Melbourne's east is home to some of Melbourne's most renowned music venues that extends all the way beyond the suburbs to the lush hills of the Dandenongs
Some of the best music venues in Richmond and Melbourne’s east are household names when it comes to popular live music destinations.
The leafy green suburbs of the east are starting to close the gap on their northern counterparts when it comes to live music offerings, making it well worth a visit.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The Corner Hotel
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You can’t have a list of live music venues in Richmond and Melbourne’s east without mentioning The Corner. We’ve all been stuck behind the iconic pole, and enjoyed some great music from bands local and international. The venue always pulls some of the best acts to grace Melbourne stages, national and international.
The Leadbeater Hotel
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Richmond’s live music venue The Leadbeater Hotel only opened late 2019 but they’re certainly put their best foot forward during these tough times and put on a bunch of great gigs.
Odeon Richmond
A new live music venue has landed on Swan Street in Richmond. Odeon Richmond offers Melbourne’s vibrant arts community a new hub to showcase why live music is incomparable to anything else.
Odeon Richmond is a shining beam of hope within the local scene that has seen many small music venues throughout Melbourne have to say goodbye to live music enthusiasts and their loyal punters alike. Masterminds behind the music venue, Eleni Tzaros and Bruce Butler know what they are doing with a combined six decades of experience in the music industry. The conception of the venue was born during their overseas travels last year when they made a trip to the Odeon of Odeons in Athens, Greece.
The best live music venues in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs
Arcobar
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If you’re looking for live music venues with stellar outdoor seating, Arcobar’s got you covered. The Heatherton watering hole is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, and hosts live music performances every weekend, including free live music every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Find Arcobar at 8 Arco Ln, Heatherton.
Sooki Lounge
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If you live up in the hills and are envious of all the gigs at inner-city venues, Sooki Lounge solves all your problems, putting on some awesome gigs just down the road. On the mainstage musical acts can range from psychedelic rock, to alternative, to singer-songwriter, to hip hop. Head downstairs to the leafy room on the bottom floor and you’ll see some trance and techno. They feature a great mix of performers like Bonnie Anderson and Russell Morris to indie rockers like British India and The Delta Riggs.
The Round
When The Round officially threw open its doors, it became clear it didn’t come to play. Run by the Whitehorse City Council, the $78 million investment features a 600-capacity proscenium theatre as its main live music venue, a second, more intimate theatre and multiple versatile rehearsal spaces slash community function rooms. It was designed to give artsy types in Nunawading and the surrounding suburbs a place to soak in a diverse range of offerings. With free parking, a beautiful bar and accessible prices, you really can’t go wrong.
Ballets, operas, plays, live music – you name it, it’s happening at The Round. It even hosts children’s shows, which makes it the perfect option for school holidays or a rainy Sunday arvo. From drag provocateurs to calisthenics competitions, the programmers have been running wild (in the best way). They’re not afraid to push boundaries and deliver experimental works and emerging talent alongside tried-and-true hits.
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.
