ST KILDA FESTIVAL
Mo’Ju, Bag Raiders, Mallrat and more lead Australia’s largest free music festival.
FEBRUARY #1715
BEAT.COM.AU NAARM/MELBOURNE’S VOICE IN MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
SATURDAY 17 FEB: FIRST PEOPLES FIRST FREE AND ALL AGES
TWO DAYS OF SUMMER FUN
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BIRREN. CANISHA. ELEANOR JAWURLNGALI TRIAD. IOP HIP HOP. KATIE ASPEL. LIV & THE DREAM. PIRRITU. SEDRIECE. PLUS: ARCHIE ROACH FOUNDATION PRESENTS SINGING OUR FUTURES PLUS: MORE GREAT ARTISTS. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. FAMILY FUN. FOOD AND MARKET STALLS. GOOD TIMES.
FULL PROGRAM AT STKILDAFESTIVAL.COM.AU
SUNDAY 18 FEB: BIG FESTIVAL SUNDAY FREE AND ALL AGES
TWO DAYS OF SUMMER FUN
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1300. ADAM NOVIELLO. CD. CHIKCHIKA. COOL SOUNDS. GOODBYE BUTTERFLY. GUT HEALTH. HARD NO. THE HEIGHTS. J-MILLA. JULIAN MUNYARD. LOTTE GALLAGHER. MAYA VICE. PLATONIC SEX. THE SLINGERS. SINGING OUR FUTURES. SUNFRUITS. THANDI PHOENIX. TITRATION. WILDFIRE MANWURRK. PLUS: MORE GREAT ARTISTS. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. FAMILY FUN. FOOD AND MARKET STALLS. GOOD TIMES.
FULL PROGRAM AT STKILDAFESTIVAL.COM.AU
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FEB
13,20,27 FEB
Sounds of Aotearoa with SIX60 Outdoor Cinema with Live Scores
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Budjerah by Candlelight
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Taylor Sheesh
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Afro-Caribbean Carnival
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Reuben Kaye by Candlelight
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SAMPA THE GREAT
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presented by Yo CiTY
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JACOTÉNE by Candlelight
EXPLORE MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE’S
3 – 4 April 2024
Velcro your dancing shoes, grab your baton, capture your creativity and get ready to play!
melbournerecital.com.au/ playground
thepennyblack.com.au
420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick ©3056
EDITORIAL NOTE
1715
It’s February and St Kilda Festival is back with a bumper weekend-long program, all for free. Saturday February 17 is all about First Peoples First, so headliner Mo’Ju is our epic cover star.
EDITOR Lucas Radbourne ASSISTANT EDITOR Talia Rinaldo STAFF WRITER Kaya Martin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Riley McDonald GIG GUIDE Jacob Colliver CONTRIBUTORS Bryget Chrisfield, Jacob McCormack, Tyler Jenke, Juliette Salom, Tahney Fosdike, Andrew Handley, Grace McCallum, Acacia Gabriel, Wil Clifford FOR ADVERTISING OR SPONSORED CONTENT ENQUIRIES advertise@furstmedia.com.au
Æ This month we also check out the new Northcote Rise festival and Bunjil Place’s Summer Stage program. Plus, we chat to Wednesday before they headline Brunswick Music Festival, Billiam before he rocks Brunswick Ballroom, and Abe Dunovits about his brilliantly experimental new album. We venture to Melbourne’s new live music venue Wax Music Lounge and local favourite Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Finally, we also check out the latest records from Jessica Mauboy, Big Scary, Kirin J Callanan, Tom Snowdon and Vacations. Enjoy!
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.
ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION distribution@furstmedia.com.au PUBLISHER Furst Media Pty Ltd FOUNDER Rob Furst
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DISTRIBUTION
COVER
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
Our February cover star is Mo’Ju, photographed by Wilk.
BEAT.COM.AU
CONTENTS 12–16
ART GUIDE
ST KILDA FESTIVAL
18–21
ALBUM REVIEWS
NORTHCOTE RISE
22
WEDNESDAY
24
A B C D E
ABE DUNOVITS
26
VENUE GUIDE
SUMMER STAGE
28
BILLIAM
28
STAGE GUIDE
30
FESTIVAL GUIDE
32
NEWS COVER STORY
A B
Jessica Mauboy Big Scary Kirin J Callinan Tom Snowdon Vacations
34 36–37 Yours Forever Wing If I Could Sing Lonely Tree No Place Like Home
38
Brunswick Artists’ Bar Wax Music Lounge
GIG GUIDE
40–43
Never miss a Melbourne event. beat.com.au
THE DOLLY PARTON EXPERIENCE
THEand NECKS with Vanessa The Jealous Guys 14 FEB 12/02 DOORS 12, 1PM13// & SHOW STARTS 2PM • DOORS 6:30PM • KITCHEN OPEN • SHOW STARTS HENRY WAGONS 8PM
Presented by WeManage, Cheatin Hearts Records, Spunk Records & Select Music 17/02 // DOORS 6:30PM // SHOW STARTS 8PM
ART ALEXAKIS OF EVERCLEAR W/
BRENDAN LUCIE THORNE & HAMISH STUART B. BROWN AND MATT WALKER & BEN FRANZ 314 – 316 SYDNEY ROAD, BRUNSWICK, MELBOURNE | 03 9387 1347 | BRUNSWICKBALLROOM.COM. AU 314 – 316 SYDNEY ROAD, BRUNSWICK, MELBOURNE PH: 03 9387 1347 BRUNSWICKBALLROOM.COM.AU
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OF WHEATUS 26/02 // DOORS 6PM // SHOW STARTS 7PM
SAT 17 FEB
• DOORS 6:30PM • SHOW STARTS 8:30PM
NICE BISCUIT FRI 23 FEB • DOORS 7PM • KITCHEN OPEN • SHOW STARTS 8:30PM
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR: HOPE SAT 2 MAR • DOORS 5:30PM • KITCHEN OPEN • SHOW STARTS 7:30PM
BEAT 1715
NEWS
GRUPO NICHE, ÑEJO LEAD ST KILDA LATIN FESTIVAL Two of the biggest names in Latin American music are spearheading St Kilda Latin Festival’s 2024 lineup, coming to the beautiful foreshore on February 10.
NEW MUSIC VENUE IN HERITAGE-LISTED BLUESTONE WAREHOUSE
ST KILDA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP With Mallrat, Bag Raiders, Northeast Party House and more, the now two-day event is set to take place on the weekend of February 17 and 18, with First Peoples First taking place on Saturday and Big Festival Sunday bringing more than 50 acts on Sunday.
The planned venue in the heritage-listed, bluestone warehouse at 11-17 Colebrook Street, Brunswick will house a 500-patron, tiered auditorium suitable for performances spanning all music genres, as well as two bars and a commercial kitchen.
MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE REVEALS 2024 PROGRAM With 18 seasons delivering celebrated world cinema, overlooked figures of film history, and important local works, presented in new digital restorations and on rarely screened celluloid prints at ACMI throughout the year.
LANEWAY FESTIVAL ADDS TRIPLE J UNEARTHED WINNERS The lucky winners earning their spot in the limelight are Platonic Sex from Brisbane, Chloe Dadd representing Sydney, The Tullamarines hailing from Adelaide, Suzi making waves in Melbourne, and Otiuh bringing their beats from Perth.
JESSICA MAUBOY LEADS TREATY DAY OUT LINEUP On Sunday, March 2, fans will gather at the Ballarat City Oval for a huge celebration of First Nations music and culture with Mauboy, Mo’Ju, Electric Fields and more.
PANDEMONIUM REVEALS DEBUT LINEUP Alice Cooper, Blondie, Placebo, Deep Purple and more lead new Australian festival Pandemonium, coming to the Caribbean Gardens in April.
SUMMER AT THE SQUARE’S EPIC PROGRAM This month Fed Square hosts the free Summer at the Square program, featuring free live music from the likes of Budjerah, Sampa The Great and Six60, and a range of free blockbuster and silent films.
ERIC ANDRE ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR Andre has announced the highly anticipated dates for The Eric Andre Show Live, hitting up Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Auckland in February and March.
DINOSAUR JR. ANNOUNCE MELBOURNE HEADLINE DATE Legendary US rock band Dinosaur Jr. make their return to Australia and New Zealand for a series of headline shows in February and March 2024.
SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS ANNOUNCES MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY PROGRAM Courtney Barnett, Jarabi Band, the Divisi Chamber Singers, Calexico, Lonnie Holley, Moor Mother, Irreversible Entanglements and many more are gracing the Melbourne Recital Centre stage this month.
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The Australian Shakespeare Company will open the season with a playful rendition of the rom-com classic, Much Ado About Nothing. Running from February 23 to March 17, there are plenty of chances to catch a show.
JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION IS COMING BACK In a world where dinosaurs once again roam the earth, the award-winning Jurassic World: The Exhibition will be packing up its bags in Sydney on Sunday, 18 February 2024, and making its way to Melbourne.
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BLONDSHELL
K.FLAY
SHONEN KNIFE (JPN) WED 28 FEB
FRI 09 FEB
TUE 13 FEB
WHEN CHAI MET TOAST (IND)
MAD PROFESSOR (UK)
SAT 02 MAR
TORA
SAT 23 MAR
GIG GUIDE 25/01 - SEA GIRLS (UK) 26/01 - THE ANGELS 27/01 - GRAND WAZOO: BIG RETRO SOUL DANCE PARTY 02/02 - PISCO SOUR 03/02 - PETEY (USA) SELLING FAST 09/02 - BLONDSHELL 10/02 - BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH 11/02 - DOMI & JD BECK SOLD OUT 13/02 - K.FLAY 16/02 - NO CIGAR (NZ) 17/02 - THE RIFF RAFF: AC/DC CELEBRATED 18/02 - ROYEL OTIS SOLD OUT 19/02 - ROYEL OTIS SELLING FAST 20/02 - SPORTS BIZARRE PODCAST WITH TITUS O’REILY & MICK MOLLOY SELLING FAST 21/02 - ROYEL OTIS SELLING FAST 22/02 - TODD RUNDGREN (USA) 24/02 - EVEN FLOW: PEARL JAM CELEBRATED 25/02 - ASHES TO ASHES: DAVID BOWIE EXPERIENCE
SAT 13 APR
20/02 - SPORTS BIZARRE PODCAST WITH TITUS O’REILY & MICK MOLLOY SELLING FAST 28/02 - SHONEN KNIFE 01/03 - BOO SEEKA 02/03 - WHEN CHAI MET TOAST (IND) 03/03 - HOT MULLIGAN (USA) SOLD OUT 07/03 - THE BETHS 08/03 - BORIS + KIYOHARU (JPN) 09/03 - 1927 + BOOM CRASH OPERA 15/03 - MIA DYSON 16/03 - WINTERBOURNE 23/03 - MAD PROFESSOR (UK) 27/03 - NEWTON FAULKNER (UK) 13/04 - TORA 18/04 - KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEYBIRDS (USA) 21/04 - SUFFOCATION 26/04 - KITA ALEXANDER SELLING FAST 11/05 - THE CLOUDS SELLING FAST 24/05 - THE BAMBOOS 25/05 - SAMANTHA FISH AND JESSE DAYTON (USA) 01/06 - CIRITH UNGOL & NIGHT DEMON (USA) 08/06 - MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW 23/06 - ECHOES OF PINK FLOYD
ON SALE NOW
JAAL
SQUID NEBULA
PARSNIP
TOM SNOWDON
ONDARA (USA)
YOURS TRULY
SAT 03 FEB
SAT 02 MAR
FRI 09 FEB
FRI 16 FEB
FRI 08 MAR
SUN 10 MAR
02/03 - TOM SNOWDON GIG GUIDE 04/03 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY 01/02 - CARDA 07/03 - CAM COLE (UK) 03/02 - JAAL 05/02 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY 11/03 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY 08/02 - SLIPPY MANE 08/03 - ONDARA (USA) 09/02 - SQUID NEBULA 10/03 - YOURS TRULY 10/02 - WILLOWBANK GROVE 15/03 - FULL FLOWER MOON BAND 12/02 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY WITH TILE, 16/03 - ZEMLJA GRAND PINE + GRASS STAINS 18/03 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY 14/02 - THE WEDDING SINGER 24/03 - ‘ME THAT YOU SEE’ BY ANNE (FILM SCREENING) FREEMAN BOOK LAUNCH 16/02 - PARSNIP 25/03 - DYLAN (UK) SELLING FAST 17/02 - THE MOVING STILLS 29/03 - MOUNT KUJO 19/02 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY: 01/04 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY 1ST BIRTHDAY 06/04 - STUMPS 23/02 - GEORGIA GETS BY 13/04 - CODEINE (USA) SELLING FAST 24/02 - THE WRECKERY + HALFWAY 20/04 - NOAH DILLON 26/02 - SOCIAL SANCTUARY PLUS, SOCIAL SANCTUARY. 29/02 - THE VEILS (NZ/UK) SELLING FAST FREE LIVE MUSIC EVERY MONDAY
ON SALE NOW
PLUS HEAPS MORE AT NORTHCOTESOCIALCLUB.COM
PLUS HEAPS MORE AT CORNERHOTEL.COM
EDINBURGH Wesley Anne CASTLE y Anne H OT E L THE
OPEN MIC NIGHT – TUE 7.30PM MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA – WED 8PM SUN 4 FEB
ROMAAN SAT 10 FEB
STEPH BRETT
THU 15 FEB
NIR TSFATY
SUN 18 FEB
STINA TESTER
SAT 24 FEB
DAVID COSMA
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THU 8 FEB
KATANKIN
250 High St, Northcote
Trivia with Sparx every Wednesday 7:30pm BAND ROOM
FRONT BAR
The Alcoves
Jazz Aphrodisiac
Friday 9 February
Friday 9 February
Tuesday 13 February
Tueday 15 February
CALEB WILSON TRIO
Sunday 18 February
Wednesday 16 February
SAT 17 FEB
Tuesday 20 February
Sunday 18 February
Friday 23 February
Thursday 22 February
Saturday 24 February
Friday 23 February
Thursday 29 February
Sunday 25 February
SUN 11 FEB
GEORGIA RODGERS THU 22 FEB
TONY KING
THU 29 FEB
OSCAR LADELL TRIO
FOR A FULL GIG LIST VISIT EDINBURGHCASTLE.NET.AU 681 SYDNEY ROAD, BRUNSWICK
Moulin Beige Cabaret Duxie Franklin Frank Sultana The Spares
Evan Carydakis Pat Tierney
A Man Called Son Nana Koizumi
Hillbilly Kitchen
Oscar Ladell Trio Kinematic
Jojo Rainwater
BEAT 1715 For a full gig list visit wesleyanne.com.au
FLOWDAN LEADS TOUCH BASS 2024 LINEUP Flowdan, Kanine and Wilkinson will lead the festival’s Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Auckland dates throughout March.
