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.
Felicity Groom
Where? Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald St, North Perth
When? 8:00pm, Friday, 5th December
Why? Hell yeah. This is the show people of Perth (and the rest of us) have been waiting for, local West Coast songstress Felicity Groom is launching her stellar sophomore full-length record, Hungry Sky. Upon its release in October, Tone Deaf heralded the fresh vinyl as a record you need to spin. Loaded with stunning electro-pop tunes like the soaring ‘Higher, Higher, Taller, Taller‘, Groom’s second LP is a mighty step forward. With supports from Dianas, Mei Saraswati, Hamjam and Good Doogs DJ’s, this is unquestionably the gig of the week.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com & http://rosemounthotel.com.au
Melaluka
Where? The Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Wednesday, 3rd December
Why? With their RnB roots, soul inspired vibes and the powerful vocals of Alyson Murray, Melaluka are excited to launch their first single ‘On My Way’. To help celebrate, the talented Lanks will be kicking the night off with some intricate grooves, folk storytelling in the modern framework of electronic music and Bon Iver’s vocal layering, followed by the hard grooving Dub/Reggae/Hip hop manifestations of Echo Drama.
Tickets & Info: $10.75 http://gasometer.oztix.com.au
Kira Puru
Where? The Workers Club, 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 9:30pm, Sunday 7th December
Why? Are you a fan of haunting dream-pop? Boy, do we have the gig for you. Introducing the now-Melbourne local Kira Puru. Having recently smashed her performance in Melbourne Music Week, Puru steps out for a solo performance this Sunday evening. The bewitching artist with just a flick of the wrist places any listener under her sonic spell, dig ‘No Light In Your Window‘ as proof. Supports include Townhouses and D.A Calf.
Entry & Info: $7.00 http://theworkersclub.com.au
Emoji Boys 3: Staunch Nation, Deer, Maatzi & More
Where? The Laundry, 48-50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 10:00pm, Saturday 6th December
Why? Having now thrown two very tight parties, Emoji Boys is announcing their latest and greatest hiphop party, celebrating some Australia’s fastest growing emcees and producers in the scene at the moment. This weekend’s bouncing lineup consists of Sydney’s Staunch Nation who dropped their single ‘Summer Cruisin” earlier this year, Melbourne artists Deer with his off-kilter electronic tune ‘G L O S S‘ as well as Maatzi, Catlips and HTMLflowers. It’s going to be a killer night of live local music.
Tickets & Info: www.facebook.com & http://laundrybar.com.au
Tickets & Info: Free Event, www.facebook.com
Oren Ambarchi, Marco Fusinato & Robin Fox
Where? The Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Wednesday 3rd December
Why? If you missed the last ‘Everbody Talks About The Weather’ you simply cannot afford to miss it this time. Each year The Corner Hotel is taken over by Oren Amarchi, Marco Fusinato and Robin Fox, the three talented artists producing an evening of exploratory noise and fuzz, electic electronica and hypnotising visual displays. For the scant price of $15.00, this is a whole artist experience that is not to be missed.
Entry & Info: $15.00, https://corner.ticketscout.com.au
Shaun Kirk
Where? Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, Adelaide
When? 8:30pm, Saturday 6th December
Why? This young Aussie troubadour spends the vast majority of his time on the open road, charming hearts across the nation with his stunning rootsy-folk and blues tunes. Currently on his Australia-wide tour, this weekend sees the wealth of talent take to Adelaide. As a little tastetest of great things to come, here’s a stunning live rendition of ‘Two Hands On The Wheel’, the track that Kirk is presently promoting.
Tickets & Info: $15.00+BF,www.moshtix.com.au
Grace
Where? Goodgod Small Club, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD
When? 8:00pm, Friday 5th December
Why? What is there to say of Perth songstress, Grace? Having supported the likes of alt-J on their massive tour of Australia, the artist has gone from strength to strength. This weekend Grace will celebrate the release of her brooding dark-pop beat ‘Pluto‘, which is a first taste of fresh tunes she has been working on with Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio), Sam Spiegel (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Dann Hume (Alpine). Grace will be joined by locals Billy Fox and Yoke.
Entry & Info: $12.00, www.facebook.com & http://www.goodgodgoodgod.com
The Trotskies
Where? Black Bear Lodge, 1/322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 8:00pm, Friday 5th December
Why? Dipping their feet into multiple worlds of sound from post-punk, shoegaze and more straight-laced indie rock, Melbourne quintet The Trotskies are a beautifully unique band who put on one cracking live performance, and for the lucky live music lovers of Brisbane, they can witness their show live. Hot from releasing their mind-bending track ‘DYR‘, the band will also be joined by Soviet Xray Record Club and the rising buzz band, The Furrs.
Entry & Info: Free Event, http://www.blackbearlodge.com.au
Alyx Dennison, Pikelet & Leafy Suburbs
Where? The Catfish, 30-32 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 7:30pm, Wednesday, 3rd December
Why? We know how tough it can be to survive a humpday without going completely crazy, but when there’s a light end the end of the tunnel like incredible live music, it makes the tedious midweek exciting, not painful, and courtesy of some great musicians, this Wednesday in Melbourne is rad. First up is Alyx Dennison who dropped her percussion-led ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore‘, not to mention the spacey-tripper sounds of Pikelet and Leafy Surbubs, this is a free event you’d be mad to miss.
Tickets & Info: Free Event, www.facebook.com & http://rosemounthotel.com.au
