Melbourne Music Week (MMW) is back with its biggest line-up to date, featuring more home grown talent, another exciting flagship venue, a swag of international artists and a program packed with one-offs and Australian exclusives.
In celebrating Melbourne as a city of music, the program reveals that over 75 per cent of MMW artists are from Victoria. Selected tickets for this first release are available now, including limited early-bird prices for the return of the Labels Series with I Oh You in an all–in, underground dance party at Flagstaff Train Station; the Australian exclusive performance of Elements of Light from Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory at Melbourne Recital Centre, and MMW’s opening night, featuring local acts Montero and Boomgatessupporting New Zealand’s The Bats and US indie rockers Sonny & the Sunsets.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the program was developed in collaboration with 90 different event partners: “MMW is a great celebration of Melbourne’s world-renowned music scene and a unique event that supports and works with the local industry. This year’s program has 110 events, half of which are free, with 230 artists across 60 city locations.”
Melbourne Recital Centre will host a one-off performance from the internationally acclaimed collaboration between Pantha du Prince (GER) and The Bell Laboratory (NOR). Hendrik Weber (Pantha du Prince) will bring a mesmerising symphony of electronics, percussion and bells. Presented in association with the Goethe Institut, this remarkable show will also feature a support performance by German producer Oval (Markus Popp), widely regarded as the godfather of glitch.
The much-loved Label Series will return with three shows in unique city locations. In a festival highlight, I Oh You will take over Flagstaff Train Station on Saturday, 16 November for a night of dance party fun with all-local Yacht Club DJs, Gold Fields, North East Party House, City Calm Down, SNKDKTL and more.
Chair of the Arts Portfolio and Music Strategy, Councillor Rohan Leppert said this year’s program pays tribute to the local music scene: “MMW is uniquely Melbourne. We work to make sure the event supports the music industry and provides opportunities for people to really celebrate Melbourne as Australia’s live music capital.”
MMW continues with its core philosophy of creating an event that is distinctively Melbourne and will this year present another amazing flagship venue that celebrates the city’s distinctive lifestyle and music scene. Following on from 2011’s KUBIK Melbourne, and 2012’s Where?House; 2013’s ‘The Residence’ offers a dynamic, purpose-built venue at Birrarung Marr.
Created in collaboration with the People’s Market, The Residence will feature video mapping, light installations, market, food and entertainment offerings as well as an exciting music program each day and night of the festival. The Residence will be curated by 18 leading industry players, including Mistletone, Modular, The Operatives and Polyester Records (who are celebrating their 30th anniversary).
“MMW offers a model of co-production that enables festival partners to benefit from the event economically as all revenue is directly returned to partners,” said Councillor Beverley Pinder-Mortimer, Chair of the Marketing Melbourne portfolio. “Local record labels, music promoters and talented individuals all work together to present MMW. The result is a festival produced by Melbourne’s music community itself.”
The full list of events, artists and venues will be announced on October 3.