BLUE LOTUS WATER GARDEN REOPENS The 2024 season runs until April 14 in the Yarra Valley, with its most spectacular display of exotic lotus and waterlily flowers in years.
MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL REVEALS 2024 PROGRAM Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2024 runs from 15 to 24 March with 300 events that will expand your eating and drinking horizons.
HEATHER MCMAHAN ANNOUNCES COMEBACK TOUR Heather McMahan, the comedic sensation known for her stand-up, acting and podcast Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan is embarking on a tour that promises to get a giggle out of even the most sour sourpuss.
SYCCO LEADS PRIDE STREET PARTY LINEUP Set to take place on Sunday, February 11th along Gertrude and Smith Streets in Fitzroy and Collingwood, the Pride Street Party is a free, all-day event that will light up the northside, bringing colour and joy to all those who stop by.
HARRY POTTER’S FORBIDDEN FOREST COMES TO MELBOURNE A nighttime woodland trail experience filled with magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films will open in April.
THE BETHS ANNOUNCE 2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
TOTAL GIOVANNI LEADS GAYTIMES FESTIVAL’S 2024 LINEUP The camping festival of your big gay dreams is returning to Gembrook on February 23 – 25 with Total Giovanni, Miss Kaninna, Mo’Ju and more.
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The quartet, composed of vocalist and guitarist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck, is set to grace the stages of Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne in March 2024.
THE ANIMALS HEADLINE WANSTOCK LINEUP The Animals, Dragon, Ted Mulry Gang and more are coming to the Shoppingtown Hotel on March 2.
MATSUMURA BLUES FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE Making its debut in 2024, the Matsumura Blues Festival will take place at the iconic Prince Bandroom in St Kilda on June 1 and will extend to Mildura along the riverfront at Powerhouse Place on June 8 and 9, coinciding with the King’s Birthday long weekend.
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ANVIL LEADS METAL FORCES 2024 LINEUP BELONGINGS COMES TO OLD TREASURY BUILDING
Metal Forces is the hard-hitting metal festival bringing legends Anvil and Ross The Boss Friedman to Northcote Theatre in March.
Belongings: Objects and Family Life is a free new exhibition tackling our obsession with objects and framing them within Australia’s historical desires and needs.
MEG WASHINGTON TEAMS UP WITH MSO
WINE & CHEESE FEST RETURNS TO MELBOURNE
Meg Washington will play with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on February 9 at Hamer Hall.
Melbourne’s gastronomic calendar is set for a delicious highlight as the Wine & Cheese Fest makes a triumphant return on Sunday, March 3, promising an exquisite day of dairy indulgence and grape delights.
MISSY HIGGINS ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR Renowned Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins is set to captivate audiences across the nation as she embarks on a thrilling 21-date tour beginning in March.
$UICIDEBOY$ ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR The tour will kick off in New Zealand on March 23, 2024 at Auckland’s Spark Arena, followed by Brisbane Entertainment Centre on March 26, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on March 28, concluding at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on March 30.
GOLDEN PLAINS REVEALS FINAL 2024 LINEUP
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS In a celebration of French cinema that has become a cultural cornerstone in Australia, the Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF) is set to dazzle audiences once again as it marks its 35th edition from March to April.
The full Golden Plains 2024 lineup has been revealed with The Streets, Yussef Dayes, King Stingray, Jeff Mills and more leading the line.
NEW LIVE MUSIC VENUE OPENS BENEATH FLINDERS STREET Wax Music Lounge, the new imprint of iconic Melbourne record store Wax Music Records, has opened its doors to a subterranean music venue at 250 Flinders Street.
FREE MSO SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL CONCERTS ARE BACK Join Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for magical evenings of music at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl – the quintessential Melbourne summer tradition – in February.
285 Lygon Street, Brunswick East benjys.com.au
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BEAT 1715
MATTEO BOCELLI ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR
NAT BARTSCH IS RECITAL CENTRE’S NEW ARTISTIN-RESIDENCE
Son of the legendary Tuscan Tenor Andrea Bocelli, Matteo will perform in some of Australia’s most spectacular venues across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in support of his eponymous first album, Matteo.
Double-ARIA-nominated pianist and composer Nat Bartsch has been announced as Melbourne Recital Centre’s new Artist-in-Residence.
EUROPA! EUROPA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN RETURN Expect three weeks of prestige European cinema and entertaining Australian premiere screenings, live music and special events from February 15 – March 11.
GLAM FEST IS COMING BACK GLADYS KNIGHT ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN FAREWELL TOUR
Slaughter, Janet Gardner, George Lynch and more are coming to Melbourne Pavilion on February 16 for a hard rock, glam, classic and melodic rock mini fest.
Seven-time Grammy award winner and empress of soul, Gladys Knight has announced a Farewell Tour for Australia and New Zealand from March – April.
NICK CAVE ANNOUNCES MELBOURNE SHOWS
THEO VON ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN STADIUM TOUR
He’ll be playing with Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood at The Plenary in Melbourne on April 25 and 26.,
The tour will start in the Gold Coast on Thursday 29 February before heading to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with tickets going on sale Friday 15 December at 10am.
INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2024 DATES IFFM 2024 will open on August 15, and will feature all the festival favourites including the Indian Independence Day Celebrations (flag hoisting), IFFM Awards night, IFFM Dance Competition and IFFM Closing Night.
ESOTERIC ADDS 105 ARTISTS TO ITS 2024 LINEUP
BEN HOWARD WILL TOUR AUSTRALIA IN MAY DEKMANTEL MELBOURNE DROPS FIRST ROUND OF 2024 LINEUP
The renowned live performer will tour throughout May 2024, bringing songs from his storied catalogue to stages in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The major Esoteric 2024 lineup has been revealed for the Donald festival from March 8 – 12. Expect jaw-dropping visuals, art, forest lighting, décor, food and market stalls, lifestyle workshops, exciting secret areas and more.
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In an electrifying turn of events for techno enthusiasts in Melbourne, the cult-favourite Dutch techno festival, Dekmantel, is set to return to Australia with a four-day party running from March 28 to 31.
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FEDDE LE GRAND LEADS REMINISCE HOUSE’S 2024 LINEUP Reminisce is back at the Bowl with Fedde Le Grand, John Course, Alan Braxe, DJ Falcon and many more on March 2.
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LISA O’NEILL ANNOUNCES 2024 AUSTRALIA TOUR Lisa O’Neill, the acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter, is set to captivate audiences across Australia in 2024 with her pure songwriting and organic musical prowess.
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2024 BEAT 190x137.5.pdf
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BEAT 1715
ST KILDA FESTIVAL Ever since 1980, the beloved St Kilda Festival has been held in the seaside suburb with which it shares a name. WORDS BY
TYLER JENKE
Æ From humble beginnings, the annual event has grown and expanded with each and every year, slowly reaching such heights that it now boasts the title of Australia’s largest community festival. Proudly produced by the City of Port Phillip and a rite of passage for culture-loving Melburnians, the event stands tall as a celebration of community spirit, Australian talent, and the beautiful St Kilda foreshore on which it is held. So too does the audience resonate with the affair, with its 2023 edition bringing in more than 375,000 punters to soak in the festivities. Now, with the summer heat (finally) in full swing, Australia’s biggest free, all-ages music festival is gearing up to take place on the weekend of February 17 and 18, with its nascent two-day format proving to be a major success in its debut outing last year. For its 43rd edition, the St Kilda Festival launches its proceedings by holding their First Peoples First day on Saturday, February 17th. A dedicated First Peoples Festival Day, the opening half of the event boasts a music lineup which showcases established and emerging artists from the main stage on the St Kilda beach foreshore, including Birren, Charlie Needs Braces, Pirritu, The Merindas, Ziggy Ramo, and many more. On Sunday, February 18th, the St Kilda Festival will host Big Festival Sunday – a large-scale, multi-stage event which will showcase more than 50 artists and bands across the day. Back in September, the festival launched its annual New Music Competition, urging up-and-coming artists to put themselves forward as one of the ten acts to play on the New Music Stage. With passionate audiences then being given the chance to vote on what they’ve heard, the winning band takes home a $5,000 cash prize and a guaranteed spot on the Main Stage in 2025. Since 2007, the New Music Competition has been a goldmine of emerging talent, with names like Baker Boy and Client Liaison going onto massive and widespread fame.
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This year, the ten finalists represent a diverse variety of sounds – from electronic jazz rock, rock n’ roll, alternative pop, dance, hiphop, R&B, to groove-heavy indie rock – with Mulga Bore Hard Rock, Brekky Boy, Good Pash, Jewel Owusu, Lewis Coleman, Mathilde Anne, MUDRAT, Romanie, TAB Family, and Winten all joining the lineup. Needless to say, it’s a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor for a number of talented artists. For its wider lineup, the festival began sharing details in early January, revealing the three big names who would headline affairs. Kicking off with 25-year-old ARIA Award-nominated Brisbane singer, rapper and musician Mallrat (AKA Grace Shaw), the bill also features neo-soul musician Mo’Ju, who returns to headline First Peoples First fresh off the release of their long-awaited album, Oro, Plata, Mata. “It’s really just been really cool and fun to do,” Mo’Ju told us. “I mean, there’s been a lot to figure out, because we made this album over the last couple of years in lockdown. “A lot of it was done in isolation or these small snippets of time where we were able to be together. Figuring out how to do that live now has been challenging but fun. “I think it’s a wild thing we’ve done – to look back at it now and say, ‘Wow, we really went to town.’ “Usually I’d get to this point and be doubting it and hating it, and just looking forward to the next thing, and wondering how I could do better. But this time around… I’m really proud of this record… and I’m really excited to get to do that live.” Last, but not least, veteran Sydney dance act Bag Raiders take up top billing on the Main Stage Sunday lineup, preparing a set full of their classic party hits that will undeniably leave punters feeling euphoric as the festivities wind up for another year. This year also features appearances from numerous other acts to round out the affair, including a double-shot of Melbourne musos such genre-defying indie trio Telenova, and Indigenous Australian pop duo The Merindas, alongside Sunshine Coast musician Julian Munyard, who opens up the Main Stage following his winning appearance on the New Music Stage in 2023. Alongside its traditional music lineup, the 2024 edition of St Kilda Festival also boasts plenty of other events and festivities, including dance performances, workshops, sports demonstrations, community group activities, food and market stalls, roving entertainment, and a family-friendly stage. For decades now, St Kilda Festival has maintained a respectable position on the schedules of all music, culture, and arts lovers, deservedly setting itself apart as Australia’s largest community festival. A masterful celebration of homegrown talent and creativity, and a reminder of what makes Melbourne great, even a cursory look at this year’s event is enough to see that St Kilda Festival’s glowing reputation isn’t just fitting, but well-deserved.
