Ashleigh Hastings

If there's one sure-fire way of injecting joy into your year – it's festivals. Gathering with like-minded people in rainbow-festooned palaces full of amazing music, glittering performances and zesty food sounds like utopia to us – which is why it's a blessing that Australia has an incredible array of festivals on offer, one for every season of the year. In this list, we round up the best festivals that we reckon you should check out Down Under in 2024. Starting with those that are on earliest in the year and ending with those at the end, each of these festivals has been selected for its scale, its astonishing visuals, and its commitment to seriously good times. From music to comedy, to wild light displays in the Outback, you can rest assured that going to any of these incredible Aussie festivals will be a bloody good time indeed.  RECOMMENDED: The best musical and theatre shows to see in Australia in 2024. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

Open House Melbourne is your annual chance to take a peek behind the closed doors of some of the city’s most curious buildings. This year’s program boasts more than 170 events, all packed into the weekend of July 27-28. With so many spaces to see, we’ve dug up some of the quirkiest places you can explore this year.  

From musicals based on much-loved and seriously messed up kids’ TV shows to gothic horror reimagined via icons returning to the stage after decades away, this year in theatre is shaping up to be one of the strongest we’ve seen in quite some time.Here are a few shows we know you’ll want to catch before it’s too late to say you were there. RECOMMENDED: Culture vultures, come and get your fix at these top Australian art galleries. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

July 2024: The great thing about Melbourne is that when the mercury drops, our world-class theatre scene stays red hot. There are so many productions happening this month, we couldn't even come close to fitting them all on this list. If the razzle-dazzle of musicals is your thing, Wicked and Beauty and the Beast are sure to impress. For those looking for something a little more serious, we can't go past the outstanding Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Comedy Theatre. From the toe-tapping to the cathartic, consider this your ultimate guide to all the best theatre and musicals happening this July. When stuck for things to do between shows, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Want something else to do this month? Check out our gig guide.

Nothing beats going analog and hearing the warm crackle and pop of spinning vinyl. In the wake of the digital music revolution, bricks-and-mortar record stores took a brutal hit, but luckily vinyl has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, with sales on the rise. Is it of any surprise? Considering the 'TikTokification' of music and the fact everything is now downloadable, heading to a store and sifting through black-wax gems feels somewhat ritualistic. Plus, chatting to record shop owners and picking their brains is like encountering a bastion of infinite musical knowledge. Looking for something that is a blend of David Bowie, Afro-punk and folktronica? They've got just the LP. So if you're a seasoned crate digger looking for an obscure bootleg or just want to pick up your favourite album now that it has been remastered, check out the best record stores in Melbourne.  While we're waxing lyrical about music, why not support your local scene by hitting one of the excellent live music pubs or our picks for the best upcoming gigs.

Here at Time Out, we're all about spotlighting the individuals and organisations that are making lasting change in the city's arts, hospitality, community and culture sectors.  So let us introduce Melbourne's Future Shapers for 2024 – a group of creative types, clever thinkers, risk takers, boundary pushers and legendary locals who are dedicated to making our beloved city a better place to work, live and play. Read on to find out more about these seven remarkable people. Melbourne's future really is looking bright. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

Do you ever feel intimidated walking into a traditional art gallery? Tiptoeing around a silent white room surveying high art painted by white men who knows how long ago? It can all be a bit much for those of us who missed the ‘art appreciation’ chapter as kids. Thankfully, there’s no trace of buttoned-up elitism at Brunswick’s Honey Bones Gallery. The mentorship-focused institution embraces community rather than hierarchy as its guiding principle, with every artist involved receiving an equal share of the limelight – no matter if they’re ‘well-known’ or just starting out. Managing director Britt Devlin says the gallery is about much more than your typical “come in, look at some art, walk out and that’s the end of the interaction”. Alongside creative director and artist Jess Wright, Devlin is using her background in architecture and business to build a different kind of art gallery.  Honey Bones, which describes itself as a culture-heavy, First Nations-owned gallery by artists and for artists, runs a suite of initiatives aimed at engaging the community beyond the usual art crowd. According to Devlin, that world does tend to “feel very insular”.  “It’s really important for us to create different avenues,” she says.  Exhibitions are often group shows where all artists are billed equally, and newbies can apply to join the residency program to get a leg up. “We try to make everyone feel like the main event by elevating emerging artists,” says Devlin. But in Devlin’s eyes, bridging

The colder months can make it all too easy to go into hibernation, but where's the fun in that? Adelaide might be known for its summertime fringe festival, but really, it's a city that never stops all year round. From illuminated interactions to educational experiences, here are our favourite things happening in Adelaide this winter.  RECOMMENDED: Hit up one of Adelaide's best cafés while you're in town. 

