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Calling all past and present design students! You are invited to take part in a brand new FREE* pilot program. This 13-week multi-disciplinary design course will commence in January 2020, and will be delivered on-line and in the classroom. If you want to get connected and gain some real-life industry experience, this course is for you! • Visual Arts • Graphic Design/Digital Media • Interior Design • Building Design and Construction • Engineering • Fashion Design • Information Technology/ Computer Systems Engineering Further information P 8373 9193 E courinfo@gordontafe.edu.au
* The Gordon is offering a limited number of enthusiastic students the opportunity to participate in a FREE pilot program that can be completed outside your current course commitments.
Real skills. Real experience. Real outcomes. thegordon.edu.au | 8373 9193 Government funding for eligible students. TAFE 3044.
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CHRISTMAS Kick Off THURS 19 DEC
FRI 20 DEC
SAT 21 DEC
SUN 22 DEC
Jo Jo Refinery Andy Forster
Jo Jo + Joubin Adam 12 Troy Barrett
Joubin + Liam Bedrock Luke Biscan
Joubin Prank Andy Forster
Doors 9pm. $10 after 10pm Every night. $25 for entry the entire marathon! 6
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Summyesr Sunda
Ballarat Botanical Gardens Sunday 5 January, 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Maylene Slater Burns
Charm of Finches
Meraki Minds
Ali Barter
The Dumpling Man • Dos Diablos • Lil’ nomnoms • East India Trading Company • St. Gerry’s • The Very Hungry Caterpillar • Luigi’s Gelato • Boost Juice Van • Bean Me Up Espresso
Sunday 12 January, 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Ari Lane
Jayden Lillyst
Purr Usual
The Gold Street Sound
Round the Way • The Dumpling Man • The Paella Guy • Lil’ nomnoms • Forge Pizzeria • St. Gerry’s • Bianco Latte • Boost Juice Van • Steam Coffee Ballarat
Sunday 19 January, 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Anna Bilbrough
Kee’ahn
Tim Rogers
Sunnyside
Round the Way • The Twisted Fisherman • Grill Your Hunger • Forge Pizzeria • Dinkum Donuts • The Very Hungry Caterpillar • Luigi’s Gelato • Boost Juice Van • Bean Me Up Espresso
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FREE SHIT
Deck the bloody halls with boughs of holly, December is here and it’s finally socially acceptable to be excited about Christmas! And there’s so much to be excited about. End of year Christmas parties and piss-ups, beer and wine specials at the Bottle-O’s, Robbie Williams’ first ever Christmas album, Netflix’s corny (and atrociously brilliant) Christmas movies, a Christmas panettone, a real excuse to down some eggnog, Michael Bublé… the list goes on. While there’s always some absolute bah humbugs running loose during the festive season, tis the season to be bloody jolly and look at the bright side (of the most wonderful time of the year). Ya’ll can’t tell me you’re mad about the Christmas specials on your choice of beer… eh?
FEEL LIKE SETTING UP WITH THE CREW AND CRACKING A FEW COLDIES AT THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL NEXT YEAR? OF COURSE YOU DO! THE BEER LOVER’S PARADISE RETURNS IN JANUARY WITH A NEW HOME IN GEELONG’S ICONIC JOHNSTONE PARK, AND WE’RE GIVING AWAY 2 DOUBLE PASSES (AND ACCESS TO MORE THAN 200 BEERS AND CIDERS).
TO E N T ER EMAIL THE CODE WORD ‘BEER’ TO TALIA@FORTEMAG.COM.AU, ALONG WITH YOUR NAME AND NUMBER!
Publisher Furst Media Pty. Ltd. Editor Talia Rinaldo
talia@fortemag.com.au
General Manager Glenn Lynch
glenn@fortemag.com.au
Sales Executive Matt Wilkinson
matt@fortemag.com.au
Creative Director Nathan Mossop
Moving on, this issue we have Sydney duo Cosmo’s Midnight on our cover, bringing all the summer vibes to the region! Headlining Dancing Heads Music Festival, the powerhouse producers’ will be showcasing their flavour at Barwon Heads Hotel turntables for an epic Boxing Day DJ session this December. With infectious sonic treats and unshakeable grooves, Cosmo’s Midnight will make sure you see out Christmas with a bang.
artwork@fortemag.com.au
Interns Jess Sercombe, Thom Devereux, Chloe Cicero. Contributors Anthony Morris, Alastair McGibbon, Chris Lambie, Dr John Lamp, Kim Price, Renee Abbott, John Foss, Alex Callan, Paul S Taylor, Tammy Walters, Daniela Koulikov, Lynette Walker, Kim Cooper, Wylie Caird, Chris Michaels, Adrian Aloi.
Further in this issue, we chat with Tassie’s finest indie-rock superstar Maddy Jane; Sydney femme four-piece The Buoys; indie rockers Tired Lion; German folk duo Milky Chance; metal trio Destruktor; Melbourne four-piece Dandecat; plus heaps more. Keep it regional fam. Talia & the Forte team! X
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PH: 03 5229 7969 2/105 Skene St, VIC 3220 enquiries@fortemag.com.au
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Advertisers and agents are advised that all advertising copy is their responsibility under the trade practices act. Advertisements are published in good faith and on the understanding that the content is legitimate and lawful. Advertisers and or agents submit advertisements at their own risk. The editor and creators hold no responsibility whatsoever for the content of the magazine in the case that it may offend. Forté accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. Forté reserves the right to edit all articles and letters.
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THE ULTIMATE PICNIC ON THE YARRA
BON IVER ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
If your ideal picnic takes place on a boat with a glass of vino and your pooch in tow, GoBoat has you covered. After launching its ecofriendly picnic boats in cities all over Europe, the Danish company made the leap to Australia, giving punters a fun new way to cruise the Yarra – and you don’t even have to be wellversed in sailing to steer this ship! The 18-feet long, Scandinavian-designed vessels are slowmoving (and silent and pollution-free) and don’t require a boating licence, making for fuss-free sailing sessions. Boasting a central picnic table with room for eight people, all you have to do is BYO food, drinks, friends and pets (yes, they are pet-friendly!!), and you’ve got one helluva day ahead! You can now hire one of these easyto-operate picnic boats from Banana Alley, near Flinders Street Station. Bookings are currently available until the end of March.
The transcendental music project of Justin Vernon that is Bon Iver has revealed they are returning Down Under for a special run of shows in 2020, marking their first nationwide tour in eight years. It comes off the back of the band’s recent album, i,i, which saw the outfit further extend a sound that was initially rooted in folk but has since risen into electronic and experimental domains. Featuring a full band and immersive new production, Bon Iver will traverse the nation touching down in Dark Mofo to kick off Australian proceedings before jumping into Melbourne on June 16 at Rod Laver Arena - and it’s looking to be their most ambitious Australian shows to date. The band will then head to Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Tickets via Handsome Tours. Photo by Graham Tolbert & Crystal Quinn.
THE REGENT THEATRE RE-OPENS IN 2020
A TWO-DAY FEST OF BBQ MEATS, MUSIC & CRAFT BEER IS COMING TO MELBOURNE
One of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks, the Regent Theatre, will re-open its doors to the public in January 2020, revealing a major refurbishment of the much-loved auditorium, foyers and amenities. Working in collaboration with Heritage Victoria, and closely with a renowned team of architects, theatre designers, specialist builders, expert trades and craftspeople – and the knowledge and experience of the theatre operators Marriner Group –– this $19.4 million refurbishment has been three years in the planning and eight months in construction. The Regent will reopen with the international theatrical event War Horse, followed by the inspiring Billy Elliot the Musical. These productions follow in the footsteps of some the world’s most prestigious theatrical events to be hosted at the Regent, including Sunset Boulevard, Wicked, Love Never Dies, Singin’ In The Rain and The Lion King to name a few.
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Meatstock is the festival of your dreams. Returning to Melbourne Showgrounds for its fourth mouth-watering instalment, the festival will be bringing some of the juiciest barbequed meats, barbers, butchers and live bands! On the main stage, you can catch Jebediah, Cookin’ On 3 Burners, Freya Josephine Hollock, and more, while favourite international personality Big Moe Cason will be hosting the hugely popular Texan BBQ Masterclasses. Joining Big Moe, the festival will also feature three new American pitmasters - Wayne Mueller, Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley who will help you make the most of this pro-protein weekend. The two-day line-up also includes Rod + Custom Rumble, a sausage sizzle throwdown, BBQ wars, free rides for the kids, barbecue expo, live art, refreshments by Liberty Brewing and Jack Daniels, plus more. Check it out at meatstock.com.au/melbourne/
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SEE LOVE ACTUALLY IN CONCERT
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN LIVE STAGE IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR SUMMER
The Christmas-centric rom-com hit theatres on November 7, 2003, and warmed all of our cold, cynical hearts with a myriad of intersecting love stories. From Andrew Lincoln with the poster boards to Emma Thompson crying to “Both Sides Now”, Love Actually is truly a favourite during the holiday season, and now it’s coming to Melbourne with a full orchestra to play Craig Armstrong’s powerful score live on stage alongside the film screening. It’s inevitable that you were going to watch it this holiday season, so why not make it an extra special event? It all goes down on Sunday, December 15 and Sunday, December 22 at Hamer Hall. There will be four screenings only, a matinée and an evening performance each Sunday. With UK tours selling out (and only one screening left), you’ll want to get your tickets now.
The Australian Open’s massive Live Stage series unveiled the first handful of acts, featuring nostalgic icons and acoustic artists to pop stars and EDM party starters. Locked in for 2020 so far are Brisbane pop outfit Cub Sport, dynamic duo The Veronicas, Lismore rockers Grinspoon, Kate Miller-Heidke, Matt Corby and plenty more. UK punk legend Billy Idol was announced for the AO Live Stage back in August, in addition to a brief stop in Brissy and Sydney. All up, you’re looking at six international acts and 23 homegrown legends. Punters can get into the AO Live Stage performance with a stadium ticket, or you can nab a ground pass for access to all outdoor courts and the ballpark. Tickets to the AO Live Stage are on sale now via Ticketmaster. Time to cause a racquet!
A NEW GORILLAZ DOCUMENTARY WILL BE SHOWN WORLDWIDE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
GET FESTIVE AT CARLTON CHRISTMAS CINEMA
UK virtual rockers Gorillaz have announced a brand-new documentary, Reject False Icons, set to land on silver screens worldwide for one night only in December. The doco, directed by Denholm Hewitt, will follow the band’s journey behind their two critically-acclaimed albums, Humanz and The Now Now, in addition to their massive world tour. Viewers can also expect insight from the band’s many collaborators, including Pusha-T, Vince Staples, Noel Gallagher and more. Reject False Icons comes to cinemas on Monday December 16. For more info on Reject False Icons, head to www.rejectfalseicons.com/
Christmas songs are great, and wrapping Christmas gifts is a surefire way to get you in high spirits—but those joyful activities just can’t beat a Christmas movie! Thanks to the good folk at City of Melbourne, you can enjoy a different holiday movie every Saturday right up until Christmas! The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Holiday and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. With the movie’s screening at 8:30pm, there’s even time for a leisurely Lygon Street dinner before dusk, before settling in to enjoy epic Christmas classics under the stars. Go on, pack a picnic and enjoy Christmas movies under the stars! Oh, and the best part of all, it’s completely free! You can check the deets via christmas.melbourne. vic.gov.au/event/carlton-christmas-cinema/
~ ~ GEELONG'S ARE YOU
: BU SK ER APPLY NO W S BE S T
BES T BUSKER?
Little Malop Street Central Geelong
11, 14 and 18 February Finals: 21 February
ALL AGES AND PERFORMERS WELCOME
G E E L ONG
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COSMO’S MIDNIGHT TO GET YOUR HEADS DANCING
THE TWINS WHO BROUGHT YOU SONGS LIKE ‘HISTORY’, ‘WALK WITH ME’ AND ‘TALK TO ME’ WILL BE MAKING YOUR BOXING DAY A WHOLE LOT BETTER. SYDNEY PRODUCERS, COSMO’S MIDNIGHT, WILL BE TAKING OVER THE DECKS AT BARWON HEADS HOTEL POSTCHRISTMAS DAY AS PART OF THE ANNUAL DANCING HEADS MUSIC FESTIVAL, ALONGSIDE BAG RAIDERS, CASSIAN AND DEAN TURNLEY. “It’s something we’re really looking forward to because we don’t get too many opportunities to DJ, so we get to play music that we like and show the music we’re digging as well. Playing our stuff is really fun but getting to show people what we’re listening to is great. We love classic disco and house and that’s mainly what our sets go towards,” says Pat Liney. The boys sure know a thing or two about getting the party started. Their 2019 releases, ‘C.U.D.I (Can You Did It)’ and ‘Have It All’ have been branded the summer festival songs of choice, and were born out of the energy of partying. “We made those songs while drinking [laughs] so we wanted to feel good while writing music and having fun makes you write really fun upbeat tracks and we made ‘C.U.D.I (Can You Dig It)’ on New Years Day after this really cool warehouse party the night before so we were 12
really in that energy. ‘Have It All’ was a similar thing where we were with people in Malibu and drinking Fosters on tap somewhere and we ended up writing that song and it has really fun disco party vibes. On that note, ‘It’s Love’, is a bit darker but I think it’s still a really fun track,” Liney explains. As mentioned, ‘It’s Love’ is the newest release for Cosmo’s Midnight. Released late last month, and recorded in Neil Finn’s studio, ‘It’s Love’ shows a melancholic side to the rose-coloured partiers. “‘It’s Love’ is exploring how relationships change and you change each other and you change as an individual in a relationship and it can sometimes be for the worst. We explore that in the song and then put this chuggy dance beat to it. It’s a different energy but I think it’s really important to show different sides of our writing because we don’t want to just make – we don’t want to just make really fun upbeat songs, we want to show more of a spectrum. Especially if you are writing an album, you want to show different sides to your artistry. With what we have been writing lately it has been exploring the honeymoon and in love moments in a relationship and the darker sides so it’s trying to cover a lot of territory in that sense and not just talk about the good stuff.” As per majority of Cosmo’s Midnight tracks, the duo
has pulled in yet another fresh collaborator. This time it’s the talented Auckland based singer-songwriter, Matthew Young, under the vocal spotlight. Having supported New Zealand royal, Lorde, in his first-ever live show with the Liney brothers watching from the crowd, they knew they had witnessed someone special. “I was like ‘I have to work with him’ and was blown away by how talented he was. I knew at that point that I had to work with him.” It was a flawless transition into the working arrangement with Young; one that was a few years in the making. Written and recorded in Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studio in Auckland and finished earlier this year during an extra couple of day stay at Young’s home following the twin’s stint as Laneway entourage, Young slide in perfectly to the twin’s songwriting dynamic. “Writing with someone you’ve never met is like speed dating I guess. You want to get to common ground quickly and get writing and hope that energy is there. It’s daunting writing a song with someone you’ve met before. It’s been a few years in the making.” He continues, “When it comes to writing music Cosmo and I definitely don’t need to talk that much. It’s just ‘my turn’, ‘my turn’ and we just keep swapping around until the track is done. We have different tastes but we know what a track needs and offer different sides
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to a track, so bringing someone else into that mix is really going to shake things up.” A new track, talk of writing in the works; this begs the question: Is there a new album on the way for Cosmo’s Midnight? “I did just spill it a bit,” Liney laughs. Watch this space for announcements and catch Cosmo’s Midnight DJ set at Dancing Heads Music Festival, Barwon Head Hotel on Thursday 26 December.
Tickets via eventbrite.com.au/e/dancing-headsmusic-festival-2019-tickets-74918588515 Written by Tammy Walters
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THE LOOP
B A L L A R AT BELLARINE
BENDIGO CASTLEMAINE
GEELONG & SURF COAST WA R R N A M BOO L
W o b N I a r t n E P r e S
l a v i t s Fe
A Geelong Gallery exhibition
23 Nov 2019 to 23 Feb 2020
Stephen Bram— abstract painting Stephen Bram Untitled 2014 synthetic polymer paint on canvas © Stephen Bram. Courtesy of the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery Photographer: Christian Capurro
Exhibition partner
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GROOVIN THE MOO ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2020
THE DROP ANNOUNCES ITS JUICY AF LINEUP FOR 2020
Christmas has come early!! The Groovin The Moo 2020 dates and venues have landed! While the lineup is yet to be revealed, request your annual leave NOW and block out these dates in your planners – this one WILL be a killer weekend. It always is. Weaving its way back to its beloved six regions across the country next year, GTM will head our way south to Bendigo on Saturday 2 May. You’ve been warned. No excuses. Photo by Jack Toohey.
Travelling alongside the World Surf League Australian tour, The Drop 2020 will take an allstar lineup of Aussie legends to Noosa, Newcastle, Manly, Coolangatta, Torquay and Bussleton across February, March and April. Get ready to slap on your sunscreen and party with bona fide national treatures The Presets, multi ARIA award-winning band Boy & Bear and Brisbane’s loved indie-rockers Ball Park Music, alongside the likes of Allday, DZ Deathrays, Kita Alexander and Graace! The Drop splashes into Torquay on Saturday, April 11. Photo by Ben Sullivan.
DAN KELLY FIGHTS THE BLUES Released in 2004, The Tabloid Blues (aka Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males sing the Tabloid Blues) is the debut album by Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males. The band performed a reunion show in 2016, but as milestones are worth celebrating, the band is set to perform the album in its entirety to mark its fifteen years of life. You’ll also hear other favourites, and we’re hoping that includes ‘Drunk on Election Night’. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 6.
SWISS COAST DROP A CHERRY BOMB
IT’S YOUR CIVIC DUTY The noise Civic make is being matched by the noise they are generating. They love their punk and play it as though they have no other option, which is probably why their first release New Vietnam sold out through their Bandcamp page. You can, however, grab yourself a copy of their 7”, ‘Selling, Sucking, Blackmail, Bribes’. Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 6. Friends for the night include Vintage Crop, Floodlights and Gamjee. Photo by Julian Hocking.
Geelong four-piece rockers Swiss Coast make a promise of only great tunes, and bullshit free rock and roll for those in society that are looking for something to take their mind off the day to day rigmarole (yes that is a word). They’ve just dropped a new single, ‘Cherry Bomb’, a confident and smokey slice of rock and roll tuneage. With a hint of blues, Swiss Coast are bringing mountains of swagger that we can definitely get around. Stream it on Spotify now.
BLAZE HITS GEELONG At the beginning of the year it was Ballarat, now Geelong has its turn this weekend. Her Highness and Resist Promotions present Blaze, a festival of musical delights that takes place at the Barwon Club on December 7. Desecrator, The Resignators, Dreadnaught, Destruktor, Planet of the 8s, Muscle Car, High as Hell, Garlic Nun, Coffin Wolf, Filth Dimension and Deadweight 80 will be there.
SORE POINTS NEED A SHOULDER Canadians have a reputation for being friendly. Australians, too, have a reputation abroad as being friendly. So when a band from Vancouver meets the land Down Under, there is going to be a whole lot of friendliness in the air. Having recently dropped the EP Not Alright, crash and bash punksters Sore Points are swinging by for some mischief. Barwon Club, Geelong – December 11 & The Eastern, Ballarat – December 12.
FALLS FESTIVAL ADD ARTS & COMEDY Party planning experts behind Falls Festival have offered up some delicious dessert, with incisive wizard of stinging wit Rhys Nicholson; finding the funny in heartbreak Steph Tisdell; purveyor of sharp one-liners Daniel Townes; identical twin musical-comedy duo Stevenson Brothers and sardonic, unique and sassy stand-up Gen Fricker. Lorne will also see the addition of Rancho Relaxo - your very own mega lifestyle precinct, with an eclectic offering of craft sessions, yoga, live music, meditation and dance workshops, discussion panels, divine massage, universal markets, healthy food options, specialty bars and of course the infamous late-night silent disco!
MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL Where is Kevin? Seriously, every damn time it is Kevin. He didn’t even realise he wasn’t wearing shoes last night. I just hope he has his Meredith Music Festival ‘Pocket Companion’ on him. It has everything he would need to know, including maps, directions, campground layout, playing times and hours of operation. Probably even a shoes reminder, too. It is usually available a week out from the festival, and it is super handy.
