eXposure, Melbourne’s go-to grassroots talent showcase, is back with a powerhouse lineup that celebrates diversity, originality and the next wave of local music.
eXposure seems to get bigger and bigger every year as it looks to shine a light on the freshest talent in Melbourne. The hand-picked line-up throws genre to the wind and combines rock, reggae, hip-hop, R&B, pop, Latin pop, rap, and more with an industry panel of experts, including Dan Shani, one of the co-founders of Evoke Sounds.
We caught up with eXposure founder, Johnno, to learn more about this year’s event at Northcote Social, and why it’s become one of the most popular places to find new talent in Melbourne.
eXposure Showcase #7
- Northcote Social Club, Northcote
- Saturday, 11 October, doors 6pm
Check out our gig guide here.
“A lot of people end up collaborating,” explains Johnno, “They come into the room and walk out with a new connection that they didn’t think they would have. It’s a networking event with a melting pot of creatives and people in the music industry, like videographers, photographers, sound engineers, and just all-around music lovers.”
“There are nine main acts, and each year, I try to bring back an artist that I’ve had on the line-up before, so people can see how they’ve developed. This year, we’ve got Rik-E-Ragga, who was on Team Delta on The Voice in 2015 and did quite well, and then started working with a couple of other well-known artists, but kind of fell out of love with music. So he came and did an eXposure about two or three years ago with just a guitarist, and now he’s coming back with a full-on reggae band with backing vocalists to end the night.”
Joining Rik-E-Ragga on the line-up will be Black Shades & Arrogance, Michael Kay, Vanessa Lezama HAZE, Luca Li Petri, Teyo Turner, Lucinda Caust and Ion Sky. “I do get a little bit like, oh my God, what have I taken on?” mentions Johnno, “But when you stand back on the night and you go, do you know what? I’ve put this together, I’ve curated this, I’ve connected these people, and I do it because of the love of music.”
For Johnno, curating the evening isn’t about sticking to a specific genre, it’s about energy, attitude, and how artists carry themselves. “Sometimes the first thing people want to talk about is money, and while I completely respect that artists should be paid for their work, the focus of this event is really on grassroots connection and building something together. My own background is in performance, musical theatre, and acting, so I’ve developed an ear for talent. But talent isn’t just about having the strongest voice, it’s about presence, attitude, and the way an artist connects with a room.”
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Johnno explains that his social channel, The Bizz with Johnno, which began as a community radio station show and later transitioned to Instagram during the lockdowns, was the inspiration behind eXposure. The show, which saw him interviewing thousands of musicians, artists and creators globally, tried its hand at live performances at the RMIT building with around 30 people who had to stand on the spot in masks at a distance. “The main thing is, it was live music. We had a couple of guests chatting about where the music industry was going and what they’ve been doing during lockdown, but I knew I wanted to do it regularly after that first one. I wanted to create my own environment and my own community and my own safe space because I found other networking events in Melbourne were just the same people all the time.”
“I want to get more exposure for eXposure because in the entertainment industry, relationships are a big driver. Some people don’t see networking as essential. Translating that confidence that they have on stage to a room full of people and saying, “I’m looking for a rapper to work on this track with me. Let’s catch up and have a coffee,” or “Come to my gig and see what I’m about.” It’s crucial. And for punters, where can you see nine quality acts in Melbourne for around 50 bucks?”
eXposure 2025 takes place at Northcote Social Club on Saturday, 11 October at 6pm. Tickets are available now.
This article was made in partnership with eXposure.
