Melbourne Music Week Extended

Overview

UPDATE: Tuesday, January 20 — With a majority of the Melbourne Music Week events selling out, this year's extended program has been expanded again with six new events being added. Punk rockers Skeggs and Ruby Fields will be taking to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, February 20 for Live at the Bowl, artists and musicians Atong Atem, Adolfo Aranjuez, Birdz and more will be taking over the Immigration Museum on Friday, February 26 and indie-rock groups Primo! and Floodlights will be performing across the city. Check out the full extended program here.

With venues closing, gigs cancelling and festivals postponing, Melbourne's live music industry took a big hit during COVID-19. But, when restrictions slowly started easing, the City of Melbourne announced that the annual Melbourne Music Week is still going ahead — and that it will take place over three whole months.

Originally set to take place in November (before Victoria's second round of restrictions), the aural celebration will now run from Wednesday, December 9–Sunday, February 28. As always, expect plenty of gigs in unusual Melbourne venues. Expect lots of local talent as well.

The numbers paint an impressive picture — with more than 330 artists playing at more than 35 locations and venues, tallying up over 200 events and sessions. And that's just from the first program announcement, with more artists and gigs due to be revealed in January 2021.

So, who can you see? In MMW's 11th year, the event will kick off with Wominjeka (MMW Welcome) — featuring a Welcome to Country and citywide smoking ceremony curated by Kee'ahn, a performance by Aboriginal dance group Dijirri Dijirri, additional live programming at four different city locations, and a show at Section 8. Also on opening night, the Music Victoria Awards will take over the Melbourne Recital Centre, which you can also watch via livestream.

That's how it all starts — but, as for how MMW means to go on, there'll be shows by Baker Boy, Adalita, Cable Ties and High Tension, plus an audio-visual performance by Melbourne producers Ara Koufax and iconic DJ and academic Simona Castricum. Also on the bill: Blake Scott, Banoffee, Mick Harvey, Private Function and Allysha Joy. And, you can play techno bingo (which'll be seated, but otherwise it's exactly what it sounds like), take a tai chi class or learn how to vogue with Kiki Dévine.

Venue-wise, you'll be hitting up the Capitol Theatre, The Forum, Max Watts, Colour, Cherry Bar, Curtin and more — and, unsurprisingly, outdoor gigs are a big part of the lineup as well. Can't make it to everything? Streaming is here to stay, and will help you check out plenty of MMW's shows.

Updated December 2.