer Hall on September 9.

PHONY PPL ARE HEADING ON AN AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Phony Ppl, the genre-defying band hailing from the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, are set to bring their unique sound to Melbourne’s 170 Russell on October 17.

LOUIS TOMLINSON IS COMING TO MELBOURNE

The former One Direction heartthrob turned solo artist will perform live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on January 28, 2024.

THE VANNS ANNOUNCE BIGGEST-EVER HEADLINING TOUR

The Aussie rock four-piece will be hitting the road this summer, coming to the Forum on November 3.

EXPLORE BARRY HUMPHRIES’ COSTUMES AT ARTS CENTRE

A time capsule of items exploring the career of iconic Australian comedian Barry Humphries will be on display at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Smorgon Family Plaza until August 30.

THE HUMAN LEAGUE ARE HEADING TO AUSTRALIA

The iconic English new wave sensation, The Human League, are all set to bring their electronic synthpop magic to Melbourne. Catch them when they head to Melbourne’s own Palais Theatre on March 9 next year.

HOODZY (LIVE), BILALLI (LIVE)

SENSIBLE J + N’FA JONES (LIVE)

BORN 2 BURN (DANCE) + X8NDER.M + TINIKA + COLETTE + ENTRO + LOWANI

CC:DISCO!

Æ Over 300 Australian and international sonic and visual creatives and composers have stocked the Now or Never lineup, in an expansive and transcendental celebration of digital art and future thinking.

Nestled among the festival’s vibrant and eclectic offerings is a carefully curated ode to dance music, a night of exceptional electronic music talent that will take over, and reinvent the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. Featuring the likes of Âme (live), George FitzGerald, Ayebatonye and dameeeela, the potent lineup is highlighted by acclaimed disco producer, CC:DISCO!

She currently resides in Lisbon, having farewelled Naarm’s nightlife and the beloved studios of PBS. Now, in a homecoming like no other, CC is certain that the night will be a spectacle, paying homage to dance music in an authentic way, while transforming the Royal Exhibition Building.

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Now or Never - presented by the City of Melbourne - will take over iconic buildings, beloved venues and unassuming spaces to present the futuristic ideas, art and concepts of a wealth of domestic and international artists from August 17 – September 2 this year.

“It’s nice to be coming home for something like that,” says CC.

“I imagine they’ve got a state-of-the-art team working on the sound as well, just to make the whole experience 10 out of 10.” CC has been shining through the cracks of modern disco music for years now. In 2023, her most significant achievement is not solely confined to playing major festivals like Glastonbury, Oasis, Lost Village, and Kala. Rather, it has manifest in the many ways in which CC remains involved in the global dance music community. The fact that she is not only a DJ, but also a radio host, curator, label head and party promoter.

It’s a seemingly unbreakable connection that was established as a child upon the discovery of disco music.

“Well, technically I was obsessed with this one tape when I was a young kid,” she says. “That was a disco mix tape. It featured Womack and Womack, Rasputin, Amy Stewart, all the hits. I was obsessed with this tape, and then I went into bands and, you know, was into punk music and all that.

“Then I went to the DJ scene, I saw people playing house and techno a lot and I finally dug a bit deeper, and I saw people playing disco and I was like ‘Oh this is what I want and obviously like’.

“For me, I just like the happiness, I really like happy music.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong I go clubbing and I love techno,” she says. “But for me to play music, it has to feel a certain way, and that usually comes from a happy starting point. Inclusive of really big drums and lots of vocals. Everything I play is centered around happy and uplifting music. I do go into other territories, but disco is definitely the foundation for everything.”

me, I just like the happiness, I really

As she delved deeper into her passion for disco, it was the history - followed by a subsequent pilgrimage - that affirmed her resonance with the historically rich dance music.

“Once you start digging deeper,” she says. “You find out about where it’s all from and you look to the New York scene back in the 80s and that just resonates with me, that whole culture, it resonated a lot more with me than any other culture. Disco, and all stories that are housed in disco music, is a part of history that you can’t really deny.

“When I was doing the PBS show Smoke and Mirrors back in the day I would go on trips to America. I learned that you can’t just play this music, you have to learn about it. You have to see where it’s from. I would go to America to buy records and to learn about disco.

“One time I went to Chicago and ended up at this party that the Blessed Madonna said ‘you’ve got to go to if you’re going to America’. It was called The Chosen Few and there were 20,000 or so people there who were all over the age of 40. Every disco and house act from around Chicago and New York, like Evelyn Champagne King, Jamie Principle and Masters At Work.

“I was the odd one out from Australia, just like a bright-eyed possum. I’d never seen anything like that in Australia before. We play all this music and then to actually see this in real life and see these people who created it made me realise why I do it.”

In her new home, convenient for travelling to European festivals and North American parties alike, she has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s greatest DJs.

Adding a string to her bow, CC:DISCO! has also just released her first original disco double single to widespread acclaim. Title track Chez Moi (Waiting For You) features a collaboration with one half of Confidence Man, Janet Planet, creating a classic disco track teeming with romance and euphoria. On the flip side, heavier track Out Of Your Mind, joyfully replicates the house music of New York City.

Despite her global achievements and accolades, CC remains grateful to be able to share music with the audience that nourished her career.

“I’m honoured,” she says. “Melbourne was my home for so long and I got my whole career through Melbourne, so being asked to come back and do something like this - I feel completely honored. I’m really stoked that I’m still thought of, and no one’s forgotten me just yet, which is great.”

CC:DISCO! AS PART OF NOW OR NEVER

WHERE: ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING

WHEN: SAT 26 AUG

“For

like happy music.”

NOW OR NEVER GUIDE

The best events to catch at Melbourne’s new major festival

POLAR FORCE: SPEAK PERCUSSION

Embark on an auditory journey to Antarctica from the safety of an inflatable shelter.

CHUNKY MOVE STUDIO 30 AUG, 1–2 SEP

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

What better way to kick off 17 days of fun than with a free party at Max Watts? Soju Gang and friends will be curating the vibe, spinning tracks late into the night.

MAX WATTS

REST IS RESISTANCE

17 AUG

Founder of The Nap Ministry Tricia Hersey will be making her Australian debut with a keynote discussion on rest and its radical use.

ARTS HOUSE 26 AUG

NOW OR NEVER ART TRAIL

Wander through weird and wonderful displays of multisensory art curated by cutting-edge arts and technology organisation, Experimenta.

VICTORIA HARBOUR PROMENADE 17–20 AUG

THIS IS NOT YOUR BREAKING POINT

In this evocative Nina Rajcic piece, a robotic machine will be hard at work writing AI-generated excuses, affirmations and rationalisations.

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL 17 AUG–2 SEP

NEVERSPHERE

Settle into the bean bag chairs and stare up into the Neversphere: a pop-up geodesic dome with a 360º screen showing mind-bending works of film.

MELBOURNE MUSEUM PLAZA 18 AUG–1 SEP

KALI MALONE X MESS SYNTHESIZER ORCHESTRA

In a fusion of old and new, Stockholm based, American born composer Kali Malone will perform on Melbourne Town Hall’s haunting grand organ with the MESS Synthesizer Orchestra.

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL 19 AUG

DISCUSSIONS WITH DR. DAVID SUZUKI

As part of National Science Week, the world-renowned Canadian environmental conservationist David Suzuki will be beaming onto the IMAX screen.

IMAX MELBOURNE MUSEUM 19 AUG

BETWEEN THE CRACKS

This live event brings together four filmmakers for an adaptive exploration of urban-greening.

RMIT DESIGN HUB GALLERY 19 AUG

NEVER PERMANENT

Designed for the curious minds among us, Never Permanent brings together some of the world’s most innovative minds for a series of keynote talks and panel discussions.

ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 24 AUG

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING

The stunning venue will host Kelela, serpentwithfeet, Autechre, CC:DISCO!, George FitzGerald and more.

ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 24–27 AUG

NONSTOP WKND

70 industry leading artists. 13 unique shows. Six iconic Melbourne venues—NONSTOP WKND is the choose-your-own-adventure festival within a festival closing Now or Never with a bang.

BODY CRYSIS

Created by Harrison Hall, Sam Mcglip and NAXS FUTURE, this piece brings together live and digital art with a soundtrack by Taipei-based experimental rock group, PrairieWWWW.

ACMI 25–27 AUG

SARCA AT THE SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE

The Shrine will become the backdrop for a luminous display of projection and sound paying tribute to the building’s history and architecture. SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE 1–2 SEP

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

JAZZ ROYALTY ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA!

Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra return to Melbourne to perform his latest symphony, All Rise, with the MSO and Chorus, on a scale not seen before in this country.

25–26 August / 7.30pm

Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

THE SNUTS

Previously signed to Parlophone, The Snuts now release music through their own Happy Artist Records label.

WORDS BY BRYGET CHRISFIELD

Æ Bryget Chrisfield checks in with vocalist/guitarist Jack Cochrane ahead of the band’s Australian tour to discuss touring with Louis Tomlinson, meeting their heroes The Libertines, going independent and reclaiming control of their art.

When we check in with Jack, he estimates The Snuts are “somewhere deep in Florida” since they’re wrapping up some Stateside dates supporting former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. “We’ve been driving from Texas to Florida for our last three shows with Louis,” he shares. “The [amount of] miles we’ve covered in the States is insane!”

With an increasing number of bands cancelling or cutting their tours short these days – eg. Arlo Parks, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi (who also grew up in The Snuts’ hometown of Whitburn), 100 gecs – we ask Cochrane what kind of measures The Snuts put in place to protect their mental health, and beat burnout, while touring relentlessly.

“Burnout is something we are super-aware of and try really hard to avoid,” he admits. “We are lucky to have a team around us who are very caring and conscious of our wellbeing. It’s something we forward-plan for and try to make sure that we afford time for rest, recuperation and [spending time with] family.”

Two of The Snuts, guitarist Joe McGillveray and drummer Jordan “Joko” Mackay, met in nursery school (kindergarten) – how bloody cute is that! Bassist Callum Wilson came into the picture in primary school, then Jack rounded out the awesome foursome in high school and they’ve all been firm friends ever since. “Our first gig would’ve been when we were 15,” he points out, “and I’m pretty sure we didn’t get paid for a gig ‘til we were well into our 20s.”

Of their formative years, he explains, “Bands like The Libertines made us really fall in love with rock’n’roll. We were huge fans of the UK indie movement. We met The Libertines when we supported them [at the UK’s first socially distanced gig in Newcastle back in 2020], which was a really nice, full circle moment. They were real gentlemen and helped us keep faith in the whole process.”

Seasons, The Snuts’ first ‘proper’ single, was released back in 2018 and Jack recalls, “BBC Radio 6 Music played Seasons for the first time. I remember it vividly as a full police drug squad was raiding my neighbour’s flat at the time. Later that year, The Snuts signed with Parlophone Records but have since parted ways with the label.

“We’ve always wanted to be in control of everything to do with our art and that probably caused friction with our previous record label.”

“We just care so much about the projects we create so releasing on our own label feels really natural and freeing.”

