Melbourne Summer Gigs and Parties That You Won't Want to Miss Out On This Year

This year, Australia’s launching into summer with the help of a huge new music festival. The brainchild of industry big guns Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon), Festival X will hit Melbourne on Sunday, December 1.

The large-scale music party is pulling no punches when it comes to its debut lineup, headlined by international heavyweights including Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, the Grammy-nominated Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki and our own Alison Wonderland.

Spanning multiple stages, it’s set to deliver a world-class serve of hip hop, pop and electronica. US rapper Lil Pump will make his own Aussie debut, joined on the all-star bill by the likes of British DJ duo CamelPhat, Ohio-based rapper Trippie Redd, Denmark’s Kölsch and German techno king Paul Kalkbrenner. Meanwhile, there’ll be plenty flying the flag for the local scene, with sets from favourites including bass and dubstep star Godlands, Australian-raised trance DJ MaRLo, Sydney act Sunset Bros and singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix.

Face summer head on with: Versace ($319.95).

If you’re in the market for new sunnies this season, skip the shops and head to one of Sunglass Hut’s Face the Sun session The Raver instead — you’ll walk away from the rooftop gig with a complimentary pair of shades.

On Sunday, December 1, get down to Notel Melbourne from 3–9pm for just 50 bucks. You can kick off the festivities with a makeover by professional hair stylists and makeup artists to get you rave ready, then, pick your new pair of party-perfect sunnies — think big retro styles, colourful lenses and razor-sharp 90s shades. Don them as you get down on the dance floor, watching as the sun goes down.

Tunes-wise, you can expect an intimate performance by indie songstress GRAACE in the afternoon followed by party maker DJ Tori Levett with a whole lot of bangers. Plus, to keep you going, bar snacks will be provided throughout the event.

Face summer head on with: Ray-Ban ($285).

Multicultural Arts Victoria’s annual Asian-Australian arts and music festival, Mapping Melbourne, is wrapping up with a big closing night party under the stars and the crisp, white lines of this year’s MPavilion structure.

Dubbed Medium Spicy, the free party will celebrate the creativity and diversity of Melbourne’s Asian-Australian community with an all-femme lineup. Creative collective Big Bao has cued up Melbourne artists Aarti Jadu and ZK king for live sets, with experimental pop artist PRINCI (pictured) coming down from Sydney to headline the night. As the sun sets on the lush Queen Victoria Gardens, Felicity Yang and Big Bao DJs will be spinning tracks into the night.

Medium Spicy is just part of a huge and diverse MPavilion program of talks, performances, workshops and installations, which continues until March 22. An on-site kiosk is open from 9am daily, serving up Three Thousand Thieves coffee, Four Pillars Gin, wines by ShadowFax and Sample Brew beers. Sounds like a perfect excuse for a picnic in the gardens before the party kicks off at 5.30pm.

Face summer head on with: Valentino ($500).

Image: PRINCI by Kristina Yenko.

So good is the Melbourne party scene, that London’s international clubbing icon Fabric is hosting a one-off openair dance party in Fed Square as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. Dubbed Fabric XX, the shindig will feature an impressive roster of DJs and performers from the club’s history.

The bill includes UK tech house DJ Craig Richards; London-based DJ, producer and label owner Bobby; Canada’s Matthew Johnson; and headliner Ricardo Villalobos, a renowned Chilean-born German party-starter and Fabric mainstay.

The full lineup is set to be announced soon, so expect a crew of local artists to round out the party. Fabric XX will kick off at midday and carry on until the sun goes down and night sets in.

Face summer head on with: Ray-Ban ($245).

Back for a third year, songwriting legend Paul Kelly’s Making Gravy tour is becoming a bit of an Aussie Christmas tradition — so it’s time to start thinking about getting the tinsel out of storage.

As in 2018, you can expect to hear a stack of songs from Kelly’s four-decade long career. Listen out for all the hits, from ‘Dumb Things’, from the album Live, May 1992, to ‘Love Never Runs On Time’ from Wanted Man (1994). Of course, the Christmas classic ‘How To Make Gravy’, first released in 1996 on an eponymous EP, is on the menu, too.

