Victoria to host 17-day celebration of live music

The third instalment of the Always Live festival is set to showcase an “iconic line-up for music fans of all ages”. This is who's playing.

Kate Ceberano is playing at Mornington Racecourse. Picture: Mark Stewart

Victoria is ready to rock – and welcome a legion of interstate visitors – with 428 bands, musicians and singers set to strut their stuff in Australia’s concert mecca.

Bands will take to stages across the state from Friday until December 8 in a 17-day celebration of live music that will see more than 100 events take place in the third annual instalment of Always Live.

Tourists will be in the thick of the action, with people from outside Victoria buying more than 20 per cent of tickets to gigs being played everywhere from country pubs and racecourses to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Up to 40 per cent of tickets to the sold-out Forum show of US pop punk act The Offspring alone were snapped up by fans who will travel to Melbourne just for the show.

Tina Arena will perform at Mornington Racecourse. Picture: Bernard Gueit

Victorians at Jack White’s sold-out concerts at The Corner and Ballarat Civic Hall will also share the space with music lovers in town purely to see the White Stripes frontman.

And tickets to US DJ Anyma’s Flemington Racecourse gig sold out in less than an hour, with one in four purchased by fans from interstate or overseas.

The first two years of Always Live delivered an economic boost of more than $120m to Victoria and attracted more than 380,000 people.

Last year’s festival saw visitors stay an average 2.7 nights in Victoria and the event generated 69,164 “visitor nights”.

Jack White has sold out his concerts at The Corner and Ballarat Civic Hall.

Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said this year’s “iconic line-up for music fans of all ages” would continue that trend.

“This program isn’t just about music, it’s about backing our local economy, creating jobs and boosting tourism right across Victoria,” he said.

“Always Live generates significant economic benefits – it fills our venues, hotels, pubs and clubs all over the state.”

Highlights of this year’s festival include French electronic duo Air, playing their classic album Moon Safari, and three-time Grammy winner St. Vincent, performing at St Kilda’s Palais and in Ballarat.

Missy Higgins, Chet Faker and Tash Sultana will play gigs at the Music Bowl, and hip-hop star Baker Boy headlines a line-up of First Nations music acts at Hamer Hall. Melbourne solo artist Steph Strings will take to the stage after returning from a year-long world tour, “keen” to see her hometown cement its status as a global music city.

Steph Strings is back in Melbourne after a world tour. Picture: Josie Hayden

Missy Higgins will play at the Music Bowl. Picture: Nighthawk Creative

“It’s just an incredible thing, especially leading up to Christmas, for people all around Victoria to be able to get out and see music, get inspired and reflect on the year in an arty way,” she said.

Victorians will travel their own state, watching the likes of Sarah Blasko, in Castlemaine, and Tina Arena, Richard Marx, Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano and 1927 at Mornington Racecourse.

The festival will also celebrate up-and-coming acts, performing in Sale, Geelong, Traralgon, Horsham, Wangaratta and Wonthaggi. It will feature 325 Victorian musicians, 50 international acts, 53 Aussie performers from outside Victoria and 36 First Nations artists.