Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music Venues, 1955-2020

22/10/2023

The Preston Town Hall and its deep association with Australian music in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s will just be one of the many topics covered by Iain McIntyre and Teishan Ahearne at the free Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms talk at Café Gummo from 1pm on 28/10/2023. Come along and learn about the history of music and venues in Westgarth, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston and Reservoir from the early twentieth century to the present day. A rich mix of genres and styles will be covered, ranging from Italian cabaret, Rebetika and Eastern European tunes, through to jazz, country, rock n roll, indie, punk, folk and pop. After the talk Laura MacFarlane will be play a live set of all vibraphone songs.

The event page is here- https://fb.me/e/1e3WBqjEw
For more details on the festival visit- https://theeightysix.com/event/super-saturday/
Check out the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms walking tour here- https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com/

29/09/2023

As part of the Eighty-Six’s Super Saturday of more than 40 free gigs and events on 28th October 2023 Iain McIntyre and Teishan Ahearne will be giving a Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms talk at Cafe Gummo from 1pm. Come along and learn about the history of music and venues in Westgarth, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston and Reservoir from the early twentieth century to the present day. A rich mix of genres and styles will be covered, ranging from Italian cabaret, Rebetika and Eastern European tunes, through to jazz, country, rock n roll, indie, punk, folk and pop. After the talk Laura MacFarlane will play a live set of all vibraphone songs.

Event page- https://www.facebook.com/events/1058561905283523?ref=newsfeed

For more details on the festival visit- https://theeightysix.com/event/super-saturday/

10/05/2022

On Thursday May 19th Preston Library will host a talk about the history of Darebin’s live music venues from the early twentieth century to the present day, spanning its rich mix of genres and styles ranging from Rebetika, Italian cabaret and Eastern European tunes, through to jazz, country, rock n roll, indie, punk, folk and pop. Join Iain McIntyre and Teishan Ahearne as they discuss venues ranging from Westgarth to Reservoir before psych-folk improvisers Cold Hands Warm Heart play a live set. The event starts at 7.30pm and entry is free, but please book at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms-an-evening-of-stories-and-sounds-registration-305270531377

19/09/2021

We're very pleased to see that the Beat, Ballads and Ballrooms audio tour of Darebin music venues has made the shortlist for the 2021 Victorian Community History awards. Thanks to everyone who helped out with interviews, music, photos and advice for the project, and to Darebin Arts for funding it. The audio tour covers 15 venues, past and present, and can be listened to or downloaded via www.beatsballadsandballrooms.com Looking forward to the day when we can enjoy live music in the area and beyond again.

11/03/2021

As the wheel turns towards Autumn and our communities open up again after lockdowns it’s a good time to build our immunity in time for the winter months and flu season.

Please note not everyone can take certain herbs due to pre-existing health conditions so it’s up to us to check this before we take plant medicine.

28/01/2021

Tune in to 3CR tomorrow at 11am for the final edition of Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms for Summer programming.

Kirstyn Lindsay will bring you highlights from the audio tour with interviews on the Aborigines Advancement League, The Greek Democratis League’s Club, Bar 303 and Open Studio.

There will be plenty of music with the Stray Blacks, Rebetiki, Rose Turtle Urtler and the Vardos Trio.

For the full audio tour head to www. beatsballandsandballrooms.com

an audio tour of Darebin Live Music Venues, 1955-2020

30/12/2020

This Saturday 2/1/2021 tune into www.3cr.org.au from 11am AEST to hear an extended interview with Genevieve Fry and Esala Liyanage about Eastmint, the studio, venue and label they run in Northcote as well as the music they create with Cold Hands Warm Heart. This program is one in a series being aired on 3CR over the summer as part of the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms project. Last week's show, which featured musicians Mick Thomas, Rose Turtle Ertler and Bunna Lawrie discussing music in Darebin can be listened to until Friday at https://www.3cr.org.au/onscreen

Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms is a project which focuses on the history of music venues in Darebin. An audio tour visiting 15 sites can be listened to online or enjoyed live via the Echoes app. For more details visit www.beatsballadsandballrooms.com

23/12/2020

Tune in to www.3cr.org.au on Boxing Day 26/12/2020 from 11am to noon AEDT to hear the Nobody Can't Stop The Music forum in which Bunna Lawrie, Rose Turtle Ertler and Mick Thomas discuss their experiences of playing and watching music in Darebin. This is a recording of an event that was held in September as part of Darebin Arts' FUSE festival. Each week during January 3CR will continue to broadcast interviews and segments from the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms project on Saturdays between 11am and noon AEDT. People in Melbourne can also listen in on 855AM.

