The backbone of Melbourne’s live music scene rests on three pillars: first, its astounding density of live music venues; second, the broad range of genres influenced by Melbourne’s rich cultural diversity; and third, the unique, loyal relationship between fans and local artists. Dive into this vast network of talent, fans, venue owners, and even local government support. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best live music venues in Melbourne giving an insight to the city’s musical landscape, though capturing the full scope of its reach is nearly impossible.
Experience this strong sense of community—from legendary spots like The Espy, where gig-goers and revelers feel like honorary owners, to the vibrant social dances at The Night Cat.
1. The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
No, it’s not a Collingwood hotel — the Gaso is an old pub with an unbeatable live music scene. A mash of everything any gig-goer could want, this popular gem hides a variety of wild nights and day parties behind its ordinary exterior. Local and international artists, from rock bands to hyperpop solo acts, entertain guests in a fantastically chaotic setting kitted out with a mezzanine level and roof that opens up to reveal the stars or blue sky.
📍 484 Smith St, Collingwood
2. Hotel Esplanade (The Espy), St Kilda
The previous owners of Hotel Esplanade left the new owners with a poignant statement, reflecting the significant place this pub and live music venue has in the hearts of many Melburnians: “As much as you’ve bought The Espy, you’ll never really own it.” From jazz sets in The Gershwin Room to performances by emerging talent in the Basement, The Espy’s nostalgic charm and unique place in Melbourne’s cultural landscape have cemented its place as a titan of the city’s music scene.
📍 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
3. Festival Hall, West Melbourne
Lewis Capaldi, Johnny Cash, Ed Sheeran, The Beatles, and Frank Sinatra are on the long list of artists who have performed at this storied live music venue in Melbourne. Even if you forget about the overwhelming amount of talent, both musical and sporting, that continues to grace its grounds today, Festival Hall’s history has enough meaty details to merit paying it a visit.
What began as a roller-skating rink in 1913, and eventually transformed into a boxing arena, was originally known as West Melbourne Stadium. The Olympic Games saw its restored glory and renaming just in time for gymnastics and wrestling in 1956. Years of renovations followed and the roller rink became Festival Hall, a now iconic venue for music and entertainment.
📍 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne
4. Hamer Hall, Southbank
The Arts Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Australia, and it’s home to the magnificent Hamer Hall — a spectacular concert hall able to accommodate up to 2,500 people. Known widely for its orchestral performances, it also hosts cabaret, rock, jazz, contemporary music shows, and more. Providing a base for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and filling the position as the preferred venue for the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Hamer Hall is THE place to be for chamber and classical music performances. You can even learn more about this special venue (and its striking spire) on a guided tour.
📍 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank
5. Northcote Social Club, Northcote
For gigs on the informal side of things, head to the Northcote Social Club — a classic Melbourne live music venue hosting indie groups and emerging artists. While they’re flat out with events like trivia nights, film screenings, and, of course, live music 7 days a week, the venue’s popular bandroom is also serving up some cracker food from the kitchen, like loaded nachos and Angus burgers.
📍 301 High St, Northcote
6. The Curtin Hotel, Carlton
As one of Australia’s oldest pubs, The Curtin isn’t about frills—it’s about family, food, and fantastic music. The bandroom hosts top live gigs, local album launches, comedy shows, and more. SONNYS, the pub’s comfort food kitchen, serves up fried chicken, burgers, loaded fries, wings, and a seriously indulgent hoagie. The front bar is all about good conversation, good vibes, and great tunes, with a steady lineup of traditional and craft beers. And on Fridays and Saturdays, DJs take over, making it the perfect spot to kick off the weekend.
📍 29 Lygon St, Carlton
7. Deakin Edge, CBD
It’s been Deakin Edge’s lot in life to face premium venues and to be one in its own right. Visitors can look across the Yarra River through the theatre’s glass structure and find Hamer Hall, the towering Arts Centre spire, and the MCG. With its fantastic acoustics and dramatic design, The Edge in Fed Square is rightly one of the most popular live music venues in Melbourne, among locals and tourists alike.
