Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.
Broadway Sounds + I/O
Where? The B.East, 80 Lygon St, Brunswick East, Melbourne
When? Thursday 29 May, 8:00pm
Why? Is there honestly anything better than heading out with a couple of pals for some of the city’s best burgers, washing it all down with a pint of delicious ale while you kick up your feet to some of the freshest tunes around Melbourne-town? Hell no. And that’s exactly what you’re going to get if you make your way to The B.East this Thursday night. Taking you on their twinkling intergalactic space trip are soul soothers I/O. Now that you’ve had time to lounge about digesting your food it’s time to get up and shake your ass the soulful afrobeats of the cacophonous collective, Broadway Sounds. The best thing about this event? It is FREE!
Tickets & Info: FREE, www.facebook.com
Movement
Where? Shebeen, 36 Manchester Lane, Melbourne CBD
When? Wednesday 28 May, 7:30pm
Why? We’ve said it once, we’ll say it one million times – when it comes to electronic based sounds Sydney-siders really are at the top of the damn game. Making their way down south apart of their national tour to celebrate their self-titled EP, the three-piece that are Movement are playing a second show at Shebeen due to an overwhelmingly high demand. Their atmospheric productions combined with lead vocalists’ creep-up falsetto rolls together to create something very special. If you missed them last week – make your way into the city and do your hump day the right way.
Tickets & Info: $13 Presle, $15 Door, https://shebeenbandroom.ticketscout.com.au &
Guests Of Ghosts
Where? Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Lane, Melbourne CBD
When? Friday 30 May, 8:00pm
Why? This local dark-rock four-piece have announced they will release their haunting, melodic new single, ‘Pioneers’ this Friday night. The track is a tale of lyrical conquest that crawls over a steady beat and tantalising rhythm. Fronted by the enigmatic lead singer Marcus Buttigieg, the quartet have been hailed for their unique, dark soundscapes and dexterous guitar work. The boys will be joined by heavy-hitting Citizen and psych-rock oufit of Adeliade, Glass Skies
Tickets & Info: $10.20 http://dingdong.oztix.com.au & www.facebook.com
Bad//Dreems
Where? Record Paradise, 15 Union Street, Brunswick Melbourne
When? Saturday 31 May, 7:00pm
Why? This Adelaide outfit are rapidly growing to one of premier acts in the country. The band have hit the road in support of their single ‘Dumb Ideas’ (listen here) the answer to our “straight-up Aussie rock” prayers, selling-out every gig insofar of their national tour. For their Melbourne show, the four-piece are doing things a little differently, ditching the conventional notion of playing a bar or club and instead hitting up Brunswick’s vinyl heaven, Record Paradise – which don’t worry, will be equipped with a fully licensed bar. Tickets are almost sold out, so there is a sense of urgency on this one. Jump onto the presale to ensure you catch the freshest tunes to come from South Australia before it’s too late!
Tickets & Info: $13.30, http://tickets.oztix.com.au & www.facebook.com
No Dice Paradise: Goldielocks + Hannah Joy + The Year Of Our War + Moorea
Where? The Oxford Arts Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Sydney
When? Thursday 29 May, 8:0opm
Why? Heads up friends of Sydney, No Dice Paradise is back for it’s fifth instalment this week, and boy do they have a cracker of lineup for y’all. Pertaining to their electronica feet-movin’ kinda aesthetic, there is a fresh crop of talent to dig. The once ACT now Sydney producer, Goldielocks, is still beaming from the success of his EP Breathe which boasts of beats that lean toward hiphop. The Year Of Our War will dazzle with their slow-burning heart-felt tracks whilst the vocal stunner that is Hannah Joy will feature her latest piano-driven ballad, ‘Hold On’.
Tickets & Info: $10, www.moshtix.com.au & www.facebook.com
Citizen Kay + Tkay Maidza
Where? Beach Road Hotel, 71 Beach Road Bondi Beach, Sydney
When? Wednesday 28 May, 8:00pm
Why? Having shared the stage with the likes of, oh let’s just add them up: Wiz Khalifa, Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown and a little crew called Public Enemy – it’s fair to say that Ghana-born Aussie-bred rapper Citizen Kay is making a name for himself, rather quickly too. On the road to support his latest track ‘Manage’ this is definitely one of the last opportunities you can catch this man for free. Kick-starting this money-saving affair is none other than Adelaide rapper Tkay Maidza. This starlet has only been on the scene for six months, and within this time has already casually clocked over 50,000 plays on her soundcloud, not to bad eh?
Tickets & Info: FREE, http://beachroadbondi.com.au
Safia
Where? Alhambra Lounge, 12 McLachlan St, Brisbane
When? Saturday 31 May, 8:00pm
Why? There’s not a lot that’s left to be said of the lads of Safia. Their blend of nu-soul vocals and lush electro-pop has seen this outfit become one of the most talked about young artists on the touring circuit. Championed by tracks such as ‘Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Stories‘, which has now been played over 154,000 times (that’s right), these guys are set to see their names in the stars. Setting the stage for the trio is Akouo, an electronica producer hailing all the way from Tasmania.
Tickets & Info: $12.30, www.moshtix.com.au
Rat & Co
Where? Rocket Bar 142 Hindley Street, Adelaide
When? Saturday 31 May, 8:00pm
Why? Adelaide, we’ve got a special one for you weekend. Melbourne producers Rat & Co who have drawn comparisons to ambient legends such as Boards of Canada and blue-electronica legend Nicolas Jaar, this is a gig that is not to be missed. Hitting the open road in support of their sophomore record Binary which Tone Deaf’s Album Review gave a glowing 8/10, Melbourne’s once “best kept secret” are a secret no more. The collective will be supported by Alta, a down-tempo electronica duo who dip their feet in hiphop beats, dropping tracks from their second EP, Game Drop Out. The best bit of all? This one is freebie. Where else are you going to be?
Tickets & Info: FREE, http://crippenplace.com
Fait
Where? The Bird, 181 William St, Northbridge, Perth
When? Saturday 31 May, 8:00pm
Why? Want to be apart of history? Here’s your chance. West-Coast legends-t0-be Fait are performing their debut show as they celebrate the release of their EP Atmosphere. Believe it or not, this 5-track press was produced by none other than Darren Lawson, a man who has worked with the likes of a little band you might know called My Bloody Valentine. And when you hear Fait’s sound…you will totally how they enlisted such a name. Heavily laden in reverb and moody atmospherics, this guitar band will blow your fucking head off with their peaking sonic explosions and glowering troughs. This is their first show. It will not be their last. Getting things started are Methyl Ethel & Hyla. For a scant $10, you’d be insane NOT to make your way to this gig.
Tickets & Info: $10, www.williamstreetbird.com