THE SUN SHINES ON ALEX LLOYD Following the release of his debut album Black the Sun in 1999, Alex Lloyd became ARIA royalty. Not only did he win for ‘Best New Artist’ in 1999, but between 1999 and 2004 he was nominated for ‘Best Male Artist’ five times for a total of three gongs. 20-year celebrations have been on the menu this year, and with a national tour done and dusted, he is in the mood for a special acoustic show. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 13.
THE DREGGS & NICK SAXON
VS MELBOURNE VICTORY DECEMBER 8TH 4:00 KICKOFF
It has been a fine year for the oceaninspired artists The Dreggs and Nick Saxon. The Dreggs embarked on their first national tour, released the single ‘You and Me’ and took to the stage of various festivals. And Nick Saxon, well, he toured both Australia and New Zealand as music lovers lapped up his single ‘Paradise’. They will enjoy a show together at Torquay’s Torquay Hotel on December 7.
TOO METAL FOR MEREDITH Lay out your clean underwear because it’s coming for you again. Too Metal for Meredith hits The Eastern, Ballarat on December 14 – and it is going to be loud, heavy and oh so glorious. Lining up will be Fall and Resist, Demonhead, Distorta, Blood Mountain and Bunyip. Describing their music as a “mongrel of sorrowful melody and hostile aggression”, Fall and Resist released the album Fading Cinders late 2018.
DEAD CITY RUINS KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ When Jake Wiffen decided to call it quits after nearly a decade fronting Dead City Ruins, the remaining band members still had a little left in the tank. They recruited Steve Welsh, and it was back to business as normal. Having already spent time abroad in 2019, they are set to do the same next year. But in the sweetest news of all, a local show is coming while a new album is expected to arrive in 2020. Barwon Club, Geelong – December 14.
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OVEN FRESH BAKERS DAUGHTER From appearing on Sons and Daughters, to working as a presenter on Sale of the Century, Alyce Platt has one of those ‘I know you from somewhere’ faces. Music also came knocking, and in 2000 she released the EP Cowboys in the Attic. Bakers Daughter is a new project, allowing the all-round talent to share her indie-pop. A new album is in the pipeline for early 2020. The Palais, Hepburn Springs – December 15.
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OSCAR LUSH BARES HIS SOUL Coined by Roman poet Horace, the term ‘Black Dog’ was later used by Winston Churchill to describe his own depression. It is a familiar term to us all today. Earlier this year, Oscar Lush released the album Black Dog. Heavily reflecting on depression, loss and change, the songman would take a step back from performing following burn out. He is now ready to perform the songs again. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 14.
THE SUNNY DALICADOS
SIDE
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During a mutual friend’s terminal illness, members of Dalicados came together for music therapy and support. Stacked with history, members had previously performed in bands including The Chosen Few, Hunters & Collectors, I Spit on Your Gravy and In Vivo. And there is just something about that kind of history that really works for them. Check out their single ‘Make Hay While the Sun Shines’. The Taproom, Castlemaine – December 14.
TESTIFY WITH GWYN ASHTON
Welsh-born blues/rock songman Gwyn Ashton arrived in Adelaide in the 1960s. He had a guitar in hand by the time he was twelve, and by sixteen he was touring the country. A long time in the industry makes for a plethora of stories, but his gig in the Czech Republic with B.B. King at Golem Blues Festival is up there. Sonic Blues Preachers is his latest. Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – January 3 & The Taproom, Castlemaine – January 10.
STAMP OUT AND ABOUT TH E GRINCH OF GEELONG WEST I can’t be f*%ked with Christmas. I don’t want to piss on your Christmas parade, but it just seems like a lot of hard work this year. It’s been a hectic and emotional 2019. I’ve faced some pretty heavy personal and professional challenges AND I’ve had to take on a hell of a lot of self-growth. Growing up, Christmas was the time of year when the family would drive from the other side of town or fly in from the other side of the country. We’d eat our weight in pork crackling and read the bad jokes in the bonbons… Now if we want to catch up, we FaceTime from the couch from wherever we are in the world. We would gather around the table to tell our grandparents about all the holidays we’ve taken since we last celebrated the festive season. We’d show our aunties photos of our new boyfriends, with the promise we’ll bring them to the next family gathering… Now we just scroll through Instagram to find out how everyone is spending the weekends. We spent weeks window shopping for the perfect gifts. Game of Thrones box set, tick. Grace & Marie candles, tick tick. Botanicals By Luxe entire stock, HELLS YEAH, STUFF MY STOCKING! Then we’d spend nights watching Christmas carols while wrapping each present with precision. Dennis Walter would be singing ‘Little Drummer Boy’ as we wrap Nanna’s calendar. Humphrey B Bear would dance to ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ while we’re placing Dad’s bottle of Shiraz under the tree. Now we just buy online vouchers because we don’t have time to take a lunch break. We let the vouchers we get expire: ‘It’s so much effort to drive to Melbourne to buy those new pair of leggings’. ‘I don’t want anything tangible because I’ve Marie
Kondo’d the shit out of my wardrobe and I don’t want more STUFF’. ‘There are only so many blankets and books and Peter Alexander PJs a woman needs!’ (Jokes, we always need more Peter Alexander in our lives). I want to explore the world, experience new crazy activities and consume delicious food at the newest restaurants. Basically, I’m selfish. But it’s my December too and I wanna spend it how I want. I want to spend my hard-earned cash on something that matters. I want to invest my time doing meaningful things. How about I take you to dinner at Alma instead? Or we test our relationship at Live Wire Lorne? That place is built on trust AND ropes. There are some of you reading this who LOVE this time of year. Your Bublé album has been defrosting since October. You put your tree up in November and all your presents are sitting under the tinsel and baubles, wrapped in coordinated bows and name tags. This year my gift to you is to do what makes you happy. This year I choose human connection, clocking off from expectation and surrounding myself with the stuff that fills my emotional cup. Birthdays, however, I am all about. HIP HOP HOORAY B*TCHES! Stampsy is ½ of K rock’s Departure Lounge and K rock’s Music Director. Share your thoughts on Christmas with her on IG lee_stamps and FB StampsyKROCK.
COURTNEY BARNETT LOVES CASTLEMAINE How’s this for a way to begin your musical adventures in 2020? Courtney Barnett and her guitar will perform four shows in a row at The Bridge, Castlemaine across January 9, 10, 11 & 12. The first two have sold out, and it would not be surprisingly if the rest followed suit. Currently riding along with Paul Kelly, Courtney is also set for worldwide adventures once she has finished up her intimate run of Castlemaine shows.
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WRITTEN BY WYLIE CAIRD
THE BEST OF THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
completely by volunteers, the festival’s charm is in the creation of a massive, yet intimate community event with a mix of award-winning seasoned musicians and developing talent.
The fans kept asking and finally broke Mat McHugh to the point where he selected his favourite tracks from five The Beautiful Girls albums, the debut EP and an acoustic version of ‘Beautiful World’, and glued them together for a vinyl double-LP. Titled Seaside Highlife: Greatest Hits Volume I, it essentially captures the band’s first twenty years. Hear the album in all its glory at Torquay’s Torquay Hotel on January 11.
This year the festival lineup includes the McNamarr Project, Marshall and the Fro, Dan Dinnen and Shorty, and more. The festival starts with the Friday Night Jam Competition, followed by the big day of the festival on Saturday, featuring free music in the gardens, market stalls, and music workshops. A stellar line-up is on offer on Saturday night at the Big Blues Bash, or the more laid back family friendly Blues Café. There is more free street entertainment on Sunday, winding up with the Recovery Session on Sunday afternoon.
OH, IT’S GOING TO BE A NICE DAY You may well already know, and otherwise should definitely know, that the Torquay Hotel will once again host A Nice Day to Go to the Pub on January 25. And there will be those who rightfully say that one band whose company is a must on a nice day at the pub is Cosmic Psychos. They will be joined by Private Function, Bitch Diesel, The Living Eyes, Mr Teenage and Chook & Moluck. Put the drinks on my tab.
Situated on the Tambo River in East Gippsland, Bruthen is a breath of fresh air where visitors are warmly welcomed. Why not visit on third weekend in February?
THE BIGGEST LITTLE BLUES FESTIVAL COMES TO BRUTHEN
BREAKING THE UNWRITTEN LAW You will have more Unwritten Law shows than you know what to do with next year, as the band illustrates why they’re still going strong 30 years later. From the band: “Oi, Australia! In addition to the Hotter Than Hell dates in February, we decided we needed to spend more time in the land of OZ … So grab a tinnie, get your tickets and come and dance with us!” Barwon Club, Geelong – February 9. Silent X supports.
Bruthen is set to come alive for the 25th Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival from February 14-16. Run
THE RISE AND RISE OF WEYES BLOOD With Golden Plains already circled on the calendar of music lovers, one of the festival’s performers, Weyes Blood, is giving the country a little extra love. Natalie Mering is behind Weyes Blood, a singer-songwriter whose early musical outings included Jackie-O Motherfucker and Nautical Almanac. Titanic Rising is her fourth release. She first (and last) toured Australian in 2017. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – March 7.
ROD STEWART PLAYS THE HITS
JULIAN JAMES & EZRA LEE
SETTING THE RIGHT EXAMPLE
Stepping out from the Chicago Blues of Catfish Voodoo, Julian James kept going back in time to discover old blues stylings appealed to him most. ‘Looking for a Light’ is his latest single. Inspired by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Fats Domino, Ezra Lee has been described as a piano playing wild man. Enjoy one bourbon, one scotch and one beer when the pair team up at Pistol Pete’s Geelong on December 20.
You may take a few hits along the way, but you have to find what makes you happy. Elliot John Gleave, better known as Example, spent time with Ministry of Sound and Sony before deciding the best way to do his best was to start his own label via AWAL/Kobalt. The aim remained the same: “I just wanted to keep things simple, and do what I love doing – big club bangers which tell a story.” Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool – December 14.
GOOMFEST 2
A NIGHT WITH NICK BARKER
GOLD ROSES COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL Roll out of bed and slap your thigh, Momma’s cookin’ an apple pie. Bendigo will host its first alternative country music festival in 2020, with generous servings of Americana, alt-country, roots, folk, honky tonk and western swing. Handle Bar will host Gold Roses on February 1, and although the line-up was unavailable at the time of writing, it should now be available for all to enjoy. Hit up facebook.com/goldroses3550 for further information.
SINGER/SONGWRITER WANTED
Female guitarist/ vocalist wanted
BASSIST/SINGER NEEDED
space to practice music in.
Drummer / percussionist / Kongo
Looking for a female singer lyricist/
Looking for a female guitarist/vocalist
work on a Glam/Hard Rock/Metal band with. Must be male, must
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player required for band ‘Intrepid Soul’.
songwriter for a recording project. Email
to work with experienced rhythm
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We’re looking for someone who is
waterfall.walshe@gmail.com for details
guitarist on two piece with a focus on
have hair, must have strong vocals.
theatres – just a space that’s both
committed to regular rehearsals once
lyrics and harmony, tasteful selection
Contact Glenn on 0407563638
of alternative and classic rock, country,
suitable and that won’t disrupt others.
a week, and to join us with open mics
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have a wide availability.
possible, and will join us in songwriting.
Ability to play reasonably accomplished
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play most weekends is important. Call Kit 0427999107
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Hopping from band to band as a bass player, Nick Barker found more solid ground when he joined The Wreckery in the mid-eighties. He was on the move again before the decade was out, switching to lead guitar and vocals when he formed Nick Barker & the Reptiles. Following a couple of albums, he was off and running as a solo artist, dropping his debut, Damn Mermaids, in 1996. Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon – December 14.
Drummer / percussionist/ Kongo player wanted
I’m looking for a cheap/free
For individual use only, not for commercial purposes.
FANNY LUMSDEN’S COUNTRY BASH
Like in Rocky II when Balboa took down Apollo Creed, GOOMFEST returns to rattle some bones with its second instalment. Taking place on a farm ten minutes outside Warrnambool on January 18, the line-up features Antiphon, Dumb Punts, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, Smarts, Aika, School Damage, Auntie Leo and the Backstabbers, Girlatones, Andre Agony, Boolumwal Gulka and much, much more.
The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum with the new Rod the Mod is heading to Australian shores next year. Rod Stewart will take in a tidy number of A Day on the Green shows as part of the voyage, including a date with Geelong’s Mt Duneed Estate on October 31. The tour is titled The Hits!, and with Rod there is plenty of them with nine number one albums and more than 120 million in sales.
Send your info to: enquiries@fortemag.com.au
BEN SALTER TAKES FLIGHT
As if being a founding member of Giants of Science, Alt-country singer-songwriter Fanny Lumsden and her husband, Dave, have been making it an annual The Gin Club and three-time ARIA-nominated Wilson Pickers wasn’t enough, Ben Salter goes alright as a duty to tackle regional Australia on their Country Halls solo performer. With The Mythic Plane, the singer- Tour for several years now. A reliable vehicle is a must, songwriter now has four solo albums under his belt. with more than 150,000km undertaken – and counting. You can only purchase the album through his website, Earlier in the year she won a Golden Guitar for her song Bandcamp and at shows, which is super convenient ‘Electric Waistband’. Newham Mechanics Institute Hall, as he has a date with The Bridge, Castlemaine on Newham – December 7 & Globe Theatre, Winchelsea – December 13. December 19.
They struck gold the first time around, so Antipodean Rock Collective will head out prospecting again in 2020 with Abbey Road Live. As you may recall, members of You Am I, Spiderbait, Powderfinger and Jet came together to play some shows in support of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ classic and an album considered up there with the greatest of all time. Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – February 20.
CL ASSIFIEDS
For more information, go to www.bruthenblues. com.au
A feature packed weekend of music, arts, entertainment, food, markets and activities, this is one for the whole family.
ABBEY ROAD LIVE
Music practice space wanted
Early bird tickets now available at www. trybooking.com/BHACT
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FEEL THE ZEITGEIST FREEDOM ENERGY EXCHANGE It may not be a name that rolls off the tongue, but Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange will make you remember them anyway. 2019 has brought with it their debut European tour, as well as two-track EP Gots Style?. The title track is described as “a left field swurvy house banger without a doubt”. The Eastern, Ballarat – December 6. They will be joined by locals Purr Usual and Melbourne’s Beatnik Collective.
MO KENNEY RETURNS Mo Kenney returns to our shores early in 2020, this time forgoing a band in order to play a series of solo acoustic shows. The tour is named after her new single ‘Ahead of Myself’, while the Nova Scotia native also has a new album in the works. The track was written after the singer-songwriter moved to Downtown Dartmouth and was living by herself for the first time. The Lost Ones, Ballarat – January 15.
TIM MCMILLAN & RACHEL SNOW It’s the super fantastic Tim McMillan and Rachel Snow Show. Tim, a fingerstyle guitarist with a knack for a good story, and Rachel, a stellar violinst, are a Germany-based duo originally from Melbourne who deliver some 120 concerts annually. Local shows are coming your way. The Lost Ones, Ballarat – December 11. You can also see them next year at Ocean Grove Hotel, Ocean Grove – January 26; and The Palais, Hepburn Springs – February 7.
BENDIGO AU GO GO WR IT TEN BY LYNE T TE WA LKE R
He’s been playing music since he was five, and has been in bands since he was in high school. But it’s taken more than 15 years for Tyson Hodges to put out an album with the trio that bears his name. Instrumental progrock fusion outfit Tyson Hodges Trio (TH3) will launch its long-awaited, self-titled debut album at Handle Bar on Friday, December 6. The earliest incarnation of TH3 can be traced back to the early 2000s. A decade later, Hodges launched “mark 2”, which graduated from the band’s original acoustic roots style to a more electric, rockier sound. Out of that progression came the current line-up, comprising Hodges, drummer Josh DeAraugo, and bassist Bradley Bradford. Hodges cannot praise his bandmates highly enough. “The musicianship is incredible and has allowed us to expand the sound even further,” he says. “We can delve into prog-rock arrangements from classic rock-type grooves and complement it with heavy, fuzz-drenched, stoner-rock riffs.” TH3 went into Ladd Studios in October 2018 to begin work on the new album, which was mixed and
mastered by Erek Ladd and produced by Hodges. “I feel like we got the best of both worlds on this album,” he says. “The ‘live in the room’ elements combined with the necessary overdubs to give it an edge. I wanted this record to give listeners a different experience to what they hear live.” Most of the material was written by Hodges, but two songs were interband collaborations. “(DeAraugo and Bradford) are such amazing musicians it’s allowed us to push the musical boundaries in both the writing and the arrangements,” he says. Hodges says he wants people who hear the album to appreciate it for what it is. “Being an instrumental band, it’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea,” he says. “But I know it’s a good record, it’s been a long time coming, and I’m really proud of it.” From 9pm; free entry. Also appearing at the venue near you in the next fortnight: EuRiffka! takes over the Golden Vine on Thursday, December 5, featuring local stoner rock acts Stone Djoser and Sleeping Giant, Brisbane’s Death By Carrot, and psych-loop rock merchant Rowboy. From 7pm; free entry. Adelaide’s soul-drenched blues trio Lazy Eye bring their Whisky and Gin tour to the All Seasons on Friday, December 6. Support from local blues band Messin’ Around. From 8pm; tickets $20 from Eventbrite. Local favourites Dorado and The Flannos are joining forces for a night of blues rock at the Golden Vine on Saturday, December 7. From 9pm; $5 entry. Contemporary folk-rockers Blackthorn returns to the Golden Vine on Friday, December 13. Support from Colonel Vipers Whipstick Band. From 9pm. Melbourne alt-rockers The Crookeds bring their Sucker For Pain tour to the Golden Vine on Saturday, December 14. Support from fellow Melburnians Rhinosaur and local ambient rockers Die In A Dream. From 8pm. Photo by Adrianna Grubelnik
DECEMBER FRIDAY 6TH SUNDAY LEMONADE, FREE SHOW-ACOUSTIC DUO SATURDAY 7TH ROSS WILSON & THE PEACENIKS SUNDAY 8TH FREEZA SHOWCASE-DAYTIME SHOWCASE FRIDAY 13TH THE OLD MARRIED COUPLE PRESENTS A ‘VERY VAUDEVILLE CHRISTMAS’ VARIETY SHOW. SATURDAY 14TH A SWINGING BELLA XMAS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TRIPOD! SUNDAY 15TH BAKERS DAUGHTER (ALYCE PLATT) FRIDAY 20TH KENNY JOE BLAKE-ALT COUNTRY SATURDAY 21ST CLUB 54 GOLDEN DISCO HITS SHOW !! 10 PIECE DISCO BAND !! DECEMBER 31ST NYE PARTY 2020 UNMASKED 6 DJS, BURLESQUE PERFORMERS 7PM-3AM
JANUARY JANUARY 2020 SUMMER OF LOVE. SPECIAL FREE! LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FRIDAY 3RD DJ DIRECT FROM BRIGHTON (UK) DESERT IVAN DISCS SATURDAY 4TH TEAM LOVE, LOCAL ALT-COUNTRY, AMAZING HARMONIES. 8PM-10PM FRIDAY 10TH DJ DANIEL BAYONAS 9PM-12AM SATURDAY 11TH FLOYD THURSBY. (SOLO/MELBOURNE) INDIE/ROCK ORIGINALS, SHOW 8-10PM FRIDAY 17TH DJ CLAY RAVIN TRIBAL HOUSE - BALKAN BEATS 9PM-12AM SATURDAY 18TH SEAN SIMMONS (THE SPOILS) & BRONWYN HENDERSON FRIDAY 24TH DJ RAGDOLL (BERLIN) OLD SCHOOL ROCK AND ROLL GREAT COCKTAILS AND FOOD AVAILABLE
TICKETS THROUGH OZTIX OR VIA WWW.PALAIS-HEPBURN.COM
TICKETS: www.trybooking.com/BHACT www.bruthenblues.com.au
111 MAIN RD, HEPBURN SPRINGS VIC 3461 - 03 5348 1000 WWW.PALAIS-HEPBURN.COM - OPEN WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY. FORTÉ 729
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RAINBOW SERPENT FESTIVAL 2020
RAINBOW SERPENT HAS UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN REMEMBERING IT ALL STARTED OUT AS A PSYCHEDELIC TRANCE FESTIVAL IN A SECLUDED PADDOCK SOMEWHERE COMPARED TO HOW IT HAS GROWN INTO THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED MELTING POT OF MUSIC, ART, DANCE, CULTURE, AND FOOD THAT IT IS TODAY.. Now with a diverse genre range of hundreds of artists over multiple stages that only continues to grow each year, one of the largest markets in Australia serving up amazing hand-made goods and a diverse menu of tasty bites and an overall amazing outdoor four-day experience, Rainbow Serpent is definitely one for punters to look forward to this summer, January 2020 here we come! For a festival so huge it can be a little intimidating to navigate, especially for any newbies out there who just need a little push to take the bush-doof-dive, so ya pals at Forte have put together a little guide for you to take the edge off so all you gotta worry about is putting together that bangin outfit! GETTING THERE First things first, how we getting there? Bright pink limousine? Week-long desert pilgrimage? No dramas are necessary when it comes to making your arrival at the festival with more travel options than ever. It’s around a two-hour drive from Melbourne and for any folks planning on taking your own car up, don’t forget to pinch a vehicle pass ($30) which you will need 20
to present upon entry on the day. Lord knows why you’d drive though with so many public transport options for an easier, greener, stressfree way to travel! Melbournians have the option of charter buses ($48) that take festival-goers to and from Fed Square and the festival. Folks a little further out can catch a V-line to Ballarat or Beaufort station and then hop on one of the free shuttle bus services running from there. For something with a little more fun and festival vibes, the Banana Bus festival transport system is definitely the way to go with a heap of convenient pickup locations all around Melbourne from Footscray to Cranbourne and as a part of the service, each patron receives a complimentary festival survival pack that includes water, paw-paw cream, a Polaroid picture and more! Super cute! With the shuttles, keep in mind these services require bookings so get onto it sooner rather than later! If you haven’t bought your festival ticket yet, Melbourne charter bussers can grab a combo festival and charter ticket for cheaps. In an effort to reduce drivers’ emissions, the festival is encouraging public transport options by prioritising bus travellers’ entry so you can avoid those pesky lines at the gate and by also giving you discounted festival ticket prices and a souvenir booklet! Suss out the website for more when, where and how deets. WHAT TO BRING Alright, we know how to get there, now what the hell do we bring?? Well, you’ll be staying for four days, so first off is camping gear. Tent, mat, sleeping bag, check!
