The Eighty-Six Is Melbourne's Huge New Festival with Nearly 24-Hours of Free Live Music

Melbourne is adding yet another major live music festival to its jam-packed arts calendar, with The Eighty-Six unveiling a blockbuster program of live music, performance and art from Monday, 23 October–Tuesday, 31 October. Set along Melbourne's iconic 86 tram route, over 200 artists will descend on some of Melbourne's favourite venues along High Street.

Topping the bill: Super Saturday, a monumental 22-hour live music affair sprawling from Westgarth to Preston on Saturday, 28 October. Artists, performers and creatives will assemble across 40 venues including bars, nightclubs, bowls clubs, record stores, bocce courts and more. Northcote Theatre, Thornbury Bowls Club, Croxton Bandroom, Moon Dog World, Wesley Anne, The Keys and Northcote Social Club are just a few of the venues that will play host to Super Saturday's hefty lineup of acts.

Image: Thornbury Cinema

The all-star program includes emerging and established artists, local selectors, and international and interstate guests. Organisers are still teasing specific event details and schedules, but expect to see Collingwood's much-loved Hope St Radio teaming up with cult-favourite All Are Welcome; immersive experience experts The Round Table collaborating with market-favourite Finders Keepers; Melbourne's freshest NYE fest organisers When Pigs Fly; indie record label Jet Black Cat Presents; community radio station 3RRR; and Melbourne-based DJs including Milo Eastwood, Soju Gang and Mike Gurrieri.

One Super Saturday event we have the details on is 1800 Lasagne's huge, pooch-friendly music and bevvy party. The béchamel lords of Thornbury are set to host a smorgasbord of local artists throughout the day, while producers and makers are popping up with culinary delights, wine, beer and coffee.

Dogs are welcome all day, with a pooch parade and costume contest to raise money and awareness for Pets Of The Homeless. Your best four-legged friend can also indulge in pup-cakes or pup-uccinos, and doggy merch will be available.

Image: All Are Welcome

Meanwhile, the Independent Music Exchange will celebrate everything vinyl across a free, two-day event. Expect an array of physical products, including vinyl, cassettes and merch, plus artist signings throughout the exchange. Labels are set to include King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard; Albert's Basement, Butter Sessions, Rice Is Nice, Lulus Sonic Disc Club and more.

The best part? The entire Super Saturday lineup and Independent Music Exchange is free to attend, all you have to do is register online for a ticket. Importantly, all Super Saturday events are limited based on individual venue capacity, so get in early as entry will be on a first-in, first-served basis.

Image: 1800 Lasagne, by Parker Blain

The Eighty-Six will run on Saturday, 28 October from 7am–5am. More details on The Eighty-Six lineup, including Super Saturday party lineups and schedules, will drop over the coming months. We'll keep you updated as more information comes through.

In the meantime, check out The Eighty-Six website to register for a ticket, or start planning with the Super Saturday venue map. 

Top image: Shotkickers, supplied.