Christina Aguilera to perform one-night show in Melbourne ...
Pop sensation Christina Aguilera will perform in Australia for the first time in 15 years, for one night only, under the Victorian government’s Always Live program.
Aguilera will perform at an open-air concert at Flemington Racecourse on November 25, in what promoters say will be a journey through her greatest hits.
Christina Aguilera sings at the 2001 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles.Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The 17-day live music program takes place across Victoria, from November 24 to December 10, and will include performances by UK singer Jessie Ware, Swedish DJ Eric Prydz, A.B. Original, Melbourne-based rock band Amyl and the Sniffers, UK-Indian musician Jai Paul and Peter Garrett among more than 60 events.
Australian Music prize-winners King Stingray, from Northeast Arnhem Land, will headline a First Nations line-up at Hamer Hall, including Tasman Keith, Emma Donovan, Uncle Bart Willoughby, and the Kulin Nations Songwomen.
A Taylor Swift tribute show at Northcote Theatre presented in partnership with Clementine Ford will feature performances by Clare Bowditch, Alex the Astronaut, Kate Miller-Heidke, Em Rusciano, Lisa Mitchell, Emily Wurramura, and Sophia J. Smith.
Bowditch, who is also a board member of Always Live, said the program was “years in the making, and will continue to grow” with international acts and local acts.
Clare Bowditch, Briggs and Purritu are on the Always Live line-up.Credit: Justin McManus
“The second year up and running now, after many years of planning and stalling during COVID, and this will be the biggest music festival in the whole of Australia ... thousands and thousands of people coming to our state, so we’re pretty proud,” she said.
Victorian rock band Cosmic Psychos will celebrate their 40th anniversary with three performances in Castlemaine at the Theatre Royal, and Tones and I will curate Music in the Park, featuring the Cat Empire, the Veronicas, Budjerah and more in Mornington.
The festival program has been allocated $20 million in the 2023/24 Victorian budget. Last year’s inaugural Always Live program received $13.5 million in state government funding.
“Always Live’s 2023 program offers something for everyone,” Premier Daniel Andrews said. “It’s set to fill venues across Victoria, attract visitors and boost business while celebrating our state’s outstanding music and events industry.”
In March last year, stadium rock band Foo Fighters, fronted by Dave Grohl, was the first concert partly funded by the Always Live program. Foo Fighters played at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, and were the first major international act to perform in Victoria after COVID-19 lockdowns lifted.
Always Live performers and organisers with Premier Daniel Andrews.Credit: Justin McManus
British pop star Dua Lipa played at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre last October as part of Always Live, while Nick Cave’s performance at Hanging Rock in November, and Billy Joel at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December were also staged under the Always Live umbrella.
Always Live was the brainchild of late Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski, who pitched the concept to the premier with the aim of delivering live music into regional Victoria, as well as the CBD and surrounding suburbs.
The full program of free and ticketed events includes stadium concerts in Melbourne and regional centres, country festivals, pubs, rooftop gigs and associated industry events. Always Live receives its funding from Visit Victoria, the government’s major events and tourism promotions agency.
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Other artists who performed as part of Always Live have included Welsh indie-pop artist Cate Le Bon last year in Melbourne and Castlemaine, and K-pop group Epik High’s show at the Forum Theatre.
Six-time Grammy Award-winner Christine Aguilera’s upcoming Melbourne show will be presented in partnership with Untitled Group.
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