I subscribe to all the things so you don’t have to. This is a curated list of what’s been announced over the past week so you can save the date, or swoop on tickets, and also a list of what’s coming up soon if you’re looking to make last-minute plans.
What’s new?
Tenacious D headed to Australia in July
Following massive sold out shows across Europe, UK and the USA in 2023 – which should come as no surprise for the Greatest Band That Ever Played on Planet Earth – GRAMMY -winning dynamic duo Tenacious D, featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass, are bringing their Spicy Meatball Tour down under to Australia and New Zealand in July 2024! They’ll be at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on 20 July.
Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah headed to Australia
Acclaimed comedian Trevor Noah, is bringing his electrifying ‘Off The Record Tour’ down under. He’ll be at Rod Laver Arena on 14 November 2024.
Whitlams Black Stump Band announce their Kookaburra 2024 tour
The Whitlams Black Stump formed in 2021 and sees Tim Freedman and long-time Whitlams drummer Terepai Richmond joined by an A Team of roots musicians, reconstructing the best of The Whitlams’ repertoire with an assortment of new songs and classic Americana. They’re headed out on tour for 2024 and will be playing gigs in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Footscray and St Kilda in May.
New HOMEGROWN festival celebrates Victorian acts
Home is where the heart is, and on 16 March in Melbourne home is where an impressive lineup of Victorian acts will descend on PICA at Port Melbourne for HOMEGROWN, a brand new event featuring an all-Melbourne lineup including Slowly Slowly, Kisschasy, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Waax, Void of Vision, Tooslow, Enola and Hassall.
Clunes Booktown Festival 2024 program announced
Celebrate all things books and literature at the annual Clunes Booktown Festival in the historic township of Clunes in regional Victoria. This year’s event is on 23-25 March, with a lineup of names like Helen Garner, Jacinta Parsons, Alice Tung and Tony Birch just announced.
The world’s first Doge exhibition is coming to Melbourne
The world’s first exhibition dedicated to the iconic meme dog Doge is opening at OSHI Gallery in Collingwood on 22 February and features eight original images of Kabosu the Doge, accompanied by a captivating historic timeline detailing her life journey.
International Women’s Day Festival on the Mornington Peninsula
The Pig and Whistle in Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula will play host to the fourth IWD Festival Australia (International Women’s Day Festival) on 2 March 2024, promising another spectacular lineup of activities, entertainment, and market stalls.
Ella Hooper’s Linda Ronstadt Show at the Brunswick Ballroom
Brunswick Ballroom will host a tribute to the legendary singer Linda Ronstadt on 11 March. celebrating her iconic seventies sounds. Violet Town country cowgirl Ella Hooper is providing the vocals, accompanied by an all-star backing band, This ultimate celebration honours the American singer’s remarkable journey from simple dreams to stardom, promising an unforgettable evening of music and nostalgia.
Save the date for these
Also just announced:
- Catch Kate Ceberano in conversation with RocKwiz’s Brian Nankervis in Castlemaine on 13 March.
- Thomas the Tank Engine is back, and he’s bringing bubbles! Puffing Billy Railway is hosting the Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour on March 15-17 and March 22-24,
- Back by popular demand after their smashing Australian debut in 2022, the world-famous Ministry of Crab team is returning for a month-long residency at the stunning Evergreen venue within Crown Melbourne. It’s running on Wednesdays to Sundays from 28 March – 27 April 2024 and bookings are essential.
- Catch TV and radio star Tony Martin’s stand-up show at Olinda Community House on 9 March.
- Don’t miss Man Booker Prize winner Anne Enright in conversation with podcaster Astrid Edwards to discuss her newest novel, The Wren, The Wren at the State Library of Victoria on 5 March.
- Build yourself a boat out of cardboard and plastic bottles and paddle it across the Middle Brighton Harbour at the Recycle Regatta on 17 March to raise funds for teen mental health.
- Heath Franklin’s Chopper Not Here To F*ck Spiders comedy show will be at the Matthew Flinders Hotel in Chadstone on 3 April, the Chelsea Heights Hotel on 4 April and the Commercial Hotel at South Morang on 10 April.
- Immerse yourself in Korean culture at the Seoul Sunday Market at EziStreat in North Melbourne on 25 February.
- Angus and Julia Stone have announced a new Australian tour that will take them to the Palais in St Kilda on 15 August.
- UN Women Australia welcomes The Hon. Nicola Roxon, Chair of HESTA and Rachel Yang, Partner at Giant Leap to their International Women’s Day events, live in conversation in Melbourne on 8 March.
- Get involved in a massive charity bike ride across Gippsland on 22-24 March to raise money for eyesight research.
- There’s a Blink 182 ice skating night at iceHQ in Reservoir on 24 February.
- Elwood Bathers has announced it is holding an Oyster Festival on Thursday 21 March.
- The Australian Shakespeare Company presents We May Never Meet Again: The Music of Amy Winehouse, featuring the soul-drenched voice of Elly Poletti at the Royal Botanic Gardens on 3 March.
- The Turkish Pazar Festival is back at the Queen Victoria Market for 2024 with a free, family-friendly celebration of food, music, dance, and culture on 2-3 March.
- There’s a Black Star Pastry pop-up headed to Westfield Doncaster from 13-25 February.
- Carlton’s Cinema Nova is hosting the Palestinian Film Festival from 14-17 March.
