Music

Melbourne's live music scene is legendary, with gigs every night of the week, covering rock, classical, jazz, dance, rock, hip hop and rap.

Close-up shot of a stage with a guitarist's legs and a drum set.

Concerts, gigs and musicals

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

The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide

Concert halls and music venues hosting live music this week

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.

Two individuals talking to each other inside Melbourne Museum at night, with blue lighting.
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Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

Experience Melbourne Museum after hours, when the doors stay open and the night belongs to adults.

Visitors enjoying an evening event at the National Gallery of Victoria, seated on stools under shadowy lighting.
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NGV Friday Nights: Cartier

NGV Friday Nights shine with Cartier, featuring live music, flims, food and drinks.

Dancers in a group leaping into the air with arms raised on ropes.
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Zerial

The ultimate cabaret spectacular, packed with powerhouse vocals, aerial performances and dance.

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.

Bluey stage show human and puppet cast with tree background.
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Bluey's Big Play

This is Bluey brought to real life as you’ve never seen it before.

Large lettering saying FIRELIGHT above a stage at the Firelight Festival with two large flames shooting into the air at either end.
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Firelight Festival

Melbourne’s epic winter festival returns to Docklands for three fiery nights.

Illuminated panels with shades of red on a black background.
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Melbourne International Jazz Festival

A city-wide celebration of jazz, improvisation and boundary-pushing contemporary music.

Female cast members from the musical Pride & Prejudice performing in Regency style costumes on a stage, all wearing yellow rubber gloves and singing into microphones they are holding.
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Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

The musical comedy sensation, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), premieres in Melbourne.

Two drag queens with big blonde hair and pink toned outfits, one looking blankly, the other surprised.

DesiQ 3.0

A queer desi drag and dance night.

Characters from the PAW Patrol TV series performing live on a theatre stage, with streamers in the air above them and a large audience watching them.
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PAW Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue

The beloved pups of PAW Patrol hit the stage in this interactive live show.

Sepia toned collage of American composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach, behind him are three female singers from the 1960s and 70s, singing into microphones they hold.

The Burt Bacharach Songbook

The Burt Bacharach Songbook promises an evening of superb musicianship and stunning vocals.

A performer dressed in a dramatic ruffled grey gown leaning back on the top edge of a couch in a stylised pose, one arm raised in the air.

Playing Second Fiddle

Celebrating the show-stopping tunes of your favourite musical theatre songs.

La Salle College Concert Band assembled for a group shot on stage in front of a red curtain.

La Salle College Concert Band

A family-friendly concert with a mix of film soundtracks, jazz, contemporary music and classics.

Pianist Yitzhak Yedid leaning on a piano with one hand on his face, smiling warmly.

Yitzhak Yedid – Niggunim: Music of the Jewish Soul

Step into a sound world that evokes memory, longing and imagination.

An abstract oil painting in shades of bright blue, white and pinkish hues.

BirdSong Soiree: Closing Night

An intimate evening of talks and music to close out the BirdSong exhibition.

Performer breathing fire with head tilted at an angle.
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The Vaudeville Revue: Cabaret, Comedy and Burlesque

Experience Melbourne's most intimate variety show in a hidden gem of the city.

The four members of the Flinders Quartet seated with their instruments in cases beside them, inside a stationary vintage W class Melbourne tram.

Flinders Quartet: New Light

A performance of Beethoven’s majestic late quartet, plus luminous works by Bacewicz and Dodd.

Jazz musicians performing including guitarist, percussion, trumpet and double bass.
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The Jazz Alchemists

These virtuosos explore the boundless realms of improvisation.

A large band performing on stage in front of an audience.

Off The Leash: Tower of Power Tribute Band

Australia's Tower of Power tribute band Off The Leash returns to Bird's Basement.

Smiling musician wearing black, holding a violin in her hands, standing posed against a dark background.

Old Ideas, New Stories

Enjoy a performance from the MSO Chamber.

A man with short blond hair and his eyes closed singing into a microphone on a blue backlit stage.