Earlier this year, The Snuts set up their own independent imprint in partnership with The Orchard. They decided to call it Happy Artist Records, drawing inspo from something they were once told by a Parlophone label head: “There’s nothing worse than a happy artist.” When asked to unpack this contentious quote, Jack ponders, “I think artists are naturally pretty vulnerable. It’s the reason that people trust them enough to connect with their music. The problem with this is that it also leaves them really open to being exploited. I think we’ve transported back to an age of artists being really badly treated and you see it more and more every day with even huge artists speaking out about it.

“Record labels are statistics-based organisations and when the stats tell them that the social media stars are the ones that bring in the revenue from streaming platforms, it’s automatically assumed that everyone must fit that mould regardless of how unhappy that makes them.

“Artists need validation. For me that’s just a fact. When artists are starved of that validation they become more susceptible to doing things they are really uncomfortable with to please record labels.”

So what’s next for The Snuts, release-wise? “Album number three is pretty much done,” Jack teases. “It’s a record we’ve poured our hearts and souls into. It is by far our most personal record so far and we are so excited to get it out there.

“The goal is always to reach more people internationally. We believe people everywhere are actually very similar – at least sentimentally.”

The Snuts played Splendour In The Grass IRL last year and, ahead of their upcoming east coast dates in this country, Jack enthuses, “We loved Australia, we felt really at home and super-welcome there. Hopefully this time ‘round we get to see a bit more of the country!”

THE SNUTS

WHERE: CORNER HOTEL

WHEN: 12 AUG

“We’ve always wanted to be in control of everything to do with our art and that probably caused friction with our previous record label.”

Credit: McLay

EGO : THE MICHAEL GUDINSKI STORY

The title of the new documentary Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story is a nod to the Skyhooks song and album that aided the Mushroom Records founder early in his career, and, of course, the ego that kept him at the forefront of the Australian music industry for five decades.

WORDS BY ANDREW HANDLEY

Æ You would be hard-pressed to find a director more suited to helm the documentary than Paul Goldman. Along with feature films and documentaries, he has directed over 200 music videos, many for Mushroom Records’ artists. Like Gudinski, Goldman grew up in Melbourne and had an immediate impact on the music industry.

Goldman may have struck gold even quicker than Gudinski, directing a freshfaced Nick Cave for his first music video in 1978. “I made a music video as a film school exercise for Shivers, for The Boys Next Door,” recalls Goldman. “Later in that same year, I made a couple of other music videos for The Boys Next Door that have gone missing… Swinburne [University] just can’t track them and we never kept copies.”

Fortunately, copies of their next collaboration, the frenzied clip for The Birthday Party’s Nick the Stripper remain. The two went from working to living with each other shortly after. “Unfortunately, I lived with Nick Cave for a year in Los Angeles,” jokes Goldman. “No one knew who he was…we lived in a bungalow in West Hollywood, and Jeffrey Lee Pierce from The Gun Club was our regular friend who was trying to drink himself to death. The household was always surrounded by LA punks, which at the time weren’t very fashionable.”

Credit: Brian Purnell

Having met during the making of Goldman’s first video, he and Gudinski’s relationship spanned more than four decades. “Michael and I always had a fractious relationship, which I enjoyed and so did he,” explains Goldman. “Michael liked it when you served it up to him, and he could serve it up to you… enormously. He was a provocateur, and we clashed many, many times, but I actually really loved being around Michael, just that energy and that life force.”

Goldman was approached by Gudinski to make the film. “He asked me to read some treatments that other companies had sent to him being cognisant of the fact that the Mushroom 50th anniversary was coming up,” explains Goldman.

“He rang me and said, ‘What do you think? I was pretty blunt and said

‘They’re shithouse.’ He said, ‘Well, why don’t you do it?’”

Originally it was meant to be a four-part documentary anchored by Gudinski. “Then the pandemic happened as we were gearing up to do a week of interviews with Michael alone,” explains Goldman. “Of course, living in Melbourne meant that you couldn’t walk outside your front door, [and] Michael was very concerned about his own health, [so] we put it on hold.”

Just when the lockdowns had ended and they were getting ready to do the interviews, Gudinski unexpectedly passed away. “The family were grieving, and a lot of the people around the project were very, very upset, including myself, [and] we didn’t know where it would go… so we put the project aside for a while,” says Goldman. “Eventually, we pulled it out of the bottom drawer again and dusted it off.”

Not being able to interview Gudinski was a disappointment for Goldman and everyone involved. “I think it’s a lost opportunity for the Australian film industry, which I don’t think is very good at honouring and celebrating the legacy of people like Michael,” says Goldman. “The reason we wanted to do that week-long interview was because Michael said he wanted to set the record straight… and I think he was in the mood to say some pretty provocative things.”

Fortunately, there were over 1,000 hours of archival footage for Goldman and his team to dig through. “Michael just fucking loved the camera,” he says. “Even at the age of 19, he stood in front of the camera and basically delivered a mission statement about what he was going to do.” Goldman also conducted 120 hours of interviews for the project. “[It’s] just a stupendous amount of material, and to wade through and reduce it to 110 minutes was pretty hard.”

Goldman was able to include extra footage through the use of split screens. “If you laid out all the footage end to end, it’d be the equivalent of three documentaries,” he explains. The innovative use of animation also helps set the tone of the film. “I wanted to make a film that was a roller coaster ride. I wanted it to be loud and brash [and] I wanted it to be bold and rude, like the man himself.”

Inevitably people and issues will be left out says Goldman. “The assignment was to find the foundation stones of Mushroom,” he says. “Obviously, the origin stories are always interesting with a documentary and a person like Michael. How did he start? How did [he] get there? And those bands are at the start.”

Goldman has directed music videos for several interviewees in the documentary, including Paul Kelly, Neil Finn and Kylie Minogue. “It’s great to go back with those people and watch us all get old,” he jokes. “To see how some of the rough edges have been knocked off certain people, and how people are reconsidering history.”

Being at the forefront of such a cutthroat industry did not leave Gudinski without his critics. “I didn’t want to make a hagiography, but I also didn’t want to get down into the gutter and get nasty about stuff,” explains Goldman. “I wanted to make a film that was respectful, but also challenging and balanced.”

Most importantly, Goldman wanted to honour the contribution Gudinski made to the music industry. “We can lose sight of that… because 1972 seems a long way away… but for a 19-year-old kid to say ‘I’m going to challenge the status quo,’ [which was] a landscape run by international record companies re-treading hits from overseas, to have stood up and taken them on is pretty incredible,” says Goldman.

“For all the criticisms that anyone might level at Michael, and there’s plenty of them, the contribution and the legacy is fucking enormous,” says Goldman.

“I wanted to have some sense of that, what that legacy was, and, and how difficult it was. The guy had his back to the wall so many times throughout his career.”

Melbourne International Film Festival is the perfect place for the film to premiere says Goldman. “Michael was such a great ambassador for the city [and] often said that Melbourne was one of the music capitals of the world.” Several of Goldman’s films have screened at MIFF, but his association dates back even further. “I used to work [there] as an usher when I was at film school, so to have a film in the Music on Film Gala is very, very satisfying for the entire team,” he says. “The Gudinski family would be very excited, everyone at Mushroom is excited, and I think Melbourne is really excited about it.”

EGO: THE MICHAEL GUDINSKI STORY

WHERE: COMEDY THEATRE AND ACMI

WHEN: 10 AUG

“He rang me and said, ‘What do you think?

I was pretty blunt and said ‘They’re shithouse.’

He said, ‘Well, why don’t you do it?’”

KATY STEELE

Last

month Katy Steele released her second solo studio album Big Star, her first in over six years.

WORDS BY LESLEIGH LUITEN

Æ Lovingly co-created over two years with her partner Graham McLuskie, the album has received widespread praise including comparisons to PJ Harvey and Chrissie Hynde, as well as scoring a Double J Feature Album. Now Katy is on the road, touring Big Star, and convincing us all to believe in ourselves.

The first seeds of Big Star were planted all the way back in 2018. Katy and Graham were in Scotland visiting family when the two decided to work together. At this time, Graham was not a producer, Katy describes him as a “tinkerer” who could play guitar really well. The duo spent the past two years experimenting and learning the ropes together. For Katy, her love of creating is at the forefront of everything she does, but through this process she had to get her hands dirty. “I love production, I just lack the patience to see things through and the patience to really sit there and get it across the line. It’s the hardest thing for me. I just love creating the ideas.”

Although Katy appreciated the time to experiment and finetune her process, working in her home studio meant she wasn’t as disciplined as she would have liked. She spent many nights in the studio which she says “went on forever”. Her goal for the next album is to set a strict deadline.

“We were trying to make a positive record. A lot of the song titles sound really negative but I think at the end of the day it’s literally just a record about emotions and resilience and the human condition. It was written during Covid, so we were all going through some pretty crazy things. It touches on a lot of those themes.”

In the lead up to the release of Big Star, Katy released four singles before dropping the record in its entirety. Her fear was that people would react to one song or another on the album, but wouldn’t appreciate the story that’s told throughout each track. To her relief, the album has done incredibly well, gathering praise as a whole piece of work.

“I feel like once people have heard the album as a whole, they’ve really understood the vision of it and I think that’s really great. I’m really proud of that because it shows that people are still enjoying albums as a whole, you’re not just separating it down to singles.”

“It’s just a real endurance test. There were times where we just felt like we weren’t going to reach the finish line, and then there were times where we just thought, ‘are we crazy for doing this? What are we doing?’ Like, we have no idea what we’re doing and we thought we were delusional.”

At the end of it all, self-belief got Big Star to the finish line. Katy says that doing things alone meant there wasn’t anyone to bounce ideas off. She also said her friends told her things sounded great all the time, but she wasn’t sure if that was real feedback or just them being supportive.

“That was the hardest thing - keeping that self-belief. I think that’s where the title came from. The way I see it, you need to be your own Big Star, like finding that one thing that just keeps you going and that drives you.”

“Having that belief in yourself and finding your own Big Star to keep you moving and to keep you progressing in your life. To keep you physically and mentally strong.”

Big Star is resoundingly about hope, resilience and perseverance. It’s an emotional journey that was written during Covid and explores how Katy was feeling as an artist.

Now there’s one more thing to do - take the album on the road, taking the audience through Little Birdy tracks and continuing on to Big Star. Katy says she still struggles to talk herself up - even with the self-belief she garnered from this album. She does, however, promise a hot band and a good time.

“I think the band sounds really hot. It’s hard to up yourself, isn’t it? The show is really interesting because it covers a few different records. So I think that if you’re a Little Birdy fan, there’ll be something for you. But if you’re a fan of the new record, then you’re going to be hearing that as well. I think they actually all fit in really well together, so it’s gonna be a really cool show. We’ve got Moreton supporting us as well and she’s really great.”

KATE STEELE

WHERE: THE WORKERS CLUB

WHEN: 4 AUG

“That was the hardest thing - keeping that self-belief. I think that's where the title came from. The way I see it, you need to be your own Big Star, like finding that one thing that just keeps you going and that drives you.”

