Beat 1729

“At the end of the day, respect is all we’ve got”

ILUKA SAXWILLIAMS

expands his vision at YIRRAMBOI

Yasiin Bey & Talib Kweli

MUSIC FOR THE DARING

Get ready to have your artistic boundaries blown.

Three radical experiences await those bold enough to witness the creative revolution.

8 PIPERS FOR PHILIP GLASS

MONDAY 5 MAY

7.30PM

LAST AND FIRST MEN –NEON DANCE

SATURDAY 7 JUNE

SUNDAY 8 JUNE 7.30PM

PIGEONS –SPEAK PERCUSSION

FRIDAY 13 JUNE

SATURDAY 14 JUNE 7.30PM

TICKETS ON SALE ▶ YIRRAMBOI.COM.AU

MISS KANINNA JEM CASSAR-DALEY

SNOTTY NOSE REZ KIDS AMOS ROACH

BECCA HATCH BLACKFIRE DANCINGWATER

JADA WEAZEL INDIGENOUS ALL STAHZ

KATAYANAGI TWINS KIDD BENNY KUTCHA EDWARDS

LEONARD SUMNER MADI COLVILLE-WALKER NIMKISH

PIQSIQ SAMMY V TALON + MORE

BLAX: ACT TWO AT SECTION 8

LUBLY LOUNGE AT THE TOFF

AUNTY RUBY HUNTER STAGE AT GOLDEN SQUARE CAR PARK

PRINT EDITOR

Kaya Martin

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Words by Luke Carlino, Juliette Salom, Gabrielle Duykers, Sarah Duggan, Dom Lepore, Jake Fitzpatrick, Sofia Perica, Bryget Chrisfield, Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier and Simone Anders

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

ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au

DISTRIBUTION distribution@furstmedia.com.au

PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

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EDITORIAL NOTE

Melbourne, chill out, alright?

Æ May’s the month when our northern hemisphere counterparts start gearing up for their moment in the sun. The first Euro festival season pics start clogging up the feeds. Suddenly, everyone’s trying to sublet a bedroom in their Brunswick East sharehouse. The pangs of jealousy are sharp and real.

But we’ve been blessed with a long, hot and hedonistic summer, and what’s the yin without the yang? Thanks to the slower season, we’ve finally got the time to dive deep into all the new releases we may have missed, to really hear them, you know? We’re talking a big blanket, a bottle of red and a record spinning to infinity – just perfect.

For those who are still keen to leave the house (brave), this edition’s got the goods. On the cover, Iluka Sax-Williams gets ready for his upcoming exhibition at YIRRAMBOI, the First Nations’ festival poised to take over the city for 11 days. Inside, we’ve got some proper rock legends – The Offspring and The Lemonheads – walking us through their storied careers. Other gems include the dreamy Queenslanders Sweet Talk, the anonymous soul sensation Pale Jay and the glam fantasy that is Wet Kiss. Ooh lala!

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.

DISTRIBUTION

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

COVER

Our May cover star is Iluka Sax-Williams shot by Joshua Scott.

INCINERATOR GALLERY TRANSFORMS INTO EPIC SPACE FOR ART YOU CAN CLIMB ON

Moonee Valley’s Incinerator Gallery will host the southern hemisphere debut of The Playground Project, running from 28 June to 12 October 2025. The exhibition celebrates playground design as a legitimate art form and will feature interactive installations that turn the entire gallery into a play space.

FED SQUARE TRANSFORMS INTO FRENCH ALPINE VILLAGE THIS WINTER

The team behind Melbourne’s beloved Raclette Igloo is back from May 15 to June 22 with an even cheesier pop-up experience. Fed Square is transforming into a slice of the French Alps with their latest foodie adventure, Fondue Chalet. Think private wooden chalets, bubbling pots of authentic French cheese and marshmallows roasted over personal fire pits.

THERE’S A CITY-WIDE BLAKOUT BLOCK PARTY COMING TO MELBOURNE

YIRRAMBOI Festival is about to drop the mother of all closing parties, with Barring Yanabul and The Uncle Archie Roach Block Party set to reclaim the heart of narrm/ Melbourne in a city-wide blak celebration spanning 14 hours. The massive takeover on Saturday, May 10 will transform multiple venues with a knockout lineup featuring over 40 First Nations artists.

LIME CORDIALE AND THE MSO SET TO CREATE SYMPHONIC SPECTACLE

Sydney pop-rock heroes Lime Cordiale are about to take their toe-tapping bangers to new heights with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on September 11 and 12. The beloved duo will perform alongside more than 80 classical musicians, transforming fan favourites into orchestral masterpieces.

SHAKY STILLS ILLUMINATE THE EMOTIONAL WILDERNESS ON DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS

Melbourne’s alt-country craftsmen Shaky Stills have emerged from Gold Dust Studios with a gut-wrenching slice of emotional vulnerability in Deer in the Headlights. Out now, the new single dives headfirst into the murky waters of longing and loss.

STYALZ FUEGO LEADS AUSSIE MUSIC ROYALTY WITH FOUR APRA NOMINATIONS

Australia’s finest musical minds are gearing up for one of the industry’s most prestigious nights, with the 2025 APRA Music Awards nominees now revealed. Troye Sivan, Kevin Parker, Missy Higgins and King Stingray are also top contenders.

AT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDANTLY RUN MUSIC VENUE

08/06 CHASING GHOSTS 12/06 MEL PARSONS (NZ) 13/06 COOL SOUNDS 14/06 KANEKOAYANO (JPN) SOLD OUT 15/06 KANEKOAYANO (JPN) 20/06 MANDENG GROOVE 28/06 JEM CASSAR-DALEY 30/05 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ WITH OWELU DREAMHOUSE + SPECIAL GUESTS *20TH B’DAY SHOW*

04/06 JOEY LIGHTBULB & FRIENDS *20TH B’DAY SHOW*

05/07 VELVET BLOOM

06/07 KINGSWOOD *20TH B’DAY SHOW* 13/07 GUT HEALTH (ALL AGES MATINEE)

*20TH B’DAY SHOW*

19/07 THE FAUVES

25/07 AUGIE MARCH *20TH B’DAY SHOW*

26/07 THE DEANS OF SOUL *20TH B’DAY SHOW*

20 YEARS OF ELI PAPERBOY REED (USA) THU 08 MAY

FRI 09 MAY

THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS FRI 30 MAY BKTHERULA (USA) THU 05 JUN

GIG GUIDE

02/05 WEENED

03/05 BELINDA GREAD (ELECTION NIGHT PARTY)

04/05 KINGS OF COUNTRY ROCK (MATINEE)

08/05 20 YEARS OF ELI PAPERBOY REED (USA)

09/05 WRESTLEROCK 10/05 ‘90’S ROCK RAGER’ FT .EVEN FLOW 11/05 ‘FRONT BAR SESSIONS’ WITH AUBREY HAIVE 16/05 THE LONGEST JOHNS (UK) SOLD OUT 17/05 COUNTRY STRUTS - LINE DANCING CLASS & PARTY

18/05 ‘FRONT BAR SESSIONS’ WITH EAGLEMONT 18/05 HOLY HOLY

+

GAUDION X

01/08 NAI PALM *20TH B’DAY SHOW*

02/08 GO-JO

25/05 ‘FRONT BAR SESSIONS’ WITH JESS RIBEIRO 30/05 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

FRI 06 JUN

31/05 MADONNA: IMMACULATE COLLECTION 35 YEAR CELEBRATION

01/06 OORKA (IND)

05/06 BKTHERULA (USA)

06/06 JACK BOTTS

07/06 THE FERGUSON ROGERS PROCESS 13/06 THE SUPERJESUS 14/06 BURTON C. BELL (USA)

29/06 BON BUT NOT FORGOTTEN (MATINEE) 04/07 LITTLE BIRDY SELLING FAST 05/07 THE ANGELS 11/07 DONNY BENÉT 31/07 MICROWAVE (USA) & FREE THROW (USA) 05/09 THE BEARDS 11/09 CHERIE CURRIE 04/10 HARRISON STORM 22/11 ONSLAUGHT (UK)

MORE EVENTS

18/05 CRATE DIGGER RECORD FAIR 27/05 DRAG BINGO

FRI 02 WENDY MATTHEWS – LIVE IN CONCERT

SAT 03 LIFE’S TOO SHORT, GO SEE A BAND 2025 FEAT. NAT ALLISON’S ROCK CHICK, ELECTRIC MARY DUO - RUSTY & ALEX, KARLY JEWELL & THE LIPS

SUN 04 FERRO-CIOUS ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS A CENTURY OF WOMEN IN SONG FEAT. NINA FERRO AND HER 7 PIECE BAND

THU 08 KATHLEEN HALLORAN TRIO (EMBER LOUNGE)

FRI 09 MI-SEX – GRAFFITI CRIMES 45 YEARS

SAT 10 THE ROYAL MOTOWN REVIEW & THE HORNS OF HIP

SUN 11 RIPPER ROCK – HITS OF THE 70’S & 80’S

FRI 16 CLAYMORE WITH THE NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL MELBOURNE LAUNCH

SAT 17 HANK MARIN GYPSY JAZZ LIVE IN MELBOURNE

SUN 18 TWO EXCLUSIVE MELBOURNE SHOWS AT MEMO ONLY

FRI 23 KARISE EDEN SINGS THE JANIS JOPLIN SONGBOOK

SAT 24 INTO THE MYSTIC – THE MUSIC OF VAN MORRISON FEAT. JOE CREIGHTON & FRIENDS

SUN 25 NORMIE ROWE – THE STORY SO FAR FRI 30 GUITAR WARS – RETURN FEAT. SIMON HORSFORD, KATHLEEN HALLORAN &

MELBOURNE

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2025 DATES

The iconic event will run for 18 days from August 7 to 24, with festival organisers currently programming the best new films from around the world. The Melbourne International Film Festival continues its tradition as Australia’s leading international film festival, offering cinephiles a chance to experience diverse storytelling on the big screen.

CHILLIN’ IN BANYULE OFFERS 25 DAYS OF FREE LIVE GIGS

Music lovers across the City of Banyule are in for a treat as their neighbourhood will soon be taken over by free shows, bringing 12 different venues to life. Chillin’ In Banyule aims to foster community, give a boost to small businesses and support local artists. This year, it’ll run from May 1 to 25, with free entry to all events!

DARK MOFO RISES FROM THE ASHES WITH 2025 LINEUP

Following its brief hiatus, Australia’s celebration of all things dark, beautiful, blinding, challenging, alarming and delicious returns to Tasmania. From June 5 to 15 and 21, an ambitious, packed curation of boundary-pushing art, music, theatre and otherworldly experience will take place across Nipaluna/Hobart, Launceston and Ulverstone.

360 ANNOUNCES

AUSTRALIAN TOUR WITH PEZ

ARIA Award-winning Aussie rap hero 360 is about to drop his first album in eight years and hit the road with Pez. The Melbourne-born MC, real name Matt Colwell, has announced his Out Of The Blue tour, marking a triumphant return to major venues across the country. He’ll perform at the Forum on July 18.

RANDY HOUSER SADDLES UP FOR EAST COAST HEADLINE TOUR

Country powerhouse Randy Houser is gearing up to bring his towering vocals back to Aussie shores this June, following his soldout Melbourne headline show in January. He’s set to play at the Palais on June 20.

YIAGA: AUSTRALIA-FOCUSED DINING SPOT TO OPEN IN FITZROY GARDENS

Five-star culinary heavyweight Hugh Allen has finally let the cat out of the bag on his long-awaited solo venture, announcing plans for Yiaga – a boundary-pushing dining destination plonked squarely in the leafy surrounds of Fitzroy Gardens, set to open in Spring 2025.

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL DROPS MINDBLOWING 2025 LINEUP

Melbourne Writers Festival has dropped its stacked 2025 program, set to run from May 8 to 11. Under the theme of Magical Thinking, new festival director Veronica Sullivan has assembled a cosmic array of talent, with Irish superstar Marian Keyes, Booker Prize-winner Samantha Harvey and literary icon Colm Tóibín leading the international contingent.

NEO-JAZZ TITAN KAMASI WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Fearless Movement tour brings sax virtuoso back to Australian shores with jazz prodigy Micah Heathwood in tow. Grammynominated jazz revolutionary Kamasi Washington is packing his horns for a triumphant return, with a Melbourne headline show locked in at the Palais on June 11.

RONE BRINGS ACCLAIMED FREE EXHIBITION THE WORKROOM TO THE OUTSIDERS

Melbourne’s street art kingpin Rone has brought his mind-bending installation The Workroom to the heart of the city’s former rag trade district, giving punters another chance to experience one of the standout pieces from his blockbuster Time exhibition for free. It’ll show until May 25.

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO’S MASSIVE ELEPHANT TRAIL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Werribee Open Range Zoo has just opened its huge Elephant Trail, giving Melbourne’s west bragging rights to one of the most impressive elephant habitats on the planet. The sprawling 21-hectare wonderland now houses nine Asian elephants in a space literally the size of the entire Melbourne Zoo.

A NEW DANCE SPACE HAS JUST OPENED IN BRUNSWICK

Keeper Brewing in Brunswick East has added a new dance music venue above their independent brewpub on Weston Street. The intimate first-floor space features the sound system from Hopkins Creek Festival’s Bait Shop stage and local artist Hanakotoba has created custom floral installations alongside smoke and lighting to enhance the atmosphere.

