Melbourne Music Week 2015

MLS The Docks ExhibitionBack for its sixth year, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) kicks off later this week with a jam-packed 2015 program featuring over 100 events across the city from 13 – 20 November.

For eight days and nights, MMW will pry open basement doors, activate laneways, light up the silver screen and shake up the dance floor at some of Melbourne’s most iconic music venues. Alongside an electric line-up of local and international acts, MMW’s 2015 program will also feature a range of industry events, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, panel discussions and more.

The 2015 MMW flagship venue will be the disused basement and adjoining rooms of the Former Royal Women’s Hospital (Cnr of Swanston and Grattan St, Carlton). Labyrinthine music event Swell will reinvent 12 of the venue’s forgotten rooms, with secret one-off performances that challenge the way punters experience live music.

The flagship venue will stage shows that feature artists Gypsy & The Cat, Monolake (Germany), Banoffee, Eric Duncan (USA) aka Dr Drunks, Public Opinion Six, PVT, Kenton  Slash Demon (Denmark), The Harpoons, Cobblestone Jazz (Canada), DZ Deathrays and many more.

Above ground will feature a beer garden and food truck zone with weekday Lunch Box Sessions from 1- 2pm, as well as Afternoon DJs from 5-8pm. Enjoy frosty cold drinks from Coopers to the sounds of Rat & Co DJs, Edd Fisher, Jim Lawrie, Ella Thompson, Woodes and more. On the weekend, The Foreign Brothers and Mz Rizk co-present Roller Jam and Mz Rizk’s Block Party – an afternoon of live music, body rocking and roller skating (14 Nov), while CC:Disco has Sunday (Nov 15) covered with an afternoon DJ set.

Live Music Safari will see Melbourne’s live music venues open their doors for a night of free gigs and parties, presented by Jack Daniel’s Future Legends. Over 50 Melbourne artists will perform at 14 local venues, including new recruits Shebeen and Loop Bar. Punters will see local artists such as Mesa Cosa, Oddisee, Quarter Street, Terrible Truths, Sleep D, Dan White, Friendships, Kylie Auldist and Wax’o Paradiso. Meanwhile, keeping with the Live Music Safari spirit, Jack Daniel’s Future Legends will present a free night at the flagship venue, with a gig by Danish dance duo Kenton Slash Demon.

MMW’s Self Made series returns with an eclectic mix of independently-produced events throughout the city. Presented by Levi’s®, the program includes Interwoven, an interactive sculpture installation at a city church that becomes a stage for an all-female line up; Gamer 3D, a sensory distortion from behind 3D glasses with atmospheric synth tunes; Mop and Glow, a celebration of the niche footwork dance scene; Breakout, a two stage party at Old Melbourne Gaol courtyard featuring emerging artists; plus The Great MMW Bike Ride, New Orleans Street Party, Brunch Gigs, and A Club Called Trish.

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and MMW again deliver live performances that marry music and film. Thursday night will see the charming melodies from The Orbweavers, and Friday Night the smooth, soul-stirring vocals of New Zealand’s Liam Finn.

In addition to this already hefty program, there will be a number of unique concerts, including the previously announced Brian Jonestown Massacre and Robert Henke Lumière II shows. There will be further artistic collaborations with events at ACCA, MPavilion, Docklands Library, The Hellenic Museum, Rooftop Cinema, as well as a delicious journey with The Press Club’s Executive Chef, Luke Croston and many more. These events reinterpret public performance spaces and blur the line between art, film, design, food and music.

Last but certainly not least, MMW once again joins forces with Face The Music for the  annual two-day industry conference program that supports and cultivates music industry workers through workshops, keynote presentations and networking opportunities on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November.

The 2015 Melbourne Music Week runs from 13 – 20 November. For more information and complete program, visit: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/mmw for details.

Image: The Docks Exhibition: Melbourne’s Cultural Underground of the 90s. Hardware 16, Victoria Docks – photo courtesy of Julian Smith/Richie McNeill.