35 years and running, Brunswick Music Festival is gearing up to showcase a range of renowned venues in Brunswick for yet another year.
The festival, which runs from March 5 through to 13, is bringing back international headliners for the first time since Kevin Morby played in 2020. Here are a few of our top picks, but you can check out the full lineup on the BMF website.
Crumb
Rounding out the international headliners are Brooklyn based rock-pop outfit Crumb. Having already taken the world by storm with their woozy toned down psychedelia, the band’s maiden trip to Australia this year includes a big show at Estonian House on Wednesday March 8. Crumb are set to provide nothing short of a captivating performance with their wafty and potent musical wanderings.
Buy tickets here.
Camp Cope
The festival will see a range of other local as well as international bands and musicians take to the various stages scattered around Brunswick. Camp Cope have locked in an afternoon, all-ages show on Saturday March 11. Facilitating the younger folk and those preferencing an early night the show will act as a warm-up to their sold out audience at the Estonian House on the same day. Sadly, this will be their last ever Naarm/Melbourne show.
More info here.
CIVIC
Melbourne punk-inspired rockers and provocative political commentators CIVIC are launching their new LP Taken By Force on Friday March 10 at the Estonian House. High-Octane and littered with reckless abandon, witnessing CIVIC live will certify your membership in the clusters of fans dispersed globally all connecting on the disillusionment to empty promises of governments and structural injustice.
Buy tickets here.
Leon Vynehall
A departure from the up-tempo, down stroke dominated punk rock, UK based DJ and Producer Leon Vynehall is performing a set at this year’s festival in Estonian House. On Sunday March 12, the famous Brunswick performance hall will be taken over by a troupe of new era Australian musical artists accompanying the profound textural exploration of Vynehall. Alongside Vynehall, the electronic music extravaganza will see the likes of DJ JNETT, Cassettes For Kids, Monfreaq, Caucasian Opportunities and Memphis LK showcasing their DJ prowess.
Buy tickets here.
ZÖJ
In line with International Women’s Day, ZÖJ (made up of Gelareh Pour: Kamancheh/vocals and Brian O’Dwyer: Drumkit) are performing their dark, romantic and poetic improvised musical accompaniment to exhibitions by Iranian born Setareh Hosseini and Sofi Basseghi and Burmese Shwe Wutt Hmon. At 6pm on Wednesday March 6, There Is No Celebration Here will take place at Counihan Gallery, as ZÖJ will explore the notion of human rights, drawing it into focus sonically as they stand in solidarity with those affected by the legally enshrined gender inequality in place in countries such as Iran.
Buy tickets here.
Blak Stage
The longest-running First Nations open mic night conducted in the Kulin nations – Blak Stage at the Retreat Hotel will feature an event on Tuesday March 7. The stage is exclusively to be held by First Nations artists, but all are welcome to attend to revel in the song, dance, poetry, comedy and more of presenting artists.
Buy tickets here.
Sydney Road Street Party
Last but certainly not least, the Sydney Road Street Party is set to block off the iconic Brunswick main road on Sunday March 5. In traditional fashion not only will there be venues open showcasing music, but stages will be set up hosting acts such as Black Jesus Experience, Cable Ties, Pinch Points, Ajak Kwai, Kira Puru, Mindy Meng Wang and many more.
More info here.
Music For The Mob
The festival comes to an end with Music For The Mob on March 13, a collaboration between the festival and Bad Apples Music, Briggs’ phenomenal label spotlighting First Nations artists. Kobie Dee, Chasing Ghosts and Canisha will all perform at the totally free and family-friendly event in Brunswick’s Gilpin Park from 1-6pm.
Buy tickets here.
Brunswick Music Festival runs from March 5 – 13 in venues across Brunswick. Visit the website here.
Beat is an official media partner of Brunswick Music Festival.