THERE’S A FIVE-DAY ELECTRONIC CAMPING FESTIVAL COMING TO MELBOURNE

Interstellar Groove Festival is gearing up for a mind-bending return to Victoria’s Tallarook this spring with a stellar lineup of international and local talent. The cosmic celebration, running from 30 October to 3 November, has sent shockwaves through the festival circuit, with tickets close to completely selling out.

ONE NIGHT STAND RETURNS THIS MAY WITH SPACEY JANE AS HEADLINER

Triple j’s beloved One Night Stand is back with a killer all-Australian lineup that’ll transform Bussleton, Western Australia, into the country’s hottest music destination this May. Perth dream-rockers Spacey Jane are headlining the 2025 edition, which is now completely sold out.

CANADIAN NOISE-PUNKS PUP ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR

Toronto troublemakers PUP are heading back to our shores for their first Australian and New Zealand tour since 2022, armed with a brand-new album and their signature brand of self-deprecating chaos. They’ll perform at the Northcote Theatre on August 10.

THERE’S A 12-ACT RAVE HAPPENING AT THIS MELBOURNE CARPARK IN MAY

Novel announces the return of their Intercell Indoor series, this time taking over the raw, industrial space of Rosella Carpark in Cremorne. The rave on May 3 promises to strip back the unnecessary frills and focus solely on the essentials – sound, space and unmistakable energy.

HOSPITALITY HEAVYWEIGHT TO OPEN THREE-LEVEL VENUE AT COLLINS PLACE

Brisbane powerhouse Blackbird is swooping into Melbourne’s CBD, bringing its award-winning dining concept to Collins Place in June 2025. The Ghanem Group’s flagship venue will occupy an impressive three-level site at the Paris end, marking the brand’s first interstate expansion.

FUNK LEGEND GEORGE CLINTON IS BRINGING PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC DOWN UNDER

Funk icon George Clinton is charting his return to Australia with Parliament Funkadelic for a four-date tour this September. The mastermind behind P-Funk will hit the Palais on September 20 with his unmissable live show that’s kept fans grooving for over five decades.

COMO LANE: NEW EUROINSPIRED CAFE OPENS IN SOUTH YARRA

Melbourne’s south side scores yet another bougie café, this time with serious culinary cred. Melbourne hospo veteran Scott Pickett has just dropped his latest venture into the leafy surrounds of Como House & Garden, bringing some serious European energy to one of the city’s poshest postcodes.

DOG PARKS SET FOR A MAJOR UPGRADE THANKS TO $4.9 MILLION INVESTMENT

Tail-wagging times are ahead as the Victorian government splashes cash on dog-friendly hangouts. Yarraville’s McIvor Reserve is one of the lucky spots, scoring a $100k glow-up for its off-lead area.

MALL GRAB BRINGS BIGGEST HEADLINE SHOWS EVER TO HOME TURF

Bass-addict and electronic music maverick Mall Grab is returning to Australian soil after years of international domination. 10 years into his career, the Aussie-born producer will be hitting Melbourne’s PICA on June 20.

K-POP KINGPIN JAY PARK RETURNS WITH FIRST WORLD TOUR IN SIX YEARS

Global phenomenon Jay Park is bringing his slick R&B and hip-hop stylings to Australian shores this August. The tour promises fans an electrifying showcase of Park’s impressive catalogue, spanning over 16 years in the industry. He’ll be performing at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on August 21.

FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL BRINGS BOLD, BIZARRE CINEMA TO MELBOURNE

Fantastic Film Festival Australia is about to detonate a cinematic nuke across Melbourne and Sydney screens. The event is on until May 15 with a program that practically dares you to look away, bringing a gonzo collection of 27 features, 19 shorts and enough boundary-smashing madness to melt your cerebral cortex.

RICKY MARTIN AND RITA ORA TEAM UP FOR HIGHOCTANE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Global superstar Ricky Martin is bringing his explosive Latin pop spectacle back to Australian shores this November. The Puerto Rican icon returns to Australia for the first time since his sold-out shows in 2015 and will be playing at Rod Laver Arena on November 1.

INDIE DARLING FAYE WEBSTER REVEALS AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES

Faye Webster brings Underdressed at the Symphony to Australian theatres. Atlanta’s genre-defying songstress Faye Webster is set to perform two nights at Melbourne’s Forum on July 12 and 13.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2025 LINEUP

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival has revealed the first three international acts set to grace stages across the city in October 2025, featuring some of the most exciting names in contemporary jazz. Two-time Grammy winner Gregory Porter, Japanese piano virtuoso Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet and funk collective LETTUCE lead the charge.

DOPE LEMON ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Angus Stone’s dreamy project Dope Lemon returns with their fifth album and tour. Dope Lemon has cultivated a reputation for pairing dreamy, laid-back grooves with deeply introspective lyricism. The upcoming album Golden Wolf will be released on May 2 and he’ll perform at the Forum on July 25.

ILUKA SAX WILLIAMS

“I’m

working to awaken something... while staying true to who I am and my people’s practice.”

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

Iluka Sax-Williams is taking over the SIGNAL building for an exhibition titled Dabana as part of YIRRAMBOI 2025.

Æ You may have seen Iluka Sax-Williams’ work without realising it – rattling past on an Art Tram or at group exhibitions. He’s been working with YIRRAMBOI since 2019, but this festival, he takes it to a new level with Dabana, an immersive solo exhibition and curatorial takeover at SIGNAL.

“YIRRAMBOI has always been an amazing experience for me,” explains Williams. “I’ve been able to really cultivate my artwork over the years, using YIRRAMBOI as a big stepping stone. Having a platform and festival run by mainly First Nations people is amazing, and it lets me build a body of work I can be proud of.”

This year, Williams is branching out, putting forward multiple pieces on wood, kangaroo skins, a photographic series and animations, broadening his creative mediums.

“I never really see my artwork as staying on the kangaroo skin. I feel like these days, with how things can be digitised and how art is moving, you can work across many platforms. So, having the opportunity to do those types of things and stay true to my core work gives me the best of both worlds. It’s also a necessary shift. “I was working with a group once doing possum skin burning, but some of the group members weren’t comfortable with this from an animal liberation point of view, so we shifted to wood. I find that when I apply my work to different mediums, it speaks to different people and age groups as well. Kids weren’t interested in the work I did on a wooden artifact until I moved it to a skateboard, you know?”

Williams explains that considering the viewer and their experiences or knowledge level is part of his job as an artist.

“I’m working to awaken something and to get the viewer to ask questions or look a bit deeper while staying true to who I am and my people’s practice. As a young Indigenous person working within art, I have the things I’ve learned from elders, which I try to respect and combine with a new generation of young entrepreneurs, creative minds and leaders that have new ways of thinking, interpreting and expressing.”

YIRRAMBOI’s 2025 theme, Futures, Past, is well suited to Williams’s latest work, which explores identity and place as a young Indigenous person, taking unique perspectives shaped by his urban environment and connection to ancestral roots. Williams explores how modern city life and traditional practices intersect to inform his sense of self.

“I’m on the ground working with people, engaging with the elders in my community, making sure I’m asking questions and adhering to protocols that we run through our communities to make sure the things that we do remain respectful. I’ve been able to grow up around many strong women and men who have shown me the ropes and how we work together to build new ideas that pay homage and respect, which at the end of the day is all we’ve got.”

Williams has been working within a lot of different industries of late, pushing his art further into new areas and mediums. His work on the Art Trams has helped to make history at the 2024 Anthem Awards in New York, winning Gold in the Education, Art & Culture category.

“It was amazing seeing my work blown up on a moving vehicle. It brings a whole new dynamic to the art, which was originally just for a kangaroo skin that we photographed and collaged into the final piece. I think the tram really spoke to a lot of people because it’s this landscape moving along another landscape, and it’s something a lot of people may have never seen before.

“I think a lot of people just think Indigenous art is restricted to dot painting. Down here in the Southeast, it’s a lot of line work, so a big part of what I do is trying to express to the rest of the world that the Southeast has something to say: we’re down here, we’re working hard and we’re producing these amazing pieces of work.”

WHEN: 2–10

DABANA

SWEET TALK

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

With a documentary, countless live shows, an APRA Award nomination and a Bluesfest appearance under their belts, Melbourne’s Sweet Talk finally have a debut record they would like you to hear.

Æ When a group of Queensland musicians who’ve known each other and dabbled in playing together for around 20 years decide to buckle down and focus on creating their ultimate project together, something cool happens. Why? Experience and focus, that’s why.

If you take this scenario and seal the deal with a group move to Melbourne, you have Sweet Talk, a ’70s-inspired rock band who’ve already achieved some impressive feats without even having a full-length album to their name.

With performances at Riverboats Music Festival and Byron Bay Bluesfest, which included a guest appearance and live co-sign from Kasey Chambers, Sweet Talk have already proven themselves in the live arena. But what about on tape? And yes, we mean literal tape.

“We’ve always recorded to tape,” explains co-band leader Dave Turner. “It’s fun to record to and it does this wonderful thing with compressing transients on drums and stuff, but the big thing that it does for us is it puts us under pressure to perform.”

Sweet Talk’s debut album, Switch On, will be released in May and features songs recorded mostly live to tape to help capture the aesthetic of the band’s sound. That sound is something the group describe as a rock ‘n’ roll gumbo, incorporating elements of country and funk into fun rock music for all to enjoy.

As other co-band leader, Soren Walker, explains, Sweet Talk have a clear sense of who they are as a band and the debut album reflects that, along with the energy of the group’s live performances.

“We also wanted to capture a moment of time for the band, and to do that, we had to put all of these songs together.”

“We wanted the album to show who we are, but at the same time, we wanted to take it into some different places. We looked at the songs we had as a larger body of work, then decided what was missing to inform the writing that would finish the record. That process gave us some very cool ballads and I’m glad we did it.”

To help make all of this possible, the band got American singer-songwriter Robert Ellis involved in the production. “It happened by chance,” Turner explains. “He was on tour here and had a day off. We didn’t know him at all, but we cold-called him and asked if he would come to the studio with us. He did, and we recorded one of the songs that will be on the album that day, then we liked it so much that we flew him out to record the rest of the album.”

Ellis’ involvement allowed the normally self-produced Sweet Talk to delegate some of the creation process and focus on songwriting. “We did this thing with him where once a week he would kind of challenge our songwriting and ask questions like ‘could this chord progression be more interesting?’ or ‘does this lyric nail the point?’. This was super helpful for us to get an outside perspective on our songwriting.”

Albums mattered a lot more in the time period that Sweet Talk draw their inspiration from, but today, the effort and expense of recording one isn’t often worth the hassle.

“When we made our doco, we didn’t know if people still had the attention span for an album,” explains Walker.

“That being said, for a couple of reasons, we thought making one would be the right thing to do. From an industry perspective, there is a legitimisation that comes with a larger body of work and we want to be considered in that space. We also wanted to capture a moment of time for the band, and to do that, we had to put all of these songs together.”

Turner adds, “There are no serious artists today that don’t have an album. To show the audience that you are for real and that you have more than that one song in you, you need that body of work.”

Sweet Talk’s debut album, Switch On, will be released on May 23. The band will appear live at this year’s Bluesfest and on tour around Australia with The Red Clay Strays throughout May.

SWEET TALK

WHERE: FESTIVAL HALL (SUPPORTING THE RED CLAY STRAYS)

WHEN: 22 MAY

FESTIVAL GUIDE

WORDS BY JULIETTE SALOM

YIRRAMBOI FESTIVAL

YIRRAMBOI Festival offers 10 days chock-full of entertainment, education and performance, with over 400 First Nations creatives coming together to connect to and through community across 180 performances.

VARIOUS VENUES 1–11 MAY

SHADOWS OF WONDERLAND

Shadows of Wonderland is inviting you to join in on an adventure of enchanting sonic experiences and magical music mayhem. This night of performance will feature some legendary international musos, so don’t miss out.

PICA 2 MAY

NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA

Sink into the smooth and silky sounds of some of the best in town at the fifth iteration of Newport Jazz Festival. Legends like Bobby Sedergreen, Adam Rudegeair and The Pearly Shells will be stopping by to get groovy.

NEWPORT 2–4 MAY

BIG JAZZ DAY OUT

More than 150 musicians will take over five locations throughout the Ian Potter Centre this May. The all-access party will showcase international and Australian performers, as well as talent from Monash University’s acclaimed music program.

IAN POTTER CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 3 MAY

SLEEPLESS FESTIVAL

This spellbinding independent arts festival transforms Footscray into an eclectic playground with mind-melting installations, performances, films and much more. Exhilarating and hard to define, it’s the kind of festival you have to visit to truly understand.

FOOTSCRAY 2–18 MAY

THE GREAT TRENTHAM SPUDFEST

If you’re a fan of potatoes, there’s only one festival for you this month: Spudfest. The historic town of Trentham is throwing a two-day-long party to celebrate all things potato. From history to food, there’s heaps to uncover.

TRENTHAM 3–4 MAY

BRIGHT AUTUMN FESTIVAL

This charming country town is called Bright for a reason, and this event will have you believing that the reason is the incredible colours of its leaves. Bright Autumn Festival is a 10-day extravaganza celebrating the beauty of the season in Victorian’s Alpine High Country.

