furstBEAT1737_V2

“Never thought we’d get here, but let’s go.”

FOLK BITCH TRIO

gear up for a Fed Square takeover

Sun 15 Feb: Big Festival Sunday

Jessica Mauboy. Mental As Anything. Sneaky Sound System. Babe Rainbow. Close Counters. The Grogans. Playlunch.

Bcharre. The Carp Factory. DEVAURA. Drifting Clouds. Earthlike. Easy Peasy. effie isobel. FRENZEE. Grace Cummings. ISHAN. Ivoris. Kitsch Kitchen. Lucky. MAGNETS. The Mik Maks. Meghna. MONROE. OSITA. Peach Fuzz. Salmonhead. Sunsick Daisy. Sub-Tribe. The Rest Is History. Velvet Bloom. Wild Gloriosa. Wrong Way Up. & Heaps More.

Plus: More Great Artists. Events & Activities. Food & Market Stalls. Family Fun & More.

FEBRUARY 2026

OUTDOOR CINEMA

IN DEFENCE OF SATIRE

DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) NETWORK (1976) THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984) THE PLAYER (1992)

SILENT CINEMA WITH LIVE SCORES

FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE (1927)

LIVE SCORE: DJ SET BY LORI

TUE. 3 FEB WED. 4 FEB THU. 5 FEB MON . 2 FEB MON. 16 FEB TUE. 17 FEB WED. 18 FEB THU. 19 FEB FRI. 20 FEB

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1928)

LIVE SCORE: DJ SET BY EMELYNE

MODERN TIMES (1936)

LIVE SCORE: SALLY FORD AND THE IDIOMATICS

THE GENERAL (1926)

LIVE SCORE: BLUE GRASSY KNOLL

THE GODDESS (1934)

LIVE SCORE: MINDY MENG WANG AND BURKHARD DALLWITZ

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.

PRINT EDITOR

Kaya Martin

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Frankie Anderson-Byrne

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Collier

CONTRIBUTORS

August Billy, Oliver Winn, Sarah Duggan, Dom Lepore 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

SOCIALS BeatMag beatmagazine BeatTV beat.com.au

EDITORIAL NOTE

Dry January is over. Now it’s time for freaky February.

Æ With all of the fuss of the holidays behind us, now it’s time to sit back and soak it all in. Stay out late on a work night. Spend too much money on a festival ticket. Give up on your New Year’s Resolutions – you’re perfect just the way you are. Summer’s not forever, so we suggest you throw caution to the wind and make it as hedonistic as you can.

In the spirit of the season, we’re profiling a handful of artists who know how to have a good time. Our cover stars, Folk Bitch Trio, give us a lesson on gratitude following their banger breakout year. Inside, BARKAA shows love to the fans, sleepazoid prepare for a Laneway throwdown, Total Tommy talks touring overseas and Nilüfer Yanya discusses the power of a good artistic partnership. Plus, we’ve got guides for St Kilda Fest, regional events and more, so you’ll always know where the party’s at.

On a more personal note, my time as Beat’s print princess is officially coming to a close. Thank you for letting me yap these last few years – it’s been real. So as they say around these parts, sayonara!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS

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

DISTRIBUTION

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

COVER

Our February cover stars are Folk Bitch Trio shot by Nick Mckk.

NEWS

GOLDEN PLAINS ADDS MORE ACTS TO 2026 LINEUP

Heading back to the Supernatural Amphitheatre are some certified contemporary masters. Golden Plains has unveiled its next wave of talent for 2026, welcoming Canadian jazz outfit BADBADNOTGOOD, local legends The Gnomes and more.

BONEY M ARE THROWING THE ULTIMATE DISCO FAREWELL PARTY IN MELBOURNE

Disco legends Boney M, featuring Maizie Williams, are bringing their Final Curtain Tour to Australia this April. One of the most beloved bands to emerge from the golden age of disco, Boney M have sold over 150 million records worldwide and became a phenomenon with their catchy songs mixed with the glitz and glamour of the disco era.

MARINA IS HEADING BACK TO MELBOURNE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS

Welsh pop icon Marina is finally heading back to Australia after a 15-year absence that’s felt like forever. Bringing the Princess Of Power Tour to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne this February, Marina will celebrate her sixth studio album while reminding Australian fans exactly why they fell in love with her anthemic electro-pop in the first place.

MELBOURNE IS GETTING A MAJOR NEW K-POP MUSIC FESTIVAL NEXT YEAR

One of Asia’s most trusted global concert promoters, APPLEWOOD has officially announced 안녕, MELBOURNE will land at Flemington Racecourse on 14 March in what marks the company’s first Australian event.

LIVE AT THE GARDENS’ MARCH LINEUP LED BY BLISS N ESO, THELMA PLUM AND MORE

Live at the Gardens is heading into its fourth season with five shows featuring Bliss n Eso, Cut Copy, Leftfield, Marlon Williams, Sons of the East, Thelma Plum and more. The concert series transforms the Observatory Precinct into an open-air music venue that somehow manages to feel both intimate and massive at the same time.

MELBOURNE

HAS BEEN PROVED TO BE THE VINYL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Research commissioned by the Victorian Music Development Office confirms Melbourne reigns supreme when it comes to vinyl culture. For The Record takes a look at Victoria’s vinyl ecosystem, from pressing plants to the retailers whose support and curation of local releases plays a crucial role.

GRACE JONES IS PLAYING A RARE OUTDOOR SHOW IN MELBOURNE

The global icon joins the Palace Foreshore lineup for her first Melbourne appearance since 2018, alongside MARINA’s longawaited Australian return and ARIA winners King Stingray. It’s a hefty addition to what’s already shaping up to be the outdoor precinct’s most ambitious season yet, with The Streets, Pendulum, De La Soul and more already locked in.

MELBOURNE ROOFTOPS HOST HUGE PLANT TRAIL TO FUTURE-PROOF THE CITY

Over 1000 plants are being tested right now as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials. A three-year research project is evaluating which plant species and mixes will thrive in Laak Boorndap, the 18,000 square metre urban garden being delivered as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.

MAVERICK SABRE

DAEZY SAT 14 FEB

SACHIKO KANENOBU (JPN) FRI 13 FEB

BEOGA WED 25 FEB

(USA) SOLD OUT 04/03 M.WARD & THE UNDERTAKERS SELLING FAST 05/03 RAINBOW GIRLS (USA) 06/03 SALLY SELTMANN 07/03 WICKED SMILE 11/03 MOUNTAIN GRASS UNIT 12/03 JEFFREY MARTIN SELLING FAST 13/03 DISCO COOKOUT W/ COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS 14/03 BOY SODA 15/03 TYLER HILTON & KATE VOEGELE: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF ‘ONE TREE HILL’ SELLING FAST 20/03 VELVET TRIP 21/03 SLEEPAZOID 22/03 THE HILLBILLY GOATS & LUKE O’SHEA (LATE MATINEE) 26/03 PINKY BEECROFT 28/03 NICK BARKER AND THE REPTILES SOLD OUT 29/03 EMILY LUBITZ (LATE MATINEE) & DALLAS FRASCA SAT 21 FEB

WANSTOCK 2026 IS AN ’80S DREAM LINEUP

Wanstock 2026 is rolling into Australia with a lineup that reads like a who’s who of ’80s and ’90s rock royalty, headlined by Canadian arena rock icons Loverboy making their long-awaited Australian debut alongside local legends 1927, Dragon, Pseudo Echo, Bachelor Girl and more.

MELBOURNE’S SECRET ALL-WHITE DINNER PARTY DÎNER EN BLANC RETURNS

Dîner en Blanc Melbourne returns on 28 February, transforming an undisclosed city location into a massive open-air dining experience. Dîner en Blanc keeps its venue under wraps until the night itself, and everyone arrives dressed entirely in white, sets up their own tables and chairs, and settles in for an evening of food, champagne, music and dancing.

PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS LAUNCHES A SUMMERLONG COOLING PROGRAM

Running until 31 March, Cool Moments transforms the Mornington Peninsula wellness destination into a sanctuary of shade, mist and chilled tranquillity. The program introduces a brand new Cool Zone featuring temperature-lowered pools, misting activations, shaded lounging areas and seasonal food and drink offerings.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD RANKED AUSTRALIA’S TOP ROAD TRIP

Car insurance comparison site iSelect analysed 22 of Australia’s most popular driving routes, looking at rest stops, mobile coverage, hospital access, weather, traffic, and family-friendly attractions. Victoria’s Great Ocean Road coastal drive came out on top with an index score of 76.15, beating Western Australia’s Cape to Cape and South West Edge routes.

ST KILDA BLUES FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS EIGHTH YEAR

St Kilda Blues Festival is back for 2026, transforming the beachside precinct into a blues and roots playground. The free festival runs from 27 February to 1 March, spreading 40+ artists across 70+ shows in pubs, clubs and street stages throughout St Kilda.

BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH BANGER 2026 LINEUP

Set to run from 1 to 8 March, Brunswick Music Festival takes over the neighbourhood with free and ticketed shows as well as the iconic Sydney Road Street Party. Headliners include Japanese beatmaster DJ Krush, Greece’s Xylourides and French disco artist François K as well as Alfi Antico & Go Dugong with Khaled Kurbeh and RAFET at the Brunswick Ballroom.

FITZROY AND COLLINGWOOD STREETS TO SHUT DOWN FOR MASSIVE PRIDE STREET PARTY

Collingwood and Fitzroy’s Gertrude and Smith Street are about to get a whole lot more fabulous. Victoria’s Pride Street Party is back for another year, and this time neo-soul powerhouse Mo’Ju is leading the charge. The free, one-day extravaganza will once again take over Melbourne’s inner north with music, comedy, circus, drag and art installations galore.

YARRA CITY COUNCIL TO ROLL OUT LIVE MUSIC PRECINCTS

New Yarra City Council planning policy delivers win-win for venues, developers and residents in Melbourne’s music heartland. In the last Yarra City Council meeting of last year, it unanimously voted to introduce Live Music Precincts into the Yarra Planning Scheme, including listing all live music venues outside of these precincts. They also voted to write and implement a Live Music Action Plan.

ESKIMO JOE TO HEADLINE MASSIVE FREE LINCOLN PARK TWILIGHT FESTIVAL

Eskimo Joe will headline Lincoln Park Twilight Festival in Essendon on 28 February. Lincoln Park Twilight Festival returns with the beloved Aussie act celebrating two decades since their mega-successful album Black Fingernails, Red Wine dropped, and they’ll be mixing those classics with fresh material from their recent releases.

THE FERGUSON ROGERS PROCESS ARE HEADLINING A FREE FESTIVAL IN HEIDELBERG

Picture this: Valentine’s evening, sun dipping low over Heidelberg Park, picnic rug spread out on the grass, and Tim Rogers’ voice drifting across the oval while Lance Ferguson lays down the groove. Not a bad way to spend 14 February. The free outdoor concert Twilight Sounds returns to Heidelberg Park Oval with a stellar lineup led by Tim Rogers and Lance Ferguson’s collaborative project.

BRET MCKENZIE BRINGS FREAK OUT CITY TOUR TO MELBOURNE THIS MARCH

Fresh off sold-out residencies across the US and UK, the Flight of the Conchords legend Bret McKenzie will tour Australia in March 2026 with his eight-piece band The State Highway Wonders. Expect new material from Freak Out City alongside classic favourites, impromptu songs crafted from audience stories, and plenty of onstage chaos.

NEW BAR ARCANE FAIRIES OFFERS AUSTRALIA’S FIRST COCKTAIL DELIVERY ZIPLINE

Freshly opened on Lonsdale St, this whimsical dive bar created by the team behind Pawn & Co and Storyville features a jukebox filled with alt-rock hits, 3D-printed fairies and a menu filled with fried comfort food classics developed by Drake’s personal private chef. Oh, and a zipline sending drinks from the bar to your table.

BUNJIL PLACE IS GEARING UP FOR ITS BIGGEST FREE OUTDOOR PARTY YET

Running from 7 February to 21 March, this six week bonanza will feature open-air cinema, cultural performances and live music by artists including Kutcha, Cash and the Last Drinks, Pseudo Echo, Andrew Swift and Wild Gloriosa.