Yes, we know it’s tempting to spend your winter nights bundled up in bed like a burrito. But it’s time to strip off the Oodie and step outside because there’s a whole world of magical, colourful light displays waiting to enchant you.  In Australia, it seems every capital city has its own winter light festival, brought to life by twinkling fairy lights, illuminated artworks and showstopping fireworks. From the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-platform festival, Vivid, to Uluru’s award-winning Field of Light, these are the best winter light festivals worth travelling to in Australia. RECOMMENDED: These are the best festivals for music, art and culture in Australia.

Some might argue that drive-in cinemas never went out of style. Maybe that's true, but there's no denying that due to a bunch of different of factors, drive-in cinemas are having something of a revival lately.  As usual, Melbourne is well ahead of the trend, sporting two permanent drive-in cinemas across the city. For a while we had three, but the famous Lunar Drive in has unfortunately closed. These outdoor cinemas make for a cute date night idea, or for a fun way to hang out with friends (or treat the kids). To really complete the retro vibe, many of the cinemas also offer a snack bar service reminiscent of American diners (some will even deliver the food to your vehicle). Don't have a car? That's okay, we've compiled a list of Melbourne's best-looking movie theatres.

July 2024: Winter is here, but Melbourne's galleries and museums are still running hot. Over at ACMI, meet curious ever-evolving digital characters at Beings. For a look at the wonders that can be achieved with the humble Lego brick, check out Art of the Brick Immersive Experience. Check out NGV's blockbuster exhibition Pharaoh, which brings together more than 500 ancient Egyptian works, or hear First People's stories of the land at Biik Milboo Dhumba – Country is Always Talking. There's always something to see in this all-embracing city of ours, so don't let the month pass you by without getting your fix of the best art, culture and exhibitions in Melbourne this March. When in doubt, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Keen to add some art to your home? These are the best places to buy art in Melbourne.

There’s no denying it – Australia is one of the world’s most incredible destinations for travellers. We might be biased, but you can’t argue with our stunning turquoise beaches, ancient tropical rainforests, flaming red desserts and buzzy metropolitan cities. Choosing where to go and what to see on your next trip around Australia is as challenging as finding a shady spot at Bondi Beach on a warm, summer’s day. But don’t worry, our editors at Time Out are here to help with their personal recommendations of the best places to visit in Australia.  RECOMMENDED: How many of Australia's most popular travel spots have you ticked off this list?

Do you have golden retriever energy, or are you more of a black cat kind of person? Felines and canines form an important part of the everyday lives, pop culture and mythology of humans, and the latest exhibition coming to the National Gallery of Victoria celebrates the role of these animals.  Cats and Dogs will open at the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre in November 2024. The exhibition will feature more than 250 works of art, design and fashion spanning diverse periods and media, all drawn from the NGV’s own collection.  One side of the exhibition will be dedicated to all things dogs, with the other side to our feline friends. The cross-cultural and transhistorical collection of artworks spotlights the cultural symbolism of cats and dogs, from their significance in religion, spirituality and the occult, to their appearances in pop culture.  The multifaceted line-up of artists includes Pierre Bonnard, Rembrandt van Rijn, David Hockney and Jeff Koons, as well as local talents Atong Atem, Grace Cossington Smith and Trevor Turbo Brown. In terms of fashion, there will also be impressive pieces from Romance Was Born and Alexander McQueen. Find out more about Cats and Dogs including ticket information over here. Feeling arty? Check out the best art and exhibitions happening in Melbourne this month.

We can picture it now – the sun is shining, we’ve got a bev in hand, and we’re at the glorious Royal Botanic Gardens ready to enjoy some live music. It’s an idyllic daydream, but it’s one that could soon become a reality. All you have to do is snap up tickets. Live at the Gardens is a brand new gig series popping up in Melbourne, where the lush, expansive lawns of the Royal Botanic Gardens will host up to 5,000 people for an eclectic mix of musical acts. The concerts will kick off across two weekends in November, with more gigs planned for March in what is set to become an ongoing series. The line-up for the debut Live at the Gardens session has been announced, as has the date of Friday, November 15. We’ve got our fingers crossed for blue skies and a gentle spring breeze. Dancefloor legends The Presets will take the stage, supported by Midnight Juggernauts DJs. Haiku Hands and Joey Lightbulb will also be out in force, creating a well-rounded line-up. Next up, Crowd favourite and dual ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter Matt Corby will headline on Saturday, November 16, with support from ARIA Best Rock Album winners Middle Kids. This one-night-only affair will also be Corby’s only Victorian show. Fast-forward to Saturday, November 23 for singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and activist Xavier Rudd. The Torquay local turned global star will be supported by multi-award-winning songwriter and Warnindhilyagwa woman Emily Wurramara, and Calypso Cora, a four-piece led by Rudd'

