Category Archives: live music gigs

HOT: Quartetthaus, Melbourne Festival, Ngargee Centre for Contemporary Art, Sidney Myer Courtyard 111 Sturt St, Southbank

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Something very curious has landed in the courtyard of the Malthouse Theatre.

What is it? It looks like a big wooden box. No obvious doors or windows but if you listen carefully you can hear the faint scraping of string instruments.

It’s the Quartetthaus! The Australian National Academy of Music and lighting and design studio bluebottle have built a temporary space for the performance of string quartets during the Melbourne Festival. The venue only seats 52 people who sit in two rows encircling the round stage at which the four musicians play.

From the outside, no clues are given as to what lies within. The door opens mysteriously and you’re ushered in two by two between a row of coat hooks (very practical idea for an intimate space) and an inky black curtain adding to the air of anticipation. The bare wood of the outside of the Quartetthaus has been varnished on the inside to enhance the grain, bringing a warm hue to the interior very much like that of a violin.

At last the curtain is drawn back and we take our places. The lighting is subtle, turning the small room into a contemporary take on an 18th century candelit salon. The audience is hushed. No talking, no coughing, no fidgeting – the space is too small for that.

Each night there are three performances featuring musicians of the Academy. The night of my visit two of the works were unfamiliar to me – String Quartet No 1 Metamorphoses nocturnes by Gyorgy Ligeti (1953) and String Quartet No 3 (2007) by Richard Mills (2007). They were powerful works, at times discordant, at times melodic.  Being more of a classical music traditionalist, my favourite was the Schubert String Quartet Number 12 in C minor (1820).

At such close quarters you can hear the musicians breathe, see their brows furrow with concentration, admire the precision of their fingerwork and catch the tiny snippets of eye contact they make with the other members of the quartet. The stage rotates at an imperceptible rates, so you’re never stuck behind someone’s back. I watched the musicians sway on their stools and be transported by the music.

The Quartetthaus makes the string quartet experience visceral and incredibly powerful – even if you’re not a classical music fan I think you’ll like it. Tickets are free and while it is booked out there is a waiting list as inevitably people drop out. You can book at ANAM http://www.anam.com.au/qhaus. Don’t miss it!

Quartetthaus, Melbourne Festival, Ngargee Centre for Contemporary Art, Sidney Myer Courtyard 111 Sturt St, Southbank

Sun 16 – Sat 22 Oct
6.30pm, 8.30pm & 9:45pm

1hr no interval

HOT: Orchestra Victoria, NGV International, Great Hall, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

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For those of you lucky enough not to work on a Friday, did you know you can give yourself a dose of classical music with your art every few months at NGV International?

Orchestra Victoria, the orchestra which accompanies Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet is presenting a series of free lunchtime concerts every few months in conjunction with NGV’s current Winter Masterpieces exhibition Vienna Art and Design. The orchestra is presenting a series of classical Viennese works in the glorious Great Hall under the stunning stained glass ceiling by Leonard French.

I attended a concert with a delightful Strauss, Mahler and Beethoven program and I’m already looking forward to the next concert on Friday 14 October, which will feature young Shanghai-born cellist Li Wei Qin.

The tickets are free and are highly sought after so must be booked ahead – just call Orchestra Victoria on .



HOT: Fly Me To the Moon, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Palais Theatre, St Kilda

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The 2011 Melbourne International Jazz Festival kicked off at the glamorous Palais Theatre with an opening night of jazz standards reinterpreted by a group of not-your-usual jazz vocalists – Tex Perkins, Paris Wells, Eddie Perfect and .

The four singers rotated two or three songs over two acts, accompanied by the impressively tight (Sam Keevers (piano), Brett Hirst (bass) and Simon Barker (drums)). Tex Perkins was his usual louche self and growled his way through an unexpected Burt Bacharach number (not sure when Burt became part of the jazz canon but happy to go along with it). Eddie Perfect upped the beat of Lullaby of Birdland, bopping and weaving through some highly syncopated rhythms.