MELBOURNE’S GETTING AN EIGHT-HOUR LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL ON THE BEACH

Melbourne’s Latin music lovers are about to get a whole day at the beach with killer cumbia, rock en español and enough reggaeton to keep those hips moving until sunset. St Kilda Latin Festival returns to South Beach Reserve on 7 February for an eight-hour marathon showcasing some of the finest homegrown Latin talent the city has to offer.

MARIBYRNONG IS HOSTING A MASSIVE FREE STREET DANCE EVENT

Maddern Square is about to become ground zero for Melbourne’s breakdance community when Cypher Culture throws Double Trouble Vol. 3 on 28 March. The free street dance and hip-hop event celebrates women and west-based artists in the breaking scene.

YARRAVILLE LAUNCHES FREE OUTDOOR MUSIC SERIES ACROSS SIX TWILIGHT EVENINGS

Yarraville Twilight Sessions will present six evenings of free live music featuring a diverse mix of established and emerging performers across the Yarraville Village precinct. The series secured funding through Maribyrnong Council’s Love Your West Grants Program to transform public spaces and energise the area’s night-time economy.

FED SQUARE’S FREE OPEN AIR AT THE SQUARE FESTIVAL RETURNS

Open Air at the Square returns to Melbourne’s CBD from 2 to 28 February, packing nearly a full month of live music, outdoor cinema screenings and cultural celebrations into the city’s central gathering spot. The program spans everything from candlelit concerts and silent films to street dance battles and New Orleans bounce parties, all completely free.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL OFFERS FIVE WEEKS OF FILM

Hot off a record-breaking 2025 with almost 199,000 punters through the doors, Alliance Française French Film Festival is back for another round. Australia’s biggest national film fest and the largest festival of French cinema outside of France is hitting Melbourne from 4 March to 8 April.

FOLK BITCH TR IO

WORDS BY AUGUST BILLY

On the back of a stellar 12 months, Folk Bitch Trio will play a special Candlelight Concert at Fed Square in February.

Æ The end of the calendar year is often a time for taking stock of one’s achievements and setting goals for the year ahead. The three members of Folk Bitch Trio did exactly that in the final days of 2024, making a list of all the things they hoped to achieve in 2025. By the end of the year, the harmonising indie rock outfit had ticked off every item on their list.

“It’s been a crazy year of firsts and achievements,” says Jeanie Pilkington, one of the group’s three vocalists and songwriters. “It’s been wild.”

It’s no surprise to learn that Pilkington and her bandmates, Heide Peverelle and Gracie Sinclair, surpassed even their own lofty expectations for 2025. Whatever angle you look at it from, Folk Bitch Trio had a phenomenal year.

They started the year supporting Rufus Wainwright at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Recital Centre.

“So we already started off in kind of psycho mode,” says Pilkington. “Never thought we’d get here, but let’s go. And then…”

“We always bring the fire everywhere we go. We bring the heat.”

In April, Folk Bitch Trio announced they’d signed with US indie label Jagjaguwar, home to Bon Iver and Sharon Van Etten, and in July, they released their debut album, Now Would Be a Good Time.

Critics lapped up the album. NME gave it five stars, commending Folk Bitch trio’s abundant “emotional literacy” and “deftness with melody”.

“We did our first album campaign. We spent months overseas slogging it, being fucking exhausted, and it was worth it – it all felt worth it,” Pilkington says. They toured the US and UK twice each, and played shows in Europe, Canada and New Zealand. They did their biggest Australian headline tour to date in September, including two sold-out nights at the Corner Hotel.

They were named Unearthed Artist of the Year, and received ARIA, AIR and J Award nominations. Now Would Be a Good Time was one of nine albums on the Australian Music Prize shortlist.

In addition to enumerating their goals, the band members’ list was effective in getting them to practice some mindful gratitude as they ticked off each new milestone.

“I think the biggest thing was maybe just a little bit of an attitude shift for us where we force ourselves to have moments of, like, ‘Whoa, this is really happening,’” says Pilkington. “Like, ‘I love you guys, I’m proud of you guys.’ I think that that is the most important thing, to do that, even when you don’t feel like it.”

But while they’re grateful for all the critical accolades and somewhat taken aback by their growing international profile, the three members of Folk Bitch Trio are unanimous about their 2025 highlight.

“Honestly, it’s hard to look past Meredith,” says Sinclair. Folk Bitch Trio performed at 6pm on the opening day of the Meredith Music Festival in early December, where the crowd was close to 13,000 people.

“It was a coming home show for us, and it was absolutely surreal to play to a crowd that big that seemed to know us,” Sinclair says.

“Our friends and family were there,” says Pilkington. “We popped a big bottle of champagne afterwards, and then we had a great weekend. And it didn’t feel like there were heaps of moments this year where we had the opportunity to take it all in that much.”

Peverelle agrees. “I think that’s definitely my moment as well. I think because we shared it with not just us, but with everyone else. Because usually it is just the three of us across the world, and it can be difficult to kind of relish in the greatness of a situation or a moment. And yeah, to go backstage and have our best friends there and our families, it was kind of surreal.”

Folk Bitch Trio have made a new goals list for 2026. They’re keeping mum about its contents, but they’ll tick off another career milestone when they perform a Candlelight Concert at Fed Square on 10 February, part of the Open Air at the Square program that’s running throughout February.

“We’re excited,” says Sinclair. “I’m not sure what to expect with the candles.”

“We’ll bring the real fire to the stage,” adds Pilkington. “Yeah,” laughs Peverelle. “We always bring the fire everywhere we go. We bring the heat.”

WHERE: FED SQUARE

WHEN: 10 FEB

Made in partnership with Fed Square.

FESTIVAL GUIDE

WATERFRONT FESTIVAL

Waterfront Festival promises two days of live music, carnival rides, food, drinks and family fun. With performances by Hockey Dad, Jack Botts, Gordi, The Gnomes and more, the event is the perfect excuse to take a day trip down the coast.

FRANKSTON 6–7 FEB

DREAMSTATE

Techno heads, this one’s for you. Strap in for a day of non-stop beats across two stages as Dreamstate hits Melbourne. Vini Vici, Paul Van Dyke and Gareth Emery lead the charge alongside plenty more talent.

FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE 8 FEB

HOLI FESTIVAL MELBOURNE

Holi, otherwise known as the Festival of Colours, is a vibrant celebration of music, dance and coloured powders signifying the triumph of good over evil. Spread across four days, the free Melbourne festivities will feature cultural workshops, all day DJs and plenty of delicious bites.

DOCKLANDS + CBD 8, 9, 15 + 16 FEB

LANEWAY FESTIVAL

Multiple stages, one big day: Laneway swings through Melbourne, bringing with it some of the world’s buzziest acts. This year’s event will be headlined by Chappell Roan, along with Geese, Alex G, The Dare, Role Model, PinkPantheress, Oklou, We Leg, Wolf Alice and Yung Lean & Bladee.

FLEMINGTON PARK 13 FEB

ST KILDA FESTIVAL

One of Melbourne’s most iconic free music festivals returns, offering a weekend of food trucks, roving entertainment and live music by the sea. With First Peoples First highlighting Australia’s best Aboriginal artists on Saturday and Big Festival Sunday the following day, it’s a joyful, all-ages celebration that’s well worth a trip on the 96 tram.

ST KILDA BEACH 14–15 FEB

MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL

Celebrating 30 years, the Melbourne Fashion Festival showcases what’s hot in fashion right now with runways, talks and plenty of moments to sip, chat and mingle. See and be seen while discovering the best styles Australia has to offer.

FASHION FORECOURT 14–28 FEB

MEDITERRANEAN FESTA

This free cultural event shines a light on the food, music and traditions of the Mediterranean. Shop market stalls, enjoy the variety of live entertainment and bring the kids along too, with activities for the whole family.

CENTREWAY, KEILOR EAST 15 FEB

MELBOURNE ART FAIR

Large scale installations, major commissions, video works and plenty of galleries to explore: this is the Melbourne Art Fair. Discover the cutting edge of Australian art and meet the creators behind the work.

MCEC 19–22 FEB

OK CHARLTON

Featuring a massive pool party, a backyard Greek BBQ party, fortune telling, boot scooting and two banger nights of live music, this cult-favourite festival is back for its 10-year anniversary. This year’s lineup features Lambrini Girls, TOPS, Spike Fuck, Frenzee and more.

CHARLTON 20–21 FEB

FRANJAFEST 3

Presented and headlined by Franjapan, this community centred mini-festival features a day of local favourites including The Tullamarines, Holly Hebe, sleepazoid, The Velvet Club, Dizzy Days, Lotte Gallagher, Kitschen Boy and many more.

21 FEB

CROXTON BANDROOM

PROSECCO FESTIVAL

Clink your glasses and cheers to a day full of bubbly goodness. Top prosecco producers from Italy and closer to home come together to share their wares, with Italian cuisine offerings on the lawn and live music to set the mood.

ABBOTSFORD CONVENT 22 FEB

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

Celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Horse with energetic lion dances, DJs, live performances, fire crackers and more. This year, the festival will take place across Chinatown as well as at Spiegel Haus, the newly-opened venue located in its core.

LITTLE BOURKE ST 22 FEB

MELBOURNE BEERFEST

Beer, booze and besties in the open air –what more could you ask for? BeerFest is back and bigger than ever, bringing masterclass, music (including a DJ set by The Presets), stand-up comedy, pro wrestling, tattoos and more than 200 beers to the seaside venue.

28 FEB

CATANI GARDENS

ST KILDA BLUES FESTIVAL

Taking over venues across the St Kilda suburb, this festival is a celebration of groovy guitars, raw vocals and honking horns. See more than 40 artists perform across local venues in this three-day blitz, all for free.

ST KILDA 27 FEB–1 MAR

ANTIPODES

Melbourne’s big Greek bash returns to the CBD with live music, dance, cultural performances, artisan market stalls, food trucks and carnival rides. The weekender is free, accessible and fun for the whole family.

LONSDALE ST 28 FEB–1 MAR

STAGE GUIDE

DADDY IN DON’T DROP THE SOAP

This joyful performance honours the gay experience in Australia and beyond, from Sydney’s Oxford St to San Francisco. Detailing crazy club nights, sexy bathhouse experiences, cruising, gay bars and much more, it’s pride at its finest.

MOTLEY BAUHAUS 2–7 FEB

DEAD MUM

Heartwrenching yet somehow hilarious, this cabaret, written and performed by Jack Francis West, opens up the conversation on grief. Set at his mum’s funeral, this show details how Jack lost everything at age 19 and how he rebuilt his life after.

TW EXPLOSIVES FACTORY 3–7 FEB

DISCO IS DEAD

Get ready to party along with Freddy and The Four, the biggest disco boyband of the 1970s. This campy comedy follows the release of their debut album, as the world hears their sound for the first time and chaos ensues.

TW EXPLOSIVES FACTORY 3–7 FEB

SONGS OF THE BULBUL

Drawing from an ancient Sufi myth, Kathak dance stylings and classical Indian music, this show follows a trapped bird searching for enlightenment. Visually stunning and spiritually moving, it’s a truly unique work.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE PLAYHOUSE 3–7 FEB

SLOW-COOKED

MUTTON CABARET

This performance features two “queer post-menopausal post-modern punks” making something raunchy, hilarious and highly energetic. Expect drum and bass, circus, dance, original music, witty banter and so much more.

MOTLEY BAUHAUS 3–8 FEB

MOONGAZING

A random encounter bonds two women from the Japanese diaspora of different ages in this curious, emotive play. Inspired by Japanese folktales and the internet age, this play explores the systems we look to for guidance.

LA MAMA HQ 4–22 FEB

SAINTS

In England during the turbulent year of 1654, Anna is having dreams – all of which seem to come true. Some call her a saint; others call her a witch. Put on by theatre company Elbow Room, this haunting satire will stick with you long after the curtain has fallen.

LA MAMA COURTHOUSE 6–27 FEB

THE BOOK OF MORMON

Once again, Australia’s biggest musical comedy returns to wild applause. This international sensation follows the hilarious misadventures of Mormon missionaries as they venture far and wide to spread the good word of God.