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OUR TOP PICKS
BAG RAIDERS
MO’JU
THE MERINDAS
For close to two decades now, Bag Raiders have taken up residency in that little corner of the Australian electronic music community that we label ‘critical acclaim’. Comprising classically trained musicians Jack Glass and Chris Stracey, the pair would release their first single in 2006, but it wasn’t until the likes of 2009 and their insatiable single Shooting Stars that things took off. Fresh from releasing singles like Love Me Back, Right Here and Saliba in 2023, Bag Raiders are taking up the headline spot at St Kilda Festival 2024 with good cause.
For years, Mo’Ju was one of Australia’s best-kept musical secrets, until loose lips saw the genre-shifting artist reach a well-deserved wider audience. Since going solo in 2011, Mo’Ju has released three albums, numerous singles, and even nabbed a few ARIA Award nominations in the process. Needless to say, you’d be struggling to see a bad performance from Mo’Ju, and with a top spot on the First Peoples First lineup, you know you’ll be in good hands.
Having formed more than a decade ago, it wasn’t until 2020 that we got the debut album from The Merindas. However, it proved that they’ve been sitting on gold for years, with years of singles and award nominations making them favourites of many, and critically beloved by tastemakers. Renowned for their live performances and stellar songs, The Merindas certainly won’t disappoint when they return to the St Kilda Festival in February, for what could be one of their last shows.
WINTEN One of the acts on this year’s New Music Competition Stage, Winten is the musical moniker of Naarm/Melbourne-based musician and visual artist Bridgette Winten. Spending her time sharing songs which ebb and flow between tenderness and triumph, alienation and intimacy, love, insecurity, and heartbreak, Winten also released her debut album, Waving To My Girl, in 2023. If you’re someone who likes music with pure emotion at its core, Winten will save you a spot in the crowd.
RVG Off the back of releasing Brain Worms last year and winning the Australian Music Prize as a result, RVG are at the top of their game right now, and both their live shows and the adoring public are reaping the benefits. A staple of the local live scene and critically-acclaimed icons of the Melbourne music industry, RVG will be delivering a live experience you won’t soon forget when they take to the Triangle Stage.
MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW Having risen to fame as the frontman of Hunters & Collectors, it’s no stretch to call Mark Seymour Aussie music royalty. Since 2011, he’s been fronting The Undertow, his latest musical effort, and one of his best to date. With new album The Boxer slated to arrive in April, you can expect to hear old favourites and new classics when they take to the stage.
MULGA BORE HARD ROCK Another feature of the New Music Competition Stage, Mulga Bore Hard Rock are a six-piece band of family members hailing from the remote central Australia desert community of Akaye, in the Northern Territory. With its members ranging from 14 to 19 years old, what they lack in age is more than made up for thanks to their unique style of glam hard rock, brought straight from the hot, dry desert to the St Kilda seaside this February.
MALLRAT The stage name of prized producer, songwriter, and collaborator Grace Shaw, Mallrat has been delighting audiences for close to a decade now thanks to her catchy tracks, slick production, and dreamy vibes. With a few ARIA Award nominations and even a top ten album thanks to 2022’s Butterfly Blue, Mallrat is an undeniable force of the live stage, with her huge tracks and endearing personality helping her tick all the boxes when the stage lights go up.
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ST KILDA FESTIVAL WHERE:
ST KILDA FORESHORE
WHEN:
17–18 FEB
Beat is an official media partner of St Kilda Festival.
BEAT 1715
FIRST PEOPLES FIRST
St Kilda Festival returns with another jam-packed weekend full of live music and festivities.
The lineup features a who’s-who of impressive First Nations talent, including the soft-spoken, hard-hitting Birren; the immersive compositions of Charlie Needs Braces; the gentle, intricate, and highly melodic Pirritu; the energetic pop and R&B of duo The Merindas; and the bold, uncompromising storytelling of Ziggy Ramo. This year also sees the return of Singing Our Futures across both the Saturday and Sunday program. Supported by the Archie Roach Foundation, Singing Our Futures is a mentoring program that supports First Nations emerging artists on their songwriting and recording journeys. Previous years have seen these emerging artists receive mentoring from some of the most prominent names in First Nations music, including the likes of Dan Sultan, Emily Wurramurra, Emma Donovan, Dobby, Maylene Yinarr, Kee’ahn, Madi Colville Walker, and Ridzy Ray. Previous artists who have been involved with the Singing Our Futures mentoring program have gone on to achieve big things in their own careers. This program is a wonderful opportunity and huge stepping stone for emerging artists to take in the pursuit of their own musical journeys, and the St Kilda Festival team is thrilled to be working in collaboration with the Archie Roach Foundation again in 2024.
WORDS BY
TYLER JENKE
Æ St Kilda Festival has historically been a Sunday-only affair featuring some of the biggest names in Australian music. In 2024, Big Festival Sunday again features a superb bill of artists, including Mallrat, Bag Raiders, Budjerah, and Mark Seymour & The Undertow, RVG, Northeast Party House, Telenova, Gut Health, J-MILLA, Forest Claudette, and many more taking to stages right around St Kilda. However, the newly introduced opening day of the event, First Peoples First, has become an integral part of the St Kilda Festival experience, elevating it to even greater heights. The Saturday is now a proud celebration of First Nations music and community, boasting an incredible lineup of artists, all ages activities, food and market stalls, and more from 10am to 9pm. Taking place on both the Main Stage and the O’Donnell Gardens Stage, First Peoples First will be headlined by the ARIA Award-nominated Mo’Ju, who brings their unique hard-hitting music to eager audiences. Described as a “musician, songwriter, storyteller and third culture kid (Filipino/Wiradjuri)”, Mo’Ju has been one of the driving forces in Australian music over the years, with latest album Oro, Plata, Mata going on to be deservedly nominated for the Australian Music Prize.
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BIG FESTIVAL SUNDAY As always, the event will see hundreds of thousands of people flock to the St Kilda foreshore and beyond for the best in live music, market stalls, community groups and more. So what’s on offer for Big Festival Sunday this year? Punters will be met with the Main Stage, which will feature some of the biggest names in Australian music, including the likes of electronic icons Bag Raiders and genre-defying pop extraordinaire Mallrat. They’ll be joined by artists such as Budjerah, Thandi Phoenix, 1300, and Aussie music royalty Mark Seymour, who performs with his band The Undertow. The Main Stage will also host Julian Munyard, who was last year crowned the winner of the New Music Competition. Of course, the New Music Competition also makes a return this year, with 10 finalists in the comp each allocated a 40-minute set on the New Music Stage presented by JBL. The winner will walk away with a cool $5,000, and the none-too-shabby invitation to perform on the St Kilda Festival Main Stage in 2025. This year, the ten finalists represent a diverse variety of sounds – from electronic jazz rock, rock n’ roll, alternative pop, dance, hiphop, R&B, to groove-heavy indie rock – with Mulga Bore Hard Rock, Brekky Boy, Good Pash, Jewel Owusu, Lewis Coleman, Mathilde Anne, MUDRAT, Romanie, TAB Family, and Winten all joining the lineup. Needless to say, it’s a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor for a number of talented artists. Over on the Triangle Stage, audiences can find familiar names like Australian Music Prize-winners RVG, Platonic Sex, Cool Sounds, Chikchika, The Slingers, and Big Words, while over at the Locals Stage at Acland Plaza, you’ll be able to see showcase performances from JHM, Bailey Judd, Tanya George, The Miffs, and plenty more.
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Exclusively for the 18+ audience, the Cointreau Summer Stage at Catani Gardens will feature performances from Northeast Party House, Gut Health, J-MILLA, Forest Claudette and more. Meanwhile, over on the O’Donnell Gardens Stage, the festival will be pulling double duty. Kicking off the day with family entertainment for its first half, you’ll be able to find the likes of Riot Baby, Team Dream, Woody’s World and more. After 3pm, the stage shifts gears and welcomes all music lovers to the fold, featuring a stackedlineup presented by FReeZA, which includes acts like The Heights, Adam Noviello, Telenova, and more. This year also features the return of Singing Our Futures, which is supported by the Archie Roach Foundation on both Saturday and Sunday. A mentoring program that supports First Nations emerging artists on their songwriting and recording journeys, Singing Our Futures aims to foster new First Nations talent, and will likely be the starting point of a few future St Kilda Festival performers. All told, you won’t be left wanting when it comes to music: more than 60 acts will be featured across the day. Additionally, you’ll also be able to find roving performers and buskers throughout the precinct between 10am and 10pm. Of course, that’s just the music side of things. We’ve not even touched on the extensive range of entertainment that’s on offer, along with the other events and festivities, including dance performances, workshops, sports demonstrations, community group activities, food and market stalls, and roving entertainment. While plenty of those specifics are available on the festival’s website, many of these are also best discovered by you on the day, simply adding to the fun of the affair.
ST KILDA FESTIVAL WHERE:
ST KILDA FORESHORE
WHEN:
17–18 FEB
Beat is an official media partner of St Kilda Festival.
BEAT 1715
NORTHCOTE RISE FESTIVAL Thirteen years between appearances, the Northcote Rise street festival returns Sunday February 18 from 11am to 7pm with a jam-packed day of music, food, shopping, family-friendly arts and crafts, and more. WORDS BY JULIETTE SALOM
Æ From James Street to Separation Street, Northcote’s famous High Street and surrounding roads will be closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians as retail stores, entertainment venues, street vendors and artists take over the suburb. The festival, which is making an exciting comeback, aims to help revitalise local businesses and reignite the local arts industry with a range of activities and events. With five main stages and five main zones to rotate through, they’ll be something in store for everyone. The line-up of entertainment on offer at Northcote Rise will be as diverse as the residents the iconic suburb is home to. From local families and neighbourhood kids, to sharehouse residents and long-time Northcote-siders, the festival boasts a range of activities for both little and big ones, as well as fluffy ones (pets are welcomed!). The festival will also be an accessibility-friendly event, ensuring that every member of the community is invited to participate and celebrate one of Melbourne’s favourite inner-north suburbs.
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At the helm of organising the festival is The Perfect Events Group’s Liliana Sanelli and Maddie Davies. Sanelli – a lifelong Northcote local – speaks to the exciting line up of the day’s events. “It’s about celebrating the community spirit, showcasing over sixty talent that comes from Darebin,” she says. Ultimately, as Sanelli puts it perfectly, “It’s to remind people that Northcote rocks.” Families will be able to spend their time moving between the family friendly stage and a community stage with involvement from St Mary’s and St Joseph’s primary schools, as well having the option to a variety of kids activities. Little ones can keep busy with arts and crafts, face-painting, local sporting club activities, interactive Drag Queen Story Time, or even at the petting zoo – any which way, the festival has been thoughtfully designed to keep Northcote residents of all ages and sizes entertained.
The adults, on the other hand, won’t be missing out on any fun either. The full road closure, with not even the famous 86 tram whistling its way down High Street, will open up the space and invite local businesses to extend their trading onto the street. Whilst all shops will be operating as normal, some will also be trading from additional external stalls (Mind Games and Rathdowne Records to name a few), giving the chance to festival attendees to browse and buy whilst still amongst the action of the street. There’ll even be two alcohol-licensed stages, with open-air bars, food and live entertainment set up on Bastings St and Hawthorn Road, just off High Street. A suburb as famous for its band room stages as it is for its open-air beer, Northcote Rise will be showcasing both with a bunch of local entertainers across its five stages. Playing at the festival will be a range of performers, from DJs and bands to school groups and community groups. There’ll be a bit of psychedelic rock (band Mature Themes), a bit of Japanese drumming (drum ensemble Wadaiko Rindo), a bit of flamboyant dance music (band Gusto Gusto), and even a bit of magic (children’s entertainer Amazing Mr Twist). The festival – Sanelli says – is all about “trying to showcase what’s possible” within the local community. Festival attendees will be able to roam the streets freely and safely within the Family Friendly festival, with Northcote Rise also ensuring that there will be security and first aid onsite. There will be a sensory room, too, that will act as a designated quiet area away from all the action, open for anyone to use. Much of the focus of the festival will be on welcoming and involving families from both Northcote and surrounding areas to participate in the day’s activities. With everything from kids’ entertainment to tools for parents – like the addition of parent pods for nappy changing – Davies points out the importance that families can go about their day whilst “still enjoying the festival and feel comfortable to be there.” With a suburb so people-focused and family-first, it’s no surprise Northcote Rise will be the perfect spot for anyone and everyone to spend a day celebrating local community. People are welcome to reach out to The Perfect Events Group if they would like to promote or be a part of the festival.
