Half Bent Music Festival

HALF BENT MUSIC FESTIVAL

After a 10 year break Half Bent have gathered a NEW team of young and inspiring change makers to bring music to the streets of West Brunswick.

From 2002-2015 Half Bent ran four much loved festivals around Melbourne, in Trades Hall, Arts House and Fitzroy Bowling Club. The festival champions new and creative music, and diversity of thought and artistic practice; but most importantly the festival aims to connect curious listeners and people from all walks of life: with each other, with live music, with their own community.

The 2026 Half Bent Music Festival will present over 20 concerts, workshops and DJ sets featuring new, locally made music. West Brunswick community spaces will be converted into pop-up music venues. Venues include: Austramax House (outdoor space), 4th Brunswick Scout Hall, & St John's Anglican Church.

Half Bent is a volunteer organisation and is powered by the energy and good will of its committee and helpers. Money raised goes to artists, in addition to covering venue hire, promotion, and production hire. All musicians performing in the festival will be paid for their work.

FESTIVAL DATES/TIMES:

Friday 29th May: 7pm-9:45pm
Saturday 30th May: 3:30pm-9:45pm
Sunday 31st May: 2:30pm-8:45pm

FESTIVAL VENUES:

Austramax House * - cnr Melville Rd & Albion St, Brunswick West
4th Brunswick Scout Hall - 14a Jolley St (Jacobs Reserve), Brunswick West
St John's Anglican Church - cnr Victoria St & Melville Rd, Brunswick West

* Austramax House is an outdoor performance space. In the event of inclement weather an alternative indoor venue will be used.

There is a short walking distance between venues. If you have mobility issues, it is recommended to make use of the free tram service along Melville Rd.

HALF BENT LINEUP / PROGRAM - AVAIL HERE

The festival is General Admission - seated and standing room. Venues have limited numbers of seats, so please get in contact via our website if you need a seat reserved for you.

HALF BENT MANIFESTO

Half Bent is a musician-run organisation committed to enhancing and nurturing locally based creative music makers and sharing this music wiith the wider community.

Though driven by a shared sense of delight in the sharing of music locally, Half Bent perceives it's role as part of a much bigger movement that is taking place all around the world. This movement is a revolt against the market driven ideologies of the last 50 years, whose effects have become far more apparent in the last decade.

With fewer major record companies, fewer independent media outlets and therefore less choice, local independent music is drowned out by the bland out of the mainstream. However, we are extremely fortunate to have a thriving independent radio network and a flourishing creative music scene in Melbourne. Half Bent is here to celebrate what is great about our scene and to ensure that it continues to flourish.