PRINCESS THEATRE 6 FEB–1 MAR

AFTERGLOW

This steamy show follows married partners Josh and Alex as they experiment with opening their relationship. With themes of polyamory, trust, loyalty, desire and communication, this raw and funny performance explores the complicated dynamics of experimental queer love.

CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL UNTIL 8 FEB

THE PLACEHOLDER

Written by playwright Ben MacEllen, this new work explores queer community in an Australian regional town. When one of their members announces their transition, the social structure shakes in a group of women bound by a common grief.

FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS UNTIL 8 FEB

AS

TOLD BY THE BOY WHO FED ME APPLES

In celebration of War Animal Remembrance Day, this play tells the story of Sandy, the only war horse out of a fleet of 136,000 to return from the front after WWI. Fusing history and performance, it takes viewers across Gallipoli, France and Egypt.

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE 22 FEB

PICCOLO TEATRO MAGIC THEATRE

Be dazzled by close up magic every Friday and Saturday night in February. Hosted by Sam Angelico and Richard Vegas alongside a plethora of special guest performers and magicians, this gasp-inducing show will have you questioning what’s real.

PICCOLO TEATRO UNTIL 28 FEB

ASIAN COMEDY SHOWCASE

This showcase shines a spotlight on some of Australia’s best Asian comedians, with a rotating lineup of talent each edition. Prepare yourself for cultural commentary, smart storytelling and plenty of giggles.

MORRIS HOUSE BASEMENT COMEDY CLUB UNTIL 28 FEB

TWELFTH NIGHT

Put on by the Australian Shakespeare Company, this playful romp takes audiences on a journey of love, deception and revelry under the stars. Mistaken identity, heartbreak and truth unfold through a chaotic cast of characters.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS UNTIL 28 FEB

MJ THE MUSICAL

The King of Pop gets the theatrical treatment he deserves in this wildly captivating glance behind the scenes of stardom. Set in 1992 during the making of his Dangerous World Tour, the show takes viewers into the mind of the iconic artist.

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE ALL FEB

åKERVINDA SWEDEN • alcides neto BRAZIL / AUS • alFIO ANTICO & GO DUGONG ITALY • Alogte Oho & HIS Sounds of Joy GHANA • annahstasia USA • ANNIE & THE CALDWELLS USA • Any young mechanic AUS • ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT USA ashkan shafiei IRAN / AUS • Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou MOROCCO

AUSTRALIAN ART ORCHESTRA with kojoe & hikaru tanaka - Raw denshi JAPAN / AUS • BADBADNOTGOOD CANADA • BAKER BOY AUS • BALAGANESAN & BAGESWARI INDIA • barkAa AUS • beoga IRELAND • BHUTAN BALLADEERS BHUTAN BLINKY BILL KENYA • BOBBY ALU SAMOA / AUS • BORN IN A TAXI AUS • BVT PHILIPPINES / AUS • CHLOE LOFTUS DANCE - THE AIR BETWEEN US NZ / BELGIUM • CIE HORS SURFACE - le poids des nuages & home, damien droin FRANCE • crazy p (DJ SET) UK daughters of donbas UKRAINE / CANADA • Derya Yıldırım & Grup simsek GERMANY Džambo Aguševi Orchestra MACEDONIA • Fantastic negrito USA • ganavya INDIA / USA • ganNA UKRAINE • GEORGIA KNIGHT AUS • GRACE JONES JAMAICA • IRON & WINE USA • JALEN NGONDA USA/U K • JOVANOTTI ITALY • jyoty UK • KAIIT PNG/AUS kankawa nagarra AUS • LA PERLA COLOMBIA • THE LAZY EYES AUS • LEWIS MAJOR PROJECTS - TRIPTYCH REDUX AUS • MA NZ • MAMA KIN SPENDER AUS • MANTIS VANUATU • MARLON WILLIAMS NZ • MARYAM RAHMANI IRAN / AUS • MEGANESIA PNG/AUS/WEST PAPUA • Megatronic UK • mungo’s hi fi feat. eva lazarus UK My baby THE NETHERLANDS/NZ • my chÉrie SOUTH AFRICA / AUS • NATTALI RIZE AUS / JAMAIC A • THE NECKS AUS • NUSANTARA BEAT THE NETHERLANDS • OBONGJAYAR NIGERIA / UK • ORANGE BLOSSOM FRANCE • OSADÍA SPAIN • OUMOU SANGARé MALI ROBERTO FONSECA CUBA • rosas - rosas danst rosas, anne teresa de keersmaeker BELGIUM • sama’ abdulhadi PALESTINE • saN DRAGAN MYANMAR/ CHINA/AUS • stan’s cafÉ UK • TROY CASSAR-DALEY AUS • xylourides GREECE yASHA JAPAN/AUS • yothu yindi AUS • yuka okazaki JAPAN / FRANCE • THE ZAWOSE QUEENS TANZANIA • ZEITGEIST FREEDOM ENERGY EXCHANGE AUS

BOTANIC PARK / TAINMUNTILLA ADELAIDE / TARNTANYA

One of Australia’s oldest, biggest and most beloved free summer music festivals returns for a February weekender like no other. This year, the festival is back to doing what it does best: showcasing Australia’s buzziest talent on the seaside.

FIRST PEOPLES FIRST

Æ Two decades of showcasing First Nations talent gets a proper celebration at St Kilda Festival 2026. First Peoples First, the Saturday program dedicated to Indigenous artists, returns for its 20th edition with a lineup headlined by BARKAA and Selve. BARKAA arrives fresh from winning Best Hip Hop/Rap Release at the 2025 ARIA Awards, becoming the first Aboriginal woman to take home the category. The Malyangapa, Barkindji artist burst onto the scene with For My Tittas before Our Lives Matter made her voice nationally recognised. She opened 2025 performing to crowds of up to 90,000, cementing her status as one of the most formidable forces in Australian hip hop. BARKAA’s ARIA win marked a watershed moment for Indigenous representation in the Aussie hip hop scene. Her acceptance speech spoke directly to that significance, acknowledging the sisters who paved the way before her and dedicating the win to Black women everywhere.

Gold Coast six-piece Selve join as co-headliners, bringing with them a historic achievement. Their album Breaking Into Heaven became the first full-length record by an Aboriginal artist to be recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Fronted by Jabirr Jabirr man Loki Liddle, the band recorded in the same Studio 3 that produced Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, using gear that hadn’t been fully assembled since the Beatles era.

TWO STAGES

The Main Stage is located at South Beach Reserve. The Optus Stage is located at O’Donnell Gardens, and hosts additional programming throughout the day.

The brilliant lineup across both stages features Boox Kid, Ruby Mae, The Terrifying Lows, Charlie Needs Braces, James Range Band, Pirritu, Ricky Neil Jr, Drifting Clouds and Liv & The Dream alongside the headliners.

First Peoples First began in 2006 as a platform for established and emerging First Nations artists. Over two decades it has showcased some of the country’s most significant Indigenous performers, with the late Uncle Archie Roach playing the festival 13 times, making him the event’s most-appeared artist.

The 20th anniversary program includes the Kummargii Yulendji Gadabah Sunset Ceremony, overseen by N’Arweet Carolyn Briggs of the Boonwurrung Land & Sea Council. The ceremony acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which the festival takes place, connecting contemporary celebrations to 65,000 years of continuous culture.

THE PALAIS FORECOURT

Beyond the music, the day features workshops, markets and a full program of dance and cultural activities at the Palais Forecourt, run by Indigenous Outreach Projects. The programming reflects the broader mission of First Peoples First: celebrating Indigenous culture in all its forms, not just through music but through art, dance, storytelling and community gathering.

St Kilda Festival remains free and all ages across both days, with an estimated 350,000 attendees expected across the weekend.

ST KILDA FESTIVAL

BIG FESTIVAL SUNDAY

Æ ARIA Hall of Famers, Eurovision royalty and dancefloor favourites will converge on the St Kilda foreshore for Big Festival Sunday 2026. The lineup spans generations of Australian music, from legacy acts staging comebacks to contemporary pop stars at the peak of their powers.

MENTAL AS ANYTHING

Mental As Anything return to the Main Stage in what marks their first St Kilda Festival appearance in a quarter century. Original founding members Peter O’Doherty and Reg Mombassa are reuniting to lead a new lineup under the band’s iconic banner, bringing with them a catalogue that includes 25 Top 40 hits. Live It Up, The Nips Are Getting Bigger and Too Many Times remain fixtures on pub jukeboxes and throwback playlists, with the former still receiving regular airplay across the UK and Europe decades after its release.

JESSICA MAUBOY

Jessica Mauboy joins the Sunday bill with nearly two decades of credentials behind her. She made ARIA chart history as the first Indigenous Australian solo artist to debut at number one on the Albums Chart, racking up six top 10 albums, 16 top 20 singles and 21 platinum accreditations along the way. Her resume includes touring with Beyoncé, representing Australia at Eurovision 2014 and starring in films including The Sapphires and Bran Nue Dae.

SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM

Sneaky Sound System round out the headliners, with the ARIA-winning duo continuing their run as one of Australia’s most reliable dancefloor acts. Miss Connie and Angus McDonald have been filling clubs and festival tents since the mid-2000s, with recent tracks proving just as popular as their earlier catalogue.

THE GROGANS

The Grogans bring their surf-rock and garage sound to the bill, fresh off releasing their fifth studio album Stagger and completing international tours across North America, the UK and Asia. The Melbourne trio have built a reputation as one of the country’s hardest-working young bands, with their track Money Will Chase You earning gold certification from ARIA.

CATANI GARDENS

Over at Catani Gardens, Babe Rainbow bring their sun-soaked psychedelia to the bill alongside Melbourne singer-songwriter Grace Cummings, whose powerhouse vocals have earned comparisons to everyone from Joni Mitchell to Lucinda Williams. Cummings released her third album Ramona in 2024 and has spent the past year touring internationally with My Morning Jacket. Close Counters, Drifting Clouds, FRENZEE, Lucky and Wrong Way Up round out the stage.

THE OPTUS STAGE

The Optus Stage in O’Donnell Gardens shifts gears throughout the day, opening with family programming before transitioning to emerging talent from 4pm onwards. The Mik Maks and Multicultural Storytime kick things off for the younger crowd, before ISHAN, Meghna, MONROE, Peach Fuzz, Salmon Head, Easy Peasy and The Rest Is History take over later in the afternoon.

NEW MUSIC STAGE

The New Music Stage showcases a diverse spread of emerging talent competing for a $5,000 cash prize and a slot at the 2027 festival. Multi-instrumentalist Kyle Glover performs with Earthlike alongside award-winning songstress Wild Gloriosa, bold indie-pop force and disability advocate MAGNETS, and Adelaide artists effie isobel and Sunsick Daisy. Genre-bending powerhouse OSITA, The Carp Factory, pop and R&B performer Ivoris, enigmatic electronic duo Bcharre

and electronic jazz outfit Kitsch Kitchen round out the bill. The competition has previously launched careers for Missy Higgins, Baker Boy and Client Liaison.

ACLAND PLAZA AND BELFORD STREET STAGE

Additional stages at Acland Plaza and Belford Street Stage round out the programming with local emerging talent. Acland Plaza hosts Canisha, Charlie Lane, Charlie Needs Braces, George Kamikawa, Greg Gould, Joyce Prescher, MIZUKI and Ricky Neil Jnr, while the Belford Street Stage features sets from Alethia, Boox Kid, Desmond Mase, Jamie MacDowell, Laura de Elvira, Nii Odai, Ruby Mae and Sanny Veloo.

Big Festival Sunday stretches from noon to 9pm, with food vendors, market stalls, carnival rides and community activities running alongside the music.

ST KILDA FESTIVAL

WHERE: ST KILDA

WHEN: 14 + 15 FEB Made in partnership with

SLEEPAZOID

WORDS BY OLIVER WINN

When asked how sleepazoid is feeling about their upcoming Laneway appearance, there’s a second of silence before a disturbing sound emerges from guitarist Jim Duong, who’s been quiet for majority of the interview.

Æ

“Whaaaaa,” he squeals.

Composed of vocalist and guitarist Nette France, bassist Josef Pabis, drummer and vocalist Luca Soprano, and dual guitarists’ George Inglis and the aforementioned Jim Duong, the Zoiders have taken Melbourne by storm.

