Beat 1736

RITUAL & REBELLION

Featuring Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek and Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou with Special Guests Surprise Chef / College of Knowledge DJs.

WEDNESDAY 11 MAR 7.30PM

Experience back-to-back sets in an electrifying night of Anatolian grooves and Moroccan Gnawa ritual.

ONE TICKET. A WORLD OF DISCOVERY.

SUN 12 - SAT 18 APRIL

CENTURY PRESENTS

HAMER HALL

PRINT EDITOR

Kaya Martin

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Frankie Anderson-Byrne

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

August Billy, Dom Lepore, Wil Clifford, Luke Carlino, Gabrielle Duykers, Sarah Duggan, Simone Anders, Jacob McCormack, Juliette Salom and Bryget Chrisfield

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

EDITORIAL NOTE

How did we end up here?

Æ Somehow, it’s the last magazine of the year and it feels deranged to even think about. I mean, 2026, really? Don’t even ask us what day it is anymore. We only tell time by how many sleeps ‘til Meredith and how many pints we can sink before Happy Hour’s over.

But even though this year feels like it’s been shorter than a power nap, we still got quite a bit done. At Beat, we’ve been busy not only living the dream, but also working hard to let you lot know the whos, whats, wheres, why and hows of our fair city. We’ve moved out regional, sharing the love with readers across Victoria. We’ve also expanded online, upping our digital presence and bringing you more content than you even knew you wanted. You’re welcome!

Our December/January mag is a thicky, so strap in. On the front, Aussie icons The Temper Trap talk about moving in a new direction – one that’s sure to cause a stir. Inside, you’ll find features from party pop duo Cat & Calmell, Belarusian doomers Molchat Doma and Newcastle cool kids dust, as well as insights from Julia Wolf, Daezy, Mouseatouille, Sundreamer and even our boy Murray Cook, the original red Wiggle. Surely that’ll be enough to get you through the holidays?

Before we set our OOOs, we’d just like to remind you all how thankful we are for all of your eyes this year. Whether you’re reading, watching, listening, supporting, coming to gigs, or just using the mag to shield yourself from a summer shower, we love you. Never change.

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

COVER

Our December/January cover stars are The Temper Trap shot by @zimmermann.alberto SOCIALS BeatMag beatmagazine BeatTV beat.com.au

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

WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL DROPS MASSIVE LINEUP

From 27 December to 1 January, the gathering transforms Woodfordia into a sprawling village of music, culture and community. Electric Fields, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sarah Blasko, Budjerah, Hollow Coves, BARKAA, Lior, KUČKA, Birdz and Fred Leone will headline the bill.

PITCH MUSIC & ARTS HAS DROPPED ITS HUGE 2026 LINEUP

Pitch returns for its ninth edition from 6 to 10 March on the Grampian Plains, unveiling one of its strongest lineups yet. Belgian techno powerhouse Charlotte de Witte leads the charge alongside Eris Drew & Octo Octa, MARRØN, Girls Don’t Sync, Job Jobse, Yung Singh and many more.

ROLLING LOUD RETURNS AFTER SIX YEARS WITH MELBOURNE DEBUT

The hip-hop festival will hit Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on 8 March, with American rappers Gunna, Ken Carson and Sexyy Red confirmed to lead the lineup. Rolling Loud will deliver back-to-back, oneday festival experiences across both cities.

FISHERMANS BEND JUST GOT NEW BENCHES CRAWLING WITH LIVE WORMS

Melbourne has installed three benches with a twist: thousands of red wiggler worms living beneath the seats, transforming food scraps into compost and fertiliser. Designed by Zoe Wang and Michael Mobbs, the Worms at Work benches tackle food waste while building greener communities.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL GETS READY TO TURN 40

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has opened registrations for its 2026 program, marking a massive milestone year. It will celebrate four decades of laughter when it returns from 25 March to 19 April next year.

AUSTRALIA TELLS AI TECH GIANTS THEY CAN’T USE CREATORS’ WORK FOR FREE

The government has confirmed it has no plans to weaken copyright laws, effectively protecting over 128,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers across Australia and New Zealand from having their music scraped for AI training without consent or compensation.

FOOTSCRAY IS GETTING A HUGE NEW OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL

Melbourne’s most iconic bass event is coming back in 2026, and it’s moving outdoors for the first time. The DOT has just announced its Melbourne return for 3 January with a brand new outdoor site in Footscray, marking a major shift for the festival that’s been dialling into the heart of bass culture for years.

RENEÉ RAPP ANNOUNCES DEBUT MELBOURNE SHOW ON AO LIVE LINEUP

Pop sensation and actress Reneé Rapp will make her Australian debut at John Cain Arena on 31 January. Landing at AO LIVE, Reneé Rapp joins a stacked lineup that includes The Kid LAROI, Peggy Gou, Spacey Jane, The Veronicas and Sofi Tukker.

THIS NEW FILM FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT DISTINCTIVE VOICES IN SHORT-FORM CINEMA

Vantra Film Festival launches on 8 March at FOMO Cinemas, bringing a curated selection of independent short films to Melbourne’s inner north. The debut event positions itself as a space for original storytelling and distinctive voices in short-form cinema, with programming selected to highlight work that sits outside the mainstream.

- FT: HOWLING MOUNTAIN + ONE WHOLE HAND + BURLESQE SHOWS & MORE!

AT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDANTLY RUN MUSIC VENUE

SZABO

BASH 08/02 JADE LEMAC 12/02 VOLA SELLING FAST 13/02 NOASIS 14/02 HOTHOUSE FLOWERS (IRL) SOLD OUT 15/02 HOTHOUSE FLOWERS (IRL) SOLD OUT 17/02 HOTHOUSE FLOWERS (IRL) SELLING FAST 21/02 STVW - PUNK RAVE PARTY 23/02 LAMBRINI GIRLS SELLING FAST 26/02 THE BELAIR LIP BOMBS 27/02 THE BELAIR LIP BOMBS SELLING FAST

HANDS

(SCO) SAT 03 JAN SHANNEN JAMES SUN 21

GIG GUIDE

CRY CLUB (NEW YEARS EVE) WED 31 DEC

01/12 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ AOTEAROA/NZ TAKEOVER w KERRYN FIELDS, ADAM HATTAWAY + SKYSCRAPER STAN (SOLO) 04/12 SCEPTER OF THE ANCIENTS 05/12 SEX ON TOAST 06/12 CENOTAPH (MX) 07/12 WHISTLE AND TRICK (FAMILY FRIENDLY MATINEE) SELLING FAST 07/12 SHAYNE P CARTER (NZ) 08/12 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w LIAM WRIGHT & HIS BAND, VILDE + MAXWELL BRADY (SOLO)

11/12 MAD VANTAGE 12/12 CORDRAZINE w ALEX LLOYD SELLING FAST 13/12 BIIG TIME 14/12 CARUS THOMPSON (MATINEE)

15/12 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w COPPERFIELD, THE EYELASHES + THE DAINTY MORSELS

18/12 TIM RICHMOND

19/12 SEB SZABO 20/12 ICECREAM HANDS SELLING FAST 21/12 SHANNEN JAMES 31/12 CRY CLUB (NEW YEARS EVE) 03/01 TALISK (SCO) 08/01 JONNY FRITZ & JOSHUA HEDLEY 09/01 KP HYDES 10/01 JIMMY STANFIELD 13/01 JAKE BANFIELD (USA) 17/01 GEAROID MCCARTHY SELLING FAST 26/01 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w THE PAIRS (CA) 31/01 KATE BUSH CELEBRATION 06/02 SURF HAT (CAN) 13/02 SACHIKO KANENOBU (JPN) 14/02 DAEZY 20/02 TOM HARRINGTON 21/02 SARAH MCLEOD & DALLAS FRASCA 25/02 BEOGA SELLING FAST 27/02 DAY WE RAN 04/03 M.WARD & THE UNDERTAKERS

MEATSTOCK 2026

SCORES MORGAN

EVANS, BRYAN MARTIN FOR REGIONAL

DATES

Meatstock returns to Gippsland on 17 to 18 April with a huge lineup of country artists and BBQ competitions at Lardner Park. The BBQ festival is heading back to regional Victoria, combining international and Australian country acts with competitive cooking, bull riding and all the smoke and meat you’d expect.

AIDC UNVEILS FIRST SPEAKERS INCLUDING OSCAR-WINNING FILMMAKERS

Australian International Documentary Conference 2026 runs in Melbourne from 2 to 5 March under the theme Hold True, celebrating documentary resilience. The event’s program explores truth, creativity and sustainability in documentary filmmaking in a time of increased censorship, unregulated new technologies and industry contraction.

THIS ALL-DAY FESTIVAL AT BARWON CLUB JUST MADE AN UNEXPECTED RETURN

Summer Slam returns to Barwon Club Hotel on 17 January. Bands, booze and fun all day makes this summer’s most coveted event, as hundreds of punters will pile in to witness The Vasco Era, Alien Nosejob, Tee Vee Repairmann and Dragnet alongside a lineup of the other hot contenders.

GUMBUYA WORLD OPENS VICTORIA’S ONLY WATER PARK WITH ROAMING WILDLIFE

Oasis Springs marks the start of splash season at Victoria’s only water theme park where you can slide, splash and meet wildlife all in one day. Gumbuya World opens eight water slides, 300 metres of Lazy River and Typhoon Island, where getting soaked is pretty much guaranteed.

WOMADELAIDE ANNOUNCES YOTHU YINDI, OBONGJAYAR AND 47 MORE

WOMADelaide 2026 takes over Adelaide’s Botanic Park from 6 to 9 March with 49 artists spanning 30 countries announced. Australia’s most diverse festival returns for its 29th edition, embarking on a musical journey from Bhutan to the Kimberleys, Cuba and Ukraine across the long weekend.

VIETJET MELBOURNE@ VIBING FESTIVAL OFFERS A FREE CULTURAL CELEBRATION

The free festival will happen on 13 December at Ron Barassi Sr Park, promising to be a proper melting pot of creativity. The lineup features familiar faces like Jessie Hillel and Kevin Silvester alongside rising local talent, while cultural showcases include Chinese Lion Dance, Indian classical and fusion and contemporary hip-hop performances.

MELBOURNE SCORES NINE-HOUR TROPICAL QUEER FESTIVAL

Hot and Steamy Festival is making the move to Melbourne on 25 January. After years of building a devoted following in Port Douglas, the queer celebration is heading south to transform The Timber Yard into a massive party blending beach energy with urban grit.

FOOTSCRAY PARK TO HOST NEW ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

On 24 January, Dangerous Goods Entertainment launches 6XXL Festival in Footscray Park featuring Boris Brejcha and 34 other artists. Co-founder Mitchell Lyman describes the festival as an intentional journey through sound, with each stage offering a different experience.

NORTHCOTE

SHUTS DOWN AN ENTIRE BLOCK FOR EPIC NEW YEAR’S PARTY

High Times NYE returns on 31 December for a 12-hour takeover spanning Northcote Theatre, High Note and Bastings Street. Crown Ruler wraps its 25th anniversary year with a blow-out transforming the block into a celebration built around serious sound systems and selector combinations.

COBURG NIGHT MARKET RETURNS WITH THREE MASSIVE NIGHTS

Summer in Melbourne’s north kicks off properly when Coburg Night Market returns from 11 to 13 December. Merri-bek City Council has shifted the format this year, running the event Thursday through Saturday instead of the usual Friday-Saturday setup, which means kicking off a day earlier and spreading the action across a full three nights.

NGV FRIDAY NIGHTS IS TURNING THE GALLERY INTO A DANCE FLOOR ALL SUMMER

NGV Friday Nights returns this summer, transforming the gallery after dark with music inspired by Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo. From 12 December, NGV International opens late every Friday night through to April, pairing exhibition access with DJ sets from some of Australia’s best selectors.

BLUESFEST 2026

ANNOUNCES SPLIT

ENZ,

EARTH WIND & FIRE AND SUBLIME

Byron Bay Bluesfest returns over the Easter long weekend with 35 acts announced so far, spanning rock legends, blues icons and Australian favourites. The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Counting Crows, The Pogues, Marcus King Band and more are also set to play.

SOMEONE’S THROWING A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS RODEO IN NORTHCOTE

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when country vibes collide with Christmas chaos, you’re about to find out. Darebin Arts is throwing Our Songs at Northcote Civic Square this December, and it’s shaping up to be a delightfully bizarre evening.

PALACE FORESHORE RETURNS FOR ITS BIGGEST SUMMER SEASON YET

Melbourne’s iconic seaside music precinct returns from 26 February to 15 March with its most ambitious program yet. After a stellar 2025 comeback, the Palace Foreshore will feature shows from Black Country, New Road, De La Soul, The Streets, Pendulum, Peach PRC and more.

THIS CULT FAVOURITE FESTIVAL IS RETURNING TO THE CITY CENTRE

Melbourne’s beloved dance party is back with a fresh lineup and a brand new location. After years of collaborative programming with Boiler Room, Sugar Mountain returns as a standalone event, bringing its signature 360-degree stage setup to The Paddock in the CBD.

PARTY IN THE PADDOCK UNVEILS OCEAN ALLEY, THE VERONICAS, SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

Party In The Paddock returns with a colossal lineup of Australian and international acts taking over Quercus Park from 5 to 8 February. Party In The Paddock goes beyond music with art installations, comedy, drag and cabaret shows, mechanical bull rides, a skate ramp, yoga sessions and more.

SCULPTED SOUNDS: A NEW FESTIVAL WHERE MUSIC MEETS ART IN THE WILD

Sculpted Sounds is set to transform the iconic grounds of McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery into a sonic playground on 7 March, blending live music, visual art and native bushland into one immersive experience. Think open-air vibes, world-class sculptures and a lineup that hits all the right notes.

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT EXPANDS PILL TESTING TO MORE SUMMER FESTIVALS

Mobile pill testing services in Victoria will be available at Spilt Milk on 6 December, Dangerous Goods 6XXL on 24 January, and Pitch Music and Arts Festival from 6 to 10 March. Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt confirmed the mobile pill testing trial continues with more festivals to be announced.

