5 Epic Melbourne Music Week Events To Check Out This Weekend

We’ve officially hit the business end of Melbourne Music Week for 2017, with the tune-fuelled neighbourhood extravaganza due to press the stop button this Saturday night after a seven day live music binge.

But if you haven’t managed to slip on your dancing/moshing/gently-swaying shoes and slip out the door to get in amongst all of the mind-boggling musical ass-kickery yet, then fear not. There’s still enough A+ action crammed into the next few days to last at lease ten more Music Weeks.

Here’s just a small handful of boss MMW17 events that are well worth checking out around town this weekend (or for the full itinerary, you can shake your mouse over here).

1. PBS Live Broadcast Feat. Clowns (18+)

This free event for distortion-heads going down at Victoria Street’s Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar from 5pm this arvo will let you witness a 3-hour live broadcast of PBS106.7FM‘s ‘Fang It’ program, with a DJ spinning some of your fave rock n’ roll records, capped off with a rowdy performance from Melbourne punk sons, Clowns.

Make sure you adequately deodorise beforehand because this one’s going to get sweaty.

When: Tonight, Thursday 23rd November, 5pm — 8pm
Where: Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar
Tickets: FREE

2. Kirin J Callinan + Body Type + Press Club (18+)

Another one for you cash-strapped tune buffs who want to experience a slice of the MMW action without having to split a $20. VOX Amps are chucking a big birthday party in honour of their 60th in the carpark of a freakin’ cathedral and entry is 100% FREE. So come administer the audio brand some bday punches (not actually though, you’ll probably get kicked out) and enjoy some live performances from “some of the most exciting and finest acts in Australia right now”, including the iconic Kirin J Callinan (sadly sans Barnesy), Sydney’s Body Type and Melbourne rock newcomers Press Club.

When: Tonight, Thursday 23rd November, 6pm — 10pm
Where: St Paul’s Cathedral Carpark
Tickets: FREE

3. Technicolour Wonderland (18+)

As the name would suggest, this event as part of MMW’s ‘Self-Made series’ is an audiovisual experience that will transport you into a dazzling new world of colourful sights and sounds, much like Dorothy waking up in the magical land of Oz. Combining immersive visual installations from Sloe-Motion, live electronica from emerging artists Abraham Tilbury, Mo•Louie and Youthfire, and roaming performers celebrating diversity, this one-of-a-kind event at Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge this Friday is guaranteed to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses.

Yes, we stole that quote from Severus Snape.

When: Tomorrow, Friday, 24th November, 9pm — 4am
Where: Ding Dong Lounge
Tickets: Here

4. The Hard Aches + Bugs + Special Guest DJs (18+)

If you’d prefer to spend your cash on whiskey cocktails and BBQ wings than event admission then this free live music party should be right up your proverbial alley. Kickstarting your weekend at the Jack Daniel’s Barrel House pop-up at Crown Riverwalk, this 18+ JD-drenched bash combines Southern hospitality with a carefully curated lineup of some of Australia’s most hard-hitting indie acts, including punk storytellers The Hard Aches, noise-pop party blokes Bugs and some surprise guest DJs. Cheers to that!

When: Friday, 24th November, noon — 10pm
Where: Jack Daniel’s Barrel House, Crown Riverwalk
Tickets: FREE

5. ZOO: Briggs + Alexander Nut & Fatima + AFTA-1 ++

One of the biggest events on the MMW calendar, ZOO has come a long way from humble beginnings as a small DIY street party. This year, you’re looking at a full-on laneway takeover to toast the curtain-closing on the week-long conference, smashing together performance art, visual art and live music from a diverse array of international and local artists and beatmakers. One half of award-winning duo A.B. Original — Briggs — will be making a big ticket cameo, alongside Fatima & Alexander Nut (UK), Weird Together (NZ), AFTA-1 (US), 30/70, Kaiit, The CoreTet, Afrik Futurism and Positively Positive Party.

The only Laneway Festival that matters this weekend.