Victoria’s celebration of live music, ALWAYS LIVE, today rounds out the program of 160+ shows, with over 340 artists and presented with 70+ program partners. The brand-new additions to the already extensive offering happening only in Victoria, are set to bring a wealth of memorable music moments to audiences across the state through to the end of the year.
From our iconic small venues, to regional band rooms, concert halls, stadiums and theatre shows, the latest announcements further cements Victoria as the home of live music in Australia and promise even more one-off, exclusive experiences, including a rare and intimate evening with TLC at the Palais Theatre and performances from The Veronicas, Years & Years, Big Freedia and Thelma Plum on rooftops across Melbourne.
One of history’s most influential female hip-hop and R&B acts TLC will set it off in a rare, intimate and exclusive, one-off theatre show at the Palais Theatre for a lucky 2500 fans. The crazy, sexy, cool outfit who captured the world’s attention with their sassy and sophisticated R&B against a socially conscious lyrical style will celebrate their hits in crowd-pleasing performance.
As part of the ALWAYS LIVE presented series, Islands In the Sky, audiences will get up close and personal with some of the biggest artists in pop today including The Veronicas, Years & Years, Big Freedia and Thelma Plum as they perform some of their greatest hits over the city skyline at rooftop venues across Melbourne.
Another ALWAYS LIVE presented offering in partnership with Channel Seven’s Sunrise, Rises in the East is a special broadcast series of breathtaking performances as the sun comes up in iconic locations throughout the state. Aired across November and December, the impressive line up includes The Veronicas, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jessica Mauboy and Paul Kelly showcases the best talent against the beauty of the Victorian landscape.
A mainstay of the of the state’s thriving live music scene, celebrated small venue, The Old Bar will celebrate 21 years of blood, sweat and beers with an epic birthday party. Renowned for showcasing the biggest talent on the smallest stage, the shindig highlights include Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, SPOD, Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats and Streetsweeper.
Among Australia’s greatest, most beloved and enduring rock bands of all time Hoodoo Gurus will join the ALWAYS LIVE Rockin’ the ‘Burbs series in a headline show at The Pier Hotel in Frankston alongside fellow legends of Australian Music Magic Dirt and Scott Darlow.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “From local talent to some of the world’s biggest names in music, we’re delivering the largest ever live music celebration in Australia while supporting local jobs, businesses, artists and roadies around the state.”
“These acts will round out the most epic celebration of live music this state has ever seen, while offering even more reasons to get out and discover the best Victoria has to offer.”
Matt Gudinski, ALWAYS LIVE Chair said: “Ensuring my late father’s vision for ALWAYS LIVE came to life has been a number one priority for me. He dreamt of creating a major music driven event for the state that celebrates Victoria as Australia’s music capital, and Melbourne as one of the world’s leading music cities. With over 160 shows, 340 artists performing and engaging 72 industry partners, this is truly an industry owned initiative and one that represents the amazing music industry we have.”
ALWAYS LIVE CEO, Steve Smith said, “We are tremendously proud of these latest offering to round out the 2022 program. While the mix of events is broad, of all scales and taking place across the state, what they have in common is each brings special, one-off and exclusive events to Melbourne and Victoria, only for ALWAYS LIVE. They also build on the enormous momentum of our line-up to date.
He continues; We launched ALWAYS LIVE in March with a record-breaking sell-out performance by Foo Fighters at GMBHA Stadium, closely followed by a 71,000 ticket, sell-out show for Billy Joel, and two sell-out events by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis at the beautiful Hanging Rock. Our rare and intimate Palais Theatre performance by global superstar Dua Lipa sold out in a matter of minutes. These highlights are a fraction of the ALWAYS LIVE program, which positions Melbourne as a global music city and Victoria as the live music capital of Australia.”
In an Australian first, ALWAYS LIVE will partner with Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and Mushroom Pictures to launch the inaugural LONGPLAY Music Film Festival across three major regional centres – including Ballarat, Geelong and Bairnsdale.
Featuring a curated selection of world-class music films as a 4-day regional festival, the exciting line-up of music documentaries will be headlined by the new feature documentary about legendary Australian rock band, The Angels: Kickin’ Down The Door.
