– The annual non-profit summit Face the Music will return to Melbourne’s Arts Centre for its fifth year on Nov. 16 and 17. In partnership with Melbourne Music Week, key speakers will include US entrepreneur Martin Atkins (pictured) of Public Image Ltd, Ministry, Pigface and Killing Joke fame – not to mention author of the 2007 guidance tome Tour:Smart: And Break the Band – and Almudena Heredero from Spain’s Primavera Sound Festival. Representing the Australian music industry will be Fergus Linehan (Vivid Sydney), Jerome Borazio (Laneway Festival), Leigh Treweek (Street Press Australia), Jaddan Comerford (The Staple Group), Johann Ponniah (I Oh You), Hannah Fox (Supplefox), Patrick Donovan (Music Victoria), Helen Marcou (SLAM), Henry Wagons and reportedly over 100 more. Tickets ranging from $30 to $70 are on sale now.

– Born from the ashes of Adelaide label Faux Friends, the new label Heavy Lows “seeks to promote current Australian music across all genres and geographical locations.” Focusing on tapes, CD and digital with later plans for vinyl, Heavy Lows will mark its first release with Major Crimes’ Black Hill on Oct. 1, described as “psychedelic sleight-of-hand from Adelaide, melting harsh realms into mellow retreats.” Other upcoming releases include an Asps/Rites Wild split tape, a re-release of Bitch Prefect’s Live at Deadshits Motel and work by Legendary Hearts, Beige Abrasion, Regional Curse, Old Mate and Sightseeing, among many others. The label will launch with a free gig at Melbourne’s Bar Open on Oct. 4 featuring Superstar, Glow, Spite House, Straylight and Rites Wild.

Major Crimes "Black Hill" by Heavy Lows

– Lawrence English’s Room40 label are gradually releasing an archive of material from influential Brisbane multimedia artist Eugene Carchesio. “For those interested in Australian underground music of the last 25 years, Carchesio's name is a connection point – a linkage to some of the most vital and powerful music to boil away below the mainstream radar,” says the presser. “Active in groups such as The Deadnotes [and] The Lost Domain and working extensively under pseudo-names such as DNE, his work is as diverse as it is profound.” A selection of Carchesio’s electronic records, which “drift from esoteric minimal electronics into bouncy MT-45 pulses,” will be included in the archival series. For now, the first edition – Circle Music – is available and there’s a free sampler too. Background info on Carchesio here.

Eugene Carchesio - Circle Music five by ROOM40

– Halloween is fun enough in its own right, but throw in a mess of bands (in costume?) and watch it get even, well, funner. I Oh You’s Converse-sponsored Halloween House of Hell brings Violent Soho and Dune Rats together with Drunk Mums (inflatable genitals included?) and an enviable list of folks on DJ duties: Worlds End Press, Bleeding Knees Club, Oscar + Martin, Two Bright Lakes DJs, City Calm Down, Indian Summer, Airwolf, Jasper, Marquee Moon, Tomderson and Bossman DJs. It’s on Halloween proper (Oct. 31) at Melbourne's Workers Club; doors are at 8 pm and it’s $15 at the door with no pre-sale option. So be sure to line up early on the night.

+