You’ll also need to dress appropriately for the occasion. Pack your finest doof threads but also ensure you pack a hat, sunnies, water bottle and some sunscreen for the day, something warm to throw on top when it gets chilly at night and some swim gear for the pool party! Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to double-check you bring your ticket and your ID (I’m sure we’ve all been there frantically searching our bag to no avail – NEVER AGAIN). If you’ve got the room, some extras worth taking would be some camp chairs so you and your mates can have a bit of a chill bev around the tent area, an esky for those bevs and YES you can bring your own drinks! Just ensure they’re in either cans or plastic bottles, any glass will be confiscated upon entry for safety reasons. But hey, bringing along your own tinnies sounds like a win-win to me! A little med-kit would also be a smart idea just in case you get that pesky little headache or do yourself a boo-boo. Just don’t forget when you’re packing that the festival does have a small list of items banned for very obvious reasons so do a double-check and don’t pack anything silly, kiddos. WHAT’S ON? On to the good stuff!! So first and foremost, the music. With a history of presenting the freshest international acts (this year you’ll see the likes of Brazil’s Victor Ruiz, Olivier Giacomotto from France, Italy’s Edoardo Marvaso, Metronome reppin’ Sweden, and James Monro from the UK, among others), this year they’ve got over 60 domestic acts and are also bringing some traditional
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crowd favourites to the 2020. A highlight will be Infected Mushroom and Quirk, who appeared at the very first Rainbow 23 years ago and have reformed especially for next year’s festival, which is absolutely massive! It’s a HUGE line-up, and it’s way too big to go through here so have a good little squiz on their page, but there’s a little something for everyone. The bazaar is also an awesome time with a huge range of delicious food and drink, heaps of crafty bits and bobs from clothes to instruments and even services like massage therapies on offer. ‘The Village’ also functions as a communal space for festival-goers away from the stages and includes a huge range of interactive activities including yoga workshops, healing sessions, discussion panels, informative presentations, amazing art galleries, indigenous aboriginal ceremonies and workshops, kids activities, land art gardens and more! One thing’s for sure, there will not be one dull moment for the entire 4 days you’re at rainbow so strap in for a big one!
Hopefully this guide helped you feel a little more organised! When the big day rocks around, stay safe and have fun out there, from the Forte team x Rainbow Serpent goes down from January 24-27 2020. Tickets are currently on sale and available at rainbowserpent.net/ Written by Jess Sercombe
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GRAMPIANS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2020: THE BUOYS & MADDY JANE Setting up in one of Australia’s most picturesque national parks next February, the Grampians Music Festival (GMF) is bringing the Valley Stage back to the stunning paddock location in Halls Gap in 2020 on February 28 & 29 in what will be a display of outstanding Australian up and coming musical talent, boutique beer, wine and spirits, global cuisine and dancing in the dirt. The first lineup announcement has been revealed, featuring the likes of Julia Jacklin, Ecca Vandal, These New South Whales, DRMNGNOW, Maddy Jane, Pinch Points, The Buoys, Sledgehammer and more! To celebrate the return of this absolute showcase of the best new bands making music all over the country, we passed the baton and got Tassie’s
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finest indie-rock superstar Maddy Jane and Sydney femme four-piece The Buoys to interview each other! THE BUOYS - INTERVIEWED BY MADDY JANE You guys have had a big year on the road with DZ’s and our friend’s Polish Club! What has been your favourite venue to play? The Forum in Melbourne felt like a dream. The interior of that venue is out of this world! That and the Astor theatre in Perth had the most amazing feeling to them. Your debut EP is called Soft Boy and I’m currently selling future sad boi merch. Do we need to collab here? Is a soft boy and a sad boy basically the same thing?? Oh my gosh, and it’s by Aluna!? I think we may have some mutuals! I’m definitely feeling a collab. So a sad boy isn’t necessarily a soft boy, BUT a soft boy is almost always a sad boy. We could make facial tissues? You’re playing my hometown Tassie for the first time next year, where else is on your radar for 2020? We are ridiculously excited to play in Tasmania for Party in the Paddock, we may need to ask for climate advice, is it super cold at night? I digress... Stoked to say that we are releasing our sophomore EP in 2020 so we will have a tour for that one! We’re playing at the amazing Grampians Festival and we’re also doing our first Twilight at Taronga with Wolfmother in Feb which is wild. 2020 looks so fun already. As a band do you have a favourite festival that you’ve always wanted to play? It would be pretty amazing to play Splendour in the Grass, it’s just so UUUGE. Do you have anything unusual on your festival rider? Not so much unusual, but maybe the ridiculousness comes from its length and detail. We’ve requested like every cheese and alcoholic beverage under the sun and are very specific about brands just for the lols. But also who wants hommus that isn’t Pilpel? MADDY JANE – INTERVIEWED BY THE BUOYS The lyrical journey in your new single ‘Something Old and Something New’ gives me mad goosebumps. What was it like having a story that evolved and how did you write this one? Did you write in reflection or put it down and come back to it? So glad you like it! Now that I think of it, I kinda wrote it in reflection and a little bit in the prediction of what was to come. But it all kinda came out at once and I remember thinking that will need some mad editing that never really happened. It was kinda like the melody grew more around the words. I didn’t realise it was an evolved story! Haha yay! Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the Grampians and why? Julia Jacklin is the obvious one I know, but I haven’t seen her live since the release of her last album and I’m so ready. She is the artist I play on nearly every plane ride. Quivers are old friends too and I’m keen to boogie to them.
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Do you still have that first acoustic guitar covered in seashells and what guitars do you have now? Look, I think I do still have it sitting in my bedroom on Bruny island that is stuck in 2008. The shells aren’t on there anymore but the imprints in the colour on the guitar are still very clearly shell-shaped What drew you to Wollongong from Tassie rather than the big smoke and how do you find life there? We bloody looooove Wollongong. It’s a good spot hey! I made some friends through touring that lived there and it was a good compromise from tassie and is close to Sydney! I didn’t want to move to Melbourne either like everyone kinda does from tassie haha. And I realised I need hills and water close to me to feel sane. What’s something both as a punter and performer that you can’t do a festival without? Sweating. Tickets are available now, including camping and shuttle options for punters who want to enjoy the full Grampians experience. Packages include 2 Day and Single Day Festival passes, included in the variety of options on offer for those who want to kick on and camp out under the stars.
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DANDECAT
Dandecat’s sound is a talking point for the band. Self-described as “unlabelled” and “fusion music”, the four-piece band feature powerful riffs, back-beats and vocal layers on their debut EP ‘Kaleidoscope Mind’. Lead singer Bridget Sharp said the EP had been a while in the making for the university friends. “It’s a really unique feeling having your songs out in the world and have people listen to them,” she says. “I think that’s the most gratifying part. We’re doing this project for the love of writing and music, I don’t see this is a chore. It’s a pleasure to be able to write with these guys and perform. It’s an incredible feeling to have this EP out there.” Dandecat formed after discovering they all admired soul, jazz and hip-hop fusion artist Jordan Rakei and even though their sound differs, they are influenced by his work. “Our sound has always been accepted for what it is,” guitarist Zac Robertson says. “Melbourne is a place where you can do lots of weird and adventurous stuff and people dig it. I think we have a Radiohead vibes even though we don’t mean too. “But we all listen to different stuff,” he continues. “We’re very spontaneous with our writing and it’s probably my favourite part of the project. When we first started writing I think we were trying to cram in a lot of stuff we were learning at uni. “Now we’re more refined and we’re putting stuff in we like.” The five track EP is a perfect mix of soft-rock
and jazz to make your hips sway. Sharp’s vocals are beautifully teamed with the layering of guitars and keys. Each song brings a different energy showcasing the band member’s diverse tastes. Evoking a range of emotions, ‘Kaleidoscope Mind’ takes you on a journey through the varying stages of relationships with its ultimate climax up to your own interpretation. Sharp said much of the bands inspiration comes from each other. “When we get in a room together the creative juices just start flowing,” she says. “It can be a combination of anything - someone might come in with a new riff or Dave our drummer will have a groove or I’ll come in with some vocals. “The beauty of this project is it’s all very collaborative. We all bounce off one another to form the song.” Kaleidoscope Mind has been well-received since its release on November 20. Sharpe said the welcome reception has been humbling for the Melbourne-based band. “Everyone we meet at gigs have been so supportive,” she says. “Obviously you have your nights when you play gigs to two or three people on a Tuesday night. But even those people who come really want to be there and always have smiles on their faces. “We’ve had so many people express how much they like the sound and how it’s not quite like anything they’ve heard,” she continues. “Everyone’s got a different favourite song which has been awesome because normally people are drawn to one or two. “That means so much.” Release: Kaleidoscope Mind is out now. Written by Kim Price
FRIDAY, DEC 20 – WORKS DONE AND DUSTED, TIME TO PARTY It’s your last day of work before Christmas! As the nation packs in one last day of work before a few weeks (or days) off, come knock-off everyone will be ready for a cold one! To celebrate the time we’ve all been dreaming of, Lambys promises to keep the ball rolling as we wash away the work year. Melbourne’s Adam 12 kick off with their cover set, while talented multi-instrumentalist and lively entertainer Troy Barrett will be providing an acoustic set in the back. Later, DJ Jo Jo and DJ Joubin are set to bring the beats well into the night.
GET LOOSE AND GET MERRY AT LAMBYS THIS CHRISTMAS So it’s Christmas time, and in between stuffing your face with cold meets and unwrapping presents, it’s time you headed out and listened to some sweet local music. After all, there’s only so many times you can listen to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’. THURSDAY, DEC 19 – HOLIDAY-MODE HAS SET IN Let’s not beat around the bush, you’ve mentally checked out. You’ve already written your outof-office email, you’re daydreaming about what you’re doing for New Years, and your phone is going straight to voicemail. So, with the work-year basically over, why not kick-off the celebrations a little early. No one’s going to care that you’re a little dusty on your last day of work, right? Lambys has your back and is hosting three acts to jump-start your silly season. Geelong regular Andy Forster will bring his solo acoustic set to the tavern’s back bar, Refinery are taking on the stage downstairs, and DJ Jo Jo will DJ upstairs playing tracks you love, with his own twist.
SATURDAY, DEC 21 – SATURDAY NIGHT OUT! What better way to continue the party on Saturday night than with Night #3 of the Christmas Marathon. ‘The Voice’ contestant and ‘Wasabi’ singer Lee Harding will join Bedrock for their show, while DJ Joubin will provide some tunes before Liam Blackwell once again takes to the upstairs stage. If you’re keen to just chill out with a Mario Kart to some acoustic goodness, much-loved Geelong muso Luke Biscan has you covered with his incredible live energy and virtuoso guitar skills. SUNDAY, DEC 22 - SQUEEZE THE LAST BIT OF JUICE OUT OF THE WEEKEND By now, the works-out celebrations have begun to subside and many of us will be faced with a tough choice: continue the party, or suffer the hangover? For those brave enough to continue to Night #4, Lambys will be closing their spectacular Christmas Marathon with local singer-songwriter Andy Forster, before resident DJ’s Joubin and Prank closes the marathon with their renowned DJ sets. Doors swing open at 9pm. Purchase a Marathon Pass to receive cheaper entry for the whole long weekend, or buy an Entry Card on Thursday to get in for free for the whole marathon! Merry bloody Christmas!
RAMA JORDON NEW SINGLE ‘WINGS’ OUT NOW ON ALL ONLINE MUSIC PLATFORMS WWW.RAMAJORDON.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RAMAJORDON INSTAGRAM @RAMAJORDON FORTÉ 729
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BAKERS DAUGHTER AKA ALYCE PLATT Melbourne’s Bakers Daughter (aka Alyce Platt) has returned, but for this artist, everything is new. Reframing her past, Bakers Daughter presents her original music and artistic pursuits through the lens of the Indie-pop artist she is so highly regarded as by her peers and critics alike. With a show this month in Forte territory, we sat down with Alyce to talk all things music. Hi Alyce, thanks for taking the time to chat. Well-known for your role in Sons and Daughters and Sale of the Century, when did you begin the venture into music? Or has it always been there for you? Music has always been there for me. I started playing guitar when I was eight years old and wrote my first song when I was 12 years old. I released my first EP, Cowboys in the Attic under the name of Bakers Daughter in 2000. Peter Farnan produced the EP. Can you tell us a little bit about your band Bakers Daughter – how did this all-star band come together? The players in Bakers Daughter are the same musicians who recorded on my Funny Little World Album and then went on to become my live band The Fish Shop Collective.
We hear you’re working on new material. What can you tell us about that one? The new material is a combination of tracks I demoed years back when I recorded my Beautiful Death Album. Glenn Lewis (co-produced and engineered Beautiful Death) and I recorded some of these tracks then. Pete Farina, Clare Moore, Stephen Hadley and I have re-worked some of them and will be recording them with some new material next year. What stage are you at in terms of completion? One of the tracks - FARAWY SONG will soon be released as a single. I recorded it with Glenn Lewis and we have re-mixed it and Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studio in St Kilda mastered it in September this year. Who have you worked with/are you working with on production and mixing? I have worked with J P Shilo. He produced my Beautiful Death Album. Glenn Lewis, produced FARAWY SONG (soon to be released single) Roger Bergodaz, Stephen Hadley, and I produced Funny Little World Album and Peter Farnan Produced my Cowboys in the Attic EP. It’s said that your music blurs the lines of reality and make-believe, what’s involved in the writing and creative process? Inspiration for writing comes from personal experiences and observations. I sometimes bend the truth (active imagination) to tell the story or expand on an insight. You’re heading to Palais-Hepburn in Hepburn Springs mid-December. Have you ever visited this part of the country before? Yes. I love performing in regional venues. I have performed at the beautiful Scrub Hill Church a couple of times and loved it! We had lots of lovely local people who came to see us there as well as some lovely well behaved dogs! Are you more at home with your music on the stage, or in the studio? I do love the studio... but there’s nothing like a live audience to bring you home to honesty, authenticity and connection.
