Dandenong West just scored itself a shiny new festival - Hidden Gems - that's all about celebrating the neighbourhood's diverse communities.
Get ready, Melbourne – Dandenong West is about to shake things up with Hidden Gems, an electrifying new festival that’s bringing major live music and cultural celebrations right to the heart of the southeast.
This isn’t just another festival – it’s a game-changer for Dandenong, transforming the suburb into a buzzing entertainment hub that rivals the inner city scene. West Alchemy Collective, the crew dedicated to injecting live music and culture into Dandenong, is behind this ambitious two-day celebration that’s set to put the area firmly on Melbourne’s cultural map.
Hidden Gem Festival
- November 22-23
- 10am-7pm daily
- 71 Hemmings Street, Dandenong West
- Free entry, all ages, family-friendly
The lineup
- The Ferguson Rogers Process (Tim Rogers from You Am I and Lance Ferguson from The Bamboos)
- One Spirit Africa
- Charlie Needs Braces
- Delsinki & The Quiet Henchman
- Skybelly
- The Pleasures
- The Deans Of Soul
- Sugar Fed Leopards
- Ruby & The Clumsy Dollies
- Damon Smith Trio
- BJ & Nero Friktschn Duo
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The stellar lineup
Headlining this spectacular event is Ferguson Rogers Process, featuring members from ARIA Award-winning You Am I alongside The Bamboos – who are fresh off celebrating their incredible 25th anniversary. These Aussie music legends are bringing their powerhouse performances to Dandenong’s doorstep.
Also commanding the main stage is the explosive afrobeat collective One Spirit Africa, promising to bring infectious rhythms and energy that’ll have the whole crowd moving.
International flair comes courtesy of New York’s Ruby & The Clumsy Dollies, while Melbourne’s finest including Skybelly, Charlie Needs Braces, The Pleasures, Delsinki & The Quiet Henchman, and The Deans of Soul round out an impressive program. Soul-funk outfit Sugar Fed Leopards adds another layer of groove to this already stacked lineup.
Then you have Damon Smith Trio, led by the incomparable Damon Marc Smith and punctuated with his expert musicianship and razor sharp wit. Finally – BJ & Nero Friktschn Duo deliver nostalgic country ballads!
Music is just the beginning
The festival’s beating heart is its live music, but that’s just the beginning. Melbourne Record Club is bringing vinyl lovers a dream come true with their classic record fair – perfect for crate diggers hunting for those elusive rare finds and hidden musical treasures.
Local market stalls will showcase the area’s creative talent, while Connection Arts Space keeps the creative energy flowing with hands-on workshops and open mic sessions that invite everyone to be part of the action.
From First Nations cultural workshops to international street food vendors, from morning market browsing to evening beer garden sessions, Hidden Gems celebrates everything that makes this neighbourhood special.
The festival is designed as a proper family affair, with activities for all ages woven throughout both days. It’s free, it’s local, and it’s exactly the kind of bold, community-driven event that proves you don’t need to trek to the inner suburbs for world-class entertainment.
West Alchemy Collective’s vision is coming to life – bringing top-tier culture and art to Dandenong and showing that Melbourne’s southeast is ready to become the next big thing in live entertainment.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Hidden Gem Festival.