The Naarm alt-rock quintet’s debut EP in late 2024 exploded onto the Melbourne music scene like a shoegaze shotgun loaded with fuzzy, energetic bangers, landing triple j radio rotation, extensive playlist support and hundreds of thousands of streams.

With EP number two, NEW AGE, releasing 5 February, the band has spent their time between releases selling out headliners and supporting big ticket internationals like Fcukers and Faye Webster.

Almost immediately after Duong’s squeal (which I’ve decided is the only way to describe the sound he made), he elaborates as if we all hadn’t just burst into laughter.

“We’re grateful. It’s crazy. It’s just nice to be alongside so many bands that we have listened to and look up to,” Duong says.

It’s quite rare for a band to go from their first gig to sharing a poster with the likes of Chappell Roan, PinkPantheress, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and Geese in such a short time.

But their success hinges on their cemented identity and brand. They’d spent a long time refining their sound before even playing their first show, and France even admits they chose the name sleepazoid because they “wanted to find something that had good SEO”. Pabis says the time spent honing their sound, along with crucial support of their own record label Surreal Sounds, was what helped the band cut through the noise.

“We spent the best part of a year and a half also just writing and jamming with each other, not playing other shows, because a lot of times you can quickly just go into playing gigs and then you kind of just roll from there.

“Then being fortunate enough to work with our label, Surreal Sounds, from the get-go to get that into life was how we got it started,” Pabis says.

Though the band is still fairly young, there’s already a noticeable development in their sound. Where their first EP, running with the dogs, had a frenetic energy to it, NEW AGE lowers the overall pace and cranks up the atmosphere.

“The first EP, it was just us going in and being like, ‘Okay, we’re going to be a loud rock band,’” Duong says. “The second EP was, ‘Okay, how can we do that, but make it feel a bit more emotional?’ which is the space where that songwriting comes from.”

The sense of vulnerability is evident in France’s lyrics, where she explores the pain of breaking up with a long-term partner.

“One of the key themes to the EP is heartbreak and it follows this journey of being out and walking through the city,” France says.

Working with filmmaker Nikola Jokanovich, each music video helps thread this narrative throughout the EP.

The EP’s titular track jumps back and forth between states of renewal and sombre reflection. The verses see France sing over driving drums and textured guitars as she reinvents herself on a night out, strutting down city streets in “D&G jeans with a rhinestone pattern/ slick back hair for the aerodynamics”.

Then the chorus, with its half-time rhythm, bright guitars and angelic vocals, offers a plaintive moment of lucidity (“I really loved you, I know you know that/ but what we cut down, we couldn’t grow back”).

“You follow the thread through the night. You’ve got Fig Tree where I finish the night out and I’m at home, and that’s the more reflective, somewhat melancholic kind of aftermath that happens when you’ve processed something like a big breakup,” France says.

“I think Nikola did a really good job at listening to the body of work as a whole. He was so run and gun. He filmed, directed, edited, color graded… He did everything. He really just kind of ate that idea up and was like, ‘Yes, let’s do it,’” France says.

Looking forward, the band has some big plans. After their EP tour in Australia in March, the band is bringing their sleepazoid sound to the UK.

With an impressive buzz around them and ambitious aspirations, sleepazoid has certainly proved they aren’t a band to be slept on.

SLEEPAZOID

WHERE: LANEWAY FESTIVAL

WHEN: 13 FEB

“The first EP, it was just us going in and being like, ‘Okay, we're going to be a loud rock band.’”

A City Fed by Many Cultures

33 x restaurants | 4000 x dockets

Each one a personal order and story of culture and memory from the kitchens of iconic Melbourne restaurants. A new exhibition at Immigration Museum Visit Now

BARKAA

WORDS BY SARAH DUGGAN

BARKAA doesn’t enter rooms quietly, she bursts into them.

Æ Loud, courageous and proudly self-described as “scary,” the Barkindji rapper carries herself with an unapologetic confidence that’s quickly become her signature. Yet when we sit down to chat, what’s immediately striking is her warmth. She’s bubbly, relaxed and radiates an easy, chilled energy that makes the conversation feel effortless. It’s a reminder that strength and softness aren’t opposites, and that BARKAA embodies both with ease.

It’s been a monumental year for the Western Sydney artist. With the release of her Big Tidda EP in 2024, she’s been riding the high with a major ARIA win, high-profile collaborations and an upcoming headline slot at St Kilda Festival on First Peoples First Day. BARKAA is standing firmly in her moment, saying, “I’m overwhelmed. It’s really exciting, it’s nice to get flowers and it’s been really beautiful to get that accolade.”

Recognition, particularly in an industry that hasn’t always made space for First Nations voices, carries real weight.

“As a Blak woman in this industry, I didn’t really think many people would listen to me, or many people would even gravitate towards my music,” she explains. That changed as Big Tidda resonated far beyond its initial reach. “To have this amount of support from my First Nations brothers and sisters always, but also from our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters to be supporting us and to be like a part of this movement is amazing.” Her ARIA win marked a historic first – becoming the first Blak woman to take home a hip-hop award – but BARKAA is clear that the moment extended far beyond personal success. “Winning that ARIA was for radical little Blak angry women everywhere,” she laughs. “It was for, you know, those women that get called a bitch everywhere.”

“I take that with the greatest honour to be able to instil pride into my mob… If you don’t feel it, I’ll yell it at you.”

The validation hit on multiple levels. “Not only am I a successful Blak woman, I’m a fat Blak successful woman. I’m a fat Blak angry successful woman,” she says with pride, laughing but also entirely serious.

With that visibility comes expectation, something BARKAA acknowledges openly. “There’s like a whole lot more responsibility now to come out with better work,” she says. But instead of feeling paralysed by pressure, the moment has reignited her creative drive. “With all eyes on me and my pressure, I’ve also felt that igniting a fire inside of me… It kind of lighted that fire and made me hungry again.” After a period where music began to feel transactional, the spark returned. “I remembered why I fell in love with it.”

That renewed hunger is already showing up in her recent collaboration Nothing’s Free with Sydney rap group 046. For BARKAA, the partnership felt natural, rooted in shared geography and lived experience. “They’re from South West Sydney where I’m from as well,” she says. “It was really beautiful to be able to collaborate with boys from my area, because we grew up around that same, you know – South West Sydney rugrat kids, eshays. It was really beautiful to represent that side of me.” Despite initially feeling intimidated, the experience quickly became affirming. “I love their music. They look scary, but they’re not. I think I’m scarier,” she laughs. “They’re just angels.”

Next on the horizon is St Kilda Festival, where BARKAA will headline on the Saturday, a date that also marks the 20th anniversary of First Peoples First Day. As always, St Kilda Festival is dedicating Day 1 to First Nations programming, with BARKAA headlining. For her, the significance of the day is deeply personal. “It’s an honour to be able to represent them,” she says. “I always love being a part of First Nation showcases, because it’s everything that I am.” Beyond performance, it’s about pride and visibility. “I take that with the greatest honour to be able to instil pride into my mob… If you don’t feel it, I’ll yell it at you.”

BARKAA is also clear about what meaningful support for First Nations artists looks like, and it goes far beyond symbolic gestures. “Rock up to shows, buy our merch, donate to places that we share… sit with Blakfellas, talk to us,” she urges, and that support extends into action. “Come to protests. When we’re doing protests for Black Lives Matter, protesting for our brothers and sisters who have died in custody, come to those marches… Don’t celebrate Australia Day, just don’t do it. Come to NAIDOC, enjoy Blak Christmas with us. Just come to Blak events. You’re all invited and you’re all so welcome.”

As our chat wraps up, it’s hard not to feel energised by her presence. Loud, loving, principled and deeply generous, BARKAA is exactly where she’s meant to be. Her St Kilda Festival performance will signify a celebration of culture, community and resistance, and who better to deliver this than one of the most vital voices in Australian music right now?

WHERE: ST KILDA

WHEN: 14 FEB

Made in partnership with St Kilda Festival.

TOTAL TOMMY

WORDS BY AUGUST BILLY

total tommy will perform songs from her debut album Bruises, as well as some unreleased material, on tour with Blondshell.

Æ Less than two years after debuting with the single Microdose, total tommy has released a full-length album, played several major Australian headline shows, and completed a tour of the UK and Europe. total tommy – the solo vehicle of Sydney-based songwriter Jess Holt – will kick off 2026 with an east coast tour supporting US musician Blondshell.

The project’s debut album, Bruises, came out at the end of 2024. Holt recently travelled to London to record total tommy’s second album.

“I’d written it all last year, towards the middle of the year, and then I went and recorded it late last year,” says Holt.“And it’s fun. It’s really fun.”

The Blondshell tour comes to Max Watt’s on 7 February. Holt will be performing with the same three-piece band that has accompanied her through all her touring over the last couple of years. Playing dozens of shows with an energetic live band had an influence on Holt’s songwriting for the new record.

“It’s a rock band when we play live, and it sort of pushed my songwriting a lot more into the rock world,” Holt says. “The next album definitely feels like it sits in that space. I hate to commit to a genre ever, but I think it’s that.”

In an NME interview published in September 2024, Holt spoke about how the total tommy project harkened back to her formative influences, bands such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Strokes. “Maybe that’s not cool, or it’s not what people are listening to now,” Holt said. Two years after the release of Microdose, a revival of noughties indie rock is in full swing. “Big time,” says Holt. “Oversaturated, some might say.”

“Honestly, I just kind of do what feels good to me.”

But despite this, Holt’s still not too concerned about that which is or isn’t in fashion. “Honestly, I just kind of do what feels good to me,” she says. “And hopefully, if it feels good to me, it will feel good to some other people.”

The songs on Bruises reflected on a major period of transition and self-discovery for Holt, which involved moving from Melbourne to Sydney, coming out, and connecting with a whole new community. Her songwriting remains personal in nature, but her thematic focus has shifted somewhat.

“Bruises was all of the things that, when you start to grow up, you realise, and then this one is more like, ‘This is me now, and these are the mistakes I still make, but I’m conscious of them now.’ It’s really introspective.”

Bruises found an audience of admirers across the globe. The album received a 4.5 star review in DIY magazine, and total tommy performed shows with Soccer Mommy and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and appeared at festivals such as The Great Escape and Yours and Owls. Holt was particularly moved by how her audience embraced the album in its entirety.

“I think it was really nice that people listened as an album. It really meant a lot to me rather than just people knowing the singles,” she says. “A lot of people come up after shows being like, ‘I love the album,’and that’s what I want. I want people to love the album, not just the individual singles.”

total tommy’s latest single, Butterknife, came out last May, just in time for the European tour. The plan is to get back to Europe, where funding permits.

“Luckily, last year we got a grant to do our tour,” Holt says. “I’m so thankful because it’s just not possible otherwise. But yeah, I definitely loved the crowds over there. A highlight was playing this show in Belgium in a city called Kortrijk, and I think I sold more tickets there than in some cities in Australia.”

In the meantime, Holt is looking forward to the east coast tour with Blondshell. Fans can expect to get a preview of some songs from the forthcoming record.

“I’m such a fan of her music as well,” Holt says. “So that was super nice to be asked and also really good timing because I’ve had a couple of months off shows to just finish the album, and now I’m ready to play.

“These shows are a really nice kind of reintroduction and a chance to play some new songs. It’s a really nice opportunity to test the ones that I think could be the singles or could be the fan faves.”

WHERE:

MAX WATT’S SUPPORTING BLONDSHELL

WHEN: 7 FEB

NILÜFER YANYA

WORDS BY DOM LEPORE

London’s Nilüfer Yanya probes existential themes in the gorgeous language of twangy, rhythmic guitars.

Æ This concoction sets her apart from other singer-songwriters. Nilüfer sews pop, rock and jazz sensibilities into a mesmerising patchwork of her thoughtful musings.

With her third album, My Method Actor, Nilüfer found herself asking what motivates her to continue performing. Caught in this transitional whirlwind, she responded by writing her most mature, decorative and triumphant record.

Compared to her earlier, lighter releases, this album sees guitar – the first instrument she ever learned – further to the forefront than ever before.

