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?
Official Taylor Swift Eras tour merch presales happening next week
Frontier Touring has announced the deets about the official Eras tour merchandise ahead of Taylor Swift’s hotly anticipated concert dates in Melbourne next week.A merch pop-up at Crown is happening next week but you’ll need to register for tickets. There’s also pre-sales of merch happening at the MCG.
1990s boy band Take That coming to Melbourne in November
The three remaining members of Take That (so no Robbie Williams or that other guy) will be coming to Rod Laver Arena on 6 November.
The Sister Act musical is coming to Melbourne
John Frost for Crossroads Live has announced the arrival of the most heavenly of musicals, Sister Act, which will make its Melbourne debut from November 2024 at the Regent Theatre.
Iconic Steve McCurry photos to be exhibited at Seaworks
An exhibition of work from famous American photographer, Steve McCurry, is headed to Melbourne and will open at the Seaworks Maritime Precinct on 28 February 2024. The exhibition called ICONS will feature more than 100 large-format photographs of McCurry’s most iconic images, including the legendary 1984 portrait of the Afghan Girl, Sharbat Gula.
Hannah Gadsby’s 2024 Melbourne Comedy Festival show announced
Celebrated comedian Hannah Gadsby is ready to unveil their latest thoughts and a newfound interest through their upcoming show, Woof! coming to the 2024 Melbourne Comedy Festival from 28 March.
Troy Cassar-Daley 2024 tour
Country music star Troy Cassar-Daley has announced a new tour -Between the Fires – that he’ll be bringing to Bairnsdale, Noojee, St Kilda and Anglesea in November 2024.
Shannon Noll’s 20th anniversary tour coming to Geelong, Ballarat, Melbourne and Warragul
Shannon Noll is headed on tour for the first time in over a decade with 15 dates across metro and regional Australia with his “That’s What I’m Talking About “20th Anniversary Tour which will include four gigs in Victoria in April and May 2024.
RocKwiz’s Really, Really Good Friday back for 2024
Comedians, musical guests, and unpredictable audience members join Julia, Brian, Dugald, and the RocKwiz Orkestra for Easter’s biggest and best night out – RocKwiz’s Really, Really Good Friday at the Arts Centre on 29 March.
Enjoy jazz music and jaffles every Thursday at the Toff
The Toff in Swanston Street has launched “Jazz and Jaffles” – a nostalgia themed evening with serious comfort food vibes. Join them every Thursday from 7pm and enjoy free live jazz, tasty jaffles, and decadent Milo cocktails.
Save the date for these
Also just announced:
- The Pancake Parlour will be selling $5 short stacks for Shrove Tuesday on 13 February.
- From Monday February 19 – Friday February 23 between 5pm and 7pm, Drive Live at the Collingwood Yards will see two acts performing daily – LIVE, and direct to you via the PBS airwaves. Bookings essential if you want to be in the audience.
- Wyndham Park, Werribee will be transformed into a glowing wonderland as LIT returns in March 2024, with a fresh new program of stunning light installations to explore. LIT is a free light-based experience, presented by Wyndham City and will open on 8 March for fourteen nights
- The APCO Foundation’s 2024 Geelong Wine Walk is on Saturday 10 February 2024. This event showcases some of the best wineries, distilleries, and breweries, right in the centre of Geelong.
- The Localise the Love photography exhibition will focus on capturing portraits of business owners and operators along Sydney Road Brunswick. It opens on Wednesday 28 February.
- Honour the contribution of war animals who have given their loyalty and their lives at the Shrine’s War Animal Day Last Post Service on 25 February.
- The Melbourne Demons Family Day is on at Casey Fields on 18 February.
- Enjoy a taste of New Zealand at the Dandenong Market for Waitangi Day on 6 February.
- Oscar Animated Shorts are a special release of the 2024 Oscar nominated short films and are available to watch on the big screen for a limited time from 22 February at Cinema Nova in Carlton.
- Saxophonist and singer Wilbur Wilde will celebrate fifty years of musicianship at Montsalvat in Eltham on 25 February with his performance ‘Blowout’.
- Celebrate summer with a night of free live music under the stars at Carnegie’s Packer Park on 24 February headlined by the ARIA winning 25-piece Ska Orchestra.
- 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.
- 9th Annual Melbourne Chilli Eating Championship is on at The Beast in Brunswick East on Saturday 2 March.
- 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.
- Jessica Mauboy will be appearing at Westfield Doncaster on 13 February and at Westfield Fountain Gate on 14 February.
