The Melbourne Festival is playing host to some of the most inventive music in the world, and most of the acts have been snaffled exclusively. Beck’s Rumpus Room at the Forum in Melbourne features two weeks of incredible independent line-ups from around the world, playing everything from sludge metal to hip-hop to melodramatic orchestral pop to art-rock.
Great news for Melbournians and visitors, who get an exclusive look at UK pop dramatist Bishi, primitive Brazillian garage rockers Garotas Suecas, US electro master Fischerspooner, West Bank experimental beat producer Ramallah Underground, New York underground rapper Beans, Chinese punk legends Brain Failure, and Japanese rock mentalists Melt Banana alongside Australia’s finest acts.
But all is not lost for the rest of the country. If you can’t make it down to Melbourne you can still catch some sideshows around the nation by psychedelic Frisco sludge-meisters Black Cobra, London’s gypsy folk party outfit Paprika Balkanicus and the comedic funk all-stars, The Cuban Brothers. If you are in Melbourne, start camping out.
Beck’s Rumpus Room
Sat October 10 - Minutes Vs. Margins, Melt Banana (Japan), Super Rydeen Machine and DJ Benny Bones
Sun October 11 - Peace Out, Bishi (UK), Koko-Nuts and DJ Squid Roe
Wed October 14 - Heavy Metal in Baghdad launch with Black Cobra (US), Ruins and DJ Manticle
Thu October 15 - Shags Chamberlain, Paprika Balkanicus (UK), Barons of Tang and Suitcase Royale DJs
Fri October 16 - The Emergency, Fischerspooner (US) and Outrun
Sat October 17 - Your Animal, Beaches, My Disco and Brain Children/Treasure Island DJs
Sun October 18 - The Knitting Factory, afternoon presentation with French Rockets, Clue to Kalo and Treasure Island
Wed October 21 - Spoken word ‘Notes from the Underground – a revolution in words’ with DJ Chris Gill
Thu October 22 - The Go Set, Brain Failure (China), Goldie Lux and DJs Benny Bones
Fri October 23 - Ramallah Underground (West Bank), Beans (US) and Ro Sham Bo
Sat October 24 - Clairy Baby Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, Garotas Suecas (Brazil) and The Cuban Brothers (UK)
Black Cobra with Blarke Bayer and Black Widow
Thu October 8 - The Del Plaza, Gold Coast (w/ Nick Oliveri)
Fri October 9 - The Step In, Brisbane (w/ Nick Oliveri)
Sat October 10 - Red Rattler Theatre, Sydney
Paprika Balkanicus
Fri October 9 - Lizotte’s - Kings Theatre, Newcastle
Sat October 10 - Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
Sun October 11 - The Street Theatre, Canberra
Fri October 16 - Moorilla Winery, Berriedale, Tasmania
The Cuban Brothers
Fri October 30 - Villa, Perth
Sat October 31 - Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
Sun November 1 - Mens Gallery, Melbourne
Tue November 3 - Cargo, Sydney
Sat November 7 - Family, Brisbane