BRIGHT UNTIL 4 MAY

UNCLE ARCHIE ROACH BLOCK PARTY

In honour of the late, great Uncle Archie Roach and legendary singer-songwriter Aunty Ruby Hunter, the Uncle Archie Roach Block Party will play host to 10 international acts and more than 30 local First Nations musicians across four venues this Saturday in May.

VARIOUS VENUES 10 MAY

MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK

Calling all designers and the aesthetically-obsessed – Melbourne Design Week is here! The country’s largest design festival will see 11 days of community, connection, education and entertainment take place across the city.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA 15–25 MAY

BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL

This May, the city of Ballarat is stepping back in time to bring relics of a golden era back to life. The Ballarat Heritage Festival features 10 days of festivities unfolding against the backdrop of the beautifully historic architecture of Ballarat.

BALLARAT 16–25 MAY

LA FIERA ITALIAN FESTIVAL MYRTLEFORD

Take a journey to Myrtleford this May and discover a festival that will transport you straight to the Mediterranean. Expect everything from Italian wine tastings to soccer games, exhibitions to farmers’ markets. Bellissimo!

MYRTLEFORD 17–18 MAY

MEATSHARE FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL

MeatShare is taking over the Queen Vic Market this weekend in May for a free festival of all things meat, BBQ, seafood, gourmet eats, plant-based options, tastings and pairings. Plus, there’ll even be live music and entertainment.

QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET 17–18 MAY

KOREA FESTIVAL

Naarm is celebrating all things Korean this month with the Korean Festival unfolding over a weekend at Fed Square. The festival is family-friendly and free, boasting performances, food, games and events that explore connection through Korean culture.

FED SQUARE 24–25 MAY

CASTLEMAINE ARTISTS MARKET

Journey to Castlemaine on the last Sunday in May for the beloved local Artists Market. This mecca of art and creativity will feature over 60 emerging and established artists. You can bet that you won’t be leaving empty-handed. Plus, entry is free.

CASTLEMAINE 25 MAY

PLATONIC LOVE

Some of the best of the best in Australian music are coming together for a night of music that will reverberate all across the country. Expect to see legends like The Drones, Paul Kelly and Dan Kelly, The Nation Blue and Mod Con on the Croc’s stage.

THE CROXTON BANDROOM 28 MAY

STAGE GUIDE

WORDS BY JULIETTE SALOM

NAPOLÉON: FROM ROSES TO POISON / APRÈS LES ROSES, LE POISON

History buffs unite – Napoléon is coming to town. If you’re interested in the life and story of the infamous French statesman, you’ll want to grab tickets to this theatrical exploration of his life.

LA MAISON DE MAÎTRE 1–3 MAY

LIVE AT THE LUME

If you haven’t been to The Lume yet, this is your last – and best – chance, as the venue is sadly closing down in June. This live performance of ethereal opera at The Lume promises a transcendental night where music, art and technology collide.

LUME 2 MAY

THE VERDI GALA CONCERT

Hamer Hall is getting an operatic takeover this month with a tribute to the famed Italian opera god Giuseppe Verdi. Husband and wife power couple Nicole Car and Étienne Dupuis lead this show that will take you on a journey of heavenly music.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 3 MAY

GRANNY BINGO

Boasting the title of one of the city’s longest-running comedy nights, Granny Bingo is a hoot of a time. Your three favourite nannas will take to the stage to deliver some bingo, some stand-up and some good old-fashioned laughs.

COMEDY REPUBLIC 5 MAY

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

If city life is dragging you down, prepare to have your spirits uplifted by St Paul’s Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts. These halfhour, bite-sized recitals are the perfect way to break up your day between work meetings and deadlines during the week.

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL 7, 14, 21 + 28 MAY

THE BLACK WOMAN OF GIPPSLAND

The Black Woman of Gippsland is an exploration of First Nation stories that have for too long gone unheard, set against a backdrop of poetic storytelling and captivating performances. This is one of Melbourne Theatre Company’s most hotly anticipated shows this season.

MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY 5–31 MAY

BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL

He’s back! And with a show full of songs up his black-and-white striped sleeve that will have you chanting his name again and again. Eddie Perfect stars as the scoundrel that is Beetlejuice in the Aussie run of the Tony Award-nominated stage musical.

REGENT THEATRE FROM 7 MAY

CLASSIC KIDS: WIZARDRY SCHOOL

Families and little ones are invited to experience the magic of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on this special day of performances in May. Kids are sure to be left spellbound by the wizardry of these musicians as they present the iconic music of John Williams, Saint-Saëns and Stravinsky.

HAMER HALL 10 MAY

Shakespeare is rolling into town this May, with Henry 5 hitting the stage. Directed by Shakespeare aficionado Marion Potts and starring JK Kazzi, this is a must-see, whether you’re a fan of the play or catching it for the first time.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 11–25 MAY

EN POINTE: THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET SCHOOL

The Australian Ballet School is giving you a sneak peek into the rising talent they’re fostering with En Pointe. The annual program is a great chance to check out the new ballerinas on the scene, as well as catch some breathtakingly beautiful ballet.

HAMER HALL 13 MAY

HUMANS 2.0 BY CIRCA

Back for a second iteration after a massive success, Humans 2.0 is presented by the amazing acrobatic team behind Circa. This exploration of the challenges of being human will leave you with your jaw dropped to the floor.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 14–24 MAY

AN EVENING OF FAIRY TALES

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is taking your favourite fairy tales to the stage over two nights this May, bringing these bedtime stories of mischievous children and monsters in the wood to life right before your eyes.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 15 + 17 MAY

THE BIRDS

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s arguably best and most haunting films is getting the theatrical treatment with The Birds coming to the Malthouse this May. Paula Arundell is taking on the lead role in this immersive theatrical experience of the spookiest proportions.

MALTHOUSE THEATRE FROM 16 MAY

UP NEXT

With the Comedy Festival coming to a close, now’s a great time to start checking out the next best things in emerging talent. Up Next presents a plethora of new faces to the comedy scene, plus a special guest headliner to wrap the laughs together.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 17 MAY

BURLESQUE SHOWBOAT CRUISE

It’s burlesque but on a boat. This threeand-a-half-hour cruise is a non-stop ride of entertainment, music, cocktails and canapes. As Naarm’s longest-running burlesque show, this is sure to float anyone’s boat.

LADY CUTLER

MELBOURNE SHOWBOAT 17 MAY

HENRY 5

“I think it’s just really good music that appeals to young people trying to find their way in the world.

THE

“That’s what punk rock did for me. It helped me learn my own voice.”

OFFSPRING

Forty years. Four decades. It’s a mammoth chapter in any music career, but in the volatile world of punk rock, it’s virtually unheard of.

WORDS BY GABRIELLE DUYKERS

Æ Irrepressible architects of the ’90s punk explosion, The Offspring are still firing on all cylinders. Far from mellowing out, lead guitarist Kevin ‘Noodles’ Wasserman says the band is the best they’ve ever sounded. Following a 30-second sell-out of their Melbourne show last November, the group are geared up to unleash their Supercharged tour on Australian audiences next month.

Dialing in from his Huntington Beach abode, a veritable museum of electric guitars adorning the wall behind him, Noodles beams at the mention of Australia. “It’s such a fun vibe; we love coming,” he says. “You guys have a wicked sense of humour. You love to take the piss. Plus, tons of energy. It feels similar to the US, only funnier and maybe a little smarter.”

Prior to their Australian debut at Big Day Out in 1995, Noodles credits the band’s soundtracking of surf and skate videos for cultivating such a loyal following down under. A testament to this came in November last year, when their ‘one-night-only’ show at the Forum sold out in a mere 30 seconds.

Formed in 1984, the key to the band’s enduring appeal remains a mystery even to Noodles. But their infectious passion for the craft is an indisputable driving force. “I really don’t know how it still relates with audiences all these years later,” he laughs. “I’m so lucky that I get to go out and play with my friends for a living. I love the music. I think that has to be it.”

Outspoken fans of the Australian punk subgenre, Noodles shouts out Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats and Pist Idiots among some of The Offspring’s favourites. “We just got to play with [Amyl and the Sniffers] in Brazil. They were incredible,” he says. “I would’ve loved to grab a couple beers with them. Huge fans.”

Once deemed commercially dead, punk rock has seen a vibrant resurgence in recent years. Reflecting on its presence across the industry, Noodles is unsurprised by the revival.

“I think it’s just really good music that appeals to young people trying to find their way in the world,” he says.

“That’s what punk rock did for me. It helped me learn my own voice.”

Initially struggling to find their place within the hardcore scene, The Offspring, with the likes of Sublime and Bad Religion, existed on the fringes. Eventually, the group embraced their unique sound – a blend of hardcore punk and catchy hooks with a sharp satirical edge. With their 1994 debut album Smash, the band soon shot to international fame, playing a crucial role in bringing punk rock to mainstream audiences.

Over 11 albums and various lineup changes, The Offspring has consistently evolved both on stage and in the studio. Recorded with longtime producer Bob Rock, their 2024 release – Supercharged –cements the band’s refusal to coast.

Described by frontman Dexter Holland as “pure energy from start to finish”, the record features inventive takes on hardcore and pop-punk with their signature mix of “aggressive yet melodic” riffs.

Lyrically, the album offers earnest and uplifting moments alongside a healthy dose of the socio-political satire that listeners know and love. Tracks like Looking Out For Number One mock the rise of ecocentrism, Come To Brazil anthems a popular meme, while Truth in Fiction delves into the culture of disinformation.

“There’s so much information out there that it’s just wrong,” Noodles says. “Some people push misinformation purposefully to either get themselves clout, more followers, more clicks, more votes. It’s really kind of a crazy world.”

The Offspring has made a concerted effort to sharpen both their technical skills and live shows in recent years – a culmination of pandemic boredom and new additions to the band. Noodles credits newest members Brandon Pertzborn on drums and multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy for injecting a fresh dynamic.

“We’re tighter and more solid,” he says. “Jonah has added a lot to us. He’s elevated my playing. I joke about him being my guitar teacher, but it’s kind of true. Then Brandon is young and energetic…We laugh all the time, just crack each other up. It’s a good time to be in this band.”

Looking ahead, Noodles affirms The Offspring has no intention of slowing down. While he playfully dismisses the idea of a rap album, Noodles says the band is keen to continue its exploration of new sonic textures and production techniques. When asked to pinpoint the indelible thread that anchors the band’s sound, all merit is directed to Holland’s songwriting. “I like when he steps out of his comfort zone,” Noodles says.

“He’s done that more and more as we’ve progressed. There are certain sensibilities he has that make any song we do, even if we put horns to it, sound like an Offspring song.”

The Supercharged Tour will be supported by the band’s long-time friends and Canadian rock heroes, Simple Plan. “Super nice guys,” Noodles says. “They’re poppy punk, but when you see them play live, those guys rock.”

After four decades, The Offspring remain hungry, passionate and brimming with excitement to showcase what Noodles describes as the band’s best iteration to date. “It feels like we’re just getting warmed up,” he grins. “We want to keep this going and see how far we can take it.”

THE OFFSPRING

WHERE: ROD LAVER ARENA

WHEN: 7 + 8 MAY

CHAPEL SESSIONS

WORDS

BY JULIETTE SALOM

Chapel Off Chapel has been home to countless iconic musos and their fans, hosting more than 20,000 artists and crew and close to a million patrons since opening its doors in 1995.

THE MUSIC OF ENNIO MORRICONE & THE SPAGHETTI WEST

SAT MAY 3

Fans of spaghetti westerns unite – the iconic genre is coming to life at Chapel Off Chapel. Helping to muster the music of Italian cowboys to the stage will be the legendary artists behind The Counterfeit.

“We’ve been diving deep into the music of Morricone and the Spaghetti West, and it’s been a thrilling ride,” says musical director Harley Stewart.

“It’s our first time at Chapel Off Chapel – and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s the perfect venue to bring the Wild West to life with our 10-piece posse, new material and the incredible Freya Josephine Hollick out front. We’re pulling out all the stops for our Chapel Sessions debut.”

Ç THNDO

SAT MAY 17

She’s not dubbed the ‘First Lady of soul and R&B’ for no reason. After years of being a regular at Chapel Off Chapel, this gig is a homecoming for Thndo.

“I’ve had the immense privilege of developing my craft on the Chapel Off Chapel stage since as early as 2014,” she reflects.

“From musical theatre to rock to pop, the four walls of this space have been instrumental in helping me find my voice. There’s a certain magic that exists here… something feels safe about exploring and sharing my gift at Chapel. As I reassess my path forward in the music industry, it feels fitting to bid farewell to my artistry as you know it right here at my home base.” Thndo will be accompanied by Caleb Shand, James Bowers and Anthony Murray, with musical direction from Cristian Barbieri.

Æ This May, the beloved venue is bringing back its signature music series, Chapel Sessions. Some of Australia’s most captivating voices and musicians will bring the heat to the altar of music, paying tribute to the legacy and future of the iconic gig space.

This isn’t any old anniversary, and these aren’t any old gigs. From stripped-back sessions to sonic experimentations, each show will deliver a prolific artist with an intimacy like no other. Suffice to say, the experience will be a near-religious one – all taking place, of course, under The Chapel’s famed stained-glass window.

