The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide

A stage with a grand facade to look like a building, with crowds waiting for a band to come on stage.

Find the best Melbourne concerts, new music venues and hidden gigs with our handy guide.

Free performances

A violinist plays in St Paul's Cathedral.
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Lunchtime Concerts

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and fine music during a weekly lunchtime concert.

A group of people seated around a table in a pub like setting, some of them singing.
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Sea Shanties and Folk Songs

Join this free weekly celebration of rollicking and spirited singing.

A busker performing in a street with a guitar around his neck and arms outstretched while singing.
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Bourke Street Mall Busking

Meet Melbourne's marvellous musicians and more in the iconic Bourke Street Mall busking program.

A cello leaning against a black grand piano, and a violin resting on its side in front of the sheet music rest on the piano.
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Music Matinee

Enjoy live and free music concerts at Scots Church on select Tuesdays throughout the year.

Music festivals and live concerts

A black and white image of a woman wearing a kimono with a butterfly on the obi, and a face mask.

Sonic City 2026: Smoke Between Mountains

Smoke Between Mountains, is a new work by composer Aaron Choulai with the Australian Art Orchestra.

Musicians standing in a Melbourne laneway with historic buildings.

Doric String Quartet and Lloyd Van't Hoff

A concert of music by Beethoven, Britten and much more.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on stage, playing live to an audience.
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ABC Classic 100 in Concert

Enjoy the fourth edition of the popular live edition featuring highlights from the countdown.

Musician wearing a black leather jacket with cropped hair.

Julius Rodriguez

New York's Julius Rodriguez brings his electrifying trio to Bird's Basement for one night only.

Singer Dami Im, wearing a decorative headpiece on the top of her head, and holding her long sparkly gloves up under her chin.
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Dami Im: Stormy Weather

Spend an intimate evening with multi-platinum and gold-certified artist Dami Im.

Singer Vera Blue with her long auburn hair blowing across her face.

Vera Blue x MSO

Vera Blue and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra unite for a collision of intimacy and scale.

Portrait of Australian theatrical legend Caroline O’Connor AM, smiling while looking up with her hand on her cheek.

Morning Melodies: Orchestra Victoria with Caroline O’Connor

Theatrical legend Caroline O'Connor AM is joined by Orchestra Victoria for a special concert.

A person dressed as Elton John, with big glasses and feathered shoulder pads, seated at a piano on stage with two spotlights.
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The Music of Elton: 40 Years of MSO x Elton John

The MSO celebrates the music of Elton John.

Four members of the Irish folk band The High Kings posing in a serious way with a backdrop of an Irish flag.

The High Kings: The Rocky Road Tour

A celebration of Irish folk on a global stage.

Three classical musicians surrounded by glittering scolls and stars.

The Wagner Gala Concert

A landmark, one-night-only musical event to mark the reopening of the Ian Potter State Theatre.

The three male members of the rock band DMA's in a room, all looking directly at the viewer, two of them wearing caps.

Live at the Gardens: DMA'S

DMA'S unveil a headline tour to mark the announcement of their upcoming fifth studio album.

A photo of the four members of the band Wolf Alice sitting on a grassy field outdoors.

Live at the Gardens: Wolf Alice

UK rockers Wolf Alice return to Australia in December and headline Live at the Gardens.

Range of K-pop themed face masks in black.

Happy Town Korean

Specialising in K-pop albums and related merchandise.

Books on display inside Readings bookstore.

Readings Books & Music

Readings offers an outstanding range of products, from cutting-edge music and DVDs to classic texts.

The outside view of Manchester House.

TS Bookshop

A specialty bookstore offering texts on philosophy, lifestyle, wellness and spirituality.

A record store with wooden shelving.

Wax Museum Records

A wide range of new and used vinyl, CDs, tapes and music-inspired clothing.

Kids books and verdant jungle wall mural.

Readings Kids

Readings Kids is home to books, music, games and more for kids and teens.

Collection of fantasy miniature figurines.

Games Workshop

Fantasy miniatures and hobby products for gaming, modelling and painting.