In a major coup, The Angels brothers Rick & John Brewster will perform an acoustic set of some of their iconic hits at the Ballarat Regent Cinema following the film’s premiere screening and will take questions from fans in the audience. Other music films in the program include Meet Me In The Bathroom, the euphoric ode to New York’s aughts rock renaissance, and Nothing Compares which traces the career and rise to international stardom of angelic-voiced firebrand Sinead O’Connor.
Elsewhere in the program, the gang behind the beloved OK Motels launch a new series of venue gigs across regional Victoria. The series kicks off at The Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine and features the fuzzy instrumentals and tight rhythms of Nice Biscuit, the modern telling of post-punk, grunge and shoegaze of ENOLA, plus Nice Biscuit’s co-front woman’s latest side project Baby Cool, which marries psychedelia with folk and a touch of country.
For Ausmusic month and in partnership with Record Store Day Australia, ALWAYS LIVE will celebrate record stores across the state on Saturday November 5 with The Dig. Participating stores include the iconic Greville Street Records and Northside Records, and the program includes in-store performances, signings, special releases and all-round party vibes. Check out the ALWAYS LIVE website to see the full list of participating stores.
The Wheeler Centre in collaboration with ALWAYS LIVE will host a special one-off gala celebration of tales and tunes, Mixtape Memories: A Gala of Story and Song. The all-star line-up includes author Claire G. Coleman, writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay, Double J and ABC music reporter Mawunyo Gbogbo, comedian and RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under judge Rhys Nicholson, political journalist Amy Remeikis, radio star Em Rusciano, and Attica owner and head chef Ben Shewry.
Hosted by Spicks and Specks’ Myf Warhurst, this end-of-year spectacular will feature all-star musical performances by the Mixtape Memories house band and guest singers including June Jones, as well as a very special musical tribute to the late, great Uncle Archie Roach by his long-time friends and collaborators Paul Grabowsky and Jess Hitchcock. The event will be Auslan interpreted.
At the Melbourne Recital Centre audiences are invited to celebrate the festive season with the inimitable Vika and Linda Bull, as they take audiences on a toe-tapping journey with songs from their debut Christmas album, Gee Whiz, it’s Christmas! Performed live for the very first time.
Joseph O’Farrell (JOF) and Fed Square team up with ALWAYS LIVE for Garage Band, a new event giving 30 young garage bands from across Victoria the opportunity to perform live in the centre of Melbourne. The free and family-friendly event celebrates budding artists from across the state, with a program that includes emerging Indian-Australian artist Meghna whose genre-defying style of singing is complemented by her introspective lyrics, and singer/rapper Sami with his extremely versatile catalogue, often solely produced, written and engineered by him.
Also joining the ALWAYS LIVE program, First & Forever, a bold and inspiring new event featuring First Nations talent at the foot of one of Victoria’s most majestic and significant backdrops – the Gathering Place, Hanging Rock. Curated by Briggs (with a special thank you to Paul Kelly), the First & Forever line-up features 20+ supreme talents – from acts at the top of their game to iconic, progressive trailblazers, songwriting giants and jaw-dropping, effervescent party starters.
Having already sold-out two shows at Hanging Rock and one more intimate show at Palais Theatre, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis add a second Palais Theatre show on December 2. The venue is a fitting recognition of Cave’s musical journey, with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ playing their first ever live show at the venue in St Kilda in 1983.
Performing their biggest headline shows in Australia and New Zealand to date, Houston, Texas psych-funk auteurs Khruangbin have announced a second Melbourne show at 170 Russell on Sunday December 4. Joining them will be Melbourne’s favourite groove cosmonauts Mildlife.
After the lightning sell out of the Melbourne Music Bus Tours, an additional round of tours has been added. Explore the sacred sites of Melbourne’s rock ’n’ roll history with Melbourne musicologist Bruce Milne and music journalist Mary Mihelakos. Jump on board with hosts including Deborah Conway, Dogs in Space with Sam Sejavka and Chuck Meo (The Ears), Rebecca Barnard, Kylie Auldist, Billy Miller (The Ferrets) and Phill Calvert (The Birthday Party).
