DIY on High returns for its second year on 5 September, spreading 10 emerging Naarm acts across two Thornbury venues.
Programmed by Carsten Bruhn, a year into booking Cafe Gummo, the free day fest sits inside Darebin FUSE Festival’s FUSE Funded program and Live Music Weekend. Bruhn launched DIY on High in 2025 to shine a light on the independently owned spaces scattered along High Street, taking cues from the 86 Festival and dragging the idea somewhere more underground.
The program runs as two connected shows: an afternoon at Cactus Room, then an evening a short walk up the road at Cafe Gummo, each built around local independent music in an intimate setting.
DIY on High
- 5 September, Cactus Room, Thornbury, Victoria (from 1pm)
- 5 September, Cafe Gummo, Thornbury, Victoria (from 6pm)
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Cactus Room opens at 1pm with Loose Tooth, Techno 666, Bizarrgo, Kosmetika and Banksy, before the action shifts up the road. From 6pm, a two or three minute stroll delivers you to Cafe Gummo for R.U.B, Bughunt, Trap Card, Rat Bucket and Dibber Dobber. The two venues sit at 614 and 711 High Street, both licensed and open to anyone 18 and over, with no need to book anything in advance.
The backing is no small thing either. DIY on High was one of two applications out of 65 to receive full funding from the City of Darebin, with that money going directly to the emerging bands filling out the bill. Limited-edition DIY on High tote bags will also be floating around, and profits from those head to Pay The Rent.
Bruhn stays busy elsewhere too, booking bands at Theatre Royal Castlemaine and Nighthawks, playing in Licklash and running Roolette Records. Every name on the bill is a rising local act, keeping the focus on discovery over big draws. For this one, the maths is easy: two rooms, 10 bands and a full day inside Naarm’s DIY scene for the price of nothing.
For more information, head here.