5 MINUTES WITH RAMA JORDON Hey Rama, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte! First up, can you give us a brief description of yourself and your music? Hey, thanks for having me. I’m a singer-songwriter/ composer. My music is primarily informed by my Classical/Jazz guitar style and is kind of a World/ Folk/Jazz fusion. This, of course, is brought to life by the trio I perform with; Jordan Deneka (Bass) and Milo Emmanuel (Drums). Congrats on the release of ‘Wings’, your new explosive ten-minute journey with dark and deep lyrics, conveyed with un-tamed expression. Talk us through the creative process of this? Well ‘Wings Intro’, I actually started writing many years ago but was waiting until I had more to say. The project was then re-birthed nearly a year ago when I found myself in a rather dark place. For me, the piece was and is a release of a lot of built-up
When & Where: Palais Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Dec 15
A GRUMPY CELTIC CHRISTMAS No need to flinch – there is not even a pinch of a Grinch in sight, despite the name of Claymore’s Christmas collaboration with Order Of Australia recipient Eric Bogle and the Glenbrae Celtic Dancers! Quite questionably titled, A Grumpy Celtic Christmas aims to deck the halls with boughs of frivolity in its light-hearted ‘aversion’ to the usual Christmas conventions of commercialist cheer with grimacing grumpiness! In true Scottish festivity, audiences who experience the spectacular showmanship of Claymore will be eager for the band to stay more and play more, given their infectious mood and lively tales; and as outrageous frontman William Hutton comically conveys, “Claymore literally in Gaelic means a Great Sword...and I’ve always thought that when music is strong, can be held onto firmly; and if used in the right way, can chop people’s heads off!” The concept of grumpiness emerged from an instinctive remark made to Eric by William; and as William narrates, “Eric’s getting on in years, and he tends to be a bit bah humbug; so he’s the grumpy portion – that’s what we’re telling everybody… Eric’s persona just amplifies grumpiness; and we always have a little bit of a dig at each other – a friendly dig, of course; so I guess we’ll carry that one through the theme of the night!” The programme of the musical celebration will
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tension, and very emotional, hence it became quite dramatic, even theatrical, from the sweet and nostalgic vocals and melancholic melodies, to the crashing drums and wailing Klezmer-esque clarinet. We get a lot of gospel-esque, alt-jazz, folk vibes from this track – where did you draw inspiration for this track? I think that the gospel vibes, the same as In the Sun, come from my love of dramatic and religious music. I spent a lot of my high school years singing in choirs, working with vocal instructor Lynda Morrow, who pretty much taught me how to sing from scratch, and has had a massive influence on my musical development. It’s got a lot more elements than your previous works on the album In The Sun. Were you conscious of experimenting with new sounds or was this a natural progression for you? I had so much fun creating In the Sun as a seventeen-year-old in my bedroom, and I love the stripped-back intimacy of the record, however, this piece just needed to be bigger, I wanted more colours and a more diverse soundscape. One of the biggest things was just being able to work with Milo Emmanuel on the drums. I’m no drummer and he just fleshed out the piece beautifully, and with so much expression. Is ‘Wings’ a good indication of what is to come next? Yes. There is a lot more to come next year that is of a similar aesthetic nature, possibly darker and more experimental. We are living for the abstract album artwork by Hannah Metwally– can you tell us a bit about that? Did you have any direction in terms of concept and design? Hannah is a good friend of mine and I absolutely adore her work. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted, but I knew she could do it. I gave her an mp3 of some of the guitar parts and lyrics and told her to paint. What she came up with blew me away, and is absolutely perfect for the music. Release: ‘Wings’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
involve “more well-known Christmas sing-along type songs so as everybody knows them and they can all join in. There’s a fair amount of normal material… and a smattering throughout the evening of Christmas stuff, just to maintain the theme of the night.” Already in its fourth successive year, the notion began with co-creator Damien Leith, accelerating to become a “massive success”; and after a sell-out show, others appealed to William “Are you doing it again next year?...and we kind of looked at each other [realising] we’ve created a monster here!” Born in merry Scotland, William believes the band has continued to evolve, incorporating stirring swoops of the Bodhrán; Lindsay Hodgson’s Didgeridoo and Grant Scoggie’s spellbinding Bagpipes in a spiritual and tribal fusion. William boasts “There’s a lot of talent there. We’ve got a miniature pipe band coming along as well… we couldn’t fit the whole band on stage because there’s far too many of them, so we’re bringing a cut-down version; so I’m sure everybody will enjoy that as well.” A strong sense of national heritage is pervasive among Claymore’s performances; and as William expresses “it’s amazing how many Australians do have a connection to either Irish or Scottish heritage... it’s still quite strong in Australian culture. I think that’s one of the most amazing things about this great country of ours… it’s been a real melting pot”. With trails of tartan decorating his microphone stand, William teases “Sometimes I wear my kilt, but not too often when I’m playing – it’s a bit heavy and sweaty to be running around in. I think I’d fall over and shock the audience!” In summation of Claymore’s sprightly celebration, William philosophises “I just love Christmas; I can be a little bit bah humbug about the commercialism. We’re all losing track of the true meaning of it. Whether you’re religious or not, it’s still a great time of the year.” When & Where: Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong – December 18. Written by Renée N. Abbott
DESTRUKTOR BLAZE UP WITH NEW BASSIST Like a fine whiskey, Destruktor only gets better with age. 22 years since their first demo (on cassette, remember those?) and 4 years on from their second full-release Opprobrium, Destruktor are kicking back into action for BLAZE Geelong on December 7 hosted by the Barwon Club. Fresh with a new bassist, the metal trio will be belting out all the fan favourites as well as premiering new music for the first time in years. “The time has come for us to launch a new track, ‘Writhe in Pain’,” revealed vocalist and guitarist Glenn Lynch. “It has been years since we have played an unheard song live, and I look forward to playing something fresh for the maniacs. This is the first complete track for the upcoming album Indomitable, which we will record in 2020.” As well as introducing the new track, this is the first gig Destuktor are playing with their new line-up featuring fresh-faced bassist Chris McEwin, who fans may recognise from heavy metal fourpiece Nemesium. “It took some time, but we managed to get Chris McEwin on board. He was always going to help out in some way whilst we found a permanent bassist, but with the offer of playing the Krisiun gig (June
CASEY BENNETTO’S SWINGIN’ BELLA’S CHRISTMAS It’s that time of year again folks – the Christmas tree is erected, Love Actually and Home Alone are in your Netflix watch list, – along with all of the other recently added cheesy holiday rom-coms – and Christmas carols fill supermarket radios. This year instead of listening to those carols in the traditional sense, jazz it up a bit at the yearly A Swinging Bella’s Christmas event. Run by renowned musician famous for the Keating! stage show musical composition, Casey Bennetto, Swingin’ Bella’s Christmas is sure to get your bells a-ringing. “We’ve been doing it now for at least ten years in some form or another. It began as an event at the Valley Union in Trades Hall in Carlton, Melbourne and it was just a Christmas celebration at first. We’d just reengineer carols and turn them into ska songs or swing songs or whatever took our fancy just for the fun of the audience and the joy of the Christmas season,” Bennetto says. “Then we started adding originals to it and bit by bit we’ve developed it up, so the first set of the show is all Christmas originals and the second half is carols and we have special guests each year.” Taking your Little Drummer Boy, Frosty The Snowman, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer to funky-town, A Swingin’ Bella’s Christmas is far from the standard Carols By Candlelight celebrations, recruiting
2019), he stood up, and it just made sense for him to work further with us in a more permanent sense from that point.” “He has been around the traps of the local metal scene for many years, and was actually my target when I first moved to Geelong over 12 years ago,” Lynch continued. “It is great to have someone with a strong bass background playing in Destruktor. I feel things are that bit sharper and heavier than ever before, and it is only early stages with this lineup.” Despite the new line-up and the years that have passed, changes to Destruktor’s sound are ‘minimal’. “I might sing it a little bit different, might a little more dynamic occasionally, might be slightly different fill, but really, the songs have remained the same” Glenn explained. “Chris has already found a couple of tweaks that add a bit more heaviness, and is rather strong with his down picking, which will give a touch more attack at certain times.” Destruktor just one of the metal outfits headed to the BC for BLAZE Geelong, the first side-show of Ballarat-based BLAZE Festival. Featuring headliners Desecrator, The Resignators, and Demonhead. With a range of subgenres categorising the bands taking to the stage, Destruktor will be up the heavier end of the metal spectrum. To quote Lynch: “Destruktor guitars are not about mastery, but catchy, intense and/ or heavy riffs that smash you in the face continually. “In some way or another [I’m keen to see] all of [BLAZE’s acts] as I am not so familiar with these bands, (I generally stick to the more extreme end of metal). I ain’t seen Descrator in some time, and not with the new guitarist, so [I’m] keen to see what they bring now. Surely an engaging, tight, thrash attack! I am gonna float between stages and check most, if not all, bands whilst trying to stay fairly sober.” This appearance marks the start of a new chapter for Destruktor, with a new bassist closing this year, and a new album on the near horizon, and a CD release featuring their demo from 1997, 7” from 2002, and a couple of other rarities planned in the new year. Doors open for BLAZE at 5pm, December 7 at The Barwon Club. Written by Thom Devereus
upcoming show yet another example of how Frosty is fostering the metal community and local music scene. For Too Metal For Meredith, the Fall and Resist boys are putting Ballarat on the map including the up and coming outfit, Distorta on the line-up and championing regional Victoria with Blood Mountain. Melbourne band buddies Demonhead and Bunyip will all add to the chaos. “Demonhead are longstanding friends of the band for us. We were friends with Dave before he went back to Demonhead and was in Venom for a while there and when he brought Demonhead back up, we’ve done a lot of shows together and get along really well. Distorta are a local band who have a bit of a following which is great, another one that we think deserve more shows and to get out there a little more.” While the line-up for the event has certainly taken things up a notch, Fall and Resist have also taken their band to the next level having recently transitioned from a four-piece to a five-piece with the introduction of Aaron Taylor taking over What a massive two months Ballarat death Frosty’s guitar duties. metal outfit, Fall and Resist, have had. With “It’s actually a really funny story of how he came their inaugural Blister Metal Festival for their into the group. We played this show in Sydney and own promotions agency, Resist Promotions, I borrowed the amp that they had there and it died so I put the guitar down and started screaming raging havoc for the fifth year running, this time at The Tote, Melbourne, participating in and after the show, the boys turned to me and said Beyond Black and being part of the final metal ‘dude, that’s how you should be doing it. You’re so night of our Ballarat home of music Karova much better as just a front-man in a way’. So I said Lounge (RIP), the boys are just oiling their ‘there’s only one person I can think of off the top engines. Coming into December the band and of my head to fit into our tight-knit group, because agency will be delivering another stellar event, we are quite close and would be able to handle the organising and playing Too Metal For Meredith. stuff and Aaron’s name is what come up. It was an “I inherited the idea for the festival from a local easy and straight-forward transition.” As not only a front-man, promotions, and band called Wilderness from member Richard. It’s events coordinator and teacher by trade, the to complement the Meredith music festival which is primarily a music festival for blues and folk addition is certainly welcomed by Frosty, music and they thought their band was too metal freeing up not only his hands, but his time for Meredith so they put on this metal show for all to focus on growing their metal empire. of the metalheads that don’t get that recognition. At the time I played on his show and helped run it and If you think you’re too metal for Meredith, get at the time I was like, ‘do you want me to continue along to the show Saturday 14 December at this on?’ and he said ‘yeah take it and build on it’,” The Eastern. Ticket for $15 at the door. Fall and Resist front-man and Resist Promotion Written by Tammy Walters founder, Liam ‘Frosty’ Frost-Camilleri says. He certainly has built on that idea, with the
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outstanding talent from across the region to recreate and reimagine the classics. “Myself and Geraldine Quinn are the co-hosts of the evening and we have a band that consists of drums, bass guitar, keys and a little horns section of trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and all of whom are terrific players, some of whom will be known to folks all around country Victoria such as Mal Webb who is playing a lot of trumpet and trombone who has popped up in many, many outfits all around Victoria,” he says. This year the event series, which already boasts three sold-out shows for Melba Spiegeltent will see regular participants, comedy musical trio, Tripod, take to the stage for individual and group performances with their signature comedic charisma. “Over the course of the last ten years I guess those guests have been everyone from Tim Rogers from You Am I to Debra Conway and Willy Zygier to Paul Kelly has even dropped in to sing ‘How To Make Gravy’ with the band in a strange feel which caught home off guard – we did it as a rocksteady ska number but he was terrific, and Tripod are very regularly participants as they are this year and Eddie Perfect, Tim Minchan – lots of folk,” says Bennetto. In addition to Melba Spiegeltent, A Swingin’ Bella’s Christmas will be sleighing into Hepburn Springs for a special event on December 14. As a recent resident of the surrounding area, Bennetto is looking forward to sharing the joy with his neighbours. “This year the impetus was a more personal one in that I have moved, my partner and I have moved to Werona which is just 15 minutes north-west of Daylesford. We’ve just moved out nine months ago and getting used to country life but it meant when we were doing A Swingin’ Bella this year we did want to put one out here so that we could have local fun as well.” Fun is exactly what A Swingin’ Bella’s Christmas is about so unbox your Santa hats and Christmas sweaters, and in Arctic Monkey’s fashion, get on your dancing shoes – Christmas has come early! Tickets are on sale now at Oztix. Written by Tammy Walters
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BEN PRIORY UNVEILS ‘IF ONLY’ Portsmouth, UK based Ben Priory has released his second single ‘If Only’, following the release of ‘Here We Go’ in June, which received positive responses, amassing over 6,000 plays in the four months following its release.
MEADOW RETURNS IN 2020 WITH FRANKIE COSMOS, ELIZABETH AND SURPRISE CHEF AS FIRST ACTS ANNOUNCED! Much loved boutique music festival Meadow (previously known as By The Meadow) is back for its seventh year in 2020. Set to take place on March 27-29, the annual threeday and two-night celebration returns to the lush farmland hamlet of Bambra (Victoria’s enchanting Otway Surf Coast region), and has just dropped the names of three awesome artists for its first announcement. First up, punters will be mesmerised by the dizzying DIY universe of Frankie Cosmos. Three years since the New York City four-piece last toured Australia, Meadow is bringing the whirling wit of Greta Kline and co. to their humble home among the gumtrees. Taking to the stage on Festival Saturday, Frankie Cosmos will deliver a live performance akin to a publicly broadcast day-dream; drawing from
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH BLUESTONE BLUES FESTIVAL Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like music festivals. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the warm weather: hanging with friends and loved ones outside, and listening to some amazing jams... and they’re an even better way to bring in the New Year! If you’re keen to do the countdown with beers and amazing live music, but you’re looking for more of a laid back, down-to-earth, “good timey” festival where you’re not waiting in three-hour-long traffic jams just to get in, camping with thousands of 20-year-olds, traversing hundred of acres of festival ground on foot and waiting far too long in line to use portaloos, then The Bluestone Blues Festival has you covered. Hosted annually by Geelong’s own Sleepy Hollow Blues Club, this well-loved two-day festival is one of the friendliest going around, bringing quality blues musicians from across the country to our own back door – a door only 20km out of Geelong! Set up in the beautiful and vibrant Murgheboluc Reserve the community atmosphere of the festival is one of its biggest draw-cards, boasting a relaxed, happy-go-lucky vibe, making it the perfect backdrop for blues lovers wanting to celebrate New Year’s with like-minded party people, their friends, and their families. Featuring an impressive lineup of classic and original blues music from some Australian legends and emerging artists, this year’s festival is headlined
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acclaimed 2019 record, Close It Quitely, expect a flurry of both calm and chaotic two-minute bedroom pop songs – an aural degustation if ever there was one. Signifying their continued contribution to showcasing a diversity of talent which forms our thriving music landscape, leading the local menagerie of this first announcement is Elizabeth (Totally Mild) and Surprise Chef, both hailing from Melbourne. Following the release of Totally Mild’s two pictureperfect albums Down Time and Her, front-woman Elizabeth Mitchell is no stranger to the Meadow stage, having charmed festivalgoers in Bambra twice before. Returning to The Otways once again, this time as her namesake solo project Elizabeth; Mitchell and her seven-piece all-female power-house band will bless the hills with richly produced, cinematic pop. Bringing their moody shades of instrumental jazz-funk with a DIY mentality, Melbourne’s soul journeymen Surprise Chef promise to launch the Festival well and truly into the jazz-o-sphere. Influenced by soul/funk/jazz greats like Baby Huey, Curtis Mayfield and David Axelrod, their debut record, All News Is Good News, sold out the first pressing worldwide in less than a week. Now they bring the genre-pushing sound of that record and more to The
Bambra Bowl for a loose Friday night. These three acts simply mark the beginning of a carefully curated lineup set to be announced early in the New Year. The complete bill will soundtrack an immersive three-day journey through the current Australian music scene. Besides chopping its name into a punchy oneworder, Meadow hasn’t changed in vibe one bit, promising yet another three-day, two-night, oncein-a-year-time party. Grab your mates, grab your tents, stock up the Esky, and escape the rat race to the picturesque Otway Hinterlands – just 90-minutes South-West of Melbourne. A limited release of tickets are now on sale, at the discounted price of $165+BF with glamping options available, teenagers accompanied by adults can join the festivities for the first time, and children under 12 are invited to be festival goers for free. All tickets can be purchased at www.bythemeadow.com
by one of Oz’s elite blues acts: Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers. A muso that needs no introduction, his scorching style is reminiscent of Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, invoking the spirit of classic blues and soul to create superb and exciting original music. If you look at the best Australian blues guitarists of all time, Geoff Achison is without a doubt on the list. Four other acts complete an awesome NYE lineup; Brian Fraser and Dave the Bastard, Jump Cats, Nathan Beretta Band and The Detonators, in what promises to be an evening of nothing but soul, intensity and damn fine blues music. Midnight will bring a traditional New Year countdown and celebration, followed by overnight camping with a night under the stars if you wish! There’s no pressure to stay, but camping is free so there’s no harm in packing your supplies, just in case. If you did decide to pitch a tent, New Year’s Day is all about enjoying the ‘Recovery Day’, where there’s plenty of coffee, bacon and eggs, some sore heads, and four more sensational acts to take the Bluestone stage. Ease into your recovery with the talented Dog Gone South and Amnesia Blues Band. As the day progresses into the afternoon be prepared to want to have a beer and dance for the always fabulous Jimi Hocking’s Blues Machine. Bringing in the end of the festival is the Shane Pacey Trio, the national superstar and Bondi Cigars’ front man will no doubt leave you with a smile on your face and the perfect way to end your new years celebrations. Alongside the music, the good vibes, and the great company, there will be a range of hot and cold food, and plenty of beer, spirits and soft drinks to cater to all tastes. Hold off on the New Year’s resolutions for a few moments, as your main priority should be bringing in 2020 with friends, family and live music at one of the longest-running blues festivals in Victoria! Keep up to date with all the news leading up to the event facebook.com/BluestoneBluesFest/ and secure your ticket ASAP via Trybooking. com. If you’re looking for even more deets, head to www.sleepyhollowbluesclub.org.au/
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Backing up his debut release with ‘If Only’, an almost-three minute track that samples a variety of sounds from all over the globe. Opening with a slow riff played on a harp, fading in quickly before Priory’s vocals distort in and out of earshot before beginning lyrically. Slow, deeper vocals ring over an electronic drum clip, mixing with the harp to create a hypnotic sound. The harp itself was found in sample form online by Priory, himself adding the layers of instrumentation. The resulting sound is an electronic, Eastern sound that creates a psychedelic effect. Shortly after the two-minute mark, a break occurs. Seemingly gaining tempo, the bass notes stand out in this section of the song. The songs comes together again fully for the closing 30 seconds, distorted vocal notes flickering over the lead. Overall, Priory finds a catchy but darker sound for this single, each minute progressing and building the track toward the closing section that follows the break. The final vocal note hangs, a perfect closure. You can stream ‘If Only’ now. Written by Thom Devereux
TAKE A CHANCE ON MIND THE MOON Triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2014 forged an unbreakable friendship between Australian and German folk duo, Milky Chance, with their smash hit ‘Stolen Dance’ stealing the fourth spot in the countdown. Since then singles ‘Cocoon’, ‘Doing Good’ and ‘Flash Junk Mind’ have kept the boys at the forefront of our minds and it appears that Milky Chance have been thinking about us too. While the outfit took a 12-month break from the touring circuit, they did spend some time in Australia working on their third studio album, Mind The Moon, collaborating with none other than our own guitar guru, Tash Sultana, for spiritually soaring single, ‘Daydreaming’. “The first time [Tash and I] met was at Groovin’ The Moo in Australia and then we got the chance to spend some time together last year in South America which was nice because they were playing Lollapalooza Festival, as we did. There were good vibes and what is also interesting about them is that they are also totally DIY and their career took off on YouTube with all of these homemade sessions and it was kind of the same for us, so we kind of have the same history which is also very nice,” explains one half of the outfit, Clemens Rehbein. “We flew over to Melbourne and spent three and a half days in their studio and it was super nice to visit them and to see where they make the magic. But it was also tough for us because, as you can imagine,
BLUESFEST UNVEILS ANOTHER WAVE OF MASSIVE 2020 SIDESHOWS While Bluesfest is one of the festival highlights of the year, shining a light on local, national and international legends when it comes to blues, roots, soul, and rock, not everyone can make their way to the Byron Bay event. Luckily Bluesfest Touring has our best interests at heart, announcing a stack of new sideshows to accompany the 2020 event. First cab off the rank is the formidable Dweezil Zappa, son of fretboard luminary Frank and an eccentric, mind-bending musician in his own right. He’ll be bringing his iconic Hot Rats tour to Australia this April to celebrate 50 years since the release of his father’s album of the same name. Featuring a performance of the entirety of his father’s 1969 album, as well as more of Frank Zappa choice cuts and as Zappa’s first time down under since 2017, this will be one helluva show. See him at the Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne – Monday, April 13. Next up, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles will bless Australian & New Zealand with their debut tour this April, bringing along their unique soul, jazz and gospel music. A modern music creative genius and former member of Snarky Puppy, Henry’s solo gig has risen to the top, performing in cities and festivals around the world including Okeechobee,
flying from Germany to Melbourne is a long distance. For four days, we were totally jetlagged. Musically though it was a nice match. They were very openminded and they go between different genres with instrumentation like our music does, so it was very easy to work together.” Though only here for four short days, the duo not only managed to pull together a dreamy, soulbending piece, they even put down the grounds for their second single, ‘The Game’ in their Air BnB. The rest of Mind The Moon, however, was recorded between Germany and Norway. “The last twelve days of recording for the album we were in Norway very high up the coast within metres to the sea. It was a stunning place, just beautiful. Everywhere that you would look out you saw the ocean and the horizon and we were just sitting there in our off time writing and while writing we realised there were a lot of metaphors that would pop up like ‘thoughts just keep on drowning in my blue mind’ [The Rush ft Témé Tan],” Rehbein explains. “We had a great time recording the album and in the end of the process when we actually listened to all of the songs and that was the first moment where we could connect every picture of the album in one package and we were like ‘man, that’s probably the best album that we’ve done so far’. We were so happy with how it turned out.” Australian audiences will be able to hear some of the tracks from ‘Mind The Moon’ live when Milky Chance return down under for Falls Festival, hopefully bringing their Australian festival experience full circle with a special guest appearance. “I don’t want to tell too much but if Tash is around she will definitely jump on stage, hopefully. That’s the plan for now, never know what happens. But there is a slight chance. Australia is the first stop for us touring this album so we’re very excited! I’m already nervous!”
chord, but soon realised that playing other people’s songs wasn’t for her. “I felt like, why waste time learning someone else’s songs? It was easier writing my own music. I remember I made my own version of a Vines song from tablature. I learned that and made my own guitar solo,” she says. “Now when I write songs, I do it instrument by instrument. I’ll program drums and work on it for hours. It can be very difficult but it fluctuates. I love it when the inspiration comes.” With her lyrics, Hopes usually digs deep into her life experiences to help formulate some groovy songs. “It’s usually personal experiences. I’ve been trying to be more poetic and look outside the box. I’ve been drawing on poems a fair bit lately. “Quite a few of my songs have really started out with joke lyrics almost. I don’t think anything is really off-limits writing-wise. I love Australian suburban imagery.” Unify will be a chance for Hopes and the band to re-focus after the Christmas period, but don’t expect anything but a ‘balls to the wall’ performance. “We will definitely have the cobwebs dusted off by Unify,” she laughs. “And you can expect some awkward stage banter too. Sometimes I nail it and sometimes I don’t.”
