We’ve compiled the cream of the crop when it comes to summer street parties, festivals promoting promising emerging acts for a dime, and international touring acts to catch over the coming month in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
From shoegaze pioneers to Aussie party rock, there’s something for everyone in this ol’ genre-blended gig guide.
Sydney
The Marly Hottest 100 Party
When: Saturday, January 27th
Where: Marlborough Hotel, Newtown
With the Aussie music-lover’s biggest day coming up fast, Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel has stepped up the game and dropped the details for an absolutely awesome day of celebrating the legendary triple j Hottest 100.
Featuring DJ sets from Alex The Astronaut, Ball Park Music’s Jen Boyce, and ex-triple j presenter Dom Alessio, you’ll be in good hands on the day, with countless Hottest 100 activities going down, along with plenty of amber fluid from local brewers. Needless to say, if ever you needed a way to count down the famed poll, this is definitely the way to do it.
Entry is free, find out more here.
Yabun Festival 2018
When: Friday, January 26th
Where: Victoria Park, Sydney
What better way to spend your Australia Day (also known to many as Invasion Day) than to pay respects and listen to the First Nations people. Yabun Festival will be hosting some incredible talent from the likes of Baker Boy, Kardajala Kirridarra, Electric Fields, Troy Cassar-Daley and more. The best part? The whole festival is free!
Entry is free, find out more here.
Freedom 4
When: Saturday, January 27th
Where: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
But there’s much more to celebrate on January 27 than just triple j’s hottest 100 — Freedom are back at it at Oxford Art Factory with yet another gutful of stellar genre-diverse emerging acts, from the dreamy alt-rock of Good Boy to the twisted grooves of imbi the girl. Plus, the likes of Gusher DJs will have you dancing your mid-long weekend hangover away. Oh, and did we mention that this one is free too?
Entry is free, find out more here.
Ben Folds
When: Thursday, February 1st
Where: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
From kicking off his career with Ben Folds Five back in the ’90s, to the stellar solo career he kicked off at the start of last decade, Ben Folds is an affable showman who has a penchant for delivering some of the catchiest tunes you’ll hear on a piano.
In Australia for his ‘Paper Aeroplane Request’ tour, Ben Folds will be hitting up The Sydney Opera House on February 1st for a greatest-hits (we assume) set that will have you reminiscing over all those hits you’ve forgotten about over the years.
Tickets from $89, find out more here.
Anderson .Paak
When: Tuesday February 6
Where: The Metro, Sydney
California-based funk, R&B and hip hop pro Anderson .Paak promises to get “sweaty” for his Laneway sideshow at the Metty. And if anything, we’re sure he’ll stand true to his confident, cool, cheeky lyrics: “Don’t I make it look easy / Don’t I make it look good.”
Tickets are $79.90, find out more here.
Melbourne
The Pier Street Party
When: Saturday, February 24
Where: Pier Hotel, Melbourne
Melbourne’s outer suburbs are in for a sun-soaked, sweaty treat with a street party full of Australia’s best in hip-hop and rock — The Pier Street Party returns for its second birthday with a fun-lovin’ all-Aussie lineup, featuring hip-hop acts Thundamentals and Jesswar, the ever-danceable Art vs Science, long-term rockers Gyroscope and The Getaway Plan and Sydney punk four-pack Rackett.
Tickets are $65.30, find out more here.
Cog
When: Friday, February 2
Where: Chelsea Heights Hotel, Melbourne
Melbourne, prepare to get your horns up, because one of Australia’s most recognised prog-rock acts, COG, are out on a national tour to release their first new music after a ten-year-long hiatus, where they’ll be making a stop at the Chelsea Hights Hotel.
Tickets are $51.10, find out more here.
LOUD Thursdays
When: Every Thursday
Where: Perseverance, Melbourne
Love indie, punk, alt and emo jams on your nights out? Tired of clubs full of top 40 pop and nothing else?
The party-starting crew at Melbourne’s Perseverance have granted your wish and kicked off LOUD Thursdays – a free night of indie, alt and pop punk anthems every week at Perseverance.
Throw in a bunch of cheap drink specials, and you’ve got pretty much our perfect night out. Plus, thisThursday January 25 will be a special versus party with their ‘I Love 90s’ club night, which sounds like an ideal combination to us.
Entry is free, find out more here.
Dream Wife
When: Wednesday, February 7
Where: The Tote Band Room, Melbourne
The Icelandic-Brightonian three-piece Dream Wife deliver a show that packs a punch. Starting out as a college art performance, they’v since realised the band could become much more.
Rakel’s vocals reflect elements of Karen O and Björk, emitting both sweet and powerful feminist politico-pop — catch them at The Tote if you know what’s good for ya.
Tickets are $39, find out more here.
Slowdive
When: Thursday, February 8
Where: Forum Theatre, Melbourne
UK shoegaze pioneers Slowdive band will be taking a night off from Laneway in February to bring their chillwave, freak-folk and noise-pop tracks from last year’s self-titled record to Melbourne’s the Forum Theatre. As they might say: ‘Go Get It’.
Tickets are $75, find out more here.
The Necks
When: Friday, February 9th
Where: Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
A critically-acclaimed favourite for artists the world over, the beauty of a gig from The Necks is that you never know what you’re going to get. Famed for their improvised performances, and for being one of the most influential instrumental Australian acts for the last three decades, The Necks are bringing their immersive show to Melbourne’s Recital Centre for what is bound to be a memorable event.
Tickets are $30, find out more here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmg6g4-BIiI
Brisbane & Gold Coast
Ozfest Block Party
When: Saturday, January 27
Where: Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
Hotshot party venue Miami On the Gold Coast have teamed up with Sydney-based hip hop collective One Day to put on an absolutely massive lineup that features of Australia’s best party-rock acts, from the likes of the Polish Club, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and the legendary Cosmic Psychos, to Bad Pony and Rackett.
You won’t miss out on the Hottest 100 either, as the countdown will be running non-stop throughout the day, making for one massive day of music.
Tickets are $55, find out more here.
Foo Fighters
When: Thursday, January 25
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (and nationally)
Coming back to Australia in support of their ninth album, Concrete And Gold, the Foo Fighters are joined by Weezer and The Preatures for a truly unforgettable lineup that will not be topped for some time.
With the legendary rockers also hitting up Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, we highly recommend heading along to seeing the band that many call one of the greatest around.
Tickets from $99, more info available here.
Iron Chic
When: Friday, February 2
Where: Crowbar, Brisbane
What better way to spend your Sunday eve than by boppin’ your bod to the sombre sounds of DIY punk rock sincerity? Any band described as “Springsteen-meets-pop punk” is probably worth your time, in our humble opinion.
Tickets are $32.20, more info available here.
The Maine
When: Sunday, February 4
Where: The Triffid, Brisbane
Having celebrated ten years as a band last year, The Maine also released their sixth album, Lovely Little Lonely, to plenty of critical acclaim. Now, after deciding it’s time to give Aussie audiences a taste of the new record, The Maine are descending upon Australia with good pals Waterparks as support. It’s bound to be one exceptional night of pop rock.
Tickets are $59.50, find out more here.
