Brunswick's status as a leading centre for live music, progressive culture and art make this suburb as must visit for artists and punters alike.
There’s an abundance of live music venues in Brunswick, but that doesn’t mean a compromise on quality. Known for its expressive culture and as a hotspot for artists, the talent that emerges from this suburb is unmatched.
If you’re musically inclined, or simply appreciate good local bands, be sure to stop by at some of the venues on this list.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The Brunswick Ballroom
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One of the finest live music venues in Melbourne, The Brunswick Ballroom is a beautifully refurbished hall in the old Metropolis House building that now hosts some of Melbourne’s favourite live acts.
The upstairs ballroom, accessed via the dramatic staircase, features superb stained glass domes evoking the work of Australian artist Leonard French, before expanding out onto an open-air balcony that takes in the urban streetscape below and the sights of Melbourne’s skyline. It also has the Brunswick Artists’ Bar next door, which doubles as a lovely quaint cafe and bakery.
Brunswick Artists’ Bar
Live music is front and centre at the Brunswick Artists’ bar. Really, the stage is in the middle of the room. Shows are almost always free, which makes it an excellent place to catch an exciting up-and-coming act on a beer budget.
It’s a humble place. No stuffy pretentiousness; just good old fashioned fun. With live music on the stage and local art on the walls, it is a true celebration of the culture of Brunswick. Pair that with Melbourne-made beer and spirits behind the bar and you really can’t go wrong. The intimate interior and plush seating makes it an all-too-easy place to waste the hours away, plus, word on the street is on the weekends in the wee hours, the aforementioned stage makes for a pretty sweet drunken dance floor, with throwbacks and classics blasting out of the sound system. Sneak outside for a beer or a dart, and you’ll be in the prime position for people watching on the sidewalks of Brunny.
The Jazzlab
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The Jazzlab is quickly becoming one of the coolest venues across Melbourne’s live scene, putting on some amazing shows from virtuosic acts that live on our doorstep. Along with Bird’s Basement and Paris Cat, they’re in many ways the holy trinity of Naarm’s authentic jazz culture.
Union Hotel Brunswick
Live music every Saturday and Sunday at this old school joint, which also features on our best Brunswick pubs and bars list. The Union Hotel can be found at 109 Union St, Brunswick. It’s an awesome place, but there’s no doubt It’ll take you back to those days where you’d be a kid spending your time in the playground at a local pub. It’s got all those pub classics you know and love like steak sandwiches, chicken parmas and fish and chips.
Their extensive range of wines is pretty impeccable too, from all around Australia and beyond. Much alike all of the popular venues in Brunswick, the Union has a selection of live music on a regular basis.
Edinburgh Castle
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Brunswick’s longest-standing pub and one of it’s oldest live music venues, Edi Castle boasts a mammoth beer garden, an expansive craft beer offering, a mouthwatering menu, and a never-ending supply of local live music. It’s a bloody big venue with a huge heart to match. You’ll always feel right at home here. Find Edinburgh Castle at 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
The Beast
Lively, great eats and just the right amount of sleaze – The Beast is an effortless choice no matter what’s on (and there’s always something on). They’ll also be hosting their tried-and-true weekday favourites including Big Stick Energy Mondays with chargrilled skewers and beer, Trivia Tuesdays and the aforementioned wing Wednesdays.
They’ve hosted over a thousand free shows in the past decade while slinging house cocktails and indie brews alongside some of the best burgers in Melbourne. They’re a night out that spills music and revelry into Lygon Street, and your local hangover cure (spicy bloody Maria and a double Ron Swanson burger will always do the trick.) Their promise? Always free entry, always great vibes. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s bands galore, and entry is free (that’s more money you can spend on beers).
The Post Office Hotel
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Sydney Road’s The Post Office Hotel is not only a stellar pub for a pint and a meal, it also doubles as a fantastic live music venue. Regularly updating their gig guide via their website, make sure you duck down to The Post Office for a gig coming up.
Penny Black
A live music venue with acts that run Thursdays through Sundays on the Penny stage. They don’t discriminate – everything from sweet, singer-songwriter strums to sharp art-punk synths can be heard reverberating out from the bandroom.
What hasn’t been said about the Penny? Built from of an old post office and under old management from 2010, the long-standing venue is an epicentre for live music, culture and good vibes in Brunswick. It’s somewhat of an adult playground (though kids are welcome too). If you’re a gig freak like us, you’ll be happy to hear that live music at the Penny Black is back with a vengeance. Running four nights a week, the shows feature some of Australia’s most exciting talent and the occasional international act as well – stuff for all of Brunswick’s quirky tastes.
Stay Gold
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A legendary staple among the music venues in Brunswick is Stay Gold. Their venue celebrates the glorious punk and emo music of the early noughties with many cool music nights, while they’ve also got shows from Windwaker, Ironstone and Eye of The Enemy to name a few.
Plus, at Stay Gold you’ll find Ollie’s Pizza, which crafts a unique pizza that blends New York and Neapolitan styles. You’ll never find a better pizza around Melbourne, let alone in a thumping live music venue like Stay Gold. Their thin, crispy base and chewy crust are topped with fresh ingredients, they prove their dough for 36 hours and hand-stretch it before cooking it super hot and fast, plus they always have a vibrant atmosphere. You’ll find a warm welcome at the bar!
Rubix Warehouse
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Situated in Brunswick, this 500sqm warehouse and live music venue hosts a whole range of events, from international touring acts to club nights and all-ages gigs. Rubix promises the best of warehouse acoustics, with an industry-leading VOID sound system that is perfect for enjoying live music at full volume. Find Rubix Warehouse at 36 Phoenix St, Brunswick.
The Retreat
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Connoisseurs of the best local talent, everyone from the likes of Floodlights, Bones & Jones, Porpoise Spit, Lewis Coleman and more, have stepped into their beloved live music venue. It’s also one of the oldest music venues in Brunswick, with the original Retreat Inn being built in 1842!
Bergy Bandroom
Bands fill the mid-sized, 200-capacity live music venue’s bandroom niche that’s becoming increasingly important for the local performance and arts circuit. A space that’s small enough to sell out, and big enough to feel like a proper gig for local and touring bands alike.
It’s a big deal for Bergy, a famously snug little venue tucked away at the park edge of Sydney Road. Bergy made its name by being the friendly hole-in-the-wall and unpretentious local favourite. That dive-style haunt will remain, with more of a focus on cocktails and boutique drinks in the front bar, but the new space next door lets them beef up their renowned regular gig schedule. For this bandroom, they’ve gutted the old warehouse space next door and built their dream venue basically from scratch. This means audio tech industry pro and Bergy owner David ‘Frankie’ Cudmore and his team have been able to assess and curate a perfect acoustic setup. Sound-treated walls and airlock doors ensure not only an excellent audio experience in the bandroom, but that the new beer garden out back is completely insulated.
Howler
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Hidden behind a parking lot, Howler is jam-packed with the industrial, indoor-outdoor charm the northside is known for. Their 400-capacity theatre-slash-music-venue is located in the back, with an odd shape that invites guests to get up close. It’s also one of the best venues for post-show chilling, as there are often DJs and events taking place in the generously sized front bar.
Howler has previously hosted the likes of Billie Eilish, Black Eyed Peas, Laufey, The Killers and more recent shows with North Carolina’s soul legend Lee Fields, MJ Lenderman & The Wind, The Getaway Plan, The Beaches, not to mention three sold out shows for homegrown stars Telenova.
If you’d like to know about the best music venues in other suburbs around Melbourne, be sure to check out our comprehensive list here.
