We've reached the end of our six-part series looking at St Kilda's colourful musical past. From the big band and jazz eras of the early 1900s through to the legendary punk scene of the 80s, it's clear that St Kilda's imprint in Australian music history is undeniable.
A big thank you to Simon Myers, co-venue manager of Memo Music Hall, who has been with us throughout the series to offer his first-hand insight and who joins us once again as we look at the current state of St Kilda in the local music scene, in which Memo plays a big part.
“There’s an old saying about St Kilda; if you don’t like it, wait a couple of years, and it will change,” laughs Myers. “Memo was never a recognised venue; it’s only that now and the age of people that go there are older. The Espy has a big disco at the front of it and a bandroom downstairs. There is still a shitload to do in St Kilda and there is something for everybody.”
The live music offerings in St Kilda today
“St Kilda is the live music capital of Melbourne.” We made this comment back in part one of this series and there are two reasons why we stand by it.
Firstly, when you look at the area’s musical history, as shown in this series, it’s fair to say that St Kilda has done more than enough to earn itself a live music crown.
Secondly, there is no shortage of live music in St Kilda today if you know where to look. Some spots are very obvious, with the St Kilda Festival, Palais, Espy and Prince Bandroom attracting world-class international and local acts, but there is also a stack of smaller venues like Memo, George Lane, Dogs Bar, Freddie Wimpole’s, and more offering great tunes for all who are interested.
“It’s not that central, thick band area that became the future of Australian music anymore, certainly not,” explains Myers. “It’s an open book, open to anything, and the new idea of a live music precinct is very exciting; it will be a game changer.”
St Kilda Festival: Australia’s largest free music festival
The St Kilda Festival feels like it gets bigger and bigger every year. As one of Australia’s oldest music festivals, and largest community festival, the free event has been happening since 1980 and this year it moved to a new two-day format, which attracted more than 375,000 people to the foreshore.
The 2023 festival soaked up the sounds of Hoodoo Gurus, Yothu Yindi, Confidence Man, Genesis Owusu and many more, with the first day of the event as a dedicated First Peoples Festival Day showcasing established and emerging Indigenous artists. The 2024 festival will keep this and the two-day format, taking place on February 17th and 18th, with a line-up to be announced soon.
Victoria’s first Live Music Precinct
In June 2023 Port Phillip Council Mayor Heather Cunsolo officially launched the St Kilda Live Music Precinct, a framework that will support changes required to better balance the needs of live music venues, performers and residents. Live music precincts already exist in Queensland and New South Wales to reduce the regulatory burdens on live music venues and events.
The council is also considering a 5000-standing capacity live music venue as part of the LMP framework. Proposed in a prime position on St Kilda’s foreshore, the venue will be designed to also hold smaller events and outdoor performances.
When asked to sum up St Kilda and its musical history, Myers explains the area’s significance: “What happened organically in St Kilda with live music and the plethora of amazingly talented people that found themselves there over the years was the backbone of why people had such a romantic attachment to it, and it also formed what it is now.
“It will be something again soon, but that chapter is yet to be written.”
To find out more information about the St Kilda Live Music Precinct, head to the website here.
This article was made in partnership with City of Port Phillip.