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Sophie Hopes from indie rock band Tired Lion is a woman on a mission. Having recently moved to Brisbane to re-stoke the creative fires and get a definite change of scene, Hopes and her band will soon front up for Unify Gathering in January. Hopes hails from Perth but made the move after a stint in Melbourne where she grew tired of the music scene. “I’ve lived here [Brisbane] for about a year. It sort of feels like the new Melbourne. I’ve been catching up with all the cool local bands and it really does seem to be a good scene here.” Hopes picked up a guitar at 12 and learned her first
Falls Festival tickets are still available for the Lorne leg so grab your New Years passes at fallsfestival.com Written by Tammy Walters
Electric Forest, North Sea Jazz and Love Supreme Festival. If you like funk, you’re in for a treat on Wednesday, April 8 at 170 Russell, Melbourne. Taking on Melbourne’s Howler on Wednesday, April 15 will be Aussie born bassist and songwriter Tal Wilkenfeld. Having spent the bulk of her career playing with veteran rock musicians like Jeff Beck, Prince, Herbie Hancock and Eric Clapton, Wilkenfeld is no stranger to the limelight. Dropping her vocal debut album ‘Love Remains’ earlier this year, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts on the first week of its release, it’s her solo works that stand out the most! We’d recommend saving the date for this show. Having influenced the likes of Four Tet and Jamie xx, get your dancing shoes ready for some bangin’ Afro-pop beats from Amadou & Mariam in Melbourne on Tuesday, April 14. With a musical relationship that dates back over 45 years, the duo have managed to joyfully combine their love story with a musical career while becoming discreetly but surely, the most famous ambassadors for Malian music and African music, all around the world; a golden status that they carry with brio and playfully challenge with each new album. This one goes down at Melbourne’s Recital Centre. Rounding out this wave of announcements, The Allman Betts Band will be celebrating 50 years with a show at Corner Hotel in Melbourne on Monday, April 13. The band’s debut album, Down To The River, is one of 2019’s most celebrated blues releases, and with talents such as Devon Allman and Duane Betts leading the group, this will be an absolute spectacle. What an announcement! The latest sideshow announcement follows on from previously announced tours including Brandi Carlile, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Eagles of Death Metal, George Benson, John Mayall, Larkin Poe, The Marcus King Band, Morcheeba, Patti Smith and Her Band, Walter Trout and The War and Treaty.
FINNEAS
You may know him in reference to his global sensation of a sister, Billie Eilish, and their collaborative efforts and music world takeover this year. You may have seen him accompanying her live as her guitarist and pianist. You may even know him for his solo material. In whatever capacity you know him in; Finneas O’Connell aka FINNEAS is definitely on your radar. 2019 has seen the release of Eilish’s recordbreaking debut album, ‘When We Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?’ as co-written and produced by O’Connell, viral meme’s spawning from ‘Bad Guy’, globetrotting tours, standout Coachella and AMA performances, six Grammy Award nominations including Album of the Year, collaborations with Jack White, the debut solo album release for ‘Blood Harmony’ and the release of Eilish’s ‘everything i wanted’. To say the year has been intense is an understatement, but O’Connell is in good spirits. “I feel very fulfilled and I feel very excited to be writing new music and telling more stories,” O’Connell says. “We didn’t necessarily ask to be famous, we asked to have our music heard, and fame is like a side effect and so sometimes it makes you feel unwanted which is a scary feeling because you think ‘I don’t know how to turn this off and I don’t know how to stop people wanting to take photos with me at the airport’. Maybe I’m feeling depressed and I don’t want to disappoint people and those feelings can be stressful but you just have to kind
For more information and ticketing deets see bluesfesttouring.com.au
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UNIFY Gathering takes over Tarwin Lower between Thursday, January 9 and Sunday, January 12. Expect a cracker of a performance from Tired Lion, and grab your tickets now via www.unifygathering.com/tickets/ Written by Chris Michaels
of remember the benefits are higher than the cons. We’re trying our best.” Thankfully, O’Connell is in the right industry to express his emotions, honing all of it into his songwriting. Upon listening to ‘Blood Harmony’ you will be smacked in the face with O’Connell’s raw take on the implications of fame, particularly notable on opening track, ‘I Lost A Friend’ with line, “you’re making a little too much money to be 20 and sad”. “It’s just a sad group of songs really. I’m super happy but when I wrote that line there were great things happening to me then and one of the issues is when you don’t think you have any place to be complaining about things because there’s so much great stuff happening to you and you’re like ‘who am I to complain, people have real problems’, but it’s always good to talk about how you’re feeling no matter the situation you’re in. [Songwriting] is the best form of therapy in the world. I go to therapy too and I think a lot of the time the music that I have made is more therapeutic than going to therapy,” he laughs. That content further spawns from finding his individual voice as a solo artist. While the sibling collaboration works seamlessly to enhance Eilish’s performer identity, O’Connell had to adopt a solo dynamic for Blood Harmony, which proved more challenging. “When Billie and I work together she brings so much to the table and she has such great opinions and ideas and I’m trying to make something that she loves and I think when it was just me trying to make music that I’m making music for myself that I have to feel really passionately about, I was actually like, ‘well do I love this? Is this who I am? Am I being honest? Am I telling the truth?’; it was kind of a stressful process.” A process that he is slowly getting used to, writing constantly for both projects with 2020 looking good for both Billie Eilish and FINNEAS fans. “There will definitely be a lot more music in the next 12 months!” Release: Blood Harmony is out now. Written by Tammy Walters
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WWW.MATTHEWBENTLEY.COM.AU 28
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2020 party
GLITTER GANG +DJ’S JIM DANZA & BRIAN’S RETRO PARTY SET
TICKETS $35
INCLUDES FREE DRINK ON ARRIVAL +GOURMET FINGER FOOD (FROM 7.30-9.30PM)
Buy tickets at the venue or via iwannaticket.com.au 03 5221 3707 | 158 McKillop St, Geelong FORTÉ 729
@elephantcastlegeelong 29
l e t o H y a u q T o r th J a n 1 1 t a S out now via thebeautifulgirls.com 30
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summer eats Summer hasn’t truly arrived until you’ve licked the salt off hot-chip fingers at the beach, dripped melting ice cream into the crook of your arm, breathed in smoky barbecues and clinked glasses over a sinking sun at one of the region’s finest establishments. You’ve not a care in the world besides finding that new summer hangout and staying there. Well we’re here to help. By combining our love of the region with our love of food, we’ve narrowed down some of the best places to kick back in the sun and enjoy good friends, good food and good wine (or beer, or both) this summer. We’ve done all the work so you don’t have to. Enjoy... You can thank us later.
spring roll, grilled pork and lemongrass beef), and hearty serves of pho filled with so many flavours, there’s something for everyone with any appetite. If you’re up for a feast, take your pick from a range of delicious starters including popcorn cauliflower, sticky Korean rice cakes with red dragon sauce and indulgent chargrilled chicken ribs.
PHOLKLORE Often coined a winter dish (the perfect comfort food in the midst of a chilly winter night), for reasons that remain elusive, a bowl of pho is undeniably refreshing in the summer. Is it the homeostasis caused by the inevitable sweating? The magical mix of root vegetables and spices in the broth? Or, the cool, crisp garnishes on top? The real answer is probably all of the above, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter why. A perfect summer food, the Vietnamese soup varies wildly from venue to venue, with variables such as stock, noodle consistency and accompaniments influencing every choice but in the end it all comes down to the slurp. And that’s the slurp from the pho that’s front of you right now... and for us, that’s at Pholklore. Located in the cool coastal town of Torquay, next door to Bomboras, this place is overflowing with chill ocean-side vibes, lots of people and of course, delicious Vietnamese street food. With a menu boasting a mix of pho fusion, rice paper rolls, spring rolls, bun bowls (available in veggie
Some of our favourite mains worth mentioning include the Pho Bo – a rare beef and brisket rice noodle soup that hits the spot any time of the day; the Bun bo Hue Chay – a spicy vegetarian and vegan dish; and the Pho Laksa, which is just a delicious melting pot of Vietnamese and Malaysian flavours with a seafood broth. You can even make your choice of mushroom and tofu, chicken or seafood. It’s absolutely pho-nomenal! Pholklore has also become a go-to in Torquay for vegan meals, with the vegetable stir fry and the lemongrass tofu rice paper roll being the perfect starter, or the mushroom and tofu Pho chay and the vegetable Miso Pho if you’re feeling extra hungry. While the food is definitely something to rave about, we’re also loving their drinks menu. Alongside the usual suspects (local and Vietnamese beers, soft drinks and wine), Pholklore have truly embraced the cuisine and have introduced pho-inspired cocktails. From the Hendrick Lamar to the Pho White to the Tom Mary Bloody Yum, there’s no meat in these creations but the aromatics of the famous dish remain: cinnamon, Vietnamese mint, Thai basil, tom yum and fresh coriander, plus some generous splashes of gin, white rum and vodka for good measure. We would definitely recommend getting down to this place for a huge feed with your friends this summer! Add this to your list of places to eat, you won’t regret it… it’s pho good! Pholklore is open Monday to Thursday from 5pm, and Friday to Sunday from 12pm. Walk-in only at 38 The Esplanade in Torquay.
KAIJUBEER FORTÉ 729
KAIJUBEER.AU 31
VIETNAMESE STREET FOOD 38 The Esplanade, Torquay Open 7 Days www.pholklore.com.au #PHOLKLORE
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LIVE MUSIC. GREAT FOOD. OPEN ROOF. COLD BEER.
PHONE. (03)
5261 2001
WEB. torquayhotel.com.au SOCIAL.
torquayhotel
GROVEDALEHOTEL.COM.AU 1300GROVEDALE (1300 476 833)
WEB. PHONE.
GROVEDALEHOTEL
New ownership has meant huge changes as we continue to take our local icon into a new realm of dining, events and entertainment.
We are still taking bookings for Christmas functions and events — get in before it’s too late! (03) 5254 2201 A. 1 Bridge Rd, Barwon Heads W. barwonheadshotel.com.au barwonheadshotel P.
Enjoy the sun in our cozy beer garden overlooking the beach with great food and a glass in hand. FORTÉ 729
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GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL TO HOST CHAMPION BREWERIES IN 2020 Is anything in life more perfectly matched than a frosty, perfectly poured pot of the amber nectar on a hot day? No, we don’t think so either! While there are plenty of ways to try out new beers, nothing will give you the sheer variety and volume of new beer like attending the Great Australian Beer Festival (GABF) when it returns to Geelong in January next year. Now entering its eighth year with a new home at iconic Johnstone Park, the Great Australian Beer Festival (previously held out at the Geelong Racecourse) attracts a crowd of around 5000 for an afternoon of craft beer tasting and education, brewing demos, top local food and live music, with breweries attending from around the country, including more than a dozen from the Geelong region alone! With an explosion of new styles, collaborations and experiments in recent years, the Australian craft beer scene is creating more enticing brews than ever. In creating the ultimate boulevard of beers, this year the GABF (aka beer lover’s paradise) is raising the bar and will be featuring all four 2019 Australian
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International Beer Awards (AIBA) Champion Australian Breweries. This includes Gold Coast brewery Balter, who took out the Champion Large Australian Brewery trophy; Queensland’s Green Beacon who have earned the Champion Medium Australian Brewery title; Manly’s 4 Pines Brewing Company who took out the Champion Australian Beer award for their Keller Door: Schwarzbier; and local legends Blackman’s Brewing who took out Champion Small Australian Brewery. As a festival that attracts breweries from around the country to showcase their brews, alongside the growing number of regional breweries throughout Geelong, Bellarine and the surf coast regions, GABF is making good on their promise on bringing good, flavoursome, and creative beers to the masses with these champions! “To have one or two champion brewers attend is a coup! To get all four to feature at our 8th annual fest is sensational,” says GABF Festival Director, Michael Ward. “These breweries have been recognised and awarded at the largest annual beer competition in the world and to have them in Geelong is a real honour.” Alongside these champions, the GABF will host forty-one breweries, including the likes of Young Henry’s (NSW), Modus Operandi (NSW), Stone & Wood (NSW), Exit (Vic), Mountain Goat (Vic), Hawkers (Vic), Bridge Road (Vic), Bricklane (Vic), Prancing Pony (SA), and Coopers (SA) – just to name a few! GABF overflows with fun, from the moment you set hands on your tasting glass, ‘til the time you’re tipping back your last beer of the day! Celebrate and party with your community while sampling hundreds of new brews from all over Australia. Before you know it, you’ll be jamming along with the live music (Sneaky Sound System, Kim Churchill and local bands The Kite Machine and The Run), snacking on delicious food, and learning a thing or two at the masterclasses.
YOU’LL NEVER REGRET A QUICK DETOUR TO THE CHEESECAKE SHOP
SOAK UP THE SUN AT PISTOL PETE’S FOOD N BLUES
Since its beginnings in Ancient Greece, the humble pairing of cheese and cake has evolved over the centuries and rightly found its place on menus and in bellies around the world… and we cannot go past the particularly indulgent, cheesy masterpieces from The Cheesecake Shop.
Geelong’s premier Southern food and Blues venue Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues have expanded their license into their courtyard just in time for Summer! You can now take your favourite moonshine cocktails or local beer in the sun, and why not pair it with some of the new menu items?
With two stores in Geelong, one in Leopold and one in Belmont, you’ll find a number of enticing creations like blueberry cheesecake, a French glaze vanilla continental cheesecake, Mississippi baked cheesecake, and the holy grail of dessert with an American baked cheesecake. Your grandmother will have to forgive us, but it truly is the best cheesecake.
Introducing Gatorbait – friend chicken or soft shell crab (or both!) on a bed of Cajun fries topped with hot Gumbo soup. For those wanting pork, Pete’s new Biscuits and Gravy features savoury American biscuits heaped with creamy pork Sawmill gravy.
To celebrate the creamy, comforting dessert (because why not?), we’ve teamed up with these cheesecake legends for one damn fine offer. There’s a special voucher* in this issue (flick to page 37) that gets you $10 off any full-size cake! This means you can waltz into the shop and score that mouth-watering American baked cheesecake for just $19.95. Not bad hey? This promotion ends on January 26 2020 so schedule your dinner parties, high teas and literally any other dessert-worthy occasion ASAP. You can find The Cheesecake Shop at 112A Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont, and at the Gateway Plaza Leopold (621-659 Bellarine Hwy).
It all goes down at Johnstone Park, Geelong CBD – January 18, from 1pm-8pm. Limited first release tickets are on sale now via www. gabfgeelong.com.au/
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Feel free to mix and match your favourite Delta delicacies: fries and gravy, jambalaya balls, cheesy fries – the possibilities are endless. Plus don’t miss live music every week, from Chicago blues and soul to country and western. Stay tuned at www.pistolpetesfoodnblues.com. au for the latest in exclusive events and offers. Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues is located at 93 Little Malop Street, Geelong. Written by Thom Devereux
14-15 March 2020 melbourne showgrounds
T H E M U S I C A N D B A R B E C U E F E S T I VA L - T W O D AY S O F -
Featuring Australia’s biggest smokers and authentic low and slow barbecue
t i c k e t s o n s a l e n o w a t w w w. m e a t s t o c k . c o m . a u
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COLAC - OPEN NOW
Shop 9, 66 Queen Street, Colac, Victoria 3250 - (03) 5231 1698
GEELONG WATERFRONT 6-8, Eastern Beach, Geelong, Victoria 3220 - (03) 5222 5269
NORTH TORQUAY
Shop 6, 222 Fischer Street, Torquay, Victoria 3228 - (03) 5261 5562
WAURN PONDS
Shop 406, Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre, 173-199 Pioneer Road, Victoria 3216 - (03) 5244 3955
LARA
Shop 2, 9-25 McClelland Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 - (03) 5282 3003
WARRNAMBOOL
Shop 9, Cnr Gateway Road & Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280 - (03) 5562 0000
YARRAVILLE
30 Wembley Ave, Yarraville, Victoria 3013 - (03) 9314 5066
LEOPOLD (NOW OPEN)
621-659 Bellarine Highway, Leopold, Victoria 3224 - (03) 5248 4607 Delivering to Curlewis, Oakdene Estate, Leopold and surrounding suburbs.
OCEAN GROVE - OPENING SOON ORDER ONLINE: TOWNANDCOUNTRYPIZZA.COM.AU 36
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SOUTHERN + LOUISIANA KITCHEN
PRESENT THIS VOUCHER BY JANUARY 26TH 2020 TO THE CHEESECAKE SHOP BELMONT 5244 0300 THE CHEESECAKE SHOP LEOPOLD 5250 3464 *Offer ends 26-01-2020. Purchase and pick up any full size cake from $29.95 and receive a $10 discount off the purchase price. Offer not available for midi size cake, vegan or gluten free cake purchases. Not to be used with any other offer. One offer per person and only to be used once.*
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JOE CAMILLERI & THE BLACK SORROWS SUNDAY 29 DEC
RAILED FRIDAY 27 DEC TO 3 JAN
KATE CEBRANO SUNDAY 12 JAN
TEX PERKINS & MATT WALKER THURSDAY 16 JAN
ADULT EVENT ^
THE LISTIES MAKE YOU LOL! FRIDAY 3 & SAT 4 JAN
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN AND UNCANNY XMEN SUNDAY 5 JAN
YUMMY DELUXE TUESDAY 14 JAN SUNDAY 19 JAN
ROSS WILSON & THE PEACENIKS FRIDAY 24 JAN
FAMILY EVENT ^
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STREET & MURAL ARTISTS ON SHOW Humourous, captivating, sometimes disturbing, and heavily engaged urban frescoes adorn the walls of cities worldwide. Street art covers almost every nook and cranny of our creative and colourful region (mainly Melbourne, but we have our few special go-to spots), and checking out every little bit of these vibrant artworks is one of our favourite things to do when pounding the pavement. If you’re a fan of exploring the creative side of street art, but maybe don’t have enough time to venture across the countryside, The V I V I D C O L O U R Exhibition is just for you! Curated by Newtown fine art studio Bells Fine Art, the exhibition is showcasing the talents of street and mural artists for the first time in a gallery setting. The free exhibition (currently at Geelong Arts Centre until December 13, before moving to Torquay at the end of the month), features 21 works from three local and interstate artists, who usually paint on walls and on street corners but have cleverly converted their work into a gallery setting. In curating this exhibition, the team at Bells Fine Art has selected artists not only for their talent and their impressive use of colour, but mainly to support artists who have experienced hardship to overcome challenges and have been inspired by the dramatic impacts of their upbringing. “Bells Fine Art is a socially-conscious art studio and we are committed to supporting artists who have
been impacted by poverty or family violence or have a significant social or political opinion that influences their work,” curator Belinda White explains. Silly Sullys (@sillysullys on Insta) is an impressive and well-known Melbourne and Geelong street artist, who uses neon aerosols to create dynamic imagery using animals, mainly husky and dingos as his muses. Sully was impacted by childhood poverty, abuse, and family breakdown and has overcome this to become an impressive street and mural artist in his own right. He has a newly finished work, the face of a werewolf that is situated at the Malthouse in Geelong. Joining Sully’s works in the exhibition, Brian Connolly (@brianconnollyart) will draw you in with the most whimsical and beautiful art that sends a message of hope to save our vulnerable mother earth. The Melbourne-born, Byron Bay artist is deeply inspired by nature and is adept at capturing important topics such as the impacts of climate change, protecting our natural world and the mental health campaign “Are you Okay?”. “My works are greatly influenced by the impact that the fast pace of society places on every individual,” Connolly says. “Climate change, natural disasters and the fires that are currently raging in the area I live in, just exemplifies the purpose and message in my works. My work is designed to connect people back to the earth and the life-source that feeds us every day, and to remind us just how vulnerable mother nature is.” Rounding out the huge lineup of talent is local pop culture artist Luke Elphick (@lukeelphickart) who will be on show demonstrating his brilliant use of colour and dynamic interpretation of art through the pop culture lens. The best part about Luke’s take on art is that he likes to add humour into it, by turning regular and mundane items into something exciting and a little bit cheeky. It’s relatable, super clever and we absolutely love it. The V I V I D C O L O U R Exhibition will run until December 13 at the Geelong Arts Centre and from December 27 2019 – January 26 2020 at the Torquay Town Centre.