After the show my friends and I agreed that the female vocalists were much stronger. When I saw and heard Paris Wells the words ‘a sassy broad and a dame’ came to mind – in a sexy slinky dress she bantered with the audience and her warm, gutsy soul voice was reminiscent of an on-the-mark Amy Winehouse. Finally, the performance which was really a revelation and still sticks in my mind was by , a New Zealand musician based in Melbourne. She looked slight and delicate in her strapless froth of a ballgown, but captured my imagination with her chameleon vocals, moving from sweet to soaring, smoky to brilliant (amazingly, apparently she’s never been taught to sing). Her version of ‘Catch a Falling Star’, using a taped loop of her vocals to build a childlike, nursery-rhyme rhythm and texture, is still with me. I think the audience agreed with me, as they gave her long enthusiastic applause after each of her numbers.

The 2011 Melbourne International Jazz Festival is happening until 13 June, with something for everyone, from free concerts to kids’ activities.

To read an interview with the program director of the festival, Sophia Brous, click here.

HOT: Underground Cinema Speakeasy Prohibition Party, Red Bennies, 373 Chapel St, South Yarra

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J: “I’m going to a movie this Saturday. I don’t know what the movie is or where it’s screening, but do you want to come with me?”

K: “Umm…ok. I don’t really get it but it sounds intriguing…”

Intrigue is the key to the success of Underground Cinema. The premise is this  – you buy a movie ticket ($35). At the time of booking all you’re told is the theme of the movie – you don’t know the name of the film.  The location of the screening is also undisclosed (but generally inner-city Melbourne). You plan your dress-up outfit and a few days before the show you’re told where to meet. Turn up, enjoy the entertainment – and all is revealed when the opening credits start.

So why would you want to buy a ticket for an unknown film? Because Underground Cinema is not just about the movie, it’s about the overall experience. The sold-out screening that I attended had a 1920s/gangster theme and from 4:30pm Chapel Street was lined with red-lipped flappers in slinky dresses and feather boas, escorted by dapper men in tuxedos and trench coats. We entered the glamorous Red Bennies to the sounds of The Cairo Club Orchestra bopping out jazz tunes and big band numbers and admired the frantic swing dancers from Swing Patrol.

Now whenever there’s a dress-up party I’m normally the party-pooper who doesn’t turn up in costume. But in this case I did make a little effort and I’m glad that I did – because 99% of the crowd did get dressed up and it really added to the decadent Great Gatsby-esque atmosphere of the event. I really felt like I’d been transported back into the Jazz Age, minus the cigarette fog. Some people who paid more sat in booths and were served sparking by Moulin Rouge waitresses in feather head-dresses. I loved people-watching for the hour or so before the movie started and the fun foot-tapping music was right up my alley (though no Charleston for this pregnant lady).

And the movie? It was 1931 film Little Caesar starring Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. As you’d expect from an old black and white Hollywood film (even one nominated as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress) the acting was a bit forced and the gangster accents were almost unintelligible.  I think most of the crowd gave up watching the film and just drank and chatted, occasionally popping a party popper or blowing a straw whistle. So be warned if you’re a diehard cinephile – if you go to Underground Cinema you’ll find it difficult to concentrate on the film and will spend a lot of time trying to shush people.

The Prohibition Speakeasy party was the last screening for 2010 but with the regular sell-out success of Underground Cinema I suggest you get on the mailing list to receive information about the 2011 screenings. It’s a really fun experience that is very far removed from your average sterile cinemaplex.

For more fabulous photos from the event, check our their .

  • Underground Cinema Prohibition Speakeasy Party, Red Bennies, 373 Chapel St, South Yarra +

HOT Chat: Pip Carroll of Melbourne Bikefest

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Finally we’re experiencing some warmer weather in Melbourne – and have you noticed the increased number of cyclists these days?