14 LLEWELLYN PLACE, EUMEMMERRING

BOUTIQUE RECORDING STUDIO FOR SALE

Boutique recording studio hits the market perfectly set up for bands, music producers or sound engineers.

KEY

YOU AM

Davey’s exposure to The Who didn’t start with Tommy, but with songs like My Generation and the 1979 rockumentary The Kids Are Alright. However, Tommy planted a seed that germinated into a musical career for the guitarist.

“I was probably too young to understand a lot of things on the record, but musically, it just blew my head off.”

“It was a bit of an epiphany for me in that, even though it was a fanciful notion at the time, I’d kind of made up my mind that [being in a band was] what I wanted to do. Much to my parents’ concern.”

The upcoming tour will see You Am I touring throughout July and August, performing the record in full, before closing proceedings with a set full of classics from The Who. Though the band had previously dived into the majesty of rock (and pageantry of roll) when touring the catalogue of Spinal Tap in 2018, this tour will admittedly be a little less “niche”, and sees the group embarking on a hefty rehearsal process to master all of the record’s anthemic and idiosyncratic moments.

“Tommy is such a lengthy album as well, there’s nothing slapdash about it,” he says. “There are so many songs that segue into other songs and themes from other songs that pop up in different things.

“We’re just gonna have to approach it in chunks, then once we’ve got that side of the record down, we’ll work on the next side of the record until we’re at a point where we can just put all the pieces together and play it in one, seamless 90-minute run.”

WORDS BY TYLER JENKE

Æ It’s been a while since the respective worlds of You Am I and The Who collided. Having been warned by then-Prime Minister John Gorton not to return to the country after a controversial 1968 tour, the English rockers’ 36-year absence ended in 2004, when the group hit Aussie stages again with You Am I as support. As Davey recalls, it was nothing short of a career highlight.

“We had a pep talk from Roger Daltrey before we went on stage, and he sat us down and said, ‘Look, playing before The Who, it’s not an easy gig. So put your heads down, play, and have fun’,” he notes with a faux English accent. “It was very sweet actually.” Fast-forward 19 years and You Am I are going on tour with The Who again…sort of. This time, they’re paying tribute to the group’s influential 1969 album Tommy. A lengthy rock opera composed by guitarist Pete Townshend, it’s long been considered both The Who’s magnum opus and one of the greatest albums in rock history, inspiring film and stage adaptations.

Of course, performing a record like Tommy - a rock opera considered almost as important as its titular character believes himself to be - will draw some jaded rock fans to You Am I’s tour. Sure, their Spinal Tap tour had a sense of frivolity, and frontman Tim Rogers is as tongue-in-cheek as they come, but do the group feel any pressure to step up to The Who’s legacy and ensure a ‘serious’ album like this is done justice?

“I think we’ll just try and have faith in our own abilities as a group and have faith that we know the record intimately enough to be able to do it some sort of justice,” Davey admits. “We’re gonna try and represent the record as faithfully as we can.

“We’re all idiosyncratic musicians and we’re not good at being a facsimile of something else. So it is going to sound like us, but we’re going to try and include all the flavours and the sounds of the record.”

Of course, a tour like this does raise the question: will You Am I find themselves influenced by The Who and decide to dip their toes into the world of grandiose rock operas for their next record?

“I don’t want to give the game away because things are always malleable and they can change as the process goes on,” Lane notes. “But we are planning to do something quite different from anything that we’ve done before on our next record.”

Whatever comes next, we’re sure Daltrey and Townshend would agree; the kids are alright.

IAs You Am I prepare to take The Who’s Tommy on the road, guitarist Davey Lane explains what a tour like this means for the band.

ART GUIDE Exhibitions to see this August

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

MICHELLE MOLINARI: ANTHROPOCENE

This exhibition dives into the fragile nature of the environment during our current (and admittedly disputed) Anthropocene epoch. The idea of a global environment shaped by humanity influences the artwork of Michelle Molinari, a young Melbourne artist who has had work seen as far as Florence and New York.

FLINDERS LANE GALLERY UNTIL 26 AUG

ALFRED LIU: SOLO EXHIBITION

Melbourne based artist Alfred Liu has set himself apart from the pack by focusing his art on the world of miniatures. While keeping things minute, he manages to showcase a great deal of meaning and imagery through his work. He dives into small paintings of mythological, horror and video game related characters - there’s bound to be something at this exhibition for even the most cursory of art appreciators.

OUTRÉ GALLERY FROM 25 AUG

LIAM YOUNG: PLANETARY REDESIGN

When you mix the world of astrology and filmmaking, you get the new exhibition heading to the NGV courtesy of Liam Young. Planetary Redesign brings curious visual art forms to the gallery, involving images that’ll spark conversations about the current climate emergency. This exhibition hits the NGV after a premiere run at the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture.

NGV FROM 19 AUG

ESTHER ERLICH: DIVINE

Esther Erlich has been a staple of the art scene for three decades, her work finding fans all across the country. She dives into female figures and finds new areas of beauty and strength in the female form. This new exhibition showcases many of her best works, so you know it’s set to be high-quality.

FOX GALLERIES UNTIL 27 AUG

ARCHER DAVIES: GENRE

Local artist Archer Davies has seen his work showcased in all corners of Australia and the world. His brand-new exhibition - as the name suggests - dives into the broad space of genre, especially the genre-bending world of 70’s cinema. His work is also open to opinion, so everyone’s bound to find their own meaning in it.

MARS GALLERY FROM 22 AUG

TWO GIRLS FROM AMOONGUNA

Sally M Nagala Mulda and Marlene Rubuntja are two Arrente women who create work that represents their hometown, Alice Springs (Mparntwe). They have made works in the town’s local art centres, and quickly gained attention in galleries. This exhibition includes an animation featuring the pair, made in collaboration with the team behind shows like Bluey.

ACMI UNTIL 20 AUG

ALESHANEE FAERY: BLUE ON BLUE ON BLUE

Aleshanee Faery is a talented local artist who has been working in the arts world for several years and is adored by many across the country. Faery works on multiple artworks at the same time and this process is part of what makes her exhibitions so original. If you love these artworks, you can also purchase them, so you can really make that feature wall sing.

THE DAX CENTRE UNTIL 25 AUG

PAUL YORE AND ALBERT TUCKER: STRUCTURES OF FEELING

Legendary Australian artists Paul Yore and Albert Tucker both made their mark in the world of art in vastly different eras, but this exhibition finds the relationship between their work. Works from Yore and Tucker have been acquired from a variety of collections, so it’s a unique chance to experience these pieces so closely together.

HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART THROUGHOUT AUG

YARN

Yarn has a myriad of meanings Down Under. This exhibition brings all of those concepts together and showcases the world of storytelling. Seven Indigenous artists’ work will be seen in YARN, displaying their history, stories, and talent.

CRAFT VICTORIA THROUGHOUT AUG

G FLIP

“I’ve been drumming since I was nine years old and I was always singing in private. Like, if I was home alone, I would sing. I was too shy to sing in front of anyone. I always wrote solo music on piano and guitar when I was a teenager. But it was always alone and I never showed anyone.

WORDS BY SIDONIE BIRD DE LA COEUR

Æ It’s the day before International NonBinary People’s Day when I get the chance to interview G Flip. About to kick off their highly anticipated DRUMMER tour, they reflect on being at the forefront of queer, non-binary representation in the mainstream Australian music landscape.

“When I came out as non-binary, I knew that I’d have to talk about it a lot,” they say. “I knew that there’d be a bit of a responsibility but I’ve always liked public speaking and I like educating people. I was a music teacher before G Flip took off, so for me, it came pretty naturally, to fill that role.

“I think a big part of the G Flip project is being the person that I never had growing up. We never had non-binary musicians growing up, so it’s awesome now that there are people filling those shoes for kids who are looking for an idol, searching for someone to look up to.”

Playing both drums and lead vocals, as well as keys and guitar, any output from G Flip is nothing short of a marvel of multi-instrumentalism. While to some, drumming and singing lead may seem to be an unconventional combination, for them, the two go hand in hand.

“So, yeah, no one ever heard my songs or my voice ‘til I was 19, maybe 20 years old. It wasn’t until I came out as queer that I felt comfortable sharing my songs because a lot of the lyrical content of my songs was very queer based and I hadn’t come out yet. As soon as I came out, I was ready to share my songs.

“The drums were like my safe space, it was my shield. And then as soon as I came out as gay, then I was ready to take the microphone and share my story. It’s a big part of my journey.”

Featuring standout track Worst Person Alive, DRUMMER is a powerful, high-octane pop album that could only have been made by a devoted percussionist. Singing “You used to call me, ‘Baby, come over’ / Now I’m the worst person alive,” the track deconstructs the isolation that comes with suddenly being completely out of the loop with a person you used to date. “That’s how some breakups go,” they say.

“I’ve had relationships where we’ve ended up being friends, and that particular one that I wrote about, it’s just like dead silence. I’ve never heard from them again.

“I wanted to write a song about those feelings and [going] from being each other’s everything to being absolutely nothing.

“I did some Pride shows recently in the States, and I tested out Worst Person Alive. For me and my band, that’s one of the most fun songs to play live, we enjoy it so much. And the crowd

reception and reaction for that song has been really awesome.

“A lot of my core fans and friends are saying it’s one of the best songs I’ve ever released, which is so awesome to hear, and I’m glad that song is out in the world.”

In what has since become heralded as a legendary moment in G Flip’s career, they broke their hand while in the midst of their 2022 tour. Despite doctor’s orders, they appeared on stage mere hours later, drumming one-handed. As it turns out, they were more than prepared for the mishap.

“I watched Travis Barker growing up, who’s an idol of mine. He broke his hand and then he did a whole tour with one hand. So as a kid, I’d always practice my set one-handed and teach myself that.

“I broke my hand, but then in the hospital, I just started learning my set onehanded. Then, I was on stage about eight hours later playing the show. I had six more shows and then I did Splendour one-handed.

“There was no stopping me. When I had a broken hand, I almost found it like a challenge. I wanted to find the most badass drum solo and do it onehanded. So at Splendour, I ripped like a five-minute, six-minute drum solo one-handed and it was so fun.” Hot off the back of their August 11 album release, they’re slated to perform a slew of Australian dates on their upcoming tour, before heading across the ditch to bring DRUMMER to the States. “I do get extremely fit on tour. I feel like a melon currently, but once I’m on tour, I get full abs and stuff,” they laugh. “Singing real hectic while drumming - the heart rate goes up like no other.”

G FLIP

WHERE: THE FORUM

WHEN: 29 AUG, 2 & 3 SEP

From breakups to broken arms, there’s no stopping the force of nature that is G Flip.

Credit: Nazrin Massaro

“The drums were like my safe space, it was my shield. And then as soon as I came out as gay, then I was ready to take the microphone and share my story. It’s a big part of my journey.”

