Returning for a third year, Always Live is bringing 17 days of live music to venues across Victoria. Designed to cement Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s live music capital, Always Live will see over 289 artists – including 208 from Victoria – perform sets at some of the state’s best live music venues. And Melbourne’s not getting all the fun – some 35 per cent of the program takes place in regional Victoria.
Anyma, an electronic musician and digital artist, is bringing his album Genesys to Australian shores for the first time for a Victoria-exclusive show. Following a sold-out residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, the largest screen in the southern hemisphere has been built especially for the occasion.
Among other US artists, veteran punks the Offspring will perform a one-night-only show at The Forum Theatre. Jack White, one half of influential 2000s duo White Stripes, is performing intimate shows at Ballarat’s Civic Hall and Melbourne’s Corner Hotel. The Corner Hotel is particularly special to White, as it was here backstage in 2002 that he wrote the famous guitar riff for Seven Nation Army. Genre-shifting performer and songwriter St Vincent will also perform three shows: one at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, one at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat and another at The Aviary at Crown which is hosting a one-off performance, Q&A and dining experience.
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SIGN UPMelbourne’s own Tina Arena is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her album Don’t Ask with a concert at Mornington Racecourse with guests Richard Marx (of Hazard fame) and Daryl Braithwaite (he of Aussie classics Horses and One Summer). Missy Higgins wraps up her The South of White 20th anniversary tour with a performance at Sidney Myer Music Bowl with guests Dan Sultan and Mia Wray. Chet Faker is also celebrating 10 years since the release of the album Built on Glass with a performance at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Irish pop royalty Roísín Murphy will headline a LGBTQIA+-friendly party called Tramp. It’ll take place at Port Melbourne Industrial Centre for the Arts (PICA) and include performances from the US’s Rico Nasty and a trio of UK artists: Bimini, Jaguar and The Big Wett Absolute.
An all-star line-up of First Nations artists, headlined by Baker Boy and with performances by Uncle Bart Willoughby, Yung Warriors, Amos Roach, Suga Cane Mamas, Brothers in Arms and more, will take place on Friday November 22 at an event called Blaktivism.
Young up-and-coming artists will perform at Always Live’s Garage Band program in Federation Square and Bunjil Place. Luliepalooza at Lulie Street Tavern will spotlight both established and emerging talent with a street party with performances from Starcrawler, Cash Savage and The Last Drinks. There will also be live skate demos and food trucks.
Always Live runs from Friday November 22 to Sunday December 8. Tickets are available online.