Additionally, in honour of the late Uncle Jack Charles, the Melbourne Music Bus Tour scheduled for Saturday 12 November at 1pm will now be hosted by two incredible elders who will pay tribute to the late, great artist. Robbie Bundle and Bart Willoughby (Pitantjatjara/Mirning) will join music lovers to share stories of their own musical histories and tell tales of the beloved community leader.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the queen of ‘sophisticated pop’ was causing a stir long before Murder On The Dancefloor hit the charts the world over! With the release of her own gin and a family cookbook, she is ready to take on the world again and 120 lucky fans can experience an intimate audience with Sophie plus Q&A hosted by Virginia Trioli in the idyllic surrounds of the NGV International Garden Restaurant. Tickets On Sale midday, Friday 7 October and will move VERY quickly.
In partnership with APRA AMCOS, ALWAYS LIVE will be delivering a special edition of SongHubs. With this iteration curated by Courtney Barnett, the short intensive songwriting camps, by invitation, bring together selected APRA AMCOS members and renowned songwriters and producers to create new hits.
Finally, ALWAYS LIVE has teamed up with Melbourne Food and Wine Festival to curate the music program for Village Feast – a weekend of food, fun, wonder and one-off experiences in Gippsland. While enjoying exceptional one-off food collabs and a delicious array of Gippsland wines, ciders and spirits, you can kick back and be entertained with performances from Jazz Party, Grace Cummings, Tim Shiel and Mindy Meng Wang, Wilson Blackley, Mia Wray, Dorsal Fins, Little Quirks and Pirritu.
A tonne of new acts have been added to the previously announced events along with support artists for headline shows. Head to www.alwayslive.com.au. to check them out.
Additional show dates below:
• An Exclusive Evening with TLC (USA) – Palais Theatre, St Kilda
With special guest KYE
Wednesday November 2
• Rockin’ the ‘Burbs – Hoodoo Gurus – Pier Hotel, Frankston
With Magic Dirt and Scott Darlow
Saturday October 29
• Vika and Linda – Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank
Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre
Sunday December 4
• The Old Bar 21st Celebration – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, SPOD, Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats and Streetsweeper
Saturday December 3
• OK Sides – The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
With Nice Biscuit, Enola and Baby Cool
Thursday October 27
• Islands in the Sky feat. Thelma Plum – Top Yard, Melbourne
Friday October 28
Islands in the Sky feat. The Veronicas – Transit Bar, Melbourne
Presented by Summer Camp Festival
Wednesday November 2
Islands in the Sky feat. Years and Years – Rooftop – Pride Centre, St Kilda
Presented by Summer Camp Festival
Thursday November 10
Islands in the Sky feat. Big Freedia – Rooftop Bar – Curtin House, Melbourne
Presented by Summer Camp Festival
Friday November 1
• An Intimate Audience with Sophie Ellis-Bextor (UK)
with Q&A hosted by Virginia Trioli
Presented by Summer Camp Festival & NGV
Thursday November 10
• Mixtape Memories: A Gala of Story and Song, Melbourne Recital Centre
Presented by The Wheeler Centre
Writers: Amy Remeikis, Ben Skewry, Carly Findlay, Claire G. Coleman, Em Rusciano, Mawaunyo Gbogbo, Rhys Nicholson and hosted by Myf Warhurst
Performers: Cash Savage, Georgia Mooney, Jess Hitchcock, June Jones, Paul Grabowsky and Thando
Tuesday December 6
• LongPlay Music Film Festival
Presented by Melbourne International Film Festival and Mushroom Pictures
Opening Night: Monday 21 November
Screening The Angels: Kicking Down The Door with acoustic performance by Rick & John Brewster (The Angels) + Q&A at the Regent Cinemas in Ballarat