SUN MAY 18

Flamenco guitarist Richard Tedesco is teaming up with The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill for a show that will combine solo original work, reimagined The Cat Empire deep cuts and new collaborative works. The intimate show will act as a forum to premiere the trio’s new collaboration. We can only cross our fingers and hope that it’ll be the first of many more.

“Chapel Off Chapel has held a special place in my heart ever since I first played there back in 2006 with The Cat Empire. There’s a certain magic in venues like this – intimate, character-filled spaces where music truly connects. They’re vital in the cultural landscape, and it’s more important than ever that we support them,” says Riebl.

“This upcoming show is going to be something really special, together with Ollie McGill and Richard Tedesco. It’ll be a night full of surprises – we are so looking forward to this.”

MO’JU WITH LEWIS COLEMAN FRI MAY 23

To cap off Chapel Sessions, sonic superstar Mo’Ju will be taking over the stage. The multi-talented artist will bring an intimate piano and vocal performance, traversing stories and sound. Lewis Coleman will also be joining the lineup, putting his groove-heavy indie rock on full blast.

“I’ve had the good fortune to play a lot of shows in my career, from pubs and clubs to theatres and concert halls, festivals, stadiums and arenas,” says Mo’Ju.

“But for me, I think there is really something magical about playing venues like Chapel Off Chapel. There’s so much storytelling in my music and the intimacy between artist and audience in rooms like these creates the perfect atmosphere for the stories at the heart of the songs to shine through. These types of shows are where I thrive onstage.”

CHAPEL SESSIONS

WHERE: CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL

WHEN: 3, 17, 18 + 23 MAY

Made in partnership with Chapel Off Chapel.

RIEBL TEDESCO MCGILL

WET KISS

For Wet Kiss frontwoman

Brenna O, music is more than just an art form. It’s a lifestyle.

WORDS BY DOM LEPORE

Æ After releasing some homemade electronic EPs, it was only on her 2022 work She’s So Cool that Melbourne musician Brenna O saw her true vision for Wet Kiss come into view.“It was the first time I worked with a full band,” she says. “We recorded it really spur of the moment.”

Brenna and bandmates Aldo Thomas, Daniel Ward, Ben SendySmithers and Ruby Stoney lived together in an old warehouse in Coburg while recording Wet Kiss’ debut album. The griminess of the spot translates in the recordings: distant traces of The Velvet Underground’s enigmatic proto-punk and the nonchalant sleaze of Yeah Yeah Yeahs can be heard.

“Everything was done in a week,” Brenna tells me. “Everything was immediate and there was no core theme. I wasn’t trying to make a grand statement about anything.”

With the band assembled and the album complete, success seemed imminent. But Brenna took a left turn and moved to Berlin shortly after releasing their debut. It was a move that could’ve jeopardised Wet Kiss for good – she left her band behind in Melbourne and started afresh on the other side of the world.

“I felt like when I was in Berlin, I ruined my chances at being a musician,” Brenna admits. “You’re this newcomer into a scene and everyone’s very dubious of you. It’s like being 18 again.” While regretful at first, it proved to be the right decision. “I got to be in this underground movie; we played at Art Basel and made heaps of friends and connections,” Brenna says. “And I got really good stories out of it.”

The risky move gave Brenna more “time to digest” She’s So Cool and write about her experiences, “like travelling and living in Berlin.” As a result, she discovered her main desire with music: “to embody stardom and what it is to be in showbiz”.

Brenna’s rejuvenated ambition for stardom is on full display in the band’s upcoming sophomore record, Thus Spoke the Broken Chanteuse, out on June 27. What Wet Kiss embody on paper – their onstage glitz and glamour and the euphoria of playing gig after gig –comes through in their new ’70s-inspired sound.

The lead single Isn’t Music Wonderful carries a great notion in its optimistic title. When I asked Brenna what music has provided for her, her answers were incredibly selfless.

“It’s crushed my ego and dissolved guilt, which also restricts your ego from reaching a higher potential,” she says. “It’s also allowed me to push myself to fully engage in it. I’ll take on all the networking and I’ll just write music all the time.” She continues: “The pure desire is just to be on stage. Music just helped me change my thinking about that, and in that, I get to be incredibly generous. I get to work with people, shout people out and be adored.”

It is, however, a double-edged sword – music is hard work. “You can’t be a star unless you’re 100% dedicated to the craft of manifesting,” Brenna says.

The new album also explores lots of lyrical posturing. Brenna reveals Isn’t Music Wonderful began as a love song but changed direction to include music as an arduous endeavour once she decided to be more honest: “When am I gonna be a star?/ I’m searching in my bag for last night’s drag,” she sings.

“Everything I was thinking of touching on the first record, like, ‘Okay, you create this character, then you wake up and you become her.’ That’s where I’m at,” Brenna shares. “I almost feel like I’m dreaming sometimes.”

It’s safe to say Wet Kiss have been making waves. The band brought their rapturous live show to festival audiences for the first time at Golden Plains 2025, their biggest gig yet. “I don’t really get nervous – I get more excited, I get pensive. I can go a bit quiet, but I get on and it’s fun,” Brenna says.

“Golden Plains – my hands were shaking,” she admits. “I never experienced that, but once I got out, lightning strikes and you just have to do it. I’d love to play more festivals. I gotta say we pulled it off immaculately, but it was hard.”

Wet Kiss will return to familiar territory on May 9 with another single launch at the Curtin. “We’re bringing in other bigger bands and people who sort of have the same bit more of a glam vibe to them,” Brenna says. “We want it to feel big.”

Reflecting on her place in Melbourne’s diverse music scene, Brenna knows she’s got something unique where “everyone kind of has their own thing going on”.

“A lot of my idols are from the past. I’m not exactly trying to imitate anyone from now,” she says. “I’m more inspired by someone like James Brown, who would also have such a high standard than other people in the scene who are doing something more slacker or ’90s, you know?”

Brenna continues: “I think on stage, I have an ability to hold a crowd and I know how fundamentally important it is to never, ever show that you’re fucked up and never look scared or insecure, because then you lose the audience.”

If there’s any advice she has to offer, it’s owning that stage presence with confidence. “[There’s] nothing worse than when you’re watching a performer and they apologise throughout a set. But obviously, I would embrace anyone to just do what they want. Put your chin up. Breathe. You know, the audience is very forgiving,” she adds. Even if it’s taken her some time (and a trip to the other side of the world), the hard work is paying off. Without a doubt, music is Brenna’s life. “Everyone in society has a role. Mine’s the fantasy of a rock star.”

“You can’t be a star unless you’re 100% dedicated to the craft of manifesting.”

WET KISS

WHERE: CURTIN HOTEL

WHEN: 9 MAY

REETOXA

WORDS BY JAKE FITZPATRICK

ReeToxA’s Jason McKee discusses his band name, early influences and why music came to him later in life.

Æ Jason McKee, frontman of ReeToxA, missed his rehearsal this morning – but, curiously, this isn’t a cause for alarm. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. McKee’s reason is one of those rare moments in life that’s almost worth a postponed commitment: the night before, he found himself at Cyndi Lauper’s Melbourne show.

“She’s apparently on her last tour, so I had to be there. Plus, she was on fire,” he says, a grin spreading across his face.

“My friend and I had a drink afterward. But, I’ll admit, I’m a bit dusty today.”

Lauper’s performance, electric and unforgettable, echoes the kind of energy that’s shaped McKee’s music – along with the greats like The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. These were the sounds that filled his childhood, setting the stage for the rhythm of his own soul to awaken.

“I was obsessed with my dad’s record collection. I’d tape his albums, then walk around with my Walkman, lost in the music. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – that one got me every time. And when Nirvana hit, I was swept up in alternative music. I was a teenager at the perfect time. My brain was all Pearl Jam and Queens of the Stone Age.”

It wasn’t long before McKee, like so many teenagers with an interest in music, formed a band. “I started writing songs when I was 15. I had a best mate who played guitar. We’d jam together, but we couldn’t find any other musicians. I grew up in Frankston and there was no one around who played bass or drums. Then, as it always does, life got in the way.”

As life unfolded, McKee’s friendship with his bandmate unravelled, and the group dissolved.

“I got pretty disgruntled, so I joined the navy. I spent nine years there. I got married too, but she wasn’t really supportive of my music.”

But even amid the struggles and detours, McKee never entirely let go of the spark that had been lit in his youth. Music was always there, quietly burning in the pocket of his life. “I just kept writing songs. Eventually, the compulsion became overwhelming and I had to release something.”

“I was a teenager at the perfect time. My brain was all Pearl Jam and Queens of the Stone Age.”

But before he could share his creations with the world, McKee needed a name for the project, something to ground the music in a tangible identity.

“It’s a long story, but about seven years ago, I was going to AA,” McKee explains, his voice dropping slightly in recollection.

“One of the guys handed me a booklet and said, ‘You’ll never go to the meeting—you’re a Reetoxa.’ I found it amusing, so I decided to call the band that. And just so you know, I drink responsibly now,” he adds with a chuckle.

With the name settled, McKee set about laying the foundation to finally release his music into the world. “Just before COVID, I decided to record the album myself. I took a two-day course at RMIT on how to use Pro Tools.”

It was there, on the second day of the course, that McKee met Simon Moro – someone who would change the course of his music. Realising he wasn’t going to master the technical intricacies on his own, McKee enlisted Moro to help. Together, they began recording McKee’s debut album, a project he’d been dreaming of for decades. He called it Pines Salad.

“The recording process was incredible,” McKee says. “I’ve written thousands of songs, so narrowing it down to fourteen was nearly impossible. But Simon helped me figure it out. He gave me solid advice on which ones to choose.”

Some of McKee’s songs had been written in the ’90s, others were more recent, but all were pieces of his life, notes from a journey that spanned years. After much deliberation, he arrived at the final tracklist.

Now, with a sense of purpose that he hadn’t felt before, McKee is fully committed to his music. “I’ve already written my second and third albums. I’m in this for the long haul,” he says with quiet determination.

He’s even started performing live. “My singing teacher holds student concerts, so I’ve been singing my songs there. The next step is to form a band, then tour the album and play local gigs.”

McKee’s story is one of quiet perseverance, a reminder that it’s never too late to follow the call of your heart. It’s a testament to the fact that dreams don’t have expiration dates and the road back to what we love is never too far, no matter how long we stray.

PINE SALAD

LABEL: INDEPENDENT

RELEASE: OUT NOW

Made in partnership with ReeToxA.

PALE

JAY

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

No one knows who he is, but Pale Jay, the red-masked falsetto-soul singer, has been riding a wave of popularity since his 2021 EP The Celestial Suite .

Æ His latest record, Low End Love Songs, is a self-professed diary of love, loss and self-discovery that only took one month to create.

Jay will be making his first trip to Australia next month to play Northcote Theatre before a big show as part of VIVD LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, along with New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist CARRTOONS.

Low End Love Songs is seeing a lot of love thanks to its seamless blend of soul, Latin rhythms, jazz and funk, helping to raise the profile of the faceless singer, but its popularity isn’t really on Jay’s rader.

“Honestly, I try not to pay too much attention to reactions to my music, as that is a slippery slope. But it’s nice to see that my music seems to have a positive impact on people’s lives. A lot of albums have done the same for me personally, so it’s great to know that mine is doing something similar for others.”

Pale Jay is a self-proclaimed bedroom producer, which may come as a surprise to those who hit play on the new record and are struck by how lush it sounds.

“I can definitely see my music getting bigger in scope one day, incorporating more instrumentation and orchestration,” explains Jay.

“For now, however, the writing, editing and final production process will likely stay between me and whatever recording setup I’m using at the time. As someone who loves harmony between people, I find it easier to make quick and sometimes severe musical decisions on my own rather than discussing everything with others.”

Around six months ago, Pale Jay’s Celestial Suite EP scored a special limited edition transparent red vinyl release, which was promptly followed by exclusive vinyl colour variants of the new record.

This penchant for vinyl makes sense, as Jay’s sound marries beautifully with the noise of crackles under the needle despite the singer being presently unable to enjoy the medium himself.

“My journey into music started more as a hip-hop DJ in my teenage years rather than through playing instruments. So, vinyl has always been a part of my path as a music fan. That said, I don’t actually have a record player in my apartment anymore –I’m just too lazy and I don’t have the space for my records. But I still love the sound of vinyl. If I ever settle down somewhere with more space and time on my hands, I could see myself going back to it.”

Jay’s homage to vinyl culture also extends to the recent instrumental releases of his records. “Releasing the instrumental versions also goes back to my days of buying hip-hop 12-inch records in the ’90s. They always had the instrumentals included and I loved making instrumental mixtapes for my friends and me.”

Pale Jay didn’t expect to be back on stage after touring in various scenarios in the past, but being asked to play at, as he describes, “the most iconic live venue on earth (the Sydney Opera House),” made him rethink his stance.

“Luckily, I do enjoy performing, so I’m excited but also a bit nervous, not anxious though. I’m more worried about the time offstage since I’m naturally introverted and don’t like too much attention in private. Pale Jay’s success still feels a bit accidental to me and luckily the mask gives me some protection from too much exposure.” Social anxiety aside, Jay says he will definitely be signing records and merch after the show, but the mask will stay on. “It’s weird knowing that fans perceive me as something special because, seriously, I’m just a regular guy.”

Jump onto Jay’s Instagram and you will find a host of videos from friends answering one question: Who is Pale Jay? We figured we would get the answer straight from the horse’s masked mouth, which, according to Pale Jay, is quite simple.