FESTIVAL GUIDE Festivals to experience this July

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

NOW OR NEVER

From multi-sensory dining experiences to interactive art trails, this dynamic Melbourne festival has so much to offer. More than 300 artists from across Melbourne and beyond will come together to transform the city with light, colour and sound.

MELBOURNE 17 AUG–2 SEP

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The month-long celebration of all things film returns this August, now in its 71st year. There will be a variety of movies on display: local productions, big budget blockbusters, independent foreign films and much, much more. Events will also be taking place too, galas, live performances, and special screenings.

MELBOURNE 3–20 AUG

DRENCHER FESTIVAL

After kicking off for the first time last year, Drencher Festival is back. You’ll get to catch a selection of the best hardcore groups in the country - 2023’s incarnation will feature Nephalem, Smoke Witch, Automation, Detach Me, Womb to Tomb, Munitions, Goat Shaman, Barbarion and In Malice’s Wake.

BARWON CLUB HOTEL 26 AUG

WINTERWILD

Apollo Bay lights up with WinterWild Festival this August, a celebration of the darker arts. There’ll be performances from Jen Cloher and Nat’s What I Reckon, alongside performances ranging from breathwork to dancers to discos.

APOLLO BAY 25–27 AUG

HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

No, you didn’t misread, there’s actually a festival dedicated to all things hot chocolate. Happening at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, there will be 31 hot chocolate flavours on show, so why not try them all? On top of that, each are served with a fluffy marshmallow. Plus, the Hot Chocolate Festival will feature classes where you can learn how to make café quality hot chocolate from home.

YARRA VALLEY

CHOCOLATERIE THROUGHOUT AUG

BENALLA FLAMEFEST

Flamefest is a festival ideal for these freezing weekends, there will be fire shows, fire performers, and firejets, alongside bars stocked with alcohol, live music, kids games, food trucks, and plenty more.

BENALLA RACING CLUB 12 AUG

INDIAN FESTIVAL

The Indian Festival will bring exceptional food, warming chais, and a range of performances from Indian talent to the masses.

QUEEN VIC MARKET 12–13 AUG

MELBOURNE PSYCHIC AND WELLBEING FESTIVAL

This festival has quickly become a staple of the Melbourne social calendar. The Royal Exhibition Building is set to be filled to the brim with vendors staging workshops and slinging items from cosmetics to books to crystals. If you’re looking to see what your future holds, there’ll be plenty of psychics as well.

THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 18–20 AUG

BALLARAT BLUES FESTIVAL

The regional Victorian town is set to welcome a killer lineup to their stages this month. Attendees can catch the likes of Phil Manning, Anna Scionti Trio, Brett Garsed, Lloyd Spiegel and Fiona Boyes, among many more.

BALLARAT 26–27 AUG

MICHAEL KIERAN HARVEY

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Æ “In my teenage years I used to just immerse myself in his stuff,” says Michael, “as a lot of teenage piano players do who are exploring the notated area anyway. I was finding him very inspiring, so I followed the trail over to Hungary. I did my student study at the Liszt Academy in Budapest.”

In a new two-part concert series entitled Liszt’s Lance into the Future, facilitated by ANAM, Michael is set to bring the works of Liszt to an eager audience in Naarm/Melbourne. The series will take place on Friday August 18 and Saturday August 19 at the Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent.

The series will feature six compositions created by the luminary Liszt, alongside original compositions written by Michael and many others, all of whom have been directly inspired by the techniques and methods of Liszt.

Michael himself will be performing, as well as Timothy Young (ANAM Head of Piano), Paavali Jumppanen (ANAM Artistic Director) and a selection of ANAM pianists.

The allure of studying Liszt resided in the dedication to music that Liszt embodied within his career, practice and everyday life.

“He’s a musician, like Beethoven if you want to go that far, who really lived their life as a musician, through all the pitfalls and everything that a musician faces in a society,” he says.

“What Liszt was facing is incredibly relevant to the types of problems that the musician of today faces - the area of reinterpreting notated music - and I was finding that very inspiring. He was also a very good role model, he came from a very humble background.”

The intrigue of Liszt’s life transcended his devotion to music. Liszt seemed to relate to music and existence in a cyclical manner throughout the entirety of his life.

“Liszt encountered Paganini who was this incredible wizard on the violin and that totally demoralised Liszt,” he says.

“Liszt basically disappeared for three years and was declared dead by one of the newspapers in Paris. But it was at that time he then started to really work on his technique and become just like Paganini, but on the piano.”

“And then his life went in these sort of cycles, which is why I found him very interesting. He was reaching a certain peak level as a performer, but then just retired. He retired at about 38 and stopped touring and concertising and settled down.”

It was not only Liszt’s life that inspired this concert series, but from a musical standpoint, it was his mastering of the piano and how it could be manipulated that echoes the general theme of Liszt’s Lance into the Future.

“It’s really to do with this idea that you can transcend technical things,” he says. “You gather this huge technical armoury and then you can transcend that technique and really communicate musical ideas much more effectively. That is something that informs all of the modern works that are being presented in the concert series.” This approach directly affected the creation of Michael’s two compositions that are set to be performed at the concert series.

“They’re being performed because Timothy showed a bit of interest in playing that piece. It’s very nice of them to do that, but they [my compositions] do relate to Liszt in a very pianistic way. They’re very virtuosic pieces. They are trying to use virtuosity to transcend the limitations of the notation. That is the idea acquired from Liszt that best represents this idea of program music - music can actually represent something, and if not represent something, then it can give a very definite impression.”

WHEN: 18 AUG

From a boyhood mesmerisation, Michael Kieran Harvey has been influenced by the famous Hungarian composer Franz Liszt since he started exploring notated music.

MICHAEL KIERAN HARVEY WHERE: ROSINA AUDITORIUM, ABBOTSFORD CONVENT

“Liszt basically disappeared for three years and was declared dead by one of the newspapers in Paris. But it was at that time he then started to really work on his technique and become just like Paganini, but on the piano.”

STAGE GUIDE

Shows to experience this August

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

CAPRICCIO

The Victorian Opera continues their run at the Palais Theatre, with Capriccio hitting the stage later this month. First penned in 1942, the show is set in the 18th century and follows protagonist Madeleine and the two men in love with her. Alongside the talented opera performers, this show will be supported by the Australian National Academy of Music, conducted by Simone Young.

PALAIS THEATRE 31 AUG

CHEN + FRIENDS BIG SHOW

Best known for his debut special If Weren’t Filmed Nobody Would Believe and appearances on Have You Been Paying Attention, Aaron Chen has quickly become one of Australia’s most popular comedians. Before moving to NYC, Aaron Chen is hitting the road for a small East Coast tour, with Melbourne receiving two shows on Aug 11. Alongside a set from Aaron, audiences will witness sets from his comedic friends too.

ATHENAEUM THEATRE 11 AUG

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL

After a popular run in 2021, Moulin Rouge! is back on Melbourne stages for an encore season. Based on the 2001 film of the same name, the musical follows the relationship of protagonist Christian and cabaret dancer, Satine. The show is a jukebox musical, so it features songs like Bad Romance, Chandelier, and Every Breath You Take, among many more.

REGENT THEATRE 20 AUG

GUYS AND DOLLS

It’s one of the world’s most popular musicals and it’s making its way to Melbourne this August courtesy of Antipodes Theatre Company. The musical has been around for a whopping 73 years since it was first brought to the stage on Broadway in 1950, with Robert Alda in the leading role.

CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL FROM 10 AUG

JOEY ALEXANDER

It’s not too often you can experience a Grammy nominee at a Melbourne university, but Joey Alexander isn’t your average performer. The pianist first burst onto the scene back when he was only 10 years old, playing with the world’s greatest jazz musicians. He then went on to perform at the White House, Grand Ole Opry, Grammys, The Apollo Theatre, and the Newport Jazz Festival, among many more. He’s now set to add Melbourne to that list, hitting the Alexander Theatre for a show, plus a Q+A session.

ALEXANDER THEATRE 10 AUG

LEADING LADIES

This show celebrates three of Australia’s incredible performers, Casey Donovan, Caroline O’Connor and Silvie Paladino each performing tracks that found popularity in the theatre world – pieces from Funny Girl and Wicked, among others

HAMER HALL 12 AUG

PIPPIN

If you’re looking to find talent before they’re famous, look no further than this upcoming performance courtesy of the Australian Institute of Music Theatre. They’ll be putting on Pippin, another of the world’s most popular stage shows. Written by the iconic Stephen Schwarz and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse, this is definitely a show you don’t want to miss.

AIM THEATRE 10–12 AUG

LOVE WITH NO REMORSE

A new play hits the stage this month from the talented Thespian Theatre Company. This play involves a couple who are perfect from the outside, but behind closed doors, things aren’t as they seem. It’s written by Touka Shoukor and directed by James Huang, who ensure that voices of the unheard take centre stage.

MEAT MARKET STABLES UNTIL 13 AUG

MISS PEONY

Written by the immensely-talented Michelle Law, Miss Peony is a new comedy hitting Arts Centre this August. The play involves Lily, as she enters a pageant, supported her beauty queen grandmother. Best of all, it’s set to be performed in three languages, English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE UNTIL 20 AUG

MANTRA STUDIO

LIVE MUSIC is twangy, jangly and full of heart at this innerwest oasis. If city slickin’ has got you down, head here to be brought back down to earth.

FAMOUS FOR having a fully decked-out onsite recording studio, meaning local musos can hop in the booth whenever inspiration strikes.

INFAMOUS FOR the finger food. So delicious yet so limited. I’ll take three orders of the wagyu dumplings please, and no, I will not be sharing.

Æ Often called a hidden gem (despite being spread over two floors and a patio), this Yarraville joint does a little bit of everything. Looking for a place to record an album? Mantra. Host a wedding reception? Mantra. Enjoy Pan-Asian cuisine and craft beer while jamming out to live country, RnB, roots and blues music? You guessed it: Mantra.

But don’t get the impression that they’ve overextended themselves. Created by Dave Baird and Patsy Toop, this place thrives off its friendly hospitality – anyone who walks through the door, for whatever reason, is met with a cheerful and welcoming vibe. The high-ceilinged, light-filled space has a cosy quality and works just as well for performances as it does for private functions and parties.

Live music goes down on most Friday nights and is free for anyone who wants to stop by. They also offer an ever-changing Bar Bites menu on these evenings, featuring snackable selections as well as larger plates such as crunchy karaage burgers and pillowy bao. While music usually happens in the front bar, bigger events like album launches and tour dates can also be held in the intimate back room.

You’ll often find artists grabbing a drink after a long recording session in the fully functioning, world class studio attached to the venue. Scene veteran Dave Baird serves as the in-house manager, producer and mentor of the space, allowing out-of-towners to stop in for a quick session with all of the details already taken care of.

Whether you’ve got music on your mind or you’re just plain thirsty, Mantra is definitely worth checking out if you’re in the neighbourhood.

MORRIS HOUSE

LIVE COMEDY goes down at their Basement Comedy Club. An electric neon-lit space that draws inspiration from the legendary comedy clubs of New York City, it’s the perfect place to catch your next favourite act.