“I feel the music has gotten richer and denser,” Nilüfer tells me. “It’s less minimal because when I think about my first record, every song was different, but this one feels more cohesive.”

My Method Actor came together with the help of Nilüfer’s longtime creative partner, Wilma Archer, recording across London, Wales and Eastbourne. Summarising their collaboration, Nilüfer says, “I’m much more focused on the melody and lyrics, he’s a lot more focused on the music and production.”

It’s a partnership she truly values as an artist. “Wilma has so many interesting and cool ideas. I think, ‘I would never have been able to come up with that.’ It’s inspiring for me.”

It’s no secret collaboration is at the heart of Nilüfer’s music, unlocking something larger than writing by herself.

“When something’s not all your idea, you really want to give it space,” she explains. “You’re not trying to cover it up. You’re not embarrassed about it, and you’re proud of it. You think something’s cool, so you’re like, ‘Let’s make that bigger.’”

This is where My Method Actor differs from everything before. To give the music what it deserved, she only recorded with Wilma. Usually, she’d “work with lots of people and try to bring the threads together,” but the results were never as satisfying as they could’ve been.

Working with someone on the same wavelength was the best way to handle the uncertainty she’d been facing, leading to fascinating insights.

“When you’re trusting one other person, it becomes shared,” Nilüfer says. “It becomes your project together. It’s not just your project. You’re giving a lot of responsibility to somebody.”

She describes this as “a relief” – there’s an expectation in the singer-songwriter world for such artists to make records by themselves. “I think I saw myself in that way,” Nilüfer admits. “But a lot of my favourite records have a whole band of people behind them. You don’t always have to stick to [writing alone]. I felt like I needed to go on this journey of opening up creatively.”

“I felt like I needed to go on this journey of opening up creatively.”

However, she isn’t afraid to share how romanticised songwriting can be. The writing process was “gruelling at some points”, but the need to be there for each other in the room helped push them both forward.

Nilüfer clarifies: “When there’s just two people, it feels like it’s a mirror to yourself. That’s intense, and it’s not necessarily intense because of the other person, but because you see your own ideas and what you’re seeing in yourself. It’s like a weird therapy session.”

After touring My Method Actor, Nilüfer reconnected with Wilma to release the Dancing Shoes EP, leftover songs from the recording sessions now given a new lease of life.

Titles are another way Nilüfer breaks convention. “They can be something that throws people off, like Dancing Shoes,” she shares. “There’s that whole genre of dance music, which isn’t really in my world.”

Amid her reinvention, you may think there’s a need for Nilüfer to try to stay authentic, but that isn’t in the picture.

She says plainly, “I don’t know if it exists. It’s such a funny concept when you think about it. People are always trying new things to get to this true version of themselves, so what is authenticity?”

Maybe it’s resigning to her reality of being a touring artist: “It’s not for me to be on stage performing or be an entertaining person – I wouldn’t say it’s fake, but I really have to make myself do it.”

Perhaps it’s knowing what’s right for her. “The authenticity for me is accepting, ‘This is my life. This is what I want to make, and I want to be creating things,’” she reveals. “I feel there is something pure in that.”

Undoubtedly, Nilüfer’s deeply inquisitive nature is what makes her artistry so compelling to witness, both on and off stage.

NILÜFER YANYA

WHERE:

170 RUSSELL

WHEN: 19 FEB

Regional GUIDE

WORDS

BY

FRANKIE ANDERSON-BYRNE

FESTIVALS

BENDIGO CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Classical music takes centre stage across Bendigo with 14 intimate concerts showcasing world-class chamber music performances. Various venues throughout the city will host this five-day celebration of classical repertoire, bringing together exceptional musicians for one of regional Victoria’s premier cultural events.

BENDIGO 4–8 FEB

GEELONG RAINBOW FESTIVAL

Johnstone Park comes alive with colour and celebration for Geelong’s Rainbow Festival. Expect live performances, a vibrant community march and a cabaret launch across the two-day event, showcasing LGBTQIA+ culture and community connection in the heart of Geelong.

GEELONG 6–7 FEB

FEASTIVAL FALLS CREEK

Falls Creek’s alpine village transforms into a three-day cultural playground blending music, art, comedy, wellness, food and beverage against pristine North-East Victorian peaks. The Feast de resistance anchors Saturday afternoon with a ticketed music festival showcasing Australian artists. Other events will be scattered across the weekend, creating an immersive festival experience where snowcapped mountains meet creative celebration.

FALLS CREEK 13–15 FEB

ANGLESEA SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL

Anglesea Movie Club rolls out the red carpet for its second annual short film festival, celebrating young creatives aged 18 and under with connections to the Surf Coast. Young filmmakers with family ties, sporting connections or regular time spent in the region are encouraged to submit their work for this afternoon of homegrown cinema showcasing the next generation of regional storytelling talent.

ANGLESEA 15 FEB

RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Echuca’s Aquatic Reserve transforms into a music lover’s paradise with The Living End, Baker Boy, Xavier Rudd and Emma Donovan leading an impressive lineup. This multi-day festival celebrates the best of Australian music against the iconic Murray River backdrop, delivering everything from indie rock to hip hop across the long weekend.

ECHUCA 13–15 FEB

FESTIVAL OF SMALL HALLS

Woodfordia’s benchmark rural touring festival kicks off its 48th edition at Foster War Memorial Arts Centre, featuring IrishCanadian powerhouse Irish Mythen and Australian folk troubadour Kaurna Cronin. This not-for-profit music tour launches an autumn journey through 13 regional Victorian communities, delivering intimate performances to small halls that larger tours bypass.

FOSTER 27 FEB

SOUTH GIPPSLAND GARLIC FESTIVAL

Korumburra Showgrounds hosts this beloved festival celebrating all things garlic from 9am to 6pm. Live music, cooking demonstrations and bustling market stalls create a perfect day out for food lovers and families alike, showcasing the best of South Gippsland’s produce and culture.

KORUMBURRA 28 FEB

TOURS

GOOD CHARLOTTE

Alongside special guests Yellowcard and Kisschasy, American pop-punk legends Good Charlotte bring their Motel Du Cap World Tour to Bendigo Racecourse. Expect all the nostalgic hits from The Young and the Hopeless era alongside tracks from their extensive catalogue spanning two decades of infectious punk rock anthems.

BENDIGO RACECOURSE, BENDIGO 21 FEB

BIRDS OF TOKYO

One of Australia’s biggest indie rock bands is heading across the country, bringing music from their wildly popular debut album Day One as well as everything that came after. The Perth quintet will also be performing as part of Lookout Festival.

PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON 13

SARAH MCLEOD AND DALLAS FRASCA

Two powerhouse voices join forces for The Green Electric Tour, with Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod teaming up with Dallas Frasca for an unforgettable run of shows. The tour brings electric energy and rock’n’roll credentials to intimate regional venues across Victoria and beyond.

MOYHU HOTEL, MOYHU 20 FEB

XAVIER RUDD

Multi-instrumentalist and spiritual force Xavier Rudd brings his Where To Now tour to Ballarat Civic Hall, joined by his son Finojet for an intimate evening of conscious folk, roots and activism. Known for his masterful command of didgeridoo, guitar and percussion often played simultaneously, Rudd’s performances blend environmental advocacy with soul-stirring musicality spanning his extensive catalogue of albums.

BALLARAT CIVIC HALL, BALLARAT 14 FEB

CAPTAIN BAXTER

LIVE MUSIC: comes in the form of rotating DJs from noon until night all weekend long. Enjoy tropical house, vibey techno and non-stop hits as some of Melbourne’s favourite spinners take to the decks.

FAMOUS FOR: being the place to be when summer hits. There’s really nothing like watching the sun set on the sea with all your food and beverage needs taken care of.

REPUBLICA

LIVE MUSIC: doesn’t stop at Republic, with golden hour acoustic sets and DJs taking you through brunch and into the evening.

INFAMOUS FOR: sunburns. Don’t make the common mistake of sinking a few too many cervezas and sitting in a sun lounger all day without the appropriate SPF. There are umbrellas for a reason!

Æ When summer hits and us citizens of Melbourne begin to feel that magnetic pull towards the beach, Captain Baxter awaits. The St Kilda joint is the first thing you notice when you hit the shoreline, and it’s essentially a beachside playground for adults. Equipped with an elevated Asian-fusion menu, plenty of drink specials, all day DJs, comfy cabanas and a 180 degree view of the ocean, there’s nothing more you could ask for, really.

Whether you’re stopping in for a lazy Sunday session, a boozy bottomless brunch, a full tasting menu dinner, or just a few after-work knock offs, Captain Baxter’s got you sorted. With a location as good as this, the food doesn’t need to be anything special, but thankfully the team here’s gone above and beyond to deliver punchy, flavourful favourites singing with citrus, soy and spice. Think duck bao, soft shell crab sliders and roasted pork belly with pineapple.

Thursday and Friday Happy Hour offers cheap cocktails from 5 to 7pm, helping you glide into the weekend with ease, when DJs take over to pick up the pace. Plus, beachside bungalow packages and multiple tucked away spaces make bachelorette parties, family get-togethers, birthdays and engagement parties a breeze.

If you’re able to resist the temptation of spritzes and socialising under the sun, then congrats – you’re stronger than the rest of us.

WHERE: 10–18 JACKA BLVD, ST KILDA

OPEN: 5–11PM THU–FRI / 12PM–12AM SAT / 12–11PM SUN

FAMOUS FOR: the beloved beach volleyball sessions, where a friendly match can quickly turn into a heated competition. Make new friends, get your sweat on and wind down with some beers and bites on the sand.

INFAMOUS FOR: spritz o’clock, running on weekdays from 5 to 6pm. Be careful, those bright orange bevs are surprisingly boozy.

Æ Republica is just like your favourite laidback pub, except on the waterfront. Nestled onto the St Kilda shore, this iconic venue offers a menu full of Aussie pub classics in a warm, light-filled dining space, with specials galore.

There’s honestly never a bad time to stop by. On weekend mornings, Republica welcomes guests with coffees and eggs however you want ’em, with DJs keeping the groove going. In the afternoons and evenings, there are daily meal deals, like Monday pizza night, Tuesday fish and chips and Wednesday steaks. Plus, if you’re headed to a performance at the Palais Theatre, Republica offers a pre-show dinner and drinks deal if you show your ticket.

The menu skews Italian, with a preference for seafood – which is exactly what you should be eating when you’re by the sea. If you’re into perfectly al dente pastas piled up with pink tiger prawns or panseared barramundi finished with fresh clams, this is your kind of place. And you can work up an appetite by playing a round of volleyball or shaking your hips on the dancefloor, which is known to get a little funky. The music is all over the place genre-wise, but always a vibe. You’ll hear singer-songwriters, soul ensembles, live drumming, covers and original songs.

Bring your friends, your family, even the dog – Republica’s a place for deep conversations, good eats and long, relaxed summer days.

WHERE: 1A–1D/10–18 JACKA BLVD, ST KILDA

OPEN: 12–10:30PM MON–THU / 12–11PM FRI / 8:30AM–10:30PM SAT–SUN

Wesley Anne Wesley Anne

Sun 8 Feb

THE OCELOTS (IRE) + JESSIE MONK

Tue 10 Feb

WORDCRAFT Sat 14 Feb

HOPELESSLY DEDICATED LOVE SONGS W/ BRENDA

Sun 1 Feb ROSARIO DE MARCO Tue 3 Feb

TOBY AITKEN DUO Thu 5 Feb TONY J KING Fri 6 Feb YEMO WANG Sat 7 Feb

GRIM FAWKNER & ALISTER TURRILL

BAND ROOM from 8pm

Tue 17 Feb ZAC HENDERSON Fri 20 Feb

STRAIGHT NO CHANGES Sun 22 Feb

WORDCRAFT BOOKLAUNCHLIBBY LAMB & THE ACACIA PROJECT

FRONT BAR from 6pm

Sun 8 Feb FLIRYTE Thu 12 Feb PIERRE JAQUINOT TRIO Fri 13 Feb

SZARA

Tue 24 Feb DRAWING BLOOD Thu 26 Feb

Sat 28 Feb

GEORGIA SCARLETT

ACCORDION SOCIETY BELLOWS AND BEVS

20 Feb BENJAMIN ATTICHE TRIO

21 Feb

LACHLAN MITCHELL & TAMARA MURPHY

BENJAMIN ATTICHE TRIO Fri 27 Feb YOUTHLESS

STEPH STRINGS

Feel Alive

Æ Discovering Ernest Hemingway, stomping clapalongs, “tram tracks and cobblestones”, befriending your “inner soul”, singing loud “to the birds in the treetops” – Feel Alive, the debut album by Steph Strings, bristles with salt-of-the-earth charm. “I know who I am, but I’ve still got more to say” – it’s a snapshot of where this extraordinary artist finds herself right now.

