This year marks a major milestone for one of Melbourne’s most beloved live music venues. The Northcote Social Club is turning 20, and they’re throwing a massive birthday party to celebrate two decades of unforgettable gigs, cold beers, and community spirit on High Street. Since opening its doors, the NSC stage has witnessed career-defining moments for Australian artists like Courtney Barnett and Camp Cope, while also hosting surprise performances from international acts including Pixies and Lady Gaga. But as Venue Manager Emily Ferris explains, it’s always been more than just a bandroom: “A friend once told me that walking into…
Author: Melbourning
The Spilt Milk music festival is headed back to Ballarat in 2025. Event organisers have announced the festival will return to Victoria Park on Saturday 6 December, in what will be the fourth edition of the festival in Ballarat. Spilt Milk was first held in Ballarat in 2019, before being interrupted by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It returned in 2022 and 2023, before a hiatus in 2024. More than 40,000 people are expected to flock to Victoria Park for the one-day festival, which is one of the biggest economic drivers on the city’s calendar. Approximately 80 per…
This winter a massive interactive game where you and your friends become the players in a real-life adventure is headed to Melbourne for the first time. Prison Island, opening on 5 June at District Docklands, is part obstacle course, part puzzle challenge, and all fun. Think of it like this: instead of escaping one room (like in escape rooms), you’ll tackle 34 different challenge “cells” in 90 minutes. You might dodge lasers, solve tricky puzzles, or test your reflexes – every cell is different. It’s perfect for families, friend groups, or even work teams looking for something exciting to do…
Melbourne’s CBD will welcome its newest hospitality destination when Quarterhouse opens its doors on Wednesday 14th May. The contemporary three-level pub, located adjacent to Southern Cross Station in the Melbourne Quarter precinct, is now taking bookings from the public. Designed to accommodate up to 1400 patrons, Quarterhouse offers distinct experiences across its three levels. The ground floor presents a modern take on the traditional pub, featuring a 4m wide LED screen for live sports, comfortable banquette seating and street dining. Level one provides a versatile function space for corporate or private events, while the rooftop bar boasts an open-air terrace…
The Melbourne Holocaust Museum has unveiled a powerful new exhibition, Aftershocks: Nolan and the Holocaust, running from 1 May to 29 June 2025. This exhibition delves into a lesser-known facet of Sir Sidney Nolan’s artistic journey, showcasing 56 of his works that confront the horrors of the Holocaust. Nolan’s engagement with the Holocaust began in 1961 when he attended the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.Deeply affected by the proceedings, he subsequently visited Auschwitz, an experience that profoundly influenced his art. Initially commissioned by The Observer to illustrate an article about the camp, Nolan found himself unable to complete the assignment due to…
The newly upgraded Wyndham Cultural Centre in Werribee will celebrate its grand reopening on 5 July with an unforgettable night of music featuring two of Australia’s most dynamic acts. King Stingray and Electric Fields will take the stage for a historic first performance in the revitalised venue, marking a new era for arts and entertainment in Melbourne’s west. This special one-night-only event brings together two powerhouse bands that have taken the Australian music scene by storm. King Stingray, the Northern Territory group that blends rock’n’roll with traditional manikay (songlines), comes fresh off multiple ARIA and AIR Award wins for their…
One of Australia’s most thrilling stage directors, Wilman Noongar man Ian Michael, will reunite with esteemed writer and adaptor Tom Wright for Malthouse Theatre’s epic theatrical event of the season, Troy, playing the Merlyn Theatre from 4 September 2025. Fresh from collaborating on their boundary-pushing production of Picnic at Hanging Rock (STC), Michael and Wright promise an electrifying interpretation of the ancient Greek legend, transporting audiences to 12th century BCE when gods walked among mortals and epic battles raged. Seven powerhouse performers – including Ciline Ajobong (Mustangs FC), Paula Arundell (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child), Danny Ball (Loaded), Elizabeth Blackmore (Death of…
Wyndham City will bring the magic of ice skating to Wyndham for the first time this winter with a pop-up ice skating rink in Wyndham Cultural Centre Car Park in the heart of Werribee City Centre. The fully enclosed, all-weather pop-up rink will be open for ten days during the winter school holidays from 4 – 13 July and will be held in place of this year’s Winter Street Party. Wyndham City Mayor Cr Mia Shaw said that the new pop-up rink would provide low-cost wintry fun for all ages. “We’re excited to be able refresh our winter program this…
Since bursting onto the scene in 2024, VIVA Melbourne has quickly cemented itself as North Melbourne’s premier nightlife destination, channeling the raw energy of Berlin’s underground clubs and New York’s legendary cabaret scene. Now, this avant-garde venue is raising the stakes with two groundbreaking new productions – Vogue and Vicious – launching May 2, 2025. “With the arrival of Vogue and Vicious, we’re taking the VIVA experience to new extremes—pushing boundaries in both style and storytelling,” says Creative Director Karlee Kaminski. “Each show is a statement. One celebrates the art of fashion and movement; the other dives headfirst into the…
For the past 20 years, the ABC’s Conversations podcast has captivated listeners with the stories of the famous and the unknown, the brave, the brilliant, and the quietly extraordinary. Now, to celebrate this impressive milestone, Conversations Live with Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler will be coming to stages around Australia. Join Sarah and Richard for an unforgettable show, taking audiences behind the scenes and sharing the untold stories and moments that stayed with them long after the mic was turned off. In Melbourne, they’ll be at appearing at the Arts Centre on 18 August. “This live event celebrates 20 years of…
Following unprecedented demand for her upcoming Australian Made Tour, multi-ARIA-winning icon Kate Ceberano has announced four major new dates—including a highly anticipated hometown performance at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on 19 September. The additional shows come after the original 22-regional leg saw multiple Victorian dates sell out in record time, proving fans are eager to celebrate Ceberano’s 40-year legacy. “The response to this tour has blown us away,” Kate says. “It looks like I wasn’t the only one to think the time is right for a retrospective of my 40 years in Australian music—not only as a writer and a performer…
Critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality, Alan Davies, is delighted to announce an extensive Australian tour for November and December 2025, unveiling his brand new show, Think Ahead. It marks his first visit to Australia in a decade – notwithstanding a guest star role on Have You Been Paying Attention last year! He’ll be performing at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren on 28 November and at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on 29 November. Davies is a beloved British comedian, actor, and writer best known for his quick wit, curly hair, and everyman charm. He gained fame playing the quirky…