Christina Aguilera to sing at one-off gig in Melbourne in November

Local and international superstars are set to headline Victoria’s biggest celebration of live music, as the state government has unveiled the first tranche of artists for the 2023 ALWAYS LIVE program.

ALWAYS LIVE is in its second year this year. The lineup announced so far will see Christina Aguilera, Eric Prydz, Peter Garrett and Jessie Ware packing out venues across the city, suburbs and regions from 24 November to 10 December. 

So far, this year’s program features more than 60 events over 17 days including stadium shows, exclusive gigs, and intimate performances from more than 165 artists – with more announcements to come.

The opening weekend will kick off with a bang when six-time Grammy Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera performs for one night only at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, 25 November.

Swedish DJ and Producer Eric Prydz will attract electronic music lovers from across Australia and New Zealand for an exclusive show at Rod Laver Arena, as he delivers his internationally acclaimed 3D visual show, HOLO. 

Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and his band The Alter Egos will play at the Wangaratta Arts Centre, and Cosmic Psychos will celebrate their 40th anniversary over three nights at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal. 

Inclusive outdoor music festival Summer Camp will return, headlined by UK disco queen Jessie Ware and US musician and drag powerhouse DJ Trixie Mattel, alongside other events across the suburbs. 

Curated by Tones and I, Music In the Park will feature local superstars The Cat Empire, The Veronicas, Budjerah, KAIIT, The Pierce Brothers and more together at Mornington Park for a day-long festival for the whole family. 

Amyl and the Sniffers will perform with Dumb Punts in Meeniyan, Ballarat, Frankston, Warrnambool, Torquay, Wodonga and Thornbury with local artists given the chance to open each show.

ALWAYS LIVE Director Matt Gudinski said “An event like ALWAYS LIVE is what makes our great city what it is. The ALWAYS LIVE program ensures Victoria remains the music capital of Australia and will deliver a host of unique and exclusive experiences across 17 days.”

The program of free and ticketed events is available at alwayslive.com.au,with huge additional acts to be announced in the coming months.