Hub: State Library
In what might be their most unique and stunning space yet, the State Library will serve as the Hub for this year’s Melbourne Music Week with its original reading room, Queen’s Hall, set to host many of MMW’s marquee performances and acting as the main performance space. The domed La Trobe Reading Room will also play host to performances and events, and each day of MMW, the State Library’s famous forecourt will host free all ages performances, DJ sets and fresh food offerings. But hey, what’s an amazing space without music to fill it? Get down for Paris-based NONOTAK as they make their MMW debut as well as a huge event featuring Allday, Northeast Party House, Ali Barter and Alex Lahey celebrate. Elsewhere, you’ll find a stellar showcase of women in electronic music as well as a chance to sift through the State Library’s staggering collection on vinyl.
Opening Night: Her Sound, Her Story
Set in the elusive realm of the Queen’s Hall, the opening night party will see some of Australia’s most revered female artists come together in a celebration of women in music. Her Sound, Her Story will see the likes of Julia Stone, Ella Hooper, Mama Kin, Montaigne, Mojo Juju, Ecca Vandal, Elizabeth Rose, Airling and Nyne come together to perform a carefully curated setlist of songs spanning decades of Australian music history. The event then culminates into an exhibition and video series spawned by photographer Michelle Grace Hunder and filmmaker Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore which will be on display at Emporium Melbourne throughout the festival. The MMW opening party will go down on at Queen’s Hall on Friday November 11.
A night of effervescent beatmaking and groove is set to take over Queen’s Hall featuring live performances from a number of Australia’s finest electronic and stage royalties. Taking to the stage will be the likes of Donny Benét, Broadway Sounds, HTML Flowers, HABITS, KT Spit, YO! Mafia, Salvador Darling, WAHE and Brooke Powers among a number of other fantastic musicians. Drag sensation Karen From Finance and burlesque dancer Zelia Rose will also make special appearances. A production formulated by party interlopers Heaps Gay and electric cabaret act Yummy will be lifting the roof until the wee hours of Thursday morning. The party will take over the MMW Hub on Wednesday November 16.
The radio station which has been the heart and soul of the Melbourne underground music scene for the last 40 years is set to receive its rightful homage. Since its inauguration in 1976, Triple R has become Australia’s most influential community radio station with almost 14,000 subscribers and 440,000 listeners per week. Housing over 60 different programs, the broadcaster’s pool delves into all genres. It has become a defining player of this city’s cultural identity and as part of MMW, curator and photographer Angela Bailey will be hosting a guided tour into the history and processes of the broadcasting mainstay. It’ll be happening inside the State Library on Friday November 18 and Saturday November 19.
This is unprecedented. A sparse relationship is set to be figuratively enhanced when a celebration of live music unifies music and sport at Australia’s quintessential sporting cauldron, the MCG. Headlined by The Delta Riggs and Pierce Brothers, famed drinking watering holes, the hallowed turf itself and other off-limits locations within the ground will be overtaken by some of Australia’s most exciting musicians. The bill also includes the likes of Woodlock, The Pretty Littles, The Vanns, Masco Sound System, Gena Rose Bruce, Reuben Stone, Harrison Storm, Maya, Brooke Taylor, Coby Grant and the James Franklin Band among other first-class talent. Love Live Music comes to the MCG on Sunday November 13.
Face The Music is a contemporary music conference that facilitates conversation about the music world with industry professionals. For the first time, FTM will include live music, showcasing local artists including Dorsal Fins, Ella Thompson, and Good Morning throughout the two-day program. The panels, being held in the heart of the CBD, will feature dynamic artists, media moguls, entrepreneurs, writers, broadcasters and media enthusiasts from around the world. Speakers include music sign interpreter Amber Galloway, Anthony Fantano AKA The Needle Drop, VICE Media licensing head Ricki Askin, powerhouse rapper Tkay Maidza and well loved producer Japanese Wallpaper. Face The Music will unfold Thursday November 17 and Friday November 18 at the State Library and RMIT. Check out the full program on their website.
Mind Gamers: John Kirby + Sébastien Tellier + Daniel Stricker
Electronic trio Mind Gamers are the combined brain power of France’s Sébastien Tellier, Midnight Juggernauts’ Daniel Stricker and Blood Orange’s John Kirby, who have joined forces to create unforgettable sounds. Hot off their international debut performing live in Sydney, Mind Gamers will play their first ever 18+ Melbourne show thanks to Melbourne Music Week. Joining them will be Shags Chamberlain and Sydney DJs, Siberia, for a night of transcending synth sounds. The event is free, so all you need to bring is a love of electronic music, and your finest dance moves to the State Library on Thursday November 17.
The Drones + My Disco feat. the Grand Organ
Australian rock five-piece The Drones will be doing a highly anticipated exclusive performance at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall. Incorporating the venue’s famous Grand Organ, the award winning band, once hailing from Perth now settled in Melbourne, will be performing songs from their recent critically acclaimed album, Feelin’ Kinda Free. Supporting them will be local act My Disco, who will give audience members a taste of their sound, with tracks from their latest release, Severe. Fans of The Drones will be able to get among this special one-off concert experience at Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday November 13.
Live at the Steps: The Jungle Giants and Aunty Donna
Live at the Steps is a free event that will see the likes of Brisbane born and bred The Jungle Giants perform live in the heart of Melbourne. The all-ages event aims to showcase some of Melbourne’s most talented artists, both well established and emerging, and give audience members a taste of the exciting future that is Australian music. Alongside the indie rock sounds of the Jungle Giants will be highly acclaimed and well-loved singer/songwriter Gretta Ray alongside Philly and comedians Aunty Donna. Catch this not to be missed live performance on the steps of Parliament House on Friday November 11.
Hush: An Evening of Quiet Music
The first Victorian edition of Hush will take place during Melbourne Music Week, where much-loved artists Dan Kelly, Teeth & Tongue, Melody Pool, The Grand Magoozi, Jess Ribeiro, Man Made Mountain, Sui Zhen and more will perform to an audience that must remain completely silent. Hush was established in 2012 by singer/songwriter Davey Craddock and triple j presenter Stacy Gougoulis who were tired of their favourite artists’ performances being wrecked by noisy idiots up the back. Hush will transform Parliament House on Tuesday November 15 and Wednesday November 16.
PBS Live Broadcast: Jarrow + Jess Ribeiro + Jim Lawrie
PBS is back for their annual live broadcast, bringing together a very tight lineup with them while PBS announcers get amongst the action. Jarrow will be taking to the stage off the back of his critically acclaimed album, 2003 Dream, while brooding alt-country singer/songwriter Jess Ribeiro will be unleashing songs from her latest effort, Kill It Yourself. Jim Lawrie will be performing his brand of Australiana, pulling from his records Eons and Paying My Debts from the Grave. Adding an extra layer of good times to the event, interviews will flow throughout – giving you the inside story on bands and special guests. It’s going down Thursday November 17 at The Curtin.
MMW Closing Party: HVOB + Seekae (DJ set)
Melbourne Music Week is planning to end their 2016 series with a bang at their closing party. Electronica label Good Manners have curated the incredible lineup of local and international electronic acts for the evening, who will perform across three separate spaces. The likes of HVOB and a DJ set from Seekae will headline the event, with some of Australia’s most noteworthy acts, including LUCIANBLOMKAMP and Dro Carey, also on show. Alongside them will be acts like Rainbow Chan, HABITS, Marcus Whale and many more. It’s all going down at the State Library of Victoria on Saturday November 19.