MELBOURNE PILATES, ZUMBA AND TAI CHI CLASSES COMING FREE TO CITY PARKS

Melburnians can access free fitness classes delivered by the City of Melbourne until April. The program aims to get residents moving while breaking down cost and time barriers that prevent half of adults from getting enough exercise.

MELBOURNE RENT RELIEF ARRIVES AS DOUBLE BONDS SCRAPPED

Melbourne rent pressures will ease with portable rental bonds launching next year, allowing eligible renters to transfer existing bonds directly to new properties. The Portable Rental Bonds scheme passed parliament, removing the burden of paying a second bond before the first one is refunded.

ORCHESTRA VICTORIA’S 2026 SEASON IS HERE, AND IT’S ALL ABOUT STORIES

Orchestra Victoria has just announced its 2026 season, titled One Season, Many Stories. The program celebrates music’s power to connect and transform through a mix of symphonic masterworks, collaborations and community experiences.

ABBOTSFORD’S WILD BLOCK PARTY RETURNS

Luliepalooza is returning to Victoria Park on 21 March for its fifth instalment. The annual rock ‘n’ roll block party presented by Lulie Tavern and PBS FM promises to be the biggest one yet, expanding to a two-stage format with more than 12 live acts across the day.

THESE MELBOURNE ICONS ARE THROWING FREE PARTIES ALL SUMMER

Summer’s here and Skydiver is doing what it does best: bringing excellent international selectors to Smith Street for free. The Collingwood record store and wine bar has teamed up with NEUW Denim for a threepart Summer Sessions series running from November through January.

MIFC ANNOUNCES FIRST LINEUP FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Melbourne International Comedy Festival returns for its 40th year from 25 March to 19 April with international stars and local legends. The Big 4-Oh will be a one-night spectacular featuring comedians from this year’s program alongside legends from across the festival’s history.

MELBOURNE RESEARCHERS LINK MUSIC LISTENING TO DROP IN DEMENTIA RISK

A Monash University-led study has linked regular music listening to significant reductions in dementia and cognitive decline. The research found that always listening to music compared with never, rarely or sometimes listening was associated with a 39 per cent decreased risk of dementia. Playing an instrument showed a 35 per cent reduction in dementia risk.

E XPERIENCE T H E WONDER O F this festive season

• 150 + spots to eat, drink and enjoy eclectic entertainment •

• 100 + spots to shop for yourself and your loved ones •

• 50 + spots to pamper, relax and rejuvenate • • endless opportunities •

Enjoy a festive frolic in the precinct, and take in the festive art on windows! With the help of artists from near and far, over 35 shopfront windows have been transfomed into a colourful interpretation of the festive season – now on display until January 2026.

THE TEMPER TRAP

The Temper Trap announced their return in 2025 with two new singles and a couple of massive remixes.

Æ Tickets to this year’s Beyond The Valley sold out in under an hour, confirming the New Year’s bash is now Australia’s most in-demand summer festival.

The four-day event features a diverse lineup with an emphasis on dance music. BTV veteran Dom Dolla will take care of the NYE countdown slot, while The Temper Trap will be on stage just prior, capping off their biggest 12 months in close to a decade.

17 years after its release, The Temper Trap’s breakout single Sweet Disposition continues to flourish. An official remix by Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies, titled Sweet Disposition (A Moment, a Love), went viral earlier this year, and in July, the original placed at #11 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.

Given the self-sufficiency of their best-known song, The Temper Trap will always inhabit multiple worlds at once. They can play a marquee slot at the country’s biggest New Year’s festival despite the bulk of the lineup being dance, pop and hip hop acts. Their back catalogue precedes them, but they’ve also got a new album in the works.

In September, The Temper Trap released Lucky Dimes, their first new single in nine years. The track is something of a curveball, featuring heavy, distorted drums and speaker-busting electric guitars.

“We thought that Lucky Dimes would be a way of dropping a bomb in the middle of the room and hopefully getting everyone’s attention,” drummer Toby Dundas tells Beat. “We don’t want to just put out stuff that sounds like what we sounded like 15, 20 years ago.”

The enormous drum sounds in Lucky Dimes were created from a combination of samples and Dundas’ acoustic drumming. “Actually, when we were working on it, I got laid out with the flu for most of that week,” he says, “so it got initially built with some samples and then I played over the top of it.”

The result is reminiscent of big beat acts like The Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx.

“Big beat stuff has definitely been a real influence on this record,” Dundas says. “I was like 15, 16 when that was all happening in the late ’90s – Propellerheads and all these other bands that we were seeing in skate videos and stuff like that. It’s deep, deep, deep in the bones.”

The band – which also features vocalist Dougy Mandagi, bass player Jonathon Aherne and guitarist Joseph Greer –released a second single, Giving Up Air, in October. Giving Up Air is more in tune with the band’s classic material, featuring four-on-the-floor kick drum patterns and an anthemic chorus.

“A song like Giving Up Air builds more of a bridge that can allow the fans that are used to some older stuff to come with us on this next part of the journey,” Dundas says.

They’ve just released an official remix of Giving Up Air handled by melodic house DJ Solomun. “We’re big Solomun fans,” says Dundas. “When Solomun first was coming out and doing indie band remixes, I’d play them at Onesixone at Shake Some Action and stuff. It’s kind of full circle for it to come around like that.”

The Temper Trap completed a sold-out east coast tour in October before heading to London and New York for their first overseas headline dates since the tour behind their third album, Thick As Thieves, in 2016. The setlists have featured several new songs as well as a cover of Moby’s Extreme Ways and a snippet of Underworld’s Born Slippy (Nuxx).

“Dougie and I in particular have both been massive electronic music fans for a long time,” Dundas says of the band’s recent embrace of dance music influences. You can expect to hear all the hits during The Temper Trap’s New Year’s Eve set at BTV. Dundas is looking forward to checking out several other acts on the lineup.

“Dom Dolla is playing after us on the New Year’s Eve night, so we’ll be front and centre for that,” he says.

“I’ll be keen to see Turnstile. I missed them at Laneway a couple of years ago, so it’ll be a good chance to see them this time.

“I love the mix of genres that they’ve got in there. Having lost so many great festivals over the last four or five years, it’s cool to see some really kicking goals. And yeah, the lineup’s amazing.”

“We don’t want to just put out stuff that sounds like what we sounded like 15, 20 years ago.”

THE

TEMPER TRAP

WHERE: BEYOND THE VALLEY

WHEN: 28 DEC–1 JAN

FESTIVAL GUIDE

MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aunty has secured the goods yet again, bringing a shimmering selection of talent to the Supernatural Amphitheatre. Catch TV on the Radio, Perfume Genius, Atarashii Gakko!, Folk Bitch Trio, Bar Italia and more between the swinging gum trees in the 33rd edition of this cult-favourite festival.

MEREDITH 3–5 DEC

ASIA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL

This free, open-air food festival celebrates the sizzling heat, vibrant flavours and cultural diversity of Asian cuisine. Sample the wares of 40 different vendors, enjoy live entertainment, play traditional folk games, shop the bustling market and more on the banks of the Yarra River.

ALEXANDRA GARDENS 4–7 DEC

GOOD THINGS

The travelling heavy music festival lands in Melbourne, headlined by none other than iconic LA rockers Tool. Weezer, Garbage, All Time Low, The All American Rejects, Machine Head, Knocked Loose, New Found Glory and more are also set to make appearances.

FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE 5 DEC

JAMAICAN MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL

Get ready to dance to reggae, dub and dancehall and sample jerk chicken, curry goat and spicy snacks at this vibrant cultural festival. With a banging lineup featuring Little Lion Sound, Badda General, MC Manaki, Bart Willoughby and more, it’ll be a joyful and delicious day out in Williamstown.

SEAWORKS 6 DEC

RED RAVE RAW

Under the red glow, thousands of punters will gather in PICA’s warehouse space to dance, sweat and lose themselves in the pulse. Presented by Poof Doof, this one is guaranteed to get a little freaky, so prepare to party until dawn and maybe make a few new friends while you’re at it.

PICA

13 DEC

BEYOND THE VALLEY

BTV is celebrating a decade of party making with a lineup spanning pop, alternative, rock, house and techno. Catch Addisson Rae, Turnstile, Dom Dolla, Kid Cudi, I Hate Models, The Temper Trap, 070 Shake and so many more during this New Year’s Eve bash under the wide open sky.

BARUNAH PLAINS 28 DEC–1 JAN

WHEN PIGS FLY

Kick off 2026 without leaving the inner north. This much-beloved New Year’s Eve event brings together a mind-bending mix of live artists from across the world, including Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Close Counters, So.crates, Thee Marloes and Wilson Tanner, as well a healthy selection of Melbourne’s favourite DJs.

COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM 31 DEC

LET THEM EAT CAKE

It’s the first party of 2026, and it’s a doozy! This legendary day party has a new home this year, as well as a cracking lineup led by 1tbsp, Folamour, Sleep D, VTSS, Afrodisiac, C000KIE, Dr. Banana and more. Whether you stayed up all night or are fresh as a daisy, it’s a euphoric way to start the year.

COBURG VELODROME 1 JAN

NEW YEAR’S AT THE BOWL

Celebrate New Year’s at one of Melbourne’s most iconic venues during this brand new event. The two-day affair features headliners Underworld and Maribou State, backed up by the likes of Big Wett, Carl Cox, Sam Gellatry, Aldonna, Glass Beams, Joy Crookes and Santigold.

SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL 31 DEC–1 JAN

SUNSET SOUNDS

This inner-city romp offers two evenings of free music in Central Park courtesy of the City of Stonnington. Soul, funk, food trucks and BYO picnic rugs make this suburban festival a low-key winner for anyone who’d rather spend their money on snacks than tickets.

MALVERN EAST

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL

18 JAN

Australia’s premiere queer arts and culture organisation takes over the city for this massive annual bash, bringing visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, parties, sport, social events, and public forums. With both free and ticketed events, you don’t want to miss this one.

VARIOUS VENUES 18 JAN–8 FEB

DANGEROUS GOODS 6XXL

House, techno, hardstyle and more all come together on one stage at one of the country’s biggest annual raves. With multiple 360 degree stages and a full-throttle lineup, this event delivers non-stop bass and beats until the very end. Every previous edition has sold out, so expect this one to be big.

24 JAN

FOOTSCRAY PARK

ASSYRIAN FOOD FESTIVAL

Come enjoy the culture and cuisine of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey at this free annual event. Try fragrant biriani and juicy kofte, watch traditional dances and performers and learn about Assyrian culture at this family-friendly celebration.

TBA 25 JAN

SHARE THE SPIRIT

Presented by Songlines Aboriginal Music, this non-ticketed, all-ages, drug and alcohol free festival is back by popular demand. Australia’s largest and longest running Indigenous music festival has seen legendary acts perform in past editions, so stay tuned for what’s to come this year.

TREASURY GARDENS

25 JAN

STAGE GUIDE

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

This gut-wrenching opera follows Orpheus as he journeys through the jaws of Hades to rescue his beloved Eurydice. Gluck’s iconic work is revamped here with thrilling acrobatics and integrated visual projections.

REGENT THEATRE 2–5 DEC

GHOSTWARE

This dark comedy sees Gertrude get a spam call from a familiar voice – the voice of a loved one who’s been dead for years. Musing on technology, family and the haunting power of grief, this show will have you laughing and crying.

THE MOTLEY BAUHAUS 3–5 DEC

SABOTAGE

Two versions of the same man – future and present, protagonist and antagonist – battle it out in this surreal drama. The protagonist is about to board a one way flight, but the antagonist has other ideas. Who knows best?

MOTLEY BAUHAUS 2–6 DEC

SOUL OF POSSUM

After selling out previous seasons, Brodie Murray’s evocative play returns. Set in the mid 1800s on the Murray River, it follows Wamba Wamba warriors Wirramanda, Warru and Dindi as they try to escape the colonists.

FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS 4–14 DEC

LOVE ACTUALLY?

THE MUSICAL PARODY

The widely-beloved Christmas movie gets the onstage treatment it deserves in this hilarious and romantic romp. Sing along to all the hit tunes, have a few laughs, and get yourself in the spirit of silly season.

ATHENAEUM THEATRE 5–23 DEC

BIG CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Get ready for the festive season with this extraordinary performance. You’ll hear singalong Christmas hits performed by a live orchestra and musical theatre stars, and 25 dancers from across genres will wow you with their incredible moves.

PRINCESS THEATRE 6–8 DEC

TWO

Kit has always been happy being non-binary, until they find themselves pregnant. When Kit’s loved ones beg to know the baby’s gender, Kit lies that they’re having twins, getting themselves into a mess they can’t get out of.

THEATRE WORKS 10–20 DEC

THE NUTCRACKER

This iconic ballet arrives just in time for the holidays, bringing Aussie audiences into a snow-covered town. Set to Tchaikovsky’s score, this timeless show is both visually and musically stunning.

HAMER HALL 11–23 DEC

HOW THE KING LEARNED TO LIVE FOREVER

This hilarious pantomime follows a brave knight in a faraway land who is tasked with saving the dying king. The only problem is he’s already dead. The fate of the enchanted kingdom lies with the knight and his ragtag team. Can they save the day?

FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS 18–20 DEC

CATS THE MUSICAL

Meow! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fabulous feline musical is touching down in town for a limited run. Featuring many cat-chy songs and a plot that’s both intriguing and a little strange, this cult favourite will thrill audiences young and old.

HAMER HALL 21 DEC–25 JAN

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

Join all the beloved critters of the forest in this playful, family friendly affair under the big open sky. Celebrating 35 years in the gardens, this critically acclaimed outdoor theatre performance is not to be missed.

OAK LAWN GATE, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS 19 DEC–25 JAN

ANASTASIA THE MUSICAL

Taking audiences from the twilight years of imperial rule to the swing of 1920s Paris, this adventurous musical has charmed the world from Broadway to beyond. Pursued by an army officer, the brave Anastasia is on a quest to be free.

