Often mistakenly recognised as merely the home of the Sydney Road Street Party, Brunswick Music Festival has decided to reevaluate priorities, reorganise the sock drawer, reassess what sparks joy and revive its entire format. Unexpected spaces and brand-new faces punctuate the progressive, and frankly, EPIC 2019 program.

Indefatigable industry figure Emily Ulman has taken the programming reins and roused one of the city’s longest running music festivals into the best shape of its life. Spanning March 3–17, Brunswick Music Festival, put simply, is bringing the goods.

How?

Martin Frawley (Twerps) will take up residence in a pop-up Sydney Road shopfront every night for what might be the longest album launch show of all time. Joined by a band of fine musicians and some very special surprise guests to be announced daily.

BMF's inaugural Artists in Residence, HEXDEBT swing open the studio doors for an open rehearsal, a songwriting workshop and collaborate with a chamber orchestra for a special one-off show.

The Moreland Hotel and Brunswick West’s Estonian House are both getting co-opted as venues, hosting live music for the first time in years—and the acts are nothing to balk at—think Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, The Murlocs, The Necks, Stella Donnelly, Cosmic Psychos and more.

Brunswick Mechanics Institute becomes Mechanica for two weeks, BMF’s festival hub and beating heart—bursting with panels, an exhibition, workshops, performances, and parties—and open every damn night (and day on weekends).

International gold comes courtesy of Snail Mail (US), Flohio (UK), and J Mascis (US), who complement a truly exhaustive list of local talent. Dolly. Parton. Tribute. Night. Need we say more? OK. Alexander Gow (Oh Mercy), Emily Lubitz, Emma Donovan, Loretta Miller, Sarah Mary Chadwick. Brunswick’s first annual Masquerade Ball with Jazz Party, The Mamas, FERLA and friends will make for a night of bacchanalian revelry.

‘A Weekend With’ urban edition Community Square, premieres in the picturesque courtyard of heritage listed Siteworks with a Bedroom Suck Records showcase, Strictly Vinyl DJs, wine tastings, local artisanal food and more. Sydney Road Street Party returns to envelop one of Melbourne’s busiest arterials in a buzz of live music, food, drink, performance and party on the festival’s opening weekend.

And the closing weekend sees a free outdoor concert take over Shore Reserve. Music For The Mob, curated by none other than Bad Apples features Emma Donovan and The Putbacks, Alice Skye and more along with a bunch of rad Indigenous up-and-comers.

Oh, also...

A. Swayze & The Ghosts
Bec Sandridge
Bitumen
Dianas
DJ Jnett
Dispossessed
Elizabeth Mitchell
Genesis Owusu
Gordon Koang
Habits
Jade Imagine
Loose Tooth
Major Leagues
Moody Beaches
MzRizk
P-Unique
Rudely Interrupted
RVG
Sophiegrophy
Thando
The Orbweavers

Plus a whole lot more. See the full program in all its glory at the website. And keep your ear to the ground for a few sneaky announcements still to follow.