Live Music in Unexpected Places

Ali Webb @houseofwebb Mark your diaries and let your regional tour begin this winter! Live music venues are glowing this season with a jam-packed calendar of events which will see country, jazz, classical, funk and soul, folk, and plenty of indie beats grace our local stages.

Discover sweet sounds in plenty of unexpected places - from churches to mechanics’ institutes, giant amphitheatres to fancy historic dancefloors, tiny burger bars and outdoor cideries; just follow the music.

Renowned for being one of the best spots for a feed in Kyneton, Major Tom’s is a tiny burger bar that offers more than just hot chips. With a taste for alt-country and added flavours of rock and punk, this small-seater intimate venue means you can enjoy the best burger in town with a musical lot on stage, all from your little booth bench seat.

Half an hour down the road, the evening mist might be settling into Daylesford, but the warmth of an open fire and the ready-made rhythms of a soundcheck is enough to entice any music fiend inside the cosy venues.

Winter Sounds arrives at its Daylesford destination from 15-17 July, with a weekend festival taking place across halls, historic buildings and theatres kicking off with Australia’s queen of soul Emma Donovan performing with The Putbacks at the Uniting Church. Experience pub rockers Cash Savage and the Last Drinks belt out an anthem in the sweet Bullarto Village Hall, the bluesy nostalgic tunes of C.W. Stoneking in the Daylesford Town Hall; Freya Josephine Hollick and The Luke Sinclair Set in a Sunday morning session in Glenlyon, and end the weekend party with Jazzparty, the best party-cats in a fine finale at the glorious Palais Hepburn Springs.

Continue your dancefloor journey at the Palais with a variety of talent making their way to the beloved heritage-listed regional venue. Steeped in history, the Palais was built in 1926 and has seen the best in showbiz perform on its iconic stage over the past century. This winter, expect more live music including the spooky sounds of Twin Peaks performed live to screen which will get the shivers flowing.

Music lovers can warm their soul at DV Cider across winter weekends with live music performed in their Darrawiet Guim based Taproom on Saturdays. The popular glazed ribs will be running hot while audiences cool down with chilled out Sunday sessions featuring DJs and, of course, some of the best cider in Victoria. Check out Castlemaine’s Bridge Hotel for incredible fare plus fireside tunes with the country’s best singers and songwriters touring the creative capital including Sally Seltmann and Augie March. Around the corner the Theatre Royal promises big shows with Cate Le Bon, Sam Teskey, Lisa Mitchell and Thelma Plum. Come for the amazing woodfired pizza, stay for the incredible live entertainment.

Or if classical music is more your thing, the Woodend Winter Arts Festival returns over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend showcasing the very best of classical music from around Australia.

Let your tour begin.

wintersounds.com.au

Photos (L-R): Winter Sounds - JazzParty (image supplied). Louise MacGregor performing at DV Cider (photography by KGMG Creative)