NORTHCOTE RISE FESTIVAL WHERE:
176–409 HIGH STREET
WHEN:
18 FEB
BEAT.COM.AU
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Credit Brandon McClain
WEDNESDAY Wednesday’s rapid rise has led to a highly anticipated show at Brunswick Music Festival in March. It’s been a long journey to this point though, Karly Hartzman has been writing for as long as she can remember. WORDS BY
ANDREW HANDLEY
Æ Karly Hartzman has been writing for as long as she can remember. What began as poetry has turned into lyrics, which explains her knack for the visceral, confessional storytelling at the backbone of her band Wednesday’s music. “I used to skip school a lot and write poems at coffee shops and stuff,” she confesses from her home in Ashville, North Carolina – the small, artsy town at the centre of many of her songs. “I did a lot of bad writing then and luckily got it all out of my system,” she says while sewing and answering questions without missing a beat (Hartzman is a keen garment maker sometimes producing one-of-a-kind merchandise for the band).“I’m so amazed that kids are getting record deals from TikTok and stuff at like 16, because if you looked at some of the stuff I was writing when I was at that age… phew,” jokes the now 27-year-old. It’s easy to get lost in Hartzman’s lyrics when listening to Wednesday as they describe the minutiae of everyday life so compellingly. “I love telling stories, so anytime someone’s telling me a story of something that happened in their day, my dad’s telling me a story from when he was growing up, or our old landlord Gary has a bunch of stories about Asheville… I take notes,” she says. “Of course, I ask permission to write that stuff into a song.” Wednesday released Rat Saw God in April of last year, their fifth album since 2018. The quality and quantity of their output is made even more impressive as Hartzman learnt how to play guitar relatively late in life without lessons. “I always wanted to be in a band from the moment I started going to see house shows in my hometown in high school,” she recalls. “For some reason, I thought it was something I would never do because when I first started going to shows the level of worship I had for musicians… they were gods to me” The band has a sound wholly of their own – alternative country with scuzzy guitars often building walls of sound. “It’d be hard to take the country influence out of our music just because it’s what we grew up listening to,” explains Hartzman. “If [we’re] writing songs about where we’re from… they need to be country songs because that’s what it feels like to be here.”
“I'm so amazed that kids are getting record deals from TikTok and stuff at like 16, because if you looked at some of the stuff I was writing when I was at that age… phew.”
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Hartzman’s influences beyond country are thanks to a mixtape given to her by a friend in high school containing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Deerhunter. “All these bands that completely broke my brain, and ever since the first time I pressed play on that tape, I think that’s the moment my world expanded to make music a priority in my life,” she says. “That first access into noisier and more experimental sounds… has just really stuck with me.” Adding to the unique sound of the band is Xandy Chelmis’ lap steel. “I definitely wanted a steel in the band, and then he decided to put it through some effects pedals one time when we were playing and discovered how much he could do with distorted steel,” she recalls. “We just completely incorporated it into almost every song except the lighter country or songs where he’s playing pedal steel.” Rat Saw God has garnered the band a horde of new fans and been met with critical acclaim, featuring at the pointy end of many year-end lists, though Hartzman says ‘breakthrough’ means something different nowadays. “We’re playing bigger shows, and we’re on a label, and people have been so positive about it, but our lifestyle hasn’t really changed at all, just because it’s expensive to live now,” she says. “Our lives are exactly the same.” As the main songwriter of Wednesday, Hartzman brings her guitar parts and lyrics to the band but allows for the songs to grow from there. “I don’t write any of the other parts because my bandmates are incredible musicians and would completely blow anything I wrote out of the water,” she says. “I just bring them to band practice, and we sit in a circle and parse everything out.” Nearing the end of the interview Wednesday guitarist Jake Lenderman pokes his head into the computer frame to say ‘hey,’ which isn’t a total surprise as he and Hartzman are dating and live together. Lenderman is the frontperson of the more country-tinged MJ Lenderman, who will be touring with Wednesday on their Australian tour. “It’s nice to have Jake fulfilled while we’re on tour with Wednesday and be able to perform his stuff too,” says Hartzman. “I could see it being harder if one band was doing better, but luckily we’re both able to do our thing with our bands, so I love it.” There is no love lost between the couple if their fans have favourites. “I think a lot of people are fans of both, but a lot of people will prefer one over the other,” says Hartzman. “I always think it’s so funny when people tell me which [band] they like better because I’m like, ‘cool with me’ – I don’t care, it still helps us pay our rent,” she jokes. WEDNESDAY AT BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL SUPPORTED BY:
DELIVERY
WHERE:
ESTONIAN HOUSE
WHEN:
6 MAR
Beat is an official media partner of Brunswick Music Festival.
BEAT.COM.AU
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ABE DUNOVITS Melbourne-based Abe Dunovits has been making music for decades and has just released his newest album, Calypso Love. WORDS BY
ACACIA GABRIEL
Æ Abe is a self-producing one-man band — doing his own writing, arranging, recording, producing, mastering and managing. He’s also a self-proclaimed “naughty experimentalist” with a skill and passion for diving into the unknown. Calypso Love is the product of these ambitious endeavours. As Dunovits says, “I’ve been trying to experiment with this fusion of different sounds and rhythms.” Earlier in his musical career, his sound was informed by early rock and roll, blues, classical, Spanish, South American, and African folk music styles and you can see all of these in his recent work. Dunovits is deeply inspired by the instruments he comes across, often creating different album concepts around them, such as the mandolin in Saved by the Taco Belle and the charango in Charango Unchained. After developing an interest in a new instrument, he finds music flows through him in a new and unusual way. On his newest project, Calypso Love, he’s fixed his attention on the banjo, weaving acoustic earthy grooves in different time signatures and creating jangly melodies. This is complemented by ukuleles and Afro-Latin percussion to create a rich empathic tapestry of familiar folky sounds in songs about resilience, identity, honesty, self-love, mental health, inclusivity and vulnerability. These themes are done in a vibrant, dynamic way with a range of different grooves and styles in the album.
About his newest project, Dunovits says, “It’s a happy album and it’s therapeutic in a way that makes me feel good about myself and my contribution to music.” Much of the album is fun and cheerful, and the island vibes kick off the summer in a fresh new way. Dunovits was inspired by calypso music – a style of Carribean music characterised by highly rhythmic and harmonic vocals. “It’s very simple and direct, and the lyrics tend to be very comical and political or a combination of both.” The style fits Dunovits as it is intuitive and experimental and he draws a lot of his inspiration from calypso while simultaneously making it his own. Much like calypso music that is found in Costa Rica, many of the songs on Calypso Love blend English and Spanish. Dunovits’ first language is Spanish. This is because, before spending most of his life in Australia, he spent his early years in the oppressive military regime of Argentina — fleeing poverty with his family and a one-way ticket to Madrid. It was in Spain that he encountered the blossoming social, art, and music scene of the early 80s.
“It’s hard to fully translate and understand the power of the language.”
Dunovits knows that many Australian listeners prefer songs in English. When he writes songs in Spanish, people can’t always gauge the full message and power of his lyrics. “With music and lyrics and poetry, it’s really hard to translate,” he says, “The language carries the feeling and the meaning. It’s hard to fully translate and understand the power of the language.” Despite this, Dunovits continues to write many of his songs in Spanish and English. He’d rather write in a way that feels authentic to him than try to appease others. Going into his songwriting process, he says, “I’m just gonna do it and the way it comes out, it comes out.” His English songs enable him to connect with his listeners and combine styles, while Spanish lyrics allow him to piece together words in a unique and natural way. One of his favourite songs on the album is Nada. The premise is based on a sitcom reference and he worked with his partner to record the introduction. The line is repeated throughout the song with adlibs and an energetic banjo. Calypso Love is far different from his other solo album, Sigh of the Times, which he wrote, produced, and released in the 2020 Melbourne lockdown. This album was inspired by his dad going into care from dementia and his passing. While each album captures very different moments, they both show the way that Dunovits uses his music to express how he feels and take a snapshot of the present moment. “You make music to leave a legacy of your time on Earth and the time you spend being alive,” he says. Calypso Love represents more of a celebration of life, love and resilience. While Dunovits is, in many ways, a one-man band, he recognises that he couldn’t produce his music without his partner, family, and friends. They encourage him to do what he loves while focusing on what matters – his passion, message and the community.
Calypso Love is out now. This article was made in partnership with Abe Dunovits.
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SUMMER STAGE
BILLIAM
Slap on the sunscreen for six weeks of summertime entertainment at Bunjil Place.
“I have recorded something that’s longer than 15 minutes. I think it kind of drove me insane.”
WORDS BY TAHNEY FOSDIKE
WORDS BY WIL CLIFFORD
Æ Get ready for an unforgettable experience as Bunjil Place in Narre Warren rolls out Summer Stage. It’s been running since late January and has been a phenomenal success, with the outdoor Plaza transformed into a buzzing mini-festival packed with events and entertainment. One of the flagship events of the festival is Summer Sounds on Saturday February 24 which will bring live, local music to the Summer Stage. See local favourites RVG and Jen Cloher play a huge all ages show under the stars, supported by Play Lunch. Come for Deep Sea Creatures After School Workshop on 5 and 6 February to stretch your imagination to the bottom of the ocean. On 12 and 13 February, return for Reflect On This After School Workshop to learn more about the art of observation. Kidstruments After School Workshop on 19 and 20 February gives the chance to make and play your own musical instruments. Wrap up summer with Musical Plants After School Workshop on 26 and 27 to bring together music, nature and technology in ways you’ve never thought possible. Summer Stage Yoga will be a free yoga experience every Friday in February. Then, every Wednesday morning, come for Summer Stage Pilates. You’ll be feeling flexible and healthy all summer long. Then, change out of those leggings and into your sparkly dress for Glitter Groove: The South East’s Summer Queer Party on February 9. Presented by Midsumma Festival, the night will be full of energetic performances by drag performers, singers, DJs and MC Brenda Bressed! Keep the tunes popping with the Summer K-pop Party on February 15 for Melbourne’s favourite dance cover groups and singers (plus dance workshops and glitter makeovers – say no more!) For something more low-key but just as fun, roll into the plaza for Comedy Bites: Summer Stage Edition on February 16 with Bron Lewis and some of Melbourne’s leading comedians. On February 22, come back for more good times at Quiz Meisters Trivia Night with pre-show entertainment with DJ Alexandré Permal.
Æ The Sonic-loving punk’s debut album Corner Tactics heralds an exciting new step in an already rich discography. Billiam and the Split Bills ripped through song after song to a packed Curtin Hotel recently, never addressing the endurance cyclist that pedalled a marathon onstage to the left of their guitarist. For vocalist and brainchild Billiam, it’s nothing new; intense games of chess and impromptu haircuts are just some of the acts he’s shared the stage with. “I just really like doing stupid shit onstage, there’s just so much you can get away with,” he says. “It makes the experience more unique…you can have things that kind of make people question what the fuck is going on.” This unpredictable and exciting facet of the Split Bills’ live show shines on Corner Tactics, the band’s debut album. The biggest Billiam project to date, it’s the culmination of half a decade of grinding and a star-studded backing band, featuring members of The Vovos, TOR, Revv and Licetrays. Embedded within the lo-fi recordings and irreverent lyrics is an emotive core, one that reveals itself in strange ways. Corrugated Chest’s chorus sends the listener spiralling with its earnestly simple composition, while album closer My Life as Sylvie S builds contemplative synth chords note by note atop a steady ride cymbal. “I feel like when one person does something it only serves as more motivation to do other things. When I see The Vovos doing something sick that’s kind of a sign I should keep doing this,” he said “I never expect anyone to like anything…I just make music and put it out there and if people like it, people like it and when people really like it I kinda just go ‘You sure about that?’ To have people give attention to my stuff is extremely honouring.”