It’s lights, camera, action for the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) this August, when a red carpet will be rolled out for a massive eighteen days of cinematic revelry. The festival celebrates Australian and international filmmaking with a program of more than 250 films. With so much to see, we've cut through the curtain to unveil everything you need to know.   What is the Melbourne International Film Festival? MIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the world, alongside Cannes and Berlin. The annual festival is held over three weeks each year throughout Melbourne and surrounds. Founded in 1952, the festival presents a curated global program of screen experiences and the world's largest showcase of Australian filmmaking.  When is the Melbourne International Film Festival? Running between August 8 and 25, MIFF will include 18 days of in-cinema programming with star-studded events, world premiere screenings, headline features and filmmaker talks.  What sort of things can we expect from the program? Popcorn at the ready folks, as you can expect a line-up of more than 250 films from all around the world. The full MIFF 2024 program has now been revealed and it boasts more than 400 sessions of Australian and world cinema, from drama to comedy and everything in between. Anticipate plenty of experimentation, too. The festival will open on Thursday, August 8, with a flick from Oscar-winning Melburnian Adam Elliot, known for his acclaimed 2004 claymation film Harvie Cru

Melbourne-based Sevenfold Theatre Company Inc was recently recognised at the 41st Green Room Awards for 2023’s Blue to the Horizon. The production, which chronicles the outbreak of World War Three, won Best New Australian Musical Theatre Writing. Now, Sevenfold has changed tack to focus on one of Shakespeare’s classics: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Director Mitchell Wills has a fresh, bohemian-inspired take on the romance laden tale, which follows young lovers who escape to a magical forest where fairies meddle with their affections. Expect mistaken identities, love potions and all kinds of chaos.  The cast will create a live score using instruments, voices and their own bodies, adding to the enchanting atmosphere of the Athenian forest setting. This production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays at Footscray’s Bluestone Church Arts Space from July 16-20. Find out more and grab tickets at the website.  Love to catch a film al fresco? Check out the best outdoor cinemas in Melbourne. Prefer the comfort of an air-conditioned movie theatre? These are Melbourne's best cinemas.

The multi-award-winning Queenscliff Music Festival is back with a three-day celebration of live music, locally sourced produce and beverages and kid-friendly activities. Take the easy drive down to Queenscliff and enjoy the relaxed beachy atmosphere during the festival, which takes place across three days from November 22-24.  As usual, this year’s Queenscliff Musical line-up has been curated to showcase Aussie talent across rock, folk, indie, blues, country and more, with a sprinkling of international flavours.  Standout artists include Michael Franti and Spearhead, indie folk star Marlon Williams, acclaimed country singer Kasey Chambers, Aussie great Xavier Rudd, vocal powerhouse Grace Cummings and Melbourne heavyweights Cash Savage and The Last Drinks. And don’t worry, the kiddies will be delighted by the legendary Wiggles Sound System.  Ticket varieties abound, including single day passes, camping tickets, glamping options and multi-day passes on offer. You can find more line-up and ticketing information here.

From the story’s origins hundreds of years ago, to its transformation into the classic 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. In its musical form, the production hasn’t been seen in Melbourne since the ’90s, when Hugh Jackman famously performed as Gaston in his first professional role. Fast forward three decades and we’re once again seeing a Melbourne stage transformed into the provincial town and Baroque castle we know so well. Only this time round, the lavish set design is augmented with cleverly integrated digital screens. It’s just one of several updates that ensure this reimagined production of the beloved fairytale keeps up with the times. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this is a large-scale musical with all the belles, whistles and big bucks. Visual splendour is the MO here – think kaleidoscopic costumes, gasp-inducing illusions and spectacular lighting – and it’s easy to see why this show broke box office records at Brisbane’s QPAC.  However, all that Disney investment would be useless without the gifted cast. Shubshri Kandiah exudes whimsy-with-a-backbone as bookworm Belle, charming us with her sweet songs and sassy moments – though the folks in her provincial town just don’t get it.  Brendan Xavier’s beast is alternately ferocious and boyish. His startled squeals and hair-twirling moments help make Belle’s dramatic change in feelings a touch more believable. Both leads shine in their solo numbers, with Xavier’s ‘If I C