REGENT THEATRE 20 DEC–1 FEB

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

It’s a cold Christmas Eve, and the ol’ bastard Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by a trio of ghosts who teach him a good, hard lesson. This treasured Christmas tradition returns again, so grab your tickets while you can.

COMEDY THEATRE UNTIL 24 DEC

SHREK THE MUSICAL

It’s time to head to the swamp! Interpreted from the animated film, this hilarious and playful show is a fairytale adventure like you’ve never seen before. Follow Shrek and his companions as he (reluctantly) saves the day.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 7–10 JAN

TEN THOUSAND HOURS

This awe-inspiring performance honours the time and dedication it takes to reach greatness. Anchored by an ongoing drum beat like a ticking clock, this show brings failures, redemptions and gravity-defying stunts to Melbourne for the first time ever.

PLAYHOUSE 13–25 JAN

CAT & CALMELL

WORDS BY DOM LEPORE

The Sydney pop queens return with an energetic and clubby mixtape that’s unapologetically themselves.

Æ Cat & Calmell are inseparable. The pair have been friends for over a decade and do basically everything together.

Calmell says it’s “convenient” that they “move as a unit.” It helps with being vulnerable. Their last project was 2023’s How Do You Feel?, a softer indie pop trip delicately processing their emotions.

“That was our headspace,” Cat says. “We had to get all the depressing shit off our chest.”

Afterwards, they tapped into a party energy on the Lucy Blomkamp-produced track Give Urself 2 Me.

“We wrote that when we happened to be in Melbourne,” Cat says. “We had gone out the night before, and we were hungover as fuck.”

Capturing that post-night-out hangover vibe marked the start of their wild new era: LIVE LAUGH COOL STAR, a mixtape of defiant, self-indulgent and club-ready songs.

Described as “neo-indie-sleaze-trappop-star-type-shit,” it sees the duo at their most chaotic. The over-the-topness of it all is a complete 180 from everything before, but it’s pushed them to be truer to themselves.

“We didn’t sit down and go, ‘Let’s write something super swag and electronic,’” Calmell says. “We were still going through all those depressing things – that’s never really left us – but we put so much emotional energy into this project, we wanted to shake ass and have fun and not be serious.”

Take, for instance, the reveal of Cat & Calmell’s new era: an Instagram post of the two besties with matching Facebook cover and profile pics for the New Year, skyrocketing with over 1.4 million likes.

“That was not even planned,” Calmell admits. “It really set the tone for how people see us. Like, we’re constantly referred to as the ‘Facebook Girls’, which I’m not mad about at all.”

“It was like a revival of when the internet used to be really fun for us, which was in 2013–14, when we were literal tweens,” Cat adds. “We had just got Instagram, and it’s like 17 filters on every photo, just doing cute shit that you find fun.”

Not only has being themselves made the rollout more enjoyable, but friends and fans have noticed their music and personalities fully overlap now.

“That’s been the best feedback we’ve received. That’s so affirming because it is us,” Calmell says. “When we first started making music, we made it a point to everybody that we’re constantly changing and evolving.”

Cool Star was the first taste of the mixtape, an anthemic dance tune about self-expression, with a debaucherous and hectic music video. “We filmed a lot of it in this house we’re in, which took months for it to recover, by the way,” Calmell adds.

The alluring and self-assured Hotness!!! celebrates feeling sexy without the validation of others. Never has the duo sounded so confident.

Meanwhile, Rot is a revved-up electropop banger hiding more than it shows, featuring morbid, introspective lyrics.

“From our first project, we wanted our lyrics, if you pay attention to them, to make you go, ‘Oh… Are you okay?’” Cat says. “But we still want the music to feel upbeat or positive.”

Cat continues: “We’re leaning into a tongue-in-cheek, ironic way of talking about serious things in an unserious way, being quite jokey about it and having the tracks be super pumpy, clubby, trashy and fun. It’s very much recession pop, very nihilistic Gen Z vibes, where everyone’s constantly online making memes about the most traumatic shit that’s ever happened to them.”

The Cat & Calmell 2.0 experience is coming to Fitzroy’s Laundry Bar on 20 December. From the sounds of it, they’re more than ready to get the party started.

“It’s very much recession pop, very nihilistic Gen Z vibes, where everyone’s constantly online making memes about the most traumatic shit that’s ever happened to them.”

Macbook photobooths, secret special guests and an exclusive DJ set by Calmell are some treats that’ll draw partygoers into the buzzing atmosphere.

“I’m just so fucking keen to play all these songs in one show!” Calmell says. “We want these shows to feel more like a party and celebration with everyone.”

Cat echoes her enthusiasm: “We wanted to write songs that would make a live show super fun to attend. That’s made us most excited to do these shows because it’s happening!”

When pain strikes, Cat & Calmell’s remedy is nothing but fun: dancing through it all without a care in the world.

CAT & CALMELL

WHERE: LAUNDRY BAR

WHEN: 20 DEC

Credit:

Kyla Bosq

MOUSEATOUILLE

WORDS BY WIL CLIFFORD

Something special was afoot at Northcote Uniting Church last December.

Æ Shadows swayed across the walls of the chapel, the sound of guitars and brass echoing on. All nine members of indie group Mouseatouille, were performing in full their seismic concept album Out Of The Hospital, Into The Morgue, a gig six years in the making.

“It was always in the back of my mind, ‘We gotta do that gig,’” says frontman Harry Green. “We know we’re closing in on finishing the next album and we love Out Of The Hospital, it’s so important to us in terms of our teenage-hood and us becoming friends and the formation of the identity of the band.”

It’s been an eventful time since that record dropped in 2019: support slots for Black Country, New Road and Your Arms Are My Cocoon, a radio show via Skylab, and the odd single peppered here and there. It’d all been a gradual lead-up to closing the chapter of Out Of The Hospital and beginning a new one with DJ Set, released in September.

“We’d been working on [DJ Set] for so long, in various degrees of seriousness in terms of when it was gonna be done or released,” says Harry. “Then the gig was a success, and it was like, ‘Well, you know, maybe it’s time now to put out something new.’”

After years of moulding these tracks together, DJ Set showcases the group at their most rambunctious, yet simultaneously very diligent. The album constantly weaves, throwing around new instruments and unconventional structures, while also maintaining a constant feeling of attentive detail in every section.

“I think it’s definitely a dichotomy. A lot of how we present ourselves, and the reality of it as well, is this quite chaotic and disorganised [group of] people,” says Harry. “But I think truthfully, we do obsess, maybe almost too much, over everything. It’s a decision to leave in people coughing in the background of the song. We’re obsessed with all that shit.”

“A lot of the making of the album was just showing each other stuff and being like, ‘Oh, isn’t this cool?’ The audience, we weren’t thinking about that.”

DJ Set also sees the band at their most collaborative. Harry cites bandmates Fergus, Sofia and Chloe as important contributors to songs’ structures and arrangements. Guitarist Dan brought forth the penultimate track Theme From 2021, as well as the core riff found on opening track Tom’s Lament.

“[Tom’s Lament] came together pretty easily I think, which we all felt very proud of. It was one of the last things we did. I think it kind of showed that we had become a functional, traditional band,” says Harry. “It isn’t this recording project led by me or Spencer or anyone anymore; it’s just a very democratic sort of process.”

Each song is thoroughly put together, confident in its intention. Mike & Melissa is a fun indie romp with a soaring ending, glued together by a charming guitar solo. Meanwhile a track like My Love fuses Harry’s uniquely candid lyrical style with huge guitar tones before dissipating into a spacey, ambient second-half. Not a moment feels rushed or ill-considered.

“We love the process…which is why it takes us so much time to make anything,” Harry says. “We love recording and writing and nerding out about arrangements and just doing that for each other. A lot of the making of the album was just showing each other stuff and being like, ‘Oh, isn’t this cool?’ The audience, we weren’t thinking about that.”

This is best exemplified by the album’s finale, an abrupt cut to silence halfway through lyrics describing memories of solace. It’s confusing, then silly, then weirdly poetic. It’s really just what they do best. “That’s our kind of sense of humor,” says Harry. “We really mucked around with exactly when to cut it to make it sound the most unintentional.”

There’s a world wherein Mouseatouille continued to tinker away at DJ Set, perhaps for eternity. Songs were being rewritten and edited after already being fully recorded. Changes were being made up until the very last minute. It took the album’s mixer Joseph Buchan (“Other Joe”), label interest by Remote Control and Dot Dash Recordings, as well as the band’s close friends to convince them to finally release it into the wild.

“Someone else has to tell us that it’s done,” says Harry. “It’s one of those things where as soon as you step away from it, you’re like, ‘What was I even doing?’”

MOUSEATOUILLE

WHERE: MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHEN: 5-7 DEC

Images credit: Edward Dean

JULIA WOLF

When Long Island songstress Julia Wolf sang

“you should probably get off my dick” on her debut album, you would think that this particular pop singer had a bit of attitude, bravado and swagger.

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

Æ The actual Julia Wolf, however, is much more reserved, kind and even a touch shy. This is the reason why her latest album, Pressure, swings away from ego-pumped pop and into something more fragile. The change-up also came with a significant genre shift, as Wolf traded trap beats for distorted guitars. It’s the kind of musical flip that makes it totally normal for her to now be collaborating with a broader range of artists.

“It’s just not me, you know,” mentions Wolf when discussing the mood shift between albums. “I was always being put into sessions where the people around me were super hyped on the attitude stuff, and it made me find it super difficult to voice how I just wasn’t resonating with things happening. I can objectively see why it’s popular, though, like the swag of it.”

Wolf’s newer single, In My Room, is a powerful, emotional ballad laced with heavy guitars that draw a lot of Evanescence comparisons due to the similarities between Wolf’s and Amy Lee’s vocals (Wolf’s Twilight obsession also probably doesn’t help). Regardless, the track is a banger, and if you disagree, you are also disagreeing with Drake, who heard it and immediately hit up Wolf to feature on his song DOG HOUSE (also featuring the rapper Yeat).

This collaboration, and the fact that Wolf’s popularity has been rising just off the back of her own hard work, has turned her into a pretty big deal. So big, in fact, that she caught the attention of Beyond the Valley, and will be making her first trip to Australia to join the now sold out festival and run some of her own headline dates as well, stopping in Melbourne and Sydney (both sold out) as well as Brisbane.

“It’s my first time to Australia – very much long overdue,” she says.

For Wolf, life has been busy, and as she has made her way into more and more feeds, she’s opted to get off the internet. “I am almost keeping to myself even more, just because it makes me a little crazy, all of the spotlight and things like that. I’m super grateful for it, but the crazier it gets, the more I have been shrinking away.”

The spotlight, however, was all part of Wolf’s plan, as writing music was always her only career option. “I always knew pretty early on that this is the only thing I’m good at and the only thing that I want to pursue. Writing music definitely started out as a way of just getting things off my chest without having to really speak these things face-toface with someone. I’m not telling anyone that I slit my throat for them just to see how they react, but I can write a song, and then people can resonate with that. And I feel less crazy, just because they’re telling me, ‘Oh, no, I think the same way as you.’ It’s a form of self-expression that started out as a necessity, and now I see how it helps other people, so it definitely keeps me going.”

As Wolf prepares for her first trip down under, she has but one question: “I was going to ask if you guys like Twilight? I could talk about it forever. I adore it with all of my heart, but I am curious, was it a big deal over there? I feel like it’s just everywhere in L.A. The resurgence has been huge, honestly. I feel like I helped, you know, bring it back to life here,” she laughs.

“But yeah, I guess if anyone wants to give me anything at a show, it would be a Twilight-related item. That seems to be the thing that happens on tour now. I have so much Twilight merch, you would not believe, and I want it all.”

“Writing music definitely started out as a way of just getting things off my chest without having to really speak these things faceto-face with someone.”

JULIA WOLF

WHERE: BEYOND THE VALLEY, THE ESPY

WHEN: 28 DEC–1 JAN, 2 JAN

DUST

It’s one thing to make art from clarity, to write once you’ve made sense of the madness. On their debut album, Sky Is Falling, Newcastle outfit dust capture something rarer: the sound of not knowing.

WORDS BY GABRIELLE DUYKERS

Æ The experimental five-piece translate modern-day disorientation into something melodic and electric, proof that the most moving work often arrives before the answers.

dust have refined the frenetic energy of their breakout EP et cetera, etc for their full-length record.

“The goal was to be more intentional with what we played and hold on to that fun, jammy, chaotic side we naturally seem to conjure,” drummer Kye Cherry says. “We spent a long time deciding exactly how we wanted it to sound and feel.”

Two weeks in the studio only sharpened their focus.

“We just lived in it,” Kye recalls.

Then, it happened: that unspoken, shared moment bands dream of. Each member knew dust had entered something new. “We were all unanimously like, ‘Yeah, this is it.’”

Formed in 2020, the quintet, featuring Kye, bassist Liam Smith, saxophonist/guitarist Adam Ridgway, and dual vocalists/guitarists Justin Teale and Gabriel Stove, quickly amassed a following. Sky Is Falling is their shared vision of a “damaged, but ultimately redemptive world” – a document of five friends attempting to make sense of it all.

Lyrically, dust write from melancholic introspection, but the new record stretches into collective worries: social injustice, fractured relationships and the dread of change.

“It’s a commentary on feeling anxious and feeling self-doubt and relationships being tested,” Kye explains.

That yearning for “the betterment of humanity” crystallises on Restless, with the refrain “Maybe this love of restless is what I hate.” It’s an ode to stillness, subtly critiquing selfhelp culture and the cult of constant motion.

Across the record, uncertainty and nihilism give way to a tenuous peace. Rather than a grand revelation, the closer opts for spoken-word realism: “A constant search for meaning, but all my feelings stay the same.”

“I think that’s the exciting part of the album,” Kye says. “It doesn’t feel like it resolves. It feels open-ended, and that search will continue.” Though often lumped in with Australia’s new wave of post-punk, dust prefer to avoid categorisation.