“It’s up to each listener to decide. Pale Jay is just the vessel pulling the songs out of the ether.”

“Honestly, I try not to pay too much attention to reactions to my music, as that is a slippery slope.”

PALE JAY

WHERE: NORTHCOTE

WHEN: 21 MAY

ERWAN KERAVEC

WORDS BY LIAM HEITMANN-RYCE-LEMERCIER

The early works of veteran minimalist composer Philip Glass are making a rare appearance in Australia, but they’re being played on French bagpipes.

Æ Philip Glass has been composing music for over 60 years, giving audiences an enormous catalogue of pieces across film, theatre, and opera. The more mainstream success of his later compositions has given cause to revisit – and reappraise – his early, hardcore minimalist works of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Lengthy pieces for electric organ, and arguably the most challenging of Glass’s oeuvre, are now beginning to receive fresh recordings and live performances. Such is the case with French bagpipe player Erwan Keravec, who has adapted four of Glass’s early works for Breton pipes.

Calling in from France, ahead of his first visit to Australia, he tells me, “The first time I heard those pieces on bagpipe was by Matthew Welch –the first piece, Two Pages.” The 2019 release from American composer and bagpipe player Matthew Welch was the lightning rod moment for Erwan to create his own arrangements of Glass works for pipes.

The four pieces Erwan chose to adapt – Two Pages, Music in Contrary Motion, Music in Fifths and Music in Similar Motion – are all structured by the electric organ, in the midst of supporting instruments, and all composed in 1969. The process of acquiring the permission to perform these pieces, Erwan admits, was not overly difficult, but it did involve a few hoops and a fair bit of jumping.

“The first time I asked for the permission of Philip Glass,” he says, “they ask if it is possible for me to write the score of an adaptation of the piece on the bagpipe. After that, I re-asked if it’s possible to play all the pieces Philip Glass wrote in 1969: Two Pages, Music in Fifths, Music in Contrary Motion and Music in Similar Motion.”

Permission was therefore granted, provided Erwan did much of the creative heavy-lifting to score the adaptations himself. Beyond that initial challenge, the hardest part – asking for permission – was at least dealt with at an early stage.

Erwan says he had no direct contact with Philip Glass himself, but he did get a nice bit of promo from the composer’s publisher, Dunvagen Music.

“When we released the album last year,” he says of 8 Pipers for Philip Glass, the work being performed here in Australia, “I sent the recording to Philip Glass’s publisher. They posted on X a Tweet, saying ‘This is a really rare album, we really need it!’”

Given their fearsome length and usually hyper-repetitive form, the early pieces within Glass’s output are not commonly performed in light of their ‘difficult’ status. Erwan, however, found an ideal synchronicity between their consistent rhythmic structure and the bagpipe’s capacity for extended notation.

“The first piece I played is solo: Two Pages,” he says. “It was really simple to adapt to the bagpipe. The sound of the instrument is really perfect for this kind of music. If you want something played really long, the bagpipe is played with a bag, so you can play continually! There is something in common [between] minimalist music and bagpipe, and I decided to see: is it possible to play all the pieces he wrote in 1969? It was an opportunity we really had to do.”

This initial journey to the far-off shores of Australia is one that inspires a great deal of interest for the French musician.

“Of course I’m curious,” he admits, “because there is bagpipe in Australia. There is Scottish bagpipe and the bagpipe I play…” he pauses, reflecting on the place held within traditional western music by the unique Breton pipes he has spent his career mastering.

“It’s like the first time I played in Scotland. I don’t really know what is normal for an audience in Australia for bagpipe – if there is only Scottish music or if it is possible to play experimental music on bagpipe.”

He ponders what audiences would actually listen to when hearing bagpipe performers, especially given their relative novelty in concert halls.

“Of course, when you play only contemporary music, there is something between the legacy and what the instrument can be adapted to.”

This relationship is one Erwan Keravec eagerly invites audiences to discover for themselves, presenting the early works of a landmark composer on French pipes for the first time down under.

ERWAN KERAVEC

WHERE: MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE

WHEN: 5 MAY

Cwredit: Christophe Raynaud de Lage

Cwredit: Christophe Raynaud de Lage

BEAN MAGAZINE

WORDS BY SIMONE ANDERS

Sombre,

nostalgic, sun-soaked and irreverent

– these are the words used to describe the delicately woven songs of Bean Magazine.

Æ Their sound calls back to a world of pop that, maybe, no longer exists; equally upbeat and morose, just as easily able to pick you up as to put you down.

The members of Bean Magazine –Henry, Gabrielle and Seb – have enraptured listeners with their whirlwind of an EP In The Shade in 2024. From the lyrical fervour of songs like Don’t You Die to the galivanting Free As Hell, each track is equally expressive and tightly constructed. Talking to Henry, it becomes clear that Bean Magazine is eager to play with their sound.

“I have always found the ‘sun-soaked’ thing kind of weird. It has sort of stuck. I feel like we have more grungier roots than that,” he says. Their new single Share You introduces a dreamier, shoegaze-like, far more choral sound, calling back to the sounds of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Henry makes it clear that this is an organic blooming of their sound.

“I don’t think many people are trying to be revivalists. Even we aren’t – this sound just always seems to be the most natural thing for us. We are always trying to find new ways to do it and stay in the modern world.

“In particular for this next EP and the song Share You, that vocal line that initially comes in at the start wasn’t as pronounced, then we morphed it into the backbone of the whole song. Creatively speaking, our music isn’t based solely on our influences, but on us chipping away at it slowly.”

Do the songs reflect personal tragedies? Henry laughs about this idea of tragedy or sorrow attached to the songs. “So, when we recorded the music video for that single [Share You], I actually got my car stolen.

Thinking about the song now, it could, perhaps, be seen as an ode to my car. I guess it works! Even throwing in the more personal side to the song, it doesn’t really matter unless the song itself works.”

“We are always trying to find new ways to do it and stay in the modern world.”

He says the recording process for In The Shade involved a lot of quick decision making, going with their instincts. “As we’ve gotten more experience, we’ve gotten better at it and we’re progressing sonically. It isn’t that complicated: we listen carefully to the song and focus on it purely from that lens. There is currently no pressure to make something inauthentic.”

Bean Magazine’s meteoric rise has added an extra infusion of joy into their live performances. “When we perform our songs, they’re often totally different to how they’re recorded half the time. I think live performances are a representation of what was made in the studio, at least for us. We are a pretty raw band when we perform live.”

Despite Bean Magazine’s affinity for lo-fi, there’s little they want to change now in regards to the impact of their sound.“Down the line, I am sure we will think about beefing up our live shows, but right now, the raw energy of it all is what appeals to people most.”

Bean Magazine are now set for a big tour up and down the east coast. The band seems up to the task.

“I feel like the waiting around is kind of killing me! I am super keen because we had a super great run last year, but after that, it became a real case of post-tour blues. I don’t really know how to describe it, you’re just outof-whack for a few weeks, or even months.”

I ask him if he wants to write a song about post-tour blues: “I already have! It’s on the next EP, it’s called Pretty,” he says.

But aside from the tour, what does the future look like for Bean Magazine? Henry smiles as I ask this question. “We can’t think too much of the future, really. It’s irrelevant if you can’t get it ‘right’ right now. We just hope that this tour – performing every weekend for three months straight – will push us to that next level.”

BEAN MAGAZINE

WHERE: FORUM (SUPPORTING BALL PARK MUSIC)

WHEN: 15 + 16 MAY

Credit: Charlie Falconer

THE LEMON HEADS

Evan Dando has never been one to follow a script.

WORDS BY SARAH DUGGAN

Æ The long-haired, sun-kissed frontman of The Lemonheads has long carved his own path through the golden years of alternative rock, through detours and disappearances, cult status and comeback tours. Now, he’s back in motion and heading south. I had the pleasure of chatting with Dando from his picturesque home in São Paulo and not even the laggy internet connection could hide his excitement at visiting Australia next month.

This May, The Lemonheads return to Australia to play their most beloved albums, It’s A Shame About Ray (1992) and Come On Feel The Lemonheads (1993) in full. These records are undoubtedly a huge part of The Lemonheads’ legacy and Dando looks back on them fondly. When asked why he thinks they still resonate with people today, he shares, “I don’t know. I mean, there are some really good songs on there. I think people just like them.”

Maybe he’s being humble, but this is a huge understatement, to say the least. It’s A Shame About Ray is one of the most influential records in early ’90s alternative rock and is certified Gold in Australia, the UK and the USA, charting at #23 on our very own ARIA charts.

Dando holds Australia very close to his heart, and playing these records in their entirety here is a significant and meaningful event for him. “They’re Australian records, you know. They were recorded in LA, but with Tom Morgan from Smudge, and Nic Dalton played on the second one. So yeah, they had a lot to do with Australia, both of them,” He shares. Dando recalls the moment he fell in love with the country was when he heard the phrase ‘fuck me dead’. “I was like, ‘that was cool. I love Australia.’”

Dando spent a significant amount of time in Australia writing the records and looks back on it fondly. “It was just great to discover all of these people who loved The Velvet Underground as much as I did, like Nic and Tom. It was a really good time, that time in the early ’90s when we were doing that stuff. It’s really nice that people still enjoy it.”

The Lemonheads have had extensive lineup changes, with more than two dozen past members and Dando being the only current member, accompanied by his touring band. Despite this, he’s always had a clear vision for The Lemonheads and hasn’t let changes deter him.

On how he approaches playing past works live with new members, he says, “I’m really lucky, I always get good people to play with me. I got Bill Stevenson to play with me, and Carl from The Descendants, and I got Murph from Dinosaur Junior. Right now, we have John Kent from Radish and Farley Glavin, who played with Willie Mason and in the Family of the Year. He’s been in the band for 20 years now… or no, 10, maybe 12 years. It’s a really great lineup and they can do it perfectly. They’re just like machines. The drummer never makes a mistake. He’s amazing.”

“It's a really great lineup and they can do it perfectly. They’re just like machines.”

Their Aussie tour will see them play three shows at Melbourne’s Croxton Bandroom, two of which have fully sold out, followed by Brisbane’s Princess Theatre, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Adelaide’s The Gov, Perth’s Freo Social and a newly added show at Perth’s Metropolis Fremantle.

Just in time for their visit, the band are set to release a single from their upcoming record Love Chant. Without giving too much away, Dando reveals, “We’ll do some new songs in Australia, for sure. I really like the new record because it’s really free and it’s really soulful and it’s really plain and good. I just really like it. You’ll hear the single soon, it’s a great single! The B-side is this really cool song on the album; it’s a Townes Van Zandt song I always wanted to cover called Sad Cinderella. It’ll be really fun.”

Dando also confirmed that his long-awaited memoir has finally been completed, despite the tedious process. “It was a major pain in the ass,” he admits. “It was during COVID. I was like, ‘hmm, what am I going to do? I have no way to make money, I can’t go tour, there’s nothing I can do right now. I’ll write a book.’ And sure enough, I got a deal with Simon and Schuster and then it seemed great and like everything was going to plan. But then, with COVID, we had to talk on the phone every night. Sometimes the machine wouldn’t work… it was a nightmare. But we finally got it done. It’s okay, it’s not so bad. It’s just not easy!”

For longtime fans and those just discovering the bittersweet charm of The Lemonheads, this upcoming run of shows serves as more than a trip down memory lane. It’s a reminder that Dando still has stories to tell, melodies to make and reasons to show up.

THE LEMONHEADS

WHERE: CROXTON BANDROOM

WHEN: 14, 16 + 17 MAY

Credit: Chloe Apple Seldman

STANDARD HOTEL

LIVE MUSIC: is a Sunday thing at the Standard. Finish off your weekend the right way with a jangly jam, typically with a country, folk, acoustic, blues rock, or New Age tinge. Have a roast while you’re at it!

FAMOUS FOR: the self-proclaimed best beer garden in Fitzroy. It’s a big statement, for sure, but one the Standard has earned the right to make with its long picnic tables and leafy shade.

INFAMOUS FOR: being a little tricky to find. Tucked away off the main drag of Brunswick Street, it’s the kind of place you search out rather than stumble upon.

Æ The Standard Hotel has all you could want in a pub: a broad range of drinks, a variety of little nooks and crannies to settle into, a friendly team of barkeeps, a big ol’ beer garden and a surprisingly refined menu. It’s been beloved by locals since it opened up in 1865, so it’s safe to say it’s had plenty of time to focus on the good stuff.

Step inside and you’ll find the place teeming with charm. Vintage posters, neon signs and even a few taxidermied stags line the walls –think cottage-core meets old school Australiana. Explore a little, and you’ll inevitably end up in the sprawling beer garden, pretty much always packed with punters no matter the season, thanks to overhead heaters and a retractable roof that defends from the rain.

The Standard is the kind of place that remembers the past, embraces the present and welcomes the future, and the menu reflects this as well. It features plenty of pub classics, but also more modern, internationally-influenced fare like Korean wings, bean enchiladas and a jerk chicken burger.

Whether you’re a seasoned drinker, a bar-hopper, a foodie or a flâneur, the Standard will welcome you with ice-cold drinks. If you’ve got out-of-towners visiting and you want to give them the true-blue Aussie pub experience, this is the spot.