A woman in a shop laughing and reaching for one of the stacked boxes on display, a colourful umbrella in the background.

ACMI Shop

Stocks a range of moving image and screen-related merchandise.

Record store illuminated by neon sign.

Rocksteady Records

An independent record store, specialising in vinyl releases and CDs with a local focus.

Modern ceramic pot with ancient Greek-style motif.

Caras Greek Shop

An iconic shop specialising in Greek travel, music and gifts

Two women walking down the stairs in a gaming shop with a pink neon sign.

Minotaur Entertainment

Minotaur is Melbourne’s premier pop culture store, with books, collectibles, magazines and more.

Selection of vinyl records.

Heartland Records

An independent record store for music lovers selling vinyl, CDs, DVDs and merchandise.

Interior of shop showing shelves and display tables of large art books.

World Food Books

A bookshop specialising in art and design books.

Two women looking at a wall of DVDs and BluRays.

Play Music & DVDs

Thousands of CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays and vinyl titles in stock.

Exterior of the Music Swop Shop showing stock in the window display and signage.

Music Swop Shop

Deals in second-hand musical instruments and sells on consignment.

Musical theatre, opera and live scores

The full cast of the musical Book of Mormon on stage singing and dancing, with a painted sky coloured background and other theatre props.
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The Book of Mormon

Australia’s biggest ever musical comedy returns this February.

A smiling woman with blond hair holding up a whole cherry pie in a dish in front of her chin, with steam rising from the pie.
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Waitress The Musical

The irresistible Broadway hit about resilience, friendship and hope.

A still image from the movie How to Train your Dragon 2, showing a boy riding a dragon with other dragons flying around them.
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How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert

An awe-inspiring experience for the whole family.

A still image of David Bowie as a character from the movie Labyrinth.

Labyrinth: In Concert

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert with a live band is coming to Melbourne.

Two performers wearing pale clothing, the man behind a women, whose arm he is hanging onto, against a cloud like backdrop.
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La Bohème

Puccini’s classic Bohemian love story is about youth, beauty, passion and heartache.

A young boy in a red woolen jumper looking scared with his hands to his cheeks, two bad men looking through the window behind him.
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Home Alone in Concert

Experience the beloved comedy classic with John Williams' charming score performed live by the MSO.

The best listening rooms and bars playing vinyl

Diners at tables on an outdoor rooftop overlooking Myer and other city buildings, including central couple with drinks and snacks.

Her Melbourne

A four-storey mega venue celebrating modern food, drinks, music and art.

Two people standing in front of a large pink spiky wall of speakers in an exhibition space.
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The Vinyl Factory: Reverb

ACMI and RISING present The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, a major exhibition of vinyl culture and music.

Table of coffees, sandwich and cakes, one hand holding coffee raised over table to left.

Good Measure

Stylish and fun neighbourhood-style cafe by day, bar by night.

People seated outside the brick Caretaker's Cottage bar on a winter's day as light is fading.

Caretaker's Cottage

Smart drinks, top tunes and good times in a beautiful old cottage.

Melbourne music venues

Three tiers of seating at Hamer Hall.

Hamer Hall

This multi-level concert hall is the largest venue at the Arts Centre.

Exterior of the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Melbourne Recital Centre

Combining cutting-edge architecture and acoustic innovation with a unique focus on music.

Ornate architecture of dome and tower of Forum Melbourne, with Federation Square in the foreground.

Forum Melbourne

This theatre with its iconic architecture is one of Melbourne's most popular live band venues.

People outside Cherry Bar at night.

Cherry Bar

An iconic laneway bar hosting a lineup of local and international rock'n'roll acts.

Audience enjoying a performer on stage.

170 Russell

A live music venue with gigs seven nights a week.

Crowd of people waiting to be served at the bar area of the Toff in Town.

The Toff in Town

A boutique bar and bandroom offering late-night cocktails in train carriage booths.

Trombone player and band playing on a stage with smoke and lights.

Bird's Basement

Live jazz venue where patrons can dine while watching performances.

Back view of a musician and musical equipment silhouetted on a stage facing the audience with sparkling lighting effects.