What to do?
Never mind the naysayers, Melbourne is not dead! Here’s a round-up of things happening in and around Melbourne this weekend and over the next few weeks:
- Head to Marvel Stadium on Monday 12 February to watch the Superbowl when it becomes a Superbowl Live Site.
- The Pancake Parlour will be selling $5 short stacks for Shrove Tuesday on 13 February.
- Jessica Mauboy will be appearing at Westfield Doncaster on 13 February and at Westfield Fountain Gate on 14 February.
- Bourne Local Markets are having a pop-up event at Collins Square on 14 February.
- Join the Queen Victoria Market for a special one-night-only Taylor Swift themed night on 14 February.
- The Europa! Europa! Film Festival is on from 15 February – 11 March.
- Dinosaur Jr bassist Lou Barlow will play a one-off free gig Preston shopfront for independent punk label Poison City Records on Thursday 15 February at 5pm.
- The Melton Gold Cup returns from 16-18 February, with Australia’s fastest Blown Alcohol Displacement (B.A.D.) racing boats, all at one spectacular event.
- Rotary Melbourne’s annual guided architectural walk is on 16 February, exploring the streets of Fitzroy.
- Filipino drag artist Taylor Sheesh is performing free at Fed Square on 16 February.
- The Pokemon Regional Championships are taking place on 17-18 February at MCEC.
- The Science Gallery at the University of Melbourne opens its new exhibition on 17 February – NOT NATURAL – that explores our increasing ability to control nature and the plethora of possibilities and ethical dilemmas that come with that power. Running until 29 June.
- The St Kilda foreshore will again play host to the iconic St Kilda Festival when the free live music event returns from 17-18 February, 2024.
- The Rally Retro Festival – a gathering of historic rally cars – is taking place at Bayswater North on 17 February.
- The Afro-Caribbean Carnival is on at Fed Square on Saturday 17 February.
- The Whitehorse Lunar New Year Festival is on in Box Hill on Saturday 17 February.
- The Hawthorn Football Club’s Family Day is on Saturday 17 February at Waverley Park in Mulgrave.
- The Collingwood Urban Wine Walk is on 17 February.
- Catch a traditional lion dance as part of Lunar New Year celebrations at Victoria Gardens shopping centre in Richmond on 17 February.
- The National Sustainability Festival Children’s Toy Exchange is taking place on 17 February.
- Join in the celebrations for the Year of the Dragon at the 2024 Glen Waverley Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival on Sunday 18 February on Kingsway.
- The Northcote Rise festival returns after a 12 year absence on Sunday 18 February.
- The Vintage and Modern Toy Fair is on at Caulfield Racecourse on 18 February,
- The Wyndham Multicultural Lunar Festival is on 18 February in Point Cook.
- The Showcars Melbourne PPG Showdown 13 is on at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Sunday 18 February.
- The Laverton Festival is on 18 February at Curlew Community Park.
- The All American Car Display and Mancave Alley is on at Gembrook on Sunday 18 February.
- The Celebrity Cricket Carnival is on in Chirnside Park on 18 February.
- The Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway’s February public running day is on 18 February.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Dandenong Market on 18 February.
- Join in the Year of the Dragon celebrations at Preston Market on 18 February.
- Australia’s Biggest Curated Thrift Market, ‘Fashion Thrift Society’ is coming to Melbourne on 18 of February, at the Royal Exhibition Building.
- The Melbourne Demons Family Day is on at Casey Fields on 18 February.
- The NBA All Stars Down Under is a once-in-a-lifetime basketball extravaganza taking place at the Timber Yard in Port Melbourne on 18 February.
- The Have Friends Will Travel Expo is on in Docklands on 18 February.
- Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is holding its annual Ice Cream Festival until 18 February.
- The Koorie Heritage Trust’s 11th Koorie Art Show is on until 25 February.
- Fed Square’s Summer at the Square program features a curated program of film and music – with something new each night of the week until 29 February.
- The Summer Sunset series is on at the Royal Botanic Gardens with a free concert every Sunday until 3 March.
- The iconic Rock ‘N’ Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show is back and stars Australian superstar Jason Donovan as he reprises his role of Frank N Furter for the 2024 season. At the Athenaeum until 17 March.
- Joan Lindsay’s My Day of Days exhibition runs until 30 March, exploring her personal connection to St Valentines Day at the National Trust Property Mulberry Hill.
- NGV Triennial 2023 is a powerful snapshot of the world today, captured through the work of over 100 artists, designers, and collectives at the forefront of global contemporary practice. Until 7 April.
- Tim Minchin’s Groundhog Day: The Musical is playing at the Princess Theatre until 7 April.
- Catch the immersive digital experience Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature at ACMI until 14 April.
- Spanning more than 50,000 square metres, the Blue Lotus Water Garden is a seasonal garden at Yarra Junction containing over 40 different ponds, lakes and water features. You can see it this year until 14 April.
- Pentridge Prison’s exhibition Crime Time TV is a fascinating and nostalgic journey through the history of Australian crime television, running until 14 April.
- Take a majestic 360-degree audio visual journey and explore iconic landscapes and connect with mesmerising animals from around the world at the BBC Earth Experience, on until 28 April.
- See more than 200 artefacts from the Titanic at the Melbourne Museum’s Titanic: The Artefacts Exhibition, running until 30 April.
