monday
aug 18

SCREEN SECT
A weekly film night devoted to rarely seen, obsessively loved and criminally neglected cult classics of cinema. Revisit old favourites, uncover hidden celluloid gems, indulge guilty pleasures, or just get yourself an education. This week:
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Tom Stoppard, 1990)
Stoppard directs this adaptation ofhis own acclaimed play. An absurd,existentialist riff on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it foregrounds two of that play’s minor characters, played with great gusto and humour by Tim Roth and Gary Oldman. Extremely witty, intelligent fun.
7pm 

tuesday
aug 19

MAKE IT UP CLUB 
The Make It Up Club was founded in 1998 by percussionist Will Guthrie and guitarist Ren Walters to provide regular performance opportunities for experimental improvisers at a time when such opportunities didn't really exist with any stability in Melbourne. Since then, the MIUC has grown into the longest running program of its type in Australia, presenting a weekly series of challenging and adventurous freely-improvised music and sound performance. Hosted every Tuesday night throughout the year at Bar Open, the MIUC aims to present and promote the most daring and innovative improvised music from across Australia and around the globe, and to foster and cultivate Melbourne's vibrant community of performers and listeners dedicated to one of the most rewarding art-forms in existence. 
8.30pm 

wednesday
aug 20

AQUANAUT
MAD DUTCHMAN

Harbouring a deep resentment towards Top 40 Music from an early age has sent the Mad Dutchman on an epic journey to re-educate the masses in aural excitable tunage. A mixture of electronica, break beat and glitch, the Mad Dutchman is also joined live on stage by the mysterious men of 'The Void of ASS'. 
Rising like a phoenix from a Harry Potter novel and the dead remains of punk, latin and jazz projects come Aquanaut. A five piece of flair and dynamic sophistication that dance with twinkly toes, ballerina like over ballerina like landscapes. Last Melbourne show before the Aquanaut goes interstate, then interstellar.

8pm free entry
 

thursday
aug 21

 

THE OOGA BOOGAS
USELESS CHILDREN
DIAMOND SEA

The Useless Children grace Bar Open with the soul purpose of breaking the spirit of the ones they love.
Bare witness to this soul-destroying phenomenon and watch tears form on the hardest parents’ eyes as they helplessly witness their offspring burn every bridge laid out before them. Joining them will be the Ooga Boogas, in an attempt to burn the last of their bridges before their much-awaited tour of the U.S, and the Diamond Sea fresh from their debut ep release tour of Australia.

9pm free entry

friday
aug 22

BARONS OF TANG
SEX ON TOAST

The Barons of Tang have been gigging mercilessly in and around the Australian underground music scene since there immaculate conception in the back ally of the Black Lung theatre at the Adelaide fringe fest of 2007. This seven-piece ensemble are the pioneers of what has been dubbed gypsy “deathcore” which is a crazy mash up traditional Eastern European, Latin, rockabilly and tango sounds, outrageously bastardized by hard hitting guitar riffs, double kick blast beats and massive horn arrangements. Collectively The Barons 
Of Tang are infuenced by music as diverse as Secret Chiefs 3, Django Reinhardt, Tom Waits, Estradasphere, Frank Zappa, Taraf de Hadouks, Fantomas, Primus and, we hate to say it but yes, Mr Bungle. Tonight they play their first show back in Melbourne after a European promo tour.

10pm free entry

saturday
aug 23

 

SS PECKER
SS Pecker began in 2001 as a jazz quartet playing contemporary funk/groove. After playing packed shows to Melbourne audiences, the band began experimenting with hip-hop influences and soon enlisted MC Urban Monk to flavor their improvised style. Whilst still placing a strong emphasis on improvisation the band began to experiment with the addition of turntables into some original compositions including several songs that remain the backbone of SS Pecker's unique sound.
10pm free entry

FIRESIDE RESIDENCY:
the reefers
People of Earth,
The Reefers return to the hallowed halls of Bar Open for five glorious Saturdays of bazouki laden bedlam in August. Shake off the cold embrace of winter and warm the cockles of your heart with two sets of exotic rhythms from the four corners of this island Earth and the waters in between.
See you up the front.

5pm free entry

sunday
aug 24

 

 

COUCHING TIGER
Tunes with soul and beats with balls from Brunswick Street's longest running DJ duo...  music from the four corners and in-between.
Residents Curtis Mayfield and Toots are joined by quality weekly guests to ease your Sunday soreness.
6pm / downstairs / free entry

monday
aug 25

SCREEN SECT
A weekly film night devoted to rarely seen, obsessively loved and criminally neglected cult classics of cinema. Revisit old favourites, uncover hidden celluloid gems, indulge guilty pleasures, or just get yourself an education. This week:
WALKER (Alex Cox, 1987)
Cox’s ambitious, allegorical political/historical western was filmed in Nicaragua during the US-sponsored Contra war, and was intended to illustrate the historical precedents for US intervention in that part of the world under the flag of Manifest Destiny. Full of tell-tale anachronisms, the film also features a great lead performance from Ed Harris and a magnificent soundtrack by The Clash’s Joe Strummer.

7pm 

tuesday
aug 26

MAKE IT UP CLUB 
The Make It Up Club was founded in 1998 by percussionist Will Guthrie and guitarist Ren Walters to provide regular performance opportunities for experimental improvisers at a time when such opportunities didn't really exist with any stability in Melbourne. Since then, the MIUC has grown into the longest running program of its type in Australia, presenting a weekly series of challenging and adventurous freely-improvised music and sound performance. Hosted every Tuesday night throughout the year at Bar Open, the MIUC aims to present and promote the most daring and innovative improvised music from across Australia and around the globe, and to foster and cultivate Melbourne's vibrant community of performers and listeners dedicated to one of the most rewarding art-forms in existence. 

