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.

Black Mass

Where? Amplifier Bar, 383 Murray St, Perth
When? 8pm, Friday May 27
Why? RTRFM are embracing all things dark and heavy this Friday with Black Mass, a procession of doom and black metal featuring Sanzu, Drohtnung, Dirac Sea and Bolt Gun. It’s also a low-key tribute to late presenter The Black Captain, aka Pete Dunstan, who passed away late last year and who was a fundamental part of the program Behind the Mirror, RTR’s long-running exploration of ominous, foreboding and unsettling musical explorations.
Tickets & Info: Presales $15 for general public, $10 for RTRFM subscribers, RTRFM shopFacebook event

ADKOB

Where? Moonshine, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso Manly, Sydney
When? 8pm, Thursday May 26
Why? Local indie rockers A.D.K.O.B are gearing up to tour the country in celebration of their new single and video ‘Ghost’ which is a follow on from their impressive EP A Different Kind Of Busy that was met with critical acclaim. Catch these guys in action – you won’t regret it!
Tickets & Info: $5-$15, www.hotelsteyne.com.au

Love Junkies

Where? Black Bear Lodge, 22 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 7pm, Thursday May 26
Why? Perth’s The Love Junkies are celebrating the first taste of their upcoming third studio album, a bold, bass-y, deeply personal, and strangely beautiful track titled ‘Nobody’. If that wasn’t enough the crew are also celebrating the addition of a new member to the fold – taking over from bassist Robbie Rumble (as he moves to guitar) is FOAM’s very own Harley Barnab. Party!
Tickets & Info: $13.30, thelovejunkies.com.au

Funk Rabbit

Where? Cherry Bar, 103 Flinders Ln, Melbourne
When? 7pm, Thursday May 26
Why? A band whose name we’re hoping came from Melbourne’s one and only bunny busker, Funk Rabbit will be bringing the soul to Cherry’s Soul in the Basement this Thursday. With DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni keeping the vinyl spinning long into the night pop in and call it an early Friday!
Tickets & Info: $10, Facebook event

Cinta & Stina, Karli White, Various Asses

Where? Hugs N Kisses 22 Sutherland St, Melbourne
When? 8pm, Saturday May 28
Why? In what’s set to be a night of Melbourne’s finest Stina Tester I Cinta MastersKarli White and Various Asses aka V/A (ex Fatti Frances) are teaming up to host a night of upbeat pop, down tempo pop, new wave, techno, R&B, grime, future music and everything in between at Melbourne’s most underrated club, Hug n Kisses. If we had our money on one event you couldn’t miss for the week, it’d be this. Go there, get sweaty, have fun.
Tickets & Info: $10, Facebook event

The Lovely Days

Where? The Workers Club 51 – 55 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne 
When? 7pm, Tuesday May 24
Why? The Lovely Days – the brotherly partnership originally from Byron Bay, who are now writing and playing in Melbourne are currently in the midst of a residency at The Workers Club celebrating the launch of their new release: a killer EP titled WATERMELON. Great indie pop featuring a whole stack of local legends on support duties – get on it!
Tickets & Info: $5, Facebook event

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