📍 Federation Square, Swanston St &, Flinders St, Melbourne
8. The Toff, CBD
Live music venues don’t come much better than The Toff, whose iconic train carriage booths have been the setting for many a memorable night. Grab cocktails from the bar, pick up a snack or two, and settle in for an evening of great music, which might include the likes of their Tuesday jazz sessions Now Here This, the super Jazz and Jaffles events, and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t be surprised if nights out here turn into a late one…
📍 2f/252 Swanston St, Melbourne
9. Bird’s Basement, CBD
Enjoy dinner and a show at Bird’s Basement, where live music and intimate dining combine. Dinner shows run every night between Wednesday and Saturday, and you can expect a rotating cast of top-class performers on your visit. Non-dining tickets are also available if you just fancy jazz and a drink, but why not go all out?
📍 11 Singers Ln, Melbourne
10. The Tote, Collingwood
It wouldn’t be a Melbourne gig guide without mentioning The Tote. On the verge of being closed forever not too long ago, this iconic live music venue was saved by the owner of the Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar—dedicated to the music community, Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance knew exactly what was worth protecting. The Tote is a legendary locale with four stages, free entry to hear live music on Sundays, and a reputation for scheduling rock & roll acts.
📍 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood
11. The Croxton Bandroom, Thornbury
‘The Croc’ was one of the go-to live music venues in the seventies and eighties, and it still holds a brag-worthy reputation for live music today. Enjoy indie-folk, pop, punk rock, psychedelia, and more on the same stage once graced by legends like Mondo Rock, AC/DC, Midnight Oil, and Rose Tattoo. With a spacious 14-metre-wide stage, finding a good view on gig nights is easy. The front bar offers a full menu, and there’s free customer parking in the 300-space carpark.
📍 607 High St, Thornbury
12. The Night Cat, Fitzroy
A proper Fitzroy institution, The Night Cat has been a staple of Melbourne’s music scene since the early nineties. With its unique 360-degree stage setup, audiences can enjoy performances from any angle. As a self-proclaimed “genre-focused venue,” The Night Cat regularly hosts a mix of funk, Latin, disco, hip hop, and R&B. Having helped launch the careers of acts like The Bamboos and The Cat Empire, it remains a vital piece of the city’s musical history. For those feeling fiery, Sunday salsa classes offer a chance to enjoy social dancing with live music.
📍 137-141 Johnston St, Fitzroy
13. St. Paul’s Cathedral, CBD
Based on its central location alone, St Paul’s Cathedral is a great option when it comes to attending classical concerts in Melbourne. The famous pipe organ built by T. C. Lewis and Co. of Brixton, the landmark’s neo-gothic architecture, and the Cathedral Choir all form part of the cathedral’s musical and historical significance. Since 2013, lovers of classical music have been invited to enjoy lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays at 1pm. And if you really want to immerse yourself in the fine space, you can even apply to play the organ.
📍 Flinders St, Melbourne
14. Fitzroy Town Hall, Fitzroy
Keeping things classical, Fitzroy Town Hall is a 19th-century beauty designed by William J. Ellis. The Napier Street spot has hosted many cultural activities and events over its years, from conferences to performances by the Astra Chamber Music Society. Admire the Victorian details while listening to classical takes on contemporary music, or traditional tango.
📍 201 Napier St, Fitzroy
15. Palais Theatre, St Kilda
This art deco gem in St Kilda is hard to miss. Able to seat almost 3,000 people and undergoing a major refurbishment project since 2017 (spread over 30 years), the Palais Theatre plans ahead. Past and upcoming shows include live music, ballet, opera, and comedy performances.
From Bob Dylan, Kylie Minogue, The Rolling Stones, and Florence & The Machine to Margot Fonteyn and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the best of the best has performed on the grand stage. Grab a pre or post-show drink at the Wintergarden Bar and admire Luna Park while sipping a beer or glass of wine in one of the city’s largest and best live music venues.
📍 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda
16. Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank
With its two distinct spaces, the Melbourne Recital Centre attracts musicians from all genres. The Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, which seats 1,000 guests, boasts warm plywood panelling and exceptional acoustics. In contrast, the Primrose Potter Salon offers a more intimate setting perfect for close-up performances. Beyond being an award-winning live music venue, the Melbourne Recital Centre enriches the community through its artistic programs, as well as learning and access activities. It also serves as a venue for esteemed organisations such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and the Victorian Opera.
📍 31 Sturt St, Southbank
17. Howler, Brunswick
This arts hub, live music venue, beer garden, and theatre space offers something for everyone. Before it began hosting local and international artists, Howler was just an empty warehouse. Today, music lovers flock to the multifunctional space on Dawson St for a diverse range of gigs and events, from weekly house music sessions to theatre nights. Known for its passion for alternative soundscapes, Howler has welcomed acts like The Underachievers, Conrad Sewell, Full Flower Moon Band, and Alfie Templeman. The kitchen is open daily until 9pm, and doggos are welcome in the beer garden.
