Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.
Kid Radio
Where? The Workers Club, 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 22nd November
Why? With so much amazing music permeating throughout the streets of Melbourne this weekend, we’re all a little bit spoiled for choice, but knowing the dreamy Kid Radio will be spilling their chillwave tunes like ‘Young Heart‘, we know where we want to spend our Saturday night. The band will be celebrating the release of the aforementioned single, and will be joined by a multitude of local talent including WZRDKID, Fortunes, Louie Knuxx and Lazer Ferrari DJs.
Tickets & Info: $15.00, www.facebook.com & http://theworkersclub.com.au
Bad//Dreems
Where? Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Ln, Melbourne
When? 9:00pm, Friday 21st November
Why? The year 2014 has been ridiculously huge for Adelaide grunge rockers Bad//Dreems. Not only have they performed at sold-out shows across Australia alongside the likes of The Preatures, they turned heads as they smashed apart New York City’s CMJ festival with the likes of stunning singles ‘My Only Friend‘. This is the band’s last headline show for 2014 and set to be an absolute killer of a night. Baddies will be supported by Sincerely Grizzly who will be launching their latest album plus local rockers Dumb Punts.
Tickets & Info: $12.25, www.facebook.com & www.dingdonglounge.com.au
Love Like Hate
Where? The B.East, 80 Lygon St, Brunswick East, Melbourne
When? 7:30pm, Thursday 20th November
Why? Incredible live music and delicious food, is there anything better? Of course not, and this Thursday night sees this wondrous combination come together as the Brisbane-based female soft rockers Love Like Hate take to the famed burger-house B.East stage. Coming off the rouse of success that was their 2014 European tour, the band are now hitting the Aussie open road to celebrate the release of their EP Unnoticed, which features the glistening dark-pop title track that you need to hear.
Entry & Info: Free Event, www.facebook.com
HTMLflowers
Where? The Evelyn Hotel, 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Monday 24th November
Why? One of the most interesting characters in Aussie music right now is HTMLflowers. Having gained quite the cult following for his silky, low-fi RnB jam ‘Crush On You‘, the emcee has been killing it on the live front. This is his last show of his month-long residency at The Evelyn that will see Felicity Yang and Snowy Nasdaq and Emma Russack support. Outside of the plethora of great tunes on display for the evening, there’s the classic Evelyn $10.00 jugs, where the hell else would spend a Monday night?
Entry & Info: $6.00 www.facebook.com & http://evelynhotel.com.au
Lurch & Chief
Where? Black Bear Lodge, 1/322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 8:00pm, Friday 21st November
Why? These guys are unquestionably one of the most exciting acts on the rise. The Melbourne sextet have been working on fresh material, and boy oh boy is it good. Having recently dropped an extended version of the haunting ‘I’m Not There‘ that is drenched in reverb and fading vocals, the band are cotinually pushing their own boundaries are acheving astounding results. Their Brisbane show this week will see two ripping supports of Baskervillain and Flyying Colours.
Tickets & Info: $15.30, www.facebook.com & www.moshtix.com.au
Step-Panther & Bearhug
Where? Goodgod Small Club, 55 Liverpool St, Sydney
When? 8:00pm, Friday 21st November
Why? These two legendary bands have embarked on a national tour and this Friday see’s them stopping off in Sydney. Coastal jangle-rockers Step-Panther are fresh from releasing their absolutely killer sophomore record Strange But Nice that features the ripping tune ‘User Friendly‘. Meanwhile Bearhug are too launching their brand-spanking new record, the fuzzy So Gone. This is most definitely a top pick of the week.
Entry & Info: $12.00, www.facebook.com & www.goodgodgoodgod.com
Jordan Rakei
Where? Rocket Bar, 17 Crippen Pl, Adelaide
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 22nd November
Why? This young Brisbane multi-faceted artists is revered for his lush meld of soul, RnB and funk tunes. Releasing Franklin’s Room EP in September, Rakei has embarked on an Aussie tour that has seen him charm the hearts of every place he visits. We couldn’t encourage the folk of Adelaide to check his jaw-dropping live show out this weekend.
Entry & Info: http://crippenplace.com
Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving
Where? The Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald St, North Perth
When? 8:00pm, Friday, 21st November
Why? If you’re searching for something heavy this weekend, look no further than one of the nation’s finest purveyors of post-metal/rock, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving. The band have released the first track off their forthcoming record, ‘Downbeat‘ an epic 18-minute long mind-blowing composition. The band will be supported by a healthy list of local talent including Injured Ninja and Fait.
Tickets & Info:$15.00, www.facebook.com & http://rosemounthotel.com.au