“Initially, when we were kind of aligned with [postpunk], I think we saw it as more of a narrow thing,” Kye says. “We want to take from all the other sides of our musical influence.”

Their music borrows the scene’s urgency – jagged guitars, abrasive drums – but ventures further afield. Elements of experimental jazz, slowcore, and electronica join eerie bass and Adam’s affecting saxophone. Once decorative, the sax now acts almost as dust’s third vocalist, a counterpoint shaping each song’s emotional arc.

“He used to think it was too indulgent,” Kye says. “Now he really wants to sit in it musically and be in the mix. Often we’ll be like, ‘You should do that bit on the sax’, and he’ll go, ‘Nah, doesn’t need it.’”

That restraint, Kye says, raised the bar. “It inspires me and my drumming, and everyone else and their playing, to serve the song.” dust’s ear for texture – the sway between tension and release – defines much of their practice.

“It doesn’t feel like it resolves. It feels open-ended, and that search will continue.”

Comic relief cuts through the album’s gloom and vulnerability with lines like “I think I’ve hit another paywall” on its existential closer. Kye laughs remembering bars that snuck into the final cut.

“‘Far out, brussel sprout’ was a placeholder that just stayed in,” he says of the manic banger, Swamped. “Same as the intro to that song, Adam yelling ‘Gangbuster!’ in the room — all those kinds of chaotic moments we wanted to leave in. A couple of clangers like that are good to lighten the mood.”

Such moments capture the playfully cynical, deadpan tone of Australian humour, that rare ability to stare down existential dread and still find something to laugh at. While many avant-garde acts tend to emerge from the perpetual hum of our capital cities, dust’s slight isolation affords clarity.

“Being from Newcastle has been a good thing,” Kye says. “There’s a lot of bands here, but no one’s really doing the same thing. We get to soak up influence when we go to Sydney or Melbourne, but then retreat to our own zone. We’re not inundated with overly experimental music, so we get to just experiment by ourselves instead of being influenced by other people’s experimentation.”

Sky Is Falling doesn’t land on a single truth, but that’s the point. dust’s strength lies in the space held for ambivalence. In a cultural climate that rarely values empathy, Kye says simply naming their reality can have an impact.

“With so much uncertainty and anxiety in everything, sometimes just talking about it can be powerful. An act of rebellion is just saying it how it is, and how it makes us feel.”

DUST

WHERE: THE EVELYN HOTEL

WHEN: 13 DEC

DAEZY

WORDS BY LUKE CARLINO

How does a group that has been together for under two years play the Forum? Daezy gives us the hack.

Æ It’s pretty unusual for a local band that has just released their debut EP to play the Forum six months later, but it’s 2025, and way weirder shit has been happening, we guess.

Daezy, the indie-pop-rock band that Daisy Bateman started when she decided she was done with her AFLW career, has done exactly this. Together with Jackson Raeburn and Josh Michels, the group’s debut EP, See Me Standing, has been spun on Home and Hosed, and played in front of plenty of punters thanks to support slots with Jacob Fitzgerald, Alex Lahey and most notably, The Rions at the Forum.

“It was unbelievable. I feel like, upon reflection, it doesn’t actually feel like we played it,” explains Bateman about the Forum experience. “It was pure adrenaline and the most amazing feeling ever. It was a 30-minute set, but it felt like it was a five-minute set.”

While a Forum crowd is something most Melbourne bands aspire to, playing big shows is something this relatively young band is already used to, with sold-out headline sets at the Worker’s Club and Bergy Bandroom also already under the belt. As Michels adds however, The Rions gig was something else.

“The feedback we got from everyone from that night was that it was the best that we had sounded, and it’s really good that was the case because sometimes, especially being as a smaller band who is used to smaller venues, knowing you can perform and play like that on a huge system is nice.”

So what is the hack for young bands to get big support slots? According to the Daezy playbook, you just have to cover the headliner’s song, post it on Instagram and tag them. Simple. As Raeburn explains, “Someone had an idea to do a cover of one of their songs, and I feel like it’s the whole ethos of the band. I feel like it comes from Daisy, this idea that you’ve just got to go and say you want it. You’ve just got to manifest and say, ‘We’re just going to go for it. We’ll make a video, we’re going to put ourselves out there.’ You might as well give it a shot and see what happens.”

The band are the first to admit they had no idea what they were doing when they first started in February of 2024. “We were just playing shows and then people were like, ‘Do you have music?’” explains Raeburn. “Daisy had written a song, and then we’re like, ‘Okay, well, people want us to write more music, how do we do that?’ We just learned along the way, whether that’s in the studio or actually writing the material. The more you write and the more you record, the easier it is to figure out ways to express yourself better.”

Fast forward, and the band’s EP has since been followed by two new singles with a second EP set for release early next year.

“It was pure adrenaline and the most amazing feeling ever.”

“At this point, it’s just cool to be able to reflect and be like, ‘Hey, we actually did a pretty good job of the EP,’ as opposed to when you release it and you’re like, ‘I can’t hear that song ever again,’ even though everyone’s listening to it for the first time,” explains Bateman. “Now, the stories that we’re writing about are a bit more vulnerable. We’re taking bigger risks and diving deeper into the stories and not being so afraid of being vulnerable.”

Daezy will be ending the year with a great run playing at the Torquay Hotel for the first time, supporting Sly Withers, before heading over to The Palms at the Crown to support Daryl Braithwaite. In the New Year, after the release of their sophomore EP, they will be heading out on their first-ever tour up to Brisbane, then Sydney, with a homecoming show at Northcote Social Club. “We’re really excited about all of that,” explains Raeburn. “We’re keen to celebrate the EP we will have released, but also to just connect with audiences everywhere, hopefully.”

You’ll be able to hear a new single from the next Daezy EP out now and catch the band at one of the aforementioned shows before the year is done.

DAEZY

WHERE: THE PALMS AT CROWN (SUPPORTING DARYL BRAITHWAITE)

WHEN: 12 DEC

SUNDREAMER

WORDS BY SARAH DUGGAN

It’s the kind of story that every young band dreams of – a small-stage victory that could change everything.

Æ For Melbourne’s Sundreamer, that dream is fast becoming a reality. After recently winning the Bergy Bandroom’s Battle of the Bands, the four-piece not only walked away with a sizable prize, but also with the kind of confidence and fresh energy that has the power to launch an emerging band into the spotlight.

Catching up with Sundreamer a few weeks after their win, it’s clear they’re still buzzing. The band consists of bassist Camelia Rose, lead vocalist Eden Sofarnos, guitarist Jarrah Sofarnos and drummer Cameron Harris, all hailing from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

“Jarrah and I started this back in 2020, as kind of a COVID project… We set up a little home studio and recorded our first EP, just the two of us at the time. Then we thought, ‘Well it’s only two of us and we can’t really play live with just the two of us,’” Eden explains. Through mutual friends, Camelia and Cam eventually joined and the chemistry was instant.

2025 marked the Bergy’s Battle of the Bands second year, kicking off in May with 25 emerging acts. Heats were held monthly, with winners progressing through to the grand final on 15 October.

“Cam was the one who found out about it, and initially I was very skeptical,” Jarrah shares. “I’ve played quite a lot of Battle of the Bands in the past, and some of them have been money-making schemes where the organisers look to extort young musicians. But this one was really different. This was a really well-organised event. Cam was really keen and thought we should give it a go so we said yes. We really didn’t have high expectations, especially being a metal band.”

Not only were they the only metal band in both their heat and the grand final, but they also played the earliest slot of the night, while the sun was still up. “It was a really weird situation for a metal band to be playing in,” Camelia laughs.

But early time-slot aside, Sundreamer came out on top. Their prize included cash, a full day at The Aviary Recording Studio with

engineer Zachary Camm, $500 worth of on-air advertising and a performance slot at the 2026 Sydney Road Festival.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us,” says Eden. “As musicians in Australia, we don’t make anywhere near enough money from what we do to support or pursue these opportunities. Recording, shooting a music video, promoting our music… The winnings from this help enormously.”

For an emerging band, financial support is one thing, but getting people to pay attention is another entirely, especially in the modern metal scene.

“You take the amount of people who want to go see local bands and then you really divide it down by who wants to go see metal bands locally. There’s a lot of work to try and get people to come out,” Camelia says.

“I feel like the metal scene is dominated by really masc men and we’ve put a lot of effort into trying to get our friends who we would want to come along. I want to be putting on a gig where I would feel safe as a queer person. We get a lot of queer fans who really appreciate what we do, and lots of women which can be unusual for the metal scene.”

In 2024, Sundreamer released their debut album, Flower and Bloom, an entirely self-produced effort funded out of pocket and recorded around day jobs and life commitments. The result was a polished and powerful record that could easily rival label-backed releases.

“It was our first record as a full band,” explains Jarrah, “We knew it was going to be a really different process to anything Eden and I had done before, since there was more people involved, even just as far as how the songs would naturally change. I tried to let go of the perfectionism of things and let it evolve in a natural way. We learned so much from that process.”

Taking out the Bergy’s Battle of the Bands has given Sundreamer a solid push forward financially, creatively and in terms of their self-belief. It’s proof that staying true to their sound, no matter how niche it may be, pays off. With a fresh momentum behind them, the Melbourne fourpiece will be stepping into their next phase with purpose and passion.

Made in partnership with the Bergy Bandroom.

MURRAY AND THE MOVERS

WORDS BY AUGUST BILLY

Murray Cook and Lizzie Mack will launch their new single, If I’m With You, at Cherry Bar in December, and every ticket sold includes a free CD or vinyl.

Æ The only celebrity I’ve ever taken a selfie with is the OG red Wiggle, Murray Cook. Whenever I’m tasked with babysitting a friend’s child, my first idea is to show them The Wiggles. Invariably, they’re already a fan.

The high-powered rock ’n’ roll of Murray and the Movers –Cook’s band with commanding frontperson Lizzie Mack – is a world away from the easy-going children’s music of The Wiggles. But there is some crossover.

For starters, Cook and Mack aim to write songs that will resonate with a broad spectrum of people. Their melodies are crafted for maximum sing-along potential, and the lyrics, says Mack, “have universal themes.”

“We make and write songs for everyone,” she says.

The band recently changed its name from the Soul Movers to Murray and The Movers. Mack originally formed the Soul Movers with Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek in 2007. Tek never officially left the band, but he handed over the guitar reins to Cook in 2012. The group has revolved around Cook and Mack’s songwriting partnership ever since.

In its earliest incarnation, the band’s repertoire was much more soul-oriented, but their new single If I’m With You – the first to be credited to Murray and The Movers – is a power pop song. Their latest album, 2023’s Dumb Luck, was indebted to the pop, rock and country music of the 1960s and ’70s. The Soul Movers name had become an unwitting diversion.

“We’ve been a little bit hamstrung by the name, just because people assume it’s all soul music,” says Cook. “We’ve always been fairly diverse. We’ve never really felt restricted to just soul music.”

Mack and Cook had also grown tired of seeing the word soul used as a superficial marketing term.

“Just in the last 10 years, there’s been so much, like, ‘soul burger’ and ‘soul coffee,’” says Cook. “And there’s more bands with ‘soul’ in the name,” says Mack. “I just went, I can’t do it anymore. It’s just too much soul, you know?”

The decision to place Cook’s name under the spotlight was a practical one. OG Wiggles fans, who are now in their twenties and thirties, make up a significant portion of the group’s audience.

“When we do play the bigger festivals, like Blues On Broadbeach earlier this year and when we played Splendour, we know that the kids are trying to find Murray,” says Mack. “They’ve grown up with very diverse music. Like, they love Fleetwood Mac, they love all that sort of stuff, so they want to find Murray.”

Cook was initially reluctant to draw so much attention to himself. “I’m not big on ego,” he says. But despite the name change, nothing has changed about the group’s internal structure.

“I get women coming up to me after a show going, ‘It’s not fair. It should be about you,’” says Mack. “And I’m like, ‘It’s only about one thing. It’s about the music.’”

Murray and The Movers will launch If I’m With You at Cherry Bar on 6 December, with support from The Brakes and The Pearlies. In the spirit of Christmas, they’re giving away a free Soul Movers vinyl or CD with every ticket sold.

Cook describes If I’m With You as a song that looks back and forwards at the same time, both musically and lyrically.

“It’s looking back to the days when we were going out and seeing bands – the excitement of that time and wanting to get back there again,” he says. “But the song is also saying, when you’re with your person and you’re sharing a live music experience, you’re living that same world again. Not a world that was, a world that still is.”

Mack agrees. “If you love the sound of good music, if retro music gets you in the heart and the soul, then this is the best of that kind of music,” she says. “And if you’re out there living it or making it, if you realise the transformative power of being there and part of such a creative artform, then we’re all exactly where we should and really need to be.”

MURRAY AND THE MOVERS

WHERE: CHERRY BAR

WHEN: 6 DEC

Made in partnership with Murray and The Movers.

Credit:

Annushka Photography

MOLCHAT DOMA

WORDS BY SIMONE ANDERS

There are few bands out there whose sound is so instantly recognisable.

Æ A Molchat Doma album is typically fuelled by a seemingly chthonic resonance, a melancholic stream of synth-lead sensibilities that cut through the pressure cooker of performative contentment found in modern pop tastes and allows the listener to revel in a sumptuous atmosphere of post-punk malaise.

The Belarusian band’s influence was solidified by their album Этажи (Etazhi) whose oppressive danceability almost singlehandedly revived a gothic flavour in international pop. Songs such as Судно (Борис Рыжий) or Sudno/Bedpan by Boris Ryzhy insist on a ferocious ability to dance to the ineffable beat of the sadness of the everyday. The band have since continued this mixture of lo-fi aestheticism with continuing new wave and synth-pop influences with their albums Monument and Belaya Polosa.

I asked Molchat Doma about the inherent appeal of this sound. “At one point, lo-fi was our way of expressing emotion and preserving a certain atmosphere. It really does give the music a feeling of something raw, a little rough, but very alive. But with the Belaya Polosa album, we moved away from that concept. It sounds completely different. We’ve grown, gained access to new tools and possibilities, and wanted to explore a cleaner, more spacious sound. It’s not a rejection of the past, but rather the next stage of evolution,” says the band.

