The best gigs happening in Melbourne this month

The 2025 edition of Laneway is coming to Melbourne's Flemington Park on Friday, February 14. The woman of the moment and pop songstress behind such anthemic earworms as ‘Apple’ and 'I think about it all the time', Charli xcx, will return to Australia and New Zealand to perform exclusively at Laneway. Joining her is British bedroom pop rock icon Beabadoobee; the eternally charming Clairo (hot tip: stream ‘Sexy to Someone’ right now to have yourself a good bop); one of the biggest names in UK dance, Bicep, who present their new AV DJ show CHROMA; alternative pop queen Remi Wolf; dance floor euphoria expert Barry Can’t Swim; British neo-soul star Olivia Dean and plenty more.

If you’re a country music fan, you’re almost guaranteed to be familiar with Chris Stapleton. The Kentucky-born star has won ten Grammys, 15 Country Music Association awards and 10 Academy of Country Music awards – placing him amongst the most celebrated musicians in the United States. Now, Chris Stapleton has announced that he’s finally touring Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever in early 2025 – starting with two shows at Rod Laver Arena on February 25 and 26. 

Asia TOPA (aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts) will feature a revolving roster of live music events, including a Kiki Ball curated by Kianna 007 Oricci and Mirasia; a team-up between Taiwanese artist, DJ and techno star Betty Apple and out-there extraordinaire queen Betty Grumble; and Filipino sister act Fateeha and Miss A with fellow Morobeats hero DJ Tha Wzard plus Thai rapper Réjizz. First Nations-led festival Yirramboi will also host Aotearoa outfit the Katayanagi Twins and more, with visuals from Sapphic Flicks. NGV’s Friday night dance parties will sashay in line with Asia TOPA, so you can check out the Yayoi Kusama retrospective while getting loose.

Whack on something dazzling and dust off your dancing shoes as the much-loved NGV Friday Nights returns this summer. The popular event returns for 18 weeks during the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV International. The trendy tunes are a key drawcard, with DJs performing in the Great Hall every night. These musicians have been chosen to compliment the energy of Kusama’s work with upbeat J-pop and electro rhythms. The stacked line-up includes Small Fry, Jnett, Aqueerius, Rainbow Chan and takeovers from both Midsumma and Asia TOPA. 

NGV Friday Nights runs from December 20 until April 18. For further information and to book tickets visit the NGV website here.

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