Four seasons in one day

Melbourne is one of the most international places in the world; many of its three and a half million inhabitants were born overseas and waves of immigration from Europe, the Middle East and Asia have spawned a rich and vibrant mixture of cultures where residents from over 140 nations live side by side. In short: Melbourne is the ideal city for the Red Bull Music Academy.

True to the spirit and philosophy of the Red Bull Music Academy, which aims to bring together musicians from all musical and cultural backgrounds, what better city to host an event which gives anyone with musical aspirations the chance to share their ideas and experiences?

Melbourne has been named in an international poll as the world’s most livable city. Ask any Melbournian, and they'll tell you their city is all about lifestyle. A relatively modern city, Melbourne is a thriving metropolis proud of its astonishing choice of cosmopolitan restaurants, bars and cafés as well as boutiques, galleries, museums and parks. And - as already mentioned – it's one of the most interesting cities world-wide for aspiring musicians for several reasons.

Part 1: Melbourne – the home of great musicians

The city's arts and music scene is thriving, with music festivals, film screenings and gigs taking place all year round. Its traditionally vibrant music scene has launched the careers of many internationally renowned artists and musicians, ranging from Architecture of Helsinki and Crowded House to Kylie Minogue and Freddie Kaboodleschnitzer. But the city's mix of languages and cultures has been attracting musicians and artists since the 60s; Melbourne's Bohemian culture has prospered in the multicultural streets of Carlton, Fitzroy and Collingwood, suburbs in which Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek, Italian as well as some middle eastern migrants have established thriving communities.

Part 2: Melbourne and its points of interest

A must-see area a short distance from the city is the vibrant St Kilda, situated on one of the most picturesque points of the Bay. Once shunned by Melbournians for its prostitutes and druggies, St. Kilda is now enjoying a resurgence as a haven for local musicians and a popular tourist destination. St. Kilda's sandy beaches and bayside setting provide the perfect backdrop for a staggering number of hip restaurants, cool cafés and top music venues.

Part 3: Melbourne and the music scene

Melbourne is also touted as the spiritual home of Australia's legendary pub-rock scene and, more recently, Australia's most diverse club scene has sprung from the huge rise in popularity of dance music in the city, which now attracts some of the world's best DJs. Some of the biggest nightclubs in the world can be found in Melbourne, including the Melbourne Metro Nightclub and QBH, and the downtown area and inner suburbs offer a number of trendy designer bars. Near-legendary venues such as the Punter's Club and The Espy are packed every night. Melbourne's thriving live music scene offers something for everyone, from alternative rock and folk/country to funk, jazz, blues and hip hop.

Part 4: Melbourne and hip hop

Melbourne is in fact home to a booming Australian hip hop scene, known as "Melburn" or "The Burn", which has allowed home-grown talent such as Lyrical Commission, Muphin, Reason and Pegz to flourish, while Hilltop Hoods is recognised as the most commercially successful hip hop group in Australia. Aussie hip hop has its roots in the early 80s, taking its influences from the American hip hop scene. But Australia has developed its own gritty style since the late 90s, with the genre gaining increasing credibility in the alternative and underground music scenes.

Part 5: Melbourne and the Red Bull Music Academy

Melbourne is home to a diverse mix of cultures and classes and its live-and-let-live philosophy makes it the perfect base for this year's Academy. In the city which can experience four seasons in one day, participants had better be ready for a new musical adventure and a roller-coaster ride of multicultural experiences.

Workshop Term 1 takes place from September 24 to October 6 and Workshop Term 2 from October 15 to October 27, 2006. A list of participants will shortly be published on the official website at www.redbullmusicacademy.com.