BREWMANITY

WORDS BY SOFIA PERICA

LIVE MUSIC: If you’re in the mood to unwind with a cold brew or get the weekend vibes flowing with some groovy DJ sets, Brewmanity has something for everyone. On Saturdays, there are smooth DJ beats to kick off your weekend, and Sundays are for laid-back acoustic sessions – perfect for a cruisy afternoon in the sun.

FAMOUS FOR: Trivia Wednesdays. Do you want to do something fun with your friends on a Wednesday night? Are you weirdly competitive? Do you have an abnormal amount of knowledge on a niche topic? Brewmanity’s Trivia Wednesday is perfect for you and your mates, with different prizes to be won each week.

INFAMOUS FOR: the Tik Tok Drink To The Clock happy hour on Saturdays. Kicking off at 3pm and running until 7pm, the price of pots matches the hour. Truly unbeatable prices.

Æ Are you looking for the ultimate rooftop experience? Perched high above South Melbourne with sweeping skyline views, this is where your night kicks off right – by sipping craft beer straight from the source, made on-site by legends who live and breathe beer. Come for the drinks, stay for the view.

If you’re ready to unwind, celebrate, or just chase sunsets with a cold one, Brewmanity has you covered. With multiple levels, you can mingle in the indoor beer hall or take it up a notch (quite literally) to the rooftop bar.

Let’s be honest – what’s a good beer without some good food? You’ll find flavour in every corner, with 16 taps pouring fresh brews and a menu packed with shareable eats, classic pub favourites and quick bites for those pre-game pit stops.

Whether you want to chill or party the night away, Brewmanity is the ultimate hangout spot. With stunning views, craft beer brewed on-site, live music and new events every week, Brewmanity is where the fun begins.

WHERE: 293 FITZROY STREET, FITZROY

OPEN: MON 3–10PM / TUE 3–11PM / WED–SAT 12–11PM / SUN 12–10PM

WHERE:

50 TOPE ST, SOUTH MELBOURNE OPEN: MON–SUN 12PM–LATE

MISCELLANIA

LIVE MUSIC: is a special occurrence at Miscellania, which is typically dominated by left-field DJs. If you’re looking for quirky, experimental, hard-hitting and boundary-breaking music, Miscellania’s your place.

FAMOUS FOR: being the ultimate CBD cool kid hangout. Put on your biggest pants, a mesh shirt and a baseball cap that looks like it’s been run over by a car, and you’re all set.

INFAMOUS FOR: being the type of place where hours fall into the abyss. Whether you’re bobbing on the dance floor, melting into the loft couches or smoking cigarettes on the rooftop, you’re guaranteed to lose track of time and wind up in a 4am Uber home.

Æ If you consider yourself a Melbourne nightlife connoisseur and you’ve never been to Miscellania, then I really don’t know what to tell you. Although not much to look at from the front (as is the case with all the best clubs), a brief jaunt up the stairs will take you into Melbourne’s underground mecca. If you can’t find the door, just look for a flock of punters loitering on the sidewalk.

The programming here is equally as unpredictable as it is exhilarating – one night might see techno powerhouses take to the decks while the next might feature a choir, a puppet show, a performance artist or a noise act. It’s best not to ask too many questions.

Plus, it’s now opened the rooftop up as a separate performance space, operating seven days a week and offering free entry to all. It’s a more laid-back way to experience the club, featuring a standalone bar, a DJ booth, a banging Void soundsystem, stripped-down live performances, kitchen pop-ups and movie screenings.

If you’re looking for a show that’ll make you feel alive or you just want to dance yourself silly until the break of day, give Misc a go. Shows are often announced last minute and tickets move quickly, so keep an eye on their IG for updates.

KEEPER BREWING

LIVE MUSIC: at Keeper might just have one of the most scenic backgrounds in Melbourne, with the DJ station positioned in front of the vast, high-ceilinged brewery room. Watch DJs twiddle decks while brewers keep busy behind them, or head upstairs where the real party’s at.

FAMOUS FOR: the pilsner, the sparkling star of the show.

INFAMOUS FOR: also the pilsner. Keeper actually only makes the pilsner. See all those big fermentation tanks? Yep, they’re all full of the same beer. So if you don’t like pilsner, maybe go somewhere else…

Æ There’s something honourable about dedicating your life to a single pursuit. It takes a lot of commitment, self-belief, time, and, in the case of the guys behind Keeper Brewing, hops – saaz hops, to be specific, which are the definitive ingredient of the classic pilsner. The Keeper crew, consisting of legendary father-son duo Harry and Phil Sexton as well as fellow founder Andy Dunn, have put all of their energy into making the best pilsner they could possibly imagine, a Bohemian pale ale that pretty much keeps the lights on in this place. There are other beers as well, with rotating guest taps adding a bit of variety, but without question, the pilsner reigns supreme.

Thanks to its homey feel, spacious beer garden and premium pub food menu (the fried mussels and gooey cheese croquettes have our mouths watering), the Brunswick East haunt has already won the hearts of many a patron. But with a freshly minted dance space, it’s taking the vibe up to the next level. Featuring a festival-approved sound system (which you may recognise from the Hopkins Creek Festival’s Bait Shop stage), eclectic DJs and bespoke floral arrangements made by local sustainable florist Hanakotoba, the dance floor is bumping every Saturday night until late.

Truly, what more could you ask for? If you haven’t yet tried that pilsner, we know you’re curious now, and if you have, you’re probably fondly reminiscing. Get on down and get into it.

WHERE: 2/401 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE

WHEN: THU–FRI 4PM–1AM / SAT 2PM–3AM / SUN 2PM–12AM

WHERE: 122 WESTON ST, BRUNSWICK EAST

OPEN: THU 5–11PM / FRI 2–11PM / SAT 2PM–1AM / SUN 2–9PM

CATHY DIVER

Everything’s A Car

Æ Nipaluna/Hobart-based singer-songwriter Cathy Diver hasn’t revealed much about Everything’s A Car. She’s mentioned the importance of spending time in Glaziers Bay (population: 93 according to the 2016 census). One track is called Lookin’ At Kunanyi, which surveys Mount Wellington, in the south-east of Tasmania.

There are many vivid landscape references (red soil, windy beaches), timestamps (“coming down dusk”) and a barrage of exquisite lyrical phrases: “tattered and ephemeral”, “waiting in the wings ever after” – we recommend diving in blind and basking in the intrigue.

You can tell Diver’s debut album is lovingly crafted: instrumentation meticulously selected to serve individual songs (slide guitar, cello and mellotron inclusive), lyrics demanding your full attention – each song unfolds like an episode in a series.

Broken homes, troubled brows, “curious stingrays”, sharks, sunburnt shoulders, “scoping out bars” and terracotta balconies – listeners are pin-dropped to exact locations whether they’ve been there or not.

Take This From Me opens with what sounds like an orchestra warming up. “Just be honest with me, babe” – the sound gradually mutes as if we’re leaving the room, walking down a corridor and closing the door on Miller Street.

Diver sings the jangly Getaway – “You’re gonna get away with it, baby…” – with a knowing smile in her voice and a pep in her step; not exactly mad about it. “Babe”/”baby” appears in a fair few songs, actually. See also: highlight track Leavin’ The City Pt. V, which gains instrumental momentum as confidence in a decision builds: “I’m leaving the city for the gurgling sea and I hope that I’ll/ Once more see my ba-by…” – such jubilance!

The casually strummed Sylvia (“Honey, I’d do anything for ya”) opens with a lively clapping pattern before angelic, resigned “HAAA-aaaah”s breeze through.

“We burned the station wagon and made sure to melt the plates…” – driven by kick drum and meandering guitar, Holden CX 7349 is a tone shift; Ben Lee’s gorgeous Gamble Everything For Love springs to mind, for some reason.

Bats – a moving-on song (“I won’t resign to lonesome pining”) – closes with the sound of rainfall. “I’d be lying to say I don’t think about chasing you down” – this repeated realisation at song’s close brings closure.

Elsewhere, birdsong twitters away throughout Little Unsung, a gently lilting, acoustic number during which Diver sings oh-so-close to the mic; Gecko aptly ends with drum crashes that conjure breaking waves; and the instrumental Morning Jam opens with inventive drumming then closes with a satisfied little giggle.

Some songs seem to channel summers of infinite possibility; others are steeped in pain, fear or disappointment. But her joyful spirit and deep appreciation for nature’s beauty (“a tiny gecko who’s hiding its soft little belly is surely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on”) infuses this entire album.

“I’ve been around the block and I’ve made it back, hey,” Diver sings, and we detect heartbreak and much wisdom gained along the way.

LABEL: UNDINE RECORDS

RELEASE: OUT NOW

DOPE LEMON

Golden Wolf

Æ When this scribe had the good fortune of interviewing Angus Stone about this project back in 2019, he revealed that some of his mates didn’t even realise he was Dope Lemon. This alter ego unleashes Stone’s fun, experimental side – one we can imagine jamming with George Harrison on sitar. Dope Lemon connects with listeners outside his usual solo/Angus & Julia fanbases.

“I’m the undertaker’s favourite song to dance to…” – opener John Belushi reminds us of Dope Lemon’s lyrical genius. The slinky Sugarcat, with its stardust synth, is a seductive bop. Sleigh bells and other dope-friendly instrumentations drive the Electric Green Lambo – park next to Barry White in your Songs Of Seduction category.

Yamasuki’s striking whistling solo nods towards Spaghetti Westerns. Punctuated by “babe, you know it”s, She’s All Time dances towards a fit stranger “in the moonshine”, backed by serenading guitar and cheeky tamba beats. Sultry sax opens Maggie’s Moonshine, during which Angus channels Damon Albarn (as 2D); carefree, I-don’t-givea-shit” energy in a bottle.

Dust Of A Thousand Stars features mad percussion (rim clicks, shakers and sharp, rhythmic exhales). Hold on, did someone spike the punch? “I am the dust of a thousand burnt-up stars” are this song’s only words – a glittering epiphany to close out Golden Wolf.

As Dope Lemon, Angus watches girls go by – in a lovestruck, non-creepy way. Best paired with warm sake and weed, Golden Wolf is one for the lovers. Sonic dopamine for discerning listeners.

MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD

Wise And Dangerous

Æ Opener Keep Me Honest is full throttle, bits-to-the-wall rock’n’roll – it’s so immediate! Elly and Dan’s unison vocals double the pleasure. Whoooaaaaa, Nelly! Let me collect myself before digesting song two. Safe And Warm (feat. DZ Deathrays) is a rollercoaster ride, resplendent with stop-starty breakdown that’s fit for a game of musical statues: “Sneakin’ around at night/ Drinkin’ until daylight/ Bitin’ the hand that feeds/ Takin’ the things we need!”

Self-described as “a concept album about how people can be considered dangerous by those who seek to control them”, Wise And Dangerous is snarling, exhilarating and sexy.

“There’s no one quite like you…” – Elly’s taunting vocal delivery suggests this ain’t no compliment. Raucous riffs launch Don’t Care (feat. RedHook’s Emmy Mack) and, during Fight You, guitars play dirty.

Trying To Feel Something When All I Feel Is Nothing – a brief instrumental meditation – soon morphs into Monsters (“I want to suck your blood”), with its max-screech refrains and Gothic sensibilities.

Shame is about being exploited for your kindness. It starts pensively, before explosive drums and urgent guitars vent frustration: “I just can’t help thinking nothing’s gone my way…”. Then an unusual key change closes this song out like returning to reality from a daydream.

Times That We Lived contains the most unholy, sustained yowl we’ve heard in ages. Don’t expect predictability from Wise And Dangerous; single songs straddle many moods, tempos and dynamics. There are also loads of repeated chants (eg. “Do all the things you wanna do!”; “It’s always/ So easy/ When everybody hates you…”) – all the better to learn on the fly and holler at gigs, my dear. Furthermore, this duo’s instrument swapping – they each sing, play guitar and drums – promises great things live.

LABEL: INDEPENDENT

RELEASE: OUT NOW

LEXI JONES

Xandri

Æ “I’m lost in the noise/ But I was made this way/ I had no choice…” – The passage unseen, with its quirky time signature and Gorillaz-esque synth innovation, alludes to Lexi Jones’ paternal inheritance. She’s David Bowie’s only daughter and we’re pretty sure dad would be particularly proud of her wordsmithery: “Contentment will find me in the rush of the absurd…”

Jones wrote, performed, produced and also designed the cover art for Xandri. This is her debut album, but she’s been drip-feeding teasers on Insta (@_p0odle_) for a while now, in among cuteness-overload, miss-youdad posts.

Opener Along the road’s descending piano hook is echoed by synth and strings. Let me go holds an ex accountable for continued emotional manipulation as percussive, almost-grating keys creep under the skin. Panpipe accents and distant sleigh bells sprinkle fond memories like cruel reminders of what might have been.

“Tiptoe past the open gate/ Closing near my face, but no one’s there/ I move discreetly, having lost control completely…” – lyrics roll out like prose during the haunted Moral compass.

Crisp, playful synth stabs skip atop The edge’s wonky, disorienting undercurrent – like two songs overlapping. With its brisk waltz tempo and ascending riffs, Glass closes the record with empowered optimism: “I believe you can be more than you can think and see.”

Seeing in colours, bell-clear vocals, discordant chords and refreshing melodic choices, Xandri promises great things from this artist to be.

