Surprise pop-up music series wraps up for summer with packed CBD shows

The ALWAYS LIVE Melbourne Vibes Series celebrated its finale with two surprise shows in the CBD on the January long weekend.

Indie folk crew The Paper Kites and Melbourne soulsters The Teskey Brothers played free pop-up gigs on Sunday, January 25, that saw crowds form to fill the gigs’ street locations in Hardware Lane and Collins Place.

Organisers said the Melbourne Vibes series, which launched in late November, had “reinforced Melbourne’s reputation as a global live music capital” while at the same time making live performance accessible to all.

Its 19 free pop-up performances across the city’s streets, laneways and public spaces had drawn thousands of people into the CBD and captured significant attention online.

Performers in the series, which championed Australian artists, from emerging talent to established icons, included Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Ian Moss and Guy Sebastian, who played the fresh-look City Square, rapper Briggs, who played Pellegrini’s, hip hop trio Bliss n Eso, who took over Wesley Place and synth pop act Cut Copy, who performed looking over the Yarra at the Evan Walker Bridge.

According to ALWAYS LIVE organisers, the series had “amplified the joy” live music brings to audiences and highlighted how central it was to Melbourne’s cultural life.

Minister for Tourism and Events Steve Dimopoulos said the surprise events were also supporting business.

“Live music in the city doesn’t just create unforgettable moments, it helps power our economy – supporting thousands of jobs by filling hotel rooms, venues and restaurants with visitors,” he said.

Supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria, the Melbourne Vibes series has been run as part of a broader mission by ALWAYS LIVE, which was founded in the wake of the COVID pandemic with the aim of strengthening Victoria’s music ecosystem, boosting the CBD’s vibrancy and celebrating innovative live music experiences.

Caption: Gentle indie rock band the Paper Kites played Hardware Lane on Sunday, January 25.