Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:52 am Post subject: Melbourne, here I come!
The subject title gives it away! I will be Melbourne, Australia, from the 8th to 16th June .
The unfortunate thing is that it will be with my work, so it isn't a holiday . However, I will have the weekend at the beginning to myself, so my question is to the Oz contingent of the board. Can you recomend must see places, and any good music venues and music equipment stores, etc?
Thanking you in advance.
Cheers,
DD _________________ Music is the universal language; speak it with emotion, listen with a passion.
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: Non-Oz recommendation
Diatonicdude
Can't help you with Oz distractions but you are always welcome to visit my soundclick page at www.soundclick.com/davidmillion which is hardly in the same exciting and stimulating league but at least will make you glad you're 10,000 miles or so away from the cause of this abomination.
Latest tune to go on the site is a C&W spoof called These Crazy Things. Australians probably wouldn't give a XXXX for it........but just in case, tell all your friends the new tune in progress is more Robben-influenced.....
Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:14 am Post subject:
Sorry DiatonicDude I missed your first post
The music venues I?d recommend would be the
Rainbow Hotel, 27 St Davids Street Fitzroy - blues, r&b bands every night of the week plus late sat and sunday afternoon
Bennetts Lane 25 Bennetts Lane, Melbourne - Jazz Club
There are quite a few other venues around town but I?m not sure of the acts scheduled in early June
Guitar Shops These are mainly north of the CBD
Mannys 161-163 St Georges Rd North Fitzroy
Gallin?s Guitar (Gibson and Epiphone guitar specialists) 401 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Frontier Music 338 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Allens 152 Bourke Street Melbourne
Also recommend
Basement Discs 24 Block Place Melbourne A great CD/DVD store
You could always go and see some Australian Rules Football at the MCG on Sat afternoon
________
volcano vaporizer
Last edited by GMC on Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
many thanks for the info, that is just what I was looking for!
Apparently, the company I am visiting have already put forward the idea of the football, so I think I will check it out
I'll try and plan a weekend of sightseeing, and the occassional drop into a music store (I always like to have a look at these wherever I visit), so I am prepared for a few blisters!!
Can you reccomend any sight seeing must do's, apart from the football. I have relied on guide books in the past, but I think the best guidance comes from the locals?
I am hoping that Robben's "Truth" CD is out when I am there, so I may associate the CD in the future with my trip. Fingers crossed!!
BTW, Millbobs, many thanks for your post. Keep up the good work, and don't forget to check out one of Robben's forthcoming UK gigs, you'll love it!
Many thanks again,
all the best,
DD _________________ Music is the universal language; speak it with emotion, listen with a passion.
Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 3:08 am Post subject:
DiatonicDude
For the sightseeing there's a free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle that stops at the main tourist attractions and destinations in and around the city. It takes about an hour so its good value and you won?t get blisters as you travel around Melbourne bearing in mind you'll be here in the middle of winter so it's probably a good introduction.
Something else that?s sounds different and maybe what you're lookin for is Radio 774 ABC Melbourne Podtours where you can download an mp3 commentary and map in pdf file for a walking tour of various and unusual sites around Melbourne. I haven?t done them but they sound worthwhile
Eat, Drink Melbourne, takes in the great eating and drinking sites of today and in the past, especially relevant as Melbourne likes to see itself as a great restaurant city
Death, Dirt & Disease explores the macabre side of Melbourne.
Showbiz, Sexy Spectacles and Sideshows takes you on a tour of some of Melbourne's strangest spectacles and celebrity stories
For those guitar shops get on the #112 tram. It leaves from Collins Street in the CBD and takes you down Brunswick St and St Georges Rd.
The Rainbow Hotel is just off the corner of Brunswick and Johnston St. Monday nights are especially good with the Paul Williamson Combo a R&B sax and Hammond Organ combo with special guests, starts about 9:30
Some other good music bars are
The Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St Fitzroy it's an old style Aussie pub that's been refurbished. It has some live music but a great juke box and menu in the restaurant.
