The CBD has some great record stores. Start at Metropolis (experimental/black metal/psych/folk), work your way down to Missing Link (indie/folk/hardcore/black metal), then Synaesthesia (experimental/avantgarde/black metal), Basement Discs next door (for jazzier/roots/blues fans), then wind down with a capuccino at Metal Mayhem (er, metal, all kinds) in the Banana Alley vaults under Flinders Street Station.

Dance music stores are pretty crap, though Slap records (10/60 Langridge St, Collingwood) has some nice folks working there. Polyester on Bruswick Street, Fitzroy is also good for indie, as is Greville Records (off Chapel Street in Prahran) though it's more on the rockier side.

Metropolis - Level 3, Curtin House, 252 Swanson St
Missing Link - www.missinglink.net.au
Synaesthesia - www.synrecords.com.au

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Check the free street press for gigs. You'll find some interesting stuff at the Rob Roy, the Old Bar, the Spanish Club, Ding Dong's, The Corner Hotel, Northcote Social Club, The Arthouse, Pony, The Tote, The Town Hall Hotel (North Melbourne) and bus.

www.beat.com.au (gig guide);
www.cornerhotel.com;
www.northcotesocialclub.com;
www.bus117.com

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Rockwiz is Australian TV's most eclectic music programme ... shot in a pub (the famous Espy) with guest musos from around Australia showcasing their knowledge of the industry. Viewers can join in and guess the 'Million Dollar Riff'.

Watch it or go to a taping – it’s great.

SBS TV
or www.sbs.com.au/rockwiz

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Let's start out with the Jazz weekend radio shows on 106.7 PBS. It all kicks off on Saturday at 6am with roots and blues on Dogs’ Breakfast with Glen Morrow, then slides wonderfully into your more traditional jazz with Jazz on Saturdays with Steve Robertson. After that spend the rest of your weekend tuned in for all kinds
of jazzy treats in different genres.

For awesome late night jazz on your radio while you're grooving into your weekend, try 105.9 ABC radio: Jazz Up Late with Gerry Koster. Check the show out with this link:
www.abc.net.au/classic/jazzuplate/

Try some of these venues for live jazz:

Dizzy's Jazz Club in Richmond
Bennett's Lane, Melbourne CBD
Tony Starr's Kitten Club, Melbourne CBD

For more on jazz in Melbourne see: www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Jazz.asp

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The most famous jazz club in Australia, hidden away in one of the city's ever-interesting lanes. Live music is on every night of the week, and it attracts top local and overseas acts.

25 Bennetts Lane; www.bennettslane.com/mambo/

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A great all-rounder to finish off a day at the beach or Luna Park, the 'Espy' is bit of a Melbourne institution with a reputation for giving up and coming bands their chance - AC/DC played here when they first started and just about every other famous Aussie band has followed suit. Sit outside on the terrace overlooking the bay or find one of the many shady corners inside to watch the colour acts on the small stage until the big shows start in the main hall. Like most Aussie bars this one also has a slew of pool tables at the back, and serves top-notch food at in-house restaurant The Espy Kitchen.

Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

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Great venue for live music, one of the best in Melbourne, they get quite a few big name acts as well as heaps of local bands. Good beer too!

57 Swan St Richmond, just near Richmond station.
www.cornerhotel.com

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