On March 11th, Kasabian rocked Melbourne’s Forum with an electrifying performance. The iconic band delivered their signature sound, energising the crowd. Supports included the upbeat Pisco Sour and the indie vibes of Blossoms, setting the stage for an unforgettable night filled with music, energy, and excitement.

Pictures by Monique Pizzica

Ice Cube

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

In Australia for two shows only, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is packed to the rafters with hip hop fans eagerly anticipating the arrival of the legendary Ice Cube.

Credited with being one of the founders of the Compton scene, Ice Cube would make history with N.W.A before forging his own successful solo career. A career that has seen him weather the storms of fourty years in the music industry.

Ice Cube performs to the crowd cementing why he is a legend- he plays with the crowd, he has fun and he drops beats. He is tough, still a little rough around the edges but he commands the stage like a seasoned professional.

Playing a variety of his hits ‘ Check Yo Self’, ‘ We Be Clubbin’’ and ‘ Wicked’ he also takes the time to pay homage to his roots by performing a string of N.W.A songs ‘ Straight Outta Compton’  ‘ Dope Man’, ‘ Gangsta Gangsta’ and crowd favourite- and the song that saw N.W.A arrested for performing it ‘ F*ck Da Police’.

Ice Cube shows no signs of slowing down, he is having the time of his life on stage and the crowd are entranced. There is absolutely no chance he’s going to retire he informs fans.

Having performed snippets from thirty three of his top songs, Ice Cube ends the evening by making it snow in the Music Bowl. Flakes drop down around him as he belts out ‘ It Was A Good Day’ and it’s suddenly a winter wonderland. As the final credits roll and the crowd files out, it has in fact been a good day.

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey

Hatebreed

170 Russell

Hatebreed at 170 Russell, Melbourne – A Relentless Onslaught of Hardcore Fury

Hatebreed stormed into 170 Russell with a set that was nothing short of a sonic sledgehammer. From the moment they hit the stage, the energy was explosive, with the crowd feeding off every crushing riff and barked lyric. Frontman Jamey Jasta commanded the room with an undeniable presence, leading the charge with anthems of resilience, defiance, and sheer hardcore aggression.

The setlist was a brutal mix of classics and newer tracks, each song igniting furious pits and relentless headbanging. “Destroy Everything” and “Live for This” were absolute chaos, with fists in the air and the entire room chanting along. The tightness of the band was impressive—Chris Beattie’s basslines were thunderous, Wayne Lozinak and Frank Novinec’s guitars cut like razors, and Matt Byrne’s drumming was pure punishment.

The crowd at 170 Russell was electric, a sea of bodies surging with unfiltered adrenaline. Melbourne’s hardcore fans showed up in force, turning the venue into a warzone of two-step breakdowns and circle pits. Security had their hands full, but the atmosphere remained one of unity—Hatebreed’s message of strength through struggle resonated hard.

Closing with “Looking down the Barrel of Today,” the band left no doubt as to why they remain one of the most respected names in hardcore. The night was loud, intense, and unforgettable—just how a Hatebreed show should be. If you missed it, you missed one of the heaviest gigs Melbourne has seen this year.

The dynamic annual free Altru Outreach Festival has today announced its Melbourne party with a purpose for Atherton Reserve, Fitzroy on Sunday March 23. Revolutionising the way society tackles social inequalities, Altru Festival blends festival fun with immediate, on-site access to essential services for at-risk youth and families experiencing housing insecurity and financial hardship. Emceed by music industry icon Poppy Reid (formerly Rolling Stone Australia Editor), the music stage will be headlined by Sam Fischer, Anya Alchemy, David Subritzky, and Taz Zammit, as well as a surprise international artist; hosting a day of joy and support for 3,000+ Melburnians who need it most.

Actively moving awareness into action and celebrating the human beyond their adversity, humanitarian influencer, Altru is providing a day of care and giving – delivering healthcare, mental health support, job training, skill-building opportunities and more — all in a lively, community-centred environment filled with music and entertainment, showing Aussies that it’s cool to care.

Masterminded by Director and Co-Founder, Jessie McLachlan, and blueprinted from its LA sister festival, Skid Row Carnival that services 10,000 at-risk attendees annually, Altru is hosted completely free of charge for those experiencing hardship, with each attendee paired with a volunteer to assist in navigating the service tents that offer real-time, on-site free access to services such as professional wound treatment, eye exams, and even prescription glasses (all within the day), hairdressers, vets, doctors, dentists, welfare services, gifted clothing and shoes, hygiene showbags with daily necessities and more, alongside a stack of family fun for all, including food trucks, Good Grocer and face painting, ensuring every festival-goer leaves not just uplifted, but also supported in tangible, life-changing ways.

