Live Music entertainment in Melbourne
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Spanish Club
Serving the area's Spanish community for over 25 years, the Spanish Club is now hosting bands and DJs between elderly citizens' meetings and salsa dance classes. The back Salon Room is beautiful, complete with fancy patterned carpet, and it's smoke-free. The front bar has good black vinyl booths to drink at, and - if it's Saturday - to eat a Matador Breakfast with Bloody Marys.
A rockin' soundtrack (no Jamiroquai or Moloko, just straight up Johnny Cash, Detroit Cobras etc) is the final touch.
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Empress Hotel
The Empress continues to grace the Melbourne music scene with its presence. This quintessential Fitzroy pub was one of the first to book Silverchair. It stages a variety of genres from folk to unplugged rock every night of the week. Monday to Wednesday and Sunday are free, admission Thursday through Saturday costs under around A$10. The Empress also serves decent counter meals.
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Old Bar
A lounge atmosphere with nary a whiff of '70s shtick, Old Bar is old-school. Pinnies chink in the walkways and live music plays most nights. This is where DJs go on their nights off to enjoy the best off-the-beaten tracks. It's nothing flash, but that's why it's loved. There's always a need for affordable drinks and an uncontrived ambience.
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Toff in Town
An atmospheric venue well suited to cabaret, but also works for intimate gigs by rock gods, avant-folksters or dance-hall queens. Head further up the stairs for Cookie and further yet to the view-filled open-air Rooftop Bar.
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Corner Hotel
The band room here is one of Melbourne's most popular midsized venues and has seen plenty of loud and live action over the years. If your ears need a break, there's a friendly front bar. The rooftop has stunning city views, but gets superpacked, and often with a different crowd from the music fans below. Its Wednesday night trivia has a cult following. Swan St runs off Brunton Ave.
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Butterfly Club
This adorable terrace house holds a small theatre that hosts regular cabaret performances. Show over, head out the back or upstairs to a uniquely decorated bar, where surfaces are bedecked with the kitsch, the cool and the cute.
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Arthouse
The Arthouse, at the Royal Artillery Hotel, is on the local indie-band circuit. Rock, country, hardcore punk, metal and ska, plays Wednesday to Saturday - mohawks and big wallet chains welcome. Sunday sees acoustic sets.
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Rainbow Hotel
This Fitzroy icon has been hosting local talent for over a decade and is a fine option for good blues, folk and jazz of the raucous energetic type. It’s a small space and fills easily so start your Sunday session early.
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Prince Bandroom
Check out the massive blackboard out front to see who’s taking stage; you’ll find the calibre is high. Above the Prince of Wales, the Prince Bandroom has hosted diverse local and international acts for over 20 years.
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Esplanade Hotel
Rock-pigs rejoice. The Espy remains gloriously shabby and welcoming to all. Bands play most nights and there's a spruced-up kitchen out the back. And for the price of a pot you get front row seats for the pink-stained St Kilda sunset.
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Bennetts Lane
Bennetts Lane has long been the boiler room of Melbourne jazz. It attracts the cream of local and international talent and an audience that knows when it's time to applaud a solo. Beyond the cosy front bar, there's another space reserved for big gigs.
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Northcote Social Club
This is one of Melbourne's best live-music venues, with a stage that's seen plenty of international folk just one album out from star status. Their home-grown line-up is also notable. If you're just after a drink, the front bar buzzes every night of the week, or there's a large deck out the back for lazy afternoons. A perfect, and well-loved, local. Head north along Hoddle St to reach High St; St Georges Rd runs parallel.
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Manchester Lane
Doubling as a semiformal restaurant, Manchester Lane is perfect if you’re looking for dinner and a classy show. Jazz is the mainstay but other acoustic genres also get a go.
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Tote
The Tote's closure in 2010 brought Melbourne to a stop. People protested on the CBD streets against the liquor-licensing laws that were blamed for the closure, and there were howls of displeasure on the radio waves. The punters won; there were changes to Melbourne's liquor-licensing laws, and, armed with new 'white knight' owners, the Tote reopened to continue its tradition of live bands playing dirty rock. From Fitzroy or Collingwood, head down Johnston St.
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Ding Dong Lounge
Ding Dong walks the rock-and-roll walk and is a great place to see a smaller touring act or catch local bands.
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Tony Starr’s Kitten Club
An unpretentious crowd, hedonistic cocktails and a cute bar with a saucy past.
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Cherry
This rock 'n' roll refuge is still going strong. There's often a queue, but once inside a relaxed, slightly anarchic spirit prevails. Music is only sometimes live, but never electronic. It is off Flinders Lane.
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