Music

To help you start mapping out your next New South Wales adventure, we’ve rounded up a bunch of the most exciting events to mark in your diaries.

Dipping into the decade of nostalgia, Yellowjackets on Paramount+ is back for another nail-biting season.

For artists like Isaac who are drawn to creating, music is undeniably in their blood, so we've teamed up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to dive a little deeper and uncover the passion for collaboration, live performance and a drive to contribute to the world around him that pump an unmistakable rhythm through his veins. 

We’ve linked up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to take you on a deep dive into Australian artists with music in their blood, and there’s no better place to start than with LK (her dad is Paul Kelly, and if that doesn’t suggest she was born with music flowing through her veins, we don’t know what does.)

Summer in Sydney is looking the goods. After a successful traffic-stopping inaugural festival in January of this year, it's just been announced ELEVATE Sydney will be returning next month to celebrate summer and the new year. 

From grass-stomping day festivals and one-off intimate gigs to globally-revered performances and three-day camp-outs, you’re spoilt for choice; no matter where you are in Australia, we guarantee these music events are well worth the flight, train or road trip convoy with your crew. 

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

Vivid LIVE is the perfect opportunity to discover your new favourite emerging artist amongst the much anticipated 2022 live music line up. 

Needless to say, the food in Melbourne is some world class grub, in fact we’ve built a bit of a rep for having one of the richest and most diverse culinary scenes on the planet. The question on our lips though is—does the carpet match the plates?

It’s been a couple of spins around the sun since we’ve been able to crack into the timeless tradition of the summer music festival. With restrictions at an ease, there’s enough day boogies, warehouse soirees and out-of-town celebrations to swing a cat at. 

If you’ve fallen into a bit of a playlist funk recently, we hear you. Often it can feel like the ol’ algorithm is starting to hit a snag, serving you up the same beats on repeat. So, to help prevent a playlist flatliner and bring on those summer vibes, we asked a few of the Urban List team to share what they’re spinning.

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In 2017, Kiama four-piece indie rock band Pacific Avenue was born, but their history goes way back.

We caught up with CIVIC and spoke to Jim over a couple of Sailor Jerry bevs about good vegan dinners, getting tattooed by Eddy Current Suppression Ring’s Danny Young, and how they’re planning to go ‘all in’ and finally celebrate their album release.

At just 23 years of age, Naarm singer and artist Kaiit (she/they/he) is one of the most exciting talents to grace the Australian music scene and bless our ears with her sweet and honeyed vocals. 

Isol-Aid Homegrown is a collaboration providing creative and financial support to emerging acts across Australia and New Zealand.

Leaps and Bounds showcase of the sheer talent that’s smattered liberally just north of the Yarra river. In its third year, Leaps and Bounds is making, well, leaps and bounds with a festival that’s as diverse as it's ever been. You’d be remiss not to explore the program to its fullest—which you can do so here—however there are several unmissable events in the near two-week celebration of all things audible, visual, sensory and beyond. Scope them out here:

Over summer, Fed Square was transformed into a bustling green oasis. And now, everyone’s favourite cultural hub is about to receive a winter glow-up of epic proportions with an undeniably French twist.

 One of the world’s most acclaimed musicals, Hamilton, is coming to Melbourne.

It’s been a bit dry out there on the festival front for the last 12 months, we all know the story of COVID et cetera. But Victorians have stuck through it and now it’s time to party—safely, of course. There are plenty of local festivals to hit up over the next couple of months, so get in the car, get the glitter out, have a boogie and live your best festival life. 

We sit down with Australian singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix to uncover what makes a luxe long lunch.

We sit down with Touch Sensitive to chat about the perfect movie night set-up.

It has just been announced that Flight Facilities and Mallrat will be joining For The Love’s epic line-up at URBNSURF, so grab your mates and get ready for some seriously good surfing and sounds.  

Brunswick Music Festival is back with an impressive line-up of local talent spanning over ten huge days. From Friday 5 March to Monday 16 March, beloved Brunswick venues will play host to a plethora of live music, with all tickets $10 or free. That’s right, ten bucks or free.

It’s true, our love for hip hop runs deep. We’re big fans of the genre’s boundary-breaking, rebellious attitude (perhaps a love that’s been magnified after living through the insanity that was 2020) and it’s the leading part in the revival of '90s streetwear fashion. 

On one hand, the capacity limits at NGV can be seen as a sort of silver lining in that you can wander through the Triennial with at least a few square metres around you, though on the other hand, it means tickets are somewhat of a scarcity—that’s why the NGV is bringing back its evening sessions for an entire month beginning on Friday 15 January.

