ALWAYS LIVE 2023 Program Announce
After delivering a stellar debut year, this year promises to be no different, featuring over 165 artists performing across more than 60 events spanning stadium shows, one-off gigs and intimate performances, supported by the State Government through Visit Victoria.
The largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the epic 17-day state-wide celebration of contemporary live music will take place across Victoria – from Wodonga to Warrnambool, Coburg to Castlemaine – from November 24 – December 10.
With a diverse line-up spanning the state, the ALWAYS LIVE program will offer something for everyone, everywhere, bringing an array of top-tier international artists to our shores, alongside the finest live music talent Australia has to offer.
Kicking off the festivities will be the six-time Grammy Award winning US singer, songwriter, activist, actor, and icon Christina Aguilera for one night only at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 25 November. The last time she was in Australia was 2007
KEY METRO MOMENTS
- Six-time Grammy Award winning US singer, songwriter, activist, actor, and icon Christina Aguilera for one night only at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 25 November.
- An Australia-New Zealand exclusive, and a coup for electronic music lovers around the country, legendary Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz will bring the stunning sets and jaw dropping 3D visuals of his internationally acclaimed HOLO show
- Intimate Audiences returns this year with two exclusive evenings with UK superstar Jessie Ware & rising Australian singer songwriter Angie McMahon
- In another major Australia-New Zealand exclusive, enigmatic UK-Indian songwriter and producer Jai Paul comes to Melbourne for a rare run of Victoria-only shows at 170 Russell
- US alt-pop diva Caroline Polachek will perform in the celestial surrounds of Melbourne’s hallowedForum Theatre – the first time solo following the release of her globally lauded album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.
- At Art Centre Melbourne’s iconic Hamer Hall BLAKTIVISM will see Australian Music Prize-winners King Stingray bring together a stunning line-up of First Nations artists including Tasman Keith, Emma Donovan, Uncle Bart Willoughby, Deline Briscoe, Sorong Samarai, Suga Cane Mamas
- At Northcote Theatre, Swifties far and wide are invited to get their TayTay on for the ultimate Taylor Swift tribute show. Taylor Made as a huge lineup of some of Australia’s favourite performers including Alex The Astronaut, Charley, Clare Bowditch, Emily Wurramurra, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Mitchell and Sophia J Smith come together to perform the songs of Swift in an evening hosted by Em Rusciano and Clementine Ford.
- In Mornington, Tones and I curates Music In the Park featuring a huge lineup including The Cat Empire, The Veronicas, Budjerah, KAIIT and The Pierce Brothers and special guests
- Gonna Be Good will see some of our most well-known contemporary artists perform at suburban Melbourne and regional venues. Twelve iconic acts will take to the stages of six incredible venues:Holy Holy and Aleksiah at Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster; multi-platinum selling hip hop actILLY with Nooky at Plaza Hotel, Werribee; indie rock mega stars The Temper Trap at Pier Bandroom in Frankston supported by Stumps; Northeast Party House with Blusher at Village Green; Casey Barnes and Taylor Moss at Commercial Hotel in South Morang; and Ruby Fieldswith Adam Newling at the York On Lilydale in Mt Evelyn.
- LGBTQIA+ outdoor music festival Summer Camp returns with UK disco queen Jessie Ware and drag superstar & Ru Paul’s Drag Race alumni Trixie Mattel
- SOULTRAINS will see legendary American soul singer Lee Fields & The Expressions joined by Surprise Chef on a tour across Metro train lines, playing at four different venues along four different train lines with opening local artist supporting.
- Audiences are encouraged to hit the tracks and explore their city anew as End of the Line, in partnership with Metro Trains, returns in 2023 with two huge family friendly events, each at the end of a train line in Sandringham and Williamstown, with homegrown talent performing across community hubs and local gathering areas. This year End of the Line Sandringham partners with the newly re-invigorated Sandy Festival, which is being brought back after a hiatus with a killer lineup including Clare Bowditch with Blanco Tranco, Pirritu and Sophia J Smith, while End of the Line in Williamstown , presented by Hobsons Bay Council will be headlined by Alex Lahey performing with full band, with the full lineup announced later this year.
- Still in Williamstown the Jamaican Food and Music Festival is set to return to Seaworks – the family friendly and affordable festival boasts huge DJs, artists, live music and food inspired by and straight out of Jamaica with international and local artists including General Levy (UK), DefStar (UK), Spikey Tee (JA), Fitzroy Lee (JA), Flames Eye (JA), , Heartical Hi Powa, Housewife’s Choice, More Fire, Ras Jahknow, GAIA, Johnny Long-shot, Rick Howe, Shabba and more
- Ballroom Mix Tapes is a celebration of new music launching new singles, EPs and albums at the extraordinary Brunswick Ballroom. The series will be dedicated to previewing and debuting new material from Victorian and Australian artists including Ainslie Wills, Emma Donovan, The Counterfeit featuring Freya Josephine Hollick, The Orbweavers with more to be announced soon.
KEY REGIONAL MOMENTS
- Australian punk rock icons Amyl and the Sniffers return victorious to their home state and hit the road on a seven-date state-wide tour for ALWAYS LIVE supported by Dumb Punts. With shows in Meeniyan, Ballarat, Frankston, Warrnambool, Torquay and Wodonga the band finish the run with what promises to be a blistering, all ages show at Thornbury Theatre
- Australian rock icon, artist, activist and Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett will debut new music with his band The Alter Egos (featuring fellow Midnight Oil member Martin Rotsey) at theWangarratta Arts Centre ahead of his forthcoming solo album.
- Cosmic Psychos celebrate their 40th anniversary by taking over Castlemaine for ALWAYS LIVE, playing three shows over three nights at the Theatre Royal, each followed by afterparties at Love Shack selling Cosmic Psychos branded beers, while The Bridge Hotel will mark the occasion by selling Cosmic Psychos branded menu items. Supports across the weekend include The Chats, Blowers, Affordable Repayments, Dead Clampets, Pat Todd (USA), The Prize, Thee Cha Cha Chas, Southeast Desert Metal and Boondall Boys.
- Returning to their roots and bringing the party to their old Shepparton stomping ground, A.B. Original headline a mammoth free show at Victoria Park Lake with including support from the electrifying Yorta Yorta/ Kalkadoon/Yirendali performer Miss Kaninna, Yorta Yorta Kaieltheban song writer, hip hop artist and producer, DRMNGNOW and more to be announced. Hometown is presented with Live Nation Special Events, Bad Apples Music, and Songlines.
RETURNING FOR THE SECOND YEAR
- Back by popular demand, the ever-talented singer and storyteller Emma Donovan brings together an all-star First Nations acoustic line-up in the glorious The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia gallery space for Emma Donovan and Friends. Donovan will perform alongside Kee’ahn, Kiwat Kennel, Maylene Yinnar, Katie Aspel and Janaya Roach in a free and family friendly show
- SOUNDBOX, ALWAYS LIVE’S purpose-built pop-up studio returns this year to the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt. The beating heart of ALWAYS LIVE in Melbourne and running for 10 days, November 24th – December 3rd, the space will be the home of live performances, workshops, song writing sessions, radio broadcasts, artist showcases, podcast recordings and interviews with the lineup of events and performances to be announced later in the year.
- In a special out of season presentation on Saturday 14 October, Garage Band, presented with JOF and Fed Square, will see audiences surrounded by four stages as 25 emerging bands are invited perform one at a time to play an original song – many for the first time live. Each band is projected onto the big screen with lights and smoke taking over the heart of the CBD in a free celebration of music, community and (teen) spirit.