An inherent consequence of this particular sound has been the band’s association with ‘doomer’ aesthetics, the term associated with resigned depression over the state of the world. “We know that people often associate us with that aesthetic. It’s become part of internet culture, and we’re fine with that. If our music helps someone cope with emotions or find comfort, that means we’re doing something important. That said, we’ve never called ourselves a ‘doomer band’ or tried to fit into any particular genre.”

“Maybe that’s the secret: listeners can feel that the music is made without calculation, without the desire to please someone.”

Molchat Doma’s association with the embrace of nihilistic stupor is not lost on them. Whether one dances through the darkness or loses themselves in its embrace, the band are happy to allow people to work through the void. “Some people find a reflection of their own emotions in our music and dive into it to really feel and process everything,” they say. “Others find release through the music and come out of that state. We just create an atmosphere and everyone decides for themselves how to interact with it.”

The band have collectively found many ways to expand on their ideas with multiform musical toolsets, some they value more heavily than others. “We never try to impose our interpretation on the listener. Some elements probably do stay in the background, for example, how much attention we pay to sonic detail, mixing, synth textures, atmosphere. These things aren’t always obvious, but they’re important to us. The influence of the ’90s electronic scene, dance music, minimalism – all of that is present too, but rarely mentioned in the context of Molchat Doma. We like experimenting and looking for interesting solutions, which is why Belaya Polosa sounds so different from our previous records. And the next album will also differ from everything we’ve done before, including Belaya Polosa.”

Despite some of their music pertaining particular lyrical relevance to aspects of their Belarusian upbringing (the above mentioned Sudno, for example is based on the works of a Belarusian poet), Molchat Doma’s focus is uniquely on the emotional honesty of their unique soundscape.

“We try not to think about how to be appealing to a broad audience. We just do what interests us and try to do it sincerely,” they say. “Maybe that’s the secret: listeners can feel that the music is made without calculation, without the desire to please someone. It’s born out of emotion, out of a search for a sound that feels honest to us. We’ve always strived to be genuine, and maybe that resonates with people from different countries.”

Now that Molchat Doma find themselves in Australia all through December, local audiences can get a taste of the band’s unique sensibilities. One can expect many things from a show like theirs, but the band are clear in their visual direction as well as with their sonic ambition.

“Our concerts aren’t theatrical shows or conceptual performances. It’s more like an energetic exchange between us and the audience. We try to keep the sound powerful, the visuals minimal but striking, and the atmosphere honest. People who’ve been to our shows often say they’re completely different from what they expected, in a good way.”

MOLCHAT DOMA

WHERE: FORUM

WHEN: 17 DEC

GARBAGE

WORDS BY JACOB MCCORMACK

Garbage have been releasing music for three decades now.

Æ It was their debut self-titled album featuring classic tracks like Only Happy When It Rains and Stupid Girl that catapulted them into focus. In May this year, they released their eighth studio album – Let All That We Imagine Be The Light – a 10-track exposé into the impact love can have in a world too often despondent.

All things considered, Garbage have shaped modern music in a way that speaks volumes of the songwriting prowess of Shirley Manson and the instrumental work of Duke Erikson, Butch Vig and Steve Marker. Now, they are returning to Australia to headline Good Things Festival.

“The first festival I ever played down there was Big Day Out,” says Vig, “and it was the most amazing run I think we’ve ever had because we’d play a show and all the musicians got along so well.

“We’d party at the hotel, get up at like 7am and go to the airport. We’d all be on the same plane and fly to the next city. And it was like a travelling band of crazy people. It was a blast. Garbage likes playing festivals because we realise we reach a lot of people beyond just our fan base, but you know that we know that Australia likes to rock.”

And that much is true, considering the success of Good Things, as well as the alternative bands that have come out of Australia. But Garbage have more than just an appreciation for Australia – they’ve got history here.

“People may not be aware, but Garbage was signed to Mushroom Australia before we even met Shirley,” says Vig.

“They were the ones, Michael Gudinski and the people at Mushroom, who green-lit Garbage. They had belief in me to start a band before we even knew what that band was. I remember flying down there on the first Garbage tour and doing press, and I loved it straight away. I’ve always loved Australia, and we felt so warmly received there. Australia is very close to our hearts.”

“We were catapulted into a situation out of our control. It felt at the time like a curse, but I actually think it was a gift. It gave us a brand-new shift in perspective.”

After the setbacks the band have had during COVID, and also an injury and subsequent surgery that Manson suddenly endured, it seems the band are more eager than ever to play more shows in Australia.

“The process of making our last album was definitely different from any of the other previous seven albums,” he says. “We had to cancel shows last November and December. We’d planned to come to Australia, but that got cancelled because Shirley had to have a total hip replacement. It was quite daunting for her that the rehabilitation and therapy took a long time.”

“We were catapulted into a situation out of our control,” she says. “It felt at the time like a curse, but I actually think it was a gift. It gave us a brand-new shift in perspective.”

And what came of it was the album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, an LP that sifts through the chaos and grief omnipresent in the world to find strength in joy.

“Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, is a lot more about hope and positivity,” says Vig. “I think that’s been a thread through our recent shows. It’s hard to define exactly, but I think that Shirley’s lyrics have spoken to a lot of our fans.

“You know, the world is crazy right now. Not just America, but everywhere. And we, especially Shirley, haven’t been afraid to speak about that. Our fans have a sense of that, and it’s meant there’s been a real sort of community collective at the gigs, and a lot of that comes through in Shirley’s lyrics.”

It’s no wonder the band are as sharp as they have ever been with Manson leading the helm in this newfound way. “We’re playing about as good as we’ve ever played in Garbage,” says Vig.

“A lot of that comes down to having been around for so long, but we also rely on Shirley. If she’s having a great show, we have a killer show, and she’s been on point recently. I mean, she’s been totally focused.”

And you can expect nothing but a stellar performance from the band in their upcoming Good Things appearance.

“Well, every time we’ve been down to Australia, we have a fucking blast. The people are just so cool,” he says. “We’re going to come down there and I’m telling you, we’re going to put the fucking hammer down.”

GARBAGE

WHERE: GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL, FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE

WHEN: 5 DEC

Regional GUIDE

WORDS BY

FRANKIE ANDERSON-BYRNE

FESTIVALS

SPILT MILK

Ballarat’s getting a major festival moment this December when Spilt Milk rolls into town. Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Sara Landry, Dominic Fike and ScHoolboy Q headline the lineup alongside Nessa Barrett, Skin On Skin, Club Angel and more. Expect big-name acts, good vibes and the kind of lineup that’ll have you questioning why you ever considered staying home on a Saturday.

BALLARAT 6 DEC

NARIEL CREEK FOLK FESTIVAL

Folk music lovers have been flocking to Nariel Creek for decades, and this year’s festival continues the tradition with eight days of workshops, jamming sessions and performances tucked away in the Victorian high country. Pack your camping gear and your instrument of choice.

NARIEL CREEK 27 DEC–3 JAN

COAST FESTIVAL OF SOMATICS & DANCE

Movement exploration meets coastal connection at this weekend festival on Wadawurrung Country. Local teachers lead workshops in dance, yoga, somatics and mind-body practices across indoor and outdoor locations, with camping available at Torquay Foreshore Reserve for those wanting the full immersive experience.

TORQUAY 5–7 DEC

OCEAN SOUNDS

Part of the ALWAYS LIVE program, this allday coastal concert brings The Presets and Thelma Plum to Phillip Island. Great music plus sunset coastal views equals the kind of Saturday that justifies the drive down the coast.

PHILLIP ISLAND 10 JAN

GEELONG BEER FESTIVAL

Beer lovers descend on Johnstone Park for a day of craft brews, live music and everything that makes beer festivals worth attending. Bring your mates, bring your appetite and pace yourself accordingly.

JOHNSTONE PARK, GEELONG 18 JAN

NIGHTJAR FESTIVAL SERIES

Two separate dates mean two chances to catch this Surf Coast festival series doing its thing. Music, summer vibes and coastal settings make for an unbeatable combination when Melbourne’s heat becomes unbearable.

SURF COAST 2 & 9 JAN

SUMMER SUNDAYS

Free live music, food trucks and a pop-up beer garden take over the Ballarat Botanical Gardens every Sunday in January from 3 to 7pm. Grab a picnic blanket and make it a yearly ritual while summer lasts.

BALLARAT BOTANICAL GARDENS

EVERY SUNDAY IN JAN

TOURS

THE GROWLERS

SoCal’s cult psych-rock outfit returns to Australia for the first time in six years. Expect woozy grooves, surf-soaked energy and a set that proves why collaborations with Julian Casablancas and Dan Auerbach weren’t a fluke. This will be a rare chance to catch them up close.

TORQUAY 23 JAN

PETE MURRAY

Prepare yourself for a summer night with one of Australia’s most beloved songwriters. Pete Murray brings his trademark warmth, soulful vocals and sun-drenched hits to the coast for a laidback evening perfectly suited to barefoot holiday mode.

BARWON HEADS 16 JAN

ROSS WILSON

“Come Said the Boy” meets coastal summer energy when Aussie rock royalty Ross Wilson hits Bellarine Estate. Expect to hear classics from Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock, plus all the stories and swagger he carries effortlessly.

BELLARINE

BARWON HEADS

DRAGON

SPIDERBAIT

Portsea gets loud when Spiderbait plug in for a high-energy coastal gig. They’ll be dishing out a hard-hitting, fast-paced set packed with classics that turn the beachside hotel into a full-tilt party.

24 JAN

COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD

Cousin Tony kick off their regional run at The Espy with lush indie pop, cinematic moods and the warmth of a band in full stride. Then, the beloved synth-pop five piece are set to wizz around the state in the New Year, heading soon to a town near you. ST KILDA 5 DEC

PLAYLUNCH

28 DEC

16 JAN

A cornerstone of Australian rock, Dragon headline the Summer of Rock event alongside Models. Get ready for anthems, nostalgia and a crowd that knows every word. It’ll be pure festival-season magic among the vines.

BELLARINE 24 JAN

Melbourne bogan-funk crew Playlunch are taking their nostalgia-fuelled party show on a massive regional road trip across Australia. Fresh off selling out their capital city album tour in September, Playlunch are bringing the Sex Ed album to 29 regional stages from December through to May. This isn’t just a victory lap either, it’s a proper thank you to the fans who’ve been backing them from day one, with stops in towns that don’t always get the big touring acts rolling through.

PIGGIETAILS

WORDS BY JULIETTE SALOM

What does a city sound like?

Æ Its song comes together as a cacophony of experiences, a mosaic of scenes and a tapestry of moments. It’s a tricky essence to capture, but chuck on Piggietails – the self-titled album from a quartet of mates making jumble-pop goodness – and you’ve pretty much found it.

Piggietails have been playing shows all over the city (and some outside of it) for the past two years, cementing their sound into something tangible with the recent release of their debut album. A collection of 10 songs that will take you from a fishing expedition to the public pool, the album is best consumed beside a body of water. Or, as they say, with “one drink for hydration and one for fun.”

Beaming in on a group call from various parts of Naarm’s inner north, Cal Blackburn (vocals, bass, guitar), Jet Noonan (vocals, keys), Izzy Hardisty (vocals, drums) and Tino D’Onghia (vocals, guitar, bass) reflect on the week they spent in a shed, committing their debut record to tape.

“We had a few songs that had a pretty loose structure going into recording, and then Dylan helped us refine them,” Izzy says, referring to Dylan Young of Way Dynamic, who engineered, mixed and co-produced the album. “One particular one that comes to mind is Possum Magic. We didn’t really know how to structure that song until we recorded it, but because we were recording to tape and couldn’t go back and change things, as soon as we played the version, we were like, ‘Okay that’s it.’”

While the songs were still “rapidly evolving” into something close to their final form up until the week of recording the album, Jet explains that the songs you hear on the album just happened to be captured in the form they existed in, in that moment in time. “Even since then, they have continued to change a little bit as we play them more and more live,” she says. “It’s fun to keep the songs interesting and different.”

Coming from a slew of different musical backgrounds and bands from across the Naarm scene, the collaboration between the members of Piggietails and those of their peers runs deep. Snowy of Snowy Band mastered the record, while designer Liz Luby worked her magic on the album’s layout and design.

The four-piece have also shared a bunch of lineups with local outfits like the Greer Clemens Band, Babyccino, Sour Worm, Gavin! and Big Farmer.

Their favourite shows, however, are the ones that have taken place outside of Naarm. “We played in Beechworth in April last year,” Cal remembers. “And earlier this year we played a show supporting Mess Esque in Archie’s Creek.”

One of Naarm’s most beloved duos going around, Mess Esque have been big supporters of Piggietails from the get-go. Game recognises game, as they say.

Speaking about the band’s dynamic, Tino describes their process as one of utmost collaboration. “Usually someone comes to the band with a chord progression or just the start of a song,” he says. “There is a really strong trust with everyone in the band that collaborating will make the song better or more fun.”

An undercurrent of fun is at the forefront of everything Piggietails does; it’s as visceral in reality as it sounds in all their songs. Even in the ones that lean into more of the melancholy, like stand-out song And I’m Alright, the camaraderie that weaves the musicians together is palpable.

“Friendship is important to the band,” Cal says. “I feel like we’ve valued that above all other things in the process of making the music. We never want it to not be fun. So much of our band practices are just us hanging out and catching up. It’s very special.”

They’re not trying to sound like this city, and they’re not positing that they know what it sounds like any better than the rest of us. But if you’ve ever found yourself at a gig, or in a pub, or barefoot in someone’s backyard backgrounded by a baby blue sunset, you’ll hear the sound of this corner of the country in all of Piggietails’ songs. And, if you’re lucky, you might find them there too.

“There is a really strong trust with everyone in the band that collaborating will make the song better or more fun.”

