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As the best city in the world for 2026 (sorry, we had to bring it up again) Melbourne punches well above its weight when it comes to live music, but in good news for out-of-towners, Victoria’s regional hubs are about to get their own soundtrack.
This autumn, the Melbourne-born music program Always Live is hitting the road with ‘Victorian Vibes’ – a free pop-up music series designed to bring top-tier live shows to towns across the state.
Launching in Ballarat on Saturday, April 18, Victorian Vibes brings the same high-energy magic that lit up Melbourne last summer with Jimmy Barnes, The Teskey Brothers, Guy Sebastian, Mallrat and Adalita. But this time, regional communities will get up close and personal with contemporary artists in unexpected spots – from local cafés and laneways to plazas and parks.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos says the series is all about “bringing free live music to communities right across our state… supporting local businesses, creating jobs and giving people more reasons to visit regional Victoria.”
According to Always Live CEO Psyche Payne, Victorian Vibes is “about connecting artists, audiences and local places in exciting ways that feel immediate, accessible and uniquely Victorian.”
Think of it as a trail of live music that doubles as a mini road trip: each stop invites locals (and visiting music enthusiasts) to wander, explore and take in the cute shops, foodie gems and local delights in each town.
After Ballarat, the series will journey through Gippsland, the Goldfields, the Bellarine, the Murray and the Great Ocean Road, touching down in a new town every second weekend until late June. And true to its pop-up spirit, exact performance locations and artists will only be revealed to those registered – or those lucky enough to stumble upon them.
Keen to make a weekend of it? V/Line is offering free travel for April, with capped fares on weekends thereafter, plus extra public transport options to keep your music getaway smooth.
Supported by the Victorian Government via Visit Victoria, Victorian Vibes is part of Always Live’s mission to cement Victoria’s rep as Australia’s live music capital – because why should Melbourne have all the fun?
Stay tuned: more artist announcements and secret locations will be dropping soon via Always Live’s channels – you’ll find all the links via the Always Live website.
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