Festival Dates: Thursday November 24 – Sunday November 27
Screening at: Regent Cinemas Ballarat | Pivotonian Geelong | Sun Bairnsdale
The Angels: Kickin’ Down The Door (The Angels)
Nothing Compares (Sinead O’Connor)
The Last Waltz – 4K Restoration (The Band)
We Are The Thousand (Foo Fighters)
• Garage Bands – Fed Square, Melbourne
Presented by JOF and Fed Square
Saturday October 22 from 5.30pm
• Melbourne Music Bus Tours
Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Australian Music Vault
Saturday November, 1pm: Robbie Bundle and Bart Willoughby in honour of Uncle Jack Charles
Saturday November 19, 1pm: Deborah Conway
Saturday November 19, 4pm: Dogs in Space with Sam Sejavka and Chuck Meo (The Ears)
Saturday December 3, 1pm: Rebecca Barnard
Saturday December 3, 4pm: Billy Miller (The Ferrets)
Saturday December 10, 1pm: Kylie Auldist
Saturday December 10, 4pm: Phill Calvert (The Birthday Party)
• The Village Feast – Station Street, Thorpdale
Presented by Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Dorsal Fins, Grace Cummings, Jazz Party, Little Quirks, Mia Wray, Pirritu, Tim Shiel and Mindy Meng Wang & Wilson Blackley
Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20 Nov
• First & Forever
Baker Boy, Budjerah, Jessica Mauboy, King Stingray, Sycco, Thelma Plum and more
Sunday November 27
• SongHubs curated by Courtney Barnett
Presented by APRA AMCOS
Monday November 28 to Thursday 1 December
• Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – Palais Theatre, St Kilda – NEW SHOW ADDED
Presented by Frontier Touring & Supersonic
Wednesday November 30
• Khruangbin (USA) – 170 Russell, Melbourne – NEW SHOW ADDED
Presented by Frontier Touring & Penny Drop
Sunday December 4
• Caribou (CAN) – Forum Theatre, Melbourne – NEW SHOW ADDED
Presented by Novel
with Marli
Monday December 12
Regional show dates below:
• Almost Summer Festival – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
Presented by The Greater City of Bendigo & Hear Them Holler
Kardajala Kirridarra, Gabriella Cohen, Phoebe Go, Pookie and many more
Friday November 25 to Sunday November 27
• Chopped Festival – Carisbrook
Amyl and the Sniffers plus Andy Golledge, C.O.F.F.I.N, Smoke Witch and many more
Friday December 2, Saturday December 3 & Sunday December 4
• Hometown: Alice Skye – Sawyer Park Sound Shell, Horsham
Presented by Live Nation, Songlines Aboriginal Music, Australian Music Vault
with Chris Nyalu, special smoking ceremony, welcome to country and dance performances
Saturday December 10
• Hometown: Isaiah Firebrace – Paramount Theatre, Echuca
Presented by Live Nation, Songlines Aboriginal Music, Australian Music Vault
with Darcy Ramage, Madi Colville-Walker and DJ Luke Macpherson
Sunday December 11
• Jessica Mauboy – Pioneer Park, Bright
Presented by Live Nation Special Events & Alpine Shire Council
With Illy, Gretta Ray and The Bouys and many more
Saturday November 12
• Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Hanging Rock – SOLD OUT
Presented by Frontier & Supersonic
Supported by Courtney Barnett
Friday November 25 & Saturday November 26
• OK Motels – Charlton
Presented by OK Motels
Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, Nice Biscuit, Elizabeth, Vintage Crop, Bad Bangs, Skyscraper Stan, Kino Motel, Smarts, Baby Cool, Enola and more
Friday October 28 – Sunday October 30
• OK Sides – The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
Presented by OK Motels
Nice Biscuit with Enola and Baby Cool
Saturday October 27
• QMF x First Plays – Queenscliff Music Festival
Presented by Queenscliff Music Festival
Baker Boy, Isabella Manfredi, Middle Kids & RVG
Friday November 25 – Sunday November 27
• Tash Sultana (Ocean Sounds) – Churchill Island
Presented by The Hills Have Eyes & Ocean Sounds
Tash Sultana with Pierce Brothers, Kim Churchill, Kee’ahn, Little Green and Mark Howard
Saturday December 10