If there’s one thing we’ve noticed about Adelaide lately, it’s that the city is gunning to equal Melbourne and Sydney’s status as year-round cultural capitals of Oz. And what better way to cement that status than by hosting an after-dark winter festival to rival those on the East Coast. Illuminate Adelaide literally and figuratively light up the city from July 4-21 for its fourth year, with an enchanting mix of free and ticketed events taking place all around the CBD. The light-centric festival switches into gear from 5.30pm, across 17 action-packed nights filled with activities for kids and grownups alike.  The intersection of light, sound and technology is where this festival shines, with an impressive program of interactive installations, breathtaking spectacles and a music festival-within-a-festival.  If a free night out is what’s in your budget right now, Illuminate Adelaide has got you covered. Check out 40 projections and installations throughout the CBD as part of the free City Lights initiative, which draws millions of people out of their winter hibernation each year. Expect large-scale projections in kaleidoscopic colour, lovingly created by highly-skilled local and international artists. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, skip over to Base Camp at Lot Fourteen, the central hub where you can hydrate, refuel and enjoy performances.  Ticketed program highlights include Unsound Adelaide, a music festival featuring everything from late-night experimental club sets to a

Open House Melbourne (OHM) is back, meaning it's that special time of year when we can have a peek inside some of Melbourne's most alluring buildings. But permissible prying aside, OHM serves as an important chance to reflect on the past, present and future of design and its role in binding the fabric of our dear city together.  Taking place on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, this year’s OHM theme is Re/discover Your City, which invites attendees to think about the place they call home in a new light.  The weekend-long program makes for Australia’s largest architecture and built environment festival, shining the spotlight on the role of good design and its importance in shaping our communities. More than 60,000 people are expected to attend across the two days, sinking their teeth into experiences across more than 170 buildings, places and spaces. Highlights of the program include the chance to check out not one, but two former explosive storage facilities, a peek at the artist studios at Montsalvat Arts Centre and a behind-the-scenes tour of the vault at ArtBank and its catalogue of more than 14,000 artworks. If you’re feeling adventurous, strap on a safety harness and walk across the rooftops of Collingwood Yards, soaking up the Northside views. Alternatively, take a scooter tour of Melbourne led by caseworkers at Launch Housing, to learn about the city from the perspective of people experiencing homelessness.  Sports fans can walk the hallowed pitch of AAMI Park, wh

The colourful creatures that make up ACMI’s latest, world premiere exhibition burst to life from a single drawn line, before growing and changing right before your eyes. The more you move and interact in the space, the more animated these curious characters will get, morphing between forms and textures for a hyperreal experience.   Beings is the name of this innovative exhibition, which will stick around until September 29. The name refers to the friendly digital critters seemingly ‘living’ in the exhibition’s large-scale digital screens, just waiting for you to come and play. These generative digital artworks are constantly changing, which means no two people will see the same exhibition, and each time you visit will also be unique. So, how do these joyful (and seemingly magical) creatures remain so responsive to their environment? The technology behind Beings is an impressive mix of video game engines, evolving algorithms and visual effects software usually used in film. All these fancy technologies combine to produce what promises to be a bunch of fun lil’ (or not that little) guys who want to hang out and play, becoming more active in response to your presence.  The folks behind this exhibition are a UK-based art and design collective called Universal Everything. They specialise in “soulful technology” and they’ve created 13 brand-new artworks for this premiere curated by ACMI.  Beings is suitable for all ages, so you can bring along the whole fam. Tickets will go on sale

For the First Peoples of so-called Australia, the term ‘Country’ describes much more than simply a place or nation. Instead, it describes a deep connection to land, animals and plants, ancestors, language, culture and the wisdom of the land itself. Relationships to Country are individual and dinstinct, but always grounded in mutual respect. A new installation within Melbourne Museum called Biik Milboo Dhumba – Country is Always Talking encourages visitors to consider what it means to listen to Country. As you enter the tranquil space of the museum’s living Forest Gallery, you’ll encounter portraits of Elders and community members of the Eastern Kulin Nations. Use your phone to listen to their stories, detailing their unique and personal relationships to Country. Wander among the tall trees as you learn about cultural practices including scarring trees, seed collecting and cultural burning. A towering new sculpture by artist Robert Young provides the perfect place to stop and reflect on your journey. In the words of senior Elder N’Arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs: “‘We have to sit with Country and understand how it talks to us. The landscape informs us if we learn to see and hear it.” This installation is now open and access is included with museum entry. You can find out more at the Melbourne Museum website. Want more? Check out the best art and exhibitions happening in Melbourne this month.

