ACMI Will Transform Into a Live Gig Venue for Melbourne Music Week

The rest of the year, it's a champion of movies and television, but for nine days this November, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will be all about those tunes, as it transforms into the official hub for Melbourne Music Week 2018.

This year's festival is set to deliver even more immersive experiences, making the most of ACMI's Gallery One, its event space The Lightwell and its primo audio and video tech. Following in the footsteps of previous MMW hubs, including St Paul's Cathedral (2017) and the State Library of Victoria (2016), the precinct will be dishing up some pretty incredible musical celebrations, with a swag of free and ticketed MMW events happening from November 16 to 24.

It all kicks off with a bang with the wild Opening Night party, curated by legendary LGBTQI+ party people Heaps Gay. Expect a smorgasbord of dancing, drag and music, with must-see performances from the likes of The Cocoa Butter Club, The Huxleys and LGBTQI+ artists including Kira Puru and Maribelle.

Other events set to fire up the ACMI gallery include a performance from Detroit techno boss Jeff Mills, a label showcase serving up the best of Rice Is Nice, and a high-energy dance floor session guided by London producer Rival Consoles and house legend Leon Vynehall. Aussie songstress Renee Geyer will host a celebration of disco and there's even talk of a family-friendly, mid-arvo rave.

Elsewhere in the MMW lineup, the Immigration Museum nods to African roots with a night of soul and R&B headlined by REMI, Brittain's Leon Vynehall makes another appearance, taking on the Melbourne Recital Centre backed by a 10-piece string ensemble, and Aussie rockers You Am I have their first taste of the MMW stage, alongside festival favourite The Grand Organ.

Melbourne Music Week 2018 runs from November 16 to 24, at various venues across the city. Tickets are on sale now, with the full program set to drop on October 2.