The Eighty-Six Announces Super Saturday, Program Details

More than 200 artists will descend on venues from Westgarth to Preston as part of The Eighty-Six’s just-announced marquee event, Super Saturday. Organisers of the new Melbourne festival have revealed more details about the inaugural event, which will take place in numerous venues on High Street from Monday, 23rd October to Tuesday, 31st October.

Super Saturday will be the centrepiece of The Eighty-Six, with dozens of labels, collectives, music agencies, artists, and more curating events across venues of all sizes – from familiar clubs and pubs to bocce courts and record shops. Super Saturday will run for nearly 24 hours on Saturday, 28th October. Also, it’s all free – you just need to register.

Los Bitchos: ‘Good To Go!’

The new Melbourne festival was announced in May this year, with acts like London-based instrumental quartet Los Bitchos, Kyoto punks Otoboke Beaver, UK indie favourite Connie Constance, and the pride of Boise Built to Spill all locked in to play. In early July, Theo Parrish, Unknown T, and Dennis Bovell were added to the lineup. More artists are set to be announced soon.

Outside of spilling the beans on Super Saturday, organisers have revealed plans for two more events: a food and music throwdown (and dog parade and costume contest) curated by 1800 Lasagne dubbed the 1800 Street Party, and a huge record label expo called the Independent Music Exchange.

The Independent Music Exchange will take place across Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 29th October, and see dozens of local labels – including presenters Efficient Space and Butter Sessions, plus Chapter Music, Our Golden Friend, Music In Exile, Poison City, Anti Fade and UNFD – converge to sling their wares. Expect artist signings, test pressings, cassettes, zines, exclusive merch and more.

“Melbourne is one of the world’s great music cities,” The Eighty-Six co-founder and artistic director, Woody McDonald said in a statement. “A hub of discovery and subculture, where art and entrepreneurial spirit are valued. It also produces a wild amount of music and is internationally considered a hotbed of musical greatness.

“I’ve always felt Melbourne needed a festival that stays within and elevates our grassroots environment. The Eighty-Six’s goal is to do this, and there’s currently no better area than High Street to be our festival precinct.”