What better place to throw a party than the palatial Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens? Last August, Now or Never, the brand-new festival of art, music, technology and ideas transformed the building into one heck of a soiree spot. Now, the hot new festival is returning to warm up the city for another year. Now or Never is back from August 22-31 with a fresh new theme. In a quest to unlock the doors of our imaginations, the festival will have a theme of ‘Look Through the Image’. Now or Never bills itself as a festival of art, sound, ideas and technology. What does that actually mean? It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of situation, consisting of everything from talks and dance performances to immersive installations and late-night DJ sets. Now or Never is a multi-venue festival taking place across the city, with key venues including Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Building, the State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre. The program for this festival is absolutely packed, so here’s what’s caught our eye so far. Listen to writer, professor and cultural commentator Roxane Gay speak on the importance of holding complex views in complex times, or watch a giant ephemeral being move through the Melbourne Museum plaza with the aid of a free augmented reality app.  Head down to the Yarra to see 'Constellations', a celestial formation glowing above the water’s surface after dark, or catch 'Silent Symphony', where eight kinetic sculptures will cas

Whether she's poignantly articulating her experiences as a Black woman and self-described fat person in America in books like her hit memoir Hunger, or providing hilarious and insightful commentary on popular culture and trash television, Roxane Gay has a knack for getting you to hang off her every word. Now, Melburnians have a chance to see her speak in-person, with the renowned New York Times-bestselling author and social commentator announcing a one-night only talk at the Melbourne Town Hall as part of Now or Never festival.  Gay's talk, which is presented by the Wheeler Centre, will explore what it takes to hold strong opinions and complicated views in complicated times. Across her work, Gay has continued to urge audiences to embrace the danger and discomfort of dissent, including in her latest collection Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business. The book brings together some of Gay's best non-fiction from the past decade, coinciding with the anniversary of her first essay collection, Bad Feminist.  Journalist and presenter Jan Fran will join Gay onstage to faciliate a conversation traversing both the personal and the political. The talk will take place on Thursday, August 29 and tickets are $49.50 full price, $39.50 for concession holders and $34.50 for Blaktix. You can get yours over here. Find out what else is happening at Now or Never.

If you're keen for a night dancing along to Fremantle-formed legends San Cisco, here's your chance. Western Australia's (and potential the whole country's) favourite three-piece indie pop band has just announced it'll be hitting the road for a nation-wide tour including dates in Melbourne and regional Victorian dates – and it kicks off in just a few months.  It’s been more than a decade since San Cisco made it big on the airwaves with hits like the eternally sunny ‘Golden Revolver’ and the boppy ‘Awkward’. Since teaching us all to dance like Fred Astaire, the surf-twanging crew have since released four studio albums and are showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re about to embark on a tour to celebrate their fifth studio album, Under The Light. Here’s everything you need to know about San Cisco’s 2024 Melbourne and Victorian tour. When is San Cisco going on its Melbourne, Victoria tour in 2024? After a run of shows across the UK and Europe, San Cisco is headed back Down Under for a national album tour that will hit Melbourne in late October. The band will play Forum Melbourne on Saturday, October 26.  The band will also play a series of regional shows as part of its Under the Light Regional Tour Pt 2, which follows on from a regional run across WA and SA earlier this year. The Victorian dates and destinations include: Western Port, San Remo – August 15 The Deck, Traralgon – August 16 Torquay Hotel, Torquay – August 17 Volta, Ballarat – August 18 When do tickets fo

