Melbourne Music Week kicks off on Friday. Aaron Verrocchi previews the event with his top five picks.
This year’s festival starts on Friday November 16 and runs until the following Saturday. With 250 live music acts and 85 events spread throughout the CBD, it’s every music lovers dream, right?
You can check the full program here. But with so many events going on not even the biggest live music connoisseur or party animal could get to all of them.
Here are my top five picks of must-see and free events during the city’s annual celebration of it’s musical heritage and culture.
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Just announced – the official kick-off of Melbourne Music Week 2018 featuring @AraKoufax + @BeckySuiZhen + @wearealta + @drmngnow. Full details >> https://t.co/UEnhWKAsiw pic.twitter.com/7OMtSNj6Yg
— Melbourne Music Week (@melbmusicweek) October 24, 2018
1. Live Music Safari (Thursday November 22, 3pm until late, various locations)
My personal favourite part of MMW is back and never fails to disappoint: a free live music safari across Melbourne – with 13 live music venues hosting gigs from 3pm on Thursday afternoon, right through to 5am the next morning. Whether it’s new Guernica or the famous Cherry Bar, you are bound to find somewhere that pleases your music taste. Full live music safari list here.
2. Spontaneous Music (Sunday November 18, 3.30pm, Melbourne CBD)
If MMW Talks isn’t your thing, Sunday at MMW doesn’t stop there. From 3pm in the CBD, Spontaneous Music takes over all dimensions of music. The Music Generation and Musicians 4 Hearing features over 70 musicians, to create a spontaneous moment around local artist Magnets. The Music Generation runs a mobile music school in Melbourne and Musicians 4 hearing is a not-for-profit organisation, using music to restore sound where it’s needed most, funding hearing care in the developing world and helping musicians at home hear music for life.
3. Sound Healing and Music Therapy (Sunday November 18, 12 noon, Queen Victoria Gardens)
MMW Talks is a great part of Melbourne Music Week. Every year, industry professionals hold free seminars which focus on different aspects of the Melbourne music scene. This year will feature topics ranging from music journalism to artists striving for change in the industry. Sound Healing and Music Therapy will be held at midday on Sunday. This event is about how music and sound can benefit mental health and will be hosted by Real Life. The panel will include expert Dr Emma O’Brien, head of music therapy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
4. Now Sound (Wednesday November 21, 9pm, Rootop Cinema, Swanston Street)
Now Sound is a music documentary focused on the Melbourne music scene, directed by Tobias Willis and produced by music journalist Marcus Rimondini. It depicts both the struggle and passion that sustains the local music industry and its artists.
5. Opening Night (Friday November 16, 6pm, Federation Square)
What a better way to start MMW than in the heart of the CBD. Artists Ara Koufax, Sui Zhen, ALTA and DRMNGNOW will officially open the festival at a free event featuring all local artists.
