Arts / Music
Something for everyone at annual music festival
BMF ventures into new territory, including Brunswick Baths and Uniting Church
Brunswick Voice
AN underwater sound installation, a punk rock gig in a library, and an electronic sonic collage are among the unique events on offer at this year’s Brunswick Music Festival, beginning on Sunday.
The eight-day festival will venture outside the usual bars and clubs to explore unusual venues including the Brunswick Baths, the Dawson Street library, and the Brunswick Uniting Church in Sydney Road.
Gilpin Park will also feature again as an outdoor venue for two concerts, and the recently opened Yubup Park in Frith Street will feature a free performance by legendary First Nations singer-songwriter Kutcha Edwards to close the festival on March 10.
Forty gigs will be held over the festival’s nine days, including 25 free events.
It begins at the Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday, where there will be 12 free outdoor stages and indoor venues including the Brunswick Ballroom, Bergy Bandroom and The Penny Black will also throw open the doors for day-long sets of music. A highlight is sure to be a free show at Stay Gold by headlined by Greek-Australian siblings three-piece Frenzee, tipped by many to be the Next Big Thing.
Festival programmer Juliette Lalli has sought to represent and champion diverse voices in the community this year.
“In 2025 I’m focussed on intersectional accessibility which includes considering the cultural, economic, physical and sensory needs of our community across the entire festival program,” she said.
Festival highlights will include the two concerts at Gilpin Park. March 7 will pair Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon, and Yirendali woman Miss Kaninna with Nairobi-born, Adelaide-raised Elsy Wameyo. The following day, US ‘90s hip hop legend Bahamandia will take to the stage supported by local soul star Kaiit.
“I’m also excited to be working on presenting alternative ways of listening, experiencing and interacting with music, beyond traditional gig formats, like a collage workshop in response to a live soundscape at That Paper Joint, a visual art making experience called Beats To Draw To at Unassigned Gallery and Emergent Sounds For Resonant Bodies at Shell Space, a deep listening experience that offers a nourishing and comfortable environment for audiences to experience improvised sounds while being invited to sit, lie, draw or wander in the space,” Lalli said.
Brunswick Baths will host Saturate, described as “an underwater sonic artwork by Sara Retallick” on March 9. At night, listeners will swim and float in amplified sound – bodies moving through a submerged sound installation to access the omnipresent, internalised and tactile qualities of listening underwater.
Across the road, local all-female punk quintet The Vovos will shake up Brunswick Library on March 8, supported by Grace Robinson. For the first time at BMF, Brunswick Uniting Church will host an all-ages, intimate evening celebrating Queer talent on March 5. With storytelling and songs from local stars Ruby Gill, Merpire, and Porpoise Spit, this special event offers a rare chance to dive into the meaning and lore behind their music.
The penultimate day, March 9, will see the return of Bulleke-Bek Journey, with free live music at nine venues, including the Coburg RSL. From bass-heavy beats to punk, hardcore, bluegrass, alt-country, and New Orleans jazz, the day offers a rich variety of sounds to explore.
Classical music and jazz fans will not miss out with shows at Tempo Rubato and The JazzLab during the festival.
The full program is available at the Brunswick Music Festival website.
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