With indoor capacity limits still in place, many of our cultural institutions are taking it outdoors. The latest to announce their iteration of the open-air celebrations is the Melbourne Museum with Summer Sessions, and the program is a doozy.

Those who rang in the 2019/2020 new year at Sun Cycle will recall quite the rave. Looking back, anyone would have thought we were partying like it was one of the last festivals of our time. Well, after a year hiatus, Sun Cycle returns to give it another nudge on Saturday 30 January (restrictions permitting). 

To save you the heavy lifting in organising your crew, we’ve hand-picked the MMW-Extended events you won’t want to miss. 

The second edition of the block party in December 2021 will feature international headliners, and will take up Duke Street as well as Bond Street, and Southampton Crescent.

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in December 2020.

Melbourne is set to come back alive this summer, with outdoor events around the city like we've never seen before.

Melbourne Music Week is set to return in December, and this year, the program will be spread over three months to revitalise the local arts scene.

News of the venue being purchased by Hillsong Church for approximately $23 million dollars broke earlier this week, with the exact future purposes of the venue being unclear.

Saying that we all miss those amazing things we used to take for granted, be that leaving our 5km radius or making a day of things like we used to, is an extreme understatement.

And now for some good news, the summer iteration of Australia’s most hedonistic festival, Mona Foma, will return to Tasmania late January from Friday 15 January to Sunday 17 January in Launceston, and Friday 22 January to Sunday 24 January in Hobart.

This month, we're adding bedroom pop to our playlists, a genre spawned from artists getting creative in iso. We investigate a new wave of augmented reality e-commerce that's adding a little creativity to practicality, and we take a deep dive on the mega-force of gaming—no longer just a channel for entertainment and escapism, but the final curtain of pop culture. 

We’ve curated a list of our recent sounds you need to check out, from Gaga’s latest bops to a few Aussie favourites.

Melbourne's music scene took a big hit when the pandemic hit our city, and as we climb our way out of isolation, it's time to look ahead to events getting back up and running around the city.

Undisputed legend, and host of Triple J’s Good Nights, is chucking on a party this Saturday night at 8pm with a bunch of her muso mates, and everyone is invited.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that the short-form video app, Tik Tok has well and truly taken over the world. 

You may know Nkechinyere Anele (AKA Nkechi) from her time fronting Aussie soul legends, Saskwatch, or maybe you’re familiar with the singer, songwriter and radio presenter from Triple J’s eclectic world music program, Roots ‘n All. She also founded an online platform exploring race, identity and the wider conversation around culture in Australia called The Pin.

Forget about cherry-picking your gigs this month, because Melbourne’s hottest new festival—Can’t Do Tomorrow—is serving up fiery musical acts left and right. Not only is Can’t Do Tomorrow going all out in the street art scene, but the music lineup is not something to be scoffed at. With the likes of Melbourne legends TEYMORI and MzRizk, Triple j favourite Cool Out Sun, Australian dance music powerhouse DJ JNETT and more, Can’t To Tomorrow is about to become your ultimate February gig haven. And because we’ve always got your back, if you use the promo code URBANCDT when you book, you get $10 off your ticket cost.

The art of crate digging is alive and well, and there are plenty of record stores in Melbourne to prove it with vendors catering to OG hiphop heads, collectors looking for that rare find and DJs after a fresh haul for their Friday night set. 

St Kilda Fest, the largest free festival in our Great Southern Land has just announced 80s legends ICEHOUSE will be performing at its 40th anniversary on Sunday 9 February.

Polyester Records is set to shut up shop after almost 40 years of trade. 

Strap yourself in, because you’re about to get a face full of amazing artists that will be plying their trade at the 2020 edition of the Brunswick Music Festival.

There’s no better way to enjoy singledom than with live music in the sun, surrounded by a bunch of beautiful people. And it just got even better with Festival Mode: Tinder’s new feature to help your newly-single self thrive this summer. 

Studio Ghibli needs no introduction. Hayao Miyazaki has been the powerhouse behind the Japanese animation house, and now you’ll get the chance to see Melbourne Symphony Orchestra belt out classic scores from movies like Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and more.

While Melbourne doesn’t face the same lockout laws like one of our neighbouring cities, our nightclub scene in recent times has been somewhat tumultuous.

It’s always hard to decide what’s good in Melbourne over the warmer months, there’s just a plethora of choice—and Sweetstock is about to add to your woes.

This year marks a decade of Melbourne Music Week and if one thing’s for sure, they’re going all out to celebrate. Not only have they gifted us arguably one of their greatest programs of all time, they’re bringing back the original Balestra Berlin-designed, Melbourne Music Week Hub, Kubik—with a brand new design.