SHARKBANZ: THE WEARABLE SHARK DETERRENT Here at Forte, we get to review some pretty cool things, from music, movies, and comics to pretty much, well, everything. Every once in awhile, though, something comes across the desk that leaves us scratching our heads. Not in a bad way - more of a “how come no one has ever thought of this before?” kind of way! Sharkbanz is a nifty invention from the brains of co-founders Nathan and David Garrison. After spending years surfing in murky waters, wondering what lurks beneath them and reef diving with sharks, they came up with the Sharkbanz concept. The idea was to create a more secure, effective type of deterrent against the large, chomp-happy predators they share the ocean waters with. Collaborating with marine biologists, they looked for a technological solution to satiate their desire for extra security and peace of mind. They’ve been open about their overall goal, stating that they aim to “develop simple, effective and affordable strategies
to reduce the risk of a shark bite - providing peace of mind and protection to every beachgoer, swimmer and surfer around the world while also promoting marine conservation and education.” The result from this collaboration and extensive research was the titular Sharkbanz, which uses a patented magnetic technology developed and refined by the marine biologists to deter the predatory denizens of the deep. The idea is that the powerful, permanent magnets within the bands can overload the sharks’ electroreception, which is the ability that sharks use in murky and dark water to navigate and find their prey. While using this capability the sharks are looking for small electromagnetic indicators, e.g. heartbeats, muscle movements, etc. from their prey. By using the powerful magnets within the bands, the marine biologists have created a strong electromagnetic presence that is far larger than anything the shark will have ever encountered within its natural habit. This will create highly unpleasant feedback for the shark and convince it that the wearer of the Sharkbanz is not prey. Because this technology uses inbuilt magnets, an especially cool feature is that the field will always be active, and the contents of the band will never require recharging or battery changes. Sharkbanz has already made a name for itself as a key item for many beachgoers as their Instagram and website boasts a range of high complimentary testimonials and reviews with an outstanding 4.8 out of 5-star rating. While I hope to never actually need the band, if you are like me and would like a little bit of extra peace of mind (as well as a sense of protection) as you step out into the murky waters, this product is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of a shark encounter. Visit www.sharkbanz.com.au/ Written by Adrian Aloi
LAB will encourage young people to experiment and learn from leading arts professionals and connect with a community of young people through a series of workshops, classes, holiday programs and research initiatives. EMERGE will give time, space and support for artists to explore ideas and develop their creative practice – with Platform Youth Arts to offer studio spaces and leadership programs for emerging artists. The organisation will also provide funded creative development opportunities to support performance makers to create and present new work. Expressions of interest are now open.
A NEW PLATFORM FOR GEELONG YOUTH ARTS The New Year is fast approaching and that means it’s the perfect time for new opportunities. One such chance is for Geelong’s arts community, which welcomes a new era for Geelong with a fresh platform for youth arts. Platform Youth Arts will champion a new generation of thinkers, makers, risk-takers and agitators with a brand-new program of events, exhibitions, performances, mentorships, residencies and workshops. Formerly Courthouse Youth Arts, the name change and new program solidifies their position as one of Geelong’s most dynamic arts organisations – and the platform for youth arts and emerging and experimental arts practitioners in Geelong.
The IGNITE program will see Platform Youth Arts present an exciting array of performances, exhibitions and festivals – including performances from Platform’s soon-to-be-announced 2020 Companies in Residence, an evolving program of visual arts exhibitions to be housed in the Platform Gallery and more… “Platform is the perfect name for our dynamic, multi-artform organisation and a great indicator for the plans we have for the future,” says Alison Harvey, chair of Platform Youth Arts board. “In 2020, we’ll be hosting workshops, residencies, mentorships, performances, festivals and other funded opportunities – and will be the platform for young people in Geelong to creatively express and explore their artistic talents.” For further information, visit www.platformarts.org.au
From 2020, three program streams – LAB, EMERGE and IGNITE will foster a creative and inclusive community of artists creating new works at the heart of Geelong’s cultural precinct.
Meet
Orby!
Go on a free augmented reality journey with Orby and learn more about Geelong Gallery artworks these school holidays.
A free self guided tour Children must be accompanied by an adult Suitable for ages 4 to 10 years
Program partners
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BEHIND THE LENS WITH BRITTANY LONG Here at Forté, we get to report on all the latest live and local music, and part of that is bringing you photos of these bands in action. This time we’re looking behind the lens. Brittany Long has let nothing stop her during her journey as a live music photographer, not even her wheelchair. Brittany took her first live photo in August last year, starting with a small Sony camera at a P!NK show, during her Beautiful Trauma tour. “I’d never shot live music before and it was honestly never even something I’d ever contemplated doing,” she recalls. “I had tickets to the final Melbourne show of P!NK’s Beautiful Trauma tour and decided to take my small Sony camera along. I’d heard that P!NK’s show was something else and wanted to capture a few photos. I’d always loved photography; in fact, it was very rare that I didn’t have a camera in my hand. “Anyway, I captured a 38-photo panorama of P!NK lit by phone torches and to this day it is still one of my favourite photos I’ve ever taken,” she explained. “Her gig was what made me fall in love with music photography. There was just something about it. The lighting, the atmosphere, the unity and the key thing being the passion.” Having now found her passion, it wasn’t long before Brittany had found her next subject. A high school friendship with Jesse Tekin of A New Way Home saw her soon photographing the band while they supported Nautical Mile during their East Coast Tour. “Without Nautical Mile and A New Way Home who welcomed me right from the start, I honestly don’t know where I’d be with my photography.
And yeah, well I guess the rest is history. I shot the show the first night and loved it so much I went back for the second show and haven’t stopped since. “There’s just something about live music photography that has truly taken my heart. I love the fact that nothing about it is posed, you never know what you’re going to get, you can’t control anything and you’re constantly having to think on your feet, looking for the light everywhere. You’re literally just being given an insight into a musician’s world and capturing them on a stage which is truly the biggest honour. Being behind a camera and shooting live music, especially in a photo pit is my happy place.” Fast-forward to present, and Brittany has photographed over 80 different live shows, including festivals, local shows, international acts and more for multiple publications. Now, Brittany’s latest project surrounds something that poses a problem to her every day: stairs. “I’m not just a stair obsessed woman. Well okay, maybe slightly,” she joked. “So basically the project arose after a friend asked me the significance of taking photos of artists on stairs. It all started with a portrait of Mallrat on some steps backstage at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, which evoked the thought that I could start a portrait series called ‘The Corner Steps’ and photograph different artists on the stairs at The Corner Hotel only. “However, I started discovering just how many venues in Melbourne had stairs and that’s where the project came to life. The idea behind my project is all about removing the negativity surrounding stairs. As a wheelchair user, stairs are typically my nemesis and something I can’t do, so this series is particularly important to me. It’s all about me taking back the power and showcasing artists in a different light. I’m also trying to raise awareness about accessibility at music venues, not just in Melbourne but Australia-wide.” Brittany has now photographed over 70 artists (the likes of which including Ocean Alley, Jack River, The Hoodoo Gurus, and G Flip) for her stairs project, with the number only growing. With hopes to publish the compilation of photos as a coffee-table book of sorts, Brittany aims to raise awareness about accessibility at music venues. “Everyone deserves to be able to enjoy live music, not just able-bodied people,” she added. “The fact is that there are a number of music venues that are not accessible at all, and it needs to change. “Often the pit is so tiny that there’s literally no way I’d be able to even fit half of my wheelchair inside it, or there are a huge set of stairs to even get into the venue itself, and that’s before I even start shooting,” she explains. “I adapt and just shoot from the barrier platform or the floor, I literally do whatever I need to do to get my shots. But it fuels the fire in me to try and make a difference.” Despite her success in photographing an array of musicians and acts, these are the obstacles in her work that Brittany faces quite regularly, with some more negative than others.
Recently, while photographing from a photo-pit at a particular venue, Brittany was told she wouldn’t be allowed to keep her spot because she was a ‘safety hazard’, despite having all the necessary passes and accreditations. “Now I could’ve chosen to leave and to never go back there but what kind of message would that be sending to other people who have faced discrimination. That we have to hide away, NO! I chose to stay and go into the pit and shoot the show anyway, because if I don’t speak up and try and raise awareness about the issues I’m facing then all the awareness I’m trying to create surrounding access to live music will be in vain. “I also think there’s a long way to go in terms of people understanding what being wheelchair accessible actually means. Take a recent festival I attended for example. They had accessible matting and the location itself was flat so big tick there, they also had a wheelchair-accessible platform at the main stage. But the wheelchair platform was not even half the height it should’ve been and it was aligned directly in front of a huge pole that blocked the view of the stage, and it became obsolete,” she explains. “At another such festival, there were no disabled toilets and I had to be physically escorted into the artist compound just to be able to use the toilet.” Fuelled by her passion, for the foreseeable future, Brittany plans to continue adding to her collection of stairs photographs. “There’s really no set number of artists on stairs that I’m looking for, but one thing I do know is that it will be something pretty special when it is eventually finished and in print. I’d love to exhibit my work one day and tour with a band, but as far as any sort of ideas for a project that are set in stone I think I’ll just focus on one project at a time and see where it takes me.” You can follow Brittany on Instagram @simplyphotographz. Written by Thom Devereux First photo by Eugene Canty, Second photo by Brittany Long.
PUT “LOVE” IN THE GAP. Sometimes, there is a gap between our expectation of what a friend will do, say or act, and how they actually behave, and I’ve learned that there are a few things people can unintentionally put in that gap. Often it can be things like anger, judgement of character, or our own insecurities. Next time a friend says or does something that seems out of character or isn’t what you expect, choose to put love in the gap. Choose to believe the best of them; choose to assume they didn’t mean it that way or perhaps there is more to the story. When you choose love instead of negative judgement, you instantly become an epic friend and I promise it will save a bucket load of unnecessary heartache you will never regret it.
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THIS HOT MESS Two ways to be an epic friend...
It’s not hard to be a good friend. In fact, it’s safe to say that by default, most people are “good” friends because we often want to be good to the people we love. But sometimes when “life” changes, insecurity rears its head or we react without thinking, we can actually – without meaning too – be a bit of a shitty friend. Friendships are like most things in the way that if we aren’t intentional with them, they won’t get the best from us. So, here are two ways I’ve learned to try and be not just a “good” friend (because most people can do that), but be EPIC friend.
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COMMUNICATION OVER BITTERNESS. The other thing you can do to take your friend skills from good to epic is to choose communication instead of bitterness. With any long-term friendship, there are going to be times you disagree or hurt each other, whether it’s intentional or not. So when that sadly but inevitably happens, choose to talk to your friend about it rather than saying quiet, assuming the worst and getting internally bitter. It’s a very fast way to ruin a friendship and also let the worst of your mind run away with itself. So just choose to bring it up and have the difficult conversation. I know it’s hard, I know it’s uncomfortable, but my god it’s just so bloody necessary if you want to keep your friend for the long haul. I hope this has helped Forte crew! Learning these lessons has been a game-changer for how I do friendships and I know I’ve been able to keep some pretty amazing people around because I chose to live by these rules. So I hope they’re as helpful to you as they have been for me. Sending my love as always! Have an epic fortnight! Kim xx Follow Kim’s blog @thishotmessau
and mentoring sessions to evolve your ideas, Pause Fest is the place change-makers come together and begin making a difference. The three-day event will also see Melbourne’s own ACMI unveil its new brand, visual identity and key features. Attendees will receive a sneak peek at the cultural centre’s renovation and transformation from chief executive Seb Chan. Pause Fest is you chance to create and develop innovative ideas on how business should work in the future. More than 2000 attendees are expected to descend on Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre from February 5-7 2020 for Pause Fest. Tickets are on sale now via pausefest.com.au Written by Kim Price
PAUSE FEST 2020
FT. UENO, AIRTASKER, GIANTSTEP AND MORE The 10th installment of Pause Fest features a bumper lineup of local and international speakers leading the field in creativity and business. If you have a creative spark and are wanting to excel in the business industry, Pause Fest enables you to let your imagination run wild and be inspired by worldleaders who continue to do just that. The independent festival sees movers and shakers from Google, Adidas, Giantstep, Airtasker, Netflix, Facebook, Patagonia, Walt Disney, and MercedesBenz take to the stage to share their wealth of expertise among other high achievers. Described as the ‘Oktoberfest for business’ Pause Fest explores the theme ‘New Odyssey’ and explores
GEELONG CENTRE WonderlandARTS Spiegeltent set UNVEILS 2020 to host summerITS thrills THEATRE SEASON The Geelong Arts Centre has revealed its stellar program for 2020 combining iconic actors, international hits and astonishing acrobatics for an extraordinarily diverse Deakin University Theatre Season. With eight shows in the main season and extra six special addition performances, there is an arts experience to suit everyone, celebrating stories that need to be told by voices that need to be heard. The season is set to kick off on March 25 with David Williamson’s darkly comedic drama Family Values by Griffin Theatre Company, starring stage and screen stars Belinda Giblin and Andrew McFarlane, directed by Lee Lewis. Providing a platform for the sharing of First Nations stories is deeply important to Geelong Arts Centre, and thus the 2020 Deakin University Theatre Season
ODYSSEY FILM FESTIVAL Since 2013, all secondary schools within Geelong, Surf Coast and the Bellarine have been invited to take part in Odyssey, a film showcase of Media Studies students. Audience members are encouraged to vote for the ‘Audience Favourite’ award via a Mobile App, while peers and past participants vote on ‘Best Film’. Geelong’s Village Cinemas will host the event this Saturday, December 7.
LOST TRADES FAIR Do you like the feeling of getting your hands dirty and the joy that comes with seeing your finished product? Bendigo will host the Lost Trades Fair in 2020. In a fast-paced world, the fair was established to acknowledge and promote fine craftsmanship, lost arts, traditional skills, rare trades and decorative crafts. Bendigo Racecourse – March 7 & 8. You can watch a showreel of what’s in store through losttrades.info.
the question of ‘who owns the future?’ The three-day event tackles nail-biting questions in business and creative industries and asks you to determine how our world will build capacity for the next generation of entrepreneurs to decipher and solve critical social problems - and succeed? Pause Fest founder George Hedon hopes established and would-be entrepreneurs can take new-found knowledge away from the 2020 event. “Pause Fest was created to inspire a new wave of thinking, seeing future and doing business,” he said. “It’s not a conference - it’s a movement of new thinking and doing. “It attracts curious minds who seek change in their business and personal lives.” Major headline speakers will be chief executive UENO Haraldur Thorleifsson, Giantstep director Sungku Kang, UX director of Google Rich Fulcher and chairman of Airtasker James Spenceley. With multiple stages to access, workshops to attend
will hero two monumental productions by indigenous performers and writers. First up from June 4-7, Opera Conference will present the first major revival and 30th Anniversary production of Bran Nue Dae, the world’s first aboriginal stage musical, written by the late Jimmy Chi in collaboration with the band Kuckles. Next up, after receiving incredible accolades across the national festival circuit, Australia’s leading physical theatre company Legs On The Wall will bring original work, Man With The Iron Neck to the Art Centre from June 10-12. Written by Ursula Yovic, this is a confronting, heartfelt story about a small-town Australian family, finding hope and embracing life after trauma. Taking to the stage in early August, Shake & Stir Co. demonstrate just how enduring the themes of George Orwell’s political commentary, Animal Farm remain in a stage adaptation. Directed by Michael Futcher and performed by a cast of Queensland’s most dynamic actors, Animal Farm promises to be one of the most shocking, relevant and wickedly funny theatre events of 2020. Late August will see Geelong’s own independent theatre company Doorstep Arts and Geelong Arts Centre collaborate to present the fresh, invigorating and quintessentially Australian musical, Metro Street. Nominated for five Helpmann Awards, Best New Australian Work and Best Direction of a Musical (among others), Metro Street observes three generations bound by blood and stretched by the modern world. Revitalising and profoundly moving, it’s one to pop in the diary. There’s also an opportunity for up to three roles for local actors in this one. Auditions will be held in early 2020. Critical Stages Touring and The Belloo Creative comes to Geelong in October with Rovers - a delightful, poetic work, woven from true stories and wild schemes, while November sees winner of the 2018 Griffin Award, Suzie Millar’s, taut, rapid-fire and gripping one-woman show, Prima Facie, which exposes the shortcomings of a patriarchal justice system where it’s her word against his. The Geelong Arts Centre 2020 Deakin University Theatre Season suite rounds out with an irreverent and thrilling collaboration between Circus Oz and Geelong Symphony Orchestra, Tutti Circus. Fusing
WHAT’S ON IN THE ARTS
WAITING FOR SOMETHING BETTER These days, there are arguably no two other words that will spark such a heated conversation as ‘Climate Change’. Waiting for Something Better is a new play by Geelong’s North Youth Theatre, written by emerging artists from eight different national and cultural backgrounds that puts the focus on the impact of change on diverse communities. Free performances will take place at Platform Arts (aka Courthouse Youth Arts) on December 13 & 14.
together two dramatically different art forms, Tutti Circus treads the taut tightrope between music and silence, circus and stillness, tension and release. Six special additions punctuate the season with out-of-the-box theatre experiences – because, why the heck not?! February will see sumptuous storytelling and culinary experience with Double Delicious while April-May features a terrifyingly sexy and raucously funny tale of Jekyll and Hyde seamlessly integrating popular culture and audience interaction. The universal human tradition of storytelling through song drives the remaining four additions including: The Mission Songs Project - a faithful exploration of the musical journey of Indigenous music by Jessie Lloyd; an intimate performance by X- Factor winner and Eurovision finalist, Isaiah; Michaela Burger’s A Migrant Son – the true story of her Greek father’s migrant experience; and Jude Peel’s cabaret-style I Have a Face – a generously honest insight into mental health and adulting. “Our 2020 Deakin University Theatre Season demonstrates how storytelling is embedded in every fibre of what we do at Geelong Arts Centre,” says CEO Geelong Arts Centre Joel McGuinness says. “Whether the stories are told through song, movement or words, they are there to challenge, entertain and inspire. Most importantly though, they allow our audiences to see the world through a new lens. “We are incredibly proud to present eight outstanding productions as part of our 2020 Deakin University Theatre Season, as well as six special additions that explore important themes of cultural diaspora, mental health, women’s rights and the experience of our First Nations people.”
