Five Gigs You Should Hit Up This Weekend

Quittin' time means it's time to catch some good ol' live music this weekend. From intimate fundraisers with Sarah Blasko to late nights with Mykki Blanco and rambunctious pub crawls with Dune Rats, now's not the time to miss all your buds who've headed to Hobart's Dark Mofo. Get amongst it and wrap your eardrums around some solid live tunes.

Dune Rats

There are few bands with enough unfaltering stamina to line up a debaucherous, beer-fuelled pub crawl to kick off every night of their Australian tour. But Brisbane's Dune Rats leave the rules at home, abiding by one big ol' proviso: "no kooks, no gutties." Whatever the blazes that means, these bloody corker dudes surf self-generated waves of laidback party-fuelled philosophy.

Dune Rats' BC Michaels, Danny Beusa and Brett Jansch have been away from home for some time now, heading to the US, staying in a New York AirBnB warehouse, driving along the West Coast from San Diego to Vancouver and filming their own (sorta) web series American Death Trip of Dreams. After months on the road, the Dunies will head back home to Australia for a national tour, showcasing their debut album released on June 1. It'll be the first time the trio have played to home audiences for months and is guaranteed to be one messy affair.

Check out our chat with Dune Rats bass player Brett Jansch over here.

When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm
Where: Oxford Art Factory , 38-46 Oxford Street Darlinghurst 
How much: $18.50

Mykki Blanco

Cross-dressing spitfire MC Mykki Blanco is in the country for Dark Mofo, heading north afterward to blow Sydneysider minds at Good God.

One seriously multitalented artist, NYC-based Blanco is a rapper, performance artist and poet who grew up listening to riot grrrl music. The significantly internet-hyped New Yorker's setlist will inevitably include writhing party jam 'Wavvy' and heavier tracks like the recently released 'Initiation' — both as likely to intrigue audiences as attract them to the dance floor. Think bass heavy, post-trap anthems with a killer MC at the helm.

When: Saturday, 21 June - 1:25am
Where: Good God Small Club , 53 - 55 Liverpool St Sydney
How much: 30 +BF

Sarah Blasko

ARIA-winning artist and bighearted Sydney legend Sarah Blasko will play an intimate gig at Giant Dwarf in Redfern on World Refugee Day, Friday 20 June. With all ticket sales going straight to the Refugee Council of Australia, Blasko's fundraiser is a direct response to the federal government's funding cuts to the RCOA, announced as an addition to the recent budget.

After the release of her stunning fourth album I Awake to critical high-fivery in 2012, Blasko is breaking out of creative hibernation to play for a cause. "I'm emerging from what I'll affectionately call my 'fifth album writing cave' to play this special show at Giant Dwarf (the latest venture from the Chaser team) during Refugee Week. I'm an ambassador this year and The Refugee Council need financial support now more than ever to continue their positive work within refugee communities in Australia," said Blasko. "They are also an important force in lifting the veil on our country's treatment of asylum seekers. So, come watch me sing for the night and you'll be supporting them. I promise at least one new song and special guests."

Blasko will be joined onstage with special guests, alongside her solid session buddies. Tickets are available from Giant Dwarf's website.

When: Friday, 20 June - 7:00pm
Where: Giant Dwarf , 199 Cleveland St, Redfern 
How much: $45

The Cairos

Brisbane's hyped-up and Island-signed foursome The Cairos are currently running a national tour that you cannot afford to miss but certainly can afford to attend. Immediately following a national support slot for Sydney big timers The Holidays, the triple j Unearthed-winning newbies to Island Records are taking their celebrated sound across the country with their own headliner tour.

The Brissy lads are keeping the motor running off the back of releasing their brand new debut album Dream of Reason. Tracks 'Desire' and 'We All Buy Stars' just scream "hear me live" and if the feedback coming out of their recent Asia tour is anything to go by, this is going to be one of the most justified sub $30 spends this year (now you can't even use budget-related gripes as an excuse to not go). Plus they just got a new keyboard. Now you're really obliged to head along. Make sure to get there early as Chinese psych band Nova Heart kicks things off. Seems Beijing psychedelia proves a perfect support pairing ahead of the Brisbane up-and-comers, so pop in early for a crispy Good God cocktail and a fully-fledged bliss out.

When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm
Where: Good God Small Club , 53 - 55 Liverpool St Sydney 
How much: $20.40 + bf

RUFUS

Electro dance trio RÜFÜS know a thing or two about touring. Currently on the road for their national Worlds Within Worlds tour, the Sydney threesome have whipped up thousands-strong crowds with their euphoric melodies at many an Aussie festival over the past few years. This time, however, the triple j favourites have collaborated with Red Bull and Melbourne art and design studio ENESS, creators of otherworldly interactive light installations. The ENESS wizards have done their light-fuelled thing in unexpected spaces worldwide — from the streets of Mumbai to the French Alps.

Now bringing both creative teams together, RÜFÜS combine material from their debut album Atlas with a 12,000-LED-strong backdrop. Operated in real time, the hyperreal set responds to the music in a fusion of virtual projections with physical space. It's a perfect complementary partnership for the trio's escapist dance sound. The Worlds Within Worlds tour is also RÜFÜS' last hurrah in Oz before heading to Berlin to work on their next record. It's worth checking out, especially if Vivid Sydney didn't quite satisfy your appetite for trippy light installations. (Really, can that ever be satisfied?)

When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm; Sunday, 22 June - 8:00pm
Where: Enmore Theatre , 130 Enmore Road Newtown 
How much: $39.80

Words by the Concrete Playground team.