We’ve done the hard slog for you and picked out our faves of this month’s gig lineup. See you there.

We’re heading into the warmer months, guys. And that means it’s time to come out of hibernation and hit up some of Melbourne’s best clubs. Leave your dignity at home and get on the D-Floor. We're about to drop some bangers.

There are many things that weird me out: clowns, bugs, people who collect lifelike dolls. But all those things pale in comparison to what Lord Coconut has in store for all of us at this year’s Melbourne Fringe.

He’s the guy on everyone’s playlists and now he’s heading down under for an exclusive, intimate show. 

For all the music stans out there, listen up. We’re about to dish the dirt on how you can nab backstage tickets at shows, meet your favourite artists, score killer merch and get exclusive VIP treatment at festivals. 

Plus Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren.

The mammoth line-up has finally dropped so mark your calendars.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Grab your partner in wine.

If an industrial warehouse rave is your idea of a good time, it looks like you’re going to be spending a hell of a lot more time in Thornbury.

Hans Zimmer, musical genius and composer of almost every epic movie score in existence, will be touring the East Coast of Australia this spring.

Ever since last year’s epic underground carpark rave (which you’ll recall as smalltown at B3), we’ve been dreaming of the day that we could do it all again. And our prayers have been answered because the crew who brought us the next level event are back on their you know, and are once again teaming up with Novel to make our techno dreams come true.

As part of Urban List Music Month we're bringing light on the artists that are shaping the music industry from the ground up.

This Barcelona festival is making headlines for its 50/50 talent split including Tame Impala, Miley Cyrus, Charli XCX, Future and Nas.

If you were devastated when news broke out last year about Childish Gambino cancelling his Australian tour, hang tight, because we’re about to serve you a generous slice of good news pie.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear Songs In The Key Of Springfield live in a roomful of like-minded, quote-slinging The Simpsons fanatics? Well, wonder no more because The Toff In Town is hosting an iconic The Simpsons sing-along and it’s about to get hectic.

It’s almost been a whopping four years since her last album, but we’ve finally gotten word that Grimes is coming out with a new LP, so drop everything you’re doing and listen up. A few weeks ago, Grimes took to social media to unveil details about her forthcoming LP titled Miss_Anthropocene, a concept album about the anthropomorphic goddess of climate change.

Pagan is a local band that you’re going to be hearing a lot more about. The Melbourne band has been named as a band to watch in 2019 by Kerrang magazine—yep it’s still kicking around—and they’re about to embark on another tour of the UK and Europe in May.

The Ortofon Record Store Day free shuttle bus is back in action this weekend for—you guessed it—Record Store Day. However, there’s a cool little twist to the free record store shuttle this year: there will be two buses instead of one, to accommodate Melbourne’s increasing hunger for that sweet, sweet vinyl.

His close team of songwriters and musicians have worked to finalise the late DJ’s unfinished album.

This is the moving story behind Beychella.

Bring on April 13.

Melbourne is home to dozens of superb venues where punters can catch anything from local indie bands to international hip-hop stars seven nights a week. Musos, here’s our guide to the best venues for live music in Melbourne.

Cancel Culture is undoubdtedly one of the most powerful digital movements today affecting the music world.

We couldn’t kick off the first week of music month at Urban List without chatting to pop music’s most coveted duo right now. In their first project together, Troye Sivan and Lauv’s I’m So Tired cracked top 10 in the UK—a first for both performers—reached the top 20 on the Billboard charts, has been streamed nearly two million times on Spotify and performed everywhere from Jimmy Kimmel Live to The Late Late Show with James Cordon.

Plus Chance The Rapper, Tame Impala, SZA, Hayden James, Matt Corby and Ziggy Alberts.

An ode to all things friendship, freedom and protecting your own energy.

Tkay Maidza is the ambitious Australian rapper taking up space on everyone’s playlist right now. We caught up with her during recording sessions in Melbourne to dive into her wardrobe and talk creative inspirations, self-discovery, fashion as expression and never (ever) blending in.

Certain variables change when attending day parties: location, weather, your outfit, it goes on. But the one thing that always stays the same is your intention, to have a bloody good time.

Debuted at sacai’s Fall/Winter 2019 runway show in Paris, we now have a release date for the Japanese brands collaboration with Beats by Dre. 

Summer may be cooling off, but that doesn’t mean we’re saying goodbye to festival season. And what better way to spend a long weekend than at Meredith’s Golden Plains, especially when they dropped one killer line-up this year.