It all bodes well for the upcoming Melbourne Bikefest, a 5 day festival being held at 1000 £ Bend which will celebrate all things cycling related in our city. Today’s HOT Chat is with Pip Carroll, the director of Melbourne Bikefest. Thanks Pip!

Pip, tell me a bit more about your background and what inspired you to start Melbourne Bikefest?

My background is pretty varied, I’ve been running a business called Ambiguous Horse since 2006 that specialises in management, marketing and producing for the arts and cultural industries. So I’m always working on something different. Ambiguous Horse, supported by a volunteer committee produced the Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival from 2007 to 2009.

Earlier this year we decided to branch out from the BFF and create a new event designed especially for Melbourne – and Melbourne Bikefest was born!

We wanted to celebrate and support an emerging bike culture in Melbourne, one that is less focused on sport and recreation and more interested in bikes as a means of daily transport, integrated into other parts of life. The more people that choose a bike over a car, the better the road conditions will be for everyone, including motorists. For people to choose to ride however they need to identify as bike riders, and through Bikefest we hope to create something more people can see themselves being a part of.

What is Melbourne Bikefest all about? What can visitors expect to see or experience?

Melbourne Bikefest is about celebrating bikes in everyday life. This doesn’t mean that you need to ride one everyday to enjoy it though! In fact there are only one or two events in the entire program that actually requite you to be on a bike. Most of the program is devoted to other cultural activities – art, design, music, fashion, shopping, forums, workshops, and advocacy projects. Bikefest really is more of a cultural festival about bikes than a ‘cycling’ event.

The majority of our activities are held right in the middle of the city at 1000 £ Bend. We will offer Bicycle Valet Parking for anyone that rides, but it’s a very easy place to get to via public transport. Over 5 days the space will host events and activities from morning to night, all against a backdrop of art and interactive installations. Plus a bar!

At the end of the day it’s really just about having a good time and giving people a glimpse of life on two wheels.

What is your one must-do recommendation for Melbourne Bikefest?

I’m always reluctant to choose just one thing! We’ve programmed Melbourne Bikefest so that you have the opportunity to experience several different activities all in the one visit. However I would say that the Bikefest Great Debate will be a night to remember, we’ve got together some amazing local comedians to put a light hearted spin on the argument that ‘Bikes are the best form of transport’. It features Charlie Pickering, Hannah Gadsby, Bart Freebairn, Lawrence Leung, , and is moderated by Josh Earl.

My other recommendation, for those that like to dress up (and who doesn’t?) would be the Melbourne Tweed Ride. Leaving from the State Library steps, it’s a slow cruise in salute to times gone by. Hopefully it will help redress some of the crimes against Lycra we see all too frequently on the streets of Melbourne.

Why do you like cycling, and particularly in Melbourne?

Wow I like riding a bike for so many reasons, where do I start? First up would have to be sense of freedom I get riding. If I have a frustrating day, chained to the desk, feeling like I’m not getting anywhere, stuck in the treadmill of life, riding home just unravels all of that immobility and delivers a palpable sense of achievement.

I’m also one of those people that has subconscious punctuality sabotage syndrome – I think I can get anywhere in 20 minutes. Thankfully on a bike in Melbourne it’s mostly true.

And do I need to mention the great things it does for your butt?

Finally, what are your HOT tips for Melbourne where you like take your bike?

I like going to the Penny Farthing Espresso (206 High St, Northcote +). It’s just up the road from my house and has a welcoming and relaxed vibe. The coffee is good, the food uncomplicated and satisfying and they always seem to be exceptionally well staffed with polite and good-looking Gen Y employees. What more could you ask for?

Down the road is The Movie Reel (69 High Street, Westgarth +). It’s a great old school DVD hire place that’s good for a bit of eavesdropping on a Friday night. They have an amazing range. I reviewed some bike movies last year and they had every title I asked for. Plus they don’t mind if you tell them the fine belongs to your ‘housemate’.