SUMMER STAGE WHERE:
BUNJIL PLACE, NARRE WARREN
WHEN:
UNTIL 28 FEB
This article was made in partnership with Bunjil Place.
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BILLIAM & THE SPLIT BILLS WHERE:
BRUNSWICK BALLROOM
WHEN:
3 MAR
BEAT.COM.AU
On The Road Again presents
SUMMER SOUNDS 2024 RVG & Jen Cloher Supported by Play Lunch
Saturday 24 February 2024 5.00 pm - late 2 Patrick Northeast Dr, Narre Warren Tickets at bunjilplace.com.au/ summersounds Proudly supported by Music Victoria and Creative Victoria. Summer Sounds 2024 is part of On the Road Again, a Victorian Government initiative delivered by Music Victoria to bring live music back across the state. This program is part of Music For The Stages. Supported by our Hospitality Partner Carlei Wines.
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STAGE GUIDE
BUDJERAH BY CANDLELIGHT Budjerah has burst onto the scene in recent years and his latest single Therapy is an epitome of his growth as an artist. The ARIA award-winning, Coodjinburra artist will be showcasing his unique hybridisation of R&B and pop at Federation Square on Thursday February 15. This is set to be a candlelit spectacular, so pack a picnic rug, a blanket, some snacks and yonder down to Fed square for a special performance of Budjerah by Candlelight.
Shows to go and see this month WORDS BY
JACOB MCCORMACK
FED SQUARE
15 FEB
EMSOLATION LIVE Multi-talented and utterly hilarious Em Rusciano has teamed up with Michael Lucas for a special night where they talk about the ins and outs of pop culture over a drink and many laughs. There’ll be dialogue about blockbuster films and the aftermath of covid-19. It’s sure to be a night filled with rambling tangents and belly aching laughs.
DADDY Daddy returns after a sell-out run at Sydney’s World Pride last year. Brent Thorpe is 60, fit, and ready to have fun in the wake of ageing. This show is an ode to how enjoyable growing older can be, after all as Daddy says: ‘You’re never too old to take a pill and dance on a podium wearing a jockstrap.’ MOTLEY BAUHAUS
5–11 FEB
MEG WASHINGTON WITH THE MSO The soulful Meg Washington is teaming up with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in a special performance at Hamer Hall on February 9. Having been nominated for ten ARIA awards throughout her time as a musical artist, this prolific musician’s style will pair exquisitely well with the symphony to bring a new life to some of her classic songs, as well as new tracks. HAMER HALL
9 FEB
MALTHOUSE OUTDOOR STAGE
15–21 FEB
Fran Leibowitz is a shining light in a cultural landscape where conviction and honesty is lacking, and the general populace remain absorbed in the emergence of a mostly digital era. Her insights teeter on scathing, but never stray from an accurate lens. This February 18 and 19 she will take to the stage of Hamer Hall with her polished wit and attuned observations to discuss the most controversial of subjects. HAMER HALL
18–19 FEB
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Derived from Shakespeare’s infamous play, Much Ado About Nothing is set as a play within a music concert. Heavily influenced by 90s pop and rock music imagery, this take on a theatrical classic has opened up a new way to present a Shakespearean piece in the form of a musical production. It is wholly romantic, contains a pinch of tragedy and will have you laughing and tapping your feet along for the entirety of the play. FROM 23 FEB
RENT THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
ATHENAEUM THEATRE
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FROM 9 FEB
Inspired by the best-selling, award-winning memoir by Caribbean-Australian writer Maxine Beneba Clarke, The Hate Race is a deep-dive into the complexities of race in Australia. The Hate Race weaves its way through the narrative of young Maxine as she grows up in Sydney’s western suburbs, navigating the burden of otherness in Australia. This theatrical reworking is teeming with poetry, music and beats provoking the audience into confronting racial biases, discrimination and the status quo in Australian society. MALTHOUSE THEATRE
FROM 23 FEB
AN EVENING WITH FRAN LEIBOWITZ
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS
A stage classic returns to Melbourne and this time it’s playing at the Athenaeum Theatre. Written and created by Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the world’s most loved musicals, with references to its characters, story and music rippling through the globe. So put on your most bohemian attire and sing along to the classics.
THE HATE RACE
Following a group of friends living in New York City under the shadow of the AIDS crisis, the musical Rent is heading to Australia. From February 17 to March 7, Arts Centre Melbourne will come alive with the electrifying energy of Jonathan Larson’s multi-Tony Award-winning production. ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE
FROM 7 FEB
GROUNDHOG DAY THE MUSICAL Inspired by the iconic film from 1993 Groundhog Day The Musical hits the Princess Theatre in February. Direct from a record-breaking run in London this production follows the story of Phil Connors, a cynical Pittsburgh TV weatherman. If you know the film, you’ll be aware of what ensues, but if not go and see the musical that has been brought together by the brilliant and musical minds of Tim Minchin, Danny Rubin and Matthew Warchus. PRINCESS THEATRE
THROUGHOUT FEB
THE CHOIR OF MAN A versatile ensemble of nine (extra)ordinary blokes will serenade audiences with an electric repertoire – from pub anthems and folk melodies to Broadway hits and timeless rock classics – all delivered with a roof raising fervour. PLAYHOUSE, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE
UNTIL 11 FEB
GREASE It’s one of the world’s most iconic and loved musicals and nothing beats the feeling you get, going back to Rydell High. Danny, Sandy, Kenickie, Rizzo and the whole gang are back to give you a night out, like only Grease can. HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE
UNTIL 16 MAR
BEAT.COM.AU
‘SUBLIMELY WITTY AND SURPRISINGLY PROFOUND’ Evening Standard
‘INFECTIOUS TUNES AND GENUINE HEART’ Sunday Express
NOW PLAYING 13 WEEKS ONLY SEE IT NOW . PRINCESS THEATRE BOOK AT TICKETEK
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FESTIVAL GUIDE Festivals to attend this month WORDS BY
JACOB MCCORMACK
ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda Festival has been a landmark summertime community festival for decades and this month it’s back. On February 17 and 18 the festival will take over the St Kilda foreshore featuring a stacked lineup fronted by headliners Bag Raiders, Mallrat, Mo’Ju and a plethora more local talent. Journey south in mid-Feb for a weekend full of fun and live music. ST KILDA FORESHORE
17–18 FEB
PORT FAIRY JAZZ FESTIVAL Port Fairy is a town renowned for its festivals and in February the coast-side spot will host its annual jazz festival. Featuring a wealth of performances encompassing traditional, mainstream and contemporary jazz, Port Fairy Jazz Festival has it all for jazz enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. PORT FAIRY
BEST BIGGEST IMAX FESTIVAL IMAX is famous for its amazing surround sound system and pristine visuals that are presented via its ginormous screen. This February it has pieced together a film festival of blockbusters that are best viewed on the big screen. From screenings of Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049, Tron: Legacy 3D, Avatar: The Way of Water 3D, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick, Moonage Daydream, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, this festival will be the biggest ever. IMAX
UNTIL 17 FEB
MELBOURNE ART FAIR Melbourne Art Fair is Australasia’s most significant and progressive forum for contemporary art and ideas. Trail blazing art will be in dialogue as this year’s fair hones in on solo shows and works of scale and significance. Grab your pens and notebooks and come to experience an expo that will be pivotal in shaping the future of art in the region. MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
22–25 FEB
HELLO SUNSHINE Taking over Caribbean Gardens on March 2, music will be rounded out by sisterly pop icons The Veronicas, veteran rockers Grinspoon, The Wiggles, and hip hop staple Bliss N Eso. There’ll also be sets from The Temper Trap, Pete Murray, local country star Brad Cox, and many more.
9–11 FEB
CARIBBEAN GARDENS
CHI WOW WAH TOWN
RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL LANEWAY FESTIVAL Laneway has relocated to Flemington Racecourse, but it has kept its unique charm in its 2024 iteration. With a jaw-dropping lineup featuring the likes of Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike, AJ Tracey, Dope Lemon as well as Angie McMahon, Confidence Man, D4VD, Eyedress, Nia Archives and Paris Texas this year’s Laneway Festival will be as hot as it has ever been. FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
10 FEB
A festival stacked with incredibly talented Australian musicians set on the banks of the Murray River in Yorta Yorta country seems almost too good to be true, but this is Riverboats Music Festival. With the likes of Folk Bitch Trio, Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra and Tim Rogers & The Twin Set this festival will be an extraordinary and tranquil experience. ECHUCA/MOAMA
2 MAR
16–18 FEB
ANTIPODES FESTIVAL
Since 2013, electronic music festival Chi Wow Wah Town has been held in Victoria in the stunning surrounds of Winton Wetlands, offering one of the best intimate festivals on the Australian calendar. Stavroz and Robag Wruhme lead this year’s lineup. WINTON WETLANDS
23–25 FEB
GAYTIMES Gaytimes – Australia’s queer camping music and arts festival will celebrate its eighth anniversary with an eclectic lineup of music, performers, visual arts, food trucks, yoga, workshops. This year’s will feature Total Giovanni, Miss Kaninna, Mo’Ju and more.
Midsumma Festival is one of Melbourne’s premier celebrations of LGBTQIA+ communities, and its back in 2024 spread across three lively weekends. You can expect visual arts, theatre, film, cabaret and many other artistic expressions from a swelling pool of talented queer artists. Expect glitz and glam in droves.
Antipodes Festival brings together the most festive elements of Greek culture over two days in February. Spanning from Saturday February 24 to Sunday February 25, the festival will bring together a conglomeration of performers, artists, stall holders and surprises that will have you dancing and smiling from ear to ear. Ignite a passion for Greek culture and grab your nearest and dearest for a festive weekend.
The Peep Tempel are joining a banger lineup, featuring The Slingers, Nice Biscuit, Watty Thompson, The Belair Lip Bombs, Polly and The Pockets, Comets, DJs Queenie and Brat Paisley. The feminist water ballet team The Clams will also be performing.
MULTIPLE VENUES
LONSDALE STREET
CHARLTON
MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL
32
UNTIL 11 FEB
24–25 FEB
GEMBROOK
23 – 25 FEB
OK MOTELS
23–25 FEB
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Sunday 18.2.24
S L E E F D GOO on The Rise
Local artists. Outdoor dining. Mini stages. Market stalls.
From Northcote’s finest local traders 33
PRODUCED BY
SUPPORTED BY
@northcoterise_festival BEAT 1715 northcoterise.com.au/festival
ART GUIDE
ARIANA LIM – INTERTIDAL Ariana Lim explores the intersections of life apparent on the shoreline. In coastal areas entanglements are ubiquitous, where salt, water, human and more-than-human collide. In an assemblage of gooey forms, Lim combines algal and molluscan depictions through sculpture and textiles to recreate the diverse and sprawling ecosystems of the coast.
Art exhibitions to see this month
CRAFT VICTORIA
WORDS BY
UNTIL 24 FEB
DOMENICO DE CLARIO – AL-JABR (THE RESTORATION OR RE-UNION OF BROKEN PARTS)
JACOB MCCORMACK
MELLOW WAR – ALL HAT, NO HERD Mellow War (Riley Barr)’s solo exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery, All Hat, No Herd is a microscopic portrayal of life and landscapes in America’s west. It weaves through the nuance and idiosyncrasy of life in a world full of story.
Al-Jabr is the Arabic precursor for what we have now come to know as algebra, acting as an instruction manual on the application of the mathematical practice. Domenico de Clario examines this and presents an inter-disciplinary body of work that considers the origin of Al-Jabr and the impact it has indented on the modern world.
The famed NGV Triennial is back in 2024 and this year it will feature over 100 groundbreaking projects from 120 artists, designers and collectives leading the way in contemporary art. It will once again take over all four levels of the NGV in a captivating way.
BRUNSWICK STREET GALLERY UNTIL 11 FEB
MARS GALLERY
NGV
WOO YONG MIN & JIYUN LEE
UNTIL 24 FEB
QUEER PHOTO – BLACK AND BLUR
Through the multi-disciplinary collision of installation, sculpture and painting Dean Cross traverses not only materials but ideas, histories and cultural events. Cross’ practice enacts First Nations sovereignty through his exploration of contemporary art methodologies. He challenges patterns and systemic examples of modernism, dominant cultural and social histories.