Kelly’s invited a bunch of special guests to join him at the outdoor concert, and will be supported by ARIA Award-winning rocker Courtney Barnett, Aussie Eurovison finalist Kate Miller-Heidke and NZ singer Marlon Williams.

Face summer head on with: Prada ($550).

Image: Cybele Malinowski.

Electronic music party series Piknic Électronik is back for its sixth iteration, bringing openair revelry to Sidney Myer Music Bowl from 10am–10pm, one Sunday a month. Expect big sets from some big names, drinks and food from local suppliers and dedicated chill-out zones.

Detroit’s musician and label owner Moodymann will bring his soulful signature blend of techno and house, alongside co-headliner and old-school dance music master Mr G. Also on the lineup is Nastia — one of the biggest names in modern techno, all the way from Ukraine — supported by Melbourne’s own Laura King.

Piknic has again teamed up with Thick as Thieves to co-present February’s festivities, curating sets from Cologne super house duo Andhim, Melbourne’s Boogs, Brian Fantana and BINI. The lineup for the final Sunday of the season, March 29, is still being kept under wraps, but you can expect something epic to finish up the summer.

Face summer head on with: Ray-Ban ($245).

Image: Wade Malligan.

Summer, of course, means kicking off another turn around the sun, best enjoyed with a healthy session of live tunes and a good old-fashioned New Year’s Day boogie. The northside’s legendary openair party destination Coburg Velodrome has you covered, launching into 2020 with a brand-new music festival offering, fittingly dubbed Sun Cycle.

The respected music heads at Crown Ruler (Duke Street Block Party, Freedom Time) and WAT Artists have teamed up to deliver a very tasty start to the new year, featuring a top-notch gathering of local and international acts, across three stages.

Helping ring in the new decade with a bang will be US rapper Freddie Gibbs, UK electronic star Floating Points and our own Sampa The Great. Meanwhile, DJ sets come courtesy of a slew of dance-floor favourites including CC:Disco!, Jayda G, DJ Seinfeld, Andras, Elle Shimada Collective and 6AM At The Garage.

Face summer head on with: Dolce & Gabbana ($380).

Image: Freedom Time by David Smiley.

This one has it all: a picturesque outdoor setting as the sun goes down, world-class musicians across a bunch of genres, the warm and fuzzy feelings of helping a good cause, and lots of adorable animals. Over the last few years, Melbourne Zoo Twilights has earned its reputation as one of the best summer nights out. Every weekend from January 24 until March 7, a roster of Aussie favourites and international stars take to the stage in front of hundreds of relaxed punters stretched out on the zoo’s lush lawns.

Brisbane dance-pop party starters Confidence Man kick off the 2020 series, followed by pub-rock legends Icehouse, Zoo Twilights regulars The Cat Empire, gospel queen Mavis Staples, and Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer Randy Newman. There’ll also be sets from Methyl Ethel, Julia Jacklin and UK-French avant-pop band Stereolab in their first live performance in ten years.

Bring your own picnic, preorder a gourmet hamper or take your pick of the different food trucks on-site, and pick up a bottle of wine from the bar.

Face summer head on with: Ray-Ban ($205).

Image: Ian Laidlaw.

If you’re a fan of tasteful tunes and exuberant summer vibes that don’t bruise the budget, the annual St Kilda Festival should be at the top of your summer bucket list. The nation’s largest free music festival turns 40 this year, and returns to St Kilda’s foreshore for a blowout celebration worthy of the occasion. You can expect multiple stages of live music, a tonne of food and market stalls, and interactive workshops and activities stretching from Catani Gardens to the south end of Acland Street.

The free fun begins just after 10am and runs well into the night. While the lineup for the 2020 extravaganza hasn’t been announced yet, we’re expecting more than 60 bands and DJs representing the diverse spectrum of Australian talent. Last year’s punters enjoyed the likes of The Preatures, DZ Deathrays, Mojo Juju and The Cat Empire, with more than 50 percent of the acts identifying as female, or female-fronted.

Face summer head on with: Ray-Ban ($205).

Image: Nathan Doran.