Keen to make it a weekend to remember but don't want to blow the budget? Pilerats' weekly cheapskates guide to the weekend is your one-stop shop for all things great to do for $10 or less, across as many States as we can muster. Knock yourself out.

Hey SYDNEY! We're on the hunt for No Money Weekend writers to tell us all the awesome things happening in Sydney each weekend. If you're able to contribute a written round-up of three great cultural / music events every week (paid) get in touch: dani@pilerats.com

[Image: Thomas Van Der Staag]

SYDNEY

A RARE NIGHT AT THE STANDARD BOWL

You can’t beat a good Indie Night, and recently Sydney Label Rare Finds have led the way in dishing out great, local and unique music to the thriving masses. RARE FINDS saw great success with their previous two nights, and as they bring RARE FINDS #3 to Darlinghurst’s Standard Bowl, along with some quality beer and dumplings if you get there early, this is looking like the town’s best free event for the weekend. RARE FINDS #3 line-up will be led by Sydney-based soul/indie-pop songstress, Okenyo, local newcomers, Two Age, as main support and Brisbane indie-pop gurus, Sans Parents, set to open the night’s proceedings. - Brad Nash

Fri 26 June, 7:30pm. The Standard Bowl, 3/383 Bourke St, Surry Hills. Free

HARPOON HARRY CONTINUES HIS QUEST FOR WORLD DOMINATION

Harpoon Harry is continuing its surge into Sydney’s nightlife with yet another great night full of booze, great food and great music. Kicking off a new weekly Sunday event called Picnic Social, the event promises a headline act of the UK’s Ray Mang, along with a score of the best local DJ’s. In typical Harpoon harry fashion, great booze will be flowing, and a suckling pig will be turning on the spit to satisfy any meaty cravings you might be having. Oh, and it’s free. Get behind a quality new weekly event. - Brad Nash

Sun 28 June, 4pm. Harpoon Harry, 40-44 Wentworth Ave, Sydney. Free

WAX ON THE DECKS, AND SNAGS ON THE BARBIE

Another wonderfully chilled out gathering centred around the sharing of good music and good drank, The Record Store in Darlinghurst is taking over Goulburn St’s The Café Lounge for Liquorice Pizza 2, the second iteration of their popular vinyl swap meet. Open decks are available for anyone who wants to jump on and spin some tunes, Vinyl will be available by the crate all day for anyone looking to add to their collection, and of course the booze and BBQ will be readily available. - Brad Nash

Sat 27 June, 12pm. The Café Lounge, 277 Goulburn St, Sydney. Free

Above: Ray Mang

MELBOURNE

RETROSALE

When it comes to sales, it’s easy to get caught up in spending those duckets on sweet duds before realising you kind of weren’t even saving much at all. Why do you need all those novelty socks anyway? Vintage wonderland Retrostar is hosting another one of their famed warehouse sales; famed because literally every item of clothing is $5 or $10. That overpriced hungover brunch you were going to have? Basically three new outfits. Arrive early, this gets crowded. – Reb Mery

When & Where: Sat Jun 27 & Sun Jun 28, 8am onwards. 33 Stewart St, Brunswick. Nothing over $10.

PROJECT THIS 

Disappearing are the days when Thornbury and Preston were known as a nothing suburb and ‘Depresston’ respectively. To celebrate the exciting goings-on and happenings in the farther reaches of the 86 tram line, the city of Darebin is throwing a projection festival. On the junction of Plenty Road and High Street, four artists will project 3D visual and animated motion graphics on five separate locations. There’ll be food trucks and a hot chocolate cart to keep the bitter cold at bay, along with performers, music and a silent disco. – Reb Mery

When & Where: Fri Jun 26 & Sat Jun 27 6pm. Junction of High St and Plenty Rd, Preston. Free.

BIRTHDAY BEERS

Remember when we lamented the Gasometer Hotel’s demise, rejoiced at its rebirth and then began boogying something fierce week in and week out within its band room. Well, that was a year ago. The Gaso’s celebrating four seasons having gone by since reopening its doors with an afternoon of festivities rollicking on into the night. Friends of the Gas taking to the stage include Sun God Replica, Twin Beasts & Esther Rivers with Chris Goff, Peter Bibby and Elizabeth Barker. Drink specials and free entry all damn day. – Reb Mery

When & Where: Sun Jun 28, 4pm. Gasometer Hotel 484 Smith St, Collingwood. Free.

Above: The Gaso

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE SOUL

Weekend on the bend got you feeling soul-less? Get Up Offa That Thing and get back to life at Soul Sundays. The iconic event returns to the Retreat Hotel this weekend, reigning in some of Melbourne’s finest soul acts and DJs. Get down and boogie to soul, funk and vintage RnB, cause damn, you Paid The Cost To Be The Boss (not really, entry is free). Tunes start at 7:30 and DJs go til’ 1am. Plus, when you’re feeling boogied out bask under the heaters in one of Brunswick’s finest beer gardens out back, pots and pints are $3 and $6 respectively. Show your R.E.S.P.E.C.T to the finest of all genres, and get on down to Retreat this Sunday. – Holly Bodeker-Smith. 

When & Where: Sun June 28, 7:30pm – 1am. The Retreat Hotel, 280 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Free entry.