I’m partial to popping down to the Ceres Organic Market & Shop (Cnr Roberts and Stewart Streets, Brunswick East +) on a Saturday morning. It’s a lovely ride down along the Merri Creek and it’s great to see the chickens that have laid the eggs you’re about to eat. There’s also something very satisfying about whipping your credit card out in the open air.

Also nearby is Fowlers Flowers (488 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill +). It’s next door to another favourite café, Mixed Business (486 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill +). Their arrangements are simple and beautiful and inspire me to clean the house so the flowers have a more fitting backdrop.

Melbourne Bikefestt is being held from Wednesday 24 November to Sunday 28 November. CycleStyle is one of the sponsors – if you see me at any of the events or speaking on a forum, please come say hi! For more program information, click here.

Ask the Doctor: Musical Date

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Help me Doctor!: Dear Dr,  I’m hoping to make a favourable impression on a very cultured girl who enjoys classical music. Have you got any good suggestions on where I can take her in Melbourne? – Michael

Your prescription: Hi Michael, it’s great to  hear that you’re doing your research in your quest to impress a girl! My suggestions for where you could take a classical musical fan are:

A concert by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra http://www.mso.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_home.asp
A concert at Melbourne’s traditional concert hall Melbourne Recital Centre https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/
Recitals which tend to feature young artists at Australian National Academy of Music http://www.anam.com.au/
My personal favourite, Classic Jam, which takes classical music out of the concert hall http://classicjam.org/

There are other options involving opera, both live and in HD cinema such as those of the Metropolitan Opera and the Palace Opera & Ballet series.

Good luck! Joyce

HOT Chat: Sophia Brous of Melbourne International Jazz Festival

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MIJF banner

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual event showcasing international jazz musicians in Melbourne and it’s starting in a week’s time, from 1 to 8 May. During the week Melbourne’s streets, concert halls, clubs, bars and galleries will host to world’s leading modern masters of jazz, including Charles Lloyd, Ahmad Jamal, Mulatu Estatke and Peter Brotzmann.

Michael Tortoni (Artistic Director) and Sophia Brous (Program Director) have put together a rich multi-layered program of events – of course there will be music, but there will also be film, visual art, public art installations and forums. As you can imagine it’s an extremely busy time of year for the festival so big thanks to Sophia Brous for taking time out for today’s HOT Chat.

9331_125209859063_686259063_2561621_1922451_nSophia, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to be the Program Director of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival?

I have been playing music and singing since I was very young… I studied jazz at the VCA and also at a conservatory in the USA and all along the way I was getting involved in radio and curating different music series and one-off shows. I moved back to Melbourne a few years a go after a few years of frat parties in Boston and immersed myself in the local music scene, going to shows every night and playing. Around that time I was offered the opportunity to work at the Festival, it’s been tutti frutti ride ever since…

Jazz is often considered an ‘old people’ genre of music. So how did you become interested in jazz and do you think your young age (24!) brings anything different to the festival program?

When I was around 12 or 13 I just became obsessed with jazz and listened to a lot of records, mostly bebop and swing and then into more free jazz stuff as I got older. I was also listening to a lot of rock, noise and DIY home recorded pop. I had music teachers that encouraged me a lot to look at jazz repertoire, experiment and improvise. I guess my musical interests have broadened a lot since then but I still have a very firm connection and deep love of jazz.

I tend to think of music as incremental and evolving …I definitely apply this to how I put together the festival. I really hope to express what’s actually going on in Melbourne and around the world in a way that’s inviting for people, if we’re able to even partly articulate that then we’re on the right track…

What’s a typical work day for you?

Wake up, no breakfast, head to the office, work, work, meetings, work (with RRR blaring), dinner with friend or go to a gig, go home and work, collapse into bed. Repeat.

I’m working on inserting a rest on a tropical island somewhere in there…

What do you enjoy most about working in the Melbourne International Jazz Festival?

