Now entering its fifth series, Melbourne’s premiere botanical concert series Live at the Gardens returns to transform the Observatory Precinct into an intimate, 5,000-capacity music venue.
When people think of Melbourne, quality music, great food and gorgeous green spaces are often top of mind.
This November and December, Live at the Gardens returns to bring all three elements together at the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, with eight massive shows across three consecutive weekends.
The world-class lineup ranges from contemporary favourites Wolf Alice and iconic throwback act Dizzee Rascal to Australian legends Hoodoo Gurus, with a few curveballs thrown in, including something called a Renfair Rave.
Behind this year’s programme are co-directors Johann Ponniah and Sam Rogers, who are building on what came before while still putting their own stamp on the festival.
For the pair, the idea behind Live at the Gardens is simple: put on good music and give people a reason to stick around and make the most of a setting that’s hard to replicate anywhere else in the city.
Live at the Gardens
- 20 November: Renfair Rave
- 21 November: Push Over – 40 Years of The Push
- 27 November: SIX60 with South Summit
- 28 November: DMA’S with FLOODLIGHTS and SLEEPAZOID
- 3 December: Cat Power with Courtney Marie Andrews and Hedge Burners
- 4 December: Dizzee Rascal with Example, Arrdee and Swaglord Savannah SOLD OUT
- 5 December: Wolf Alice with Folk Bitch Trio and Swapmeet FINAL TICKETS
- 6 December: Hoodoo Gurus with RATCAT and The StemsSOLD OUT
- 5 March: The Avalanches with HAAi
- 6 March (sold out) and 7 March: Leon Bridges with 54 Ultra and Surprise Chef
- March 2027 – more shows to be announced!
- Tickets here
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“If we had to name an overarching theme to the festival, it would be quality music and a diverse lineup that appeals to a wide variety of people,” Johann says. “We’re not going to book 10 rock shows in a row. Live at the Gardens done right will mean people from all walks of life can come and enjoy it.”
This collaboration between the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and MG Live was first launched in late 2024 by promoter Michael Newton, co-founder of Roundhouse Entertainment, a company with 25 years’ experience running A Day on the Green, making them natural custodians of a concert series built around music in spectacular outdoor settings.
Earlier this year, Johann and Sam, two close friends who have spent years working together on tours, took the lead on programming Live at the Gardens.
“Our existing relationship and our shared enthusiasm for Melbourne’s music scene made taking on this festival together a natural fit,” Sam says. “We’re excited to create an event series that reflects the Melbourne we live in and enjoy so much.”
The pair were already fans of what had been built and could see plenty of room to grow. Their approach starts with the lineup, which aims to attract a wide variety of attendees by bringing together international heavy hitters with beloved homegrown Aussie acts.
Quality, variety and a little left-field
One of the more unexpected additions is the Renfair Rave, which invites Victoria’s thriving renaissance fair scene into the mix alongside DJs and immersive sword-and-sorcery entertainment.
It might seem like an unusual fit for an outdoor concert series, but that’s precisely what appealed to the organising team. Neither Johann nor Sam comes from the renfaire scene, but they recognised a shared passion for creating something people can get excited about.
It’s an admirably left-field booking that reflects a broader ambition to make Live at the Gardens feel like a wider cultural experience.
Another highlight is the festival’s partnership with The Push, the Victorian youth arts organisation that has helped countless young people find their feet in the music industry.
Celebrating 40 years of championing Australian music, The Push’s show on 21 November brings together artists whose music has provided the soundtrack to several generations of young Australians.
For Johann and Sam, these additions help connect the series to Melbourne’s wider music scene and community.
“The common thread here is quality, with enough variety that people can find something they love, discover something new and hopefully come back for another show,” Sam says.
“We want this to be more than just a stage in a park. It’s an experience worth spending an evening at. Come for the music, grab something good to eat, have a drink and enjoy the gardens while you’re there.”
An evening worth staying for
That thinking means music is only part of the picture. This year, the pair are putting a bigger focus on food and drink, bringing a collection of the city’s favourite restaurants and bars into the Gardens.
Fitzroy Italian favourite Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca will make its festival debut with its first-ever food truck. Rocco’s will bring its signature meatball sub alongside a curated menu featuring other delicious dishes such as the Caponata Panino.
Beloved North Melbourne restaurant Boire will also be at the Gardens for the first time, operating from a purpose-built on-site kitchen. Boire at the Gardens will offer a selection of Mauritian inspired items, including flavour-packed sandwiches.
Rounding out the reimagined food offering is award-winning pizzeria 400 Gradi and some of the best food trucks including Vietnamese street food from Nem N’ Nem Food Truck, tacos from Trompo Taco Truck, traditional Spanish-style paella from Paella Truck, plus a selection of gourmet options from Bowl Bar.
A curated drinks menu will also be available, from craft beer and premium spirits to drops from some of the region’s best wine producers such as renowned Fitzroy drinking den Hands Down, which will have its own bespoke cocktail bar at the event.
These are venues the organising team know personally, rather than names chosen simply to fill a menu.
The festival is evolving in other ways, too, with Johann and Sam exploring changes to the layout and staging to make better use of the space. Ultimately, the audience will decide whether those ideas translate into a great night out.
The November programme sets up the wider summer season, with Live at the Gardens returning in March. The two runs bookend the Melbourne summer, giving the team two chances a year to bring fresh musical experiences to their audiences. Leon Bridges is among the acts lined up for March, and one of his two shows has already sold out.
With the festival now a bi-annual fixture, there’s plenty of room for Johann and Sam to keep experimenting.
“It’s exciting that there’s always another year to look forward to,” Johann says. “We have so many dream bookings we’re excited to get to in the future.”
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