VIAGRA BOYS

Viagr aboys

Æ Smoking meth under the bridge, your mom’s OnlyFans, spending all day at the nail salon, “I’m selling drugs to the kids at school” – Viagra Boys deal loose, horny rock’n’roll laced with lyrical zingers.

“I am a man that’s made of meat/ And you’re on the internet looking at feet…” –opener Man Made Of Meat even features a mid-song burp courtesy of heavily tatted lead singer Sebastian Murphy. We’re also powerless to his nonchalant “okay”s and “alright”s during this one.

Check out The Bog Body’s opening line: “You can’t believe it/ They found a body buried under the ice/ It is in pristine shape…” – ew.

Murphy has said that Uno II was written from his Italian greyhound’s perspective, following a year spent going back and forth from the vet with dental issues (“He goes to this place, then wakes up in some weird room and he’s missing his teeth”). “I found a crouton underneath the futon/ Mama said I couldn’t eat it ‘cause all my teeth are gone” – Murphy’s silken baritone further elevates this standout number, resplendent with magical flute riff and Down Under shout-out (“Or maybe he’s Australian…”).

Oskar Carls’ demented sax breakdowns are used sparingly throughout Viagr aboys, hitting like gut punches every single time (eg. You N33d Me). Best In Show pt. IV, a monologue, features constant background applause.

The gentle, piano-led closer River King – a lovesong of sorts – gives listeners a moment to collect themselves after the unbridled mayhem. Towards this song’s close, background din – conversational hum, clattering cutlery – amplifies as if our narrator, utterly captivated by his present company, suddenly notices his surroundings. These unhinged Swedish punks absolutely smashed their Coachella set. We can’t wait to pogo in the mosh next time they hit town (Australian tour dates incoming).

LABEL: INDEPENDENT

RELEASE: OUT NOW

LABEL: SHRIMPTECH

RELEASE: OUT NOW

GIG GUIDE

MAY 2025

THU 01 MAY

CHILLIN’ IN BANYULE

FT: Charlotte Glover, Estelle Conley Trio, David Cosma

Empire Music Studios. Heidelberg West. 6pm. Free.

THE DUST REVIVAL BAND + INGA LILJESTROM

The Beast. Brunswick East. 8.30pm. Free.

CHRIS DE BURGH

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $109.90.

COUNTRY STRUTS–BRUNSWICK THURSDAYS

Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.50.

ADAM MENDUM.

JASMIJN WOODS, BRAY

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $23.50.

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ THE DRUNKEN POET

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

RUTH MOODY.

GABBY STEEL

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $54.67.

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ THE MERRI BAR

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7.30pm. THE PEPPERMINTS. SOPHIA

MALTAROLLO, SCARLET & THE HARLETS

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $16.85. MERKULES

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $64.90. THE PUTBACKS Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

ALTIMATE. SHOWDOWN:

NAARM–HEAT ONE

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.35.

VAPORS OF MORPHINE. JEB CALDWELL

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm. $67.50.

TYPESET. FELLVIEW, UNTO THE BREACH

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7pm. $11.25. LACE DRESS. TURGE, PIESALE Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. $15. ALWAYS BASED. TONGUE DISSOLVER, VANESSA WORM, KAI CULT, NABII, SOFT P*RN

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $22.45. GANGRENE DREAM. LITTLE THEATRE, MORE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $12.75.

MELBOURNE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: FANTASIA

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $72.

FRI 02 MAY

MUCH LOVE TO SAFE STEPS

FT: Psychobabel, Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows, Dopplerhaus, Overthinker Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $28.05. THE NEW MONOS + THE PIRATESKA REBELLION

Bar 303. Northcote. 9pm. $20–30.

THE END OF... BEHIND CRIMSON EYES

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $39.90.

WEENED: 25 YEARS OF WHITE PEPPER Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $26.05.

DANGEROUS CURVES

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm.

DUMBELLS. THE BLINDS, POSSIBLE HUMANS, SILICONE PRAIRIE

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $27.95. AND THEN THEY RUN

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $12.

ARMLOCK

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $28.60.

FLIGHT TO DUBAI

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7pm. $16.35.

CONVERGENCE: A NIGHT OF ALTERNATIVE METAL FT: Verona Lights, Terrestrials, Dreamworm Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $17.35.

KINGSWOOD

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $39.80.

ED KUEPPER:

SOLO. AT LAST! Frankston Arts Centre. Frankston. 8.30pm. $59.90.

MALCURA

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free. ELENA ZALÉZ & GOSIP TANGO

Bar 303. Northcote. 6.30pm. $25.

JOHNNY FUEGO & THE HEAT WITH LORETTA MILLER: THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 9pm. $38.86.

BOOF!

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

RIPPLE EFFECT

BAND

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.76.

WENDY MATTHEWS. JASON AYRES

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40–60.

VINCE JONES. MICHELLE NICOLLE The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $50.

MARK MORAND’S JAZZ FRIDAYS

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 6.30pm. Free.

KAYLA BRUNO

Morris House. Melbourne. 10pm.

CROWD CONTROL + FRIEND’S

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 9pm. Free.

MELBOURNE RIKARENA

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $76.70–98.12.

SCHISM 21C

Odeon Richmond. Richmond. 7pm. $23.50.

LAST NIGHT

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7pm. $29.57–44.86.

K MOTIONZ. SUBSONIC

170 Russell. Melbourne. 9pm. $69.36–89.76.

NED BENNETT

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $43.90–54.10.

RYAN MCMULLAN

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $54.60. BEC SYKES. MOOD SPILL, LIV CARTLEDGE

Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $22–25.

LOT 56

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. NORTHERN SHINERS

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8.30pm. Free. CHARLIE NEEDS BRACES. GOLDEN SCISSOR PUPPETS, BLACK WATTLE WITCHES

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $18.35–28.80.

LUKE HOWARD + SIMON BURGIN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $45.

RØNIN

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $28.85.

SAT 03 MAY

THE MUSIC OF ENNIO MORRICONE & THE SPAGHETTI WEST

FT: The Counterfeit, Freya Josephine Hollick Chapel Off Chapel. Prahran. 8pm. $55. OSCAR LADELL

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

DANIEL REEVES & SANDEE FACY

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 5pm. KIER STEVENS + T.K REEVES

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 9pm. Free. JO DAVIE. KAITLIN KEEGAN

The Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $23.50. SMOKE STACK RHINO. DOC HALIBUT, THE 6V6S, INGRID & THE MINISTERS

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.50.

EXIT SPEED

FT: Pez, Pacenotes

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $21.95.

SÖJOURN Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.

WAPPERIN. THE PINK TILES, VOGLI BONZE

Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

HOSTED BY CHEMO

FT: Rei, Tāne, NameUL, Hope

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 7pm. $23.46.

BLACK MARKET

FT: DJ Traytex, Justin Jay, Justin Tinderdate, Elo Trance, JOKESONYOU, Alonia

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 9pm. $49.50–66.90. HDC

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 9pm. SOME HEARD TROUBLE. NERVOUS LIGHT, DETESTOR

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $18.50.

HOBSONS BAY COAST GUARD. METDOG, MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $16.85. FLIGHT TO DUBAI + BUGHUNT

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 7.30pm. Free.

GOOD LUCK BABE: A BON VOYAGE TO GAEZ

FT: My Safe Word Is Murder, Titration, The Engagement, Kash Bar 303. Northcote. 7pm. $20.

NEW MODEL ARMY Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $89.45.

DIVORCED DAD ROCK NIGHT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $25.

A DAY IN MAY: BERRY STREET FUNDRAISER

FT: The Maydaze, Georgia Dabbous, Bev Killick, Jack Howard, Rebecca Barnard, more Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 2pm. $33.76.

SLOWDIVE. BEACH FOSSILS

Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $119.90.

NECKO Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm.

DOG DOOR. SOUR WORM, MAISIE EVERETT

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $16.35.

HORSEPOWER. THANTU THIKHA, TIME ENDS, IMPLODE, TIME PEACE

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $26.52. THE HOT BLOOD. SCREENSAVER, SUPER X, ROMCOM

The Last Chance

Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $23.50.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE. IRREPARABLE, KAARST, CHIEF WHIP

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.15pm. $17.35.

LIFE’S TOO SHORT GO SEE A BAND 2025

FT: Nat Alison’s Rock Chick Band, Electric Mary Duo, Karly-Jewell & The Lips

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35–55.

MISSING LINK 5

FT: The Bluebottles, The Wraylettes, Honk, The Missing Link Band, DJ Bobcat, Suzy Watusi Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $20.

COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD: PLAY “THE ALBUMS” Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $34.70.

ED KUEPPER:

SOLO. AT LAST! Burrinja Cultural Centre. Upwey. 8pm. $59.90. BEHIND CRIMSON EYES

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 8pm. $39.90.

ANNA SETTON

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

VINCE JONES.

MICHELLE NICOLLE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $50.

BIG JAZZ DAY OUT

FT: Ngaiire, Paul Grabowsky, Monash String Sinfonia, Emma Donovan, Fem Belling, Joshua Tavares, more

The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts. Clayton. 12pm. $55–110.

SUPERFICIAL PRESENTS:

PINK PONY CLUB

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $14.27–22.

JOSEPHINE WANTS TO DANCE

The Round. Nunawading. 10am. $22.

THE KING OF POP SHOW: MICHAEL JACKSON LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 6.30pm. $95. THE VERDI GALA CONCERT FT: Nicole Car, Étienne Dupuis, Paul O’Neill

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 2pm. $65–189.

THE SOUL OF THE CELLO: TIMOVEIKKO VALVE

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $48.45.

THU 08 MAY

CALLING GEORGE. FUR BLOSSOM, PEPPER LA FLOYD

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

FROG IMPOSTOR. RIFF RAFF, REMEMBER THE CIRCUS, PACKED WITH HASTE Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $16.85.

POKEY LAFARGE & HIS BAND

The Croxton. Thornbury. 7pm. $72.45. KATHLEEN HALLORAN TRIO

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $30–40.

BEN CARR QUARTET

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

YUNIOR TERRY’S UNDERCURRENTS

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $25–30.

20 YEARS OF ELI PAPERBOY REED. HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELERS, THE MELTDOWN Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $97.60.

ALTIMATE. SHOWDOWN:

NAARM–HEAT TWO Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.35.

KEANU NELSON. THE GREEN CHILD, FLAME J

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $39.56. DISCOVER

SIBELIUS: SIDE BY SIDE WITH MELBOURNE YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $20–39.

THE LYREBIRD’S VOICE: VICTORIAN OPERA

The Round. Nunawading. 6.30pm. $42.

COUNTRY STRUTS–BRUNSWICK

THURSDAYS

Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.50. OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free.

CRAIG WOODWARD

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

FRI 09 MAY

FIREFLY HORNS + DERTY BERD

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

DR. REKNAW. JULIAN JOSEPH, LAISA LOVED Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95–28.05.

JAMES MORRISON’S MOTOWN EXPERIENCE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $59.

JUMPIN’ JACK JORDAN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

MICHELLE NICOLLE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35–40.

HOUSEWIFE’S CHOICE TURNS 21: MUNGO’S HI FI. FT: Housewife’s Choice Sound System, Wakamana, Mama Char Ravens Yard. Thornbury. 6pm. $30.

THE FOUR SCOOPS

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

MARCUS KNIGHT

Morris House. Melbourne. 6pm.

THE UNKNOWNS. W.O.M.B.A.T

Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

THE ELECTRIQUE BIRDS

The Penny Black. Brunswick. 8.30pm. STONETRIP. SOULS OF AMBIENCE, THE BLUNTTS

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $24.01.

KADIKOY MIXTAPE. BIHTER IKIZ, METEHAN DERELI, ILARIO PALMA

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

WET KISS

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $22.85.

CHERRYOKE: LIVE

BAND KARAOKE

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 9pm.

PISCO SOUR

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $20–25.

SPY V SPY

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $44.40.

CURRENTS + CHELSEA GRIN. BLOOM, HEAVENSGATE

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $79.90.

DEAR SEATTLE. HEART ATTACK MAN, TOWNS & LUCKY

The Croxton. Thornbury. 7pm. $54.90.

PRIORITIES. ARTIOX, ALL MONSTERS ARE HUMAN, INCENDIMENT

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.45pm. $17.35.

MIGHTY HORSE Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. Free.

ROCK KO FOL Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $96.40.

PARK RD

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

FIVE FACES OF DEATH AT THE LAST CHANCE FT: Scaphis, Tumour, Circle Of Blood, Tongue Scum, Rat Tomb

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7.30pm. $16.35.

EBONNIE ROSE. LETICIA, DILAN Kindred Bandroom. Footscray. 7pm. $30. WRESTLEROCK FT: The Chevaliers Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $45.45.

COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD

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

HARRY STYLES NIGHT

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $11.75–22.95.

JAY UF + OMAC Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $44.90. MI-SEX Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $59–79. IN OTHER WORDS... Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $35.

THE LYREBIRD’S VOICE: VICTORIAN OPERA (RELAXED PERFORMANCE)

The Round. Nunawading. 1pm. $42.

SANZ MANTRA

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 9pm.

ANTHONY REA

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

DAVID COSMA

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

SAT 10 MAY

DUB DIVINATION SOUND SYSTEM PRESENTS... DUB SHAKEDOWN! FT: Dub Koala, Dub Dahlia, Mago Neru QQQ ST. Park. Collingwood. 8pm. $10–15.

PROXEMICS X MIDNIGHT REQUEST PRESENTS SUSTANCE.