“HELP ME FIND MY FUREVER HOME” BUNNY. Hi, my name is Bunny and I might be a senior but I still have my youthful looks and I’m a lady that knows what I want! I’m looking for a home where I’m treated like the queen that I am. I want all the attention on me so I’d prefer not to share my home with other cats and dogs thanks. I’ll be in need of my own spot on the couch or your bed where I can curl up and snooze the day away. I’m really affectionate when I want to be but leave me alone when I’ve had enough. It’s all on my terms you see. I don’t think I’d have any tolerance for little kids, the older ones might be ok as long as I’m given my space when I need it. I don’t mind my own company but don’t forget my meals.....I’ll meow until you serve me! Microchip: 956000008426323 DAB - 45, CoGG ID: 47410 HEAD TO WWW.GAWS.ORG.AU/ TO ADOPT YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND. BY OFFERING YOUR HEART AND HOME TO A RESCUED ANIMAL, YOU’LL NOT ONLY BE ENRICHING YOUR LIFE — BUT SAVING THEIRS! TO MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND, VISIT GAWS AT 325 PORTARLINGTON ROAD, MOOLAP.
The Geelong Arts Centre 2020 Deakin University Theatre Season offers a package to suit the spectrum of arts lovers – with savings of up to 25% for subscribers. Single tickets are also available for each and every show. For more information, visit geelongartscentre.org.au Photo by Brett Boardman
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REVIEWS BY ANTHONY MORRIS
HAPPY SAD MAN
FROZEN II
KNIVES OUT
21 BRIDGES
BLACK CHRISTMAS
Australian documentarian Genevieve Bailey spent years putting together this look at five men suffering from mental illness, and her care with the topic – and her compassion towards her subjects – shows in every scene. It’s still tough going at times: with illness such as depression, bipolar disorder and PTSD there are a lot of rough times in these men’s lives, and Bailey doesn’t shy away from showing the bad with the good. Not that it’s all grim, as the men have all developed their own methods of coping (surfing while wearing outlandish clothing to raise awareness of mental health is one particularly joyful outcome). But the fact that they’ve had to come up with their own coping mechanisms points to just how big (and how overlooked) this problem is. There are funny moments and touching moments here, but there’s an underlying darkness there too.
Nobody expected the first Frozen to be as big a hit as it became. Which explains (in part) why this sequel at times feels a bit tentative: when a film becomes a surprise hit, it’s hard to figure out exactly what it is that audiences are responding to. Obviously the relationship between out-of-place and superpowered Elsa (Idina Menzel) and her feisty and devoted younger sister Anna (Kristen Bell) was central, and so it is again; living snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) was a big laugh-getter for the kids and so he’s stumbling around again. As for Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), the film makes his why-exactly-am-Ihere? status a plus, as he struggles to propose to Anna while wondering if a relationship is even what he really wants. But the story itself is a bit of a mish-mash, tying the origin of Elsa’s powers (which aren’t really explained anyway) in with her kingdom’s unsurprisingly dark colonist past in a way that works reasonably well as a story but still comes off as a bit hollow thanks to some fuzzy motivation and muddled plot points. On the plus side it looks great, the songs are strong, and the central female friendship gives the film real heart. It’s a solid sequel – just not an equal to the original.
Cosy murder mysteries have been a television thing for so long now that even after the recent success of the Murder on the Orient Express remake this spin on / salute to the genre still feels like a bit of a risk. Which is part of the point: Knives Out starts out as your typical whodunnit before throwing in enough fresh twists of its own that the real fun isn’t trying to figure out what’s going on but just sitting back and enjoying the ride. The set-up is classic rather than clever: when a wealthy author (Christopher Plummer) dies (an apparent suicide), his venal children start circling, only to find that a quirky detective (Daniel Craig) and the dead man’s good-hearted nurse (Ana de Armas) are standing between them and his estate. Much of the satisfaction here – aside from a first-class run of excellent performances (the kids include Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon and Chris Evans) – comes from the way this piles on the twists without ever cheating or getting postmodern: even at its twistiest the story is constantly moving forward rather than serving up new information via flashbacks (until it’s time to solve the mystery, of course). It’s a thoroughly engaging and entertaining ride, even if you’re no fan of mysteries.
Making it to cinemas largely thanks to the star power of Chadwick Boseman (of Black Panther fame), this crime drama turns out to be surprisingly gripping in a way the big screen rarely sees these days. In part that’s because this kind of thriller is largely a streaming thing, but if you’re able to get past the nagging feeling that this belongs on a laptop there’s a lot to like here. When a couple of smalltime criminals take on a heist that’s beyond their means, they’re having a bad night; when the cops turn up and two police officers end up dead, things get a whole lot worse. NYPD detective Andre Davis (Boseman) has a reputation for gunning down criminals, so when he’s given the cop killer case everyone knows what kind of result he’s meant to deliver. But Davis doesn’t want to live up to his reputation, and while the two killers struggle to find a way to collect their share of the heist’s takings and get off Manhattan – which Davis has had locked down – their pursuer starts to suspect that nothing about this case is close to simple. It’s an efficient, pulpy thriller with some reasonable twists and decent character development (for both the cops and crims); it almost could be a franchise.
It’s the holiday season, and most of the students are heading home from Hawthorne College. Unfortunately, some of them will be heading home in a coffin – not that Riley Stone (Imogen Poots) and her friends know that yet. But while they’re planning to get payback on a creepy frat (one member sexually attacked Riley a few years ago and got away with it) a masked slasher is murdering women one by one. Could the frat be involved? What about a misogynistic professor (Cary Elwes)? And what’s the deal with the sinister bust of the College’s founder? The slasher side of things is fairly straightforward and uninspired, especially as the (clearly edited) kills themselves are largely bloodless; where this does go hard is the political side, as the film’s full and frank feminism positions this as a clear-cut battle of the sexes. This isn’t anything new for horror – women fighting back against murderous men is pretty standard – but by making the subtext text this shifts the focus from the various murders to the frequent discussions of sexual politics and the patriarchy. That side of things is still horrifying, but it’s also nothing new to anyone who spends time online (especially on social media); this could have used less talk and more stalk.
wax wash presents
record watch
Riordan
Elvis Presley – American Sound 1969 Highlights By 1969 after the Comeback Special, Elvis was back! He checked into American Sound Studios to record what would become “From Elvis In Memphis” as well as the smash single “Suspicious Minds” The album features 20 rare and unreleased tracks from the Chips Moman produced sessions. For fans of Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis & Nancy Sinatra Available from Prehistoric Sounds in Warrnambool & The Amazing Mill Market Newcomb
STAFF PICKS TALIA • NOTHING BUT THIEVES - BROKEN MACHINE
Dec 6 | Valhalla, Geelong Dec 22 | The Barking Dog, Geelong Dec 26 | The Barwon Club Hotel - Bushfire Fundraiser Jan 2 | Alisitos, Torquay Jan 16 | Rock O’Cashel, Geelong
NATHAN • LIME CORDIALE - PERMANENT VACATION
GLENN • NIFELHEIM - SELF TITLED MATT • FRANCISCUS HENRI - DANCING IN THE KITCHEN
THOM • DESTRUKTOR - OPPROBIUM
instagram.com/riordansmusic
KIT FISTO • FIGRIN D’AN & THE MODAL NODES 42
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QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL BOASTED THE BEST COLLECTION OF DIVERSE MUSICIANS THE BELLARINE HAS SEEN IN YEARS
Queenscliff jumped to life Friday night, welcoming the first eve of the three-day Queenscliff Music Festival, now in its 23rd year. Spread across the town, the festival itself features a main arena, as well as flowing out to a handful of pubs and venues throughout the seaside town. As the festival grounds began to fill, opening acts
took to the stage, soundchecks cutting across the rush. Just 30 minutes after gates opened, Geelong locals The Sweethearts lit up Hippos Stage, bringing their soul, blues and funk to kick-off the festival vibe. Allensworth followed soon after, the warm and husky vocals of lead singer Jamie Allensworth captivating audiences. Karen Lee Lewis opened the main Lighthouse Stage, before the Welcome to Country recognised and thanked the traditional owners of the land. Mojo Juju brought an explosive act to the Lighthouse Stage, belting out tracks from 2018’s critically acclaimed Native Tongue. Joined by brother ‘T-Bone’ Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Juju was a gratifying stage presence; demanding attention and deserving it. Gate lines trailed back into town shortly before Tim Finn made an appearance on the main stage, much to the delight of the audience. Groggy-eyed crowds began to make their way back from the campground on Saturday morning, soon to be awoken by a supreme line-up of rock, blues and soul acts – and everything in between. The Bar Choir opened the Lighthouse Stage, a light-hearted act with crowd participation to get the day started. Fenn Wilson and his band took to Hippos Stage, on the back of his debut album release Ghost Heroin. Wilson’s dark, deep vocals backed by a super-group of blues youths cut across even deeper than on record when felt
WHERE: QUEENSCLIFF WHEN: NOVEMBER 22-24 REVIEWED BY THOM DEVEREUX PHOTOS BY EDWARD JAMES
FORTÉ PICK
with the vibrations that only live music can provide. 2019 Alison McKenzie Mentor Program recipient Cooper Lower performed an incredible acoustic set at Circa 1902, applauded extensively by not only the audience that spilled into the street, but by mentor Ash Grunwald. Nathan Seeckts performed his acoustic country blues set in The Pavilion supported by a single slide guitar. Complete silence signalled the caught attention of the room; Seeckts’ beautiful lyricism the highlight of his skills. Troy Cassar-Daley stole the audience from all other stages, while the full horn section of Fools rang from Hippos Stage like a beacon calling lovers of Americana rock and soul. The Ethan Farmer Band made their Queenscliff debut, appearing across three stages. Despite Circa 1902 only having a small stage, Farmer’s three-piece produced an astonishing sound. Those unfamiliar with Farmer’s guitar ability were surprised and soon entertained, his name being one to remember. Awardwinning folk duo GraceJean had The Pavilion filled with foot-tappers; their carefully constructed tunes varying from fast, ringing tracks to slow, beautiful numbers. Kicking off the evening Lighthouse Stage session, Ash Grunwald filled the marque and did not disappoint. Opening with ‘The Dolphin Song’ (making its live debut), Grunwald included songs from his extensive catalogue including this year’s Mojo. With special guests Harry James Angus (of The Cat Empire) and the horn section of Fools, Grunwald was a QMF highlight. He clearly loved being on the stage, which is exactly where he was wanted. Slamming solos, the grooviest bassist the stage had seen, and a smile the whole time made for a set that no-one wanted to end. Allensworth again bought a crowd to the Glaneuse Stage, before The Cat Empire had anyone within earshot roaring. If you thought ‘Hello’ was a killer track before, you should hear it live. QMF was sold-out for a reason this year: it was one of the best collections of diverse musicians the Bellarine has seen in years. When the sun was out, the atmosphere was perfect. Musicians and audiences merged to one; everyone was there to be entertained, or even to learn. Each person left with different tastes, strained voices and new merch.
DANDECAT Kaleidoscope Mind Independent Reviewed by Kim Price
Move into the night with ‘Kaleidoscope Mind’, the first EP from Melbourne-based groovers Dandecat. Lead singer Bridget Sharp’s rich and feminine vocals take you on a journey throughout the different stages of relationships in the five-track EP. Backed by drum-heavy and layered guitar melodies, the genrebending band send off soft-rock, jazz and pop vibes with no label yet defining the up-and-comers sound. Working together due to their love for collaborative writing, perhaps Kaleidoscope Mind’s open-ended meaning is due to each band member’s differentiation in taste and ideas. Yet, the EP comes together seamlessly and to put it simply, just flows. Dandecat has produced powerful and vulnerable songs throughout their debut EP which are both captivating and decisive. If I have to single out one song to preview, it has to be the fragile yet determined ‘Holding On’. A contrast from the other strong tracks, Holding On strips back the rock element of Dandecat in the verses to allow Sharp to tell the tale of falling head over heels for someone. But the repetitive chorus brings in the drums for a roaring and circling rock finish. For a first release, it’s exciting to know we are only hearing the beginning of what this band has to offer. Kaleidoscope Mind is a statement piece to make you stop, listen, take note and watch Dandecat’s space.
BUSBY MAROU
SPLIT FEED
PAT TIERNEY
SLEUTH
The Great Divide
Second Skin
Red Moon
Alter Ego
Warner Music Australia
Split Feed
Independent
Independent
Reviewed by Chris Lambie
Reviewed by Adrian Aloi
Reviewed by Chris Lambie
Reviewed by Alex Callan
Rockhampton-based duo Busby Marou have won fans of all ages with their accessible country-folk. The festival favourites have built on their grass-roots base to arrive – as if by stealth – to occupy a much wider platform. This, their fourth studio album has crossed the great divide between the folk fringe and headlineworthy alt-pop. Sing-along anthems roll out across 12 feelgood tracks. Thomas Busby (Queensland) and Jeremy Marou (Torres Strait Islands) share songwriting, vocal and instrumental duties. They grew up in parts of Australia ‘same-same’ but different. Making the most of similarities (musical influences and sharing the troubadour trail) they draw on the contrasting stories of their lives so far. I first heard catchy radio hit ‘Over Drinking Over You’ on a dusty road trip of my own. Struck by the obvious commercial and enduring appeal, I wondered then if I’d ever see the pair on a small stage again. Producer Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy) nails the balance between the organic and polish. You still hear two mates playing tunes by the campfire or singing along in the touring van. Their connection was strengthened further when visiting Marou’s father’s village on Mer (Murray Island). Influences of local music-making add to the mix. Lyrics reflect on love, family, life on Struggle Street, grief and hope. They build a celebratory bridge between the experiences of two worlds.
Newcastle has never been short of young musical flair, but they just keep producing more. The latest up-and-comers to hit the Newcastle scene are a four-piece alt-rock band called Split Feed, who have just released their new sophomore EP Second Skin. The standout track is ‘Dwell’. The opening line from the track begins with “Said a little too much”, which I find a little ironic as I honestly can’t stop talking about how much I like this song. From the resounding, guttural bass that forced my head to bob along, to the bright, contrasting vocals, to the anthemic, memorable lyrics, all the elements mingle together to create an overall enchanting tune. The four band members – Joe Willis, Will St Claire, Brad Mclean, and Adam Lindsay – met in high school and instantly found comradery through their shared love of music. They have spent the last few years refining their music into their own individual style. Already having had local success with booked at shows in their hometown, as well performing in both capital cities and regional areas – and even captivating audiences at Groovin The Moo – this group is definitely one to keep your eyes on.
The sophomore album by NSW singer-songwriter Pat Tierney, Red Moon eases its way into the consciousness in understated fashion. ‘The Midnight Bloom’ provides an undemanding yet inviting opening to the collection of soulful folk compositions. Easy-on-the-ear vocals tie it all together between the light and shade of subjects visited. While influences are detectable (Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Xavier Rudd), Tierney has a voice of his own – in both words and melodies. ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’ (with a Paul Simon feel) considers the rocky road of love: “If today is not an endless highway if tonight is not a crooked trail… lonesome would mean nothin’ to you at all.” The melancholy voice of Tierney’s Weissenborn guitar accompanies many a lyrical turn of phrase. On single ‘Angels’, the lap slide gently weeps in observance of mortality. It later heralds a hopeful dawn on instrumental ‘The Light of Day’. The title track leaves us with rich rootsy layers of swagger and stomp. Recording at Queensland’s Yama-Nui Studio, producer Pauli B (The Beautiful Girls, George, Bobby Alu) balances the ethereal with the earthy and honours the spaces between.
After Sleuth’s first release, I struggle to believe that I’m listening to the same act. No longer is Sleuth a melodic and sombre artist along the lines of Chelsea Wolfe. Instead, she’s closer to 1980’s Goa-Trance act Hallucinogen. Whilst most songwriters would be writing songs hoping producers will come and have the backing track to match, Sleuth has jumped two steps ahead and already made the songs with these backings, so much so it genuinely sound as if they are remixes. ‘Reach You’ opens with an ominous spoken-word approach that really give off a Pagan meets psytrance vibe with lyrics such as ‘Close your eyes, open your mind, reach for me, feel how close I am.’ By the time the hard-hitting techno beat kicks in it reminded me of Morten Granau’s remix of Neelix’s ‘Call Me’, something I found to be a hugely pleasant surprise. ‘We Could Be Art’ was the highlight for me being ruled by a much more sexy, loungey techno sound. The mysterious soundscapes would be perfectly suited for the soundtrack to any Guy Ritchie film. ‘The Wolf’ really took me by surprise due to its 90’s rave style. If it was at the start of the film Blade instead of the remix of New Order, it wouldn’t be out of place. A really cool song, although it was heavily techno-based. I did find this to be the most out-dated electronic style of all found on the EP. But that being said, I can’t believe this is the direction Sleuth has gone in and it’s a risk that has obviously paid off.
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debut album Babble. Opening with the Deep Purpleesque ‘Slow’ got the crowd into it early with looks of amazement on punters face when it got to the song’s final breakdown. ‘Easy’ and ‘Comfortable,’ both personal favourites of mine made appearances with vocalist’ Matt Blach’s manic screamed vocals matched with abrasive guitar (in Comfortable) reminding me of previous local favourites The Vasco Era. As always, I really enjoyed Baked Beans set, but it was the Babble closer, ‘Over and Doubt’ that really stood out for me this time around with its simmering riff, ambient keys, and extended singalong being truly mesmerising. Alice Ivy was the weekend’s headliner and I was really keen when I saw her place on the lineup. Being an up and coming act off the triple j circuit and hailing from the Geelong region she is well and truly an act that I’m proud to endorse. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with her set. Before I say what I want too, I will clarify that the majority of the crowd loved her with songs like ‘Chasing Stars’, ‘Kinda High’ and her collab with Ecca Vandal ‘In My Mind’ providing
LOCH HART MUSIC FESTIVAL ARE ONTO SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN: NOVEMBER 15-17, 2019 WHERE: GREAT OCEAN ROAD, PRINCETOWN REVIEWED BY ALEX CALLAN PHOTOS BY ROBYN STRATHEARN We are incredibly lucky to have the number of boutique festivals that we do in Victoria. With Kennedys Creek, By The Meadow and Hopkins Creek already being established names on the festival circuit; it’s Loch Hart currently drawing the hype as a newcomer. Now returning for their second year, Loch Hart highlighted once again that whilst they may be new
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on the scene, they are easily a worthy contender as Victoria’s best boutique festival. The site is picturesque with incredible amounts of growth (whilst the festival would now be hosting between 500-1000 punters, the room for expansion is exponential), the lineup is high calibre and the return rate of fans was huge. Within just two years it was extremely evident there are many fans who plan to return every year; and why wouldn’t they? It’s an absolute unreal time. Baked Beans were easily my highlight of the weekend. Pulling a huge crowd for the Friday night, Beans’ tore through their established brand of psychrock. Whilst most psych bands rely on distortion, ambience and low-fi components, Beans steer more towards old-school rock approaches with bouncy riffs, heavy shredding keys and huge changes in tempo. What I’m saying is, Baked Beans really define themselves on the scene by their unique sound, it’s a genuine credit to them. Showcasing a few new songs, Beans’ set was primarily tracks found on their
in his lyricism as well as being genuinely beautiful and cinematic to listen too. Didirri is a talent who will continue to push his career very far and is definitely worth checking out. I was blown away. I don’t think anyone expected Alpine to open with ‘Gasoline’ and golly, was it special. The crowd immediately jumped up and started grooving to Alpine’s impressive brand of disco-pop. Pumping through new songs such as ‘Primal’ and ‘Password’, the crowd was loving it. Utilizing their instruments in an impressive way a lot of the songs had quite intricate and off-tempo percussion which mixed with funky basslines created a perfect dynamic. Older songs like ‘Foolish’ got the crowd moving for the latenight Saturday set with lead vocalist Phoebe Baker’s theatrical stage presence commanding your attention. Thank you for having me again Loch Hart! You’re onto something special here and I can’t wait to see what it grows into in the many years to come.
