UPDATE: Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) is set for a vibrant revival with a series of surprise pop-up concerts, starting with rock legend Jimmy Barnes. Just announced, these free gigs aim to restore confidence in the city after years of infrastructure works and protests.
Earlier today, Barnes performed alongside stars Kate Ceberano and Ian Moss in City Square, marking the first public event in the area since the commencement of the Metro Tunnel project eight years ago. The concert, which featured iconic hits like “Working Class Man,” attracted a crowd of eager fans, with attendance capped at 1,500 people for safety reasons.
The series will unfold across December and January, with city dwellers given mere hours of notice before each performance. The exact costs of these events remain undisclosed due to commercial confidentiality, according to Victorian Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
City Square will officially reopen on November 30, coinciding with the launch of the new Town Hall station and retail complex linked to the Metro Tunnel. While Dimopoulos emphasized that the concerts are not directly promoting government projects, he acknowledged their role in revitalizing the area just days before the tunnel’s opening.
These pop-up performances are a direct response to consultations with local businesses, aimed at countering previous protests that have impacted visitor confidence. However, industry leaders express skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of such measures. Wes Lambert, chief executive of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, described the concerts as “band-aids on a bullet wound,” calling for more substantial actions to restore safety and consumer trust in the CBD.
City Square, which has undergone significant changes, now features public artwork and a digital wall sculpture, replacing a once-popular water wall. The concert series follows a recent cancellation of an Amyl and the Sniffers gig at nearby Federation Square due to safety concerns, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by the entertainment sector.
As Melbourne prepares for a bustling summer, the city’s commitment to hosting these surprise events underscores a broader strategy to bring life back to the CBD. With unannounced performances planned in laneways and outside restaurants, the city aims to create an element of mystery and excitement for locals and tourists alike. Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting initiative unfolds.