What was the soundtrack to your last Aussie summer? We might be in the middle of a gloomy Melbourne winter, but for us, listening to the opening beats of Troye Sivan’s ‘Rush’ takes us right back to sunny days and long nights. If you can’t wait to embrace the summer sillies once more, we’ve got fantastic news: Troye Sivan is blessing us with a Melbourne show this November. And if you’re thinking that’s not officially summer yet, we say close enough! Whether you’ve been a Sivan stan since the Youtube days or you became enamoured when you saw the video for ‘One of Your Girls’ (fair, we get it), this tour promises to be a cracker. We’ve collated all the details you need to know below. When is Troye Sivan going on his Melbourne, Australia tour 2024? After selling out arenas across Europe, Troye Sivan will return home for a Melbourne show on Thursday, November 21 at the glorious Sidney Myer Music Bowl. It’s a school night, so if you see anyone looking seedy at work the next day, no you didn’t. So far, we’ve only got one Melbourne date on the calendar. It will be a big week at the bowl, as British psych pop stars Glass Animals are playing there the night before. When do Troye Sivan tickets go on sale? General sales for Troye Sivan’s Something to Give Each Other tour are happening right now via this link! Good luck folks! How much are tickets to Troye Sivan's Australian shows? Prices for this tour have just been revealed, and look, they're not the cheapest we've ever seen. GA lawn st

What was the soundtrack to your last Aussie summer? We might be in the middle of winter, but for us, listening to the opening beats of Troye Sivan’s ‘Rush’ takes us right back to sunny days and long nights. If you can’t wait to embrace the summer sillies once more, we’ve got fantastic news: Troye Sivan is blessing us with an Australian tour later this year. And if you’re thinking that’s not officially summer yet, we say close enough. Whether you’ve been a Sivan stan since the Youtube days or you became enamoured when you saw the video for ‘One of Your Girls’ (fair, we get it), this tour promises to be a cracker. We’ve collated all the details you need to know below. When is Troye Sivan going on his Australian tour in 2024? After selling out arenas across Europe, Troye Sivan will return home for an Adelaide show at The Drive on November 19, followed by a Melbourne show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on November 21. Sivan will then head to Brisbane's Riverstage for a show on November 26, before rounding out the tour with two performances at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on November 28 and 29. When do Troye Sivan tickets go on sale in Australia? General sales for Troye Sivan’s Something to Give Each Other tour will begin at noon/12pm local time on Tuesday, July 16 via this link.  Is there a Troye Sivan Australia presale? For an artist as big as Troye, of course there’s a presale. Here are the details: Vodafone presale: From 10am on Thursday, July 11. Mastercard presale: From 1

What was the soundtrack to your last Aussie summer? We might be in the middle of a chilly Sydney winter, but for us, listening to the opening beats of Troye Sivan’s ‘Rush’ takes us right back to sunny days and balmy nights. If you can’t wait to embrace the summer sillies once more, we’ve got fantastic news: Troye Sivan is blessing us with not one but two Sydney shows this November. And if you’ve got us on a technicality because it’s not *officially* summer, we say – my my my, it’s close enough. Whether you’ve been a Sivan stan since the Youtube days or you became enamoured when you saw the video for ‘One of Your Girls’ (fair, we get it), this tour promises to be a cracker. We’ve collated all the details you need to know. When is Troye Sivan's Sydney, Australia tour 2024? After selling out arenas across Europe, Troye Sivan will return back to Australian shores for two spectacular shows at what is indisputably the country’s most iconic landmark. He’ll be performing on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29. Initially, only one Sydney date was released, with the second show announced in response to Sydney's insatiable appetite for Troye's angel energy. It’s set to be a big week on the harbour, as British psych pop stars Glass Animals are performing two shows at the same place, the Sydney Opera House forecourt, on the two prior nights. When do Troye Sivan tickets go on sale? General sales for the Sydney show on Troye Sivan’s Somet

Kat Stewart rose to mainstream fame thanks to her acclaimed performances as Billie Proudman in Offspring and Roberta Williams in Underbelly, but she’s quick to point out that her heart lies just as much with the stage as it does with the screen.  “I think if you leave theatre too long, you lose your nerves,” she says. “So I always make sure I do a play at least every two years, and I love it and I hate it at the same time.”  If there’s one play that would count as throwing herself in the deep end, she’s chosen it. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is, in Stewart’s words, “a monster and a masterpiece” which tackles gender politics, modern marriage and the state of America across three dynamic dialogue-packed hours. The classic play, considered one of the best of the last century, is rarely staged. “It is a beast,” says Stewart. “But it is extraordinary writing.” Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, the ensemble company where Stewart and her husband, fellow actor David Whiteley, first met, staged a special production of the play last year with the couple both starring. Photograph: Eugene Hyland The season at Red Stitch’s intimate converted church hall headquarters sold out before curtains even came up, and now Melbourne audiences have another chance to witness the acclaimed play at the comparatively gargantuan Comedy Theatre. It’s the first time in Red Stitch’s history that one of its productions will transfer to the main stage and it could be a watershed moment for the local theatre in