PIGGIETAILS

WHERE: SUMMER SLAM –BARWON CLUB HOTEL

WHEN: 17 JAN

KING & GODFREE

LIVE MUSIC: is soon coming to King & Godfree as the venue is set to roll out three brand new hospitality offerings in the coming months: a pizzeria, a schmoozy wine bar and restaurant and a basement cocktail spot.

THE WATERSIDE HOTEL

LIVE MUSIC: and DJ sets will take place downstairs in the public bar, the venue’s most laidback offering. The venue’s still warming up, so expect more info to come soon.

FAMOUS FOR: being a part of the city’s tapestry since 1884. Sitting in the heart of Carlton, the classic Italian deli has been a fixture of the neighbourhood for as long as anyone can remember. But that’s all about to change.

INFAMOUS FOR: changing. We know change can be hard, but we truly believe it’ll all be worth it when this place re-opens.

FAMOUS FOR: being one of the oldest bars in the city. Established in 1853, the space has a rich history and has been keeping Melburnians well fed (and half tipsy) for more than 150 years.

Æ Sitting on a Lygon Street corner, with that big unmissable sign out the front, King & Godfree may have one of the most prime locations in the city. The chances are high that you’ve walked by and been lured inside by the fragrant counter full of cheeses or the juicy imported drops. After operating as a much-beloved deli for many, many years, the venue will soon complete its metamorphosis, branching out into three new offerings.

The pizzeria, set to open this month, will be a chilled-out spot to grab a slice. For something a little more formal, the osteria and wine bar will shortly follow, taking over the former corner location. Finally, the cellar is due for a switch-up, becoming a swanky little cocktail bar made for late nights and leisurely hangs. Rumour has it this area may also host live music too – keep your eyes peeled for new details. With a stand-out culinary team featuring general manager Joel Penno, executive chef Mark Glenn and culinary director Karen Martini, expect the menus to be full of crowd favourites and classics with a twist. Heritage meets modern hospitality: it’s change done right.

WHERE: 293/297 LYGON ST, CARLTON

OPEN: TBA

INFAMOUS FOR: keeping us waiting a whopping eight years to see its full transformation. It finally re-opened in November with a charming makeover and new nooks and crannies to explore.

Æ We’ve been waiting a long time to see what finally comes of The Waterside Hotel. The hospitality group Sand Hill Road (of The Espy, Richmond Club Hotel and Garden State Hotel fame) took on the project in 2017 and have been hard at work renovating the Melbourne institution ever since. Finally, last month, the venue opened its doors, quickly becoming one of the CBD’s biggest and buzziest spots for a bite, booze or a little banter.

Spread across seven levels, the venue offers a variety of different vibes, with spaces for dining, casual drinks and even exclusive events. On the ground floor, the public bar is for the people, offering DJs, music and live sports on TV. PAST/PORT is the main dining room, offering zingy South Asian flavours with a modern touch served up by a team of local hospo veterans. On level five, a luxe private dining space will house dreamy dinners and special events with impeccable service. There’s truly something for all tastes.

With a fresh face, a rich history and one of Melbourne’s top teams at the helm, The Waterside Hotel is poised to become a staple. We don’t think it’ll take too long.

WHERE:

508 FLINDERS ST, MELBOURNE

OPEN: SUN–TUE 11:30AM–1PM / WED 11:30AM–2AM / THU–SAT 11:30AM–3AM

LA MAMA THEATRE

LIVE MUSIC: La Mama keeps the Carlton arts scene pulsing with an ever-changing program of bold, intimate and fiercely independent theatre (not usually music, soz). With shows staged just an arm’s length from the audience, every whisper carries and every moment lands with unmistakable force, a signature that’s defined La Mama for more than half a century.

FAMOUS FOR: championing risk-takers, boundary-breakers and the beautifully unpolished. La Mama is Australia’s home of independent theatre, supporting new writing, experimental forms and culturally diverse voices through seasons, developments, readings and more.

INFAMOUS FOR: that raw, no-place-to-hide intimacy. In the La Mama space, artists and audience meet eye-to-eye, and every movement becomes part of the conversation. It’s theatre stripped back to its purest, most electrifying form.

Æ La Mama Theatre is a Melbourne cultural icon, a tiny room with a giant legacy. Founded in 1967 after Betty Burstall fell for the off-off-Broadway scene in New York’s Greenwich Village, La Mama brought the coffee-house revolution to Carlton. What began with 50-cent admissions and cups of coffee quickly grew into the beating heart of Australia’s independent theatre scene, nurturing a generation of artists who would go on to shape the country’s creative identity.

Since then, La Mama has presented countless works. It remains a home for learning productions, touring programs, play readings and special events, all anchored in an ethos of accessibility, affordability and genuine artistic freedom.

Its alumni list reads like a who’s who of Australian storytelling — from David Williamson and Jack Hibberd to Cate Blanchett, Judith Lucy, Julia Zemiro and Uncle Jack Charles. But its real magic lies in what happens night after night: a room full of strangers, just inches from the stage, sharing something honest, unfiltered and entirely alive.

THE VIC BAR

LIVE MUSIC: comes on a case-by-case basis at The Vic Bar. Open to hosting events, functions, birthdays, or whatever else comes to mind, the cruisy Abbotsford joint features a standout music set up, DJ booth and sound system, with a capacity of 100.

WHERE:

205 FARADAY ST, CARLTON

OPEN: DURING EVENTS

FAMOUS FOR: that unmistakably welcoming vibe. Whether you’re ducking in for a knock-off or rolling deep with mates, The Vic somehow always finds you a perch and keeps the good times flowing.

INFAMOUS FOR: Route 109 — the in-house microdistillery crafting Bootlegger Vodka and Melbourne Dry Gin. Small-batch, clean-tasting and poured with pride, these spirits have become local favourites well beyond Abbotsford. It’s easy to take it a little too far when the drinks are this good.

Æ The Vic Bar is Abbotsford’s after-dark hideout – a warm, character-filled space where distressed brick, vaulted ceilings and a steady hum of chatter set the scene for nights done right. It’s equal parts neighbourhood hangout and creative clubhouse, the sort of place where artists, hospo workers, locals and late-night wanderers all find themselves sharing the same bar.

What sets The Vic apart is its commitment to craft and community. Route 109, their pandemic-born distillery tucked inside the venue, has become a quiet powerhouse. Not only are the spirits genuinely delicious, but the team has rethought packaging and distribution to cut down environmental strain. In 2023 alone, their approach prevented more than 10 tonnes of greenhouse gases and saved hundreds of glass bottles from hitting production lines.

Then there’s the atmosphere: friendly faces behind the bar and the kind of easygoing, no-fuss energy that turns casual visits into big nights. Good spirits, good people and good times, distilled right in the heart of Abbotsford. That’s The Vic Bar.

WHERE: 281 VICTORIA ST, ABBOTSFORD

OPEN: TUE–THU 4–11:30PM / FRI–SAT 3PM–1AM / SUN 3–11PM / MON 4–11PM

ROSALÍA

Æ Not only is Lux 2025’s Album Of The Year, IMHO, its lead single Berghain (feat. Björk and Yves Tumor – what a flex!) also snatches the Song Of The Year crown. This staggering song’s intro – choral euphoria underscored by a flurry of sawing strings – wouldn’t sound out of place nestled among the classical greats.

When Björk enters around the halfway mark, her vocals have an omnipresent quality – like Mother Earth grieving: “The only way to save us is through divine intervention.” We’ve already been served a lush, sonic banquet, then Yves Tumor closes out this masterstroke, repeating, “I’ll fuck you ‘til you love me” – aching with desperation. Something about the f-word mingling with orchestration feels like swearing in church. As measured, bombastic bass drums vibrate like a giant’s footsteps, the song’s conclusion is exhilarating and unexpected.

An entire opera in less than three minutes, Berghain is devoted to the 12th-century German abbess, Hildegard of Bingen, who had visions that would pierce her brain.

Lux, which is Latin for light, is a collection of character studies “inspired by the lives of female saints”. Rosalía was fascinated by how different cultures interpret and contextualise sainthood. For example: Olga of Kyiv, an Eastern Orthodox saint, slaughtered thousands of men from the tribe responsible for her husband’s death but was canonised regardless.

Rosalía’s astonishing fourth record, which is arranged in four movements, is sung in 13 languages (including Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Hebrew and Ukrainian). On the dramatic Porcelana, she raps in Latin. Rosalía spent an entire year working with native speakers to get the translations spot on, turning to Justice and Charlotte Gainsbourg for the French parts.

She also made a conscious decision to stay away from looping and instead prioritise human performance, recruiting Catalan choirs and the London Symphony Orchestra.

“How nice it’d be, to come from this Earth, go to Heaven, and come back to the Earth,” opener Sexo, Violencia, y Llantas ponders. On Sauvignon Blanc, which is sung in Spanish, she vows, “I will listen to my God/ I will throw away my Jimmy Choos” – there’s humour within the reverence.

Rosalía could never be accused of algorithm chasing. She creates sonic art from a limitless palette and artistic licence prevails. Lux effortlessly pings from serene waltz (La Perla, which calls out an “emotional terrorist”) to deconstructed salsa rhythms (Dios Es Un Stalker), flamenco pop (La Rumba Del Perdón) to aria (Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti) plus so much more.

La Yugular aptly closes with a snippet from a 1976 interview recording of Patti Smith –one of Rosalía’s sheroes – during which she urged artists to shatter expectations: “Break on through to the other side. Going through one door isn’t enough, a million doors aren’t enough.”

While Lux’s digital version contains 15 tracks, physical copies of the record – vinyl, CDs – contain three bonus songs.

If you weren’t already familiar with Rosalía’s divine work, prepare to be converted.

LABEL: SONY MUSIC

RELEASE: OUT NOW

DICK MOVE

Dream, Believe, Achieve

Æ These self-described “socialist-party punk agitators” turned their 2am chats about stuff that pissed them off into album number three – 13 songs in a tight 24 minutes, no fucking about.

“You love to see a girl on top but you hate to see her win” – spits the opening Fuck It. Shut Your Mouth has a Sex Pistols (specifically God Save The Queen) sneer. But Dick Move can also be funny AF (see: Try Hard – “Your mum’s a tryhard/ My dad’s one, too/ The world’s fucked, mate/ That’s all we can do…”).

During Dick Move’s first tour in 2020, they stayed in an Ōtautahi Airbnb where the phrase “Dream, Believe, Achieve” was emblazoned across a naff piece of inspirational ‘art’. Listen out for this album’s title repeated – mantra-like – towards the end of Nurses, which references the Toitū Te Tiriti hīkoi: a nationwide march that shook the Harbour Bridge when hundreds of thousands of Kiwis turned up to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill (“We’re makin’ the bridge shake/ Keep spitting ya hatred/ Well it keeps us tough, motivated”).

FYI: Lucy Suttor, Dick Move’s frontperson, is studying to be a nurse.

The rabble-rousing Scared Old Men (“... ban abortions ...start wars …own firearms …at the protest …drop bombs …own churches”) takes aim at the patriarchy – apoplectic, both lyrically and instrumentally.

“Thank you, driver” – listeners are reminded to show some appreciation during Up The Bus. Dick Move gives PT cred here –it’s a proper shredfest.

Drummer Luke Boyes will leave Dick Move after this album tour, which increases the urgency to attend tenfold. His powerful, sinuous playing style will be sorely missed.

LABEL: 1:12/FLYING NUN RECORDS

RELEASE: OUT NOW

GEORGIA KNIGHT

Beanpole

Æ Naarm’s Georgia Knight largely wrote Beanpole – her debut album – on autoharp, which contributes greatly to its striking sonic identity.

Commencing with discordant, metallic autoharp strums and evenly dispersed, batched beats – like repeated, insistent door knocking – opener Mingle expands into a saucy minx of a track: “I covet your smile/ I covet your touch/ I coveted you undercover/ Felt I needed you so much.”

Rockerbilly’s upbeat drums and chuffed tamba bring Peter Bjorn And John’s Young Folks to mind. Knight’s vocal delivery is transcendental here (think: Portishead’s Beth Gibbons). As for the abrasive, hissing vocalisation? We Call Upon The Author by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds springs to mind.

Although achingly delivered, there’s defiance within humiliation on Everybody Knows My Business Now.

“I know that many can see straight into my room when the light is on/ But I don’t give a shit…” – City Gone To Seed’s scene unfolds over tranquil strumming until a pretty, pensive piano melody enters, like crepuscular rays, around the four-and-a-half-minute mark.

The trip-hoppy Desire is lyrically magnetic: “I can’t feel your love/ You’ve always been a little of a stranger/ And smoking every day/ Have you smoked your heart away?/ You’ve met me at a curious time.”

Frequently-shifting radio station sounds, which hover on Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place On Earth, open – and are interpolated throughout – Fix My Car.

Closer Cut You Loose wrestles with its titular decision (eg. “Stop looking so good in bed”).

Beanpole is elegantly haunted. Fans of PJ Harvey will dig this one.

KYLIE MINOGUE

Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)

Æ Quivering strings, rejoicing brass, carolling choir – WOW! Just from the intro of opener It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, we can already tell Kylie’s latest release will save our family Christmas Day celebrations.

Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) is a special 10th anniversary edition of Kylie’s first holiday anthology, 2015’s Kylie Christmas, which contains four new songs: Hot In December – a breathy bop; the catchy, cheeky, self-referential (“Oh, I could be the Princess of Pop…”) Office Party, resplendent with finger snaps and sleigh bells; This Time Of Year – a reflective ballad; and XMAS (pronounced X – M – A – S) – an Amazon Music Original and deadset yuletide banger.

Our Kyles correctly brings naughty-girl-next-door energy (think: Betty Boop meets Marilyn Monroe) to the OG gold-digger song, Santa Baby.

Her charming Santa Claus Is Coming To Town duet features sonically enhanced, posthumous vocal contributions from Frank Sinatra, which were originally recorded in 1948. Fun fact: Seal released this festive classic, also posthumously featuring Ol’ Blue Eyes, in 2017 – two years after Kylie’s version.