It’s a great thing to be able to put together so many projects around a city that I love so much, I get real kick out of that…plus the shows at the Festival will be FUN, it’s pretty blissful to sit back after the many months of putting it together and enjoy the show…

What are some of the most interesting or challenging projects that you’ve worked on in your career?

Taking on my role at the festival at 22 certainly ushered me along a learning curve. I was able to apply the knowledge I had built up about the Australian and international music community whilst at the same time working within in a broader context of a large festival with partners across the government, corporate and cultural sectors. I’m not sure I even knew what a sector was before I started at the Festival…now that’s progress!

What are your must-see recommendations from this year’s festival?

Phwoar, now that’s a hard one…I’m excited about A LOT that’s happening this year. If I had to extract some highlights:

overground

Overground, a 6 hour ‘festival within a festival’ being held across several stages in the hidden spaces of Melbourne Town Hall. The day features a huge line-up of creative improvisers including Brian Chase the classically trained drummer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, legendary free jazz improviser Peter Brotzmann, pianist Paul Grabowsky, Oren Ambarchi and a host of Melbourne’s finest including My Disco, Mick Turner, Kim Salmon, Pikelet, Kram from Spiderbait and Snawklor…it’s going to be big!

The legendary and influential Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke performing in Australia for the first time. He’s the godfather of ‘Ethio-jazz’, the infectious music dating back to the 1960s that combines Latin jazz, early soul and funk with traditional Ethiopian melodies and rhythms.

Charles Lloyd New Quartet – my pick as the most dynamic jazz quartet performing in the world right now and headed by legendary American jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd.

The Claudia Quintet from New York, led by one of musical heroes, composer John Hollenbeck.

Sangam: Charles Lloyd with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland, music of absolute beauty.

Tortoise , a group combingin a fluid intersection of jazz, krautrock, techno, rock and classical minimalism.

Plus Paul Capsis, Theo Bleckmann, Miles Davis: Prince of Darkness, Noah Preminger Trio, the masterclasses, public art installations and of course The Big Jam with James Morrison, the official kick off of the festival where thousands of people are invited to come to Federation Square with an instrument or tin can and make music together…I’ll be there singing out loud and banging my chest…!

big jam

Finally, what are your tips for what’s HOT in Melbourne?

Some recent sanctuaries from the hoo ha:

Record stores: Sunshine & Grease (), Liquorice Pie Records ( +), Northside Records ( +).

Cafes: Mitte -bean on bean ( +) , Grigons & Orr Corner Store ( +), Luncheonette ().

Hang spots: tennis in Fitzroy Gardens; Footscray – particularly the Ethiopian stretch of restaurants and bars up from the station; dancing to wedding songs in seedy bars on King Street; monthly dance night held at the upper floor of  The Mercat (456 Queen St, Melbourne); munching pizza with coworkers in jazz festival office on a balmy autumn night (right now)…

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival will run from 1-8 May 2010. For more information check out the website, become a and follow them on .

For other HOT chats with interesting Melburnians, click here.

HOT: Marvellous March in Melbourne

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I’m all for comfort food, opaque tights and scarves (I think it’s a reaction to growing up in sunny Queensland) – yay for Marvellous March!

Marvellous March is also the name of a handy little booklet produced by That’s Melbourne with details of the big events around Melbourne that will make you love autumn. This is a post to bookmark! Thanks to City of Melbourne, here are some highlights and photos:

Moomba Festival 2010
Melbourne’s largest outdoor community festival makes a vibrant return to the heart of the city. From the spectacle of the Moomba Parade to the hilarious Westpac Birdman Rally, from the wonder of the Children’s Garden to awesome live music, Moomba will surprise and delight Melburnians of all ages.  March 5 – 8. Alexandra Gardens & Birrarung Marr.