FAMOUS FOR their recent Arj Barker residency, which saw the ARIA Award-winner and Australia’s favourite inherited comic bringing his set to Morris House from July 18.

INFAMOUS FOR their Sunday Long Lunches, which take place every week from noon. With house-made focaccia and classic beef wellington served with red wine jus, complemented by an abundance of sides, you’ll be so full you’ll have to roll home.

Æ The CBD’s newest four-storey gem, Morris House, is here, it’s got beer, and it’s set to take Melbourne’s pub scene by storm. Formerly known as the European Bier Café, this iconic venue has just swung its doors open after a $4 million transformation.

With a capacity to host a whopping 550 guests across its four revitalised levels, Morris House is the ultimate hotspot for all things fun and fabulous. The cherry on top? The rooftop - a lush oasis boasting a retractable roof - provides a leafy-green escape where you can savour leisurely lunches, dusk cocktails, and latenight revelry, regardless of the season.

With exposed brick walls and moody lighting, their Basement Comedy Club sets the stage for uproarious performances by local talents and headline acts every Friday and Saturday night, with the famed Arj Barker having kicked off his residency on July 18. Melbourne’s foodies are in for a real treat, thanks to the masterful menu crafted by Executive Chef Christian Abbott. From the delectable baked camembert with confit garlic and rosemary to the heavenly boozy New York cheesecake with Manhattan jelly, every dish is a delightful journey of taste.

On the ground floor, the revamped dining room welcomes guests with plush leather booths and a chic marble bar conveniently positioned off the bustling city sidewalk. It’s the perfect spot for a laid-back mid-week lunch or your post-work knockoff drinks.

Meanwhile, the level one bar and terrace offer a cozy setting with booth seating and a splendid view of Exhibition Street, setting the scene for soulful live music every Friday and $16 Negronis coupled with smooth Jazz every Thursday. WHERE:

WHERE: 10A CAMPBELL ST, YARRAVILLE

THE GASO

LIVE MUSIC from Wednesday to Sunday is the bread and butter of The Gaso. Its reputation as one of Melbourne’s premier mid-size music venues is well-deserved, with a long list of artists who have graced its stages.

FAMOUS FOR its retractable roof that opens up over the main bandroom. Who doesn’t love some versatility?

INFAMOUS FOR its distinctive, labyrinthian layout. With the venue separated into three distinctive sections, you’ll often find yourself at the front bar asking - “How do I get to the upstairs bandroom?”

Æ Located on the corner of Smith Street and Alexandra Parade in Collingwood, The Gasometer Hotel (known lovingly as The Gaso) has hosted everyone, from a diverse range of world-class acts to up-and-comers alike.

From iconic names like Jet and The Saints to groundbreaking talents such as Kimbra and Marlon Williams, The Gaso’s three distinct stages have been host to a whopping variety of acts.

Segmented into three main sections, with the main bandroom separated from the front bar and pub area, this vibrant venue has carved a niche for itself as one of the city’s most exceptional spots for musical enthusiasts.

Tucked behind their front bar, ascend their spiral stairwell to be greeted by a cozy yet vibrant room that has witnessed countless extraordinary gigs from up-and-coming locals. Lose yourself in the intoxicating melodies, bask in the dynamic atmosphere, and create unforgettable memories at this musical haven. Come for the booze, stay for the tunes – The Gaso is waiting to sweep you off your feet.

Whether you’re a seasoned gig-goer or a newcomer to the music scene, The Gaso promises an experience like no other.

VOODOO LOVE CHILD SPEAKEASY

LIVE MUSIC is free every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stop by for a weekend libation and you’ll find someone tickling at the keys, strumming a guitar or honking away on the horns.

FAMOUS FOR the classic muffuletta sandwich. It’s a meaty, cheesy delight finished with a tangy olive tapenade and made to be washed down with a strong drink. There’s a vegetarian option as well – this is Melbourne, after all.

INFAMOUS FOR the cocktails. They’re a little too good. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself stumbling out of the door after a few too many Sazeracs. Pass a good time, as they say in New Orleans!

Æ Looking for a little Louisiana charm without the gators, hurricanes or thousand dollar plane ticket? Try St Kilda instead. Voodoo Love Child Speakeasy channels the food, the vibes and the music of the swampy south, and after working your way through their drink menu, we promise you won’t be able to notice the difference.

On the weekends, blues and jazz tunes echo through the room, leaning into that smoky speakeasy feeling. If the mood is right, dancing may ensue. Karaoke is also not off the cards. Throughout the week, they’ve got other entertainment as well, from a fortnightly poetry reading to a beloved Wednesday night trivia session.

The menu is southern comfort at its finest. Fusing French, African and American flavours, the dishes have just the right balance of sweetness, spice and decadence. Think jambalaya, cajun chips, Po’ boys and fried chicken with cornbread waffles – spread on that jalapeno maple syrup butter and tell me it’s not black magic. If you need an extra kick, they’ve got hot sauces coming out the wazoo.

There are red velvet lounges tucked in the corner that offer a more intimate visitor experience, but around the bar is where the fun is at. Every seat offers a prime view of the evening’s talent and the set-up is made to be social, so don’t be surprised if you end up leaving with a few new friends. Homey, groovy and jam-packed with pizazz, it’s a spot that does the Big Easy justice.

WHERE: 484 SMITH ST, COLLINGWOOD

OPEN: WED–SUN, 4 PM–LATE

WHERE: 143 CHAPEL ST, ST KILDA

OPEN: TUE-SUN

DIDIRRI

Caught In The Act

Æ Begin Again opens with a tender, meditative repeated note on piano. Then Didirri’s lilting vocal melodies hover, weightless as a majestic dragonfly surfing a slipstream: “I feel the breeze/ Feel it on my neck/ Feel it on my neck, it’s grand…” – we’ve been hanging out to hear Didirri’s debut album ever since this first taste dropped over two years ago and can confirm that Caught In The Act surpasses our sky-high expectations.

Opening track Obsolete Machine (“You’re a slave to the obsolete machine”) explores “technology’s effect on the human condition”. From a drum machine beat and gentle guitar strumming, instrumentation gradually expands and builds until brass eventually enters the arrangement during this song’s final minute, like an unexpected rainbow sighting ushering in optimistic vibes. Heaving Chest, a piano-led lullaby, was written at 3am while bushfires raged close to where Didirri was staying in WA (“There’s ash on the breeze/ I fall to my knees”). This one’s string arrangement quivers and swells, offering solace and a brief reprieve from anxiety.

“You can’t cure me with conversation/ But stay here for a while/ I hear the ticking of the ever growing shadow/ And I don’t wanna know the time” – You Know What’s Good For You – which is about trusting your gut, even when it’s telling you something you don’t necessarily wanna hear – sees Didirri backed by a full band. Heartfelt, poetic lyricism abounds during this song and chord progressions during the bridge bring Rufus Wainwright to mind.

Didirri has said that producer Rob Muinos (Julia Jacklin, Little May, Nat Vazer) made a habit of checking in to make sure he “was 100% on every line”, which definitely paid dividends; the lyric sheets alone read like evocative poems, with Love Can Bleed You By The Hand a particular fave: “I live in a town called fear/ Everything’s curated here/ Nothing is created here in fear…”

According to this album’s presser, a pair of songs on here – the confessional, acoustic guitar-driven I Wanted It Easier Than This and the stately, piano-led closer Numb (“‘Cause I’m singin’ of love and of heaven above/ While I’m thinkin’ of you in the ground”) – “represent times in Didirri’s life that aren’t easy to revisit”. But his willingness to process life’s gritty bits through song, while reckoning with the past, has undoubtedly contributed to Didirri’s massive growth as an artist.

Transportive, introspective, vulnerable, intimate, enchanting and deceptively unassuming, Caught In The Act captures this exceptional Warrnambool-raised singer-songwriter on the cusp of a breakthrough. And not to minimise the understated elegance of this record, but it also has the makings of a top-notch makeout soundtrack.

Love Saves

Æ Tina Arena gives herself permission to express raw emotion on Love Saves, which bleeds authenticity.

This album’s early songwriting sessions took place around a piano in Stockholm – using zero technology, just a notepad and writing utensil. Four songs –one a day – spilled forth. Church, which brings Bond theme-level drama (Tina’s closing money note!), materialised first: “I forgive you for everything/ For all the nights I couldn’t sleep…” – this record’s opening lead single also documents Tina’s path to self-forgiveness.

“But I won’t fake it/ I can’t be anything/ That I’m not…” – Cry Me A Miracle’s lyrics encapsulate how Tina has approached her entire career, which spans almost five decades (she first appeared on Young Talent Time in 1976, aged just eight). She boasts one of the greatest Australian voices of all time and Love Saves rightfully places Tina’s impeccable pipes front and centre. BVs, supplied by Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko, and piano also play integral supporting roles throughout.

Can’t Say Anything unleashes, fierce as all get-out, before Tina’s closing, “Heh!” channels Beyoncé. “Fuck you, I’m a Joan Of Arc without a cause…” – Devil In Me, this album’s super-satisfying fuck-you moment, is unapologetic but never devoid of irony. This song’s final, emphatic bass note on piano lands like a triumphant full stop.

She’s described this record as “a window into [her] soul” and, with her first album of original material in eight years, it’s thrilling to witness Tina strutting into full power.

LABEL: LIBERATION RECORDS

RELEASE: 4 AUG

LABEL: ADA

RELEASE: 14 JUL

TINA ARENA

just calling to tell you i’m okay

Æ “Sometimes I feel anxiety/ Feel something’s creepin’ up on me…” – it’s so incredibly important for young listeners to hear lyrics that normalise feelings they’re experiencing, but might be too scared to discuss and we salute Eliott for bravely sharing her story.

Throughout her debut album, Eliott charts her mental health journey chronologically: at the top, we meet a “broken person” before she navigates the twists and turns of heartbreak and recovery until hope finally prevails with a repeated affirmation (“You’ll be just fine”) during the reassuring closer. Track three, Tell Me, was written in 2019 when Eliott began to seek help: “So tell me mother, when will I know what to do?/ If I can’t keep up, and I don’t wanna get up this time.” During this stunning lead single’s anthemic choruses, Eliott’s impassioned portrayal is cradled by a backup choir.

Elsewhere: standout moment Happy On My Own (featuring Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s moving vocals) represents a turning point, Control explores unrequited love (“Am I going crazy?/ ‘Cause you don’t miss me”) and the tender For Oli (“I’ll leave the light on for you”) is a tribute to a lost friend who lives on forever in her heart.

Eliott learned how to harmonise while singing along to The Sound Of White by Missy Higgins in the car with her mum, during long drives from her hometown of Cobram to Melbourne, and her powerful pipes are the true star here.

