OPENING HOURS
Mon - Thurs 12pm - late
Fri & Sat 12 - 3am
Sun 12pm - 11pm
Gravis, the brainchild of James Colicchia, bring a sound to the alternative scene that is somewhere between alternative rock, indie and experimental. With Colicchia’s voice likened to Jeff Buckley and a guitar style that takes jazz chords and jams them into an alternative garagey sound, Gravis can only be described as a colourful and unique powerhouse. Helped along by tasteful guitar layering, thoughtful bass lines and a drummer who gets it, this band will leave you wondering where these guys are heading. Joining the bill will be the ‘charmingly bent out of shape’ indie band Fuzzrays, Re:lapse and Circle Person. Tickets 10 dollars at the door.
The fine gentlemen of the SO. Crates, Bean Pie Fly Productions and the illustrious Northside Records soul society present to you live and direct from The Curtin a play in 45” rotations entitled Mama Danced on Soul Train (and that’s the truth, Ruth!)
In the late 1970’s Cazeaux O.S.L.O.’s mother contributed to the Brown [read Black is beautiful] American cultural treasure chest by dancing on a television show called Soul Train. This is fresh, truly fly and absolutely cold crush. He made a song about it. That’s the truth.
The night will feature special guest appearances by the inspirational Silver Linings, the outstanding Z Retro Trio and the dynamite selections of DJ IMAXX elevating mind states while moving butts on the wheels of steel.
It’s a party people.
In a world so cruel your beloved SO. Crates, the main ingredient, must provide you with an INC ride through Hiphop’s healing halls of creation. It’s what we do. It ain’t hard to tell. We all must meet our moment of truth.
Wax memorabilia, exquisite smell goods and 100% pure Shea Butter will be available on the night to show you right.
Bring your Mama for free entry!
There it is.
[God damn God damn]
Yes, it’s 15 years ago since Sand Pebbles unleashed that break though album with songs such as ‘The Day Summer Fell’, ‘Speed & Intensity’ and ‘Black Sun’, which comedian Stewart Lee wrote in the UK Times was ‘one of those slow-burning, snake-charming epics that comes along once in a generation.’ Now comes a special one-off 15-anniversary show at the Curtin to celebrate Ghost Transmissions being released on vinyl for the first time.
Shave and Raise for Variety Children’s Charity. A charity that supports kids and families who are facing many challenges through sickness, disadvantage or living with special needs. Local Melbourne bands Longboys, Auntie Leo and the Backstabbers, and Hawaii Gun Club have organised a night to raise awareness and funds for these families who are doing it tough. The music provided on the night ranges from Hawaii Gun Clubs tight riffs and Auntie Leos cowboy blues to Longboys surf rock sounds.
Now, this night is all for tipping but there will also be some clipping. One young lady has decided to raise funds for Children’s Variety Charity by taking to the clippers and shaving her head. You can follow her profile hairwithheart.everydayhero.com/au/kat-craine
Following on from the release of their debut LP “Whoosh!” and a string of appearances across Melbourne and Australia, The Stroppies come home to bring their brand of off kilter pop music to the Curtin before they depart for the first leg of their European Tour. The night is a celebration of the year so far and the year to come. Joining the band for the night will be Good Morning, The Snakes (Snotty stuff, kinda like if Flipper wrote catchier songs) and Eggy (wobbly guitars and a song about the AFLW - infectious stuff).
Cute photo by Naomi Lee Beveridge.
A reckoning and respectable slice of songwriting, ‘Ghost’ echoes the sensibilities of lo-fi luminaries Pavement and (Sandy) Alex G. Doused in reverb & distortion, triple j’s Richard Kingsmill similarly describes it as “one for lovers of classic alt indie”. Heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once, ‘Ghost’ is without a doubt RAT!Hammock’s finest work to date. 2019 has already seen the boys score a spot on the coveted Melbourne leg of Laneway Festival, as well as a national support slot with Brisbane indie legends Last Dinosaurs. Now the Rat’ are ready to take the reins on their own headlining tour. The ‘Ghost’ tour hits Waywards in Sydney on the 7th of Jun, RAD Bar in Wollongong on the 8th and The Curtin in Melbourne on the 15th.
FAKA, a cultural movement established by Fela Gucci and Desire Marea, has come to represent more than the “performance art duo” descriptor that has defined the collective since their inception in 2015.
The artists explore a combination of mediums ranging from sound, live performance, literature, video and photography, to create an eclectic aesthetic with which they express their ideas about themes central to their experience as black queer bodies navigating the cis-hetero-patriarchy in post-colonial Africa.
Termed “[t]he most challenging band in this [Moscow] scene,” (Noisey) IC3PEAK are the duo of Nick Kostylev and Nastya Kreslina, who describe themselves as “audio-visual terrorists.” They craft futuristic, dystopian opera, and recently found themselves in direct opposition with the Russian authorities, playing secret shows and being shut down by the FSB for their outspoken political views. Their latest album, CKA3KA, journeys through a Russian horror fairytale and arc passes across delicate and ethereal textures, frantic trap, and the occasional moment of clarity. In Australia for Dark Mofo, and performing for the first in Melbourne, IC3PEAK will be joined by industrial-goth masters, HABITS and Melbourne’s patron saint of darkwave, V.
