What’s on in Melbourne Victoria – The Toff in Town Gig Guide

The Toff In Town is one of Melbourne’s top venues for live music, DJs, cocktails and an all-around great night out. Set in one of Melbourne’s most well-known bar complexes, it’s a venue well worth a visit. Check back each week to what’s up and coming gigs are on and for news on weekly nights.

Saturday 20 August

THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER ‘Head Sex and Bed Socks’ Tour with special guest CATBOY
The thinking woman’s folk-ruffian, The Bedroom Philosopher is cranking the electric blanket up to ten with his National “Head Sex and Bed Socks” tour. To combat winter he’ll be layering his thermals and his performance with a radical rumpus of wit, song smarts and madcap banter. The only-child over-achiever is Australia’s Rushmore, recently releasing a single, co hosting triple j breakfast, staging a high school assembly, appearing on Spicks & Specks, starting a monthly music column ‘Treble Treble’ for Mess & Noise and presenting for ABC’s Collectors.

The Head Sex and Bed Socks Tour will see the BP in solo mode, aiming to connect intimately with his fans whilst previewing tracks from forthcoming album ‘Man’ – a series of manthems for the modern day retrosexual. The run of seated venues will ensure a cosy atmosphere, where lyrics can be savoured and pondered.

Sans his Awkwardstra, in solo mode The Bedroom Philosopher is a different beast – more likely to throw a tangent tantrum, showcasing his trademark flair for improvised songs and fuax-diva stunts.

Like snowflakes, no two The Bedroom Philosopher shows are ever the same, catch him (w’ special guest Melbourne singer/songwriter Catboy):

Tickets $15 + BF on sale from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), on-line: www.moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Polyester (City) / $20 on door. Doors 8.00pm
www.bedroomphilosopher.com

Saturday 20 August – Every Saturday from 12.00 midnight til late!

THE HOUSE deFROST with ANDEE FROST
Disco is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. Its the overuse of the word that has leant people no glance at the glorious debauchery it once stood for. Luckily a small band of dancefloor dessi’s are giving meaning back to the much overused & undermined term…. Step into The House de Frost: a weekly Saturday night at The Toff running into the wee hours of Sunday morning, a place where to dance is to live, the home of some of Melbourne’s wildest parties and vogue balls, a place where you can indulge those curiosities you’ve always had but never acknowledged. With hourly shows from 2 of Melbourne’s craziest club kids XCAMPFIREX & EMMAN, guest dancers, performers, Disney on ice stars, you never really know what you’re gonna get… apart from the music that is! The only place you can truly appreciate disco music the was it was made to be heard. The Toff boasts the best sound-system in Melbourne and exclusively plays vinyl and is tuned on a weekly basis by one of Melbourne’s most adroit selectors. They say that backwards is the best way forward, and this is about as backward as you’re gonna get!
The House deFrost – every Saturday from 12.00 midnight with Andee Frost. FREE ENTRY!

Sunday 21 August

Love Don’t Pay The Rent – A Fundraiser to Protect Sticky Zine Institute
Featuring OSCAR & MARTIN, THE PARKING LOT EXPERIMENTS & BROTHERS HAND MIRROR
Fierce! Independent Publishing Paractices!
Solidarity for Free Form Expression!
Sticky Institute are ardent defenders of zine culture, that elusive medium of DIY copy arts circulated through Melbourne’s underground from the secret Flinders St station subway arcade.
We like photocopiers, long armed staplers and typewriters and distribute over three thousand zine titles a year with our gorgeous team of hard working volunteers shaking Degraves.
The institute largely depends on government funding, but in an increasingly competitive environment we missed out on two grants this year (travesty!) and Love Don’t Pay The Rent.
Dance, scream, cry, shake it, mix it up and pay at the door. You’re keeping a Melbourne institution kicking, your sexiness is peaking, we make rent and we love you.
Tickets $13.30 + BF on sale from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), on-line: www.moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Polyester (City) Doors 7.30pm
www.stickyinstitute.com
www.facebook.com/stickytheinstitute

Sunday 21 August

Every Sunday from 4.00 til 8.00pm in the Toff Carriage Room…
“THE SUNDAY SET” with DJs ANDYBLACK and HAGGIS. This week’s theme – SHE
Come and grab some Sunday afternoon delight in the Carriage room at The Toff with DJs AndyBlack and Haggis….

“The Sunday Set” features YOU plus musical meanderings, trainspotter tracks and unlikely samples for your pleasure. In addition: food, drinks, good looking people, gravy and occasional nonsense. Each week we’ll provide you with a musical ‘set’ – and we’d love your ‘variations on a theme’.

Join the set and add your musical perspective on Facebook – just search ‘The Sunday Set’ – or [email protected] . We set off at 4.00pm and entry is always free

Monday 22 August

SWING PATROL with JOHNNY T & RAMONA STAFFELD – every Monday
Question – What has four legs and swings? Thinking of a rocking chair – close, but no cigar. Back for 2011, Johnny T and the USA own Ramona Staffeld will be at the Toff every Monday night to help you swing the “back to work blues” away. Classes start on Feb 14th, with the beginner classes off and running from 6.30pm. No partner, no experience required.
6.30pm Total Beginners Class. No partner or experienced required.
7.30pm Intermediate Class. A little experience required.
8.30pm Advanced Class.
9.30pm Social Dancing, Food & Cocktails
$15 for one class, $22 for two classes, $30 for three classes.
www.swingpatrol.com.au

Tuesday 23 August

THE PAPER KITES – An Intimate Seated Show
With the recent release of their brand new EP ‘Woodland’, The Paper Kites have announced a very special one-off performance at The Toff. Before heading on tour with Josh Pyke in September, the band will be showcasing their music at the intimate venue in a first time seated setting. Tickets are very limited to this event so make sure you get in fast.

Tickets $15.00 + BF on sale from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), on-line: www.moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Polyester (City). Doors 7.30pm.
www.facebook.com/thepaperkitesband

Wednesday 24 August

JASON SIMON (Dead Meadow, Los Angeles) – Late Show with special guests IMMIGRANT UNION and LOWER PLENTY
Jason Simon, best known for his acclaimed work as the guitarist and singer for the highly regarded Los Angeles based heavy psych band Dead Meadow, has, to much delight of his fans, finally recorded his debut solo record. This self-titled offering has been released on the renowned East Coast stoner doom / psych label Tee Pee Records.

Whilst building up an electrified body of work with Dead Meadow, Jason has slowly but surely been crafting his skills as an impressive acoustic solo artist, which has since earned him a vast array of critical acclaim, not to mention further respect as a valued singer songwriter.

Drawing comparisons to the likes of Leonard Cohen, Sandy Bull, Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, Jason has ingeniously blended his signature vocal style with that of laid back acoustic folk, which has ultimately created a sound that’s entirely his own, and one that’s undisputable recognizable.

Jason’s debut offering is a stripped down and intimate record filled with intricate guitar work and poignant well-thought lyrics. Some songs are filled with dark brooding drones, whilst others leisurely carry the listener down meandering rivers as they slowly develop in their own unhurried way. This album is a serious body of work that remind the listener that heavy doesn’t always come from loud distorted guitars and huge pounding drums, but comes from the depth within the song itself.

Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in Australia, I present to you in solo acoustic mode, Jason Simon.

Tickets $20.00 + BF on sale from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), on-line: www.moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Polyester (City) / $25.00 on door. Doors 10.30pm
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163897797010099