If Melbourne's summers lately could be characterised by a single song, surely it would be 'Heat Waves' by Platinum-selling British band Glass Animals. The beloved track claimed the title of Triple J’s Hottest 100 winner for 2020 and has remained staggeringly popular ever since. Nearly four years after the release of their last album Dreamland, which has sold more than 12 million copies globally, Glass Animals is turning up the heat again with an Australian tour heading to some of the biggest venues in the country.  Glass Animals' Tour of Earth follows 44 shows across North America, Europe and the UK, which will culminate in a 20,000-pax show at London’s O2 Arena on November 7. From there, they’ll make their way across the planet to Australia’s sunny shores, with a show that could pull heavily from their soon-to-be-released fourth studio album, I Love You So F***ing Much (due out on July 19). Described as “an expansive record about love in all its shapes and forms”, we’re willing to bet that ILYSFM might just become another summer soundtrack for us in the Southern Hemisphere. The idea of seeing it performed at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl sounds pretty damn good to us.  When are Glass Animals on tour in Melbourne? After finishing up in the UK, Glass Animals will kick off their Aussie tour in Melbourne on Wednesday, November 20. The British four-piece will perform their first Australian show of the tour at the massive Sidney Myer Music Bowl – the perfect venue for a late-spring e

Move over Rising and Vivid, there’s a new contender for Australia’s most enchanting winter festival. Illuminate Adelaide is a celebration of art, light technology and music, taking place in Adelaide this month from July 4-21. The line-up looks positively captivating as the festival enters its fourth year – we’d say it’s the perfect excuse to jet over to SA for a mini break. So, what can you expect when you make the trip? Adelaide will light up literally and figuratively with a mix of free and ticketed events. The city-wide after-dark festival spans 17 nights of breathtaking attractions and intriguing installations. Millions of people are expected to hit the streets to check out City Lights, where 40 installations and projections will, you guessed it, illuminate the Adelaide CBD. Polychromatic works will transform some of Adelaide’s most well-known buildings, including Government House, Lot Fourteen, Art Gallery of South Australia and Bonython Hall. Highlights include ‘Chronoharp’, a massive multiplayer instrument that reverberates with light and sound, as well as ‘Spectrum of Happiness’, a rainbow of different coloured swings paying homage to the brightness diversity brings to our lives. Photograph: Supplied Head into the Adelaide Botanic Garden to experience a spellbinding work of flame art from French fire alchemist Compagnie Carabosse. Fire Gardens features more than 7,000 handcrafted fire pots creating a spectacle of leaping flames, as well as kinetic sculptures, smould

Gen Z alt-pop icon Girl in Red (aka Marie Ulven) has reached dizzying heights of musical success in her 25 years. From playing Glastonbury to opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour, she’s come a long way from growing up in the quiet Norwegian town of Horten and writing songs in her bedroom. If you’re yet to encounter Girl in Red’s refreshing brand of vulnerable yet incredibly catchy queer pop, the first thing to know is that her song ‘we fell in love in October’ surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams earlier this year. The second thing to note is that her sapphic icon status is so thoroughly cemented, that asking “Do you listen to Girl in Red?” has become a subtle way for young women to suss out queer peers.  Aside from becoming part of the Gen Z lexicon, Girl in Red’s laundry list of recent massive achievements also includes the release of her sophomore album, titled I’m Doing It Again, Baby! After selling out an Australian headline tour just last year, the artist will be a girl in Oz once again next month. On the eve of her upcoming national tour, we asked Girl in Red about her impression of our nation and the vibe she wants to bring to this tour. When international artists talk about their impressions of our nation, they usually stick to the common themes of sandy beaches and cute koalas. Girl in Red, on the other hand, says the thing that stands out most from her last trip Down Under is the time she “almost fucking died in Sydney”. Like many oceanic mishaps, it all starte

