Fitzroy is probably Melbourne's most progressive suburb, known for its youthful culture, vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and - most importantly - an awesome selection of live music venues.
There’s a reason why Fitzroy has adopted the title of Melbourne’s most progressive suburb. With strong working class roots, the suburb has long been a thriving centre of artistic expression and boundary-pushing culture.
Though it’s recently been heavily gentrified, this luckily hasn’t been at the expense of many of the best music venues in Fitzroy.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Punters Club
The new owners of 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy (formerly Kewpie and Bimbo) have reimagined the venue as the legendary Punters Club, replete with original decor. The new owners of The Punters Club are Dylan Marshall and Matt Francis (from the Marquis of Lorne), Jason Cameron (who owns Near & Far across the road), Britt King of creative agency Akcelo, and Mark Wilson – the bassist from Jet.
The Punters Club is widely recognised as one of the best music venues to have existed in Melbourne. Coming into being back in 1987 (when the Moonee Valley Hotel was taken over), it was given its moniker and refurbished to serve as a live music hub on Brunswick Street. It was the heart of music in Fitzroy, famous for its grungy vibe, bare floorboards and raw live performances, with the venue helping launch the careers of countless bands, including Frente!, Magic Dirt, Something For Kate, Spiderbait and You Am I.
Sugar Glider
Sugar Glider feels like a little piece of New York, an intimate and classy number that would be right at home in Greenwich Village. Stepping into the office though, this glitzy and glamorous affair is but a wolf-in-sheeps-clothing: a dive bar as divey as the best of them, complete with Happy Hour specials that’ll make your brain fall out of your ears.
When you’re ready, make your way down its vibrant halls into the bandroom, adorned with a disco ball and cushy leather booths straight out of the 70s.
Labour in Vain
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Located in a building over 150 years old, this Brunswick Street pub and live music venue is a remnant of old Fitzroy. Its laidback and simple atmosphere allows punters to just kick back and relax while the rest of the world rushes by. The venue features regular live music, mostly bluesy rock and Americana, and also has a rooftop deck. Find Labour in Vain at 197a Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
Tramway Hotel
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As homey and welcoming as they come, Tramway Hotel is a sweet little gig spot that will make you feel like you’re at your own private concert. With a crowd-pleasing burger menu, a choice selection of craft brews and an aesthetic that’s vaguely reminiscent of rustic country shack (and we mean that as a compliment), this Fitzroy North haunt is a bloody beauty. Find Tramway Hotel at 165 Rae St, Fitzroy North.
Bar Open
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Bar Open is a Fitzroy legend, a mainstay of Melbourne’s live music scene for 24 years that supports a huge array of genres. With art and mural splashed walls and a general decor and clientele that screams ‘You’re in Fitzroy, welcome home’, it’s no wonder that Bar Open is one of those venues that people associate with unique Melbourne culture. It has a delightful beer garden, a cozy fireplace, an upper level and an improv night, but you really need to head here to experience the dazzling array of live music for yourself.
The treasured venue hosts bands six nights per-week over two stages, and is widely renowned for everything from weekly experimental/improvised gigs (the home of Make It Up Club) to jazz/groove-based genres as well as heavier guitar-based rock (doom, punk, grindcore). Oh, it also has a mirror that hangs from the roof, because why not?
The Old Bar
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If you’re after music, music and more music, The Old Bar is the spot for you. There’s 7 days a week of live music, and covers a number of different genres, like blues, rock, and Indie. If you want to get your bearings of the venue before you head there, you can play this cool little minigame on their website that gives you a tour of the grounds.
Nighthawks
Nighthawks is the kind of place where you feel comfortable to drop in by yourself and sink a pint while you read or sit back and take it all in. Upstairs, you’re likely to find a gig featuring back-to-back stellar local acts while downstairs, you can soak up whatever the DJ is spinning. Either way, the tunes are always sublime.
The Workers Club
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One of the best music venues in Fitzroy, The Workers Club are well and truly back to doing what they do best, putting on gigs, gigs, and more gigs, and the tickets are selling like hot cakes. You can catch some full capacity shows with Supercab, Proposal, Semantics, and many more that you can check out here.
Rooks Return
Live music is a common occurrence at Rooks Return. On Wednesdays it’s jazz, on Thursdays it’s honky tonk and there are DJs all weekend long for those looking to sneak in a little boogie.
Rooks Return is a pub that feels utterly Fitzroy. Bringing together the rustic northside charm with a cocktail menu that seriously delivers, it’s the kind of easygoing place you could rock up to on a big night out with friends, spend a lowkey afternoon playing chess or board games, or bring your parents when they come to town.
The welcoming energy mixes nicely with the intimacy of the space. When it’s especially busy, you’ll be dodging and weaving through the crowd and you’re likely to brush up against someone interesting. They also do an excellent job of curating the vibe, so if you’re trying to get away from the riff raff (AKA bachelor parties, pub crawls and the like) you’ll most likely be safe here.
Laundry Bar
Laundry Bar has been one of the best music venues in Fitzroy, and has been the home of rap and hip hop now for many years. Located on Johnston Street in the heart of Fitzroy, the line outside gets long, but it’s worth the wait to join the party inside. Over two levels, the bartenders sling your favourite poison, while the resident DJs drop the freshest rap and hip hop out. Treat the crew to a VIP booth if you’d prefer a private area and bottle service, or head straight to the dance floor.
The Night Cat
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The Night Cat give a different vibe to the music-watching experience, the venue featuring a stage that has a 360” view. This viewing experience allows you to see your favourite band from multiple vantage points, whether it’s in the mosh facing the front, or chilling by the bar and watching from the back. The venue has a number of live gigs on the way, featuring everyone from The Beths to Sycco.
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.