As part of Midsumma Festival 2024, Queer Photo draws forth a visual representation of migrant and Black individuals through a series of portraits. Navigating the cultural scape of Australia and how their stories sit in the broader framework, Queer Photo shares the mosaic of cultural, ethnic, and global Indigenous backgrounds through the evocative style of portraiture.
GERTRUDE CONTEMPORARY
FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS
THROUGHOUT FEB
Air is a vital element of maintaining life, and yet it cannot be seen. (This) Is Air makes the invisible visible in a large scale architectural/sculptural installation in the gardens at NGV. Assumed in a spherical form the fourteen-metre-tall orb will exhale and absorb air in a grandiose representation of making air seen, heard and felt. NGV GARDEN
UNTIL 18 FEB
NADINE CHRISTENSEN – AROUND Stretched across 70 works spanning multiple decades, Around is a curated exhibition of Nadine Christensen’s dedicated relationship with painting. Christensen pushes the status quo and expected parameters through her exploration of alternative ways to apply paint. Transcending spatial and perceptual norms Christensen’s works are threaded together through time. BUXTON CONTEMPORARY
34
THROUGHOUT FEB
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Landscapes of Photobooks extols the world-renowned contemporary photographic and art publisher Spector Books (Leipzig). This show will spotlight hundreds of their publications, including many rare and out-of-print photography books. CCP
THROUGHOUT FEB
NIC BRUNSDON – (THIS) IS AIR
UNTIL 18 FEB
LANDSCAPES OF PHOTOBOOKS – SPECTOR BOOKS
THROUGHOUT FEB
DEAN CROSS – BLACK SMOKE WHITE CUBES
Jiyun Lee and Woo Yong Min have collaborated in their show at Sol Gallery to bring together a body of works utilising Hanji paper. The culturally significant South Korean material comes to life in the artists’ portrayal of natural scenes, teeming with animals, plants and landscapes. Their technicality and devotion to the medium is made apparent with the use of vibrant colours and delicate detail. SOL GALLERY
TRIENNIAL
THROUGHOUT FEB
From The Other Side is a group exhibition consisting of nineteen Australian and international artists analysing the experience of horror. Weaving through collective anxieties and modern fears, to sexual liberation and pioneering technologies, racial tension and subversion of gender and identity expression, the show accepts the prevalence of horror and reclaims it through artistic expression. Embedded in From The Other Side are feminist, queer and non-binary perspectives that criticise the portrayal of the monstrous-feminine. ACCA
THROUGHOUT FEB
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Nigighhtt y a d i r N F y Frida ghs in in LLaauughsild a K t a S d l i K t S Friday February Friday 9 9 February
Kirsty (MC) Webeck(MC) KirstyWebeck
Mel MelMcGlen McGlensey sey
Jud Perll Jude e Per
Friday February Friday 16 February
Bart Freebairn(MC) (MC) Bart Freebairn
noldss Reynold ynRey Robyn Rob
Tabitha Boo Bootth Tabi h
Nicolette NicoletteMinster Minster
nelly (UK) Carl nelly(UK) l Don CarDon
Friday 23 February Friday February
Ivan Aristeguieta (MC) Ivan Aristeguieta (MC)
He Huang He Hu ang
Nicholas J Johnson Nicholas J Johnson
Andrew Hansen Andrew Hansen
Friday 1 March Friday 1 March
Urvi Majumdar (MC) Urvi Majumdar (MC)
Lizzy Ho Lizzy Ho
Lehmo Lehmo
Comedy Gold is lovingly curated by Janet A McLeod (aka The Fairy Godmother of Melbourne Comedy). Comedy Gold is lovingly curated by Janet A McLeod (aka The Fairy Godmother of Melbourne Comedy).
BOOK NOW! Tickets $35 BOOK NOW! Tickets $35 www.nationaltheatre.org.au/comedygold
35
www.nationaltheatre.org.au/comedygold
STUDIO 2 STUDIO The National 2 StThe Kilda National St Kilda
BEAT 1715
ALBUM REVIEWS
WORDS BY
BRYGET CHRISFIELD
BIG SCARY
Wing
JESSICA MAUBOY
Yours Forever Æ Did you catch Jessica Mauboy’s performance on New Year’s Eve? Wowee! Boasting a once-in-a-generation voice, Mauboy is both luminous and endearing; we personally reckon she’s on the cusp of global superstardom. The follow-up to her chart-topping 2019 album HILDA, Yours Forever – which she created alongside some big names in songwriting/production, including Pnau’s Nick Littlemore and Styalz Fuego (one of Troye Sivan’s fave collaborators) – unpacks Mauboy’s “feelings of not being worthy, and coming to a place of knowing, a confirmation that I am enough”. “Mutual obsession/ I admit it, baby, I got tunnel vision looking at you/ Looking at me like you never seen something so beautiful…” – opener Yours Forever is a declaration of love, resplendent with church organ, gorge harmonies and minimal backing. Self-described “healing song” and lead single Give You Love – Mauboy’s duet with fellow The Voice Australia coach, Jason Derulo – is an uplifting, gospel choir-enhanced gift; straight to the Spiritual Wellbeing playlist! “You don’t wanna see me angry [pause]/ But I am” – as well as those enviable, smoked-caramel vocals, The Loneliest I Ever Was also spotlights Mauboy’s exceptional interpretive ability; every single syllable that escapes her lips drips with heartfelt meaning. “It took me way too long to see the truth/ ‘Cause the loneliest I ever was/ Was when I was with you…” – Mauboy gets real here, pouring out her pain. Her fifth album finds Mauboy unfiltered and unafraid to delve into more diaristic storytelling, and she’s acknowledged “...it has a depth that I’ve never gone to or shared before”. But there are also playful moments, including the exhilarating Flashback, which is based on Mauboy and her now-hubby’s meet-cute: while playing truth or dare with her girlfriends in a Darwin nightclub, she cheekily pinched him on the butt! Her escalating, post-chorus, “Woah-oh-oh-Oh-OOOH!”s during this one are dazzling. Quite Like You, a sparsely accompanied piano ballad, showcases Mauboy’s vocal majesty to perfection – we’re talking Beyoncé-level command of her divine instrument. “In the bedroom/ Looking in the mirror/ You’re a bad bitch/ Now go out and tell ‘em/ You deserve it all, baby/ Yes you do…” – standout track Tell ‘Em is giving Self-Empowered Boss Bitch. Powerful resilience anthem Never Giving Up (“Don’t let ‘em take away, they’ll never take it/ Your voice, just let them hear you sing it…”) is a soundtrack for dancing the pain away while dreaming of a better future for First Nations peoples: “Native tongue, native land/ Native blood, it’s on their hands.” Then the record dovetails neatly with Yours Truly, which reprises the opening title track. Yours Forever finds this proud Kuku Yalanji woman cosy with who she is and ready to claim her rightful place in the spotlight.
LABEL: RELEASE:
36
WARNER 9 FEB
Æ Following on from 2021’s Daisy and 2022’s Me And You, Wing concludes Big Scary’s album trilogy exploring expectation versus reality in love and relationships. “When you love something you can’t explain/ Don’t hold it up to the flame…” – Something To Remember, this album’s tantalising opening calling card, embodies love’s sweet surrender before closing with a heartening promise: “I will come back to you.” As always, Tom Iansek’s gossamer falsetto lingers like a delicious scent and when drummer Jo Syme joins in for the unison singing sections, their vocal blend intoxicates. Sleigh bells, furiously fast maracas, crisp handclaps, hushed vocal percussion, distant windchimes, glockenspiel, bubbling synth, what sounds like cueing up a reel-toreel tape recorder – every single meticulous instrumental detail serves an essential purpose throughout Wing. Built from measured, wonky synth chords, What’s It All About incorporates a chirpy whistling solo that’s somehow not annoying. Featuring manipulated spoken-word segments – “And every night I lay in my listless state/ Poised/ Docile/ Ever awake…” – Perfect World is a sonic outlier within this set, with quivering strings evoking a ship tossed around like a toy in rough seas. Elsewhere: Ideal describes the addictive magnetic pull of physical attraction, Falling From A Mountain was inspired by Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’s closing scene – where Yu Jiaolong dives off a bridge and gently floats down into the mist below – and closer A Ribbon To Hold Us chronicles a one-sided relationship. Even pedestrian routines such as making tea are elevated into profound, aspirational activities thanks to Big Scary’s extraordinary worldbuilding. From start to finish, we’re captivated by the all-encompassing, soaring beauty of Wing. LABEL: RELEASE:
PIEATER 16 FEB
BEAT.COM.AU
KIRIN J CALLINAN
TOM SNOWDON
VACATIONS
If I Could Sing
Lonely Tree
Æ If I Could Sing expands on Kirin J Callinan’s five-track Crazier Idea EP (2023), adding seven additional tracks, and is as delightfully preposterous as we’ve come to expect from this kooky, kilt-loving, boundary-pushing artist. The EP’s title track is “very much Kirin’s most ‘Kirin’ song”, according to the presser, with the man himself humblebragging, “If there was truly any doubt whether I could indeed sing, as the album title suggests, it is surely dispelled here.” Also, if you can think of a crazier idea than KJC naked and oiled-up with a Ken doll-esque prosthetic mound covering his modesty, wearing a latex fish mask and doing some chorey from MJ’s iconic Thriller video (see: Crazier Idea’s film clip!), I’m all ears. Hold up, is that harpsichord closing out the hilarious and cautionary Young Drunk Driver (“…in your blue Honda/ Civic” – LOL)? Callinan’s lyrics often have a spontaneous, freestyle quality to them. His electrifying guitar playing channels the late genius Rowland S Howard. Untitled 8, an experimental instrumental, features industrial fizzes and clunks plus metallic guitar squall. There are some tender detours as well: My Little One and the heartbroken … in Absolutes, which is built from a chord sequence Callinan first played in a mate’s attic when he was 19. Callinan is an enigma and a provocateur, and we’re here for it. Did you know? Callinan played guitar on Mark Ronson’s Grammy-winning album Uptown Special (alongside David Bowie guitarist Carlos Alomar and Kevin Parker) and Genesis Owusu’s Smiling With No Teeth.
Æ
Current obsession alert! The artwork photographs for Tom Snowdon’s debut album were taken on Western Arrernte Country, Mparntwe/Alice Spring – where he grew up – and the cover pic is like an Australian-landscape version of Six Feet Under’s lone-tree-on-a-hillside opening credits image. Vast, spectacular, isolated, boundless and sometimes stark – Snowdon’s otherworldly vocal performances capture the landscape of his home; we feel every fly bite and sunkissed dream he describes throughout Lonely Tree. Snowdon almost sounds like a higher being when he sings (see: latest single Nora Creina). Just before Lose My Body’s oneand-a-half-minute mark, his sudden, intense, guttural delivery (“When I start to lo-oose my body…”) is followed by a chuffed “WOO!”, which basically read my mind. “‘Cause every minute you’re not here/ I just see how I’m lost/ And everyone goes on like you’re still here…” – the languorous Beta Drug is so exquisitely crestfallen we legit needed to press pause for a minute to regroup. Elsewhere: True Crime aches with longing; Snowdon scales lofty, boy-soprano heights during Empty Start’s choruses; and piano delicately cradles What I Hide, the lamenting closer. Snowdon has admitted he felt unmoored following the dissolution of his awesome previous musical projects, Lowlakes and No Mono. Maybe he needed to break away from the known and go it alone to unlock his full creative potential? And, yes, he’s well aware that recruiting his No Mono bandmate Tom Iansek (Big Scary, #1 Dads) to produce Lonely Tree “has a poetic neatness to it”. At first Snowdon gave us Anohni vibes, but now we’re thinking you should file Lonely Tree next to Ásgeir.
No Place Like Home Æ No Place Like Home’s soothing, wistful title track documents Vacations lead singer/guitarist Campbell Burns’ relocation from Newcastle to Los Angeles, mid last year. Considering they’re one of the most-played Australian acts on Spotify, this indie-pop quartet’s homeland has certainly been slow on the uptake – they’ve already achieved two Platinum-certified singles (Young and Telephones) in the US, FFS! – so his Stateside move makes perfect sense. Burns’ emotive vocal tone and soul-searching lyricism suggest he experiences emotions intensely. Opening track Next Exit, our first taste of the band’s third LP, is about trying to be more present while embracing uncertainty. Melodically upbeat and carefree, this jangly highlight showcases Burns’ airborne vocal leaps – the excellent Two Door Cinema Club spring to mind. Throughout the album, buoyant melodies often juxtapose heavy, deeply personal themes including Burns’ recent Pure OCD diagnosis. Over You was written from this disorder’s perspective and, although it was penned prior to his diagnosis, some of Terms & Conditions’ lyrics seem eerily prophetic: “I’m a child learning how to walk again… I was playing charades while the house was on fire…” Field recordings ( eg. airpor t announcements, in-transit convos) – which are most prevalent during the instrumental palate cleanser, Arizona – give the entire record an itinerant quality as each song unfurls like an exciting impromptu adventure. Lost In Translation, the shimmering closer, concludes on a satisfying, reassuring note: “You’ve always been enough.”
