The Northcote Rise street festival is back with a whopping five outdoor stages this Sunday February 18. But at some of our favourite Northcote venues is where the party's really going to be cooking...
13 years between appearances, the Northcote Rise street festival returns this Sunday February 18 from 11am to 7pm with a jam-packed day of music, food, shopping, family-friendly arts and crafts, and more. From James Street to Separation Street, Northcote’s famous High Street and surrounding roads will be closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians as retail stores, entertainment venues, street vendors and artists take over the suburb.
With five main stages and five main zones to rotate through, there’ll be something in store for everyone. But if you really want to soak in the best that Northcote has to offer this Sunday, then the following eight venues are must-visits, boasting a wicked mix of live music and entertainment, incredible atmosphere, amazing food and drinks…plus a few surprises here and there.
Northcote Rise Festival in 2024
- Local artists. Outdoor dining.
- Mini stages. Market stalls.
- From Northcote’s finest local traders.
- February 18, 176-409 High Street
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Francesca’s Bar
- Address: 222 High St
- Vibe: Trendy
- Dedicated Menu: Finger food and pieces
Francesca’s Bar has truly arrived among the illustrious collection of Northcote bars and pubs, becoming one of the top spots in the inner-north. You can grab some great drinks like a classic daiquiri, a pina colada, and a bunch more you can dive into here. On the food side, their menu has a little bit of everything, finger food like jalapeno bites, arancini and a whole heap more that you can dive into here.
This bar boasts cocktails and top shelf drinks by (week)day and DJs and disco by weekend and they won’t disappoint for Northcote Rise: free entry with DJs spinning tunes from 3pm – 1am, a bunch of festival drink specials and happy hour from 5-7pm. Plus, they’re collaborating with Pizza E Vino for your food and beverage needs. Tick, tick, tick.
Northcote Social Club
- Address: 301 High St
- Vibe: Live music inspired
- Dedicated Menu: Pub grub
You can’t go past one of Northcote’s gig capitals on a free music festival Sunday!
The Northcote Social Club has been a pillar of live music in the north since 2005. Sister venue to the iconic Corner Hotel, the bandroom hosts a diverse mix of genres, local talent as well as national and international touring artists of all genres. Northcote Social Club is also well-known for its free weekly event, Monday Night Mass. The venue’s ethos is centred on inclusion and community, focusing on providing a safe place for people from all backgrounds to enjoy music and socialise in a comfortable environment. Check them out, they’ll be heaving.
Wesley Anne
- Address: 250 High St
- Vibe: Chill, almost country pub vibes
- Dedicated Menu: Homecooked grub
If you’re a music fan in Melbourne, there’s no doubt you’ve come across the Wesley a couple of times in your travels. They’re a laid-back bar with equally laid-back staff, who are always keen to give you the best service they can. You can grab some mouth-watering grub at this spot, everything from gnocchi to steak. What’s not to love? Like all good pubs, there’s some pretty ace specials at the Wesley, to name a couple, every Tuesday there’s tacos and tequila for an easy $18, or every Wednesday, you can grab a Pie and a pot for $22. Dive more into the world of the Wesley here.
Rebel Rebel
- 93 Plenty Road, Preston
- Vibe: Authentic northside music bar
If you’ve got your mother in a whirl ‘coz she’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl, you’ll be welcome at 93 Plenty Road, Preston. They’re open from 4pm every day and will be as busy as ever for Northcote Rise, capitalising on their huge gig reputation among loyal music-loving punters in the north.
Cheap beers and good tunes are the bread and butter of Rebel Rebel, Preston’s new addition to the growing bar scene. Named after the late, great David Bowie’s hit 1973 song, the bar is decked out with tasteful 60s and 70s décor, without the aesthetic ever teetering over into full-blown kitsch. Vintage photos adorn the walls and outside, fairy lights and candles prove an intimate atmosphere. On a cold night, warming glasses of mulled wine and hot toddys are hard to beat.
