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.
The Sinking Teeth + Heads Of Charm + M0re…
Where? The Reverence, 28 Napier St, Footscray Melbourne
When? 6pm, Saturday 11th October
Why? It’s mental health week, and to raise awareness a A crew of local musicians and filmmakers and all-round booze-hounds decided to get together to help raise awareness for depression, anxiety and suicide. Titled ‘Paint It Blue’ it’s going to be a pretty big night, featuring some of the best garage, punk, post punk (and everything in-between) bands going around including: We Lost The Sea (NSW), OLD LOVE, The Sinking Teeth, Have/Hold, Heads of Charm, Loose Tooth, and Brittle Bones. All for $10 and all for a good cause, get on it.
Tickets & Info: $10, Facebook event
Doprah
Where? The Lansdowne, 2 City Rd, Sydney
When? 8pm Saturday 11th October
Why? New Zealand duo Doprah (pron. dope-ra) have been slaying lately, hailed by Spin mag as“gauzy balance between the gothy inclinations of fellow Kiwi Lorde, the noirish husk of Portishead, and the curious mood-making of cloud-rap,” and having topped Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart off the back of the rapturous international response to new single ‘Stranger People’ they’re about to visit Sydney for a FREE show thanks to Handsome touring. Supported by the incredible avant pop dup Magic Hands, you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss this.
Entry & Info: FREE, Facebook event
Donny Benet
Where? Brighton Up Bar, 77 Oxford St, Sydney
When? 9pm, Friday 10th October
Why? Our favourite purveyor of 80s styled synth pop Mr Donny Benet is celebrating the release of his sensual new LP Weekend At Donny’s with a show this Friday at The Brighton Up Bar. Featuring local legend You Beauty on support duties, Benet will be treating you to “scenes of love, despair, hope, risk, chivalry, incarceration, marital aids, admiration, love triangles, European fashion and libraries.” Why not make your weekend a weekend at Donny’s?
Tickets & Info: $14 (+b/f) , Facebook event
Back To Front: A Hip Hop History Party
Where? The Workshop, Level 1, 413 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
When? 4pm Saturday 11th October
Why? We’ve come along way since the rise of hip hop. And whether you agree or not it’s cemented itself as a pivotal icon in our language, culture and music scenes, spreading across the globe, sample by sample, MC by MC all the way into mainstream realms. With it’s reach now spanning decades, it’s about time someone’s had an idea as good as this, and the crew over at Shiftee and Unfunk Int. will deliver this Saturday with Back to Front: A Hip Hop History Party. So come get down into the nitty gritty of the glory days with 11 DJ’s and four different era’s of hip hop from the samples, the beats, the golden 90’s and the new era – it’s sure to get anyones Saturday boppin’. If you’re free come down, check yourself before you wreck yourself and bump and grind all day for free!
Tickets & Info: FREE, Workshop Facebook
Day Ravies + Circular Keys + Bare Grillz
Where? The Lansdowne, 2 City Rd, Sydney
When? 8pm, Friday 10th October
Why? This line up is seriously a list of some Sydney’s best rock/ garage/ lo fi/ shoesgaze/ whatever bands of right now. Day Ravies dropped their stellat debut LP last year on Popfrezny Records and have promised on their Facebook that there is “new stuff coming out in a couple days”, Circular Keys produce some of the coolest electronic music coming out of Australia right now and Bare Grillz are killer. That’s about it, if you’re from Sydney there’s no excuses for not going along to this.
Tickets & Info: $15, Facebook.
Gunns
Where? The Bird, 181 William ST, Northbridge, Perth
When? 8pm, Friday 10th October
Why? Perth dreamy guitar pop band Gunns have just released their brand new single ‘The Fool‘ online and to celebrate they’re playing a show at The Bird. They’re actually playing two shows on Friday and Sunday, but we’re just chatting about Friday for now. They’re supported by Methyl Ethel (who we’ve written about before a few time actually) like so many bands before them, the Perth locals are showing us why the West side is the psych pop capital of Australia.
Entry & Info: $5, The Bird website
Oliver’s Army
Where? Jive, 181 Hindley St, Adelaide
When? 8pm, Friday 10th October
Why? After relocating from Adelaide to Melbourne, and building a successful following in their hometown of Adelaide and securing supports for the likes of Big Scary, Deep Sea Arcade and Eagle and the Worm amongst others, Olivers Army return with a new lineup and a new setlist of whimsical, travellers folk-rock.
Entry & Info: $8 (+b/f), Moshtix
We Disappear + More…
Where? Mr Boogie Man BAR, 160 Hoddle St, Abbotsford, Melbourne
When? 3pm, Saturday 11th October
Why? A three-day event titled ‘To Infinity and beyondblue’ is being held this week in to coincide with mental health week. Calling on local legend like Caravan Kids, Calamity Jane, Sonic Straightjacket, Silverkane, The Velvet Lips, Sisters Doll, Sordid Ordeal, and We Disappear, it’s a great line up of bands for a good cause.
Entry & Info: $15, Facebook event