The Cherry Bar 103 Flinders Lane Melbourne, no live music, but great range of drinks opens after 5:00pm
Esplanade Hotel (The Espy) 11 Upper Esplanade, St Kilda is the original sticky carpet venue and is a Melbourne music landmark, it's a bit rough around the edges but its worth having a beer there in the front bar overlooking Port Phillip Bay on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Robben Ford has played there as well as the Ford Brothers Band but you generally take your chances with the live bands
________
volcano digital review
Last edited by GMC on Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
I can't thank you enough for your great post, it is much appreciated!
I am really looking forward to having a look around now, and thanks to you, I think I can put together a good itinerary I particuarly like the concept of the podtour. I think I will give it a try, all going well.
All the best,
DD _________________ Music is the universal language; speak it with emotion, listen with a passion.
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 142 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject:
DD,
sorry for the delay! I've been overseas for a bit so not lurking around here much.
Close to town, GMC gave a good run down. Basement disks I really like; Bennetts Lane definately good for Jazz if there's anything good on, and lots of decent music shops around (not sure Australia is the cheapest place for this though!). Plenty of good tourist stuff to down around the city too and there's always Crown Casino if you get bored (I still like the giant gas burner things out the front after all these years...).
There's some good touristy things as well if you're prepared to get a little way out of town - some nice day trips for example. (e.g out to Ballarat, Healesville, Philip Island etc).
Hope you got taken to a decent footy match too! My team's losing at the moment so I can't advise very well on this.
Also, sorry about the weather!
Chris _________________ because I rock, and that's important.
I loved Melbourne! I think it is one of my fav cities, together with Hong Kong & Venice.
It seems to be thoughtfully developing with the times, with a nice mix of global cultures and contemporary/Victorian designed architecture. The city centre itself seemed neatly compact and easy to navigate (confirmed from a trip to the top of the Eureka Skydeck to view the area), with plenty for tourists to see and do.
The people were great, and the city spotless from litter. All in all the 3 days I had to myself were thoroughly enjoyed. but the weather, well I timed it to greet the coldest winter temperatures for 30 years!
Music wise, I did frequent a few CD shops, and took a trip down Brunswick Street (loved it down there, very Euro cultural with lots of road side coffee shops, etc). I remember Gallin's guitar shop the most, as it had a great range of Gibson's and great staff. These guys were very kind and enthusiastic (they particuarly insisted that I take a LP goldtop back to the UK with me :-)), even to recommend a few up coming gigs not to miss; sadly I was in Dandenong at the time. St Kilda was nice too, plus i checked out the Hotel Esplanade (some funky/rock outfit were playing on the Sunday luchtime; they were good!).
The most memorable thing, however, was on the Saturday night along the Southbank in melbourne (outside some grill resturant, and a few hundred yards from the Crown). Three young lads pitched up (one on electric bass, one on electric guitar, and one on acoustic/main vocals). These lads were there at approx 7PM, and at the time, I passed not taking any real notice whilst on my way to the Chocolate Budda for some Japanese tucker. I passed again, about 11PM and they were still busking. I stopped to check them out and spent 2hrs watching/listening to these 3 young lads (probably uni students) perform an amazing diverse repertoire of songs, and perform them brilliantly (in the chilly night air). The main vocalist and acoustic player reminded me of John Mayer in style and sound, but surprisingly he did not seem to be too swithed on to JM, but they did a fantastic rendition of one of JM's songs (one of JM's more technically challenging songs). Infact any request the general public made, they could play. Amazing! What talent. Do you guys know anything about them! Could be stars of the future.
Anyway, thanks again, and I hope I get the chance to visit your wonderful country/city again some day.
Cheers,
DD _________________ Music is the universal language; speak it with emotion, listen with a passion.
Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:09 am Post subject:
DD
A bit slow to respond but the school holidays have got in the way ? 3 kids under 10 so I?ve been a bit busy.
Glad you enjoyed your brief stay in Melbourne, I can?t help you at all with the guys at Southbank. The Melbourne City Council does issue licences to street performers in attempt to maintain a reasonably high standard and I reckon it works overall.
________
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. However, I will have the weekend at the beginning to myself, so my question is to the Oz contingent of the board. Can you recomend must see places, and any good music venues and music equipment stores, etc?
I particuarly like the concept of the podtour. I think I will give it a try, all going well.