Max Watt's

This basement live music venue has hosted some of rock music's biggest acts.

Interior of Murmur Bar with a very dimly lit red padded curved bar.

Murmur Piano Bar

Follow the sound of a distant piano to discover one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets.

Packed audience inside Rod Laver Arena - the centre court for the Australian Open tennis tournament.

Rod Laver Arena

The centrepiece of the Australian Open each January, the venue is also a popular concert arena.

Woman singing on stage of Rock & Roll dive bar and packed audience dancing and singing along.

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar

A late-night rock 'n' roll dive bar with live music every night.

Interior showing a crowded bar, with people sitting at tables, people waiting at bar counter for service.

The Drunken Poet

With live Irish music, the Drunken Poet is a real locals' pub - cute, cosy and friendly.

Paris Cat bar and small tables with red lamps on them.

Paris Cat

Dedicated live jazz venue.

A performer wearing a bikini and holding a firestick above her open mouth in a small cabaret venue.

Speakeasy Theatre

A lively, historic vaudeville theatre featuring burlesque, cabaret, comedy and circus every week.

Aerial view of Marvel Stadium lit up at night.

Marvel Stadium

A multi-purpose stadium in the heart of Melbourne's Docklands precinct.

Crowded outdoor bar.

Section 8 Bar

A funky outdoor bar with drinks served from a converted shipping container.

Diners at tables on an outdoor rooftop overlooking Myer and other city buildings, including central couple with drinks and snacks.

Her Melbourne

A four-storey mega venue celebrating modern food, drinks, music and art.

Hands holding glasses over pizza and snacks on a table.

Transport Public Bar

Bustling pub in Federation Square with tasty pub meals and an impressive range of drinks.

Basement cocktail bar with small tables.

Beneath Driver Lane

A basement bar serving a wide range of cocktails, French bistro-style bar food with live music.

Tightly packed crowd watching a band play on stage.

Festival Hall

Concert and sporting venue with a long history of hosting local and international acts.

Aerial view of Sidney Myer Music Bowl showing open grassy area, covered stage and city beyond.

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Popular outdoor venue that hosts Melbourne's annual Carols by Candlelight.

Aerial view of Melbourne and Olympic Parks including tennis courts and arenas.

Melbourne and Olympic Parks

The Melbourne and Olympic Park precinct hosts around 600 events annually.

Heritage-listed Athenaeum building, with columns and ornate capitals.

Athenaeum Theatre

This heritage-listed venue hosts comedy, music and theatre.

Turquoise banquette seating and tables in long room with arched doorway, red curtains and backlit bar.

The Colonial Hotel

Traditional pub serving comfort food with a Mediterranean influence.

Audience in curved rows of seating looking towards the stage curtain inside the Regent Theatre.

Regent Theatre

This landmark theatre is one of Melbourne’s premier live performance venues.

Curved interior bar of The Curtin Hotel, with pictures on wall.

The Curtin

Traditional pub with fried chicken, cold beer, and live music from local and international acts.

Two people strolling in a laneway bar.

Whitehart Bar

A container bar in a converted car park hidden down a city laneway.

Drinks lined up on a shelf and wooden wall in front of a birdcage ornament.

Transit Rooftop Bar

Large rooftop bar in Federation Square, with expansive views of the Melbourne skyline.

Interior of The General Assembly, a busy bar with a large light feature.

The General Assembly

Bar and restaurant with live acoustic music, street art and a simple, delicious menu.

Singers and musicians performing in a dark underground bar with blurred people.

Wax Music Lounge

A bar and live music venue from the team behind Melbourne's legendary Wax Museum Records.

Last updated on Fri 5 Jun 2026

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Performance space and seating inside La Mama Courthouse.

La Mama Courthouse

One of the great independent theatres of the city with a focus on diversity and inclusivity.

Tiers of theatre seats in the Playhouse, observed from the stage.

Playhouse

A large drama theatre located within the Arts Centre Melbourne.

The red interior of the cabaret venue Viva, with a central stage surrounded by curved rows of seating, each with small tables nearby.

Viva

A cabaret venue in North Melbourne.