Melbourne Weekender Gallery

Sunday in Sydney 27th May

NRL: Tigers Vs Cowboys

The Wests Tigers host interstate visitors the North Queensland Cowboys in round 12 of the NRL season.
In many respects, 2012 has been marked by indifference for both sides. However, a mid-season match-up provides a key opportunity to gain an important win and a chance to move up the ladder in the second part of the season.
Kick off is at 3PM (local).

Vivid LIVE: Janelle Monae & the Archandroid Orchestra

The dizzying ambition of Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid (Suites II & III) gave the multi-talented 26-year-old the top slot in the Guardian's 'albums of 2010' list. After a show-stealing performance at the 2011 Grammy awards, she has been waiting for the right opportunity to make her Australian debut - an exclusive double concert engagement at Vivid LIVE 2012 proved irresistible.

Critics and contemporaries have proclaimed Monáe the natural heir to Prince and Stevie Wonder - both outspoken admirers. Presenting a mix of R&B, funk, rap, rock and cinematic cues tied together by a futuristic narrative, Monáe has assembled the ArchAndroid Orchestra to create what has been described as an 'Emotion Picture Show'.

Monáe broke into public consciousness performing alongside Outkast's Big Boi and Hip Hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, yet it is her imaginative choreography and chameleon-like voice that has captured audiences. Described as 'a different kind of diva' and 'a true visionary', the Kansas born singer pays homage to the legendary lineage of 60's pop, jazz and blues, armed with the natural grace and vision to become an enduring force in popular music. With two new albums planned for 2012, Monáe is set to push the framework of popular music, engaging in the otherworldly aesthetics of Futurism and Surrealism with the abandon of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, her primary influence. Amongst the accolades, abstract concepts and multidisciplinary projects (a graphic novel is in the works), 'one of the first responsibilities is to create some jamming music'.

Ever present in her signature uniform and pompadour, Monáe's essence can be distilled very simply - 'We wear black and white, we wear tuxedos, and music is our weapon'

Martini Club at Goldfish

Join Sydney's favourite sound system live every Sunday at Goldfish Kings Cross. Martini Club mash up modern electronic dance music with classic cover songs. 
The Martini Club have an arsenal of Australia's most talented performers, including vocalists Muma Megs and Andre Kaman Michelle Martinez, Cavan Te and Adam Katz.
Dj Tom Kelly will take over on the decks and play through the night.

Saturday in Sydney 26th May

The Brian Jonestown Massacre at The Oxford Art Factory
 
There is no need for an introduction to The Brian Jonestown Massacre and their upcoming tour with The Raveonettes. Hang your head in shame if otherwise. Due to outstanding public demand for this series of shows supporting new album Aufheben, a second Sydney gig has been added to the tour schedule. This new show will be at the Oxford Art Factory on Saturday 26th May and will be somewhat of a last shabang for the band before they leave the country. Go on, make it a good one for them.

Vivid LIVE: Modular Nights - Tom Vek & Jonathan Boulet

Legendary Australian label Modular returns to Vivid LIVE, taking over the Studio to showcase two mavericks that tread the boundaries of rock, dance and pop – Tom Vek and Jonathan Boulet. 

London’s Tom Vek received critical acclaim with his debut album We Have Sound, yet decided to forego the ensuing hype and expectation to return to the studio and refine his song craft. This year, Vek has re-emerged with a distilled sound, showcasing his signature mix of post punk, electronics and deadpan wit. Modular’s own Jonathan Boulet is the Australian equivalent of Vek, working alone in his parents’ garage to create wide scope anthems with a penchant for percussion. A drummer first, Boulet’s live performances enrich his music with heavier grooves, ‘always pushing to be louder and bigger’.

Last year, Modular transformed the Studio in a series of euphoric club shows. For Vivid LIVE 2012, the label will continue their relationship with the iconic building, presenting an evening that veers between the progressive and pop.

Beat the Clock at FBi Social

A creative competition run by Ableton and Soundcloud, Beat The Clock runs for two weeks between May 14 and May 28. The idea is that you download handmade samples from Nosaj Thing, M83 and Junior Boys and make the best track you can - the only catch is, once you start, you only have 24 hours to upload a finished product.

