Melbourne Music Week 2013
WITH an eclectic mix of music being showcased at this year’s Melbourne Music Week, Sarah Khazaal looks at the highlights of the week-long celebrations.
Melbourne Music Week (MMW) is back this year, showcasing Melbourne’s extensive arts and music scene, and celebrating talent all across the board.
Between November 15 – 23, Melburnians will be treated to a range of our very best home-grown music to a variety of international acts.
All seemingly quite eclectic in style, the event is not just limited to musicians. The week provides a platform for exhibitionists of a host of disciplines to display and share their craft, demonstrating how music affects it. There are even a number of free events to choose from, truly embodying the sentiment of the festival of showcasing artist’s work and for it to be accessible to the public.
From the official press release, City of Melbourne Arts and Culture chair Councillor Rohan Leppert has ensured all attendees and contributors to the event that “the not-for-profit model ensures that 100 per cent of ticket and bar revenue goes back to the music industry, supporting the very music scene MMW celebrates”.
With 75 per cent of Australia’s artists hailing from Victoria, this strategy is MMW’s assurance that the music and arts culture of Melbourne will be preserved and even improved upon.
Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory
Hailing from both Germany and Norway, Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory represent that very alternative sound that the festival is facilitating.
Experimenting with the carillon, which is a console-driven set of bells each capable of achieving their own tone, is The Bell Laboratory. In conjunction with Pantha Du Prince, this set can be classified as a general concert, or even as a full orchestra.
Together, the two create a mystical sound that is general affiliated with those of church bells. Yet this calculated construction of music invites audiences to consider the bells in another realm.
This act embodies the festival’s experimental nature, and although it is not a pop-up event in a record store, or a tram party (as MMW had promised), it is still worth exploring, as you will no doubt discover other musical enjoyments.
Gotye & His Collaborators
MMW is also working in conjunction with the Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI), the Rooftop Cinema, RMIT Gallery and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) to ensure that audiences are exposed to a range of film projects as well.
City of Melbourne Marketing chair Councillor Beverley Pinder-Mortimer weighed into the placement of films in this year’s festival, stating “the films and exhibition as part of this year’s event highlight MMW’s core philosophy of celebrating uniquely Melbourne locations and the city’s iconic musical talent.”
One of the most anticipated events in the program is Gotye & His Collaborators, a panel discussion where worldwide sensation Gotye will discuss his creative and collaborative process with music critic, Megan Spencer and other contributors.
Audiences will be able to understand more about the music video process, and pose questions to Gotye about his creative train of thought – from its conceptual infancy through its life in filming.
This exclusive MMW event is part of ACMI’s latest exhibition, Spectacle: The Music Video Exhibition.
Music and Food
With so much to see and do, the festival organisers have ensured bodies will never go without the fuel needed to survive. Although MMW is dedicated to music and arts, the array of foods provided is a smorgasbord that cannot go without notice.
MMW will be graced with the culinary joys from some of the best chef’s in Melbourne, such as Joseph Abboud from Brunswick restaurant, Rumi, and will also play host to pop-up performances in some of the city’s best cafés.
“This delicious and exciting food element is the perfect accompaniment to an already jam-packed program of music, events and workshops,” said Councillor Pinder-Mortimer.
The food program involves as much detail as the music program and is catered throughout various times of the day, with breakfast, lunch and dinner sessions being held in restaurants across Melbourne.
Thinking of what to do on your lunch break? Check out the Lunchbox Sessions’ schedule hosted by music site, Mess + Noise.
Mess + Noise’s Lunchbox Sessions start from November 18 – 22, 12.30pm daily and will be hosted at the People’s Garden, Lower Terrace at Birrarung Marr just outside of Federation Square.
Melbourne Music Week commences November 15 – 23 with performances, workshops and other events hosted all across Melbourne. For more information about Melbourne Music Week including the program, musical acts and other events, head on over to their official website.