GOING FRO-CRAY

For those of you who have felt the pang of guilt as you put you’re Froyo on the scales and realised you’re about to swipe away $13.80 on dessert, it’s your lucky weekend. Here’s the scoop: Melbourne’s finest froyonoisseurs, Yo-Chi, are hosting Free Froyo Friday. It’s gonna be messy – free toppings galore and 12K people have pressed attending, so get in early. All you’ve got to do is check into Yo-Chi Frozen Yoghurt on the Yelp app between 6-8pm, show your check in to staff to grab a ticket, and go fro-cray. – Holly Bodeker-Smith.

When & Where: Friday 26 June, 6pm – 8pm. Yo-Chi, 194 Faraday Street, Carlton. Free.

SENIVODA AND SEVEN-UPS SPECIAL

Senivoda and The Seven Ups are two of Melbourne’s finest up-and-coming musical acts, and this Friday they’ll be jamming out at Exit Strategy Studios. Senivoda are releasing their first single, Get Away; let Ola Medooza’s soothing and modulated vocals take you elsewhere. They take to the stage at 10pm, and The Seven Ups start at 11pm. All you need to know about the latter is that they are the funkiest seven-piece Deep Funk and Bad Afro group in all of the land; you’re in for a surprise. The support act is Danika Smith at 8:30, who soothes with her beautiful melodies and wild stories. It’s going to be difficult to stand still, so bring your best boogie shoes, and enough spare change to indulge in some of Pierogi Pierogi’s delicious polish dumplings. – Holly Bodeker-Smith.

When & Where: Friday June 26, 8pm – 1am. Exit Strategy Studios, 20 Ovens Street, Melbourne. $10 entry.

PERTH

FROM THE 90’S TO THE 00’S

You don’t need us to tell you that the 1990’s produced some amazing feelgood R&B music, and you’ll be pleased to know that RnB’s golden era comes to life at the Nineties to Noughties R&B Party this Friday. Mojos Bar will host some of Perth’s finest selectors such as Good Company’s Andrew Sinclair, Aslan, as well as Pilerats Records' very own Catlips and HAMJAM DJs. Go back to the 90s with the old school classics, as well as the dance moves from House of Majyo and a cupla’ $7.50 Gins and Juice to get with slippery with. – Charles Douglas

When & Where: Fri Jun 26, 8pm, Mojos Bar, 237 Queen Victoria St, North Fremantle. $10 entry.

PLASMOTION W/ PALACE

If you’re unfortunate enough to work in hospitality and the weekends are a time of pouring almost-perfect pints and wiping spaghetti off the restaurant floor, then don’t fret – a pretty sweet night awaits you at Flyrite next Wednesday instead. PLASMOTION is a once-off cosmic celebration of local experimental house music, featuring the young 23-year-old prodigy PALACE, aka Jeremy Smith, as a headline act. PALACE has shared the stage with names like Hermitude and Ta-Ku, rising through the ranks with his single ‘Slow Burn’ which has had over 200,000 Soundcloud plays. Joining him will be Leafy Suburbs, Zorbs, Atripat and Ben Taaffe. Along with $6 Plasmo juices (hopefully not actual plasma) this can be your go-to Wednesday night house groove. – Charles Douglas

When & Where: Wed Jul 1, 8pm, Flyrite, 110 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. $10 entry. 

Above: Palace

GET UP OFFA DAT THANG, TO GET SOME RECORDS

Vintage vinyl fairs are great, especially when there are heaps of rare classics to browse, so it’s pleasing to know that again this weekend you can score some used and new records at The Vinyl Haul – a suburban vinyl and CD fair in Mt Hawthorn. Grab some bargain wax at the Mt Hawthorn Lesser Hall this Sunday from 1pm, featuring a range of sellers, listening posts and classics playing all day long. Entry is just $2 and you’ll be browsing all the Soul, Jazz and Funk classics you could ever want. – Charles Douglas

When & Where: Sun Jun 28, 1-5pm, Mt Hawthorn Lesser Hall, 197 Scarborough Bch Rd, Mt Hawthorn. $2.

ADELAIDE

BRISBANE

I USED TO SKATE ONCE



Eleven installments deep and the I Used To Skate Once train looks like it's carrying on better than ever. The original premise was a small showcase of Australian artists using a blank skate deck as their canvas. Thrown into the mix is some live music; again throwing a spotlight on local talent. This year's lineup has over 30 artists, a handful of up-and-coming musical talent, and a short film competition to boot. Supported by the Outpost and hosted at The Zoo it's become a must do on the Brisbane creative calendar. Get in early because it's sure to be busy. - Miles Ruge

BLEEDING ON THE GROUND

Adelaide's rag-tag mob BAD//DREEMS roll into Brisbane on Saturday night in support of their new single Cuffed & Collared. Nestled among the strip clubs on Brunswick Street Crowbar is a fitting venue for the blokes that met at their local footy club to bring their raucous brand of rock-and-roll to Brisbane audiences once more. With a reputation for a wild live show this is one gig not to miss. Turn up and strap in.  - Miles Ruge

Where & When: Sat Jun 27, 8pm, Crowbar, 243 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. $13.  

If you've got some great ideas for free things to do on the weekend, we'd love to include them in our No Money Guide. Just let dani@pilerats.com know the details.