The 2010 Indian Film Festival – Bollywood And Beyond
All the colour, drama, music and romance of Bollywood comes to Melbourne for eight days.  ‘The Queen of Bollywood’ – multi award-winning actress Rani Mukherjee – will open festivities at Cinema Nova with the launch of her new film, the comedy musical “Dil Bole Hadippa.”   The festival will feature eight premiere screenings and an array of Meet the Maker events where Hindi filmmakers including Rajkumar Hirani (director of the highest grossing Hindi film of all time- 3 Idiots) and Imtiaz Ali (director of box office hits Jab We Met & Love Aaj Kal) will discuss their careers within the world’s biggest film industry. 10-17 March 2010.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
One of my favourite Melbourne festivals. The delicious 2010 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival will see the city hosting a long lunch, a food-lover’s fiesta and drool-worthy master classes. Take yourself on a visual treasure hunt with the Feasting Vignettes, presented by the City of Melbourne, grab a sustainable nibble at the Metlink Edible Garden showcasing regional produce and relax with free Barilla Foodie Films. 12 – 23 March 2010.

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L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival
The LMFF is a stylish showcase for established and up and coming fashion designers. Check out Sidewalk, a series of free runway presentations bringing Australia’s leading fashion brands on a spectacular inflatable fashion catwalk at Federation Square. 14 – 21 March 2010.

20th Melbourne Queer Film Festival
See the latest, greatest and most creative in queer feature films, documentaries and shorts at the 20th Melbourne Queer Film Festival. A $2,000 cash prize is also up for grabs for the winner of the City of Melbourne Award for Best Australian short film. 17 – 28 March 2010.

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Thai Culture & Food Festival
Discover the wonderful secrets of Thai cooking, enjoy a gentle Thai massage and some traditional music and entertainment, and when you get hungry sample Thai food on the River Terrace at Federation Square – think green curry, fish cakes, pad thai, chicken basil and more. 21 March 2010.

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the biggest annual flower and garden show in the southern hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. An impressive 500+ exhibitors will showcase the latest products and services at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. 24 – 28 March 2010.

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Melbourne International Comedy Festival
It’s the biggest festival Melbourne has to offer and last year just over half a million people laughed at the antics of some of the finest comedy performers in the world. Check out my reviews from last year’s festival. This year I’m  seeing Cardinal Burns and Tim Key. 24 March – 18 April 2010.

2010 FORMULA 1TM Australian Grand Prix
It’s the country’s premier motor sport event that brings together the world’s finest and flashiest cars, glamour, celebrities (including Miss Polonia, for some bizarre reason) and the rush of adrenalin as the world’s most skilful drivers tackle the Albert Park racetrack. 25 – 28 March 2010. 

Lonsdale Street Glendi Festival Festival
Melbourne’s large Greek community takes over the Lonsdale Street precinct to celebrate their history and culture. Sample souvlaki, sweet and sticky loukoumades (Greek donuts) and then burn off those calories in the Zorba ‘til You Drop dancing competition. 27 – 28 March 2010.

Also on in March – run, watch, sail, eat and listen:

Super Sunset Series – Docklands Dash!
Whether you run or walk register for the Super Sunset Series inaugural Docklands Dash. The fun run will wind its way through the  Docklands precinct at twilight on Wednesday 10 March.

Thread Den: The Designers Sessions
Learn how to style and sew in the relaxed sewing lounge and then create your own catwalk collection! You can read my review of the sewing classes at Thread Den here. 12 – 16 March 2010.

Poster affff 2010 V8 (Large)Alliance Francaise French Film Festival
The best of contemporary French film comes to Melbourne, from action, romance, comedy and animation to thrillers, children’s films and documentaries. It’s the largest foreign film festival in Australia and this year is expected to showcase a record number of films. 4 – 21 March 2010.

Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids
Last year 30,000 men, women and children pounded the streets of Melbourne to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Do your bit for the RCH in 2010 by walking or running across and through Melbourne landmarks such as the Bolte Bridge and Domain Tunnel. 14 March 2010.