As anticipated, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) is elegant and easy on the ear. But it’s really all about Kylie and Dannii’s disco duet, 100 Degrees, which evokes Kiki Dee Band’s I’ve Got The Music In Me. This boogie-friendly number contains delightful, percussive “ha-ha-ha” BVs. All we want for Christmas is for the Minogue sisters to perform this one together live at Carols By Candlelight.

THESE NEW SOUTH WHALES

Godspeed

Æ “This one goes out to all the family/ The choice is yours… Godspeed” – Intro sets the scene, over Frank Sweet’s muscular, cymbal-smashing drums and Todd Andrews’ urgent riffs.

Instinct follows, offering some sage advice (“Listen to your instinct/ Fuck what the rest of them think”) over crisp drumming, clarion guitar parts and Will Shepherd’s tight, rhythmic bass playing – a standout element throughout this album’s entirety.

During the melodically rich R.I.P. Me, synth shadows some vocal melodies to great effect.

“It’s gonna be tough, it’s gonna be tight, but you guys – ya gonna do it!” – Big Machine opens with a pep talk.

The piano-led Nobody Listens is about as close to a ballad as TNSW get, with Jamie Timony singing in fine voice. Then in barges Pig, taking no prisoners – vibeshift, alert! –before concluding with what sounds like a ragtime sample. Every TNSW album to date has featured an anti-cop song and Godspeed is no exception.

A future-mosh classic, Birdbrain continues with the hyper energy and maximum aggro. Timony’s vocal delivery is more brutal than ever here, until a sudden tempo change gives us a bit of a breather. “Fuck were you thinkiiiiiiiin’?” – a chorus of sweetly sung BVs sweep in like a pang of conscience.

The closing title track, which is about reclaiming your personal autonomy, dovetails neatly back to Intro: “Don’t let anyone in your life tell you what you can or can’t do… The choice is yours/ Godspeed.”

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is fucked right now. But listening to Godspeed helps.

LABEL: POISON CITY

RELEASE: OUT NOW

LABEL: WARNER

RELEASE: 5 DEC

LABEL:

GIG GUIDE

DECEMBER 2025

THU 04 DEC

MUNRA

FT: Bethany, Master Oje, Envy, Cosy, KJONES, Kiara Friend, Tinika, SAFE Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm.

BELLADONNA

FT: Ashwarya, Mimosa, Lucy Lorenne, My Dog Satellite, Isabel Marcia, ang3lhaven Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 4pm. $19.80.

JACK J

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $48.92.

WHOOP DEE

DOO REVUE

Viva. North Melbourne. 7pm. $70 - 150.

MIGUEL BROOKING. HANNAH CROSSROSE, GRIFFIN MORRIS

Evelyn Hotel. Fitzroy. 8pm. $25 - 29.10.

WOODY SAMSON

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

FLYNN GURRY

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. Free.

ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS.

SWEET WHIRL, CCTV The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $14.

CHRIS JOHNSTONE QUARTET

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

WELDER INC. BOX OF HAMMERS, L.MITVALSKY & S.CURRIE

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

BUCK WILD

THURSDAYS

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

DAN & CYRIL

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 8pm.

PERFUME GENIUS. HAND HABITS

Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $87.70.

SUCCULENT

THURSDAY

FT: Marcello Cole & Racoo, Clara Darcy, Mitch Dillon Cactus Room. Thornbury. 7pm. Free.

VELOUR. HARMINIA, THE HOLLOWS Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $15.

SOMBR Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm.

COLIN HAY. FREYA

JOSEPHINE HOLLICK

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $99 - 129.

GIUSEPPE’S GAME TIME WONDER SHOW

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 9.30pm. Free.

FEVER 333. MUDRAT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6.30pm. $69.90.

SIX OF THE BEST

FT: Brigette Allen, Margie Lou Dyer, Jacki Gaudion, Nina Ferro, Annemarie Sharry, Amelia Evans

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

THE AUSTRALIAN BARBRA STREISAND SHOW

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $38.

STEPHEN GRADY + DAN CHALLIS. KIRI

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 7.30pm. $23.20.

FLIPTURN. THE TULLAMARINES Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $74.90.

SCEPTER OF THE ANCIENTS

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $46.

GEORGIA RODGERS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free. SAM AUSTINS. ELI WAN Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $59.90.

REVERIE.AU PRESENTS: REVERIE ROOM

FT: r.em.edy, Robert Baxter, Tom Nethersole, Stocker Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $22.95. REFUSED. DELIVERY, BABY MULLET

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $109.90.

PROJECTILE

DYSFUNCTION

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 9.30pm. Free.

FRI 05 DEC

ANYO + BOOGS

Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm. TONGUE DISSOLVER. VASTA RUINA, ZIPPER

Cafe Gummo. Thornbury. 7pm. $15. THE ANTICS. PUSSY HORSE, THE WAX EATERS, TECHNO 666

Cactus Room. Thornbury. 7pm. $18.90.

DANIEL SERPA. MIMI JESSICA NGUYEN, LABELMAKER

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

REGULAR JOHNS:

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE TRIBUTE SHOW. SYSTEM OF A DON’T, SILVERCHAIR TRIBUTE

John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $27.95.

INTERVAL

FT: Ordley, Ken Speiker, Merel Helderman Glamorama. Fitzroy. 10pm. $15 - 25.

MILLY JOEL

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

FUÁ DA TITA Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

THE DENNIS HOPPER BAND. ARROWS OF DESIRE, HAND GRENADE HEARTS

The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

THE GRAY BROTHERS

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $23.20.

CONTRAST X GUERNS PRESENTS:

ALDONNA + MABEL. BONGO, BLAKE, SU-HWA 素花 New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. $15 - 25.

XANDER

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

AMBY DOWNS. BLOOD OF A POMEGRANATE, CIKCYKA Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $18.35.

AM//PM PRESENT: GOOD THINGS OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 9pm. $25.

THE NEW MONOS

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

SUN SICK

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $16.35.

BAD PENGUINS. DJ MATTY J The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm. OMAR SOULEYMAN Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $76.70 - 87.92.

SAX TRAVELLER: MELODIES OF SILK AND SOUL Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $50.

PAPRIKA. BANKSIA

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. $16.45. UNION HEIGHTS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

FT: Bias B, Pang Productions Crew, Cerberus III, The Marauders, DJ Wallzee Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 8.30pm. Free.

ODDISEE & GOOD COMPANY: THE GOOD FIGHT 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

FT: Oddisee, David Dallas

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $54.87.

DAMES BROWN. DJ JNETT

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $25.30 - 30.31.

THROWING MUSES. CHARM OF FINCHES, A.C SAUNDERS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $82.05.

COOL CHANGE

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $40.

ANTHONY PROBYN. LADYBITCH

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7pm. $15.20. EMPERICAL PREY Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $10.

MY TIME WITH JOHN DENVER

The Round. Nunawading. 7.30pm. $60.

SEX ON TOAST: THE RETURN OF RICKY. BIE BAMBOU, GUSTO GUSTO

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $35.30.

GEORGIA RODGERS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

MICHAEL MEEKING

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $44.40.

CASINO DAYLIGHT. DEAD ED, OLIVER SILO & TOKYO

CLUB, SPIN4U Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85.

SAT 06 DEC

HEINOUS CRIMES. JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS, HONEYBONE

Cactus Room. Thornbury. 8pm. $18.90.

EMILY JANE PRITCHARD. ANGUS ROBB Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $39.30.

SMALL ROOM MUCH NOISE WITH GUESTS FT: Schkeuditzer Kreuz, White Horse, Shipyard, Colostomy Baguette? Cafe Gummo. Thornbury. 8pm. $20.

RIFFMASS AT THE BENDI FT: HZED, Frankenbok, Death Of Art, The Hidden Charms Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $22.95.

ROY DARBY & THE DIALUPS The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. NIGHT OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK FT: Kiss of Reality, Walls & Waves, Obdurate The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $15 - 20.

MURRAY & THE MOVERS. THE BRAKES, THE PEARLIES Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $21.05.

CROWD LU Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $132.42 - 295.54.

NOËL! NOËL! Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 5pm. $30.

STRANGE TENANTS. LOIN GROIN, DJ BUDDY LOVE John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $52.10.

DAD THEY BROKE ME + DEAD Trash Cult. Eaglehawk. 7pm. $20.

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE Kingston City Hall. Moorabbin. 6.30pm. LIDIJA JANEVSKA. QUEEN OF HEARTS Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $28.80.

SLAMROSS1000. ANNIE KEZ, OSAMA

BIN BANGER

Milney’s Upstairs. Fitzroy. 10pm. $20. BLUE HAWAII. LUCY LAMB, MAYARI, TINA DISCO, TOP HUN

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 11pm. $40.

DOOM SCROLL. RENT STRIKE, THE BERKELEY HUNTS, SAMARA CULLEN

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7.30pm. $30.60.

MERRY MOTLEY CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 6pm. $50.65 - 70.91.

GRACE NIGHT

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $45.

CLUB WELL

FT: Inavo, Cooper James, Dadoo

Glamorama. Fitzroy. 9pm. THE MEAN TIMES. SNAILGUN

The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 3pm. Free.

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S CHOIR

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $74.05. WICKED

SMILE. KATANA CARTEL, ANA

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $29.13.

BANDIES

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9.30pm. Free.

CLÔTURE 008

FT: Tejavu. CHARBINK$, Stockholm Syndrome Glamorama. Fitzroy. 4pm. $20 - 30.

VASTA RUINA + PHANTASM

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

BLACK TIE PARTY. DJ JESS MCQUEENIE

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

EAT THE BEAT

FT: BISCITS. Etwaz, Coupla Selectaz, Hybe, Mateo Blanco, Abosaid, more New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. $27.29.

UTASSY’S 65TH ANNUAL PERFORMANCE

The Round. Nunawading. 5pm. $52.

KING’S VENGEANCE. EL BEBE, HARD MERCURY

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $15.85.

CHAYSE TRIO. DJ SHADOW

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

LEWIS CIAVARELLA

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

FRONT PORCH

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

KIER STEVENS

The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Trentham. 3pm. Free.

J.TAJOR & TEO

GLACIER

Evelyn Hotel. Fitzroy. 8pm. $40.30.

CENOTAPH

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $38.35 - 56.80.

KINEMATIC KRISTMAS SHOW

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 3pm. Free.

ROMAIN GARCIA

Howler. Brunswick. 3pm. $43.76.

RED HEART RISING: THE DEATH & LIFE OF PERSEPHONE

FT: Howling Mountain, One Whole Hand, Blood in the Champagne, Violet Tendancies

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 6.30pm. $22.95 - 28.05.

SÖJOURN

Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.

THU 11 DEC

UNKNOWN SOUNDS

FT: Amin Payne, Mols, Sallythedumptruck, L.U.C.A, Kahu, Vincydel, Kole, Hope Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm.

DAN & CYRIL

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 8pm.

ROB ASPINALL. MADOC, MILLY V Misfits. Footscray. 7.30pm. Free.

OUR SONGS

Northcote Civic Square. Northcote. 6.30pm. Free.

LAURA INGRAM. AFTERCARE Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $30.

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ THE MERRI BAR

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

SUCCULENT

THURSDAY

FT: Ov Pain, Chris Smith, RayBan Cactus Room. Thornbury. 7pm. Free.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH LIVE BRASS BAND

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $30 - 45.

RUBY GILL. LOTUS WEB, ANNIEROSE MALONEY

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.86. CSIRAC. ELECTRIC SELF, MC DIGGA Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $18.35.

SONIA SERIN

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $17.10.

REBECCA BLACK. BLUSHER Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. $81.30.

MYA ROGERS

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm. ARCHITECTS. HOUSE OF PROTECTION, PRESIDENT

Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. BENG. CAREFUL YELLING, SAHUL SAKTI

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7pm. $11.25. THE ‘WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU’ JAM

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 9pm. Free.

FLYNN GURRY

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. Free. MUSEUM AFTER DARK - NOCTURNAL: ALL THAT GLITTERS

Melbourne Museum. Carlton. 6pm. $32.

MAD VANTAGE.

KATHLEEN HALLORAN

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

BLOODWOOD. OCEANLORD, ASTROGATE

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. Free.

HOWLIN’ WALSHE

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

NADIA REID. UNCLE QUENTIN Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $54.57.

JOE CHINDAMO TRIO

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

DON WEST.

SURELY SHIRLEY Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm.

FRI 12 DEC

SOJU GANG & FRIENDS

Section 8. Melbourne. 6pm.

GABE BONDOC

Evelyn Hotel. Fitzroy. 8pm. $75.

BUMPY

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $34.59.

THE REMOTES. ANNUAL LEAF

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

RUMBLE QUEER PARTY! WITH JELLY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

FT: Bunni, Sunny BONEZ, Ruby, JXN Miles

New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. $15.

LIQUID ZOO Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $18.10.

TEJO D’CRUZ

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

THE AGENTS OF REVERB CHRISTMESS

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

FANDANGO & FRIENDS

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 9.30pm. Free.

SOUL OBSESSION

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

WAVE JAZZ TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SALSÓDROMO

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $23.45.

CHILD. THE MIFFS, DUKES OF DELICIOUSNESS

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $17.35.

SELEKTA

FT: SUGA, Jack Ahearn, Enrique Sanchez, Obliveus, Bethany

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 11:59pm. $21.42.

TWISTED FIX. FUR BLOSSOM

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $22.59.

INTERVAL

FT: Lemtom, DJ Optimism, Blinky, champagnemuma, Jordan, Pauly Glamorama. Fitzroy. 10pm. $15 - 25.

PRESIDENT Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

A TWIST OF FATECHRISTMAS SPECIAL FT: Chloe Towan The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7pm. $35.46.

MATT MALONE & THE HOLY SPIRITS. ASH JONES

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 4pm. Free.

AL SHAMI Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $264.96. THE FRIDAY REVUE’S YIPPEE-KI YAY, IT’S FRIDAY Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 12.30pm. $33.

MD DUO. DJ BOUJIE KOALA

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm. BOOK RUNNER. AMSTERDAMAGE, BENNI HEDGERS

The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

WRESTLEROCK

FT: Monroe Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $45.45.

