Melbourne Music Week 2015

Overview

Melbourne Music week is back, and once again, it's outdone itself. As well as big shows by Brian Jonestown Massacre and Robert Henke Lumière II, the city-wide music festival will be taking over Melbourne’s Former Royal Women’s Hospital for one highly ambitious, music-laced labyrinth. Twelve of the hospital’s forgotten, underground rooms, including its disused basement, are set to host hidden one-off performances. Titled Swell, the event will feature sets by Gypsy & The Cat, Monolake (Germany), Banoffee, Eric Duncan aka Dr Drunks (USA), Public Opinion Six, PVT, Kenton Slash Demon (Denmark), The Harpoons, Cobblestone Jazz (Canada), DZ Deathrays and many others.

Meanwhile, in the open air, the hospital grounds will be transformed into a beer garden and food truck zone. Every day, from 1-2pm, there’ll be live ‘Lunch Box Sessions’, with DJs taking care of evening shenanigans between 5pm and 8pm. Scheduled artists include Rat & Co DJs, Edd Fisher, Jim Lawrie, Ella Thompson, Woodes and others. Then, when Saturday, November 14 rolls around, it’ll be time to dust off your roller skates for the Roller Jam and Mz Rizk’s Block Party. On Sunday, November 15, CC:Disco will be dropping in for an arvo DJ set.

While the hospital is rocking out, fourteen local venues will team up with local musicians for Live Music Safari, presented by Jack Daniel’s Future Legends. Over the course of the week, more than 50 Melbourne-based acts will be making appearances across the city, including Mesa Cosa, Oddisee, Quarter Street, Terrible Truths, Sleep D, Dan White, Friendships, Kylie Auldist and Wax’o Paradiso.

And Self Made is making a comeback. It’s a series of independently-created events, held in unusual places and hosted by Levi’s. A city church will turn into a stage for all-female acts and an interactive art installation. Old Melbourne Gaol’s courtyard will host a two-stage dance party starring emerging artists. Mop and Glow will celebrate the footwork dance scene. Plus there’ll be The Great MMW Bike Ride, New Orleans Street Party, Brunch Gigs and A Club Called Trish.

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is on board again, with a bunch of live performances combining music with film. Both The Orbweavers and New Zealand’s smooth-singing Liam Finn are promised.

A stack of other collaborations, blending music with film, art, design and food will take place in various locations, including ACCA, MPavilion, Docklands Library, The Hellenic Museum and Rooftop Cinema.

But it’s not all singing and dancing. The business side of music will be taken care of with a two-day industry conference, produced in conjunction with Face The Music, where musicians and music industry workers can advance their knowledge and careers through workshops, keynote presentations and networking opportunities. It’s happening on November 13 and 14.

Melbourne Music Week runs November 13-20. Head to the MMW website for more info and tickets.