10. Janelle Monae and Kimbra Cancel Australian Tour
In what was set to be the double-headline tour of the year, Melbourne audiences got excrutiatingly close to witnessing Janelle Monae, only to have her first show of her Australian run cancelled minutes before she took to the stage. Following a week of the tour being in high speculation, health reasons ruled out Monae performing any other shows. Read the story here.
9. Ms. Lauryn Hill Comes To Melbourne
In one of the biggest tours of the year thus far, Ms Lauryn Hill finally returned to Australia. A member of award-winning group the Fugees, Hill went solo with her debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, released to massive critical acclaim, which then saw her win five Grammy awards and taking out Album Of The Year. Her Melbourne show went on to sell out and a second was soon added. Read the story here.
8. Kanye West Returns To Australia
Arguably the most divisive name in the contemporary music industry, it should come as no surprise that a visit from Mr. West will cause one hell of a reaction. Unfortunately he postponed the tour (rumours have it that the reasoning was that it clashed with his wedding plans to Kim Kardashian). He’ll be here in September. Read the story here.
7. St Kilda Festival 2014
St Kilda Festival is Australia’s largest annual music festival, and the 34th incarnation was one of their finest yet. Featuring free performances from the likes of Art vs Science, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Bob Evans, it’s no surprise it’s one of the most beloved events this city has to offer. Read the story here.
6. Four Tet and Jamie xx Play A Secret Show
Who doesn’t love the exclusivity of a secret show? Furthermore, when it features two of the biggest names in electronic music for $10 then you know it’s going to be special. Anyone who mananged to brave the gargantuan line and get inside knows that it was – not to mention fucking sweaty too. Read the story here.
5. Dave Chappelle Debuts Down Under
One of the biggest comedians in the world locks in his first ever Australian tour. No surprises here. Dave Chappelle announced that he’d be performing in Australia earlier this year, and shows just continued to sell out and be added, sell out and be added, sell out and be added. By all reports the wait was very much worth it. Read the story here.
4. Phillip Island Gets A New Boutique Camping Festival
It’s been a wild six months for the Australian festival landscape. Most recently we’ve seen the hiatus of the Big Day Out, Vans Warped and Fat As Butter while Soundwave has expanded to two days for 2015. When Beat got the tip-off that a new camping festival was coming to Phillip Island, however, it was greeted with much anticipation. The full reveal for this festival is still a little while off, but there’s a little more information floating around here. Read the story here.
3. Thieves Steal Records From Section 8
It’s an unfortunate fact that some folk around this city have sticky fingers. However, when the records of some of Melbourne’s finest DJs were nicked on a Sunday afternoon the city rallied together in an attempt to find the culprits. Unfortunately, they were never found, however a host of local promoters and artists came together to throw a fundraiser party for the affected DJs. Top notch. Read the story here.
2. Melbourne Gets A Cat Cafe
It’s official – Melburnians fucking love cats. The news that Melbourne was getting a Cat Cafe, which were first invented 15 years ago in Taiwan before then spreading to the rest of Asia and Europe, was received joyously by the public. The cafe should be opening their doors later this month. Read the story here.
1. The Palace Theatre Closure
In what has been the most dramatic saga to effect the Melbourne music scene, when Beat broke the news of the Palace’s impending closure it sent live music fans into overdrive. It’s still ongoing, with many twists, turns and protests leaving the fate of our beloved Palace still up in the air. Read the story here.
