Global stars come to local venues in Northcote, Thornbury and Preston

Venues across the northern suburbs such as record stores, bars, restaurants and bocce and bowls clubs will host international music stars as part of a new festival.

The Eighty-Six festival will take over the northern suburbs later this year. Connie Constance is a rising British star who will perform as part of the festival.

International stars are set to hit venues across Melbourne’s northern suburbs as part of new music festival.

The Eighty-Six festival event will premiere in October, lighting up High St across Northcote, Thornbury and Preston.

Existing venues such as theatres, record stores, bars, restaurants and bocce and bowls clubs along the 86 tram route will host Australian and international musicians

The festival is part of the state government’s On The Road Again program supporting live music in Victoria, having received $600,000 in funding.

The first announcement of artists has been released as a taste of the full festival program, with the full line up to be announced mid-year.

Set to take High St by a storm are Otoboke Beaver (Japan), Makaya McCraven (US), How Long Gone Live (US), Los Bitchos (US), Connie Constance (UK) and Built to Spill (US).

Japanese punk rock group Otoboke Beaver are one of the musical acts set to perform at the Eighty-Six festival.

Makaya McCraven is an American jazz musician who will join the line-up for the Eighty-Six festival.

The festival was founded by Woody McDonald, the former program director of the Meredith and Golden Plains festivals, who is also the artistic director of the Eighty-Six.

“The Eighty-Six is designed to create ideal conditions for music to thrive and be valued,” McDonald said.

“We are excited to share the full program, including a truly epic celebration of our local music ecosystem.”

Northcote state Labor MP Kat Theophanous said the festival would showcase the northern suburbs’ live music scene like never before.

‘There is nowhere else on earth that could host a festival like The Eighty-Six, with so many amazing venues, set to host an array of artists and events.”

See all the details of the festival here.