Melbourne Central has called on four Melbourne musicians to help it celebrate the Black Friday sales event.
The shopping centre aims to reunite the Melbourne community with the live music scene as well as CBD shopping, after both live music and retail suffered significantly under COVID-19 lockdowns.
Musicians Japanese Wallpaper, Yorke, Shannen James (pictured) and Banoffee will take the stage over the Black Friday shopping weekend (26 and 27 November), popping up throughout the centre for live performances.
Shoppers will also have the chance to support musicians getting back on their feet, by entering a Black Friday Giveaway.
The initiative will see Melbourne Central donate one dollar for every competition entry to Support Act, a charity that delivers crisis relief, mental health and wellbeing services to artists, crew and music workers who are doing it tough.
Support Act CEO Clive Miller welcomed the partnership with Melbourne Central.
"The last few years have been extremely difficult for all in the music industry and particularly up and coming artists who have struggled without a physical crowd to perform to.
"We applaud Melbourne Central for creating this wonderful Black Friday promotion for shoppers to enjoy some great live music and show their support for the live music industry," he said.
Alongside enjoying the live music, customers will be able to shop more than 150 discounts across Melbourne Central's retailers.
The centre has also introduced extended trading hours for the shopping event, as well as free parking, making it easier for Melbournians to come back into the CBD to shop.
The MC Treasure Hunt is also back, with coveted prizes on offer from key flagship retailers and free Myki cards on offer at hidden locations across the centre.
Melbourne Central centre manager Mardi Ashkine added that the centre is expecting to see increased numbers of customers shopping over Black Friday.
"Not only is shopping better in real life, so is live music and as a community we have been craving both during lockdown so we are extremely excited to create a unique experience this Black Friday weekend that brings together the best of both worlds, rewards our shoppers and reignites the outstanding culture our CBD is known for.
"We have loved seeing our customers return to the city, with numbers increasing steadily since Melbourne’s lockdown restrictions eased.
"With visitation expected to grow over Black Friday and into the Christmas period, the wellbeing of our retailers, staff and customers is of the utmost importance and we are working to ensure the precinct remains a safe place for all to attend," she said.
Black Friday officially begins on November 26.
Melbourne Central's extended hours begin from November 26 and run to November 29.