FANNY LUMSDEN

Hey Dawn

Æ Fanny Lumsden has recalled waking up in an Airbnb in Tassie as the sun was rising over the ocean: “I literally just said, ‘Oh, hey dawn!’” She’d been feeling a bit “stuck” in the wake of her previous career-defining, Top 10-charting, Golden Guitar and ARIA-winning Fallow set (2020), but this spectacle of nature’s beauty shifted her perspective. Then another serendipitous encounter – visiting a market held in a hall and happening upon an old man playing piano – brought Fanny’s vision for this record to life, and she returned to her accommodation and composed Hey Dawn’s opening title track that evening.

Hey Dawn opens a cappella until a lyrical epiphany (“Our hearts they will be lighter/ Yes I believe it will be warmer from now on”) initiates an influx of instrumentation, brass and all. “‘Cause in came the smoke/ And all that good luck choked…” –Great Divide references the mega-fire that almost claimed Fanny’s property in The Tooma Valley. Commemorating the passing of her grandma, Ugly Flowers incorporates wonderful lyrical detail (“an in-ground pool”, “Pantene Pro-V”, “pressed trousers”).

When I Die, which features Ash Naylor on guitar, was written while Fanny sat solo around a campfire on the Nullarbor Plain. This rollicking track was inspired by Brett – a burly, bearded bushy (he stars in the accompanying film clip) – and his meticulously planned wake, which includes Fanny serenading him out of this world while his ashes are “shot out of shotguns (BYO) during golden hour”.

Fanny and Tom Lumsden’s sibling harmonies are an absolute swoonfest throughout this album’s entirety. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: who doesn’t love Fanny?

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Rooms For The Memory 2023

Æ While driving home from a recent gig at Northcote Theatre, with PBS’ Sunglasses After Dark show pumping outta the car stezza, Rooms For The Memory – from the OST for Richard Lowenstein’s cult film Dogs In Space (1986), for which Ollie Olsen was enlisted as Musical Director– stopped us in our tracks. Michael Hutchence’s vocal performance is so gritty and drenched in raw emotion. That closing plea: “RE-E-MEMbe-er” – he sounds utterly undone.

Rooms For The Memory was recently reworked by Adalita, Mick Harvey and Andrew Duffield to help raise funds for the ongoing care of Olsen – a prominent figure in Melbourne’s avant-garde electronic music scene (Whirlywirld, NO, Orchestra Of Skin And Bone, Max Q) and this song’s composer – who was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (a form of Parkinson’s) in 2020. Lowenstein also created an accompanying film clip for Rooms For The Memory revisited, interspersing footage from the Sing Sing Studios session that went down earlier this year with vintage gold featuring Hutchence and Olsen recording the OG song/just broing-out in general.

The extended format of Rooms For The Memory includes four versions of the hauntingly beautiful titular track as well as two renditions of Whirlywirld’s Win-Lose: the Dogs In Space version plus a reimagining featuring Eskimo Joe’s Kav Temperley on vocals. Vast, imposing and bleak – with chugging synths and sparkling riffs – Win/ Lose crackles with menacing intensity and sounds as vital as ever.

ELIOTT

AUDIO INFLUENCE

exceptionally high standard of Hi-Fi and home entertainment outlets found in the general area), working in harmony to create a world class local scene. Amongst the familiar names that make up the rich tapestry of Hi-Fi showrooms strewn across Melbourne is relative newcomer, Audio Influence, the baby of industry veteran, Graham Kennedy.

Situated on bustling Nicholson St, in the trendy inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North, it’s a space that oozes vibe and eclectic personal taste, from the exposed brick interior and warm lighting, through to the fully intact cabin of a Cessna Citation 6 private jet, there to greet you at the front counter on arrival. Because…why not?

Delving deeper into the premises is truly a feast for the eyes and ears, with multiple display rooms branching off from the shop’s tastefully lit hallway.

For the vinyl enthusiasts, Audio Influence offers an incredibly diverse and balanced range of belt driven and motorised options, from the ubiquitous Yamaha TT-S303 (RRP:$699) right through to the state of the art Vertere RG-1 Reference Groove Record Player (RRP:$52,995), catering to everyone from the everyday civilian to the seasoned audiophile.

Given Audio Influence’s location and the high number of record stores in the immediate vicinity, it’s only natural that turntables and vinyl culture would make up a big part of Graham’s vision and aesthetic for the store; something that is instantly apparent the minute you walk in.

“Sonically speaking, our space has more in common with your lounge room than it does a perfectly optimised, acoustically treated showroom and each of our rooms have very different dimensions and floor and wall coverings.

“It’s all about simulating the real world listening experience and ensuring customer satisfaction at the other end.”

The one exception to this of course, is Audio Influence’s state of the art home theatre room, currently running a fully loaded 9.4.4 Dolby Atmos setup from JBL Synthesis. Suffice to say, the sheer weight and clarity of the sub frequency information on a system of this calibre, combined with the immersive movement of objects across the soundstage, is a truly revelatory experience and will have you seriously consulting the floor plan of your house for potential home cinema sites.

For those with an interest in transducers and amplification, Audio Influence also boasts all the latest releases from such respected brands as JBL, Audiolab, Fyne, Audio Analogue, Wharfedale, NAD and of course the ever reliable and omnipresent Yamaha (including the brand’s R-N2000A Network Receiver as reviewed in this issue).

If you are looking to level up your current listening situation, need advice on your home audio system or want to experience the feeling of riding shotgun in a private jet, don’t hesitate to pop in and see Graham and Riz at Audio Influence or drop them a line on sales@audioinfluence.com.au

WORDS BY PAUL FRENCH

Æ Just have a look around you and the evidence is right there for all to see. Whether it’s in the inordinately high concentration of live music venues and independent cinemas that dot the landscape, or in the ever increasing number of listening bars and specialty vinyl stores that seem to pop up on an almost weekly basis, it’s hard to argue the fact that as a whole, Melbournians possess a unique connection to the audio visual experience that many others do not.

Given the heightened role that the arts play in everyday life here in Melbourne, it should probably come as no surprise that the city is also something of an international Hi-Fi and Audiophile hotspot with a dedicated and passionate community of audio obsessives (not to mention, the

“I travel a lot and definitely took a lot of influence from the cool little record stores and whisky bars that I would stumble upon when I was overseas,” explains Graham.

“I wanted to bring some of that feeling into the way the store looked and felt. Something relaxed and homely and not too stuffy.”

This unpretentiousness also extends to the acoustic fingerprint of Audio Influence’s numerous listening rooms, with Graham making a decided effort to present the equipment in as close to real world living situations as possible, eschewing a lot of the optimised room treatments found in many other Hi-Fi dealerships.

“I have always been of the mindset that the majority of our clientele will be taking their setup home and setting up in a less than ideal acoustic environment,” remarks Graham.

WHERE: 774-776 NICHOLSON ST, FITZROY NORTH

This article was made in partnership with Audio Influence.

As you are probably aware, Melburnians have a reputation for taking their music and film very seriously.

YAMAHA R-N2000A NETWORK RECEIVER

From a component standpoint, the R-N2000A has remained true to Yamaha’s reputation for exceptional build standards. From its thick gauge wires and screw terminal for secured grounding, every component and connector is scrupulously selected ensuring ultimate in performance and reliability. This commitment to quality also extends to the digital components, with the ESS Technologies ES9026PRO DAC providing stellar signal conversion, working in tandem with the aforementioned analogue circuitry to provide a sense of dimension, depth and separation that many other amplifiers would struggle to achieve.

In contrast to the classic minimalism hinted at by its looks, the R-N2000A’s wealth of connectivity is steeped very much in the now. Phono, CD and audio line inputs are all included or course, as well as an FM tuner, but where things get really interesting in in its high-resolution streaming connectivity, as well as the HDMI (with ARC), rounding out the potential of the R-N2000A being the centrepiece of a 2.1 home theatre system. For those wanting to enjoy the highest quality of digital playback, DSD file formatting is supported as well as the usual .WAV, AIFF, FLAC and MP3. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay connectivity are all supported as well as USB and Ethernet.

Back on the topic of aesthetics, the VU meters on the front panel are gorgeous and absolutely scream classic Yamaha-albeit with a slight modern twist in the form of the bottom stripe of the front panel doubling as a touchscreen, allowing for easy menu navigation and configuration. It’s both subtle and forward thinking and is yet another way in which this amp effortlessly straddles the line between old and new.

This also extends to the amplifiers approach to acoustic optimisation. Working in chorus with the aforementioned heavy duty bracing of its internal topography, the R-N2000A also packs some groundbreaking modern technology, like YPAO (Yamaha’s Parametric Room Acoustic Optimiser) under the hood to maximise the listening experience and helping smooth out any anomalies present in the room.

Æ Having created some of the most iconic products in the space, it’s no surprise that the brand’s relatively new network enabled stereo receiver and integrated amplifier, the R-N2000A is a perfect blend of Yamaha’s ‘True Sound’ ethos, but with all the convenience afforded by digital circuitry and modern networking capabilities.

The result is something both classic and pure at the amplification level, but with more than enough connectivity to allow for easy playback across multiple formats.

Pushing out a healthy 90W per side at 8-Ohms (20Hz-20kHz, 0.07% THD), the R-N2000A has plenty of oomph, but never at the expense of clarity or depth. To aid stability and overall performance, the bolts of the feet are welded to the main chassis and the large heat sink, power transformer and block capacitors are directly bolted to the chassis, in turn eliminating unwanted vibration and allowing for a rock solid low frequency response (something that any integrated amplifier strives to accomplish). This all adds up to give the R-N2000A the kind dynamics and low end normally reserved for a much more expensive amplifier, something which is sure to pique the interest of those with a keen ear for audio quality.

Sonically speaking, the R-N2000A is anything but a colour box; but rather a lesson in pleasant, workable neutrality. An amplifier built with the design principles of allowing a speaker’s true unique character to shine through, without imparting any of its own artefacts to the source material or peripheral components. The result is an integrated amplifier with an impeccably detailed playback, with remarkable separation of instruments and audio content in general, a result of Yamaha’s commitment to end-to-end quality throughout the signal chain. From the build quality of the chassis, to the transformer, power amplifier and meters and then on to the DAC and networking connectivity. It’s a class act throughout.

Coming in a bit below the R-N2000A’s price point, the new R-N1000A and R-N800A also sport many of these same desirable features found on the R-N2000A, like YPAO, a plethora of streaming connectivity and Yamaha’s rock solid construction, the new R-N family of integrated amplifiers truly covers all bases - from peak flagship performance and features, through to more affordable but equally reliable options, each oozing the same classic Yamaha vibe that we know and love.

There are few brands that hold such an esteemed place in the history of Hi-Fi as Yamaha.

WORDS BY ANDY LLOYD-RUSSELL

This article was made in partnership with Yamaha.

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN

Tyne-James Organ blew us out of the water with his maiden LP Necessary Evil, a collection of raw, honest indierock anthems in 2021. It was released shortly after he captured audiences around the country with his blistering, high-octane cover of The Kooks' Naive for triple j’s Like A Version.

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Æ As listeners and fans, we sometimes forget that artists endure the full spectrum of human experiences. After all, that’s how they shape the art that resonates with us so deeply.