LABEL:
LABEL:
LABEL:
RELEASE:
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WORSE RECORDS/[PIAS] 2 FEB
RELEASE:
PIEATER 9 FEB
RELEASE:
NETTWERK 12 JAN
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VENUE GUIDE
BRUNSWICK ARTISTS’ BAR
WAX MUSIC LOUNGE
LIVE MUSIC: is front and centre at the Brunswick Artists’ bar. Really, the stage is in the middle of the room. Shows are almost always free, which makes it an excellent place to catch an exciting up-and-coming act on a beer budget.
LIVE MUSIC: A bespoke Pitt and Giblin soundsystem, improvisational jazz nights and secret shows from international acts. FAMOUS FOR: its record store. Wax Museum Records has served as a veritable supplier of independent records and a community voice for Melbourne’s jazz, hip hop, electronic, and beat making scenes.
FAMOUS FOR: being an extremely chill and laid-back hangout spot for cocktails, bands and a satisfying pub-style feed. INFAMOUS FOR: sometimes getting overshadowed by its bigger, louder older sibling, the Brunswick Ballroom (just up the stairs). But with a charm that’s all its own, the Artists’ Bar is not to be underestimated. Æ Throw a rock down Sydney Road and you’ll hit some kind of artist (after it bounces off like five DJs). If you’re looking for a place to catch a gig or an art show and mingle with like-minded creative folk, the Brunswick Artists’ Bar is always there for you. It’s a humble place. No stuffy pretentiousness; just good old fashioned fun. With live music on the stage and local art on the walls, it is a true celebration of the culture of Brunswick. Pair that with Melbourne-made beer and spirits behind the bar and you really can’t go wrong. The intimate interior and plush seating makes it an all-too-easy place to waste the hours away, plus, word on the street is on the weekends in the wee hours, the aforementioned stage makes for a pretty sweet drunken dance floor, with throwbacks and classics blasting out of the sound system. Sneak outside for a beer or a dart, and you’ll be in the prime position for people watching on the sidewalks of Brunny. The Artists’ Bar is also a great spot to grab a meal before a show at the Ballroom, especially if you prefer eating in a more laid back environment. The menu is full of all the pub food regulars, as well as a few multi-cultural surprises. Equal parts casual and classy, this hotspot is sure to win you over.
WHERE: OPEN:
38
316 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK VIC 3056 WED–FRI 5:30PM–1AM SAT 4PM–1AM SUN 4–11PM
INFAMOUS FOR: its subterranean position. “Walking through Flinders Street, you’d never know our space exists – there’s an entire world beneath your feet,” co-owner Guy Roseby says. Æ Given the closure of seminal clubs and venues in the CBD post-Covid, opening a new music space is a defiant move. Founded by Roseby and Tim Bartold of Melbourne’s iconic Wax Museum Records and Mark Lipshut (Spin Records), the launch of the new underground venue and bar Wax Music Lounge marks an exciting new chapter for the record store’s legacy and the wider cultural imprint of Melbourne’s city at-large. Guided by an amber glow down a flight of stairs in a city basement, Wax Music Lounge is subterranean at heart. The red glow, the concrete walls, the scattered jazz-fi resounding from the speakers makes the room feel both familiar and foreign at once. If music piques memories, Wax Music Lounge does exactly that. Remnants of wild nights and basement jazz in a Lower East Side basement; intimate conversations in a Kreuzberg speakeasy; all doused in liquor and sound. The space boasts a generous 175 capacity, striking lighting features curated by Melbourne-based designers James Hebbs and Grace Darling, and a beverage list with a focus on natural Australian lo-fi wines, craft beers and signature cocktails by acclaimed bartender, Pita Dixon. The elusive journey to finding Wax Music Lounge is half the fun. Secret doors were found in the venue that led back to the Flinders Street Station underpass. “It’s a new place for underground scenes to thrive, a place for community,” Roseby adds. “I’m overly proud of what we’ve achieved and truly feel we can bring something new to the CBD and Melbourne’s music landscape.” WHERE: OPEN:
250 FLINDERS ST, MELBOURNE 5 DAYS, 5PM–1AM
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23 MAY – NORTHCOTE THEATRE TICKETS FROM JAMESREYNE.COM.AU
SATURDAY MARCH 2 39
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GIG GUIDE
TO OCTAVIA. RINRIN, EAST CAPRI The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.20.
FEBRUARY 2024
THU
1 FEB
CARDA Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $29. CALEB WILSON Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. TARAB ENSEMBLE: MELODIES FOR PALESTINE Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $59.77. MARCEL BORRACK TD BAND Bodriggy Brewing Company. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free. CHIROWEG. ODYSSEY TO THE SUN, SKERZO The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25. CLAYTON DOLEY’S FLASHY DASHBACKS. THE BAYOU BILLABONG HORNS Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20. YOCITY: JARABI BAND Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $37. SCOTT CANDLISH Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. GEORGIA RAY. THE CLEVER REFERENCES, LOUIS Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7pm. $15. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. PHIL JAMIESON The Bridge Hotel. Castlemaine. 8pm. $49.90. RESTLESS
Semps & Kel, Archmellow, Coco & Ayres, Clickbait, Senor Salty, Pooks FT:
Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm.
40
RAYE Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 8pm. WALTER TROUT BAND Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $80. TIM STEWARD & LINC LE FEVRE Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $12.
MOTOR INN. HELL JONES, SANDS Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.35. THE DEAD AMIGOS. BLOODY RIPPER, DEAD RODEO Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.
LILAS. INANNA INDIGO The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 7pm.
COURTNEY BARNETT Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $69 - 79.
FRI
BB SABINA. DINA The Bergy Seltzer. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.
2 FEB
BADLAND CARAVAN. MUNDANE JANE, PARAQUAY Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $10. CLAYMORE + TIM SCANLAN & MANA OKUBU Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $43.96. DUNCAN GRAHAM & JAN PALETHORPE Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. Free. RENTAL SNAKE. TERRA ROUGE, MR INDUSTRY The Penny Black. Brunswick. 9pm. ALT. BELLE HAVEN, PATIENT SIXTY SEVEN, A SWIFT FAREWELL Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $29.99. PHIL JAMIESON Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $49.90. DEAD WITCH Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. CASSIDY PARIS. AMONG THE RESTLESS, ANA Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $23.75. PISCO SOUR. FRANJAPAN, GROUNDSWELL Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $20.
GREAT AUSTRALIAN BANK. TWINS SPORT, HUMAN INTRUSION Nighthawks. Collingwood. 8pm. $15. HEMLOCKE SPRINGS The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $64.90. BOOF! Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. OSCAR LADELL & THE EARTH TONES. BRYN OAKLY The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free. THE FOUR SCOOPS Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free. RORY TIGANISHANNAN + JAKE AMY TRIO Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm. $10.50 - 25.80. POLLY & THE POCKETS. DOG DOOR, SPURTS Old Bar. FItzroy. 8pm. $11.25. MILKY CHANCE Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. 8 BALL AITKEN BAND Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35. AL OTRO LADO DEL MUNDO: PAULA VAN HISSENHOVEN & PAL MAR Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $30.
SAT
3 FEB
JAAL. OSCAR #WORLDPEACE, OGK DJ Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $25.
Afternoon Hardcore Matinee. FT: Blood On My Hands, Tunnel Vision, Gravitate, Rend
The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 4pm. $20. SETTLED The Penny Black. Brunswick. 9pm. DIPPERS + MOPE CITY Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free.
THE CLUNK ORCHESTRA Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm.
Hy-Lo & Friends Vol.1.
FT: Prince Love, Jewel Owusu, Jas, Zac Taylor
Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95. ON REPEAT: SZA The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $18.35 - 20. SALTBURN PARTY Ballers Clubhouse. Melbourne. 10pm. $11.29. THE LION KING IN CONCERT WITH THE MSO Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $89 - 139. TIJUANA CARTEL Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.76. BODY HAMMER 3 Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.
PIZZA DEATH. MUNT, SHATTER BRAIN The Beast. Brunswick East. 8pm. Free.
THE HORNETS Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.
PETEY. DEAR SEATTLE Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $69.90.
NATURE IN THE CITY The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.
CND X MOM PRESENTS
Blue Evening
FT: Cutting Room, Scraps, UV Race, Wet Kiss, Greta Now, more
The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 4pm. $39.30. NATIVE CATS. PARSNIP, OV PAIN The Curtin. Carlton. 8.30pm. $17.75. DJ MERMAID PRESENT
Mermaid Fest ‘24
FT: Riff Raff, Super American Eagle, Digger & The Pussycats, Grytt, The Stripp, more
Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 2pm. $38.91. CASABELLA Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $38.86. RETRATOS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.
Lightning & Rhinestones
FT: Ruby + Loretta, Ben Mastwyk & His Millions, Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, Patrick Wilson, Honk, Liv Cartledge, more
Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 12pm. Free. DIVISI CHAMBER SINGERS: A LOVE IS A LOVE IS A LOVE Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $37. NOISEWORKS Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $79.90. SAMSON FOR PRESIDENT. LUCY HARRINGTON Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 2.30pm. Free. HYBRID MINDS. LENS Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 9pm. $86.70.
BEAT.COM.AU
MURPHNICK BAND. PRIVATE STASH The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. THE CLONES. THE PILGRIMS, ED HIRST & THE CRANE GANG The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 1pm. $15.05.
THU
8 FEB
BLIND GUARDIAN. ELM STREET, VALHALORE Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $99.90. MILANO DEL TORO. DAMN WILLIAMS, CLARK The Penny Black. Brunswick. 7pm. MICHAEL WAUGH. HANNAH ACFIELD Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.86. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. MELBOURNE TRAP ORCHESTRA. THE NOISE Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $15. PARIS TEXAS The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $59.90. SLIPPY MANE. TEETHER, JUPITA, REALNAME Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $17. HOLY SMOKES! Bodriggy Brewing Company. Abbotsford. 7.30pm. Free. JAZZ NIGHT Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm. THE RSAS. MYSTERY SHACK, RENEÉ SPIJKER Old Bar. FItzroy. 8pm. $10. AJ TRACEY Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $89.90.
FRI
9 FEB
MEG WASHINGTON WITH THE MSO Hamer Hall. Southbank. 7.30pm. $70 - $120
41
SQUID NEBULA Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.
onesevenfour: Feb
FT: Edan, Enfuse, Talix, Allyway, Daegel, SLB
Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 11pm.
Best In The West Fest
Amends, Raccoon City, Turn South, Lazy Susans, Gil Cerrone, Keratin, TV Dinners FT:
The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 6pm. $28.60. BLIND GUARDIAN. VALHALORE, VICTORIA K Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. THE KITTYHAWKS. ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE, THE MURDER BALLS, BRODOWN Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $15.
BRAD COOK TRIO. WAR BIRDS Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.
TTTDC + PORCUS VS EQUUS Town Hall Hotel. North Melbourne. 8pm. Free.
ON REPEAT: ZACH BRYAN APPRECIATION NIGHT Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 9pm. $10.75 - 20.
KATATONIA The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $89.90.
BRET MOSLEY The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. THE GEMS Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free. BOB LOG III. THE SALMON SISTERS, JUNGLE JIM SMITH The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $23.50. ASH GRUNWALD Yarraville Club. Yarraville. 8pm. $35. ZAK SHEPHERD Micawber Tavern. Belgrave. 7pm. Free. JUMPIN’ JACK JORDAN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.
THE VELVET CLUB Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $23.46.
THREE BASE HIT Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.
THE LIGHTHOUSE CLASSIC BANDS & DJS NIGHT.
SPENCER HUGHES’ APPLE SEPTET Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm. $11.90.
The Heart Shaped Aces, b2b Jrob, Noodle, Harry Stylez, Bubba FT:
Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $28.85. ASTRO ELEVATOR. SKERZO, OZERGUN The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free. BLONDSHELL. THE BELAIR LIP BOMBS Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $59.
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. RUSSIAN CIRCLES. TANGLED THOUGHTS OF LEAVING, TREEBEARD, MYRIAD DRONE Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $72.45.
SUPER-X. GHOST BITCH, PEARL BAY The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25.