“The dust on my guitar flies away…” – lyrically, Steph illustrates the session that produced Gratefully (during which said flying dust particles made her sneeze). The raucous Devil Woman, which follows, paints a less wholesome picture: “We got that Mary Jane/ From Billy’s house/ We put it in your mumma’s handbag and zipped it up.” This song emerged from a family jam session at a party in Brunswick East, with Billy – her mum’s cousin – on harmonica. The main ukulele melody that uplifts Waterfall is from Steph’s very first viral Instagram video, posted back in 2020. This one reminds us to “make peace with the animal” within and tune into nature’s wordless wisdom.

Of Melbourne Blue, a power ballad played on grand piano, Steph has said: “If Missy Higgins and Julia Jacklin had a child, this song would be it.” Hope St. Radio’s margaritas, The London Tavern and the 109 tram down Whitehorse Road all score shoutouts here. Such enchanting, lilting piano melodies! Endless prettiness underscores uncertainty (“Don′t know where I’m supposed to go/ Find it hard to be alone…”).

Steph co-wrote Again, a song about longing for loved ones when you’re on the road, with her partner/road manager Laura Siebert in a Byron Bay Airbnb the night before 2025’s Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival. Co-created with Alice Ivy, Three Wishes – with its joyous, skipping tempo – chooses forgiveness and mending friendships. Heaven was informed by ‘conversations’ Steph opened up with people in her life that have passed away.

Minus her beloved guitar, Steph performs the fully instrumental A Storm In April on grand piano, backed by her cellist friend Josh Luke Rea. The cascading melodies are impossibly beautiful. Almost a decade in the making, this standout moment on the record showcases Steph’s virtuosity.

“Cinnamon, ginger, honey and gold…” – Steph describes her favourite tea, Bengal Spice by Celestial Seasonings (*ad/sponsorship alert*), in the closing To Be Loved. “This is how it feels to be truly loved” – who doesn’t want that?

Steph’s comfortable baring her soul through music, which adds oceans of depth and makes listeners feel like they know her. Although she flirts with various genres throughout the album, her blues backbone holds firm but is never limiting.

“I hope I’ve done my mum and dad and sister proud,” she sings during Melbourne Blue. We’re pretty sure that’s a given.

DRY CLEANING

Secret

Love

Æ All buddies before they started a band in their thirties, these South Londoners employ a striking sonic palette capped off with frontperson Florence Shaw’s beguiling sprechgesang musings (eg. “When I was a child I wanted to be a horse, eating onions, carrots, celery…”). Shaw’s words hit like an internal monologue, voiced in real time.

With its unhurried pace, panting vocal percussion, strutting bassline and wailing guitar, opener Hit My Head All Day is fiercely original. Written around the last US presidential election, the album’s no-wave lead single explores online misinformation and manipulation.

At the conclusion of Cruise Ship Designer – what a novel concept! – Shaw deadpans, “I make sure there are hidden messages in my work” – how meta is that?

Shaw confesses she loves tidying, but finds cleaning “demeaning” during My Soul/ Half Pin. Preserving a confidential crush for eternity, Secret Love (Concealed In A Drawing Of A Boy) is resplendent with magical mandolin playing.

Soothing guitar melodies and the unexpected lustre of brass categorise Let Me Grow And You’ll See The Fruit: “I yearn for a friend who I can tell my secrets to/ Why does the past hurt me so?/ The world is laughing at me/ I am such a disaster…” – feelings of inadequacy permeate through.

Joy’s lyrics were initially pieced together from vintage ads in Virginia Tech University’s History Of Food And Drink archive, which brings Bowie’s cut-up technique to mind. Guitarist Tom Dowse’s bursts of insistent strumming enhance this rim click-heavy closer, which signs off optimistically: “Don’t give up on being sweet.”

LABEL: INDEPENDENT

RELEASE: OUT NOW

LABEL: 4AD/REMOTE CONTROL

RELEASE: OUT NOW

DZ DEATHRAYS

Easing Out Of Control

Æ DZ Deathrays co-founders Shane Parsons and Simon Radley have been playing together since 2008, with additional guitarist Lachlan Ewbank joining in 2018.

“Should I move aside or keep the dream alive?/ Feels like it’s a waste, being lost in this space…” – built from Parsons’ home-recorded piano chords, Warped logs a realisation: Parsons and Radley are rapidly approaching a time of life where they’ve been playing in the band for longer than they haven’t. This album’s closer features sustained strings and atmospheric synth, eventually freefalling down a wormhole of smashing drums and searing guitars.

After easing in, the opening title track – which explores the rise of surveillance technology – escalates into a wild, cocksure ride: “It’s easing out of control/ It’s easy to get out of control.”

On album number seven, DZ incorporate dance music elements while maintaining their signature grit. Sideways evokes Primal Scream’s Rocks: “Get ya sideways/ Get ya sideways/ People crush their biscuits…” – aha, we suspected it was a love letter to pingers!

We never would’ve foreseen a touching, piano-led power ballad – featuring sad-robot BVs, no less – in DZ’s future (Real Love), but we’ll allow it (think: Mötley Crüe’s Home Sweet Home). None could resist First Night Fever’s cartoon-caveman “OO! Ah!” BVs.

“Burning bridges, yeah, that’s me…” –Demolition concludes with a bang: thwacking drums, rabble-rousing guitars and the loudest unhinged Parsons yowl yet.

Since making killer tunes is a core component of their individual identities, DZ Deathrays are lifers. They also boast enduring, teenage-dirtbag appeal: “Know that this is real and no one gives a shit…”

KARNIVOOL

In Verses

Æ Of the 12-and-a-half-year gap between Karnivool albums, one Vooligan posted:

“July 2013 Asymmetry was released…. In that time, I built a house, got married and had two kids, both of which are now in primary school. C’mon now!!”

The Perth legends have been toiling in the studio, pinning sounds down and wrestling them into shape – determined to maintain their exacting standards and ensure In Verses was showroom ready. According to guitarist Drew Goddard, this lengthy struggle “strengthened the dynamic and the spirit of the band”.

Inspired by the Japanese term for blue sky, Aozora asks, “If I held your head underwater/ Would you fi-i-ight for you li-i-ife?”

Animation opens with a caressing harp section, its stacks-on, freak-out conclusion hitting the polar opposite end of the dynamic scale.

“There ain’t no place that I’d rather be/ But I gotta go…” – Ian Kenny injects raw humanity into every vocal performance and we feel every syllable.

“I’m sorry for your loss/ Please come back to us…” – Kenny’s sublime, lofty vocals are spotlighted during Opal’s intro, cradled by mystical harp. Then Steve Judd’s drumming hijacks the mix – smugly conspicuous following their absence – and jagged guitars saw right through this song’s guts. Our landing is cushioned by warped, spacy synth and a plaintive piano melody.

Prepare to collect your jaw from the floor in response to this record as a whole and the closing Salva’s final two minutes of bottled euphoria in particular. Bear in mind all five musicians have busily refined their chops between album releases, as well.

SLEAFORD MODS

The Demise

Of Planet X

Æ No one spits rhymes with as much relish as Jason Williamson. He reads as permanently perplexed/infuriated about the state of things – both major (MAGA) and minor (dislikes puddings) – which is exactly how we like him.

The 13th album by Sleaford Mods demands re-listening. Midsong, you’ll repeatedly doubletake and rewind – ‘He said WHAT!?’ – like lyrical whiplash (eg. “Fucking toss parachutes from jizz op aircraft carriers”).

Sleaford Mods are also funny as fuck. Check out this bit from Megaton: “‘Allo, renters, I’m in you! Ugh, I hate that sayin’. Noughties bands say it when they drive into the next town they’re playin’.”

Opener The Good Life – which reflects “a life lived under immense uncertainty, shaped by mass trauma”, according to Williamson – aptly kicks off with cackling laughter. Here, Gwendoline Christie (Game Of Thrones) represents Jason’s inner voice and is suitably terrifying – you’ll probably flinch.

“I want a big bum hole to suck me up/ WHO GOES THERE!?” – Williamson’s acting chops upgrade his delivery to untouchable during Double Diamond, which closes out with classical strings.

At the top of No Touch, Sue Tompkins (of Life Without Buildings) accuses, “You’re not miserable, you’re nice!” To which Jason responds, with his signature screwed-up face, “WHA’?”

Elsewhere: Elitist G.O.A.T. (feat. Aldous Harding) takes on performative activism over ska-inspired backing; Williams recounts a childhood incident on the harrowing Gina Was, with its playful use of güiro and glockenspiel; and Andrew Fearn’s Kill List beat throbs with menace.

The affronting Nottingham noise duo have done it again, leaving imitators quaking in The Demise Of Planet X’s wake.

LABEL: DZ WORLDWIDE

RELEASE: OUT NOW

LABEL: CYMATIC RECORDS/SONY

RELEASE: 6 FEB

LABEL: ROUGH TRADE

RELEASE: OUT NOW

GIG GUIDE

FEBRUARY 2026

THU 29 JAN

BLEEDING THROUGH. ALGOR MORTIS, BLOOD ON MY HANDS, VIRTUES, I CHOOSE VIOLENCE

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 6.30pm. $58.25. G TANO. FABULOUS CONTRAPTION, KISS OF REALITY Cactus Room. Thornbury. 7pm. $10.

TOFF LIVE PRESENTS:

THE REFUGE + CRIMSON CARAVAN

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 9.30pm. Free. BENT BURLESQUE 2026

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.20pm. $35 - 39.

FUNERAL:

MIDSUMMA 2026

FT: KING IV

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $35 - 45.

JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET + MEL SEARLE

Golden Gate Hotel. South Melbourne. 6.30pm. $20.

JOHN HENDERSON

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

ROSARIO DE MARCO Wesley Anne. Northcote. 7pm.

LFRESH THE LION. SO.CRATES Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $23.45.

SUMMER IN THE PARK 2026: DJIRRUNGANA KULTURE - HIGH CULTURE

FT: Jason Tamiru, Cultural Interpreter, Baimi Lore, Serpent Dreaming Maranoa Gardens. Balwyn. 6pm. Free.

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL:

HOT & HEAVY

FT: The Ironing Maidens

Melbourne Meat Market. North Melbourne. 6pm. $20 - 35.

FRI 30 JAN

BRUNSWICK BALLROOM PRESENTS: SHAKY POISON LOVERS

FT: Brooke Taylor & The Poison Spitting Gin Queens, Rod Pain & The Full Time Lovers, Shaky Stills

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $36.72.

BENT BURLESQUE 2026

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.20pm. $35 - 39.

SUMMER IN THE PARK 2026: PARTY IN THE PARK

FT: Bumpy, Mz Rizk, Cookin’ on 3 Burners

Camberwell Civic Precinct. Camberwell. 5pm. Free.

FEVADREAMS. SYDNEY MILLER, MORE

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

TAYLOR SWIFT FOLKLORE/ EVERMORE CELEBRATION

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $28.05.

DATSKO

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 10pm. $30 - 45.

DJ SALOONEY

TUNES

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 7.30pm. Free.

FRESHEN UP

FT: Harvey Town, Lunic, Jimmy Love, Tamperine Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $23.

TIM SCANLAN & MANA OKUBO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

SANFONA Handle Bar. Bendigo. 6pm.

THREE YEARS OF SUCCULENT FUNK Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $16.45 - 21.95.

TONY YANG

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

LUNG. ALL IS VIOLENT, BEAUTIFUL BEDLAM, FABULOUS CONTRAPTION, SLEEPER SERVICE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $15.