8.30pm 

wednesday
aug 27

RESPONSE
 Response is a live Hip Hop group that combines musical inventiveness with subtle restraint. Featuring jazz guitarist Nashua Lee (12 tone Diamonds, Barney Mcall), Keyboardist Thai Matus ( True Live, 12 Tone Diamonds), Drummer Ivan Khatchoyan ( True Live, Cookin on three Burners) and Bassist Rohan Sherlock ( Red Eyes, Pete Murray). The band invites a different guest MC to rhyme for each gig. 
With a deep appreciation for Hip Hop history, Response fuses evocative filmic passages of music with deep beats and hypnotic grooves in the modern tradition of left field Hip Hop luminaries DJ Shadow and Madlib.
8pm free entry 

thursday
aug 28

 

THE GENIE
FRESHTOWN
Freshtown, Combining some of Melbourne’s hottest funk talent from acts including Effigy of Now, Labjacd, Ross Irwin Soul Special, Simon Phillips Band, Simon Wright and the Eclective and more, is here to play tight upbeat funk & Soul ranging from Maceo, The JB’s, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Tower of Power and many originals. Formed early this year by drummer Gareth Bowen, Freshtown has already caused chaos at a jazz club residency, and began work on their debut recording to be released later in the year. Be sure to catch this unique gig as they share the stage with Bar Open favourites “The Genie” for a night of dancing, improv. and general shinanigans. 
9pm free entry

friday
aug 29

CURSE OV DIALECT
DEFEND THE MELODY

First Australian Hip Hop artist with a U.S release. Reaching out to the world from their home in Melbourne, Australia, The Curse Ov Dialect show combines unrelenting energy, fine tuned execution, and jaw dropping costumes to create a one-of-a-kind concert experience that tears the hip-hop rulebook to pieces. Curse Ov Dialect leave their mark after just one performance or listen. Curse represents cultural backgrounds. They launched onto the international stage in 2004 with the support of the Australia Council for the Arts playing at venues across the United States, Europe and Japan. The recent release Wooden Tongues has been well received in the local and international press and signals a new era for the group in that the blend of experimental and more accessible aspects of their music has been achieved with more fluidity and professionalism than in the past .
10pm free entry

saturday
aug 30

 

checkerboard
Checkerboard channel Stevie Wonder in the midst of a blues/soul improv bliss. Checkerboard consistently defy the believable realms of energy and keep curiosity baited with their propensity for journeys into the unknown. With random and unpredictable performances that leave audiences aghast, exasperated, completely spent. A soulful exploration of what it means for a man to love a woman.
10pm free entry

FIRESIDE RESIDENCY:
the reefers
People of Earth,
The Reefers return to the hallowed halls of Bar Open for five glorious Saturdays of bazouki laden bedlam in August. Shake off the cold embrace of winter and warm the cockles of your heart with two sets of exotic rhythms from the four corners of this island Earth and the waters in between.
See you up the front.

5pm free entry

sunday
aug 31

 

 

MADELEINE PAiGE
WASHINGTON
After a hugely successful EP launch at Manchester Lane in May, Brisbane artist Madeleine Paige brings her sweet indie-pop back to her favourite city Melbourne - joined by rising star and friend Washington.
Madeleine's debut EP "Angels in the Architecture" (released June 2008 through MGM) has been receiving stellar reviews including Single of the Week in Brisbane street press Rave Magazine. Tracks from the EP have been enjoying airplay on Triple J and top community radio stations across the country. The EP's title is from Paul Simon's "Graceland" - her favourite album which she wanted to give a symbolic nod to on her very first release.
In May 2008 Madeleine undertook an East Coast tour to launch the EP and enchanted packed audiences at iconic venues such as the Basement in Sydney and Manchester Lane. Her live performance is where Madeleine truly shines, with her golden voice soaring about simple country/folk infused guitars and the smooth angelic tones of the vibraphone. 
"Angels in the Architecture" EP is available from iTunes worldwide and at all good independent music retailers. 

7.30pm 

ROAMING CHURCH SERVICE
THE MUSICMEN CASSETTE L.P LAUNCH
The Roaming District Church was planted for service in the Royal Exhibition Building for 4 days during the Melbourne Art Fair. Then it was brutally torn down and collapsed by authorities. Wandering psychedelic servicemen will perform live the special hymn from the altar and mourn the death of a mobile place of worship at Bar Open. Available will be take-home cassette recordings of the seminal July service.
5pm / downstairs / free entry

COUCHING TIGER
Tunes with soul and beats with balls from Brunswick Street's longest running DJ duo...  music from the four corners and in-between.
Residents Curtis Mayfield and Toots are joined by quality weekly guests to ease your Sunday soreness.
7pm / downstairs / free entry

COMING SOON

 

 

 


 

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wed sep 3: babble slam
thurs sept 4: fire! fire!, cast and crew, the box rockets
fri sept 5: croque monsieur
sat sept 6: editer - fireside residency
sat sept 6: unified gecko
sun sept 7: straight arrows (nsw) **7 inch launch** with guests knife fight (nz), ooga boogas, chinese burn
thurs sept 11: matt kelly & the keepers
fri sept 12: croque monsieur
sat sept 13: papa chango
sun sept 14: los hories (nz), midnight woolf, the knockouts
wed sept 17: aoi , barrage
thurs sept 18: inverto

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BAR OPEN 10 YEARS OF ROOTS, ROCK 'N' ROLL, & GENERAL BROUHAHA MERCH

compilation cd:  $15
stubby holder:   $7
frisbee:                $7
boys t-shirt:        $20
girls singlet:       $20
hoodie:                $50