16/12/2020

If you enjoyed the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms audiotour and other FUSE events then please fill in this survey. There are prizes! Our tour will remain online and available via the Echoes app until 2022 so if you've not had time to check it out yet then head over to- beatsballadsandballrooms.com

Win A Golden Ticket!

Did you attend any events in our Spring season of FUSE? We want to hear from you!

Click here: https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/festival-info/fuse-spring-2020-audience-survey/ to complete the FUSE Spring 2020 Audience Survey and you could win a Golden Ticket voucher for Thornbury Picture House.

Each voucher, valued at $100, includes two movie tickets, two glasses of wine, beer or soft drinks, two delicious small plates from Umberto’s and two choctops.

It’ll only take 5 minutes of your time.

27/11/2020

The Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms audio tour comes as part of FUSE Spring. Across the last few months, FUSE Spring has presented nearly 50 online events – each taking place with the current COVID-19 restrictions in mind. Exploring music, visual arts, radio broadcasts, podcasts, film and art-focused...

27/11/2020

Here's a recent article from Beat magazine about our walking tour covering all types of music in Darebin.
https://www.beat.com.au/from-northcote-social-club-to-the-pink-palace-this-audio-tour-explores-darebins-vast-music-history/

The Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms audio tour comes as part of FUSE Spring. Across the last few months, FUSE Spring has presented nearly 50 online events – each taking place with the current COVID-19 restrictions in mind. Exploring music, visual arts, radio broadcasts, podcasts, film and art-focused...

22/11/2020

Originally opened for teen dances by Johnny Chester in 1960 the Preston Town Hall had a psychedelic makeover in 1968 to reemerge as Mindbender. By the following year gigs were being hosted there under the name of the Marquis.

To learn more about the history of music in the area check out the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music Venues, 1955-2020 audio-tour. Listen, read and experience this tour about the history of rock, pop, country, jazz, punk, indie, cabaret and a myriad of folk and traditional styles of music in the Darebin area from the 1950s to the present at https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com

13/11/2020

In the early 1960s the Preston Town Hall (284 Gower St, Preston) was the centre of action for local rock n roll. Initially managed by musician Johnny Chester, the venue opened in 1960 after the dances he’d been organising at St Cecilia's Church Hall in West Preston became too big for that space. With the support of DJ Stan Rofe, who regularly appeared as a compere, the Preston Town Hall was consistently packed out over the next few years with up to 1000 teens enjoying sets from the likes of Chester, Judy Cannon, Margie Mills, Normie Rowe, The Cherokees and The Planets.

In 1961 a live album, Quite A Party, was recorded at the venue featuring regular house band The Thunderbirds on instrumentals as well as backing vocalists Chester, Jillian Buckley and Noel Watson. Chester would go on to host TV shows and tour nationally with the likes of the Beatles before moving into country music, eventually winning Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia.

Johnny Chester is just one of a number musicians who talks about his experiences of playing and watching music in the Darebin area as part of the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music Venues, 1955-2020 audio-tour. Listen, read and experience this tour about the history of rock, pop, country, jazz, punk, indie, cabaret and a myriad of folk and traditional styles of music in the Darebin area from the 1950s to the present at https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com

Part of FUSE Darebin HYPERLOCAL festival.

06/11/2020

The Last Greatest Show On Earth was held at the Thornbury Theatre on Sunday March 25 2012 to pay homage to Vegas luminaries of the 20th century as well as to help finance musical instruments, a jukebox and a music therapist for the John Cade psychiatric unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. It featured over 25 Melbourne based acts and performers — including Harmony, Dan Luscombe, Sophia Brous and Miles Brown — performing cabaret, show tunes, rock classics and generally creating “mayhem and excess in a high degree”. Pseudonyms included The Rotting Co**se of Elvis, Cher Alike, Viva Las Luscombe, Screamin’ Queens, Vegas Bogans and The Atomic Explosions. Some of the original Tivoli showgirls also performed. Originally slated to occur at the Regal Ballroom it was shifted, due to circumstances outside of the organisers’ control, up High Street to the Thornbury Theatre.

