Carlisle Street is ditching its usual rhythm for something a bit louder this November.
Forget trying to find a park on Carlisle Street come November – you’ll be too busy ducking into a barbershop for some live violin, grabbing a bagel between klezmer sets, or wondering why there’s a full band setup next to the boxing bags.
The Balaclava Boogie Music Crawl is about to prove that Melbourne’s best gigs don’t need a traditional stage, just a bit of imagination and 18 venues willing to clear some floor space. Over 8 and 9 November, the strip becomes a choose-your-own-adventure music festival where Adalita might be playing around the corner from where you’re getting your hair cut, and the only thing stranger than finding a DJ set in a boxing gym is realising you’ve accidentally stumbled into your third free show before lunch.
Coffee shops, cake joints, speakeasies and pasta bars are all getting in on it, turning Carlisle Street into the kind of weekend where ordering dinner comes with a side of indie rock and your espresso might be soundtracked by afrobeat. It’s neighbourhood festivals done right: no barriers, no big-name sponsors, just 24 acts spread across two days in places you’d normally walk past without a second thought.
Shows are free with bookings recommended, though late arrivals might find their spot given away to the next punter through the door.
Balaclava Boogie Music Crawl
- 8 and 9 November
- 18 venues across Carlisle Street, Balaclava
- Free entry
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Archer
- 8 November, 12pm
- Brother Wolf, 162 Carlisle Street
Folk musician Archer opens the weekend with country blues and poetry at Brother Wolf. The multi-instrumentalist recently appeared in the documentary I’m Wanita and is currently recording an album with producer Michael Hohnen, known for his work with Gurrumul, and composer Erkki Veltheim. His repertoire includes hundreds of original songs shaped by rivers, nursing homes and what he describes as delicacies for a giant cow.
Daisy Kilbourne
- 8 November, 12pm
- Marigold Interiors, 122 Carlisle Street
Daylesford artist Daisy Kilbourne brings folk, rock and soul to Marigold Interiors for a two-hour set. Her sound draws from 70s Laurel Canyon influences, shaped by the legacy of her late father Wayne Kilbourne, a respected songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. An album is on the way, promising contemplative storytelling with raw emotional weight.
Saskia Robin
- 8 November, 1pm
- The Local Taphouse, 184 Carlisle Street
Melbourne guitarist and singer Saskia Robin delivers a half-hour set of alternative rock influenced by her parents’ 90s CD collection. Her style has drawn comparisons to Hole, PJ Harvey and Olivia Rodrigo, blending candidly raw vocals with guitar-driven arrangements. An EP is currently in the works.
Adalita
- 8 November, 2pm
- The Local Taphouse, 184 Carlisle Street
Rock icon Adalita takes over The Local Taphouse for an hour-long performance. The Magic Dirt founding member and principal songwriter has maintained a respected solo career since the band first launched in 1991. Beyond performing, she works on creative collaborations, mentors emerging artists, composes for film and pursues photography and filmmaking.
DJ Upstairs
- 8 November, 2pm
- Miss Mat Cafe, 261 Carlisle Street
Melbourne-based Congolese DJ and producer DJ Upstairs spins a two-hour set blending Afro-Congo, kompa, rhumba, amapiano, house and global electronic sounds at Miss Mat Cafe. His sets celebrate cultural roots and community through high-energy grooves.
Xani
- 8 November, 2pm
- Kingsman Barbers, 135 Carlisle Street
Violinist and composer Xani Kolac brings electric violin experiments to a two-hour Kingsman Barbers set. With a Master’s degree in Music Performance (Improvisation) from the Victorian College of the Arts, her sound spans influences from Jimi Hendrix and Stuff Smith to CAN, Camille and Bjork, rooted in jazz and improvisation.
Bar For Now DJ Session
View this post on Instagram
- 8 November, 3pm
- Bar For Now, 186 Carlisle Street
A nine-hour DJ session at Bar For Now features Kieran Hoop at 3pm, Princey at 6pm and Hysteric at 9pm, spanning smooth grooves, funk and house throughout the evening.
Daniel McKay
View this post on Instagram
- 8 November, 4pm
- Levanter Cafe, 296 Carlisle Street
Classical guitarist Daniel McKay performs a two-hour set at Levanter Cafe. He studied under Timothy Kain at the Australian National University and has toured throughout Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Europe as both soloist and chamber musician. He’s released recordings with violinist Zoe Black, fellow guitarist Tonie Field, and as part of Guitar Trek and the Melbourne Guitar Quartet.
Nina Clare
- 8 November, 5:30pm
- Tomi, 310 Carlisle Street
Sixteen-year-old singer-songwriter Nina Clare showcases her original material at Tomi across a two-hour set. With over 100 songs already written, her work draws inspiration from Greta Ray, Maisie Peters and Taylor Swift, exploring everyday girlhood, relationships and teenage experiences. She’s performed in school bands, musicals and solo gigs over the past five years.
Alex Burkoy
- 8 November, 5:30-7pm
- Portone Pizza Mall, Unit 3/246-250 Carlisle Street
Alex Burkoy performs a two-hour set at Portone Pizza Mall. Burkoy is one half of Tinpan Orange with the incredible Emily Lubitz and has previously toured North America and Europe with the esteemed likes of Martha Wainwright, The Cat Empire and The Waifs.
