Christina Aguilera To Play One-Off Aus Show As Part Of Stacked ALWAYS LIVE Program

The ALWAYS LIVE 2023 program has officially landed, bringing some of the biggest acts in international and Australian music to central and regional Victoria across 17 days this November and December.

From 24 November until 10 December, this year’s program is headlined by the one and only Christina Aguilera hosting an exclusive one-off performance at the Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, 25 November. Her ALWAYS LIVE performance is brought to Flemington in partnership with Untitled Music Group, marks the 20th anniversary of her iconic album, Stripped, and is her first Australian show since 2007.

Coming in hot with another exclusive, Swedish DJ Eric Prydz is bringing his HOLO show in a to-be-announced venue presented by MG Live and Frontier Touring.

Leading the second edition of ALWAYS LIVE’s Hometown series is A.B. Original, heading to Victoria Lake for a free show hosting Yorta Yorta/ Kalkadoon/Yirendali performer Miss Kaninna, Yorta Yorta Kaieltheban songwriter, hip-hop artist and producer, DRMNGNOW, and more to be revealed.

Elsewhere on the line-up is An Intimate Audience with Jessie Ware, presented by Summer Camp Festival, with the UK disco-pop singer joining ABC’s Virginia Trioli in a Q&A.

The show also presents Ware’s sole headline show in Australia in 2023 – she’s heading to Australia to headline Summer Camp Festival – with just 120 people who will be able to see her in partnership with Victoria by Farmers Daughters at Fed Square.

Outside the central hubs, live music heads to regional Victoria with a line-up spearheaded by Peter Garrett showcasing new music with his band The Alter Egos (featuring fellow Midnight Oil member Martin Rotsey) at the Wangaratta Arts Centre.

Cosmic Psychos also head to Castlemaine, Amyl And The Sniffers embark on a seven-date tour across Meeniyan, Ballarat, Frankston, Warrnambool, Torquay, and Wodonga before an under-18s gig at Thornbury Theatre with Dumb Punts, Tones And I headlines on the Mornington Peninsula, and more.

Back to metro Melbourne, Caroline Polachek plays her first-ever headline dates in Australia (she headlines Sydney and Brisbane dates, too), a trio of sideshows accompanying her Meredith Festival headlining slot alongside Kraftwerk. The Forum Melbourne date is presented by ALWAYS LIVE.

The American Avant-pop artist is a favourite in alt-pop fan circles, with her latest album, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You (released in February 2023), is already named one of the best-reviewed albums ever.

BLAKTIVISM returns to Hamer Hall as part of ALWAYS LIVE, with King Stingray headlining a stunning lineup of First Nations artists, including Tasman Keith, Emma Donovan, Uncle Bart Willoughby, Deline Briscoe, Sorong Samarai, Suga Cane Mamas, the Kulin Nations Songwomen, and the Blaktivism house band.

More announcements regarding ALWAYS LIVE 2023 will be unveiled in the coming months, but for now, you can find today’s announcement program below and explore more details via the ALWAYS LIVE website.

“We’re beyond excited to share the ALWAYS LIVE program with you today. ALWAYS LIVE is committed to delivering a program that reflects and represents the unrivalled vibrancy and dynamism of contemporary live music in Victoria,” ALWAYS LIVE Program Director Emily Ulman said in a statement.

“From global icons like Christina Aguilera and Jessie Ware to the raw excellence of Amyl And The Sniffers and the socially impactful A.B. Original, this 17-day program of events enhances the existing exceptional live contemporary music offerings across our unique state.

“We’re thrilled to be working in collaboration with a range of talented industry partners to curate a major event of Victorian music and music in Victoria that will attract global attention to our beloved world-class Victorian scene.”

ALWAYS LIVE 2023 PROGRAM

NOVEMBER 24 - DECEMBER 10

ALWAYS LIVE and Untitled present Christina Aguilera
Sat Nov 25: Flemington Racecourse, Flemington
 
ALWAYS LIVE, MG Live & Frontier Touring present Eric Prydz HOLO (Swe)
Details to be announced.
 
ALWAYS LIVE, Live Nation Special Events, Bad Apples Music, Songlines present Hometown, with A.B. Original
Special guests include  DRMNGNOW and more TBA
Sat 09 Dec: Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton
 
ALWAYS LIVE An Intimate Audience with Jessie Ware presented by Summer Camp Festival
Thu 30 Nov: Victoria by Farmer's Daughter, Fed Square
 
ALWAYS LIVE and Billions present Amyl and The Sniffers with special guests Dumb Punts
Fri 24 Nov - Fri 08 Dec: Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan (All Ages), Pier Hotel, Frankston, Volta, Ballarat, Torquay Hotel, Torquay, The Dart & Marlin, Warrnambool, The Cube, Wodonga, Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury (U18)
Register at program@alwayslive.com.au for the chance to be one of 7 local support acts         
 
ALWAYS LIVE and Select Music present Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos
Wed 29 Nov: Wangaratta Arts Centre, Wangaratta
 