Victoria Harbour School Sailing Series
Some of Melbourne’s most promising young sailors will hone their nautical skills as part of this popular sailing series. The eager school teams will crew two-person Pacer dingies during the high-energy, fast-paced racing event – all intent on winning the series and winning the chance to represent Victoria at the Australian Championships later in the year. To enjoy the nautical action head to Victoria Harbour 18 – 21 March 2010.

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra presents Profusion
Directed by William Hennessy and with guest soloist and soprano Sara Macliver, the MCO presents Profusion at the Melbourne Recital Centre at Southbank. The evening will feature classics by Dmitri Shostakovich, Jean Sibelius, Calvin Bowman and Gustav Mahler. 21 March 2010.

World Street Food Festival
To celebrate Melbourne’s love and appreciation of food from across the globe, Queen Victoria Market will host the colourful World Street Food Festival. Expect an array of cuisines from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and Australia. Watch as the food is cooked in front of you, savour the smells, and treat your tastebuds to something new. 21 March 2010.

Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival
The annual Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival is a thrilling, colourful family-friendly event that celebrates everything that is great about this ancient sport. Watch the determined teams of more than 22 people battle it out for line honours on the Yarra River. 21 March 2010.

Opera in the Market
Fresh fruit and forklifts make way for elegant chandeliers and opera at Queen Victoria Market. Opera in the Market event gets underway again this year with appearances by talented artists such as young Soprano Tiffany Speight, and internationally acclaimed Tenor, Rosario La Spina. More than 150 voices and the 65-piece Melbourne Youth Orchestra also feature. 22 and 24 March 2010.

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Turkish Pazar Festival
Celebrate everything Turkish at this all day festival that showcases the best in Turkish dance, music, food and drink. Enjoy a traditional Turkish pancake or bread rings covered with crunchy sesame seeds, treat yourself to pretty handmade Turkish jewellery and ceramics and enjoy the distinctive sights and sounds of the many Turkish musicians and artists who support this annual event. 28 March 2010.

For a full list of Marvellous March events, click here.

HOT Gig List – April to June

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CCAs promised, our ex-Melbourne, currently London-based music guru CC is back with her Melbourne HOT Gig List for the next few months. You can follow CC on Twitter at . Thanks CC!

Hey peeps, it’s me again, with your definitive guide to some of the upcoming HOTTEST gigs in Melbourne! In addition to my HOT Gig list, I’m also going to be adding my current HOT Mixtape list to the blog.  This may consist of tracks from the next up and coming new talent, or just some great classics and just whatever I am currently listening to.  Then you boys and girls can download these songs…ahem, i.e. legally, by purchasing them off iTunes (or actually buying their CDs) and see if you like them or not!

CC’s HOT Gig List – Top 3 HOT gigs for the next 3 months

April 2010

1) Yves Klein Blue – 19th March, The Corner Hotel, Richmond

Four guys from Brisbane, recently supporting Franz Ferdinand on tour.  Debut album ‘Ragged & Ecstatic’ was recorded in a 2-room flat in North Hollywood with Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids), with influences of Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Weezer.  Be interesting to check them out.  With and .

2) – 14th April, The Corner Hotel, Richmond (with Mountain Goats), 24th April, Northcote Social Club
Indie pop band from Melbourne – sweet songs reminding me of innocent days…think indie geek and glasses.

3) The Jamfest 2010 – 14th April, Melbourne Showgrounds, Flemington
For R&B fans or those just wanting a break for all that indie music, this urban pop tour coming featuring , , , and should get you poppin’ and lockin’.