Tyne-James has been no exception. His new single Blue acts as a marker in time when he was grieving for his father. Its conversational tone captures the essence of what it means to share grief with the loved ones around you, as well as the depths we can plummet to coming to terms with loss. It humanises the universal nature of farewelling dear ones and the emotions that manifest from this process.

This August, Tyne-James and his band are set to go on tour, across five different Australian cities in commemoration of the release of the new single. They’ll be playing Blue for the first time live, an endeavour that is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking.

“I don’t know how long I’ll play Blue live for,” he says. “It was kind of like what I did with Watch You Go. I’m nervous for that kind of aspect of it, of how I’m going to feel emotionally on stage playing it ‘cause it just locked me in every time. It’s beautiful to connect with people on stage but there was a time I had to pull it because it was just getting too much for me.” As well as new songs they have been working on, Tyne-James and his band will be performing songs that many have come to love. We might even be able to expect his high-energy rendition of Naive by the Kooks.

“I’m so excited,” he says. “It feels like it’s definitely the first tour that should run as planned. The last few years involved writing and recording the album and touring it. I’d been dreaming of doing that for years and then when it all came around, we got three or four shows in and then it was all over.

“It was hard to find a rhythm, but now that things are flowing again, it’s just got me buzzing to think we’re actually going to do this tour and it should be able to go as planned. Being back in all these cities again is what I love about touring, it’s my favourite part of music. I love recording and writing, but there’s nothing like connecting with people face to face.”

The pandemic affected us all in our own unique ways and it seems distorted and stuck in a loop to continue to discuss its impact. But for Tyne-James – who lost his father amidst it all – his situation meant that period of time was particularly challenging. Through Blue, he’s opening up discussion about mental health and grief. “Having the stories that I have, I don’t want to avoid it all by not opening up and being honest about it. With Blue it was a very unplanned song that I never thought I would show anyone. It was just a little release. It’s part two for me on my own journey, I guess.

“Essentially, I was in a relationship throughout the whole time that my dad was passing. Then he died, and I had this beautiful relationship going. Then 12 months later, it ended. I was so nurtured at that time by my partner that I hadn’t felt the true sadness of losing him. Then when we broke up and it all came tumbling down – it hit me that my dad wasn’t there. It took me into a very hectic place, and I started living with my mum. I went to a dark place I never thought I’d go. And my mum was right by my side the whole time. My mum’s my rock, she’s been my rock since. There was one particular night where things got out of hand and that’s what the song is explaining.”

It’s this frank form of songwriting that bolsters his sense of conviction to his musicianship.

“My journey of life isn’t about the fame and glory. It’s about the realness of my experiences and connecting and sharing these stories that are real.”

“Mental health is something that is real and often goes overlooked and judged in a negative way. That’s what Blue is talking about, at least from my experiences.”

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN

WHEN: 5 AUG

WHERE: CORNER HOTEL

“My journey of life isn’t about the fame and glory. It’s about the realness of my experiences and connecting and sharing these stories that are real.”

GIG GUIDE AUGUST 2023

THU 3 AUG

RINI

Max Watts, Melbourne. 7.30pm.

FRI 4 AUG

LEFT AT THE AVENUE. PET THERAPY, MONGEESE

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $15.

PRETTY MOI. RAMONA SKY, DAY DREAMERS

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $19.90.

THE SEDUCEAPHONES

Bar 303, Northcote. 8pm. $20. Free.

PIERRE JAQUINOT TRIO

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

MAMA ALTO: ROUND MIDNIGHT

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

VOLI K

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.

Ç CABLE TIES. OUR CARLSON, PORPOISE SPIT, THE MAGGIE PILLS

DIPPERS

The Curtin, Carlton. 8pm.

Ç THANDI PHOENIX

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7pm. $28.30.

K’CHIDGE

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

MAISIE

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

EZRA LEE

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $20.

SOUTHERN CRUSTACEAN. VERMINATOR, AGNOSTIC HUNK. Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

ATOMIC ENTOURAGE

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

JAZZ NIGHT

Morris House, Melbourne. 7pm.

WOOLGATHERING.

ABI LEE TRIO

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.

ANDREAS S JENSEN

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

Max Watts, Melbourne. 8pm. $40.80.

KATY STEELE. MORETON

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $40.

BAILEY JUDD TRIO. Social Street Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

SNEAKY BLINDERS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

BAREFOOT SPACEMEN

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

CLARE BOWDITCH

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $20.

KRUL. BAYONET, R.U.B, LOTHARIO

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

DR. COLOSSUS

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm.

BRITTLE SUN

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

BIG MOIST & THE SMOKING DURRIES

Northcote Social Club. 8.30pm. $15. Free.

PURE LOGIC

Micawber Tavern, Belgrave. 7pm. Free.

JESS CHALMERS: LISTENING PARTY

The Toff In Town, Melbourne. 7.30pm. $21. Free.

SAT 5 AUG

DAVID M WESTERN

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 4pm. Free.

THE HARLOTS. TROUBLE PEACH, MORE

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 8pm. $15.

COW TOOL & FRIENDS

FT: Billiam & The Split Bills, The Vovos, Men’s Health Club, Polite Skeletons, Expo, Property, more Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 1.30pm. $25 - 30.

THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA

Max Watts, Melbourne. 7.30pm. $59.95.

BAREFOOT AVE. DYNASTY, CARE

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1pm. $13.

ORSON’S MARTIAN RADIO + TOMMY DYNAMITE & THE EXPLOSIONS

Gem Bar, Collingwood. 4pm. Free.

SUPERSTAR: THE CARPENTERS SONGBOOK

Brunswick Ballroom. 2pm. $46.

Ç BATTLESNAKE

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $25.

Ç KYLIE AULDIST

Brunswick Ballroom. 8.30pm. $33.76.

BENJAMINO + MEADOWHIP. MINHY

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. 4pm. Free.

WITCHSKULL. PILOTS OF BAALBEK, OCEANLORD

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN. DEATH BY DENIM

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8.30pm. $46. Free.

DEAD CITY RUINS

Northcote Social Club. 8.30pm. $29.10.

SNARSKI VS SNARSKI

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.

DOLE MANCHILD. CHAMP RUBY, BIFF

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85.

GUTLESS.

VILE APARITION, MISERABLE CREATURE, BLARGHSTARD

The Curtin, Carlton. 7.30pm. $17.75.

LOT56

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

THE PADDY CAKES + JIMMY HARWOOD

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 8pm. $12.75.

THU 10 AUG

ONE CALL AWAY’S

FUNDRAISING EVENT

FT: Ramona Sky, Tudor Club, Psychic Social Club, MC Lachnes

Stay Gold, Brunswick. 7.30pm. $23. Free.

FRI 11 AUG

Ç MOOR MUSIC WINTER JAZZ RESIDENCY

FT: Horatio Luna, Poli Pearl, Live Art Dancers

Section 8, Melbourne. 6pm. Free.

THE REASONS WHY. THE BLUNTTS, CAIFEIN

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $10.

SIMON HUDSON

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

EILEEN & ALEX HAMILTON

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

SAGAS OF THE ICELANDERS

BEC STEVENS. SICK VISOR, MOUNT DEFIANCE

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 7.30pm. $23.50.

DREAM ON DREAMER: LOVELESS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. WAYSIDE, INERTIA

Max Watts, Melbourne. 8pm. $49.90.

DANTÉ KNOWS

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.20.

TOROS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

THE STONE APES

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

REMINISCE

TRANCE 2023

FT: Jason Midro, Steve Bleas, Amber Savage, Hellraiser, Scott Alert, Mario Loria, Ahmet Atasever

The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne. 3pm. $59.95.

TED NETTELBECK, ANDY SUGG & FRIENDS

Classic Southside, Elsternwick. 8pm. $25 - 30. Free.

THE BLUETONE

ASSEMBLY QUARTET

Lido Jazz Room, Hawthorn. 8pm. $25 - 30. Free.

FT: Kári Gíslason, Eloïse

Mignon, Erkki Veltheim, Aviva Endean

Brunswick Ballroom. 7.30pm. $30.

WILBER CABBAGE & THE POLAR FRENZY

Bar 303, Northcote. 7.30pm.

JAZZ NIGHT Morris House, Melbourne. 7pm.

THE JAMES LOCKWOOD TRIO

Alchemy Brewing, Brunswick East. 6pm. Free.

THE ELSEWHERES. FAIRTRADE NARCOTICS

The Curtin, Carlton. 8pm. $17.75.

CHARM OF FINCHES

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $33.76.

SOUNDTRACK MUSIC. NO HOPER, SUPERTART, THE MISANTHROPES

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

LENNON WELLS. MISS KANINNA, HASSALL

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

STRAWBZ

Hotel Esplanade (aka

The Espy), St Kilda. 8pm. $15.85 - 22.95.

DEAR SEATTLE

The Curtin, Carlton. 8pm. $33.45.

JON COLLINS

Micawber Tavern, Belgrave. 7pm. Free.

PASS THE CAUTION TAPE

FT: Spill Kit, Volt Jolt, Whipwerm, Ghost Of Catalan

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, North Melbourne. 8pm. $15. Free.

WRESTLEROCK. SONS OF JUDAS

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $45.45.

THE NEW MONOS + THE AFROBIOTICS. DJ JUMPS

Bar 303, Northcote. 8pm.

BRET MOSLEY

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

GEORGIA RAY. USELESS SPACEMAN, FJ & THE SWITCH

The Merri Creek Tavern, Northcote. 8pm. $15. Free.

MISTY HARLOWE

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.

PHONX

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

THE GET DOWN 20

FT: DJ Jewlz, Ciecmate & Viliani, Southside Denny, Blackshades & Arrogance, Grizzly Bastard, MC Wasp, DJ Dopebeat, Shao One Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95.

THE 046 Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $37.17.

SAT 12 AUG

FANGZ + CAPTIVES. THE DREADFUL TIDES

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. 8.30pm. $11.25.

DAVID M WESTERN

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 4pm. Free.

MATURE THEMES. JEANE, WINTER MCQUINN’S ROCK & ROLL VARIETY HOUR

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 7pm. $15.

ANTARCTIC MONKEYS

Max Watts, Melbourne. 8pm. $50.

ALEKSIAH. JIM ALXNDR

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.

DYLAN & THE OBSERVABLE UNIVERSE. GRAND BAXTER

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2.30pm. Free.

WORLD HIP HOP DAY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP

FT: Hoodzy, Bilalli, Sensible J, N’Fa Jones, more Section 8, Melbourne. 3pm. Free.

WHAT SO NOT Northcote Theatre.

7.30pm. $69.90.

ROYAL DRUE. BURNING GRACE, THE CUISINES

The Curtin, Carlton. 8.30pm. $24.90.

THU 17 AUG

SCOTT CANDLISH

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

SURPRISE SHOW

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

Ç THE SNUTS. RADIO FREE ALICE

Corner Hotel, Richmond.

8.30pm. $54.90.

THOSE PRETTY WRONGS + A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF BIG STAR

Brunswick Ballroom. 2pm. $53.65.