FONT. JULES SHELDON & THE BOUNDARY RIDERS The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8.30pm. $15.
VOIID. KAITLIN KEEGAN Yah Yah’s. Fitzroy. 9pm. $15.
SAT 10 FEB
INTO THE VEIN. DRUID, OUTER WORLDS, MANIC TEMPLE The Curtin. Carlton. 7pm. $17.75.
WILLOWBANK GROVE. CHAMP RUBY, RAMONA SKY Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $31.15.
FIFTH DAWN. AURATEQUE, NEW MILLION, 50FIFTY Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.05. FRANK BELL The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. GRAVE UPHEAVAL. CEMETERY URN, MUNITIONS, PETROL, HASTE, CULT OF THE NIGHT Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6pm. $25. COOLABAH KINGS. TVB+, ROOM NOISE, DYLAN BEAST Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.
Pleasurefest
FT: Press Club, Loser, Raging Hormones, Money Boys, Fan Girl, Dental Plan, more
The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 3pm. $37.25. CHECKPOINT. KOSMETIKA, IT THING, DJ DEVLIN, DJ BUCKWILD The Curtin. Carlton. 8.30pm. $17.75. FUR BLOSSOM. DOM BRINKLEY, PEACH FUZZ Gasometer Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $10 - 15. THE NIGHTSHIFT CASHIER Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.
Bob Marley Birthday Bash
Gaia The Band, Jesse I, More Judgement, Zare Demus, Ras Crucial FT:
Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $29.10. CANISHA. KIWAT KENNELL, ARIA CLEMMETKENNEDY Kindred Bandroom. Footscray. 7pm. $22.23. STEPH BRETT Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free.
St Kilda Latin Festival South Beach Reserve. St Kilda. 1pm. $89 - 179. JACK DAVIES & THE BUSH CHOOKS Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.76. REFUGE & MELBOURNE LINES PRESENT
JOEY COCO. APOLETT, JACK BRADSHAW, ARCHMELLOW, YARRA The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 10pm. LIQUID INK
FT: Activator, Amphi, Art
Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. DOCKS + LICKLASH Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free. LISA O’NEILL Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $49.06. DAMON SMITH Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. TRUE NORTH Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 4pm. $34. JACK SPENCER. KISSES, DAN CROSS BAND Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $10 - 15. CRICKET: THE MUSICAL Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35. THE UGLY KINGS Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. Free. RUSSIAN CIRCLES. TANGLED THOUGHTS OF LEAVING, MUSHROOM GIANT, BEAR THE MAMMOTH Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $72.45. LACHLAN BRYAN & THE WILDES + DAN WEBSTER & EMILY LAWLER The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8.30pm. $30. SOUNDS OF AOTEAROA WITH SIX60 Fed Square. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.
BEAT 1715
THU 15 FEB
DINOSAUR JR. STEPMOTHER Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm.
KRISHOOL. MIA SAVANNAH, AARON LEE The Penny Black. Brunswick. 7pm.
OSCAR THE WILD. TAMARA & THE DREAMS Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85.
JAZZ NIGHT Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.
KILL BELL Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free.
SAMSON FOR PRESIDENT Bodriggy Brewing Company. Abbotsford. 7.30pm. Free.
LAMASSU. OCEANLORD, HONEYBONE The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.
MYSTIC TEA PARTY. FULL FLESHED, MINOR DELUSION Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95. PRIVATE FUNCTION The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $34.56. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. NORTHLANE. ERRA, LANDMVRKS, BANKS ARCADE Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $79.90. THE ERAS WARM UP PARTY Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 9pm. $20. TAB FAMILY. ROMANIE, MICHAEL KAY The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $18.10.
NO CIGAR Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $40.40. SUPER AMERICAN EAGLE The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $16.35. FITZ RITZ
Straight Arrows, Cool Sounds, Program, Ouzo! FT:
The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $29.99. GABRIELE POSO The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 9pm. $38.59 - 48.78. PSEUDO ECHO Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $59. THE OPERATIVES FT:
JPS, Nam, more
Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.
FRI 16 FEB
Divorce Party with Clementine Ford and Yumi Stynes
PARSNIP. WOOLLEN KITS, SHIFTERS Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.
JACK HOWARD’S EPIC BRASS Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $30.
ÁINE TYRRELL Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. RIRI HAWAII The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. NANA KOIZUMI Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. THE FOUR SCOOPS Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.
Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $43.96.
THE ERAS AFTERPARTY FRIDAY Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 11.30pm. $25. TAYLAH CARROLL The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. TAYLOR SHEESH Fed Square. Melbourne. 7.30pm. Free.
SAT 17 FEB ART ALEXAKIS OF EVERCLEAR WITH BRENDAN B. BROWN OF WHEATUS Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $75.07. MOSES LEIGH JONES The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. GEORGIA RODGERS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm.
The Get Down 21
FT: MC Wasp, MONRXE, Jordane, Tebir, Protege, Jacinta, DJ Mizhap
Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95.
St Kilda Festival 2024
FT: Mallrat, Bag Raiders, Mo’Ju, Northeast Party House, Thandi Phoenix, 1300, Mark Seymour & the Undertow, more
St Kilda Foreshore and Surrounds. St Kilda. 10am. Free.
SUNSHINE TIP + TOP BUNK: ALT-COUNTRY IN TERANG The Commercial Hotel. Terang. 8pm. $25.
LA COMPAÑIA: THE BAROQUE OF VENICE Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $55.
SHAKY STILLS Union Hotel Brunswick. Brunswick. 5pm. Free.
THE MOVING STILLS Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $29.10.
DIRTY LIVERS Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 8pm. $5. THE RIFF RAFF (AC/DC TRIBUTE). SMOOCH Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $44.50. SLOWCUT. ISUA, THE WORLD AT A GLANCE, GHOSTSMOKER The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $28.60. CONOR ANDERSONVAUGE TRIO Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. RELAX WITH MAX Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 4pm. $33.15. THE LOST CLOG + VESERIS: BALTIC BALLROOM BLITZ Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $28.15. JUST SWING IT Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. COOKING ON 3 BURNERS. DIVE TEAM 5, WILSON BLACKEY The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $34.20.
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. THE ERAS AFTERPARTY SATURDAY Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 11.30pm. $25. NEBULAM. FALSE DICHOTOMY, CHAZÉVO The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 1pm. $11.89.
THU 22 FEB SHITFETISH. SPITTING CHIPS, THE NOVA FIENDS The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7.30pm. $10. TODD RUNDGREN. SEX ON TOAST Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $73.10. BETH HART Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 8pm. $109.90. OSCAR LADELL Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. JAZZ NIGHT Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm. FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $85.
42
THE PHARCYDE. MZRIZK, YUNG SHŌGUN The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $70 - 75.80. LUKA BLOOM Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $68.50. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. TONY J KING Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. Free. KINGS OF CONVENIENCE Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $79.90. CLAIRE ANNE TAYLOR & HER BAND. GRIM FAWKNER Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $20. HAIKU HANDS Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $35.70. WAX MUSTANG The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $28.30.
FRI 23 FEB CROSSFAITH. PALEDUSK, MORE The Croxton. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $74.90. THE CHATS. MEAN JEANS, THE PRIZE, THE GHOULIES, BOONDALL BOYS, THE UNKNOWNS Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $56.20. RUM JUNGLE Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $28.05. NICE BISCUIT. SUNFRUITS, ZELKOVA Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $28.15. EZRA LEE Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. RIPCORD Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35. THE OPALS. KRACKERS & KOOLAID, GET JAXXED, LUCID AUX The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25.
BEAT.COM.AU
KIWAT KENNELL. CANDICE LORRAE, CHARLIE NEEDS BRACES The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $17.75. KINEMATIC Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. CONTE MILANO The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. VEHL. MARCEL BORRACK TD BAND, DJ FRIDAY, SUNDAY DARLING Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.05.
SAT 24 FEB
THU 29 FEB
FRI
ALICE BISSCHOPS TRIO Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.
THE VEILS Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $50.
ONE LAST BATTLE: RATTLEBACK VS SUSAN VS NEPHALEM. MUNDANE JANE, PARAQUAY Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $10.
EVAN CARYDAKIS: THE CHERRY POPS TOUR 2024 Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $30. CAPTIVES Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85. THE DEADBEAT DADS PRESENTS:
Bakerpalooza 2.
DANA GEHRMAN. JEB CARDWELL Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $18.90.
Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 12pm.
STANDING CIRCLE Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.
IGNITE Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $53.05.
HIATUS KAIYOTE WITH THE DREAMBOAT ORCHESTRA Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 8pm. $79.90.
EVEN FLOW: THE AUSTRALIAN PEARL JAM TRIBUTE SHOW Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $29.10.
NO SCRUBS: 90S + EARLY 00S PARTY Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 11.30pm. $10.75 - 20. GEORGIA GETS BY. BETTY TAYLOR (DUO) Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $29.10. LUKA BLOOM Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $68.50. JESS LOCKE. BABY VELVET, TAYLAH CARROLL Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $13. REGGAESPYS Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $30. THE SMYTHS PLAY THE SMITHS: THE QUEEN IS DEAD Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. HEDY BLAAZER The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $15. TAY OSKEE. BROOK STREET, MORE The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.30. CHAPEL SESSIONS: SAHARA BECK Chapel Off Chapel. Prahran. 8pm. $40.
43
FT:
APO, Wicked Sister
POLTERGEIST 9000. KAI CULT, ELEKTRONIK GIRL EPIC, HELLO KRISSY The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $11.25. HARRISON STORM Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $37.50. THE WRECKERY + HALFWAY Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $40.40. RALPH MCTELL The National Theatre. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $77.50. BELTIN’ ELTON Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free. NATTY PARTY FT:
Charles-Eddy, more
Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. Free. SAMPA THE GREAT. BROTHA ASANTI & SOULECTRIC, ELSY WAMEYO, THE TONY ALLEN EXPERIENCE, KOFI SHABBA Fed Square. Melbourne. 6pm. Free.
PAT TIERNEY. CHRIS CAVILL, LAURA LUCAS Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. MARK HOWARD. BLOOMING, SUNNY MOO The Penny Black. Brunswick. 7pm. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. OSCAR LADELL TRIO Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 4pm. BUSINESS PROPOSITION Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB TRIBUTE NIGHT Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $49.06. MARCEL BORRACK TD BAND Bodriggy Brewing Company. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free. KICKIN THE B HAMMOND SESSIONS Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20. THE SLEEP-INS. LUNIC, MALIBU SPACEY, BREAKFAST Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85. COTERIE. BOOTLEG RASCAL, SOUTH SUMMIT Pier Bandroom. Frankston. 7pm. $50.
100% Trimethylxanthine Bitter Vics, The Bluntts, Caifein FT:
Old Bar. FItzroy. 8pm. $10. MATT WICKING The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $12 - 15.
1 MAR
PATRICK WILSON Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free. ANDREW DARLING & SZARA FOX Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. BOOF! Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.
SAT 2 MAR TOM SNOWDON Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.90. POP WILL EAT ITSELF. JESUS JONES The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $79.90. A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS. PLANET OF THE 8S, THE BALLS Whole Lotta Love. Brunswick East. 7.30pm. $15.
THE FOUR SCOOPS Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6pm. Free.
THE PORKERS. KRACKERS & KOOLAID, GET JAXXED, LUCID AUX The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $34.20.
COG. YOMI SHIP, KODIAK EMPIRE Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $79.90.
SCARECROW: THE MELLENCAMP SHOW Yarraville Club. Yarraville. 8pm. $35.
MACH PELICAN. GRINDHOUSE, LEATHERMAN, HOT MACHINE The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $42.35.
SUPER CONCERT: SERGIO VARGAS & OSVALDO ROMAN Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 6pm. $112.30 - 132.70.
MOURNFUL CONGREGATION + FACELESS BURIAL. MALIGNANT AURA, VILE APPARITION The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $43.80.. DIESEL Athenaeum Theatre. Melbourne. 8pm. $97.62. MICHAEL ROTHER & FRIENDS PLAY THE MUSIC OF NEU! Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $55. BOO SEEKA Corner Hotel. Richmond. 6pm. $40. NEIL MURRAY & HIS BAND Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40. MIDNIGHT Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $59.20.
DOPPLERHAUS. FAIRTRADE NARCOTICS, THE CARP FACTORY Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85. SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR: HOPE Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $79.90. ROSARIO DE MARCO Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 6pm. CLIENT LIAISON Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $44.40. MADELEINE TUREWICZ Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. BOO SEEKA HABA. Rye. 6pm. $40. THE MIDNIGHT Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 8pm. VOXNEON Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35. CHAPEL SESSIONS: KATY STEELE Chapel Off Chapel. Prahran. 8pm. $40.
BEAT 1715