Images courtesy of Julie Montan. Videos from the night can be found at this link- https://vimeo.com/39157382?ref=em-share

The Thornbury Theatre is one of fifteen stops on the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms audio-tour. To find out more about the history of Darebin music venues visit- https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com

01/11/2020

Listen, read and experience this tour about the history of rock, pop, country, jazz, punk, indie, cabaret and a myriad of folk and traditional styles of music in the Darebin area from the 1950s to the present at https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com

Part of FUSE Darebin HYPERLOCAL festival.

31/10/2020

The Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music Venues 1955 – 2020 audio-tour is now live!

It can be enjoyed either as a walking tour guided by the Echoes app or listened to via the website at home.

The tour brings listeners to 15 key locations and reveals the songs and stories behind the city’s venues, past and present.

Johnny Chester, Wilbur Wilde, Tony Pantano, Ian McFarlane (Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop) and others discuss the glory days of pub rock, pop and cabaret from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Mick Thomas, Sofia Chapman (Vardos), Achilles Yiangoulli (The Habibis), Paige Black, Rose Turtle Ertler, Tony Lovett (Stray Blacks) and others discuss the history of Rebetika and Eastern European music in Darebin as well as country, indie, punk, folk and pop venues and scenes.

The early history of buildings, and the music associated with them, is chronicled by experts from Darebin Libraries and the Cinema Record.

Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms was commissioned and funded by Darebin Arts for HYPERLOCAL – a new series of immersive art works that invites audiences to see Darebin differently.

The tour has been produced by Iain McIntyre, Kirstyn Lindsay and Teishan Ahearne.

https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com/

an audio tour of Darebin Live Music Venues, 1955-2020

31/10/2020

It’s a beautiful day to be outside Melbourne! Come walk with us and explore stories of live music in Darebin.

Bring you phone and headphones to experience the tour via the app. Go to https://beatsballadsandballrooms.com for instructions.

Launching today as part of FUSE Darebin HYPERLOCAL festival.

31/10/2020

We’re live!

26/10/2020

Tyrnaround were an ace Melbourne neo-psychedelic band who first formed in 1985 and continued until 1999 releasing two singles, an EP and an album. Recently their Colour Your Mind EP was reissued by Spain’s Guerssen records with bonus tracks. See which spots from around Darebin you can spot from this 1989 film clip.
https://youtu.be/aZ-x2wD_6Zg

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them.
https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms

Formed in 1985 in Melbourne, Australia, Tyrnaround were a great band who specialised in 60s psych pop/rock, influenced by Syd Barrett, The Seeds, The Beatles...

21/10/2020

Some of Northcote boy Normie Rowe's earliest shows were at the Preston Town Hall. At the height of his fame in 1966 he headed over to the UK to tour and record. During this time Go Set magazine ran a competition in which winners could win an international phone call with the star.

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them.
https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

18/10/2020

In 2010 the film clip for “Northcote (So Hungover)” from The Bedroom Philosopher’s album Songs From The 86 Tram was, you guessed it, shot on the 86 tram.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxZiae16Ry8

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them.

https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

Vote for Northcote in Triple Js Hottest 100 of the Decade: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/decade/2010s/ #/home From the album Songs From The 86 Tra...

16/10/2020

The ‘60s Appreciation Society organised a heap of gigs around Melbourne during its 15 year existence from 1984 onwards. One such show was held at the Albion Charles Hotel in Northcote on New Years Eve 1989. The society’s shows combined sixties influenced bands with DJs and on this occasion the venue was chosen for its decor and two stages. In these photos, provided by Maria Sokratis, we see Mathmos (aka The Saucermen) and The Eye Creatures wigging out. The flyer was also created by Maria.

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them. https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

12/10/2020

The story of the Stavros Brothers and the film clip they shot in Darebin, as related by band member Stefan:

Even back when they started in 2008, the Stavros Brothers were a bunch of crusty old Melbourne rock has-beens, having played in 90s indie bands like Paintstripper and Peachfuzz. They got their name from the now-defunct Stavros Centre on High Street in Northcote, built on top of the old train spur that used to run to the brickworks where All Nations Park is now.

