Yes, this also means that the famed 'merc with a mouth' won't be making an appearance either.
It’s all good though, because there’s always a silver lining: in this case, it’s freely flowing brews, absolutely scintillating grub, and one of the most killer rosters in the whole of the north (and possibly the rest of the city depending on who you ask).
While they might not be the x-men, each and every act that the masterminds at The Beast have selected for August is as impressive as the last, be it rapid-fire jazz fusion super-groups, post-punk lunatics, gargantuan horn sections, hardcore grrrrrl rockers and more!
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Like always, there’s trivia every Tuesday night at The Beast, hosted by the Funky Bunch, with special prizes to be won (and drunk as fast as possible), as well as another instalment of Deep Fried Comedy, hosted by the finest purveyors of funny, Belal Hassoun and Max Flett.
The Beast doesn’t mess around when it comes to live music and if all of this is tickling your fancy, the venue is on the hunt for a new Entertainment Booker. Work in a dynamic environment, build strong relationships with local and international musicians and help shape the live music scene in the inner north – seriously, what more could you ask for in a job?
Firefly Horns
- Friday, August 2nd
- w/ Tripside Life
D’ya like jazz? We certainly do, and really hope that you do too! On the first Friday of the month (tomorrow as this is being written), the great and powerful Firefly Horns are descending on The Beast’s main thoroughfare for one night only.
There’s truly nothing quite like this 7-piece jazzy funk colossus, they’re a force of nature and a literal boatload of fun! They’ll be sneaking in some movie themes too, so keep your ears peeled! Supported by Acid-jazz flavoured funk outfit Tripside Life, better keep those shades, the future looks reaaaally bright.
Favoured State
- Saturday, August 3rd
- w/ Low Monroe & the Fugitives
Conjuring up the sounds and imagery of bands like Viagra Boys, IDLES and Squid, Favoured State have a uniquely Australian, despondent and lugubrious post-punk flavour, sure to set any unsuspecting square to self-destruct should they come within a 50-metre radius of these disciples of noise and aggression.
Supported by urban cowboys Low Monroe & the Fugitives, make sure you’re well-read on the state of the world, primed and full of disdain for the powers that be.
Daddy Issues
- Friday, August 9th
- w/ Eris and the Disciples
Make way make way, for Friday the 9th marks the arrival of coquette grunge punks Daddy Issues at The Beast! Watch as this high-octane four-piece channels the divine feminine when they bring the house down.
Supported by the sensual, the seductive head heathen Eris and their disciples, picture lots of leather, masks, and maybe a little bit of blood. Boy, is it getting hot in here? Or is it just me?
Oscar LaDell
- Saturday, August 10th
- w/ Brynn Oakley
We’re in for a bit of a soulful one, as Kiwi Oscar LaDell graces The Beast with his sultry tones and his unique extension of the Nashville sound. Sporting chops on chops, LaDell doesn’t ever get things twisted, allowing dependable melodies and heart-wrenching narratives to carry the music on through. Supported by the equally talented Brynn Oakley, it’s shaping up to be a real tear-jerker.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Maquina Pelligrosa
- Friday, August 16th
Maquina Pelligrosa are a bit of an enigma, and with a name like that, you’d have to be. What we can tell you, however, is that this cinematic, heavy-psych surf outfit hails from Wellington, coming up in that scene during the mid-2000s, relocating to Naarm sometime after that.
The sound is something like a spy film, minus the actors and sets, AND it’s in a basement full of smoke and other assorted paraphernalia. Got the idea? Good.
Cat Crawl
- Saturday, August 17th
- w/ Ze Wisenheimer and The Nation Two
This 3-piece witty alt-rock outfit will blow you away on the 17th, as Cat Crawl launch their EP Know Your Place! The album itself is a masterclass in political commentary and satire, bringing together genuine angst and disdain for the patriarchy, pushing it through a lens of fun and reckless abandon.
Supported by bubblegum grunge kittens The Nation Two and post-punkers Ze Wisenheimer, they’ve got every base covered.
Slow
- Friday, August 23rd
- Double set!
Rarely does a collective like this come along, a collective where musicians completely tune in with each other, almost telepathically, for a short, fleeting amount of time.
Do you ever wish you could prolong this moment? Slow it, perhaps? Then this is the right crowd for you. Slow is an ever-shifting roster of some of the most explosive players in jazz, each show is entirely improvised, taking influence from any which way, placing them onto the frameworks of jazz, hip hop and soul. Come just for the stank face alone, it’ll be an immensely moving occasion.
Deep Fried Comedy
View this post on Instagram
- Thursday, August 29th
- Hosted by Bellal Hassoun and Max Flett
There’s only a few things you can count on in life, and we’re lucky to have DFC at The Beast be one of them, hosted by none other than Bellal Hassoun and Max Flett, some of the finest purveyors of “the funny” this side of the Yarra.
A variety show that’ll have you rolling on the floor, DFC brings comics together from all walks of life, a concoction that’s sure to get you the most smiles per mile.
Trivia Tuesday
- Every Tuesday from 8pm
- Hosted The Funky Bunch
- Contact details here.
What’s there to know? This ain’t your average trivia night, so leave those huge IQ’s at home and prepare for something a little different. Treat it more like a game show, where the mundane becomes interesting and those fun facts you’ve saved are now suddenly useful.
There’s a case of beer up for grabs courtesy of Tallboy and Moose, with a few consolation prizes that are sure to keep the sadness at bay. With $10 pints on tap all night, genuinely what else are you doing with your time?
Want to know what else The Beast gets up to? Check out their site here.