She’s the eclectic pop slash hip-hop sound in everyone’s ears right now and considering she’s just 20, that’s a pretty huge feat.

Cliff top oasis and Bali beach club Ulu Ciffhouse has been redefining beachside nightlife since it opened its doors in 2017. With direct access to the beautiful beaches of Uluwatu, this beach club boasts a 25-metre infinity pool, resort, music recording studio, art space, world class food and drinks, and an oceanside deck that hangs above the waves.

It’s time to raise a glass of liquid gold to the ultimate festival featuring epic eats, beats and beer.

Early last year we got word of a great gig happening in country Victoria at the Charlton Motel, well, the good news is that round two is not far away.

The EDM duo remember their years DJ-ing at Kit & Kaboodle and now they’ve dropped their first album, there’s no turning back.

Females dominated the Album Of The Year nominations and the award ceremony made firsts in the world of hip hop. 

Behold, the rise and rise of Billie Eilish.

We’re losing it.

It’s her biggest tour to date and tickets go on sale Thursday.

And what to expect when you hit play? Think glitchy transitions, hip hop vibes, over-sized jackets, all the bisexual lighting and chunky sneakers. In other words, it’s a sure-fire mirror of everything cool right now.

And Bali, you know—in case you’re there.

PNAU are essentially Australian royalty. The guys have been banging out hits since their first album release in 1999. In 2007 they released their fifth studio album, Changa, and it produced some absolute tracks.

Hate deep house music? Maybe you just never listened to it the right way.

Festival season is well and truly upon us, which means Laneway Festival is less than a glitter sneeze away. This year, for their 15th birthday party, they’re throwing one hell of a party at their fresh new digs in Footscray Park.

St Kilda Festival is back for another round of live music, dance, markets, food, drinks and more. With over 100 food trucks to choose from, over 80 unique market stalls, and plenty of live entertainment, it’s shaping up to be one of the hottest—literally and figuratively—events of the year. 

Zoo Twilights is back again for another beefed up summer program, and just when you thought Hanson, The Cat Empire, and The Internet were huge enough acts to get you along, they’ve gone and announced that The Presets will now be rocking the stage in early March.

The South African-born, Australian-raised DJ has been hitting the decks at festivals like Your Paradise and Coachella.

The Workers Club is turning back the clock to 1993 this Saturday. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest unplugged performances in history, Nirvana: Unplugged in New York will be played in its entirety by an all-star cast of local Melbourne musicians dubbing themselves as Penny & The Royal Teas.

December is dubbed many things. Silly season, festive season and luckily for us Melburnians, we can claim day-party season, too.

It’s hard to reconcile Shannon Bennett—celebrated super chef and king of Melbourne’s starchiest tablecloth eatery, Vue De Monde—with this place. Geddes Lane Ballroom (GLB). His new King St live music venue, co-owned with Lorenz Grollo (yes, of those Grollos).

It was... awesome.

Got an entertainment buff you need to please? From retro arcade games to stylish sound systems, we’ve got something that will have them cancelling all their plans for 2019.

Over the weekend musician slash actor slash creative genius Childish Gambino graced the southern hemisphere with his presence, bringing his highly anticipated PHAROS experience to New Zealand.

Melbourne Music Week this year has been next level.

2018, we'll let you finish, but Cardi B had one of the greatest albums of all time.

In the middle of Mojo’s national tour, we sat down with her to talk about her latest album aptly named, Native Tongue. What we weren’t prepared for was her searing honesty, her ability to be relentlessly real and how refreshing the truth can be. 

The trio has just dropped a new LP and is set to tour Australia in 2019.

This summer, our mates at Zoos Victoria have nailed the happy trifecta with a super-charged music lineup—and it’s all for a feel-good cause.

After three long, thirsty years, The Espy is finally back, and they’re kicking off in style with one of Melbourne’s best acts.

Arbory Afloat is now a mainstay of your spring/summer line-up, put it up there with the Night Noodle Markets, and the Spring Racing Carnival—you’ll be going there for sure.

The Nike fam is at it again, bringing an action-packed Battle Force to Melbourne, celebrating the Air Force 1.

It might seem a bit early to start 2019 festival planning, but here’s one date you can lock down right now: 10 February. That’s when St Kilda Festival is rocking back onto the foreshore.

Grampians Music Festival is back for its third year and the line-up is looking the goods. 

With music inspired by Willy-Wonka

Worth the damn wait.

This is not a drill. The Pitch Music and Arts Festival 2019 first round line-up has been announced, and it’s well and truly delivering the goods. 

Fluorescent Adolescent is the tune of our teenage years. Period.