ALWAYS LIVE, and TBC Management present Cosmic Psychos 40th Anniversary Shows
Fri 01 Dec: Cosmic Psychos with The Chats, Blowers, Affordable Repayments and Dead Clampets at the Theatre Royal
Sat 02 Dec: Cosmic Psychos with Pat Todd (USA), The Prize, Thee Cha Cha Chas, Southeast Desert Metal and Boondall Boys and special guests at the Theatre Royal
Sun 3 Dec: Cosmic Psychos with The Unknowns, Meatbeaters and K5 at the Theatre Royal
 
ALWAYS LIVE Rises in the East, on Sunrise, on Channel 7
Details to be announced:
Amy Shark from the Murray, Tones and I from Mornington, Budjerah from the Grampians, Jessie Ware (UK) from Melbourne
 
ALWAYS LIVE, MG Live, I OH YOU & Frontier Touring present Jai Paul (UK)  AU/NZ exclusive
Mon 04 Dec: 170 Russell, Melbourne
Tue 05 Dec: 170 Russell, Melbourne
 
ALWAYS LIVE and Penny Drop present Caroline Polachek                
Sun 10 Dec: Forum Theatre, Melbourne
 
ALWAYS LIVE An Intimate Audience with Angie McMahon, presented by Kit.         
Wed 29 Nov: Victoria by Farmer's Daughter, Fed Square
 
GABA Musik, ALWAYS LIVE & ACM present BLAKTIVISM, King Stingray
With Uncle Bart Willoughby, Deline Briscoe, Emma Donovan, Tasman Keith, Sorong Samarai, Suga Cane Mamas, the Kulin Nations Songwomen and the Blaktivism house band
Fri 01 Dec:  Hamer Hall, Southbank
 
ALWAYS LIVE, Clementine Ford and Story Baker present Taylor Made: Taylor Swift Tribute   
Fri 24 Nov: Northcote Theatre, Northcote

ALWAYS LIVE and the NGV present 'Emma Donovan and Friends: Live and Acoustic
Sun 26 Nov: The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia
 
ALWAYS LIVE SOUNDBOX
Fri 24 Nov - Sun 03 Dec: Arts Centre Melbourne, Forecourt
 
ALWAYS LIVE, JOF and Fed Square present Garage Band
Sat 14 Oct: Fed Square, Melbourne

ALWAYS LIVE and Lemon Tree Music present Music in the Park - (curated by Tones and I)
Sat 09 Dec: Mornington Park, Mornington
 
ALWAYS LIVE, CUB, Live at Your Local and Select Music present Gonna Be Good    
Sun 26 Nov: Holy Holy with Aleksiah Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster
Wed 29 Nov: Illy with Nooky at Plaza Hotel, Werribee
Wed 29 Nov: The Temper Trap with Stumps at Pier Bandroom, Frankston
Thu 30 Nov: Northeast Party House with Blusher, at the Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave
Thu 30 Nov: Casey Barnes with Taylor Moss at the Commercial Hotel, South Morang 
Thu 07 Dec: Ruby Fields with Adam Newling at Yorke on Lilydale, Mt Evelyn
 
ALWAYS LIVE presents Summer Camp Festival
Ft. Jessie Ware (UK) and Trixie Mattel (USA)
Sat 02 Dec: More details to be announced

ALWAYS LIVE, Metro Trains & Supersonic present Soul Trains with Lee Fields & The Expressions (US) & Surprise Chef
Wed 29 Nov: Howler, Brunswick
Fri 01 Dec: Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury
Sat 02 Dec: Corner Hotel, Richmond
Sun 03 Dec: Mamma Chen's, Footscray
With special guests and a pop-up record store by Miss Goldie
 
ALWAYS LIVE End of the Line Sandringham with Clare Bowditch, presented by Metro Train and Sandringham Traders Association
Sat 02 Dec: Melrose St, Sandringham with Blanco Tranco, Pirritu and Sophia J Smith
 
ALWAYS LIVE End of the Line Williamstown, Alex Lahey (with full band), presented by Metro Trains & Hobson's Bay Council
Sat 09 Dec: Commonwealth Reserve, Williamstown, with Alice Skye, Philly, and Meghna
 
ALWAYS LIVE, and Stick Mareebo Productions present the Jamaican Music & Food Festival
Sat 02 Dec: Seaworks, Williamstown
With international and local artists, including General Levy (UK), DefStar (UK), Spikey Tee (JA), Fitzroy Lee (JA), Flames Eye (JA), Heartical Hi Powa, Housewife’s Choice, More Fire, Ras Jahknow, GAIA, Johnny Long-shot, Rick Howe, Shabba, Quashani Bahdand more. 
 
ALWAYS LIVE and Brunswick Ballroom present Ballroom Mix Tapes        
Details to be announced: The Brunswick Ballroom, Brunswick
Ainslee Wills EP Preview Evening, Emma Donovan, Counterfeit feat. Freya Josephine Hollick, The Orbweavers ‘When it Rains in Broken Hill’ Single Launch and more
 
Mushroom 50 Celebration
Details to be announced.