The LuWOW is back for a night of Tropical Tiki fun, Island style. Starring the way out sounds of Intoxica: Melbourne’s suave rockin surf kings and The Fanging’ Felines, four Trash Women from Woolongong playing 60s girl-garage rock ’n’ roll. Plus those gyrating jungle queens The Gogo Goddesses & disc jocks Barbara Blaze & Josh Sinbad playing long lost party grooves: Twist, Mambo, 60s Garage, Las Vegas Grind, Rhythm ’n’ Blues plus full LuWOW Tiki Crazy decor and their famous Mai-Tai Cocktail. Come early for a delicious Hawaiian Burger then head on up and lose yourself in The LuWOW Fantastic Island. Dress: Tropical Crazy Vintage Hawaiian Rock ’n’ Roll.
A night of electronic Industrial and experimental textures. German experimental techno act Oake, presents a night of intense and unforgiving sonic noise with supports Hemlock Ladder and Lost Few.
Formed by the chief songwriters from Melbourne bands Crepes, Dreamin’ Wild and Sagamore, this new band brings old friends together. Drawing from their collective love of African music, American funk, and quirky, melody-driven pop music, Swazi Gold’s debut album explores the space between conventional genres and styles of production. Lyrically, the songs address themes like moving to Melbourne, realising personal limitations and seeing a thriving country town fade to nothingness. There’s a brooding one in there for anyone who’s ever been ripped off, too. “Jehovah’s Whispers” is an album that proves the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And in amidst the love and equality, there’s still a heap of bite and attitude.
Adelaide’s & Melbourne best-loved noisy heroes Horror My Friend & Flyying Colours will be joining forces for two very special shows that are sure to excite audiences in Melbourne & Adelaide!
Horror My Friend have proven themselves to be one of Australia’s up and coming purveyors of barely controlled noise and fuzz, with ‘Turned Loose’, album and reminding Australia of their ability to combine noise and fuzz with infectious melody.
Not to be outdone Melbourne’s Flyying Colours arrive at a sound that combines My Bloody Valentine’s wall-of-sound guitars and barely there girl/boy vocals with sun-drenched melodies. ‘
Coming together for the first time as equals these shows are not to be missed!
To celebrate the release of their latest single ‘Hunters’, Sydney psych-world seven-piece Kimono Drag Queens are playing a run of East Coast shows this June and July.
Rhythmically entrancing, fuzzy, with spooky overtones, ‘Hunters’ is the groups first track from their forthcoming LP ‘Songs Of Worship’, due out in the second half of 2019.
“It’s an oscillating ride from start to end with little elements of personality that make it the Little May sound.” – Beat (9/10)
After three-and-a-half years of anticipation, Australian indie outfit Little May have returned with the release of their critically acclaimed second album, Blame My Body (out now via Dew Process / Universal Music Australia). To celebrate the release, Liz and Han are taking the band around the country on a National tour this June and July before heading off to Europe in support of their good friends The Rubens.
A whole mess of fun in the vein of The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan and The Strokes, North Carolina natives THE NUDE PARTY will bring their effortless guitar pop to intimate venues in Melbourne and Sydney. Getting their kicks as teenagers in Brooklyn, these unstoppable forces of energy recently released their debut self-titled album and have maintained a jam-packed touring schedule ever since.
A power-pop explosion of melody and youthful urgency, Brooklyn’s CHARLY BLISS continue the New York migration as they take in some choice Splendour side-shows.
Breaking things wide open with 2017’s Guppy (a record labelled by The Onion’s AV Club as “an instant classic”), this sparkling 3-piece are on the verge of releasing their hotly anticipated second record Young Enough and are positioned to go stratospheric in 2019.
Melbourne favourite bluegrassers, the Davidson Brothers released their first album 20 years ago! To celebrate they’re hosting a special event to showcase their original material spanning their career so far. They’ve come a long way from recording in their lounge room in Gippsland to producing 5 albums in Nashville, winning 5 Golden Guitar Awards and being inducted into Australia’s Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth. Joining them will be the Van Walker Band and Small Town Romance.
In celebration of their upcoming Midnight Oil support slot, Austinmer’s experimental band SHINING BIRD offers Who Are We, a 9-minute epic, clearly marking a new direction. Recorded live to tape, in a single take by Jez Player (The Pinheads). The track highlights the band’s improvisational strengths and maturity. Hinting at a new record in late 2019, the bird is back and playing The Curtin Friday, September 27.
The Curtin is nestled away on the city end of Lygon St, Carlton - just a short walk from Melbourne's CBD and moments from Melbourne Central train station, and is easily accessible by public transport.
The venue has a 300 capacity band room has been designed to ensure an unrestricted view of the large stage from anywhere in the room. Complemented by a powerful D&B Q7 speaker system & D&B Crown 90001 amplifiers, in stalled to deliver the highest quality sound on stage and to the entire audience.
The Curtin is the perfect size to cater for album launches, interstate touring bands, and larger internationals seeking an intimate show.
THE CURTIN is located at 29 Lygon Street (City End), Carlton. Directly opposite Trades Hall.
Ph: (03) 9663 6350
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