📍 7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick
18. The JazzLab
The club formerly known as Bennetts Lane Jazz Club is open every night of the week, offering a laidback night out at one of the top live music venues in Brunswick. It’s also your chance to see and support up-and-coming acts from the Melbourne jazz scene, and The JazzLab are committed to helping nurture the careers of people from communities who are underrepresented in the genre. They’ve also got some sweet merch for jazz fans to buy if the mood takes you.
📍 27 Leslie St, Brunswick
19. Kindred Studios, Yarraville
Far from a one-trick pony, Kindred Studios is a creative hub that remains unpredictable in the best way. It’s a vibrant space for bands, dancers, actors, musicians, and a wide range of other innovators. Privately owned and run by artists for artists, Kindred Studios offers spaces to record, film, hold photography shoots, or even host yoga classes. The cherry on top? The bandroom. With album launches, regular performances by local acts, weekly gigs by the Kindred House Band, and more, visitors can dive into genres ranging from jazz and funk to hip-hop and electronic dance music at one of the city’s favourite live music venues.
📍 3 Harris St, Yarraville
20. The Athenaeum Theatre, CBD
If you’re looking for a memorable experience in Melbourne’s CBD, then look no further than this landmark building. Listed on the National Trust’s Register of Historic Buildings and on the Victorian Heritage Register, The Athenaeum is not your run-of-the-mill space.
Considered one of the city’s main venues for comedy, the theatre hosts the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. And as well as filling seats for music and theatre performances, talks, and discussions, it boasts a lending library with an extensive collection. So, head to the CBD’s Paris End (or, as some people are calling it, the East End Theatre District) for everything and anything, from intimate Candlelight tribute concerts to burlesque stage shows and more.
📍 188 Collins St, Melbourne
21. Revolver Upstairs, Prahran
This restaurant, art gallery, bandroom, and club is an experience. Its unique blend offers live bands, top DJs, and a massive poster wall showcasing local and international artists—all tied together by Colonel Tan’s Thai Kitchen, serving curries, shared plates, noodles, and more. While weekends are mainly for clubbing, the intimate Revolver Bandroom has also hosted acts like Air Force Crew, Metronomy, Midnight Juggernauts, The Grouch, and Pumpkinhead, adding to the venue’s eclectic magic.
📍 229 Chapel St, Prahran
22. The Paris Cat, CBD
Since 2005, The Paris Cat has been a haven for live jazz in Melbourne’s CBD. The three-storey venue houses two jazz performance spaces — the main basement room, and the newer, more intimate Parisian Loft — along with a tapas bar in the gallery. The building dates back to 1895, which helps capture the classic Bee-Bop vibes of the Paris clubs it has been inspired by, and visitors including Robbie Williams and Bob Dylan have dropped by for a visit in the past.
📍 6 Goldie Pl, Melbourne
23. Cherry Bar, CBD
The polar opposite of its refined neighbour, the Athenaeum Theatre, Cherry Bar is celebrated not only for its hard rock ethos but also for the wild stories woven into its legacy. Head down ACDC Lane to enter the very spot where Jack Black once danced the night away and where unofficial wakes were held for legends like Prince and David Bowie. So steeped in rock & roll greatness is this bar that even Liam Gallagher once attempted to buy it. Cherry Bar always has something going on, from nightly live music to the annual Cherry Rock music festival.
📍 68 Little Collins St, Melbourne
24. Collingwood Town Hall, Collingwood
Experience a touch of 19th-century charm at Collingwood Town Hall. The ballroom hosts a variety of events, including Candlelight concerts, theatrical performances, and more. Watch a string quartet perform contemporary music, all while being enchanted by the glow of thousands of flickering candles. The venue’s interior art deco details and timeless elegance come alive through the power of music.
📍 140 Hoddle St, Abbotsford
25. Wax Music Lounge, CBD
If the owner of a vinyl record player and an extensive music collection envisioned their perfect basement for live music, Wax Music Lounge would come remarkably close to that ideal. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail or an ice-cold pint while tucking into a slice of pizza and shooting some pool. Immerse yourself in the beats and vibes at this popular Melbourne spot, located in the basement of the Selina Hotel, where local DJs and live musicians play into the early hours.
📍 250 Flinders St, Melbourne