Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.

Lulu White’s Demo Party: Jakubi Vs. Animaux

Where? Lulu White’s Pop-Up Bar, 16-18 Grey Street, St. Kilda, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 28th June
Why? If you haven’t heard already – there’s a pretty fresh live music venue south of the Yarra that causally housed the likes of Band of Skulls, Stonefield, and Kingswood just last week. The team behind Lulu White’s are now opening the doors to the public for a limited string of gigs that commences this Saturday night. Kicking things off in the finest of fashions are the super-hyped (and well warranted) Jakubi, the funk-RnB inspired dance floor fillers responsible for feel-good jams such as ‘Can’t Afford It All’. Hold onto your hats, ’cause that aint all. The septet that is Animaux will be setting the St. Kilda venue alight with their soulful-poppy tunes. These youngsters’ fanbase grows with every passing day – it won’t be long before you’ll have to pay fistfuls more than a scant $10 to catch their live show – so do yourself the favour and make your way to Grey Street this Saturday night. 
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com

East Brunswick All Girls Choir

Where? The Tote, 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 28th June
Why? Since we were little kiddies it’s been deeply ingrained into our minds “don’t judge a book by its cover”, well, that same sentiment can be applied to the East Brunswick All Girls Choir, ’cause they aint no northern-suburb group of school girls harmonising some classroom taught ‘Hallelujahs’. No no, this Melbourne four-piece correctly identify themselves as “filth rock”, producing distorted grunge-swirls with a kind of  dragged-through-the-gravel type howls sprinkled the occasional folk/blues twang. Sounds pretty rad, right? This weekend the quartet will be taking to Collingwood’s favourite live venue to launch their killer record Seven Drummers, which we encourage you have a taste-test of from their bandcamp. Getting things started are the glooming beauty Strangers From Now On and fuzzy wall of sound extraordinaires, Tender Bones. Definitely not to be missed.
Tickets & Info: $10.00 www.facebook.com & http://thetotehotel.com

Black Night Crash Launch Party: Apes, My Piranha & Synestatix

Where? Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Lane, Melbourne CBD
When? 8:00pm, Friday 27th June
Why? The infamous indie rock night institution that is Black Night Crash has relocated to Chinatown’s premier music venue, Ding Dong Lounge and you are invited to the first of many cracking Friday night parties. Kicking off the inaugural event will be the searing garage-rock and stamp-your-feet-shout-out-loud choruses of Ballarat’s APES, who’ll tear the upstairs venue a new one. Setting the stage are My Piranha, a Melbourne outfit whose poppy-punk paced garage jams echo the likes of The Vines and The Hives, as well as the dancey/indie rock vibes of Synestatix.    
Tickets & Info: $10.00 www.facebook.com & http://www.dingdonglounge.com.au

Sunday Hip-Hop: N’fa Jones

Where? Howler, 7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick, Melbourne
When? 3:00pm – Late, Sunday 29th June
Why? Okay, here’s a bit of a different one for y’all. Whether you’re not planning on having a biggie on Saturday night or you simply love kicking on, the guys at Howler have drummed up a super-sweet way to spend your Sunday afternoon. Starting at 3:00pm, the Brunswick warehouse venue will swing its doors open, for FREE, to present a dazzling array of DJs and hip-hop to create one hell of a party. Headlining the affair is none other than N’fa Jones, the MC that famously cut his teeth with a little group you may remember entitled 1200 Techniques. In addition to Jones, M-Phazes, Flagrant, Peril, MzRizk, Pete Cargo and Cozzabags will each take their turn in thumping out some killer jams whilst you sip on some of Howler’s finest poisons.
Tickets & Info: FREE SHOW! http://www.h-w-l-r.com/