Open Studio
- 204 High Street, Northcote
- Vibe: Accessible and beautifully decorated
Live music venues are a precious entity these days, showing off some of the best artists our musical country has to offer. Melbourne is littered with likeminded haunts, but some venues are about more than just filling a stage. That’s where Open Studio comes in, giving music fans a different taste of the live music experience. We caught up with Open Studio’s co-owner Tania Bosak to chat about her beloved licensed crêperie.
Open Studio has established its own cultural footprint in Melbourne’s social stratosphere, and it’s Bosak’s rich life in music that’s shaped this inclusive High Street venue.
“I was working across the arts as a music director and producer for various theatre events,” she says. “One of our biggest focuses [at Open Studio] is mentoring emerging artists, but also providing a stage for established and professional musicians. It’s not a cliquey vibe, it’s always friendly. It’s a real community vibe. We get a really diverse audience, a lot of older people come on their own, sit down, watch live music, and they feel comfortable.
“We really do welcome all ages, we have afternoon shows which welcome families, so that accessibility is a big one in terms of a community focus. Even the late night shows, people will bring their kids and grandparents. It’s quite interesting when you go to a gig, and it’s a party band and there’s 20 or 30 people in their 60s dancing.”
The Purple Emerald Lounge Bar
- Address: 349 High St
- Vibe: Chill and old school
- Dedicated Menu: Tapas
The Purple Emerald Lounge Bar is a seasoned favourite among all Northcote locals and as such, you can expect them to be busy little bees come this Sunday. The Purple Emerald brings the old school vibes, but with a killer modern spin. They’re only open from Thursday to Sunday, perfect for those long nights you’ll want to have here. There’s finger food galore at the Purple Emerald, things like sliders, edamame and cheese, dive into the rest here.
Northcote Theatre
- Vibe: Stunning Edwardian Baroque architecture, what a venue
- 216 High St, Northcote
It goes without saying, if you’re heading to the Rise, check out what’s on at one of the best live music venues in Australia.
When it was announced a little while back that the Northcote Theatre was being transformed into a 1,500-person live music venue, replete with a cocktail bar, rooftop bar, Italian style trattoria and boutique wine bar, Northcote collectively – and this is the technical term – went apeshit. “High Street has really evolved over the years but it’s always been a heartland for musicians and artists,” venue operator Andrew Mansfield says. “We just want to compliment what’s already here.
“The theatre is a grand and ornate space, purpose built to host entertainment and right in the heart of Northcote…it’s just perfect for live performance.”
High Note
- 220 High Street Northcote
- Vibe: uber cool
One of Melbourne’s newer funky bars / live music spaces, this is a must-visit for anyone tapped into Melbourne’s scene as it comes with a hefty reputation. The realisation of a long-held dream for the Melbourne-based crew, High Note will be Crown Ruler’s very first bricks-and-mortar space.
Having produced some of the country’s most exciting events — from Melbourne’s Sun Cycle and Duke St Block Party to Nike Air Max Day and the Oceania launch of UK underground radio platform NTS, plus collaborations with ACMI, Potato Head Bali and more — Crown Ruler has championed the soulful underground through touring, events, and their music agency for over 20 years.
Located in the heart of Northcote, the venue welcomes everything from relaxed after-work drinks to creative collaboration and live music experiences. Visitors will find themselves immersed within a neighbourhood dance cued up by host selectors, or witness live acts and artmakers from a proudly diverse and indiscriminate range of musical styles. With programming charting genres from the well-known to the unknown, the cruisy to heavy, old-school to new cuts – High Note promises a soulful experience any time of the week, especially come festival time.
Northcote Rise lineup
Moody Beaches
Mature Themes
Wadaiko Rindo Japanese Drumming
Sanz Mantra (Busking)
Amazing Mr Twist (Children’s Entertainment)
Little Feet Music (Children’s Entertainment)
Savvas (Busking)
Ziggy Durling (Busking)
Scriv Acoustic
Michael Macri Band
Jacqui Lumsden
Crushed Lavander
Fire Roots
Gamelan DanAnda
Cyclone Mavis
Carrieland
Gusto Gusto
STAT (Stella Anning Trio)
East of Sunshine
Laurel and the Painkillers
Wykd Folk
Halo
Sunfruits
Northcote Rise Festival is happening between 176-409 High Street on February 18. For more information, head here.
