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[title]Love live music, and want to shake up your nights out in the city? Melbourne Recital Centre is now home to a third live music-focused venue. Set with the city’s skyline as its backdrop, The Beacon is a sleek, neon-lit space primed for unwinding with great music and views.
The Beacon has been dubbed the “rebel child” among its sibling venues, serving as a blend between an inviting third space and an intimate live performance venue. It has an approachable vibe, as well as an inviting food and drinks menu.
Pushing the envelope with its line-up, you can nab tickets to everything from laidback live sessions to cabaret shows. The 60-70 seater – which can be transformed into an immersive cabaret mode based on the event – programs based on seven streams, ensuring a slice of fun for various audiences with its huge upcoming inaugural slate.
For jazz lovers, their Skyline Jazz sessions will combine mellow tunes from a bunch of homegrown talent with panoramic views. You’ll see duos including Fem Belling & Monique DiMattina, Tamara Murphy & Stephen Magnusson and Michelle Nicolle & Hugh Stuckey on the bill across October and November.
If you’re on the hunt for exclusive yet personal events, there are three streams that offer up just that. Burrimul Songs will put the spotlight on First Nations performers like Jess Hitchcock and Kee’ahn, who weave storytelling and language into their music.
Unplugged aims to service those who love the stripped-back contemporary music scene, curating raw performances from artists like Holly Hebe and Sean Riley x Royal Drue.
Then there’s A Night With…, which will whisk iconic musicians across all genres away from bigger venues, transporting them to this more intimate performance space with a smaller audience. Expect to see Meow Meow & Friend, and duo Paul Grabowsky & Ross Wilson across September and October.
In the mood for a leisurely Monday morning? Beacon Bach, as the name implies, is one for lovers of the classics and slow living. Inspired by the legendary musical family, musicians like Katie Yap and Zoë Black, Caroline Henbest and Molly Kadarauch will take over the venue to celebrate the beauty of beloved Bach compositions – and occasionally, a guest highlight of non-Bach pieces.
And here’s one for the musical theatre buffs – Take a Bow will celebrate the Australian musical theatre scene by showcasing an array of works by Aussie composers and genre-crossing performances that you’d ordinarily catch onstage. The September to November program includes Neylon & Peele, tragic. a song cycle by Indy Angel and A Night with Dr Trevor Jones.
And coming up in the near future is Brave Conversations. Catch the leaders of the Brave Conversations Project, Farid Zaid and Daniel Heller engaged in intellectually stimulating presentations with musicians that aim to challenge your perspectives and encourage growth by leaning into the concept of uncomfortability. Keep an eye out for tickets on sale soon.
You can explore The Beacon’s full inaugural program here.