Spirit Faces

Where? The Corner Cooperative, 116 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale, Sydney
When? 7:30pm, Friday 27th June
Why? This is a pretty special event for any of you lucky enough to be in Sydney this weekend. Chippendale’s unique pop-up artist spot The Corner Cooperative, are throwing a bit of an artistic-party cocktail of music, design, videos, lights, flowers, food and beverages. Soundtracking this evening is the bone-chilling sonic haunts of Spirit Faces, for those that aren’t aware of the Sydney artist’s sound, we couldn’t encourage you more to check out the schizophrenic ‘Hurts Less Than Heartbreak’ – we can guarantee after listening that you’ll have Friday night on your calendar penciled in. If that’s not enough, Melbourne house-DJ Sorachi will be behind the decks to get the feet moving whilst you enjoy the very best of the harbour city’s local artistry talent.
Tickets & Info: Student: $10.20, GA: $13.30 www.facebook.com & www.moshtix.com.au

FBi CLiCK Launch Party

Where? Goodgod, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD
When? 9:00pm, Friday 27th June
Why? The weekend has begun, and to escape the impending darkness that is the dead centre of winter, Goodgod is dedicating its entire venue for the launch of FBi Click, a new digital dance station from the folks of FBi radio that will run 24/7. Shake your ass until the wee hours of Saturday morning with the likes of Astral People, Sweat It Out Music!, Purple Sneakers, Motorik, Halfway Crooks, Thump, Picnic, Body Promise, Sequence, Lazy Radio, Bare Necessities, GOODGOD DJs and FBI Radio DJs. There couldn’t be a better cause to support local radio, so tie double knots in your best dancin’ shoes and make your way into the CBD, this is a party that simply must not be missed.  
Tickets & Info: FREE before 10:00pm, FBi Supporters: $10:00 , GA: $15.00

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I Used To Skate Once 10: Roku Music, Statler + Waldorf & Goon Sax

Where? The Zoo, 711 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 7:00pm, Thursday 26th June
Why? Celebrating its first full decade of operating is I Used To Skate Once, an event that is entirely dedicated to incredible skateboard art. This event boasts of work from over 50 artists that hail from all pockets of the globe. As any would know, music fits like a hand in glove with this form of sport and artistry, to which there is a huge line-up to rock the Thursday night extravaganza. Local shoegaze legends Roku Music will be painting a heavy fuzz-buzz of sonic layering over the Valley venue, not to mention: Statler & Waldorf, Goon Sax,El Norto + DJ Black Amex, Brainbeau, Pale Earth, White Palms and foxy/moron; all ensuring that there isn’t a moment of silent deck observation for the night. This a free show that is definitely worth supporting. 
Tickets & Info: FREE SHOW! www.facebook.com & www.thezoo.com.au

The Babe Rainbow

Where? Black Bear Lodge, 322 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 8:00pm, Friday 27th June
Why? How endearing is the name The Babe Rainbow! (Statement, not a question.) This gleeful psych-rock three-piece actually hail from a quaint little place called Rainbow Bay, which more than likely serves as the initial inspiration for such a name, and let us tell you – their colourful name translates seamlessly to their kaleidoscopic sound. If you’re chasing the ultimate mind trip (without actually consuming any mind-altering substances) this is the night for you. With track titles such as ‘Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest’ and ‘Strawberry Cult Reincarnation’, one may think this trio are taking the piss, but trust us – they’re the real meal deal. Supports include The Family Jordan and The Furrs. Get your healthy feed of authentic psychedlica.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com & www.blackbearlodge.com.au

Hailmary

Where? Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
When? 8:00pm, Friday 27th June
Why? Having kicked just about every ass in their national tour wake, West Australian hard-rockers Hailmary are winding up their tour for the most ultimate of homecomings. The band will be belting tracks from their latest EP, Navigate The Sunrise, and couldn’t be more amped for their final shows. Touted to be one of Australia’s “next big things” in the heavy-hitting world, this is definitely one for the books. Ripping supports include: This Other Eden, Bayou and Ol Bouginvillea. 
Tickets & Info: $12.00, www.facebook.com & www.rosemounthotel.com.au