Beloved Melbourne venue marks two decades with 20-gig series featuring Kingswood, Augie March and Nai Palm.
Northcote Social Club is turning 20 this year, bringing back familiar faces and new friends to celebrate the milestone.
The venue has announced an extensive birthday celebration spanning two months, with a series dubbed 20 Gigs for 20 Years. The beloved Melbourne venue, which has been a cornerstone of the city’s northern music scene since 2005, will host a lineup of shows featuring artists who have helped shape the venue’s story over the past two decades.
20 Gigs for 20 Years
- When: June 30 – August 29, 2025
- Where: Northcote Social Club, High Street, Northcote, Melbourne
The lineup
- Owelu Dreamhouse, Cong Josie and The Hell Racers (June 30)
- Joey Lightbulb & Friends (July 4)
- Kingswood (July 6)
- Gut Health (All Ages Matinee, July 13)
- Collective Artists Label Party (July 18)
- Augie March (July 25)
- Deans of Soul (July 26)
- Darren Hanlon (July 27)
- Nai Palm (August 1)
- Big Noter (August 9)
- Alice Ivy (August 10)
- Jordie Lane (Matinee & Evening shows, August 16)
- Poison City Records Party featuring Flyying Colours, Chimers, Screensaver + more (August 17)
- Maple Glider (August 22)
- Jazzparty (August 23)
- PBS Party featuring Night Terrors, Claire Birchall, Vacuum + more (August 28)
- Closing Party with special guests (August 29)
- Plus Northside Records Party, The Mess Hall, Cheersquad Records and Tapes Wednesdays Residency (dates TBC)
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Iconic Melbourne bands return to celebrate
The anniversary program kicks off on June 30 with Social Sanctuary featuring Owelu Dreamhouse, Cong Josie and The Hell Racers. Throughout July and August, the venue will welcome back a diverse range of performers including rock outfit Kingswood (July 6), indie stalwarts Augie March (July 25), and soul-jazz vocalist Nai Palm (August 1).
Also joining the celebration are producer Alice Ivy (August 10), singer-songwriter Jordie Lane (August 16, with both matinee and evening shows), and experimental jazz collective Jazzparty (August 23). The series also features an all-ages matinee with Gut Health (July 13) and a performance from Briggs’ new heavy project Big Noter (August 9).
Label nights and community celebrations
Beyond individual artist performances, the Northcote Social Club is also hosting a series of label and community nights. These include a Collective Artists Label Party (July 18), Poison City Records Party featuring Flyying Colours, Chimers, and Screensaver (August 17), and a PBS Party with Night Terrors, Claire Birchall, and Vacuum (August 28).
Additional events include Joey Lightbulb & Friends (July 4), Deans of Soul (July 26), Darren Hanlon (July 27), and Maple Glider (August 22). The venue will also host a Northside Records Party, The Mess Hall, and a Cheersquad Records and Tapes Wednesdays Residency, with dates to be confirmed.
The entire celebration concludes with a Closing Party featuring special guests on August 29, wrapping up two months of performances that showcase the venue’s diverse musical legacy.
Community involvement and prizes
In recognition of the community that has supported the venue over two decades, the Northcote Social Club is installing a “love letter to the pub” letterbox at the front bar. Patrons are invited to share memories, thanks, or a few words to their favourite watering hole, with all contributors entered into a draw to win a double pass to a 20th birthday show, a $100 food and beverage voucher, and a merchandise pack.
Additionally, everyone who purchases a ticket to a 20th birthday show will be entered into a draw for an NSC Golden Ticket, which includes 12 double passes to any Northcote Social Club shows over the next 12 months.
Since opening in 2005, the Northcote Social Club has hosted countless memorable performances, from first gigs to sold-out homecomings, and has been part of the journey for iconic Australian artists like Courtney Barnett and Camp Cope. The venue has also gained a reputation for hosting the occasional secret show, with past surprise performances from international acts including the Pixies and Lady Gaga.
Originally built in 1854 as The Commercial Hotel, the site has evolved from a bullock driver’s pitstop to an essential part of Melbourne’s musical landscape. Beyond the bandroom, the venue is known for its leafy beer garden and inclusive atmosphere that welcomes music lovers of all kinds.
Tickets for all 20th anniversary shows are on sale now, with the venue encouraging both longtime supporters and newcomers to join in celebrating this significant milestone in Melbourne’s live music history.
For more information, head here.
