Melbourne Music

Melbourne will come alive with the inaugural Melbourne Music, an event celebrating our city’s passion for all things music.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said Melbourne Music would showcase the city’s world renowned music scene - musicians, venues, record labels and songwriters alike - to be celebrated, nurtured and encouraged in a way never before seen in Melbourne.

“Melbourne’s live music scene is world renowned and music plays a vital role in the city’s economic, cultural and social life. Melbourne Music will boost our reputation as a creative, energetic city for residents, visitors and businesses. From contemporary to classical, indie to mainstream, Melbourne Music will showcase the music industry’s best and brightest” said Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said Melbourne Music will present an impressive program of events including 100 free concerts with street pop-up events and concerts on trams and trains, public lectures, trade days and a stellar selection of entertainment at the city’s many iconic music venues.

Melbourne Music will kick off with a one-off Cinemix event at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image on 30 September, followed by the Australian Independent Records (AIR) Awards on 1 October at The Forum Theatre. Melbourne Music will then turn all of Melbourne into a stage with free impromptu performances around the city through to large scale productions in our world class concert halls and local city haunts.

The city is set to rock at a free open air concert at Federation Square on Saturday 2 October, featuring performances from high profile independent artists and setting the stage for the remainder of the festival’s musical extravaganza.

For those who see music as more than a listening pleasure, Melbourne Music will present a broad range of public seminars and workshops for all ages at the Town Hall and RMIT, enabling industry representatives and up-and-coming artists to listen and learn from renowned guest speakers. Plus, as one of the key festival partners, the Australian Institute of Music Show (AIMS) will hold two open day featuring speakers, courses, panels and more.

During Melbourne Music PBS is presenting a program of free gigs in the City Square, kicking off on Thursday 7 October with the garage freakbeat of the The Frowning Clouds from 5pm. Friday 8 October brings the funk and soul vocal stylings of Bamboos collaborator Kylie Auldist, 5- 6pm. And on Saturday 9 October, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra present combination of Afrobeat rhythms of the ’60s and ’70s with a contemporary hip-hop flair from 7.30pm.

Melbourne Music runs from 29 September to 10 October. The full program of events will be released closer to the date and will be available at Melbourne Music