REECE MASTIN

Brunswick Ballroom.

8.30pm. $54.67.

BOLLARD

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

ANDRE WARHURST

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

EXCUSE FOR AN EXIT. BELLWEATHER, EVERGREENER

THE ELVIS BIG BAND Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $95.98.

ART DEPARTMENT. SWEET NOTHING, BAREFOOT SPACEMAN

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $15. Free.

MOUNT KUJO

Bar 303, Northcote. 8pm.

JAZZ NIGHT

Morris House, Melbourne. 7pm.

DAVE GRANEY & THE CORAL SNAKES: NIGHT OF THE WOLVERINE 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 7.30pm. $59.70.

Ç GOOD SNIFF. SPEED MULLET, BAREFOOT BOWLS CLUB

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

SERPETTE + WHO BASTARD

Gem Bar, Collingwood. 4pm. Free.

00_ + PROPAINE

Gem Bar, Collingwood. 9pm. Free.

CHRISTINE MANETTA TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85.

THE SEBEN BROTHERS

Bar 303, Northcote. 8pm.

PINKO COLLECTIVE Bar 303, Northcote. 3.30pm.

THE GUMBO INCIDENT

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm. Free.

RAY BEADLE. THE FRANK SULTANA

BLUES BAND, CHECKERBOARD

LOUNGE

Hotel Esplanade (aka

The Espy), St Kilda. 4.30pm. $38.25.

Ç CHILDREN COLLIDE

The Curtin, Carlton. 8pm. $27.95 .

NOW OR NEVER: OPENING NIGHT

PARTY WITH SOJU

GANG + FRIENDS

Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 10pm. Free.

FRI 18 AUG

VALLEY. SHANNEN JAMES

Max Watts, Melbourne. 7.30pm. $59.90.

THE CITY. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, ULTRAVLT, SILK VILLAGE

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $25.

STUMPS. JET CITY SPORTS CLUB

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7.30pm. $20.

CREEK + WIZARD TRICK

Gem Bar, Collingwood. 9pm. Free.

SIN CITY

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

HUMAN LOVE FEST

Brunswick Ballroom. 7.30pm. $23.56.

BILL BINGLEY. AMY FLIGHT, MICHAEL WHITTRED

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. 8.30pm. Free.

WATTY THOMPSON

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

SONS OF BLUES

Daylesford Hotel. 7pm.

JANE CAMERON

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.

FUXACHE. DEMON PIG, HEADLESS DEATH, OCCULT BLOOD, PISSBOLT

Bar 303, Northcote. 6.30pm.

DAVE GRANEY & THE CORAL SNAKES.

TWINKLE DIGITZ

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8.30pm.

Ç BLANCO TRANCO. GREAT AUSTRALIAN BANK, WILDING, TOTAL CARE

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $15. Free.

MARTIN FRAWLEY & BAND.

GREGOR, THE TOADS, LEAH PEDROZA & THE COOL CHANGE

The Curtin, Carlton. 8pm. $22.85.

KELLOCK LEFEVRE QUINTET

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

KYMO

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

GRIEVOUS

BODILY CALM. MAD VANTAGE, JACOB DIAMOND

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

TAYLOR SWIFT: SPEAK NOW PARTY

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 9pm. $19.90 - 29.90.

BIC RUNGA - THE BEAUTIFUL COLLISION

TOUR: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

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

SAT 19 AUG

DAVID M WESTERN

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 4pm. Free.

FUTURE SUCK. SHOVE, FRAME, STREET SWEEPER

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 8pm. $15.

THE BAUDELAIRES + NIGHT RITES

Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8.30pm. Free.

THE WINFIELD ROAD EXPERIMENT

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

OUT TO LUNCH

FT: Felix Riebl, Gamelan DanAnda Brunswick Ballroom. 2pm. $33.76.

JACK LADDER

Brunswick Ballroom.

8.30pm. $43.96.

INTERMOOD. YEP!, JERRY THE MUSICAL Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

POSSUM MAGIC: A FUNDRAISER FOR THE ENDANGERED LEADBEATER’S POSSUM Leadbeater Hotel, Richmond. 2pm. $34.70.

ELM STREET. TRUE BELIEVER, RIOT AFTER MIDNIGHT Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

YARRA BANKS JAM

Bar 303, Northcote. 3.30pm.

DAN CULLY

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

LEAH SENIOR. ZOË FOX, PARSNIP Northcote Social Club. 8.30pm. $33.15.

FRI 25 AUG

TEDDY SWIMS

The Forum, Melbourne. 7pm. $319.75.

CRYSTALLINES. AS A RIVAL, MONTANA SHARP

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $10 - 15.

Ç BAG RAIDERS

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 8pm. $25 - 30. Free.

KALI MALONE X GRAND ORGAN. MESS SYNTHESISER ORCHESTRA

Melbourne Town Hall. 7.30pm. $25 - 50. Free.

CASABELLA

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

UNK! LAUNCH

FT: Mojo Bag, Birdsnake, Crooked TP, BennyVee, Culture Evolves, InJoy, RAP, dappah, Jame, Odysseus, Shiralee Hood

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2pm. $25.

THU 24 AUG

DEAR MATILDA

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

HAROULA TSALPARA

THE EMPTY THREATS. PROPAINE, BUGHUNT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15.

THE TOUGH GROOVES

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

BADGERS

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

QUALITY USED CARS. EATEN BY DOGS, MICHAEL BEACH, BACK POCKET

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $23.05.

BEAT PANIC. HACKITT, NERVOUS TENSION

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

GLITORIS

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $27.70.

MAGIC DIRT. LOWTIDE, AQUATICO

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8.30pm. $46. Free.

MALIA STIRLING + JOSH MAYNARD

Ç BODY TYPE. GUT HEALTH, SWEETIE Corner Hotel, Richmond.

8.30pm. $35.30.

TTTDC + PORCUS VS EQUUS

Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 8.30pm. Free.

ALERA + HEADWRECK.

WOLF & CHAIN, SILVERFANG

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $20. Free.

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $49.06.

JAZZ NIGHT

Morris House, Melbourne. 7pm.

MIGUEL RIOS

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

PLAYLIST ACOUSTIC DUO

Micawber Tavern, Belgrave. 7pm. Free.

YACHT ROCK REVIVAL Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 8pm. $38.25.

TRIPLIKATZ

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

ALL RISE: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WYNTON MARSALIS AND THE MSO

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre

Melbourne), Melbourne.

7.30pm. $75 - 135. Free.

AUTECHRE. MAX COOPER, ACTRESS, GIANT SWAN

Royal Exhibition

Building, Carlton. 5.30pm. $88 - 110. Free.

SAT 26 AUG

DAVID M WESTERN

Shotkickers, Thornbury. 4pm. Free.

CATEGORY 3

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

BURIED FEATHER. HACKITT, NERVOUS TENSION

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

POIZON’US

Cherry Bar, Melbourne. 8pm. $27.70.

I AM MORBID

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7pm. $88. Free.

CHARLIE MARSHALL + PETER FARNAN

Daylesford Hotel. 7pm.

THIRD EYE: AN AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTE TO TOOL

Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick. 8pm. $43.35.

AUNTIE LEO & THE BACKSTABBERS. GOOD SNIFF, MORE

The Curtin, Carlton. 8.30pm. $17.75 .

DAY DREAMERS. RAMONA SKY, AMBULANCE

Leadbeater Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $13. Free.

BLUE WINDOWS

The Thornbury Local. 8pm.

ELIZA HULL & LIZ MARTIN: INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE NOTES

Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7.30pm. $37. Free.

RICH WEBB BAND

Union Hotel Brunswick. 5pm. Free.

KALOPSIA:

VOLUME ONE

FT: Horatio Luna, Sex On Toast, Uncomfortable Science, Psychobabel, Chris Gill, more

Northcote Theatre. 2pm. Free.

ALL RISE: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WYNTON MARSALIS AND THE MSO

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre

Melbourne), Melbourne.

7.30pm. $75 - 135. Free.

NADIRA & FRIENDS

Classic Southside, Elsternwick. 8pm. $25 - 30. Free.

SCOTT DUNBABIN QUARTET

Lido Jazz Room, Hawthorn. 8pm. $25 - 30. Free.

LIVE AT THE COUNT’S: DOC HALIBUT

The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, Clayton. 7.30pm. $10 - 25.

THU 31 AUG

CONOR MORRISSEY. KELSIE JEAN, FRANKIE BALSANA

The Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7pm. $15.05.

ABI LEE TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm.

SURPRISE SHOW

Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford. 9pm. Free.

DAVID HELFGOTT IN RECITAL

Brunswick Ballroom. 8pm. $80.17.

SWALLOW THE RAT. FRACKTIONS, MOUSTACHE ANT

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm.

THRICE. WIFECULT

Northcote Theatre. 8pm. $79.15.

CURLY & THE FRINGE

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm.

THE SHACKMEN

Bar 303, Northcote. 8.30pm. $20. Free.

FRI 1 SEP

COALESCE 005

FT: Alice Longyu Gao, SEBii, Prophecy Girl, CLAIR, Resenter, Marceline, Mayari Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 6pm.

THRICE.

WIFECULT

Northcote Theatre. 8pm.

MUSIC FOR FUNERALS

POP PLUS CO-PRESENTED BY CURVEBALL

FT: Dragonfruit-DoloRRes, Georgie Darvidis, House Mum

The Curtin, Carlton. 6pm.

POWERTRIP

FT: Traxman,Jasmine Infiniti, Crake, Mara Galagher, Alexander Powers Miscellania, Melbourne. 6pm.

SAT 2 SEP

ABLETON AND THE OPERATIVES:

SAMPLE SECTION 8 Section 8, Melbourne. 2pm. Free.

HOT TOFF DISCO

The Toff in Town, Melbourne. 6pm.

ENCLAVE

FT: Built DifferentE Fishpool x Kalyani, D-Grade, Karina Utomo, Rohan Rebeiro, more Miscellania, Melbourne. 6pm.

PAL MAR: THE SOUNDS OF TROPICAL LATINPOP

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

ANTI FADE RECORDS

FT: Delivery, The UV Race, EXEX, Alien Nosejob, Rowena Lloyd

Sub Club, Melbourne. 6pm.

WORLD’S GREATEST FREAK SHOW

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy), St Kilda. 6pm. $59.70.

NOW OR NEVER

FT: Âme. George FitzGerald, CC:DISCO!, Ayebatonye, Dameeeela

Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton. 4pm. $88 - 110. Free.

FT: Sara Retalick, Jannah Quill, E Fishpool, Ex Ponto, Ciao Ciao, Oliver Moir, Carla Zimbler

The Toff in Town, Melbourne. 6pm.

ROB HAO: SCHUBERT OVERWRITTEN

Melbourne Recital Centre,

SPASTA

FT: Adriana, Jamie Tiller, Ani Phoebe, Amaru Tribe, Disco Mediteranea

Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 6pm.

LOVE ME OR LEAVE

ME: A TRIBUTE TO NINA SIMONE

Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.