Watch parents battle it out for rock supremacy, scream your pop princess emo heart out and catch a legendary muso.
May at the Prince Bandroom is packing in some serious heavy hitters and international talent alongside homegrown acts. You can dance the night away to popstars and emo anthems at Emo Diva, rock out with the ‘rents at the Southside Parents’ Battle of the Bands, groove to Wongo’s wicked DJ sets, dive into Vietnamese hip hop with GẬT!, see living guitar legend Carvin Jones tearing up the stage or jump into the most epic ska party this side of the river.
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Emo Diva presents: The Holy Trinity
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- 9 May
- Tickets here
What holy trinity? Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. Praise to them. Emo Diva is a night for baddies and saddies, for alt girls and 365 party girls, for scene queens and hardcore screams, and most importantly for those who just really want to dance and oscillate wildly between pop princesses and pop punk playlists. One minute it’s long emo fringes and skinny jeans with My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy, then the bright pop of Olivia Rodrigo, a smash of old school System of a Down and Korn and a fresh Doja Cat breeze. Started by Ava Akira and Stevie Whatever, this travelling party is for those who contain multitudes.
Parents Battle of the Bands: Southside
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You don’t stop rocking just because you’ve got a few kids. In fact, it can be more important to rock than ever.
10 ‘Parents bands’. 10 local primary schools. A brutal two-part battle with a bandroom of witnesses.
The real winners? The primary schools. All proceeds from the night go to support music programs at the schools: St Kilda Park, Middle Park, Galilee Catholic, Port Melbourne, Elsternwick, Elwood, Albert Park, Caulfield Junior College, St Kilda and Ripponlea Primary Schools. When you buy a ticket, you buy it under the name of the school and band you’re supporting – or just choose General Admission un-affiliated. In any case, the kids still win.
Wongo (Need2Freak)
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- 17 May
- Tickets here
Get ready for an unforgettable set as Wongo takes over the bandroom with his signature infectious electronic beats that’ll keep you entranced on the dancefloor. A staple in the Aussie electro scene, Wongo has carved out a global reputation with chart-topping hits and massive collaborations, lighting up major festivals like EDC Vegas and Lights All Night.
With claims to fame like official Beyoncé remixes, ARIA Chart #1 singles like Apple and Blip and collaborations with industry heavyweights such as Pnau, A-Trak, Client Liaison and Yolanda Be Cool, Wongo has a hell of strong standing in the industry. His sets are a groove-laced rhythmic ride with punchy basslines to keep dancefloors churning and a unique blend of fun, finesse and festival-ready tracks. Don’t miss your chance to catch this evolving star in action.
GẬT!
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- 23 May
- Tickets here
It’s an epic night of Vietnamese hiphop, with rappers and DJ sets until late. For the first time ever, two of Vietnam’s rising rap stars, Anh Phan and Minh Lai will be performing in Australia, here at the Prince Bandroom. Plus Jimmy NgủYên (Trungtambangdialauhaingoai), the raw energy and presence of 7DNIGHT (you might know him for the the viral hit Gwenchana) and the fresh sounds of “pluggnb prodigy” VCC LEFT HAND. Joining them for the night, a lineup of techno, house, dance and hiphop DJs: FungFung, Ph4ntam, Double T and Freddy.
Carvin Jones
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- 29 May
- Tickets here
Carvin Jones, “The King of Strings,” hits the stage at the Prince Bandroom for the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll blues party. Named one of the 50 Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time by Guitarist Magazine, Carvin’s shows are nothing short of legendary. Once praised by the great Eric Clapton as a rising star, Carvin has toured with icons like BB King, Santana, Jeff Beck, and Joe Cocker. He’s released more than 12 albums and he averages over 330 performances a year with a gigging history that spans 37 countries. His fiery solos, soulful musicianship and magnetic stage presence promise a performance you won’t forget in a hurry.
Rudeboy Takeover
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- With Sunny Coast Rude Boys, Ska Vendors and Transmitter Sounds System with Nicky Bomba
- 30 May
- Tickets here
Rudeboy Takeover storms into the bandroom for Naarm’s biggest ska party. Leading the charge, the Sunny Coast Rude Boys, a 12-piece juggernaut bringing their surf-soaked ska anthems to St Kilda ahead of a massive European tour, including headline shows and festivals across the UK. Local faves Ska Vendors pack a powerful set with Jamaican rhythms, British flair and five (yes, five) lead vocalists in their ten-piece band. Opening the night, Nicky Bomba and Mohair Slim dig deep into their crates to serve up vintage ska gems on vinyl, setting the mood in style.
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This article was made in partnership with Prince Bandroom.