Remy Sayers
- 8 November, 6pm
- Mondo Di Pasta, 193 Carlisle Street
St Kilda multi-instrumentalist Remy Sayers blends folk and rock with hard-hitting lyrics and raspy vocals. Drawing inspiration from Big Thief, You Am I and Haley Heynderickx, her 40-minute set spans multiple genres with indelible melodies.
Charlie Lane
- 8 November, 7pm
- Mondo Di Pasta, 193 Carlisle Street
Indie pop songwriter Charlie Lane explores darkness, grief, hope and acknowledgement through sunny melodies and self-aware lyrics. The multi-disciplinary artist handles all creative elements of her music, including cover art design for her last two EPs, working across new media and illustration. She advocates for greater inclusion of people with invisible disabilities in the music industry.
David Cosma
- 8 November, 7:30pm
- Ms. Carlisles, 137 Carlisle Street
David Cosma delivers a two-hour performance at Ms. Carlisles, playing guitar upside down as a true southpaw. His live shows weave luminous textures with stories shaped by life experience, pop culture and nostalgia. He’s shared stages with Mark Seymour, Brian Cadd, Russell Morris, Pete Murray and Jeff Martin, and his latest recordings span Melbourne and Sun Studios in Memphis.
Distasteful Microwaves
View this post on Instagram
- 8 November, 8pm
- Pause Bar, 193 Carlisle Street
Port Phillip indie rock band Distasteful Microwaves formed in 2024 during a high school music camp. The young five-piece shifts between emotional ballads and loud guitar-driven tracks, drawing on Kings of Leon, Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead influences. Their 40-minute set features original songs with Millie on vocals, Georgie and Felix on guitars, Lucian on bass, and Tommy on drums.
A.O. Jay Tobi
View this post on Instagram
- 8 November, 8:30pm
- Voodoo Lovechild Speakeasy Bar, 143 Chapel Street
Nigerian-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Tobi leads a two-hour performance fusing afrobeat, highlife, jazz and soul. Backed by the sub sol band, the set features polyrhythmic percussion and guitar riffs with vocals in Yoruba, English and Pidgin, channelling influences from Fela Kuti and Angelique Kidjo.
Shaky Stills
- 8 November, 9pm
- Pause Bar, 193 Carlisle Street
Melbourne’s own original country western, tex mex, trucker and western swing band play only the best dancing & drinking songs. They deliver the prime cuts and take no detours performing with their incredibly tight sound, three part harmonies, classic 7″ singles arrangements and big-hearted honesty.
Ben Franz is also joining them on Pedal Steel for this special performance!
DJ Upstairs
- 8 November, 12pm
- UBX Boxing & Strength, 26 Nelson Street
DJ Upstairs returns for a second Saturday set at UBX Boxing & Strength, bringing another hour of Afro-Congo, kompa, rhumba, amapiano and house to the boxing gym setting.
Mathilde Anne
- 9 November, 12-2pm
- Rufio, 188 Carlisle Street
Mathilde Anne performs a two-hour set at Rufio, delivering songs that speak with haunting beauty or shoot straight from the hip. The brilliant alt-pop rocker is a standout on the lineup – well worth the trip southside.
Mikhaell
- 9 November, 1pm
- Si Senor, 219 Carlisle Street
Mikhaell brings a two-hour multi-genre set blending African rhythms with reggae, rumba, rhythm and blues, and hip hop. The Sunday afternoon performance at Si Senor creates a soulful, uplifting experience suitable for all ages.
Max Koenig and The Saffron Quartet
- 9 November, 1pm
- Tavlin, 223 Carlisle Street
Saxophonist Max Koenig leads an intimate acoustic quartet through two hours of Persian folk music, Arabic tarab and Eastern European Jewish klezmer at Tavlin. He’s joined by touring artists Reza Kashi on oud, tar and setar, Sina Motamed on kamancheh, and percussionist Rosco Heck on darbuka, riq and frame drum.
Zoe Marshall
- 9 November, 2pm
- Ms. Carlisles, 137 Carlisle Street
Zoe Marshall performs a two-hour set at Ms. Carlisles on Sunday afternoon. Marshall also writes and produces music as MOZË and has previously opened for the likes of Odette, Woodes, Yergurl, IVEY, plus performed at the Palais Theatre, and toured with Kylie Auldist!
Synthotronica
- 9 November, 3pm
- Portone Pizza Mall, Unit 3/246-250 Carlisle Street
Award-winning musician and composer Ania Reynolds performs as Synthotronica across two hours at Portone Pizza Mall. Her original sound combines afrobeat, dub, reggae, cumbia, samba and ska, described as wonkadelic techno-jazz and cosmic funk. She’s performed across five continents, served as musical director for Circus Oz and Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project, shared a saxophone duet with Femi Kuti, and played baritone sax upside down at the National Theatre in London.
The Bornstein Ultimatum
- 9 November, 4:30pm
- Pause Bar, 193 Carlisle Street
The Bornstein Ultimatum delivers three hours of 60s and 70s classics at Pause Bar. The ensemble includes Ross Hannaford, Wilbur Wilde, Michael Oliphant, Mitch Cairns, Tommy McKean and David Bornstein, with special guests including Mick Pealing, John Dallimore, Bobby Bright, Paul Williamson, Chris Wilson and Alex Formosa rotating through performances.
Max Koenig
- 9 November, 6pm
- Savion Cakes and Bagels, 193 Carlisle Street
Max Koenig returns for a two-hour evening performance at Savion Cakes and Bagels, showcasing traditional Jewish klezmer music repertoire with his band across two sets.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Balaclava Boogie.
