The Forum is full of surprises. Outside, it resembles a place of worship, with Gothic-Romanesque gargoyles that keep watch over music fans who line up around the block. Inside, the historic theater and former cinema is a marvel of theatrical lighting and stellar acoustics. Bookings span an eclectic array of hometown talent (The Whitlams), international tours (Yung Gravy), and nostalgic throwbacks (Hanson).

A bucket list venue for any punk fan, The Tote is infamous and beloved among locals. How beloved? In 2010, it was forced to close due to harsh liquor licensing laws, sparking waves of protests that shut down parts of the city. Not bad for an (alleged) former illegal gambling den. Today, it leans heavily on Aussie talent like Nancy and the Jam Fancys, Sorry, Dave, and Semantics, but international hitmakers like Mudhoney and the White Stripes have also played its intimate stage.

Tucked inside The Prince of Wales Hotel, a stunning Art Deco hot spot in the heart of St Kilda, is an intimate, beloved music club that has been buzzing for more than six decades. A series of renovations has expanded the Bandroom—it’s more of a sprawling complex than local pub—but its original spirit and intention remains: to host local acts and rising international talent before they reach stadium status. (Prince, Nick Cave, and Billie Eilish all played here on their way to the top.)

There’s no such thing as a bad view at 170 Russell, thanks to the tiered levels that make it easy to find a spot to stand. Keep in mind, though, that this venue in Melbourne’s CBD is mostly standing room only, so contact management beforehand if you need a seat. Expect a wide range of performers: Cult fave Andrew McMahon, nostalgic hitmakers Skid Row and Stryper, and dance music stalwarts The Crystal Method all take advantage of the just-small-enough-to-feel-intimate space.

Head to the second level of Chinatown’s Curtain House for a unique twist on “dinner and a show.” At The Toff, you can tuck into your own private carriage booth—complete with retractable doors and a service bell for, ahem, privacy—until it’s time for the tunes. Here, local favorites like Germein and Supercurve perform a spectrum of sounds from drum ’n’ bass to indie pop. Stop by on Tuesdays for live jazz and specialty cocktails.

There’s a good chance you’ll catch the Next Big Thing at this laidback, hipster Northcote pub, which hosted Dua Lipa and Foster the People before they were stars. It’s also a favorite among some of Australia’s biggest musical exports like Winterbourne, Amy Shark, and Courtney Barnett, the latter of whom once tended bar here. Grab a jalapeño margarita (their specialty) and take five on the expansive deck or heated beer garden. Note to parents: It’s refreshingly kid-friendly until sundown.

DJ nights at Howler get a little wild, but this sleek, industrial Brunswick warehouse—a refurbished woolshed—has a wonderfully broad slate of programming: singer-songwriter showcases, sweaty rock concerts, comedy nights, and film screenings. The bandroom is outfitted with a sophisticated lighting and sound system that make it feel more upscale than DIY, and the stylish, heated beer hall—complete with a retractable roof—is greenhouse-inspired.

This legendary basement venue has a long tradition of hosting must-see, adrenaline-pumping bands and DJs; there’s a good chance your parents saw NOFX here when it was Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom. After a change in ownership in 2015, the venue—officially renamed Max Watt’s House of Music, a play on “maximum wattage”—stayed the course, bringing high-octane rock, dance, jazz, indie, and hip-hop acts to its stage beneath the iconic Century Building on Swanston Street.

A 2015 renovation dressed up this beloved bandroom—once the site of riotous gigs by Bon Scott-era AC/DC and Rose Tattoo—with a beer garden, gussied-up greenroom, and state-of-the-art sound system. Tucked inside The Croxton Park Hotel, the venue now welcomes a broad slate of classic and contemporary rock bands (Beach Bunny, Soccer Mommy, Electric Six, Helmet) as well as singer-songwriters (King Princess, Larkin Poe) and acts like The High Kings, known for performing Irish folk songs.

A popular music venue in the heart of bustling Brunswick Street, this small, moody hotel bandroom is a rite of passage for Melbourne bands and is known for hosting still-under-the-radar acts on the cusp of global stardom. (Muse played here in 2000, a favorite claim to fame.) Come early for pre-show drinks at Public Bar, where you can shoot pool, relax in the beer garden, or sit outside and take in the festivities of Fitzroy. As of 2023, live music is on almost every night of the week.

This Richmond institution has been presenting live music since the 1940s but has operated predominantly as a contemporary rock venue since the mid-1990s; Mick Jagger, Andrew W.K., Peaches, The White Stripes, and Queens of the Stone Age have all lit up its boxy stage. A tip: If you’re planning on early drinks at the rooftop bar, book in advance. More spontaneous travelers can head to ’Round the Corner, their parking lot turned pub that serves up burgers, hot dogs, and 4 Pines brews.

This legendary dive has long cast a spell on big-time rockers: Noel Gallagher allegedly offered to buy it in 2002; Tom Morello DJ’ed here while on tour with Bruce Springsteen; and Steel Panther fell so in love with the spot at an afterparty in 2015 that they postponed their next gig in Adelaide to stay and play at Cherry. In 2019, the bar moved from its original location on AC/DC Lane, but its messy, freewheeling spirit—the one that inspired Jet’s “Rollover D.J.”—is alive and well.