CORDRAZINE. ALEX LLOYD, USER Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm. $54.70.

F_CK CANCER: A NIGHT FOR BRAYDEN

FT: C.A.T.O, Crestfallen, Serpentry, Malicy Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 6.20pm. $12.75.

YACHT ROCK REVIVAL

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $50.

TRACEY “MAMA” MILLER

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $38.86.

TRIBE

FT: Eden, Santerres, Olita, JuJu, Denzel Legrand

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 11pm. $28.56 - 38.76.

TIM SCANLAN & MANA OKUBO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

BASEMENT SPACEMAN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

VOXNEON Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $39.

SLAY BELLES 3 FT: A Gazillion Angry Mexicans, Nephalem, Two Headed Dog, Ahrbeka Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $16.85.

THE DARLINGS FAMILY TRUST

Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 8pm. $20.

DYING FETUS. 200 STAB WOUNDS, ASHEN Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $88.94.

LUKE KOSZANSKI & HUICH GOH

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

VICTORIANA GAYE

The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Trentham. 3pm. Free.

DUST

Evelyn Hotel. Fitzroy. 8pm. $35.20. ACTION New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. $20 - 25.

LEWIS TOMS Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

MAMMAL XMAS SHOW. BUSHIDO, XANI

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 7.30pm. $50.90. BLOWERS + THE MAGGIE PILLS Trash Cult. Eaglehawk. 7pm. $20.

CLASSIC KIDS: A SYMPHONIC CHRISTMAS Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 10.30am. $28.

A VERY GOOD CHRISTMAS

FT: Suzi, Eaglemont, Cardboard Cutouts, Nick Keogh

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $33.90.

CLUNK ORCHESTRA Bar 303. Northcote. 1.30pm. Free.

THE STRIPP. SPACE JUNK, HOWL

The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.35.

PISCO SOUR. ALISYA RAE, SWIM STATE

John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $20.

JEMMA CHER Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38.

FESTIVAL

METAL XMAS

FT: Ausländers, Through The Never, C()NTACT Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $19.38.

EMO DIVA:

DIVORCE CORE CHRISTMAS PARTY Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $14.30 - 29.10.

THE PEARL JAM EXPERIENCE.

PARANOID ANDROID RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $34.70. STEPPERS. LUDES, MELODY KIN

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

CYTOSIS. ASTRAL HIGH, BACKO

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

FUDGE. DJ MARKY MARK

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm. ON CHRISTMAS MORN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 5pm. $55.

TONY YANG

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

IRONSTONE. LIAR, BITTER KIND

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $19.90.

MILLY JOEL

TRIO. DJ AHA

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

MOTLEY JAZZ JAM

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm. THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW

Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 8pm. $60.

STANDING CIRCLE

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

ACOUSTIKISS XMAS SHOW

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.

STRANGER COLE. THE SKA VENDORS, MISS SKA TONIC, MOHAIR SLIM, FABULOUS FEZ, FOEY MAN

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $70.99.

STEPPER

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 9pm. $28.56.

TILLY LOVELOCK

Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.

RAPTOR. VALENTA, SWORDFISH Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $15.85.

ALISON PARADE + NOTURNS

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 3.30pm. $13.

SALVADOR DIAZ

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7pm. $81.

MELBOURNE@VIBING

RON BARASSI

Snr Park. Docklands. 11am. Free.

BIIG TIME. FRANJAPAN, THINK ABOUT YOU Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $25.

PBS 106.7 FM PRESENTS

SCREAMING SYMPHONY: THE LAST STAND

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $39.80.

LANEOUS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

SE SO NEON 새소년 Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $79.90.

SCOWL. END IT, SECRET WORLD

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $55.

TAKEE. MILA & LUCAS, ADAM MENDUM

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $16.85 - 22.95.

THU 18 DEC

GRACE CUMMINGS (CHRISTMAS SHOW)

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $46. TIM RICHMOND. OLYMPIA

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

HOWLIN’ WALSHE

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

FLYNN GURRY

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. Free.

DARREN HANLON 20TH ANNIVERSAY XMAS SHOW

Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $37.74.

UNSPOKEN RULE. RAYVEN, WRENDIVE, JOHN YANKO Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85.

STUPID FUCK THE SILLY CLOWN: CHRISTMAS SHOW. GARDINER, RHIAN ELIS

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $15.

COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

LOST RAGAS

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $33.76.

FURNACE AND THE FUNDAMENTALS: A VERY FURNACE CHRISTMAS Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $94.04.

THE VILLAGE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 12pm.

TEJO D’CRUZ

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

MELBOURNE DANCE CENTRE PRESENTS: CURTAINS UP 2025

Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $60. BEN ABRAHAM Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. $89.90.

JACK JONES

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $40. PIERRE JAQUINOT TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

FRI 19 DEC

CAT CRAWL. THE NATION TWO, GUTTER GLITTER

Cafe Gummo. Thornbury. 8pm. $15.

SNAILGUN. WINTER NATIONALE, MILK AFTER SEX

The Tote Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $15. TANIA DOKO (TRIO) LOEV. Moorabbin. 7pm. $45.

WORK BREAK UP FT: Wade Lawrence, DJ Harry, Look Sharp Trio The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 7pm. ALINTA’S SPARKLING CHRISTMAS

FT: Alinta Chidzey Hawthorn Arts Centre. Hawthorn. 7pm. $20 - 42. MELBOURNE TECHNO COLLECTIVE PRÈS FREE TECHNO

FT: Asynine, syrup-E, You Know Seth, CJ Slayer, Asteria, Death of Socrates, Jay Reading, Peter Baker, Craig McWhinney, SKMR New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. Free. MARCUS KNIGHT Morris House. Melbourne. 6pm. THE REFUGE. ARABELLA & THE HEIST, DOG WATCH Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $14.30.

GRINSPOON. BAD//DREEMS, LOOSE CONTENT Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. DOMINANT HAND. RAT BAIT, PERSECUTOR, BRIGHT SUN, IMPLODE

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8.30pm. $23.50.

SPIN OFF: HEAT 4

FT: Dirty Versachi, Iwan, R.Jay, Faery Hexes, Nymphaea

Joey Smalls. Brunswick. 7pm. $22.

B48Y CRASH LANDS ON EARTH! The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $29.38. BEATLES LEGACY WITH DENIS WALTER Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $50.

KADIKOY MIXTAPE XMAS PARTY

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

THE WINFIELD ROAD EXPERIMENT

The Beast. Brunswick East. 9pm. Free.

HOLLY ROLLERS DUO. DJ OBLIVEUS

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

TOOLS DOWN: JOEY LIGHTBULB’S WORK XMAS PARTY

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $39.

SEB SZABO

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

Spaceman Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

BARRELS BY CANDLELIGHT WITH BADCOCK BROTHERS

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

THE STRAYS. JANHELL BURLESQUE SHOW, 4TRESS

Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $8.70.

MAISON BURLESQUE: UNWRAPPED

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $60.79.

LEWIS CIAVARELLA

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm.

THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.76.

FUTURE STATIC. LUNE, BENCH CUP, LUMENS

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $29.90.

SAT 20 DEC

BADGER. TRUSTEE, IGGY, SAFFRON, BOWERS, CLICKBAIT, TOUGHBREAK

Abbots Yard. Abbotsford. 4pm. $45.

LEWIS TOMS

Baxter’s Lot. Fitzroy. 9pm. JEREMY BEGGS

Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 2pm. Free. TIM WOODZ

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

JOYCE PRESCHER

The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Trentham. 3pm. Free.

STREET CARP

FT: Street Carp, could be stars, Clean Coil

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 1pm. $12.75.

HAZE

FT: Kepler. Aroma, Char, Dasha SPRW, DJ Rondel, Eddie Guy, George Melrose, Lexi, Schnill Glamorama. Fitzroy. 3pm. $15 - 30.

KITSCHEN BOY. TEDDIE, NICK BOND

The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS SINGALONG

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 2pm. $79.99.

KURT RAINBOW. 3

BASE HIT, G_TANO Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $18.35.

STREAMS OF WHISKEY

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

GRINSPOON. BAD//DREEMS, LOOSE CONTENT Forum Theatre. Melbourne. 7pm. RAFAEL

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 9pm. $29.60 - 50. MAD HOUSE RICH HOUSE. DJ ALEE

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

BOG MONSTER. BLIGHT, GULL Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $12.25.

THE BIG HOO HAA!

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $30.39. BASEMENT COMEDY CLUB Morris House. Melbourne. 8pm. $28.

GRAND WAZOO’S END OF YEAR

SOUL PARTY

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $55. MICK THOMAS’ ROVING COMMISSION. HANA & JESSIE-LEE’S BAD HABITS, JULES

SHELDON & THE BOUNDARY RIDERS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $46.

BLOODMOUTH. YOUR MOTHER’S DISGUSTING WINDOW, SLAVE BIRTH, MESSY INSIDES

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

ICECREAM HANDS

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $46.

ORPHEUS OMEGA + EVOCATUS. RUM RUNNERS, EMPEROR MOTH

Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $28.85. PHASEONE. BEASTBOI

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 10pm. $39.51 - 49.70.

MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

TERESE DUFFY-RICHARDS

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

THE SEVEN UPS: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. BURIED FEATHER, DERTY BERD

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.05.

WHISKEY BUSINESS. DJ SHADOW

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

THE MARTINI SET SWINGING CHRISTMAS SHOW Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 2pm. Free.

TONY YANG

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

THU 25 DEC

ORPHAN’S XMAS

FT: Antagonize, Marjie, TOKEN, Mikee, JBN, Mothafunk, Dirty Abs Section 8. Melbourne. 12pm.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Morris House. Melbourne. 11am.

CLUB MODA

MELBOURNE: XMAS NIGHT

Ms Collins. Melbourne. 9pm. $22.26.

CHRISTMAS DAY

FT: Michael Rossi Veneto Club. Bulleen. 12pm.

CHRISTMAS DAY AT HER: Music Room HER. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

FRI 26 DEC

BONNIE & CLYDE

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

BOXING DAY BLUES & BBQ

FT: Geoff Achison & The Algo Rhythms, The Jump Cats, Kalopi Odeon. Richmond. 2pm. $61.20.

THE ASHES - BOXING DAY GET TOGETHER

FT: NOASIS. Our Kid Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $25.

SOUL OBSESSION

TRIO

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

ASH KING

Watts River Brewing. Healesville. 5.30pm.

SAT 27 DEC

FREYA + TOM MCGOWAN

The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Trentham. 3pm. Free. ANIA REYNOLDS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free. BASEMENT

COMEDY CLUB Morris House. Melbourne. 8pm. $28.

TONY YANG

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

MOTLEY JAZZ JAM

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm. LONELY WEEKENDERS. DJ JAYMEE

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

BONNIE & CLYDE (& BUCK!) TRIO. DJ MCB

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 9pm.

MR. MCCLELLAND’S FINISHING SCHOOL PRESENTS: NOT NYE

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.15.

ZERO Glamorama. Fitzroy. 9pm. $15 - 30.

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

BLACK DETHMASS II

FT: Pizza Death. Slime Dimension, Oppose The Sun Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $22.95.

DENIS CARNAHAN’S CRICKET

The Musical Arts Centre Melbourne. Southbank. 8.30pm. $49 - 59.

WED 31 DEC

NEW YEAR’S AT THE BOWL

FT: Underworld, Carl Cox, Berlioz, Confidence Man, Joy Crookes, more Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 4pm. $149.90.

MELBOURNE NEW YEARS EVE ON THE WATERFRONT

FT: Sean Hugo, George D Jay, Nick Van Wilder, Olympia Nahtalia, Christian Belvedere, more Metropolis Events. Southbank. 8pm. $170.

NEIL HAMBURGER. UMLAUT, MAGIC BY SIMONE, FRANKLIN’S MINT, DR EL SUAVO Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $55.69.

HIGH TIMES: NYE

FT: Bradley Zero, Wax’o Paradiso, Caucasian Opportunities, C.FRIM, Karani, Darcy Justice, DJ Jnett, more Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 3pm. $68.80 - 100.55.

FED SQUARE PRESENTS: NEW YEAR’S EVE Federation Square. Melbourne. 7pm. Free.

NYE PARTY AT SAILORS’ REST

FT: DJ Bailey Murray, Jibberish Sailors’ Rest. Geelong. 6pm. $20.

COUNTRY STRUTS NYE

FT: Bad Bitch Rodeo, Loxy, DJ Brat Paisley Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $35.30.

RESOLUTION NYE

FT: Dave Seaman, Anthony Pappa, Journey Man, more Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $37.74.

NEW YEARS EVE

Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm. $120.

HYPERFIX: NYE AT THE TOFF

FEAT: Niix, Inuka, George Giam, Tonz, Unmarked Billz, Clickbait, BOWERS, BUGG, Two Petty

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 10pm. $28.56 - 38.76.

BONNIE & CLYDE (& BUCK!) TRIO. DJ MCB

The Bay Hotel. Mornington. 9pm.

NEW YEARS

EVE AT LULIE

FT: Black Night Crash DJs Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 12pm. Free.

MOTLEY OPENHAUS: POETRY OPEN MIC

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm. Free. NO SCRUBS: NYE PARTY Stay Gold. Brunswick. 9pm. $17.85 - 29.60.

THU 1 JAN

FINAL GIRL X CLUBHAUS: NYD 2026

FT: Haus of Ralph, Mon Franco, Yikes, Jex Wang, House Mum, Baby Oliv, Nay Nay, Brina, Cristal No.5 New Guernica. Collingwood. 7pm. $31.80 - 75.65.

NEW YEAR’S DAY Morris House. Melbourne. 3pm. DAN & CYRIL

The Fifth Province. St Kilda. 8pm. CATS

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 3pm. $69.90.

LET THEM EAT

CAKE NEW YEAR’S DAY 2026

FT: 1TBSP, Afrodisiac, C000KIE, CRUSH3D, DIFFRENT, DJ Heartstring, DJ JNETT, more Coburg Velodrome. Coburg. 12pm. $195.30 - 215.74.