Feeling the winter blues set in? Thankfully, Melbourne has a festival for that. Mark your calendars, because Now or Never, Australia’s newest major festival, is back for a second year after a spectacular 2023 debut. This August, the red-hot event returns with more than 100 free and ticketed sessions, from 250-plus local and international creatives.  This year’s festival theme is ‘Look Through the Image’. It’s supposed to encourage us all to explore the deeper meanings of what’s in front of us, whether that’s a thought-provoking talk or mind-bending visuals at a techno set. According to Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Now or Never is set to bring more than 200,000 visitors to the city, welcoming them across “some of Melbourne’s most iconic venues”. With so many vibrant experiences on offer, here’s what you need to know What is Now or Never festival? Now or Never bills itself as a festival of art, sound, ideas and technology. What does that actually mean? It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of situation, consisting of everything from talks and dance performances to immersive installations and late-night DJ sets. When is Now or Never happening in 2024? Now or Never 2024 will heat up the city during the tail end of winter, across two weeks from Thursday, August 22 until Sunday, August 31.  Where is Now or Never being held? Now or Never is a multi-venue festival taking place across the city, with key venues including Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Building, the Sta

Melbourne has six new art trams hitting the streets and every single one of them features works by First Peoples artists. The new fleet of art trams was commissioned as part of Rising festival, in partnership with Public Transport Victoria, Yarra Trams and Creative Victoria. The half-dozen moving artworks, aptly titled Blak on Track have been curated by multidisciplinary artist and Boonwurrung-Wemba Wemba woman Jarra Karalinar, with the mission of showcasing how the breadth and dynamism of First Peoples expression enriches our city. The first tram to roll out features work from the late trailblazing First Nations icon Dr Destiny Deacon (Ku Ku/Erub Mer), who passed away in May this year. Dr Deacon is credited with coining the term 'Blak', which is now a powerful symbol of First Nations resistance. The tram is wrapped in a 2009 work called 'Arrears Windows', which provides a glimpse into the lives, narratives and struggles faced by the residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers. Photograph: Supplied/Common StateCurator Jarra Karalinar Steel at Dr Destiny Deacon's work Arrears Window. This year’s fleet of Rising art trams will run across different routes through the city and suburbs into 2025. Here are the details of the remaining five artists in the series. Milla Morgan (Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta) Titled 'I Just Wanted to Say Sorry', Morgan’s work seeks to reframe perceptions of First Nations art. Kait James (Wadawurrung) Using pop culture references and Blak humour, James’ t

Start searching your wardrobe for your finest yellow glad rags, because it’s almost time for the musical version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to make itself at home in Melbourne. The magnificent production (which earned five stars from Time Out Sydney) slides into Her Majesty’s Theatre from June 27, with tickets currently on sale until late November. If you’re dying to see this tale as old as time play out on the stage but questioning how it’ll fit into your budget, boy do we have delightful news for you. The kind folks at TodayTix will be running a digital lottery each week where the winners will have the chance to purchase tickets to Beauty and the Beast for the affordable price of just $24 each. For every performance, a total of 24 tickets will be up for grabs. The process of entering the lottery is simple. All you need to do is download the TodayTix app and enter through there on your phone. If you share the lottery on your socials, you can also get an extra entry – sweet!  Beauty and the Beast promises to be a dazzling musical spectacle, and it hasn’t been seen in Melbourne for more than 30 years. This production gives the tale a modern makeover while still keeping all the romance of the beloved 1991 animated film. The first lottery is open from now until 1pm on Friday, June 21. Ongoing weeks will open every Saturday, with the winners drawn the following Friday for the upcoming week of performances. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter

The year 2015 marked a sad milestone for Melburnians, when the widely adored paper mX stopped being handed out at train stations each afternoon. The lighthearted rag was known for its fun sections like ‘For What It’s Worth’, ‘Street Style’ and ‘Here’s Looking at You’, the latter of which had us all imagining public transport meet-cutes fit for a romcom plot. Alas, smartphones gradually took hold of our collective attention spans during the after-work commute, and mX became the stuff of memory – until now. That’s right, if you rock up to one of the city's main train stations from 3pm until 7pm today and tomorrow (June 5 and 6), you can grab a special edition of mX in the year of our lord, 2024. This certainly wasn't on our bingo cards for this year. Photograph: Supplied/Common State It’s all part of a collaboration between Newscorp and Rising, Melbourne’s flagship winter arts festival, which kicked off it's line-up of more than 100 events last weekend. But sadly, the revival of mX will last for only two issues, the first of which was available from May 29-30 and the next one coming from June 5-6. We’re guessing the 60,000 issues will fly out the door pretty fast, so we’d recommend getting down to Southern Cross, Flinders Street or Melbourne Central early to secure your slice of nostalgia.  Rising is taking over the city from June 1-16 with gigs, art installations, parties and so much more (many events are free, too). Read our guide to the best things to see and do at Rising