- Moorabbin Music + Arts — a new annual festival of music, art, culture and community – is on 23-25 February.
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:
- Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is holding its annual Ice Cream Festival on 7-18 February.
- Melbourne Museum’s after hours adults only event Nocturnal: Hot and Bothered on8 February clebrates queer culture and daring activism with a full program of talks, tours and surprises.
- Historian Graham Willett is hosting an ‘adults only’ talk on 8 February about the untold side of St Kilda’s queer history, focusing on the ways in which LGBTIQA+ communities have created places for themselves.
- The Creative Careers Expo is being held at the Yarra Youth Centre in Fitzroy on 8 February. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, designer, musician or tattoo artist this in-person hands on job expo is the perfect opportunity to connect with industry professionals and explore exciting career prospects.
- The 2024 Inked Expo is on at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 9-11 February – celebrating ink and body art lifestyles.
- 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 from 9 February – 17 March.
- The Quang Minh Tet Festival is on 9 -10 February in Braybrook
- Labassa mansion in Caulfield North will have a twilight house and garden tour on 9 February.
- The Peanut Farm Reserve in St Kilda plays host to the Summer Jam basketball festival on 9-11 February.
- Opening on 9 February at Pentridge Prison, the exhibition Crime Time TV is a fascinating and nostalgic journey through the history of Australian crime television. Running until 14 April.
- Blossom Rooftop Bar in Bourke St is hosting a World Pizza Day Festival from 9-11 February
- Enjoy delicious meals from a special selection of food trucks at Summer in the Glade at Gasworks Art Park on 9 February.
- The St Kilda Latin Festival is on 10 February.
- Frankston’s epic summer celebration, the Waterfront Festival is back in 2024 from 10-11 February delivering live music, entertainment, fireworks, delicious food, market stalls, amusements and more.
- The Melbourne Money Expo is on 10-11 February at the Malvern Town Hall.
- Meet Patricia Kugler Whitely, voice of the 1980s AstroBoy cartoon at Astro Con on 10 February.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year with traditional dragon and lion dancers as they dance around the South Melbourne Market, bringing in the Year of the Dragon on 10 February.
- The Melbourne Museum’s Lunar New Year Family Day is on Saturday 10 February.
- Lakeside Alive is a free family fun day at Lake Caroline in Caroline Springs on 10 February.
- Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at SEA LIFE Melbourne aquarium from 10-18 February.
- The Richmond Football Club is holding its first Richmond Festival – a fun family day out at Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre on 10 February.
- Burwood Brickworks has a two week festival of events from 10-24 February to celebrate Lunar New Year.
- Join in Prahran Square’s Lunar New Year celebration featuring an array of traditional Chinese-themed activities and entertainment on 10 February.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year with the whole family at the Immigration Museum on 10 February.
- Braybrook BMX Fest is on 10-11 February.
- The Black Label Invitational will be at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday 11 February with 200 exclusive vehicles on display.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year in Chinatown on 11 February for the highly auspicious Year of the Dragon, symbolising longevity, prosperity, wealth and happiness.
- Joan Lindsay’s My Day of Days exhibition opens on 11 February and runs until 30 March, exploring her personal connection to St Valentines Day at the National Trust Property Mulberry Hill.
- Indulge in a diverse range of Filipino delicacies, immerse yourself in the vibrant culture with music and dance performances, including solo singers, folk dances, Ati Atihan performances, African drumming, a classical harpist and community at the Ube Festival at the Queen Victoria Market on Sunday 11 February.
- The Goonawarra Share the Love Fest is on in Sunbury on 11 February.
- BrigidFest is the annual celebration of St. Brigid’s Day in Melbourne. The Irish community uses the occasion to celebrate Irish and Australian women and their achievements. This year’s event is on 11 February.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year at M-City in Clayton on 11 February.
- The Melton Mind, Body and Soul New Age Expo pop-up is on 11 February.
- The 2024 Melbourne Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade is on 11 February. Melbourne’s 63 meter long Millennial Dragon emerges from the Chinese Museum’s main entrance at 11am, for its final preparations. Millennial Dragon commences parading from the front of the Museum at 11.45am.
- The Chinese Museum and Street Festival Day is also on 11 February as part of Melbourne Chinatown’s Lunar New Year celebrations.
- Duldig Studio in Malvern East will be celebrating the wonderful invention of, and its own special connection to, the umbrella in its sculpture garden on World Umbrella Day – Sunday 11 February.
- Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural festival Midsumma is running until 11 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.
- 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.
- 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.