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL:

HOT & HEAVY

FT: The Ironing Maidens

Melbourne Meat Market. North Melbourne. 6pm. $20 - 35.

ROYA

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $69.47.

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

Alexandra Gardens. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $179.90.

SAT 31 JAN

HEARTS & ROCKETS. PLASTER OF PARIS, LXRP

Cafe Gummo. Thornbury. 8pm. Free.

HELLFIRE CLUB: 80S NIGHT

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $16.85 - 23.50.

STRIP THE LIFE FANTASTIC

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 4pm. $30.

INFINITY SONG

Max Watt’s (Melbourne). Melbourne. 7pm. $69.90.

HAIL FREYA. HOWLING MOUNTAIN

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $15.43.

PUPPYY. POSTURES

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8.30pm. Free. EXILES.

ARABELLA & THE HEIST

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $18.10.

SENTIA.

OCEANLORD, SANDS, FABULOUS CONTRAPTION, SUN STONE, BLACK DIME CABARET

The Graveyard Bar. Coburg North. 3pm. $15 - 20.

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

Alexandra Gardens. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $179.90.

THE BLUE SOULS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

VVARP. FALSE FATE, NON, MOTHERSLUG Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $18.35.

FRANCIS MERCIER

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 9pm. $66.20.

FACES IN THE STREET

The Merri Bar. Preston. 7pm.

SUMMER HOEDOWN

FT: Hayden Blaby LOEV. Moorabbin. 6pm. $45.

WEST END VS BROADWAY MUSICALS

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $45.90.

SANFONA (MATINEE SESSION)

Maurocco Bar. Castlemaine. 1pm. Free - $5.

SANFONA

Ruffy Hall. Ruffy. 7.30pm. $25.

GIFT HORSE

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

80’S & 90’S DANCEHALL SWING

FT: Al Good, Itations, More Judgment, Zare Demus, Stick Mareebo Corner Hotel. Richmond. 9pm. $29.10.

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL: AMPLIO

ROCKS! DEAF CLUB & DANCE PARTY

FT: Asphyxia

Melbourne Meat Market. North Melbourne. 5pm. $29.95.

THU 05 FEB

SUMAC

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $73.80.

SLOW-COOKED MUTTON CABARET

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7pm. $34. HAZLETT Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $69.90.

PLAY ANOTHER SLOW JAM III

FT: Angela Librandi, Emerson Alexander, Jason Heerah, Mike Pensini Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

MAREN MORRIS. JACK GRAY Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.45pm. $99.90.

OSCAR THE WILD. GUSH, LOOCH Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $18.35.

YOUTHLESS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

TONY J KING Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

EMPIRICAL PREY. ELO & THE SHINKICKS, WAKE UP SOLUTION

The Espy. St Kilda. 7.30pm. Free.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 5pm. COUNTRY STRUTS BOOT SCOOTING Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $19.80.

MIDSUMMA

FESTIVAL: LIBRARY UP LATE X CREATIVE ACTS State Library Victoria. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $27 - 136.

ELVIS II. MARCI & THE MISSILES, LOTHARIO The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7pm. $16.35.

OPEN MIC Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 7pm. Free.

OKEY DOKEY KARAOKE Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 6.30pm. Free.

GUERNS

THURSDAYS

New Guernica. Collingwood. 9pm. Free. KOOK JOEY. RUBY MILNER, ZA NOON Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $16.85. FLOOT BIRD: PADDY FITZGERALD

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

THE JAZZ ALCHEMISTS

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

STITCH WITH SAPPHO: WORKSHOP SERIES Kingston Arts Centre. Moorabbin. 6.30pm. Free.

NASH LEE TRIO Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

GEORGIA TRISKE. KALO, SAMANTHA CHARD

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $15.

FRI 06 FEB

DEAD

CONGREGATION + CONCRETE WINDS

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $69.

ENDS IN TRAGEDY. AS LONG AS IT BLEEDS, ONVOY, STREET SUFFER, DANCE

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $30.

TINA: A TROPICAL LOVE STORY

The Round. Nunawading. 8pm. $49.

ED REED’S CHORD FORTINAS & FIELD MONUMENTS

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm.

CELEBRATING LOU

REED, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $79.90.

MAIA TOAKLEY.

HANNAH KATE

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free.

BENNI HEDGERS. GOOSE BAY, DEAD ED, RIVIERA

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $10.

SPOOKY EYES. SHUM & THE CLUE Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $13.25.

GIRLS AGAINST BOYS

The Tote. Collingwood. 7pm. $73.95.

JUST FLOYD: PINK FLOYD’S GREATEST HIT’S LIVE

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $60.70.

KEIRA J & THE MICE. YASMIN LEYRE, HARRIET WRAITH

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $17.35.

OCIE ELLIOTT

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $79.90.

ALEX LLOYD

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $57.15.

MARCUS KNIGHT Morris House. Melbourne. 6pm.

LUNA’S DARK SECRET. WACO SOCIAL CLUB, WAKE UP SOLUTION

The Espy. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $12.75.

THE TEA PARTY Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 8pm. $89.90.

FOLK OFF FRIDAYS: THE APPLE JOHNS Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 6.30pm. Free.

RILEY PEARCE. LAURA LUCAS, JACK RAYMOND Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.05 - 33.15.

PREQUEL VS CAZEAUX O.S.L.O: 45S ONLY SET. DEM LARGE Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. $10.95.

THE MATINAYS

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8.30pm.

HANNIE DAY. THE BOATMEN

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. $15.05.

KARISE EDEN

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $45.

SURF HAT

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

MID YOUTH CRISIS Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm.

THE CROP TOPS. HETEROPHOBES, SAD BITCH HOURS, HOPE IN THE STATIC, MICROPLASTICS

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $15.

ELECTRIC OASIS

CABARET FT: Kalikah

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $35.96.

JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS.

TTTDC, ASTROFUZZ

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $23.75.

INTERVAL

FT: Dec Duffy + DJ Optimism. TRIPOD

Glamorama. Fitzroy. 10pm. $15 - 30.

THE BEATLES

LEGACY

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $40.

ROBERT BAXTER

Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $20 - 25.

KYLIE AND DANNII

DISCO IN THE PARK Camberwell Civic Precinct. Camberwell. 5pm. Free.

THE LITTLE BOURKE BIG BAND PRESENTS :

SUPER MARIO

MAYHEM: THE MUSIC OF SUPER MARIO

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6pm. $45.

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR. HOLIDAY SIDEWINDER

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $101.65.

GEOFF ACHISON & KATHLEEN HALLORAN

Odeon Richmond. Richmond. 6pm. Free. BLACKJACKS. ANNA SCIONTI

Brunswick Artists’ Bar. Brunswick. 8.30pm. Free.

YEMO WANG

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SAT 07 FEB

THE SOCIABLES

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm. 4HR PARKING. ETHEREAL GONE KIDS, LALU, SUGAR GUM

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $24.48.

BREAKNBREAD

BATTLES: HOMECOMING

FT: Greeley, Mr. Ruckman, Skrub, Erik Devine, Raaz38, Rileyp Stay Gold. Brunswick. 4pm. $64.84.

HALF CUT HICKS. FREUD AND THE FAMILY SOLUTION, LOST CANOE Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 4pm. $15.

SHADOW TUSSLE. SWEET NOTHING, WIZARD TRICKS, SHUM Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $15.29.

NEW BEGINNINGS

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.20pm. $28.

DEACON BLUE. EMILY BARKER

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm.

LANEOUS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free. WASTED YEARS. FILTHY ROCKS, UNEDUC4TED

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $12.75.

EARTHBOUND. ALERA, SUNDREAMER

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $25.

SEREN SPAIN DUO Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 2pm. Free.

FESTIVAL METAL AT THE BENDI II

FT: Rare Maiden, Through the Never, Killing in the Dame Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 9pm. $22.95.

DJ JASON CONTI Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm.

THE LONESOME WRANGLERS

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 9pm.

LAST CHANCE’S 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

FT: Kilat. Aardvark, Kristol Pisstol

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

SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY

Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 10pm. Free.

THICK N JUICY PRESENTS: ACTION New Guernica. Collingwood. 10pm. $20 - 25.

MAX COOPER Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $88.55 - 99.91.

COMEDY(ISH) Comedy Republic. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $15.

MAMA AFRICA: OUR KIND OF JAZZ Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8.30pm. $45.

THE ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 8pm. $62.

CULTURE COMBO Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free. RED CAMELLIA. CYCAD, FIASCO Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $10 - 15.

DINO MOSH: TYRANNOCOREUS 5TH BIRTHDAY

FT: Body Prison, Xenobiotic, Abreact, Bitter Kind, DEADSKIN, GhostSeeker, Identity Error, Saving Face, Scattered Limbs, Seventh Circle, Time Peace, Vault Hill, Wallet Inspector The Tote. Collingwood. 3pm. $39.30 - 55.60.

ARRHYTHMIA

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $15.

JOHN OO FLEMMING

Howler. Brunswick. 6pm. $36.72 - 52.53.

BILLIE MARTEN Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm. $71.30.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GEORGE MICHAEL & WHITNEY HOUSTON

FT: Emily Williams, Greg Gould Oakleigh-Carnegie RSL. Oakleigh. 8pm. $55.

THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $45. LITTLE MISS NASTY. THE CHARMED ONES, AIMEE WOLFF Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 8pm. $65.30.

DAYSEND. HYBRID NIGHTMARES, IMMORIUM The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $41.85.

THE RADIOHEAD

PROJECT

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35 - 40.

DILLA: A PARTY CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF J DILLA FT: OJ Kush, Raph Boogie, Arks, Sensible J Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $13.15.

BOB MARLEY

BIRTHDAY BASH WITH NORRIS MAN FT: Zare Demus, Stick Mareebo, Bellyas, Itations, Jesse I, Ras Crucial Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $29.10.

ACROSS THE PUNT

FT: Drunk Mums, Dick Move, Public House, Sweet Nothing, Ethanol Blend, DJ Centipede & The Earth Worms, Kurralta Park, Shot By Jane Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 3pm. Free.

GLAMORAMA

SATURDAYS

FT: Hauswife + Our Garage Takeover Glamorama. Fitzroy. 8pm. Free - $30.

DAYDREAM80S

#6: NEW WAVE. POP. ALTERNATIVE. DAYTIME. FT: DJ Eddie Monsoon, more Inflation Entertainment Complex. Melbourne. 3pm. $23.

NADIRA & FRIENDS PRESENT: SONGS OF NAT KING COLE PARIS CAT JAZZ CLUB. MELBOURNE. 6PM. $45. DANCING SHOES: TWENTY YEARS OF ARCTIC MONKEYS Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $16.85 - 23.50.

BIG JAZZ DAY OUT

FT: Ngaiire, Paul Grabowsky, Andrew Murray Big Band, Emma Donovan, Joshua Tavares, Fem Belling All Monash University Performing Arts Centres. Clayton. 12pm. $0 - 110.

MIDSUMMA

FESTIVAL:

FREAK OUT! THE AFTERPARTY Spiegel Haus Melbourne. Melbourne. 10pm. $20 - 49.

THU 12 FEB

IRON MIND

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $29.13.

AN EVENING WITH LUKE TYLER

SHELTON

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 7pm. Free.

JUDE PERL

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

YOUTHLESS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

ZAC HENDERSON + OSCAR LADELL

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8pm.

VOILÀ PRESENTS:

THE MAGIC WORD 170 Russell. Melbourne. 7pm. $69.90.

FRENZEE. THE STATES, SCARNON, SALMON SISTERS

The Tote. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $28.60.

COBURG UP LATE LIVE

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $21.42.

NAETHAN APOLLO.

GEORGA RAATH

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $59.90.

COUNTRY STRUTS

BOOT SCOOTING

Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 6pm. $19.80.

VOLA Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $64.10.

OKLOU

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $79.90. LUCY DACUS. STELLA BRIDIE Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.30pm.

GIO. TIA TAMORA, LILY ANNA Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $16.85.

BAROQUE MASTERS

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

GEESE Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm.

JADED MEMORY. SWINGS & ROUNDABOUTS, MAILEY

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $16.30.

MOONTIDE.

ENSEMBLE, AUSECUMA BEATS, NEEKO, LEELU

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 8pm. $29.49.