Launching in Australia for the first time last year, with its inaugural festival successfully servicing over 2,000 at-risk attendees (with 1,000 volunteers) in Brisbane, Altru will be hosted annually and has events currently slated for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with the view of expanding to Adelaide and Perth.

With Australia currently facing a significant economic challenge, the homelessness statistics have skyrocketed, and CHP (Council To Homeless Persons) revealed in their report ‘Employed & At Risk: The new face of homelessness in Victoria’ that a substantial portion of full-time workers are struggling to make ends meet and finding themselves on the streets, stating that working people seeking homelessness assistance grew 14 per cent across the state last year, and reporting that employed people now make up one in eight homelessness service users in Victoria – with 12,146 employed people seeking homelessness assistance last year alone.

Raised to believe that words only have meaning if they’re actioned, Altru Co-Founder (alongside Chris Smith) and Director, Brisbane-born Jessie McLachlan offers insight into why she founded Altru, enthusing, “I am responsible for leaving the world better than I found it. I fundamentally believe that the consideration of others is the silent architecture of society, and we all have a role – big or small – in making the world a little better. And I believe kindness is only learned once it has been experienced, so let’s get giddy on doing good!”

“Music is a universal language that brings people together. One of my favourite moments at the end of every outreach festival is seeing our guests, some with a fresh haircut, a new outfit, and sneakers dancing alongside volunteers. It’s euphoric to witness a sea of humans united. When you intentionally put good into the world, the best of humanity always shows up.”

Altru Festival is now putting a call out for volunteer registration via HUMANITIX, calling on people who want to help bring joy and make a tangible impact by spreading the Altru philosophy that it is cool it is to care.

Reimagining modern charity and setting a new standard for corporate responsibility, Altru is proving that meaningful change is achievable. There is no doubt Altru is more than a charity; it’s a movement.

Altru would like to thank its major sponsors: Amazon, Hatch, HLS Healthcare, Crown Resorts Foundation, Bennet Williams, Condom Hero, Underwear for humanity, Moose toys, Ben & Jerrys, Allens, Converse, Colgate, Cotton on foundation

For more information, visit wearealtru.com/festival

GRAMMY®-nominated producer, DJ and label head, Chris Lake has today announced OUT 2 LUNCH Festival sideshows, set to ignite stages in Melbourne (PICA) on Friday 9 May, and Sydney (Hordern Pavilion) on Saturday 10 May. In huge news for Aussie fans, Lake will be bringing along a whole new production and brand-new music.

Fans can register for presale tickets (Melbourne & Sydney sign up) with a 24 hour presale kicking off on Tuesday March 4 at 12pm AEDT. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT through Ticketek.

Hyped to be hitting Aus for OUT 2 LUNCH and extending his trip to Melbourne and Sydney, Lake enthuses, “Australia holds a special place in my heart, with some of my favorite shows and memories having happened there. Coming out for OUT 2 LUNCH, Sydney and Melbourne is an early highlight of my year, and I’m buzzing to share some new music with fans down under. Looking forward to making this trip a truly special one!” 

Expertly occupying the middle ground between dance music’s underground and commercial realms, the British producer’s finely-tuned ear for club-forward basslines and catchy vocals plays a large role in his success, all connected by his ability to make big moments both onstage and in his music.

Since breaking through with a string of No. 1 singles in the late 2000s, English-born Lake relocated to Los Angeles as dance music began bubbling up in America and has since helped redefine America’s house music scene in the post-EDM age. His music is a regular fixture on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including recent hits Summertime Blues, Beggin’, and More Baby. He has headlined EDC Las Vegas and Coachella stages, shut down Hollywood Boulevard for over 12,000 fans, and spread the dance floor gospel through his Under Construction events with FISHER.

One of house music’s most compelling figures, Lake founded Black Book Records in 2017, dropping releases from heavyweights like Green Velvet, Armand Van Helden, and Kevin Saunderson, proving its status as a coveted label for producers, also utilising the label as a developmental platform to share wisdom, experience and contacts to help launch new acts.

Tickets to Chris Lake side shows go on sale on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT from Ticketek.

Tickets to OUT 2 LUNCH Festival with Vodafone are on sale now from out2lunchfestival.com.