Melbourne Music Week announces flagship venue

PRESS RELEASE:

Ahead of the full 2015 program reveal on Wednesday 7 October, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) today announced that this year’s flagship venue will be the disused basement and adjoining rooms of the Former Royal Women’s Hospital on Swanston Street.

This fascinating slice of uniquely Melbourne history will provide an exciting canvas for cutting-edge installations and programming, 150 years after the building first opened. Over the years the hidden site, now part of University of Melbourne’s Carlton Connect Initiative, has seen ground-breaking medical advancements take place, including the first ever IVF quadruplets.

In 2015, these very same walls will be transformed into MMW’s first carbon neutral flagship venue, with all carbon emissions measured and offset at the conclusion of MMW.

Chair of Marketing Councillor Beverley Pinder-Mortimer said MMW has built a reputation for redefining the creative use of public space.

“From Kubik, to Where?House at the Argus Building; The Residence dome in Birrurung Marr and MMW at QVM last year, the city really does become the stage for Melbourne Music Week,” said Cr Pinder-Mortimer.

Labyrinthine music event Swell has been commissioned to reinvent 12 of the Former Royal Women’s Hospital’s forgotten rooms, with secret one-off performances that redefine the way punters experience live music. A multi-sensory immersion supported by Eventbrite, Swell blends music with unexpected art and design elements to create an evocative soundscape adventure throughout MMW.

MMW Opening Night at the Former Royal Women’s Hospital (Friday 13 November) will breathe fresh life into the building with an all-Melbourne line up including Gypsy & The Cat (pictured), The Harpoons and Dorsal Fins.

“We are committed to ensuring local musicians are a key part of Melbourne Music Week and our all- Melbourne opening night is sure to complement the transformation of this impressive space,” said Councillor Rohan Leppert, Chair of Arts Melbourne.

Melbourne duo Gypsy & The Cat catapulted onto the world stage and festival circuit following 2010 breakout album Gilgamesh, and continued with 2012 follow up album The Late Blue, further cementing Australia's reputation as the ultimate hotbed of synth pop talent. Now the self-described "semi-acoustic chillwave" duo made up of guitarist/drummer Xavier Bacash and classically trained pianist Lionel Towers, will hit MMW with their 2015 Hearts A Gun EP.

The Harpoons are Bec Rigby, whose arresting vocals invoke the great voices heard from Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia; brothers Henry and Jack Madin, who write undeniable boppers and ballads that burst with harmony; and Martin King (of Oscar + Martin), who ties the ends with his steezy beats and sultry vocals. The Harpoons will be performing their latest single Ready For Your Love together with tracks from their debut album Falling For You, among others.

Fresh from the BIGSOUND stage, Melbourne’s band of many Dorsal Fins combines members from bands Eagle and the Worm, Saskwatch, GL, and New Gods, and their genre-bending tracks shimmer with flavours from each. Expect to hear songs from their February 2015 debut album Mind Renovation.

The only music event of its kind, MMW showcases Melbourne’s world-class music scene over eight days at music venues in the CBD, as well as at some of our city’s most iconic buildings and locations. A uniquely Melbourne event, MMW is owned and delivered by City of Melbourne.

Melbourne Music Week 13-20 November 2015 melbourne.vic.gov.au/mmw