SISTYM, DOE, ENYO, CHAPTER Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $27.40–32.90.

RICH WHY Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.

EARLY BIRD: DAYTIME CLUBBING FOR THE 30+ PARTYGOER

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 6pm. $33.15–38.25.

UNCLE ARCHIE ROACH BLOCK PARTY

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 6pm. $69.36.

DAFT WEEKND Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

PROPHECY GIRL. AALIYAH SALEM, PLUMIA Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $20–35.

SUB-TRIBE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60–33.95.

LANA EILEEN

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

THE DANNY

WALSH BANNED

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

HALF CUT HICKS Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 4pm. $18.40.

MISHTO. THE SALMON SISTERS, MORE Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $11.25.

SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING BAND. THE SECRET

MIGRAINES, BETH SEYMOUR

Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 2pm. Free.

COAST TO COAST

FT: Dole Manchild, Sexy As Shit, Molly Rocket

The Penny Black. Brunswick. 9pm. Free.

THE MUNDAYNES. EXILES, DE PORSAL

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95.

DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS.

HOWL, MMM

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free. PUNTER.

VAMPIRE, CUTTERS, WHOSE REALITY?, COMBAT ROCK Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $15.

TAKING BACK

SATURDAY: EMO & POP PUNK NIGHT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.80–22.

90’S ROCK RAGER

FT: Even Flow, Cuckoo For Caca, Cherry Octane Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $40.40.

MANNEQUIN

DEATH SQUAD

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

MAJAK DOOR. STIMPIES, ERICA AVENUE

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $27.95.

AWAKEN THE HATE Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $10.

EGGY. SNOWY PHILHARMONIC, HANTU Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $22–27.50.

TEE IT UP: 7TH

BIRTHDAY BASH

FT: Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, Aardvark, The Maggie Pills, Poltergeist 9000, The Antics The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $39.30.

PURPLE

DISTURBANCE.

BUCKETT, KILLERWHALE

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 3pm.

IN YOUR HONOUR + PARANOID ANDROID

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $18.05. INSOMNIUM.

OMNIUM GATHERUM

The Croxton. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $85.70.

SPOONFUL

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm.

ONE WISHH

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $11.65–23.30.

GREG ANDREW:

THE ELTON JOHN EXPERIENCE Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 8pm. $60.

MONTELL FISH. AMELIE FARREN

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm.

JAMES

MORRISON’S MOTOWN EXPERIENCE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $59.

LARRY MEETS

SELLO: SELLO MOLEFI + LARRY CRESTANI

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 5pm. Free. DAMON SMITH

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm.

THE BARB KERR TRIO Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 7.30pm. Free.

THE ROYAL MOTOWN REVIEW & THE HORNS OF HIP Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $35–55.

ANATREPTIX Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 2pm. Free. FATAI & SPECIAL GUESTS

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $32–37. SYMPHONY IN A DAY

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $29.

JANE AUSTEN’S MUSIC: PEMBERLEY REVISITED Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 4pm. $35–79.

THE LYREBIRD’S VOICE: VICTORIAN OPERA

The Round. Nunawading. 2pm. $42.

CLASSIC KIDS: WIZARDRY SCHOOL Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 10.30am. $28.

THU

PIPES

BUKOWSKI. SOPHISTICATED DINGO, CRAWLING

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85.

HOUSE TOO CROWDED: THE HITS OF CROWDED HOUSE & SPLIT ENZ Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38. PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS: SOUTHSIDE 1 FT: Parental Guidance, The Middle Sparks, The Late Notes, The Portals, Lunchbox 20 Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $36.75.

BALL PARK MUSIC. BEAN MAGAZINE

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $95.80. ALTIMATE. SHOWDOWN: NAARM–HEAT THREE

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.35.

AN EVENING OF FAIRY TALES

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $75–139. COUNTRY STRUTS–BRUNSWICK THURSDAYS

Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.50.

OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free. EVNNE

170 Russell. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $107.10.

ROLLFLASH

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $99.

FRI 16 MAY

ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE. A COMMONER’S REVOLT, DANIEL THOMAS, SHADOWLEAGUE

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $20. FOREWARNED. HORSEPOWER, FEVER SHACK, SHOCKPOINT, ZERO HOUR

MYSTERY + AVALANCHE. MALICY

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

TROPHY EYES. SECRET WORLD

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $62.22.

THE LEMONHEADS

The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. BALL PARK MUSIC. BEAN MAGAZINE

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $95.80.

COUSIN IN LAW. ALICE ANDERSON, MORE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $15.

THE SHARP

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7.30pm. $39.80. ON REPEAT: HAMILTON

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $11.75–22.95.

UNDERGROUND CABARET – ELTON

JOHN: YOUR SONG

The Round. Nunawading. 8pm. $30–40.

IN BED WITH AMY & FRIENDS

FT: Amy Bodossian, Sarah Ward

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $43.86.

ALMA ZYGIER

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $33.76.

CHRIS MCNULTY IN CONCERT WITH BEN ROBERTSON, BRETT WILLIAMS, CARL MACKEY & LEWIS PIERRE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38. BAUHAUS BURLESQUE

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $37.48.

SIOBHAN & ADRIAN WHITEHEAD

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. FEM BELLING & THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35–40.

15 MAY

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

YUNIOR TERRY’S UNDERCURRENTS

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $25–30.

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm.

YÄCHTLEY CRËW

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $69.90. BATPISS. SCREENSAVER, THE MIFFS

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $42.80.

MCCHOIR: 10 YEARS

The Round. Nunawading. 7.30pm. $49.

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 6pm. Free. CLAYMORE WITH THE NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL

FT: The Glenbrae Celtic Dancers, Tolka, Glòr Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $25–40. THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $43.90.

GENESIS BAROQUE WITH SARA MACLIVER

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $55.

CASSIAN

The Timber Yard. Port Melbourne. 7pm.

SAT 17 MAY

ANDREA KRAKOVSKÁ: AERIAL GUITARIST SHOW

Gasworks Arts Park. Albert Park. 7.30pm. $49–98.

SONIC REDUCER: SQUEEZE

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35. FERLA.

CONG JOSIE & THE HELL RACERS, PUBLIC FIGURES Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $19.40.

NIGHTLIGHT. A SWIFT FAREWELL, BENCHCUP, THIS SPACE IS OURS Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $22.95.

KRUL. THE ANTICS, PUBLIC HOUSE Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. Free.

THE REGNANS. THE LIFFEYS, THE DEFIBS

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 2pm. $17.34. PINKO COLLECTIVE Bar 303. Northcote. 3.30pm. Free.

THE LONGEST JOHNS Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. PETE MURRAY

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $84.90–99.90. SKYSCRAPER STAN & THE COMMISSION FLATS

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $39.76.

STEVE KILBEY. JACK FROST, GRANT MCLENNAN Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $64.87.

VALHALORE Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $38.76.

BRUTEFEST 2025

FT: Stalker, Abigail, Pizza Death, Permafog, Bastardizer, Vexation, Mortuary Sickness, Sufferance, Choof, Burnout

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 4pm. $63.25.

CRAZY NIGHTS. POWERSLAVE, BEST SHOT

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $17.85.

ELECTRIC FUNERAL. RAWTISM, VAULT

HILL, THALLIUM

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $21.42.

THE LEMONHEADS

The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm.

HOLY HOLY

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 8pm. $80.

DEAD BY DAYLIGHT

IV: REBIRTH

FT: Nothing, Virtues, I Choose Violence, Furious George, Ecdysis, Deadweight 80, Storm the Crown, Incendiment, Seek Misery, Ends in Tragedy Bendigo Hotel.

Collingwood. 7pm. $25.

SPOONFUL

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm.

THNDO Chapel Off Chapel. Prahran. 8pm. $45–55.

B# BIG BAND WITH SARAH C & DOM BAGNATO

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

GLENDI: ESTUDIANTINA OF MELBOURNE & DEMOTIKA

Odeon Richmond. Richmond. 7pm. $28.60.

ELAURA & PIA

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 5pm. Free.

HANK MARVIN

GYPSY JAZZ

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 6.30pm. $59–89.

THE DOZEYTONES Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 2pm. Free.

DAVID BRIDIE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35–40.

LADY FERN

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

RENEE ALISON. JASMINE BUTERA, MOSS ROSE

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $18.90.

DAN MCCABE Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $80.27.

COUNTRY STRUTS: LINE DANCING CLASS & PARTY

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $24.

JO MEARES’ SILVER BULLETS + SAND PEBBLES

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 2pm. $23.05.

MOTEL WITH TIM ROSS & KIT

WARHURST

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 6pm. $79.

RUDI SOUND SYSTEM. SASQUATCH SOUNDSYSTEM

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. Free.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: THEREMIN & BEYOND

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

MUSIC IN EXILE: 5TH ANNIVERSARY

FT: Mindy Meng Wang 王萌, Sui Zhen, Ajak Kwai, No Era

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $23.45–29.57.

BINGO LOCO PRESENTS DAY SHIFT

170 Russell. Melbourne. 6pm. $47.94–50.49.

HDC

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 9pm.

CASTLES IN PARIS: PEEP VS $B APPRECIATION NIGHT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $13.80–22.

SUPERSONIC90S:

BRITPOP & ELECTRONIC BEATS

Chasers Nightclub. South Yarra. 9pm. $22.

TOTALLY SWIFT: THE ERAS EXPERIENCE The Round. Nunawading. 1.30pm. $69.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS: A HIDDEN CURIOSITY The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 5.30pm. $40.52.

AN EVENING OF FAIRY TALES

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $75–139.

THU 22 MAY

ALTIMATE. SHOWDOWN:

NAARM–HEAT FOUR Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.35.

MARINA ALLEN. MORE

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $28.15.

RED CLAY STRAYS. SWEET TALK

Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7.30pm. $76.32.

COUNTRY STRUTS–BRUNSWICK

THURSDAYS

Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.50.

OPEN MIC @ RAGTIME TAVERN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free.

NATHAN CAVALERI Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $45.90.

SPIRIT PRESENTS: THE SANTANA EXPERIENCE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

YUNIOR TERRY’S UNDERCURRENTS

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $25–30.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS IN CONCERT

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $86–150.

AUSTRALIAN STRING QUARTET: RAPTURE

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $95. THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $55.

FAME ON FIRE

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $59.90.

PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS: SOUTHSIDE 2

FT: Naplan Death, Phat Albert, The Apparents, Primary Scream, The Ripoffs Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $36.75.

FRI 23 MAY

MO’JU. LEWIS COLEMAN

Chapel Off Chapel. Prahran. 8pm. $40–45.

2025 MELBOURNE SOUL WEEKENDER: FRIDAY

FT: Pez, Pacenotes

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $16.45. THE FOUR SCOOPS

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free. DISCO

REVOLUTION–ULTIMATE DISCO PARTY

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $39.95.

LAIKON PRESENTS: REBETES–THE HISTORY CONTINUES

Odeon Richmond. Richmond. 7pm. $34.70.

WOMEN OF SOUL Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. CANNONBALL WITH CHANTAL MITVALSKY

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35–40.

ALTAV. SECOND HAND HIGH, TOADSTOOL

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $17.48.

BATTLE OF THE AGILE BANDS ‘25 FT: The Data#5’s, FullySEEK, HELLvetica, Hot Property, Loop, There It Is, Mantel Piece, Would You Like To Talk to a Human?

The Curtin. Carlton. 7.30pm. $33.45. SACRED COWBOYS. THE DACIOS, ATOMIC HEART, DJ MICHAEL MULHOLLAND

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $28.60. BURNING WITCHES

The Croxton. Thornbury. 8pm. $59.95.

UTTER STUPIDITY

FT: Crêam Söda, Hormagaunt, ESP Mayhem, Crossed, Skezm

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $23.50.

CHELSEA

WOLFE. UBOA Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $99.65.

DROWNING HOUDINI. HOWLING MOUNTAIN, EL BEBE

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 8pm. $18.40.

NATHAN CAVALERI

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

KIM CHURCHILL

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $44.37.

KARISE EDEN

SINGS: THE JANIS JOPLIN SONGBOOK

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $39–60.

WAWANEE: BACK TO THE 80S

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40.

THE ADDAMS

FAMILY

Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $55.

SAVILIAN + RŪKU

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $23.75.

ROACHFORD 170 Russell. Melbourne. 8pm. $79.90.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS IN CONCERT Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $86–150.

VANDEMONIAN LAGS

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $89. SKELETEN. OTHER JOE, MILLU, PJENNE The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $39.90.

ŽIVA. PUNKO

Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $15–20.

DISCO CLUB: MELBOURNE

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 6pm.

SAT 24 MAY

KIER STEVENS

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm. DISGRUNTLED CIVIL SERVANT. FOLEY, THE CROP TOPS, NO BODY NO SPIRIT Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $15.

MID DRIFT

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm.

TAPE/OFF

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. $19.65.

ASSTEROID + THE PEARLIES

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free.

D-A-D

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 8pm. $89.90.

CHERRY BOMB X SMUT X BONEZ FT: Milo Hartill, Juniper Fox, Cora Noire, Winter Greene, Kitty Obsidian, Emo AF, Headstrong, Everlyne Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $23.50–28.60.

JOAN AS POLICE

WOMAN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $99. COUCH WIZARD. RETURN TO NAGOYA, MORE The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7pm. $23.50.

AUSTERE. SKUGGOR, PAROXYSMAL DESCENT Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $41.85.