The Tote Celebrates 30th Birthday

Iconic Melbourne venue The Tote will be celebrating 30 years in business this November. The ‘little venue that could’ almost didn’t make it to this milestone, strict liquor licensing reform forcing it’s closure in January last year resulting in a 20,000 strong crowd of passionate Melbourne music fans taking to the streets in protest of the state government.

A documentary has since been made called Persecution Blues: The Battle for The Tote, premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival on July 9. It covers the venues rich history, closure, legal battles and reopening as well as providing perspective commentary on Melbourne’s nightlife scene. Screening wrapped up last month at Carlton’s Nova Cinema and with no plans for additional viewings, you’ll have to make do with the trailer for now.

The Hotel is celebrating with a month of solid shows curated by influential industry groups around the city including indie label Chapter Music, St Kilda record store and live venue Pure Pop Records, Spooky Records, The Age EG and more.

Show your support for live music in Victoria and get down to The Tote in November:

Tuesday, November 1

Even + Snout + Minibikes + The Swarm + Becky Lee & Drunkfoot (US)

(Curated by Wally Meanie)

Friday, November 4

Warped + Poppin Mommas + Don Fernando + YIS

(Curated by Nicole Tadpole)

Saturday, November 5

Digger & The Pussycats + Brat Farrar

(Front bar residency)

Saturday, November 5

Little Ugly Girls + The Nation Blue + Legends Of Motorsport + Ivy St

(Curated by Tom Lyngcoln)

Sunday, November 6

Conway Savage + Van Walker & The Livingston Daisies + Pony Face + Alex Lashlie + Roesy

(Curated by Pure Pop Records)

Thursday, November 10

Celibate Rifles + Seminal Rats + Fangs

(Curated by Zombie Dog)

Friday, November 11

The Onyas + Swidgen + Backseat Romeos + The S Hit Hots

(Curated by The Onyas)

Saturday, November 12

Digger & The Pussycats + The Nuftys + Kamikaze Trio (Front bar residency)

Saturday, November 12

The Twerps + Terror Of The Deep (NZ) + Darren Sylvester + Peak Twins

(Curated by Chapter Music)

Sunday, November 13

The Meanies + The Splatterheads

(Curated by The Meanies)

Thursday, November 24

“Thee Convicts”

(Curated by The Age – EG)

Saturday, November 19

Digger & The Pussycats

(Front bar residency)

Saturday 19 November

Johnny Casino + Little Murders + The Painkillers + The Alohas + The Dunhill Blues + Crystal Thomas And The Flowers Of Evil + Molten Universe + Sole Stickers + Mass Cult + Midnight Woolf + Thee Mighty Childish + The No Real Need + Russian Roulettes + Digger And The Pussycats + Wrong Turn + Lord Street Sound + The Cheats