Live'n'local

Continuing a run of live music events to start the new year, Bay Street today provided an outpost for St Kilda Festival week, with afternoon performances at the Prince Alfred, The Local, The Exchange and seven:am.

It may just have been the diminutive New York themed stage at the Exchange, but 4 Letter Lies seemed to have fibbed about the number of members in their band. Not that that overly hampered their delivery of a polished set.

On Friday it's the turn of South Melbourne to host a series of Live'n'Local gigs, before the main act takes over vast swathes of St Kilda next Sunday.

Sunset mimosas

The balmy evenings have made Corté a favoured spot for a Friday evening sangria; and rightly so, it's a genuine oasis in the midst of the bustle of Bay Street, with quality live music to boot. But, for the canny, there is an even better option...

Sat on it's own at number one Beach Street, Harold Holt has already carved itself a niche as a waterfront café with city credentials. And now, for two happy hours, on a Friday night they're offering $4 beers, wines and mimosas, with laid back melodies from the likes of No Strings Attached, all overlooking the ocean as the sun heads inexorably towards the horizon. It surely ticks just about every box there is.

Beers (bottles): Cascade, Carlton, Pure Blonde, Crown, Coopers, Grand Ridge, Becks, Heineken, Peroni, Corona
Wine range: $7 - $10
Parma: No, shared plates are more the thing
Gastro: Getting there
Tradie vs Yuppy: Could take anyone happy with table service

Pier party

I may be one of the few to attend both festivals, yet there were a surprising number of similarities between this Saturday's event and last. For a large stage, bar area and international food formed part of this year's family friendly (and free) Piers Festival.

It's probably a good job that there is also a sober side to Mulicultural Arts Victoria's celebration of boat people, as the idea of hosting a pure music festival on an unfenced pier would give most safety managers kittens.

By the time the sun set and Jimmy Bosch and his Salsa Kingz (sic) took to the stage there was a carnival atmosphere, aided and abetted by a pre-cursor to tomorrow's Australia day fireworks display. It seems the cruise ship companies missed a trick as, just across the water, Station Pier lay surprisingly empty.

Hardcore

The heatwave subsided just in time for the unlikely sight of ten punk rock bands strutting their stuff in a cordoned-off back street of Port Melbourne. The combined organisation skills (and budgets) of Globe, Matilda Bay and the Salford Lads Club meant that the Port Royal street party displayed scant evidence of its inaugural status.

Making the most of the industrial setting, the bars and eateries set themselves up against the loading bay doors, as skateboarding ticket holders relaxed on pallets. Hitting the stage in order were Ausmuteants, The Spinning Rooms, Bits of Shit, Batpiss, Drunk Mums, Straight Arrows (pictured), Harmony, The Murlocs, The Meanies and Cosmic Psychos.

It was a champion effort all round, and hopefully one to be repeated next year, although I do have a couple of suggestions; 1) it would be good, for locals in particular, if the Draconian pass-out policy could be relaxed a fraction, 2) Matilda Bay really could do better than to offer Fat Yak (which is actually brewed 600km away in Hobart) as one of only two of their splendid beer selection.

Port Royal

Against the odds, the pocket of hipster heaven that bizarrely centres on an industrial service road around the back of Bunnings, continues to grow in confidence. Now home to the Salford Lads Club, Globe/Stussy/Obey and Uncle Rocco's Barber Shop, Fennel Street will very soon be hosting its inaugraul Port Royal street party come punk rock music festival.

Tickets are priced at $56.10 (including booking fees), which isn't as good value as Port Melbourne's previous street festival, but then that wasn't an 18+ event with beers and cider provided by neighbours Matilda Bay; who have themselves being getting bigger and better, with one of their loading bays now converted into a cosy dining area reminiscent of Little Rose. And helping to entice our North of the river friends out of their comfort zone will be Collingwood's renowned Huxtaburger who are sharing the catering duties.