.webp)
Melbourne doesn’t just play music; it breathes it. From its graffiti-streaked laneways to its grand performance halls, the city is an endless mixtape of sounds.
Whether you’re chasing thumping electronic beats, dj drops, metal meltdowns, soulful sax solos, or indie riffs that scream ‘this is my jam’, Melbourne’s music festivals will have you singing their praises (sometimes literally).
So, crank up the volume and plan your festival pilgrimage – you’re in for a wild, wonderful ride.
In This Blog
Does Melbourne Have a Good Music Scene?
Mate, “good” doesn’t even scratch the surface. Melbourne’s music scene is legendary.
It's the kind of city where buskers sound like headliners, and gig posters are street art. From iconic live venues in Brunswick to sprawling festival stages, Melbourne doesn’t just host music—it lives it.
Whether you're into indie darlings, world-class orchestras, or synthy dance beats, there's something to make your ears—and your soul—sing. No wonder UNESCO crowned Melbourne a City of Music in 2017. Bravo!
Melbourne’s Top Music Events and Festivals
Melbourne is a city where every season hums with a different melody, and every laneway holds the promise of a killer gig. Ready to map out your 2025 Melbourne music events and festival calendar? Let’s dive into the rhythm of the city.
Let Them Eat Cake
Welcome to 1st of January goals: recover from New Year’s Eve in the most Melbourne way possible – with a boutique festival that serves beats, art, and gourmet eats on a silver platter.
Held at the picturesque Werribee Mansion, Let Them Eat Cake on New Years Day (LTECNYD) is a mix of electronica, avant-garde installations, and enough groovy vibes to kickstart your year.
It’s New Year’s Day done Melbourne-style: effortlessly cool and a little unexpected.
- Date: 1 January 2025
- Location: Werribee Mansion, Werribee
St Kilda Festival
Australia’s biggest free festival meets the best backdrop: Melbourne’s iconic beachside suburb. Soak up the sun, sea, and sounds at the iconic free St Kilda Festival that transforms St Kilda’s foreshore into a buzzing live music hotspot.
Expect sun-soaked stages, ocean breezes, and a line-up of artists that will have you dancing on the sand (shoes optional). It’s a summer fling you’ll want to make an annual tradition.
- Date: 15-16 February 2025
- Location: St Kilda Foreshore
Laneway Festival
The kingpin of indie cool, Laneway Festival takes Melbourne’s urban aesthetic and turns it up to eleven. Featuring cutting-edge artists and a crowd that looks like they stepped out of a streetwear catalogue, this is where serious music lovers (and even more serious vibes) converge.
Think indie darlings, emerging talent, and the coolest crowd you'll find in Melbourne all year. Laneway Festival weaves a magic spell through the city’s inner streets, turning industrial chic into an unforgettable stage. Bonus points for its lineups: they’re as edgy as your Brunswick mate’s haircut.
- Date: 14 February 2025
- Location: The Park, Flemington
Brunswick Music Festival
This is Brunswick at its finest – celebrating local legends, global sounds, and the suburb’s iconic vibe. Melbourne’s coolest suburb puts its heart on its sleeve for this iconic celebration. The Brunswick Music Festival is where hipster meets harmony, with gigs in intimate venues, free street parties, and a dash of cultural flair. Warning: you might fall in love with the suburb as much as the sounds.
From live gigs in intimate venues to free street parties, this festival is the ultimate neighbourhood jam.
- Date: 2-10 March 2025
- Location: Various venues, Brunswick
Now or Never
Equal parts music festival and sci-fi dreamscape, Now or Never pushes boundaries with futuristic beats, immersive visuals, and innovative performances. Held across the CBD, this event pairs world-class performances with mind-bending digital experiences. It’s like a music festival met with a sci-fi movie and decided to raise the bar for live events.
It’s more than an event; it’s a journey to the edge of your imagination.
- Date: TBC 2025
- Location: Various venues, Melbourne
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
October in Melbourne is smooth and sultry, thanks to this globally acclaimed jazz celebration. The Melbourne International Jazz Festival attracts global legends and local maestros to stages citywide, including Brunswick’s own intimate venues, and it’s all about the soulful sounds of saxophones and syncopation.
Even if jazz isn’t your usual jam, the sultry saxophones and soulful vocals might just convert you.
- Date: TBC 2025
- Location: Various venues, Melbourne
Metropolis Festival
Calling all classical music rebels! Metropolis Festival shakes up the symphonic scene with its cutting-edge take on orchestral music. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra brings a bold, contemporary edge to the classical stage.
This April gem is proof that classical music can – and will – surprise you. Surprise your mate with a ticket today.
- Date: 16-17 April 2025
- Location: Melbourne Recital Centre and Hamer Hall
Hello Sunshine Festival
Picture-perfect views, feel-good vibes, and tunes that’ll have you swaying all day long. Held in the heart of the heart of Melbourne, Hello Sunshine is your ultimate off-beat festival. In 2025, the line-up is huge. We’re talking Rouge Traders, Smashmouth, Wolf Mother, and Drapht. Yeah… you won’t want to miss Hello Sunshine Melbourne 2025.
- Date: 1 March 2025
- Location: Caribbean Gardens
Come Home to Comfort at Rambla Solarino House
After the last encore fades and your feet are crying louder than the speakers, there’s nothing sweeter than retreating to Rambla Solarino House.
Located in the vibrant heart of Brunswick, Rambla offers sleek, stylish spaces to kick back in after a big day (or night) of festival adventures. With creature comforts aplenty and the buzzing Brunswick vibe just outside your door, it’s the perfect home base for Melbourne’s festival lovers.
Book directly to save on your Melbourne trip and make sure your stay at Rambla Solarino House hits all the right notes.