Also check out:

– 1st April, Festival Hall, West Melbourne
– 15th April, Palace Theatre, Melbourne
(I went see this band years ago back in Melbourne!) – 16th April, Palace Theatre, Melbourne

May 2010

1) 4th & 5th May, Palace Theatre, Melbourne
This band is HOT, and their second album Contra is HOT! The direction of the new album is less ‘try hard afro-pop’ (or whatever it was in their first album), and now has a lot more pop with a hint of the 80’s in it.  Favourites are ‘Giving Up The Gun’, ‘Horchata’ and ‘I Think UR a Contra’.

has just released the video for ‘Giving Up the Gun’ (which can be seen on their ) – I’ve been trying to figure out the meaning of this track…the lyrics are very ‘Japanese Shogun’. But after the watching the video (there’s even a samurai in there!), my take on the meaning of this song is that you are own worst enemy, and no matter how good you are, you often lose sight of this and beat yourself up over things.  But the force is within you, don’t give up and just go on, go on, go on.  Something like that anyway!

The video shows a tennis match, with a variety of different players (including HOT Jake Gyllenhaal, who rips his pants off and gets drunk while playing tennis).  There’s even pyrotechnics and milk involved. HOT video for a HOT song. Check it out.

2) 11th & 12th May, Forum Theatre, Melbourne
These two sisters have been recording music since their high school days. I saw them at Koko here in London, HOT gig (although there were a lot of butch-looking girls in flannel shirts there who kept looking at me in a slightly uncomfortable way…). Great hairstyles, catchy tunes and very apt lyrics over the spectrum of relationship issues. Emo? No, not quite. But they did have Hunter from AFI play with them in The Con.  Favourite songs: Hell (..when you get up, over it, and over them) and The Con (….a million hours left, i think of you, i think of that). Tegan and Sara lyrics, always gets to me.

3) Creamfields 2010 – 8th May, Melbourne Showgrounds, Flemington
Ok dance music fans, this one is for you. Creamfields, an international dance festival, is coming to Australia for the first time. So get your camping gear and don’t forget to bring the glow sticks. Line up so far:

Death Crew 77 (6 piece band)

MSTRKRFT
Ferry Corsten
(6 piece band)
Dave Clarke
Marco V
Green Velvet
Dirty South
(4 piece band)
Joris Voorn
Lifelike
Riva Starr
Tommie Sunshine


Filo & Peri


June 2010:

Gig listings are currently a bit sparse for June.  I will provide an update for June gigs once I get more info.  So watch this space…

Looking tickets for gigs in Melbourne? Check out the MelbourneTix Posse store.

CC’s HOT Mixtape

1. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
2. Giving Up The Gun –
3. Hollywood –
4. If – Janet Jackson
5. Photographs – Rihanna (featuring Will.i.am)
6. Telephone – Lady GaGa (featuring Beyonce)
7. Walking On A Dream –
8. Wide Eyes – Local Natives
9. Hero – Regina Spektor
10. Hopelessly Wasted –

HOT: Tognetti’s Mozart, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

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I’ve been a fan of the Australian Chamber Orchestra for years and after a hiatus of two years while I lived overseas, it’s great to hear them play again in top form.

From any professional orchestra you’d expect excellent musicality as a baseline. What makes the ACO special in my mind is that they are also a fabulously visual orchestra. All of the musicians stand up (in fact, they used to have a petite violinist who had to stand on a crate) and their passion for the music is expressed not only through their instruments but in the swaying, tilting, dancing and leaping of their bodies. It’s particularly thrilling when the musicians stare engrossed at a single point from their semicircle and the bows snap the notes out in dramatic unison.

For their recent concert at Hamer Hall ‘Tognetti’s Mozart’, the program was a selection of pieces by familiar 18th and 19th century composers. Schubert’s Quartettsatz, D703 was a sweet introduction to the Mozart Violin Concerto No.4, K218 with Artistic Director Richard Tognetti drawing beautiful cantabile tones from his $10 million “Carrodus” violin. After the interval, Grieg’s String Quartet in G minor (arranged by Tognetti) was a vivid and fiery work and sometimes a romp in cheeky knowingness, in contrast to the generally jolly Haydn Symphony No.46.