With Melbourne live music well and truly back into the swing of things, today we’re mapping out some of the coolest shows heading to our pubs, bars and clubs this December.
As the home of Melbourne live music, we have the most comprehensive guide to live music events happening in Melbourne – the monstrous Gig Guide – with thousands of events spanning the entire city.
But we thought it was about time we began to collate some top gigs and live music events happening around Melbourne each month to help you plan a little further in advance, so without any more further ado, check out these eight fantastic gigs going down around town this month, with a range of genres, and links to tickets.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Live Pop Music: Banoffee
- Location: THE GASOMETER, 484 Smith Street, Collingwood, 3066.
- Date: Friday 10 December 2021
- Time: 8pm
- Price: $28.60
- Genre: Pop
Banoffee’s bringing her unique brand of pop to Melbourne crowds next month. The talented artist has been making waves in the scene for a number of years, even working with Charli XCX when she was supporting Taylor Swift’s massive Reputation tour in 2018.
This show is in support of her latest album Tear Tracks, a lockdown album full of emotion, making it the perfect soundtrack for this intimate show. It’s happening at The Gasometer, a laid back rock venue that gets you nice and close to the artist no matter where you’re standing.
Grab tickets here through Oztix.
Live Indie-Pop: Mallrat
- Location: FORUM MELBOURNE, 154 FLINDERS ST, MELBOURNE, 3000
- Date: Tuesday 7 December 2021
- Time: 7:30pm
- Price: $50
- Genre: Pop
After the release of her latest EP Driving Time, Mallrat has shot into the music world with a bang, playing sold out shows across the world, but she returns home for a massive run of shows, stopping in Melbourne on December 7.
This show comes after a number of cancelled dates, due to Melbourne’s burgeoning lockdowns over the last few years, but this show is set to take place with full capacity, marking a great return to the stage for many fans.
This show goes down at The Forum, a stunning venue that may have you looking at the old school stage design rather than the artist performing on it. Grab tickets here through Ticketmaster.
Live Acoustic: Jack Jones
- Location: BIRDS BASEMENT, 11 Singers Lane, MELBOURNE, 3000
- Date: Saturday 4 December 2021
- Time: 7:30pm
- Price: $35
- Genre: Acoustic / Rock
Perhaps known best for his work in ARIA award winning group Southern Sons, front man Jack Jones hits the stage solo on December 4.
His solo show consists of work throughout various points in his career – Southern Sons hits like ‘Hold Me In Your Arms’, his album with INXS’s Gary Beers, and finally his latest album with fellow Aussie music heavyweight Rick Price.
You can catch him at Bird’s Basement, a still relatively new venue, where you can enjoy a seated meal or drink while seeing some of your favourite artists perform – perfect for those who might be a little over the pub and club live music scene.
Grab tickets here.
Live Metal: Cordell + Maggot Breath + Headless + Tongue Scum
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU9vLwdhiS8/
- Location: BENDIGO HOTEL 125 Johnston ST, Collingwood VIC 3066
- Date: Wednesday 1 December 2021
- Time: 7pm
- Price: $15-25
- Genre: Metal
Keen to get your metal on during the day? – Look no further than these metal forces joining together for a massive show at the Bendigo on December 11.
There’s a wonderful melting pot of metal genres, Cordell bringing an electronic metal vibe, Maggot Breath’s doom metal’s perfect for some headbanging, Headless bring a hard rocking groove metal style, and finally, Tongue Scum bring the energy with their unique brand of speed metal.
The Bendigo Hotel is one of Melbourne’s premier spots for the newest in Heavy Metal and its many subgenres. You just might find the next Parkway Drive or Amity Affliction after a visit here.
Live Folk Music: Lisa Mitchell
- Location: THE CORNER, 57 Swan St, RICHMOND VIC 3121
- Date: Thursday 9 December 2021
- Time: 8pm
- Price: $40.40
- Genre: Folk
Talented folk / acoustic songstress Lisa Mitchell brings her tranquil tunes to her Melbourne fans on December 9.
This show is set to celebrate the release of her latest single Zombie, which was produced by the legendary Tom Iansek from Big Scary. Lisa has described the track in a statement as being “an ode to being alive!”, this show will mark one of the first times it’ll played live, so make sure you catch it.
It’s taking place at everyone’s favourite venue The Corner, who have had an amazing pedigree of bands from all corners of the earth grace their stage over the years.
Grab tickets here through Oztix.
Live Classical: Nothing Else Matters – A Symphonic Tribute to Metallica
- Location: THE PALAIS THEATRE, Lower Esplanada, St Kilda VIC 3182
- Date: Saturday 18 December 2021
- Time: 7pm
- Price: $49.90
- Genre: Classical
It still seems like a while before the gods of metal return to our shores, so in the meantime, why not catch Metallica in instrumental form?
A large chunk of the metal group’s work is often acclaimed for its depth and quality, which makes it the perfect stuff to be heard in orchestral form, which is exactly what George Ellis and his 24-piece orchestra are doing.
It’s happening at the Palais Theatre, which means you’ll get to sit down in their surprisingly comfortable seats and let yourself get lost in the music being replicated.
Grab your tickets here.
Live Alternative Folk: Grace Cummings
- Location: THE CROXTON, 607 High Street, Thornbury VIC 3071
- Date: Friday 10 December 2021
- Time: 8pm
- Price: $35
- Genre: Rock
Grace Cummings is slowly becoming one of our biggest stars, releasing an album on King Gizz’s Flightless Label, and touring in support of such mammoth acts as Weyes Blood.
The artist has received much attention for her amazing performances, that being what led her to be signed to Flightless, so you know this show will be truly worth the time and money.
The artist releases her second album Storm Queen in January 14, preorder it here.
She will be at The Croxton Bandroom on December 10, another stunning intimate venue that doesn’t have a bad spot and doesn’t feel jam packed – no matter where you’re standing, you still get a great view of the artist.
Grab tickets here.
Live Funk Music: The Cat Empire
- Location: SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, Kings Domain Gardens, VIC 3000
- Date: Wednesday, Thursday 15+16 December 2021
- Time: 6:30pm
- Price: $130
- Genre: Jazz
As you would’ve heard by now, everyone’s favourite funk party band The Cat Empire are calling it a day with their original line-up, but not before hitting stages across the country for one last dance.
The original lineup of Ollie McGill, Ryan Monro, Felix Riebl, Harry James Angus, Will Hull-Brown and DJ Jumps will be playing their last Melbourne show on December 15 + 16 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, so there’ll be a lot of people – it’s setting up to be a massive summer party.
Tickets have been going really fast, so make sure you jump on it ASAP.
For more Melbourne live music events, head to the Gig Guide. Otherwise, grab your tickets here through Ticketek.