HAYDEN JONES PRESENTS: INTO EVERY LONGING HEART

FT: Ruth Rodgers-Wright

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

WHISPERING

JACK: A MUSIC CELEBRATION TO JOHN FARNHAM SHOW

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

FRI 13 FEB

ABURDEN: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. ALERA, 50FIFTY, SOME HEARD TROUBLE

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $25. LONG HOURS.

HUMAN INTRUSION, BLOOD IN THE CHAMPAGNE

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $12.75 - 15.

TECHNO SOUND

FT: Duane Bartolo, Jake Casey, Josh Webb, Joel Graham, Brad Pepi, Trent Barrington, Ryan Hally, Cam Fidge

Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 9pm. $15.30.

MSO X FIND YOUR VOICE COLLECTIVE

Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 5pm. Free.

REBECCA BARNARD & WILBUR WILDE

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35 - 40.

NEW DELICA. HOLO, CARESSA

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $23.45.

BISTROTEQUE #2

FT: Bridget Small, Elsie Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 9pm. $17.10.

TUMOUR. DEATH TAX, IDENTITY ERROR, AS LONG AS IT BLEEDS

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

XAVIER RUDD. FINOJET Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm.

THE SMITH STREET BAND

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $57.32.

THIRTEEN: TRIBUTE TO BLACK SABBATH + OZZY OSBOURNE - CHARITY SHOW: THINKING OF YOU + FIGHT PARKINSON’S Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.45pm. $28.05.

SASHA FERN Morris House. Melbourne. 8pm.

PRYVT

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 7pm. $54.06.

MIYA ZAWA

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8.30pm. $15.

BOOTLEG RASCAL

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95 - 28.05.

KNIGHT RIDER. PENALTY, PAPER ST. The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $11.25.

FLETCHER KENT

The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm.

ROY DARBY

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8.30pm. THE MAGIC GARDEN

SUMMER CARNIVAL: MASQUERADE PARTY

Bar 303. Northcote. 8.30pm. $20.37.

THE ITALIAN DIVORCE

Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 8pm. $74.90.

CY GORMAN

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free.

DOWNSTAIRS DISCO

FT: Steely Ann & Guests

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. Free.

QUEEN FOREVER

The Round. Nunawading. 7.30pm. $75.

FANNY LUMSDEN

Thornbury Theatre. Thornbury. 7pm. $59.90.

NOASIS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $49.10.

TOTTIE GOLDSMITH & BAND PRESENT:

OLIVIA - THE SONGS & STORIES OF MY LIFE WITH OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $40.

R&R: REBECCA

CARDAMONE & RICHARD PAVLIDIS

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

SZARA FOX & ANDREW DARLING

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SACHIKO KANENOBU. BASTY

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $40.40 - 60.

SAT 14 FEB

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL LOVE LETTER

FT: The Breadmakers, The Earthquakes, The Predawn Civilisation Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. $13 - 15.

HARVEST OF LOVE

FT: Robert Anthony, Clif,f Xtian, Mr EaZaL, Cuznmatt, Renton Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 9pm. $21.45.

KONGAPALOOZA: DRAG KING FESTIVAL

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $45.24.

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm.

SUMMER SOUNDS (ALTONA)

FT: Adrian Eagle, Horns of Leroy, Hobson’s Bay Coast Guard Logan Reserve. Altona. 2pm. Free.

SÖJOURN Morris House. Melbourne. 7pm. THE GNOMES. PUBLIC HOUSE, MORE Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $20.

VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS. JARON JAY Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $89.

CUPID FUCK (STUPID FUCK’S VALENTINES SPECIAL). MYSTERY SHOPPERS, BALL BASS JOHN Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $17.35.

RADIO VERTIGO Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm.

DETROIT TECHNO MILITIA Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $17.34 - 33.66. WYATT FLORES. CHARLIE FINN Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $79.90. WISP Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 8pm. $69.90. BUKOWSKI Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85 - 38.25.

BIG LEAGUE. COMEDY, FLEETING PERSUASION, THE MURDER 8 TAKEOVER

The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $16.35.

BAROQUE MASTERS

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 5pm. $45.

EL RAY MIEL: VALENTINES SHOW

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free.

WILD CITY. FINANCE EXECUTIVE, BANKSY The Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $13.30. THE SHADOW MINISTERS. HANDGRENADE

HEARTS, SUPERMODELS, BLUE LUCY

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

YACHT ROCK REVIVAL Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $50. KISSES. COLD HANDS WARM HEART, HANNAH MCKITTRICK, TONGUE DISSOLVER

The Curtin. Carlton. 8pm. $33.45.

TRIBE: LOVERS & FRIENDS EDITION FT: Eden, Santerres, Klm, Hope & Kole, Juju, Ericinho Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. $27.40 - 32.90.

PAPER MOUSE & THE KINGS QUARTET

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $35 - 40. ST KILDA FESTIVAL: FIRST PEOPLES FIRST St Kilda Foreshore. St Kilda. 12.45pm. Free.

50 YEARS OF ABC CLASSIC

Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 5pm. Free. JENSEN MCRAE 170 Russell. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $79.90.

UNFORGETTABLE: THE SONGS OF NAT & NATALIE COLE

Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Brighton. 8pm. $55. THE ITALIAN DIVORCE Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 8pm. $74.90. RETRATOS ENSEMBLE

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

TAMARA KULDIN & PAUL COYLE PRESENT ELLA & LOUIS: CHEEK TO CHEEK

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $48. THE PEARLY SHELLS Geelong Botanic Gardens. East Geelong. 4pm. $22.

SLOWNESS: WILLEBRANT + CLARILOOPS

Tempo Rubato, Brunswick. Brunswick. 8pm. $22. DUSKY

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 10pm. $49.90.

THU 19 FEB

DAWN HO QUARTET: YOU & THE NIGHT & THE MUSIC

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8pm. $40. GRIMSHAW. ANGLERR, HETEROPHOBES

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

KADE BROWN QUARTET

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $25 - 30. HALSEY Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $149.90.

OPS:X PRESENTS: NIGHTMARES ON WAX. COLETTE

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $72.62 - 83.84.

THE JAZZ ALCHEMISTS

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

OPEN MIC NIGHT

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 5pm. YOUTHLESS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

MIND ENTERPRISES

Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $59.90 - 64.90. NILÜFER YANYA

170 Russell. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $79.90.

STITCH WITH SAPPHO: WORKSHOP SERIES

Kingston Arts Centre. Moorabbin. 6.30pm. Free. TSUSHIMAMIRE. ORANGE PAW, PLASTIC SECTION

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7pm. $28.80.

BEN CARR QUARTET Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

ERIN HELYARD: GOLDBERG VARIATIONS BY J.S. BACH

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7:30pm. $55. AMBLE Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.30pm.

FRI 20 FEB

A MASSIVE TRIPLE-BILL METAL EXPERIENCE: A TRIBUTE TO ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN & PANTERA

FT: Among The Living, Powerslave, Stronger Than All Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

1927 Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 9pm. $49.

BUDDHADATTA. THE MIFFS, CAT CRAWL

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $20. THE BLUE SOULS

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free.

REGURGITATOR

Westernport Hotel. San Remo. 9pm. $60.

10 YEARS OF LAST CHANCE

FT: Fly!. Grim Rhythm, The Stripp, Rosewood

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

JUMBUCK

Post Office Hotel. Coburg. 9pm.

FARZAD FARZIN

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

USE YOUR ROSES. TATTOOED ANGES, LEXE XO The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $23.50.

THE SMYTHS.

BILLY BLAGG

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $69.90.

VINCE JONES

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $55.

GLENN SKUTHORPE

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 8.30pm.

UDDER UBDUCTEES.

PIZZA DEATH, TRAUMA BOYS,

HAIL MARY JANE

The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $16.35.

DYLAN ATLANTIS Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $33.15.

SARGENT BAKER

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 7pm. Free.

HALSEY Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $149.90.

ILLAN KAAPAN. AS LONG AS IT BLEEDS, KNIFEPOINT, FOUL PLAY, UNREGISTERED FIREARM

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8pm. $17.35.

MODELS

Kindred Bandroom. Footscray. 7.30pm. $51.10.

THE MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS

Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free.

THE HERD

170 Russell. Melbourne. 8pm. $69.90.

THE JUDE QUINTET

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 6.30pm. Free.

BEATS & BOWLS

TOUR

FT: This Way North, Tuck Shop Ladies, Sal Kimber Yackandandah Bowls Club. Yackandandah. 5pm. $35.

THORNBIRD

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $50.

THE VAMPIRES

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

TOM HARRINGTON. OFTHEWILD, FLYNN GURRY

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7.30pm. $25.

AMBLE

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.30pm.

PSYCHEDELIC BUSH

DISCO PRESENTS: FABIAN KROOSS. THE HUNTRESS, HAYLO, LOHAN

Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $35.

MIND ENTERPRISES

The Night Cat. Fitzroy. 11pm. $35.63.

CASEY DONOVAN: THIS IS ME

The Round. Nunawading. 7.30pm. $66.

STRAIGHT NO CHANGES

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $12.

TASH WEATHERILL QUARTET PRESENT MUSIC FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $45.

SAT 21 FEB

GAYC/DC

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $69.90.

VINCE JONES

The Jazzlab. Brunswick. 8pm. $55.

CRAZY NIGHTS. DANGEROUS CURVES, MONROE, VIXEN SCREAM

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 7pm. $22.59.

SARAH MCLEOD + DALLAS FRASCA

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $54.20.

CHINESE NEW YEAR

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

AFRO-CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL: OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY

FT: Joe Ariwia, DJ Faswa, DJ Outsider

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. $16.45. NATHAN CAVALERI Shotkickers. Thornbury. 2pm. $44.09.

PETE MCCREDIE

The Espy. St Kilda. 7pm. $30.60. ALL MONSTERS ARE HUMAN. MALICY, JUDO CHOP, SERPENTRY, GET REKT

The Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $15.

URPERFECTFRIEND X REVS PRESENTS: VINYL

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $16.32.

TIJUANA CARTEL

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $41.82 - 51.51.

CODEFENDANTS. WOLFPACK, FOXTROT, SHOCK VICTIM

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

NICK MULVEY

Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7.30pm. $74.90.

THE VASCO ERA. LESLIE D KING & THE TREMBLING SHAKES, FENN WILSON

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $33.76.

OSCAR LADELL Daylesford Hotel. Daylesford. 2pm. Free.

MACËY. MARIONETTE, ATRIOX, STOKAHR

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.15pm. $17.35.

FRANJAFEST 3

FT: Franjapan, The Tullamarines, Holly Hebe, sleepazoid, The Velvet Club, Dizzy Days, Lotte Gallagher, Kitschen Boy, more Croxton Bandroom. Thornbury. 2pm. $50.50.

CASSIDY PARIS

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $31.90. BEHEMOTH. NIDHOGG Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $109. TEK TEK. CHINA BEACH, DJ EMMA PEEL

The Tote. Collingwood. 8pm. $30.

ATOMIC HI-TONES

The Drunken Poet. West Melbourne. 9pm.

SIOBHAN & STEPHEN HOUSDEN Ragtime Tavern. Preston. 8pm. Free.

8FOOT FELIX & FRIENDS. UNGUS UNGUS UNGUS, TOMMY D, EL SPANKO Sooki Lounge. Belgrave. 7pm. $29.50.

STVW: PUNK RAVE PARTY Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $50. REGURGITATOR. DEM MOB Volta. Ballarat. 8pm. $60. SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY Pride of our Footscray Nightclub & Bar. Footscray. 10pm. Free.

FLEETWOOD MAX Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $50.

BINGO LOCO 170 Russell. Melbourne. 6pm. $49.98 - 52.53.

2HOLLIS Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 7pm. $89.

SWEET AND SOUR NIGHT: SABRINA VS OLIVIA Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $16.85 - 23.50. WINDOW KID

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 6pm. $33.66 - 48.96.

MIDNIGHT VIOLET. LAST EMBERS, JAN Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $15. STEAMBOAT WHISTLERS Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. Free. LACHLAN MITCHELL DUO Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN 2026

FT: Baby G, Danilo Plessow, Paula Tape, Pretty Girl, Salute, Tiga, Yikes The Paddock. Melbourne. 2pm.

FEELIN’ GROOVY: THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL PROJECT

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $45.