Australian music fans love to argue that their city is the “heart of Aussie music”, and rightfully so, our fair nation has incredible talent pouring out from every major city, not to mention small towns and coasts, but Melbourne really does take the crown as Australia’s live music capital.

The Victorian city is responsible for churning out a colourful sonic palette of different artists including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Kylie Minogue, Cut Copy, Jet, Missy Higgins and The Avalanches, to name a very short few.

On top of that, Melbourne boasts of a massive list of unique live music venues, from stadiums like Rod Laver Arena to the brand-new tiny bars like Shebeen, there’s ample performing space for emerging and established musicians, not to mention some of the country’s biggest festivals as well as an endless list of boutique record stores, the city screams music.

With Melbourne Music Week fast-approaching (our favourite time of the year mind you) we had a chat to the stunning soulstress singer Stella Angelico, legendary label colleagues Ben and Guy of Chapter Music and lush hip hop producer Edo of Milwaukee Banks, the four locals detailed their favourite ‘must dos’ that all music lovers who live or are visiting Melbourne need to check out.

Visit Melbourne’s Most Famous Dive Bar


103 Flinders Ln

Stella: “Cherry on a Thursday night. Melbournians LOVE soul music. There is no better way to experience this than writhing to the DJ’s at world famous seedy rock dive, Cherry Bar on a Thursday night.”

Pop By The Iconic Polyester Records


387 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Guy: “All over the world, good record stores are getting thinner and thiner on the ground, and Melbourne is no exception, but if Polyester Records still exists then there’s hope for mankind. There’s been a Polyester in Fitzroy for decades, with a few different owners over the years, but the most recent incarnation has stood out to us, because owners Nate and Simon understand what’s actually happening musically in Melbourne – or at least the good stuff – and do whatever they can to support it.

Their city store closed down a little while back but they’re in the process of transforming the Fitzroy store into a thing of wonder, and have just started having instores again, which were such an integral part of the city store’s appeal. They’re good guys, Nate and Simon, they really care. So if you’re one of those weird people who still wants to buy music in a format you can hold in your hands, then you should go to Polyester and show them you care too.”

Grab A Bite To Eat At Sonido


69 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Edo: “Sonido is a Colombian Café on Gertrude Street. Not a music venue, but this place has one of the best Latin record collections around that you can go and listen to in the store. Get a coffee and arepa and just chill listening to some of the finest Cumbia or discos Fuentes records you‘ve ever heard.”

Check Out Some Secret Local Jazz


Stella: “Jazz Club is this semi regular event that’s always held in a semi secret location is amazing! Hosted by Wondercore Island and friends it is a sweaty, loose gathering where you can drink dark liquor, dance and see some of the most incredible musicians in Melbourne play. Part polished. Part improvised. Always amazing. If you can find it, do it.”

Soundtrack Your Visit With 102.7 3RRR FM


Ben:”It would be hard to overstate how important community radio is to the fabric of this city. We’re so lucky to have a choice of incredible local stations in Melbourne, but few stations in the world can compare to 3RRR. There is no play listing on Triple R, it’s volunteer presenters only play the music they love. The scope and passion of it’s announcers and its firmly independent ethos have helped create the diversity and depth of Melbourne music.

Pick Up Some Local Wax At The Camberwell Market


Station St, Camberwell

Stella: “Go buy records at the Camberwell market! I have got all my best vinyl from there. Lots to choose from and plenty of rare gems. There are also excellent hot dogs and jam donuts. Every Sunday morning. Get there early.”

Learn About Melbourne From Paul Kelly


Stella: “Get your hands on a copy of Paul Kelly’s Greatest Hits. He is who I listen to when I am home sick. To me he is such an important part of the quintessential Australian sound. Listen first to ‘When I First Met Your Ma’ – this song is a favourite of mine and contains some lovely little Melbourne references.”

Check Out Some Local Bands At The Historic Tote


67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood

Guy: “It’s not exactly a secret that the Tote is Melbourne’s throbbing live music heart. We at Chapter were just a couple of dots in the crowd when 20,000+ people marched a few years back to protest its closure, and the threat to other Melbourne live music venues. Luckily the Tote reappeared, and its new owners have kept its ethos pretty much unchanged. Ben and I from Chapter are two uptight, pasty gays, not particularly punk in any outward sense, but we feel more welcome at the decrepit, crusty Tote than just about anywhere else in the world. Some of the best gigs in the history of music have been played there, the beer garden is amazing for talking, drinking and smoking while your not-so-favourite band is playing, and the post gig festivities in the front bar can get as raucous as anything in the band room.”

Consider Taking A Road Trip To Meredith


Ben: “It takes a lot to get us to stay in a tent, but twice a year the allure of the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre finds us packing our gumboots and heading to the country. Never underestimating the intelligence of its audience, Aunty Meredith programs the kinds of bands that not enough festivals have the foresight and guts to. It’s rare to go to a festival and not feel like cattle, but the respect shown for the acts and the audience means its “No Dickheads” policy is rarely breached.”

Add To Your Soul Collection By Visiting Northside Records


236 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Edo: “Northside Records is always a good spot to hit if you’re looking for some new wax. Always heaps to check out from great new releases (including good local music,) and heaps of funk, soul and various second hand records to check out.”

Buy A Beer At Non-Profit Bar Shebeen


36 Manchester Ln, Melbourne

Edo: “The Shebeen bandroom http://shebeenbandroom.com.au/ has emerged into a real staple in the Melbourne music scene. It is also right in the middle of the city in Manchester Lane, which is becoming rare these days!

You can see a lot of great local talent there most Thurs, Friday and Saturday nights. The sound is good and the vibe is cool, probably why heaps of emerging artists and young locals play this band room now. The main bar upstairs donates profits from the drinks you buy to developing nations, so you can enjoy a drink, see a band and feel good about it!”

Discover Your new Favourite Local Release At Wax Museum


Shop 2 Campbell arcade, Degraves St

Edo: “Another cool record spot, this time in the city. Dyl (Milwaukee Banks vocalist) digs there a lot and buys most of his wax there. Great selection of Hip-Hop and funk and soul, and also a good spot to get a lot of the local releases. The guys in the store know what’s up so ask them where to go or what’s happening for all the hip hop gigs in Melbourne.”

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