The Australian Neil Diamond Show

Experience a powerful live tribute to one of music’s greatest legends.

A fluffy dog on top of a building with a fake skyline in the background of skyscrapers and a large moon.
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New Owner

Using puppetry and live action animation, New Owner takes us on an adventure through a dog’s eyes.

A white-haired first violinist, with three other violinists playing around him.

Brahms Festival: Third and Fourth Symphonies

Bringing Brahm's large-scale compositions to life with a world-class orchestra.

A dull brown image of two women's faces, both smiling.

Brighid Mantelli and Regina Thomae: Flute and Piano Recital

A Classical flute and piano recital with music by Ian Clarke, CPE Bach, Reinecke and Bartok.

Musicians performing on stage with guitar and double bass.

Ramble Tamble: Xmas Show

The four-piece band set Bird's alight with their tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

A young girl stands on stage with fallen ballerinas all around her in a production of The Nutcracker.
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The Australian Ballet: The Nutcracker

Rediscover the childlike joys of the holiday season with the magic of The Nutcracker ballet.

A black and white image of John Lennon playing guitar behind Yoko Ono
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Music Documented: ACMI Cinemas

A sonic journey through the music genres and musicians that defined generations.

A woman smiling and holding a violin across her body.
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MSO Chamber: Old Ideas, New Stories

Joe Chindamo synthesises his musical essence into his first quartet.

Two performers on a stage, a man dressed in a suit, looking at a man with his arms outstretched suspended by an aerial rope above a low pool of water.
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Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan

A dazzling new operatic work by some of Australia’s most acclaimed creative talents.

View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River

Destination Peru Advanced Screening

Enjoy an advanced screening of Destination Peru with Peruvian canapes, drinks and live music.

A man with big hair crouching down and looking straight ahead with dark coloured beams all around him.
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Mark Nunis

Mark Nunus will turn your requests into a full-blown piano party.

A sunset concert at federation square

What's free in Melbourne this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in Melbourne for free this month.

Man with no hair singing into a microphone live on stage, another person on stage in the background, the entire image bathed in a warm yellow-orange light.

Relax with Max

Enjoy a unique blend of funk, soul, afro-beat, R&B and gospel from these legends.

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.

Violinists playing as part of a seated orchestra.

Meet @ the Market: Session 3

A concert of profound feeling: from grief to hope and joy, paired with custom cocktails.

Sultry singer Jackie Bornstein dressed in red with her dark hair covering one eye.

Jackie Bornstein Quintet: Great Women of Jazz

Celebrating some of the most influential jazz singers of all time.

Classical musician with long curly white hair and beard, with horizontal stringed instrument.

Mischa Maisky in Recital

Experience an unforgettable evening with legendary cellist Mischa Maisky and pianist Lily Maisky.

Mick Jagger tribute artist, singing into a microphone backlit by purple and pink lights.

Totally Stonez: The Rolling Stones Show

Totally Stonez capture the sound, look and attitude that defined generations.

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.

Two people at a bar with vinyl records lining the shelves.

The best late-night bars and music venues in Melbourne

Find intimate vinyl bars, iconic band rooms and live music bars open late.

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.

Audience enjoying a performer on stage.

170 Russell

A live music venue with gigs seven nights a week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

People outside Cherry Bar at night.

Cherry Bar

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

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

Paris Cat

Dedicated live jazz venue.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discover more

A museum visitor in an exhibition space using a screen, surrounded by display objects.

Australian Music Vault

A celebration of Australian contemporary music – past, present and future.

Lighting bolt sign for AC/DC Lane on the side of a wall.

Melbourne music walk

Discover Melbourne’s music highlights, from music venues to busking hot spots and historic sites.

People walking across Princes Bridge at night with the Arts Centre in the background.

Entertainment

Find out what's on in Melbourne's live music venues, comedy clubs and theatres.

Arts Centre Melbourne with winter trees and blue sky, surrounded by city buildings.

Arts Centre Melbourne

With its iconic spire, the Arts Centre Melbourne is a cultural and architectural landmark.