That's where we come in.

Spend 4 hours jamming with fellow Create & Destroy graduates and guest producers in a collaborative sprint to build tracks and material around the contest files. There will be short presentations and tips and tricks to get your creative sparks flying, and everyone gets to share and build on each others work.

This could be the start of your 24 hours - go home and complete the work in the remaining 20 hours and upload it to your account - or if you've already done your 24 hours, then you still get to contribute to the group effort.

Places are ridiculously limited. Oh, and did we say it's FREE!*

Tick tock, what are you waiting for?

Friday in Sydney 25th May

Blood Orange at FBi Social
 

On May 25th New York-based "nerd crooner" Blood Orange will be returning to Sydney, playing FBi Social. This will be a special one off performance which will consist solely of vocals and a backing track. We're warned dangerous levels of shredding will also be involved, as the artist formerly known as Lightspeed Champion revisits material from his critically acclaimed 2011 album “Coastal Grooves”. Tickets will be going on sale via Oztix in due course. If you want to get in early and potentially get a free ticket though, head over to the link listed.

Dirt Farmer at World Bar

Dirt Farmer formed in March 2010 and got together to unleash their own brand of laid back, swagger-driven rock n’ roll that has seen them develop from a fresh face into a force to be reckoned with on the Melbourne music scene. After a successful launch in Melbourne, the guys are gearing up to bring all the new choons of their EP to Sydney. Support from Running Gun Sound (members of Velociraptor). $15 ($10 if you say you're on the Dirt Farmer guestlist).

Ash Grunwald at The Great Northern Hotel

Since the success of his 2010 award-winning album Hot Mama Vibes, Ash Grunwald has been very busy on his next, Trouble's Door. Bringing together a record that serves up a cross-section of what it means to be living on a planet in constant balance between hope and despair, all the while striving to fulfil the greatest mission of all - the presence of great times and the possession of a happy heart. Trouble's Door touches on the strength that now lies in community to keep each other informed no matter who we are or where we live. And just like the light and dark of the words, the music itself traverses many tales; the blues propelled by driving dancefloor rhythms, buoyed by hip hop beats and slammed by the dubstep crunch. Naturally. Trouble's Door is a novel, full of many colours and much food for thought, what pieces you take from it will be reflective of you. All thats being asked is that when this time you shake your booty, you shake your booty for change.

Thursday in Sydney 24th May

Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes

 
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes featuring fierce leading lady Clairy Browne and her harmonising girl group, The Bangin’ Rackettes, have been tearing down the house at venues all over the country since 2009.
Following up the release of their smash single 'Love Letter', Ms Browne and her fiery troupe will be embarking on a national tour. May 24th sees them hit up the Brass Monkey - catch 'em while you still can in such an intimate venue.

Florence + the Machine at The Sydney Entertainment Centre

Fanning the flames of a fire started just under two years ago, Florence + The Machine are set to ignite stages across the country when they return to Australia in May 2012 for a national arena tour.
Following on from the multi-million selling, multi-award winning, global smash of a debut album 'Lungs', Florence + The Machine first landed on Australian shores in January 2010 on the Laneway Festival bill; playing to stunned audiences over the course of the festival as well as her own headline club shows. Barely six months later, her ascension to stardom took a further leap when she returned to wow audiences on the main stage at Splendour In The Grass and sell out multiple theatre shows from Perth to Brisbane. So overwhelming was the demand that shows sold out in record timing and her stay in Australia was extended to allow additional shows not previously planned.

Split Seconds at The Good God Small Club

 

With a vision of bringing bees back to the city and suburbs of Melbourne, the Melbourne City Rooftop Honey company are whipping up(or rather the bees are)the golden stuff right above our heads, with apiaries across the city. Unlike commercial honey brands, honey sourced from the rooftops differs in flavour with every batch and it is this complexity and diversity that inspired Albert Street Food and Wine Bar's, Phillipa Sibley, to create a honey degustation dinner. With wines to match, this is a stellar opportunity to sample the sweet nectar in its entirety.