Live music will once again fill Melbourne’s entertainment venues and spill out into the city’s streets and laneways as Melbourne Music Week returns.
More than 300 artists will play nearly 70 events across 23 locations from 3 to 12 December, marking Melbourne’s undisputed return as Australia’s arts, culture and live music capital. The event will support local musicians, promoters, venue operators and support staff, while also drawing visitors to the city to reignite retail and hospitality businesses.
Melbourne Music Week features a diverse range of music genres including rock, hip hop, jazz, soul, hyper-pop and electronic music, with a focus on supporting local musicians, the LGBTIQ+ community, female artists, Aboriginal talent and other diverse cultures within the live music industry.
Highlights from this year’s program include:
- Opening Night’s Wominjeka at MPavillion, curated by BUMPY and featuring Emma Donovan and The Putbacks and Kee’ahn.
- The ‘MMW Club’ at Max Watt’s, which will host eight consecutive nights of local music programming including headlining sets from Carl Cox, PINCH POINTS, Bananagun, Billy Davis, daine and more.
- Live Music Safari, which will see more than 70 artists take over 12 venues including Colour Club, Whitehart and The Curtin for a day and night of free entertainment.
- Headline shows at some of the city’s favourite venues including Georgia Maq and SHOUSE at Melbourne Museum, Butter Sessions X Research Records at The Forum and the Kardajala Kirridarra at Melbourne Recital Centre.
- MMW Kick Ons and late-night programming at the Sub Club and Miscellania for four nights of experimental and interdisciplinary music.
- More than 60 independent events and gigs, including Unfuror, a night of spatial performances and audio-visual experiences at The Meat Market, the Carlton International Jazz Festival at Colour Club and Finding Figaro presents Live Cuts at The Toff.
- Film screenings, audio-visual displays, industry events and a day-long symposium at The Capitol – RMIT, featuring a live-streamed keynote presentation by internationally renowned musician and composer Holly Herndon.
This year, for the third time, Melbourne Music Week will be a carbon neutral certified event.
While the core Melbourne Music Week program will run from 3 to 12 December, some shows will also take place in January and February 2022.
The City of Melbourne thanks its valued partners for their support, including Beat, PBS, 3RRR, Ticketek and Vanessa.
Tickets are on sale from noon Thursday 11 November. To buy tickets and for the full program, visit the Melbourne Music Week website.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said:
“We’re thrilled to be able to deliver Melbourne Music Week again this year and throw our support behind venues, promoters, artists and other live music industry talent.
“Melbourne is famous for its live music scene and we’re working hard to ensure this year’s MMW will be an event to remember.”
Councillor Roshena Campbell:
“We know Melbourne Music Week provides a significant boost to the local economy – enticing visitors in to support entertainment and hospitality venues, as well as retail businesses.
“Last year’s three-month Melbourne Music Week extended program attracted more than 72,000 people to the city, and contributed $5.8 million in economic uplift.”