Anyway they're not brothers and they're not Hellenic - just your motley mix of country Victoria, Middle East and Deutschland.
Two of the three bros live in Reservoir where they regularly annoy the neighbours with their 90s grunge guitar pretensions and ridiculous lyrics. In fact two of their albums have been recorded in Rezza - one in a house on Gellibrand Crescent and one at the Reservoir Neighbourhood House, powered by Japanese beer and mountains of Zaatar pizza from Lakeside Bakery.

The video for American TV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umY1bhpyc-A) was filmed in and around Rezza on some old Flip cameras. In typically efficient fashion, the footage was taken seven years before the boys managed to get around to editing it into a clip, which makes it all 'retro'. It has some superbly directed and moving segments at a band member's house, the old Rezza train station and outside Hardings hardware in Edwardes Street when the 'big elf' (as a band member's kid used to call it) was still there. Maresi!

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them. https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/.../beats-ballads-and.../

Our dank new video. Created only 6 years after we took the footage, 12 years after we wrote the song and 2 years after we did the recording. No fava beans we...

10/10/2020

Reservoir had its share of live music venues in the 1960s including Attic (from 1967 at the Civic Centre, Edwards Street), Davy Jones Locker (Cuthbert rd, next to the pool) and Maynards (from 1968 at St Gabriel's, 1 Viola St). All of these featured local bands alongside bigger names from the Melbourne pop, soul and rock circuit.

If you know of any Reservoir venues we've missed from the 1960s, or have stories, photos or flyers to share, then comment below or contact us via https://www.facebook.com/BBBDarebin/

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them. https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

08/10/2020

In 2019 the video for Laura Imbruglia’s “The Creeps” was released. It features her storming around the Northcote Plaza and All Nations Park with a shopping trolley. Something no doubt many of us can relate to! https://youtu.be/5WZTOG4Lbfc

If you know of another film clip that was shot in the Darebin area then let us know about it via our page- https://www.facebook.com/BBBDarebin/

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them. https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

CREDITS: Song - Laura Imbruglia "The Creeps" DOP, Director and Editor: Nick Mckk Concept: Laura Imbruglia & Nick Mckk Starring (in order of appearance): Angr...

06/10/2020

Jimi Hendrix may have never played in Preston, but his likeness was used in ads that appeared in Go Set magazine during 1968 promoting shows at the Marquis. The teen dances held at the Preston Town Hall since 1960 adopted the new name that year and went on to host major Melbourne and touring acts of the time including The Masters Apprentices, Max Merritt and the Meteors, The Wild Cherries, The Vibrants, and The Valentines.

On November 1 the Beats, Ballads and Ballrooms: Darebin Live Music, 1955-2020 audio tour will be launched as part of the City of Darebin’s FUSE festival. Enjoyed as a walking tour via a downloadable app or on a computer at home it will cover a number of the city’s music venues and the stories behind them. https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/beats-ballads-and-ballrooms/

Please share your flyers, stories and photos regarding music in Darebin by contacting us at https://www.facebook.com/BBBDarebin/

06/10/2020

'North of High' the final tour in the three part series of History On High is available now. Find out about the history of 'Irish Town', the unofficial name for Preston, by the Irish settlers who made it their home.

Listen to the tour and follow along with the digital map available on our website!

This project has been produced in collaboration with Darebin Libraries.

https://www.fusedarebin.com.au/whats-on/events/history-on-high/

04/10/2020

Originally opened as the Pilgrim’s Inn in 1844, the pub located at 607 High Street changed its name to the Croxton Park Hotel in the 1860s. Amongst its many incarnations it served as a full time music venue during the 1970s and 1980s hosting acts up to seven nights a week. Whilst country, pop and cabaret performers graced the front and back stages during these years it was pub rock for which the Croxton was best known. As part of the then beer barn circuit the “Rock at the Croc” years saw ACDC, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, The La De Das, Blackfeather, Chain, Ariel, Ol’ 55, Mondo Rock, Midnight Oil, the Stevie Wright Band, Cold Chisel, the Angels, Skyhooks, the Dingoes, Madder Lake, Little River Band, Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, Rose Tattoo, the Coloured Balls and many more play the venue.

Please share your flyers, stories and photos regarding music in Darebin by posting below or by visiting us at https://www.facebook.com/BBBDarebin/

The photo of the Pilgrims Inn is from the 1880s and was provided by the Darebin Library. The one of the Croxton Park Hotel was taken by copyright holder Graeme Butler in 1982- 7849945@N02/26907085924/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/7849945@N02/26907085924/