Melbourne Music Week and Mistletone present OPENING NIGHT OF MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK at The Residence. Featuring: The Bats (NZ) - Boomgates - Montero - Sonny & the Sunsets (USA) + special guest

With a vision to celebrate the depth of Melbourne's indie scene, local promoters Mistletone will be opening MMW by shining a light on the connections between our city's music community and like-minded international artists.

From across the ditch, long-time indie-poppers The Bats have had a profound influence on Melbourne's scene. Often acknowledged as the inspiration behind the current crop of jangly, indie-pop and 'dole-wave' bands, The Bats formed in Christchurch in 1982 and are regarded as one of the foremost exponents of NZ's iconic 'Flying Nun' sound. Still in their original line-up, and more than 30 years in the making, The Bats remain one of the most influential bands of indie-pop worldwide.

There's no questioning the pedigree of local act, Boomgates. With band members heralding from Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Dick Diver, Trial Kennedy, Teen Archer and Twerps, this is one band who perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Melbourne's music scene - in all its laconic excellence.

Local magnets Montero bring a sensory overload of old-fashioned showmanship, with Gibb-brothers style harmonies, soaring melodies, lush instrumentation and dreamy glam pomp. 70s Beach Boys meets Burt Bacharach, while Californian sunshine pop, and 80s power ballads are referenced alongside contemporary kindreds such as Destroyer, Ariel Pink and John Maus.

San Francisco's rollicking garage-rock raconteurs, Sonny & the Sunsets, are no strangers to Melbourne's audience, with a cool three 3RRR Albums of the Week nods to their name already.

The musical brainchild of playwright, novelist, filmmaker, and comic book artist Sonny Smith, the Sunsets swoons out to a bubbling pot of 50s and 60s pop, country and folk, doo wop, garage rock and RnB, delivered with the nonsense and energy of a midnight beach party.