Where to see live music every night of the week in Melbourne

Want to beat the Monday blues? Head to the 'Social Sanctuary' at Northcote Social Club where there is free live music every week. This long-running event also serves up $20 parma and $10 pints all night. 

If you haven't already heard, The Toff is the place to spend your Tuesdays. Every week, they open the ballroom for $15 cocktails and dining in their plush new booths with a free late-night jazz ensemble. A black truffle Negroni? Yes please. 

The Tote has been booking a thrashing roster of local and international rock and punk bands like the Hoodoo Gurus to artists like Paul Kelly, and this is what they do best. The Collingwood hotel is the place to be if you want to be part of Melbourne’s rock history and listen to music with real edge mid-week. 

What better way to warm-up for the weekend than with a gig at the Gaso? There are regular band residencies at The Gasometer, so it’s not unusual to walk into a live gig mid-week. Situated on Smith Steet in Collingwood, it is a mammoth venue complete with a band room mezzanine level with a dome-shaped retractable roof. 

There seems to be an album launch nearly every other night at the Grace Darling and for good reason – the institution of a pub is a great launching pad for Melbourne’s edgiest up-and-coming bands. Fridays are especially good nights to catch a loud gig in the low-ceilinged downstairs bandroom. 

If you want to feel like you’ve gone back in time to your high school disco, head for The Curtin on a Saturday night where the gold streamer curtains behind the stage add a nostalgic touch. The legendary bandroom has hosted everyone from the Libertines, Big Theif, Todd Rundgren, Gang of Four to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

Since 2009, up-and-coming bands have loved playing at the Workers Club in Fitzroy and it's easy to see the appeal. Nearly every day of the week, bands can play to a crowd of music lovers who are up for listening to some new tunes over a few pints and some American-inspired food. Expect anything from surf-rock to electronic.