TO SEE

The best gigs this autumn

MARCH

Brunswick Music Festival March in Brunswick is music festival time. It’s been 30 years since the Brunswick Music Festival started bringing top local and international acts to Brunswick’s halls. Returning in 2018 is the Sydney Road Street party, the 100 per cent free concert on Brunswick’s major strip. There’s also a musical pool party, LatinAustralian dance party and loads more to look out for – visit the website for the full program. 270 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056. brunswickmusicfestival.com.au. Mar 4-18. Pool House Party Despite the lack of pools, this is one party we know will be a banger. The Smith Street Band is putting on a huge gig at the Coburg Velodrome to celebrate a flipping fantastic 2017 and the launch of its own label, Pool House Records. The day’s line-up includes some of the best Aussie talent, including Baker Boy, Bec Sandridge, the Bennies and Tired Lion, to name a few. There will also be food trucks and rides. à Coburg Velodrome, 30 Charles St, Coburg North 3058. 0400 953 977. poolhouseparty.com. $86.90. Sat Mar 17. Thundamentals The Thundamentals’ suave hip hop was a mainstay of party playlists in the late noughties. The boys from the Blue Mountains carved their place in the Aussie hip-hop scene with a sound that made you feel like you were partying in an electronic rainforest – their tunes are smooth, riddled with bell percussion and just a little bit sexy. In the wake of fourth album Everyone We Know and as part of their ten-year anniversary tour, they’ll be hitting up Village Green Hotel. à Village Green Hotel, Cnr Springvale Rd & Ferntree Gully Rd, Mulgrave 3170. 03 9560 8400. thundamentals.com.au. 8pm. $37.75. Thu Mar 22. You Am I Plays Spinal Tap In what sounds like a dare to us, Tim Rogers and the guys will turn the volume up to 11 to perform the hilarious heavy metal tunes immortalised in Rob Reiner’s1983 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. If there’s no miniature Stonehenge on stage, we’re going to be very

disappointed. à Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond 3121. 03 9427 7300. cornerhotel.com. 8.30pm. $44.40. Fri Mar 23. Lana Del Rey We expect there will be lots of people wearing blue jeans and white shirts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl when Lana Del Rey traipses on stage. That, and flower crowns. After shooting to indie chart stardom with the online release of ‘Video Games’ in 2011, the ultimate sad girl has carved out a niche as the music industry’s vintage-tinged indie pop siren. à Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Linlithgow Ave, Melbourne 3000. 136 100. lanadelrey.com. 7pm. $129.90. Sat Mar 31.

APRIL

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters You just can’t stop Robert Plant. The former frontman for Led Zeppelin has had a highly successful solo career and will be making his way Down Under in 2018 for two shows with his latest band, the Sensational Space Shifters. Expect tracks from the band’s new album,

Carry Fire, as well as classics from the Zeppelin songbook. à Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda 3182. 136 100. palaistheatre.com.au. Sun, Mon 7pm. $124.50-$180. Apr 1-2. Kesha The Kesha we first met in 2009 is not the same Kesha coming to Melbourne this April. She’s dropped the dollar sign from her name and upped the ante by unleashing a new, emotionally raw sound. If you tuned into her Grammy night performance of ‘Praying’ then you’ll know what we mean. She’s leaving the past behind and walking forward standing tall. à Margaret Court Arena, Olympic Blvd, Melbourne 3000. 132 849. selecttouring.com.au/tours/kesha. 8pm. $99.90-$189.90. Thu Apr 5. Alex Lahey Melbourne’s own Alex Lahey has well and truly graduated from her Triple J Unearthed days. Her appeal is essentially in her honesty: her alt-rock tunes are all about the mundane minutiae that we all relate to – because who hasn’t lingered in the shower to avoid doing some useful shit? After an almost non-stop 2017, Lahey will be backing it up with her Huge and True tour. à 170 Russell, 170 Russell St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9639 4000. 170russell.com. 8.30pm. $31.65. Fri Apr 20.

MAY

The Whitlams It might feel like just yesterday that you first heard ‘No Aphrodisiac’ and ‘Blow Up the Pokies’, but in fact the poignant tunes of Tim Freedman and co have been around so long – eek, 25 years! – that Generation Avocado are now recycling them as retro. Which just proves how timeless the band is. Catch them doing a victory lap in May at the Corner Hotel. à Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond 3121. 03 9427 7300. cornerhotel.com. 8pm. $63.40. Thu May 10. Lady Leshurr Don’t miss out on seeing UK grime gal Lady Leshurr just because you can’t make it to Groovin’ the Moo. Known for her cheeky raps, Lady Leshurr has been making a name for herself since her ‘Queen’s Speech’ series went viral online in 2016. Her feisty songs like ‘On the Road’ are the sort of grime even your nanna would find hard to resist. à Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond 3121. 03 9427 7300. cornerhotel. com. 8.30pm. $46.94. Fri May 4.