the perfect festival set for most fans; personally, I was slightly let down. Majority of the set reminded me of that one friend who always changes the song halfway through because they want to listen to the next song more; the mixing was quite often out of tempo and haphazardous, however, that being said, some of the samples that were used throughout were quite bohemian and impressive. Zuma is a local act who I can really see blowing up any second now. Being the perfect mix between Ponds’ synth/dance-pop and Portishead’s enigmatic vocals, Zuma are incredible. With songs off their debut album being on display in the Saturday arvo, it seemed fans where truly in awe, in particular for songs such as the trip-hop-esque ‘Coming of Age’ which really showcases Alex Latham’s impressive vocals. Didirri was not as slow and folky as I expected and was such an incredible talent. Not that it would have been a problem if he was, just for his Saturday night set time I felt as if he may have been slightly too low-key. I was wrong. His backup band was much more ruled by shredding rock elements, which with Didirri’s slow and droney vocals provided for an amazing set. Opening with a song about his fear of hairdressers, Didirri’s music quite often highlighted his level of wit
CONRAD SEWELL JAN 30TH
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S I V A TR S N I L L CO FEB 14TH
POP
PULP
BLUES NEWS
TOO HEAVY TO HUG
WRITTEN BY ANTHONY MORRIS
WRITTEN BY ALASTAIR MCGIBBON
WRITTEN BY JOHN (DR JOHN) LAMP
WRITTEN BY PAUL S. TAYLOR
The future doesn’t arrive all at once, like someone just flicked a switch. It goes back and forth as the new ways gradually muscle out the old. Which is a fancy way of saying if you want to check out the future of cinema, now’s the time to visit your local multiplex. For most of this year – same as every other year – there’s been two or three new major films starting each and every week. But not this week: this week there’s nothing new (well, nothing major) starting. That’s because last week Frozen II hit cinemas (also Knives Out, which is great but was just counter-programming by a smaller distributor), and the Disney sequel was seen by everyone as such a sure thing at the box office that nobody wanted to put their film up against it for two weeks in a row. And after that? Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker starts mid-December, and again, it’s the only (big) movie out until the Boxing Day flood. For almost a month, if you want to see a new movie at the cinema all you have to choose from is Disney movies. And sure, if you like Disney movies there’s nothing bad about this news. They’re not even the same kind of Disney movie, so it doesn’t exactly feel like you’re being denied a choice of what to watch. But it doesn’t take much to see where this kind of thing is going. If Disney can get their film production up to, say, twelve big movies a year that can attract this kind of treatment, then we’re looking at half a month every month where the only new movie out is a Disney movie – Star Wars, Marvel, their animated titles, whatever they can get to work from the Fox catalogue now they own them too. And that only leaves half a year for every other kind of movie to get into cinemas: if other studios manage to make their own big blockbuster series – Warner Brothers with their DC movies, Universal has the Fast & Furious films, Sony usually has a James Bond movie up their sleeve – then where’s the room at the cinemas for anything else? When people (okay, it’s usually me) complain that there are too many superhero movies and fans say “there’s only like, six a year”, this is what I’m really complaining about: increasingly a certain kind of blockbuster isn’t just dominating the discussion about movies, they’re also taking over the physical space required to screen a movie to the public. It’s one thing to dislike superhero movies, or Disney movies in general, when they’re just one of two or three movies out that week: when they’re the only movie out this week, and nothing new is released the next week, and then the week after the only thing being released is another Disney movie, then pretty soon if you don’t like Disney movies you’re not going to go to the movies at all. Which is no doubt fine with Disney (and anyone else who can survive off making Disney-style movies), but if you like seeing anything else on the big screen – maybe horror, maybe crime, maybe just something that isn’t loud and colourful – this is the kind of future you don’t want for Christmas.
Hey gang! It seems like every time I blink, 2019 slips away – by the time this column is in your hands, we’ll be about a week into December, which means that the next edition of Pulp will be the last one for the year. I swear, the older you get, the quicker time slips away! Funnily enough, this week’s comic, Jeff Lemire’s Royal City, captures that feeling perfectly, with a hefty dash of melancholy to just hammer home that sense of existential dread. The first volume, titled Next of Kin, came out back in 2017, and captures the slow decline of a city and family unit that is both enthralling and confronting. Patrick Pike is a successful author, coasting after a hit novel and desperately trying to claw back a sense of creativity after publishing a manuscript that wasn’t his. His family life is no better; his marriage is falling apart, and his ageing father, Peter, is in hospital after suffering a stroke. His mother, Patti, is domineering, critical and slowly breaking down. His sister, Tara, is developing a massive real estate complex in place of a crumbling factory that threatens to put 1400 of her neighbours – including her husband – out of work, and her marriage is barely holding together under the strain. His younger brother, Richie, also works at the factory, when he’s not getting hammered or high in the local bar, or running afoul of a local gang. The Pike family is barely keeping it together. They’re also firmly tied to the past; each member of the family is being haunted by a different version of the Pike family’s youngest son, Tommy, who drowned in 1993. As Patrick returns to his hometown – the titular Royal City – after his father’s stroke, he realises that his life is at a crossroads, and no matter what decision he makes, there will be no going back. It’s difficult for me to really describe the scale of a story like Royal City. It’s both epic and intimate at the same time; there’s a strong sense of inter-connectivity and depth, while showing a deeply intimate view of the various members of the Pike family. It also seems very personal for Lemire, too; there are a number of aspects to Patrick’s story that feel like they might’ve been direct commentary from Lemire himself. I’m no stranger to Lemire’s work, but Royal City seems different to any of his other works I’ve read in that it’s far more grounded than the likes of his space opera Descender, or his forays into superherodom with the likes of Green Arrow or Moon Knight. The effort he has gone to in order to make a cast of ultimately unlikable characters so, so relatable and complex is probably one of the highlights of the book for me. Each member of the Pike family has their own set of problems, nuances and personality flaws, but you can see flashes of who they used to be coming through as they interact with each other and Tommy’s ghost. The exact circumstances of Tommy’s death are left deliberately vague, and given that I know that volume 2 (Sonic Youth) deals with that backstory I’m very tempted to pick it up and continue the Pike family’s story. It’s hard to accurately describe how Royal City made me feel, but the Pike family saga is like watching a train crash in slow motion, and it’s a truly fantastic mess. Give it a read!
We’re heading into the season of freezing snow, wearing of jaunty red jackets trimmed with white fur and burning yule tide logs. Well, we know the Australian heat makes that all rubbish, except for the jaunty red jackets trimmed with white fur, they’re everywhere! If you’re feeling overdosed by “cute”, just watch Billy Bob’s version in Bad Santa again. In December, Sleepy Hollow’s gig moved from the fourth Sunday (where it would clash a bit too much with the Bluestone Festival) and will be on the 8th of December. Our last band for the year is Tram Wreck. TramWreck is: Garry Allen - Vocals and Guitar, C.W. Stoneking, Gwyn Ashton (co-writer), Lucky Last (Jerry Spicer - Men At Work), collaborations with members of The Sharp. Greg Trennery - Bass and Vocals, Phil Para Band, HouseWreckers Blues Band, Scandal, Aliens, The Change (became Noiseworks). Ian Bull - Drums (stand-up), Blues Harp and Vocals, Phil Para Band, HouseWreckers Blues Band, POGO, Five, Stoneage Romeos, Geisha, The Movies, session player RCA & WEA, Tapestry. With a million gigs between them, the members of TramWreck decided to create a band that sounds fresh - with the energy of newcomers mixed with vast experience. TramWreck captures the era when rock collided with the blues giving birth to classic beat bands such as the Stones, Yardbirds, Beatles, Them, Animals, Easybeats to name only a few. Add TramWreck originals written in the same genre and you’re in for a howlin’ night. Tr a m Wr e c k ’s c a p a b i l i t i e s a r e recognised not only as an upbeat 60’s feel band but within the Blues scene with appearances at specific blues venues and festivals, including an appearance at the inaugural 2019 St Kilda Blues Festival, the 2019 Blues On Broadbeach Qld festival drawing national and international acts (Canned Heat USA) and finalist at the 2019 Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society Blues Challenge for a spot at the International Blues Challenge to be held in Memphis USA in January 2020. Add retro raw beat music from that thought invoking 60’s rebellious era of change and TramWreck capably moves into party atmosphere at traditional pubs, clubs and private functions. The best of both worlds. Drawing from the world of Blues, Country, and Rock’n’Roll. Imagine hearing ‘16 Tons’ followed by an invigorated version of a Johnny Winter classic. Throw in some Elvis, Rolling Stones and a couple of down and dirty TramWreck originals and everyone’s happy! TramWreck understands audiences and venues and uses its groove to generate an atmosphere, with no excessive volume, to get the audience up on its feet. Now, I also have to mention Pistol Pete’s Xmas party running on the 22nd of December from 8.30 to 11.30. It’s going to be an insane line-up: Mojo Corner, Diamond & the Blues, Gwyn Ashton, Sammy Owen, Geoff Achison, TramWreck, D Henry Fenton (USA), Derrin Nauendorf, Big Blue, Blue Sunday and Wayne Jury. This has to be well worth the $20 cover, a great introduction to the festive season. Meanwhile, plans are well in hand for the Bluestone Blues Festival over New Year, more next issue. So, TramWreck on the 8th at Sleepy Hollow and Pistol Pete’s Xmas Party on the 22nd.
Welcome to THTH, Forte’s premier source of all things heavy, hard, fast and metal. Let’s have a look at THTH’s Top 5 of 2019! 5: Hate – Auric Gates of Veles This is the eleventh studio album from modern Polish blackened death metal band Hate, and this outing is by far their strongest. Usually overshadowed by their big-name nationals (Decapitated and Behemoth) and their smaller name nationals (MGLA, who’s 2019 album Age of Excuse is nothing to write home about), Hate have risen to the top this year with a loud, driven and fascinating album complete with all of the evil and sinister tropes you’d expect, but executed with confidence and flair. Auric Gates is an atmospheric journey full of moody, winding riffs throughout along with super-precise drumming. Stand out tracks are ‘Sovereign Sanctity’ and the brilliant opener ‘Seventh Manvantara’. 4: Panzerfaust – The Suns of Perdition Chapter I: War, Horrid War This is the first chapter of the Canadian black metal band’s tetralogy and it’s a searing, abrasive and at times violent exploration of history’s horrors; such as the nuclear age, mass graves and trench warfare. While The Suns… only just meets the minimum criteria of being album with only 6 songs and a run time of just over half an hour, any longer and the sheer ferocity and pure primal black metal within would become too much to handle at once. The vocals throughout exemplify the horror of the themes within as they not only narrate the tales, but force you to feel the anguish, pain and frustration. This album is devoid of light and shade and it’s a masterpiece of art, of what pure modern black metal can be. Next issue we’ll count down the rest of THTH’s Top 5 albums of 2019!
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In other news + Good Things festival featuring Trivium, Karnivool, Parkway Drive, Enter Shikari, Thy Art Is Murder any many more will be held at Flemington Racecourse on Friday December 6. + Crowbar will be at Melbourne’s Max Watts on Saturday December 7. + Opeth will play the Palais Theatre on Friday December 13. + Obituary will be at Melbourne’s Max Watts in Saturday January 18. + Geoff Tate and his band will play Operation Mindcrime in its entirety, plus more, at Melbourne’s Croxton Bandroom on Saturday February 1. + Okilly Dokilly and Dr Colossus will be at the Corner Hotel on Saturday February 15. + Cattle Decapitation will play Melbourne’s Max Watts on Wednesday February 19.
SURFBEAT WRITTEN BY JOHN FOSS
FIGHT FOR THE BIGHT – THE RUMBLE AROUND AUSTRALIA Last Saturday it was on again. Surfers and beach lovers around Australia came together in their tens of thousands to protest against plans by Norwegian company Equinor to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight. Saturday’s National Day of Action followed a rolling series of protest paddle outs earlier in the year that drew tens of thousands of people to beaches right across the country. The rallies were held in opposition to Norwegian fossil fuel giant Equinor’s plans to drill one of the world’s deepest and most remote oil wells out in the Bight. Saturday’s National Day of Action saw rallies take place on beaches right around the Australian coastline between Exmouth in Western Australia and Townsville in Queensland. Coastal communities will gather on some of Australia’s most iconic beaches including Bondi, Manly, Bells Beach, Byron Bay, Margaret River and Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Equinor’s Environment Plan is currently being assessed by offshore oil and gas industry regulator NOPSEMA. The EP for the project was rejected for a second time on November 8, and Equinor were given a further 21 days to resubmit further information. If approved, Equinor plan to drill an exploratory well in late 2020. Torquay surfer Damien Cole of the Surfrider Foundation Australia led the initial round of paddle out protests in March and coordinated Saturday’s National Day of Action: “What we saw with the paddle outs wasn’t ‘radical activism’; it was the people of the Australian coast drawing a line in the sand and saying no. These are coastal communities whose way of life is being threatened by a large fossil fuel company. The paddle outs had everyone from young kids to people in their seventies, surfers and non-surfers alike, and there was an incredible feeling out in the water. What we’ll see on Saturday is as much a celebration of Australian life by the beach as it as a protest against Equinor.” When you think about it 55 rallies around Australia on one day attracting over 30,000 participants should send a signal to NOPSEMA, EQUINOR and the government that drilling for oil in crazy dangerous waters hundreds of kilometres off land is just a risk too big to take. Coming into summer more and more people are heading for the coast to enjoy our fantastic beaches and catch a wave. It would be a great shame if these beaches were covered in black sludge… all because our politicians and the Australian regulator valued profit before people.
+ Download Festival featuring Deftones, Carcass, Testament, In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and not much else, will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Friday March 20. + Blacken Open Air festival will be held over Easter weekend, 2020. Easter Sunday will be April 12. Handy to know if you’re looking for cheap flights to NT well in advance. + Iron Maiden will play Rod Laver Arena on Monday May 11. + Check out this edition’s of THTH’s Spotify playlist by searching for playlist: THTH727 or by searching spotify:user:TooHeavyToHug
If you have any news about local metal bands, shows or albums, let THTH know by emailing to tooheavytohug@ hotmail.com or get in touch via Twitter at @TooHeavyToHug
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THE GUIDE THURS 5TH
BEAVS BAR: ANDY FORSTER
THE BERGY SELTZER: SHOTA’S JAZZ TRIO THE EASTERN: HAP & BRODIE’S GUILTY CHRISTMAS
EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ
THE ESPY: RILEY CATHERALL FORUM MELBOURNE: SIX60
GOLDEN VINE: SHARKBITE PRESENTS EURIFFKA! MURPHYS: THE DRUNKEN POACHERS PISTOL PETE’S: JAM NIGHT
SPHINX HOTEL: ISAAC BUTTERFIELD – WHY SO SERIOUS?
VALHALLA BREWING & TAPROOM: METAL NIGHT WORKERS CLUB GEELONG: SOLO SESSIONS FRI 6TH
LAMBYS: BEDROCK, NICK TABONE, LIAM BLACKWELL
THE LOST ONES BASEMENT BAR: TIM MCMILLAN & RACHEL SNOW
THE LOST ONES BASEMENT BAR: RILEY CATHERALL
MAX WATT’S: THAIBOY DIGITAL + SUICIDEYEAR
MANCHESTER ARRMS HOTEL: MASON BOYS
WORKERS GEELONG: STAR WARS TRIVIA
MT DUNEED ESTATE: A DAY ON THE GREEN – ELTON JOHN
THURS 12TH
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: PSUEDO MIND HIVE
PALAIS-HEPBURN: ROSS WILSON & THE PEACENIKS PIANO BAR: LADIES LUNCH
PISTOL PETES: SWEET FELICIA & THE HONEYTONES
CORNER HOTEL: MIAMI HORROR CROXTON BANDROOM: SIX60
THE EASTERN: ZEITGEIST FREEDOM EXCHANGE EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJS
THE ESPY: RAUL SANCHEZ, THE FREES & BONNIE MERCER
GOLDEN VINE: FRANKLY WINEHOUSE – BENDIGO SEASON GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL
THE ESPY: SNAKE VALLEY
SPHINX HOTEL: MOVEMBER SHAVE OFF
SPHINX HOTEL: BABBA – XMAS BREAKUP SHOW
BARWON CLUB: GMCC PRESENTS AMERICANA, TIM HENWOOD
BLOOM: FLEXHIBITION
THE LOST ONES BASEMENT BAR: LITTLE LION DISTILLING CO
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: AUGIE MARCH
THEATRE ROYAL: YOU AM I, JEBEDIAH
SUN 8TH
FRI 13TH
THE EASTERN: MICK PORTER, JEROME KNAPPETT, FIZ EUSTANCE EDGE: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ
PISTOL PETE’S: SWEET SOUL SESSION FINAL
THE FOX AND THE HEN: SUNDAY SESSIONS
GOLDEN VINE: BLACKTHORN & COLONEL VIPERS WHIPSTICK BAND
THE ROYAL HOTEL MEREDITH: CARNE MANNIX RYDER
SPORTING GLOBE: SUNDAY SESSIONS
THE LOST ONES BASEMENT BAR: BASEMENT SESSION: A MINER
THE EASTERN: AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2019 EDGE: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ
GROVEDALE HOTEL: WILL GARDINER
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: DANIEL JOHNSTON TRIBUTE FEAT: LAURA IMBRUGLIA, WEENED PIANO BAR: PITCH PLEASE
VALHALLA BREWING & TAPROOM: LIVE MUSIC SAT 14TH
BARWON CLUB: DEAD CITY RUINS
PISTOL PETE’S: BACKWATER BLUES
BEAVS BAR: JEFF JORDAN
THE ROYAL HOTEL MEREDITH: JASON SINGH
BLOOM: SOLEE (GER)
SPORTING GLOBE: SUNDAY SESSIONS
THE BRIDGE HOTEL: OSCAR LUSH & GEORGIA SPAIN
TERINDAH ESTATE: SUNDAY SESSIONS
CORNER HOTEL: PEARL JAM’S GREATEST HITS
MON 9TH
EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJS
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: KOSMETIKA, SULFATE (NZ), HEARTS & ROCKETS
THE EASTERN: TOO METAL FOR MEREDITH
TUES 10TH
FORUM MELBOURNE: HALESTORM, BLACK STONE CHERRY
VALHALLA BREWING & TAPROOM: POETRY NIGHTS PIANO BAR: SUPERGIRLY
BARWON CLUB: SORE POINTS (VANCOUVER)
MACEDON RAILWAY HOTEL: NICK BARKER
BEAVS BAR: OPEN MIC, KARAOKE, LUKE BISCAN
THE ESPY: RED DUST CHRISTMAS COMEDY GALA
MANCHESTER ARRMS HOTEL: GOLD CHISEL
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: STOMPIN RIFFRAFFS
TORQUAY VINTAGE torquayvintage
VINTAGE CLOTHING MENS & WOMENS
VINYL RECORDS VINTAGE & NEW
COLLECTABLES ADRESS: BOX PARK UNIT 13 / 31 BAINES CRES, TORQUAY OPENING TIMES: THURS - SAT 11-4 / SUN 11 -2 ENQUIRIES: 0448 614 075 46
MON 16TH
BEAVS BAR: ANDY FORSTER
THE CROXTON BANDROOM: THE GROWLERS TUES 17TH
ANALOGUE ACADEMY: REPLYING TO SPAM EMAILS BEAVS BAR: RYAN BELL
THE ESPY: OPEN MIC
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: JORDIE LANE & FRIENDS WED 18TH
BEAVS BAR: CHRISTMAS KARAOKE, LUKE BISCAN
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: JORDIE LANE & FRIENDS
LAMBYS: BEDROCK, LUKE BISCAN, ZACH VALENTI
WED 11TH
SOUTH GEELONG FARMERS MARKET
GOLDEN VINE: THE CROOKEDS – SUFFER FOR PAIN TOUR
HOME HOUSE: LUKE PACKHAM, JESSIE WYNTER, NATHAN THOMSON, DE MUNARI
GOLDEN VINE: DORADO AND THE FLANNOS
ROD LAVER ARENA: ELTON JOHN
THE CROXTON BANDROOM: SONGS FROM TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER
GROVEDALE HOTEL: JACK WRIGHT
ROD LAVER ARENA: ELTON JOHN
PIANO BAR: PITCH PLEASE!
THE ESPY: SOC POP #43: TWISTED WILLOWS, AMY POLLOCK & SUZI GEELONG ARTS CENTRE: BJORN AGAIN 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
VALHALLA BREWING & TAPROOM: SOUR BEER WEEK
GROVEDALE HOTEL: DEAN COCKERELL DUO
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: YOUNG LIONS
THEATRE ROYAL: CATE LE BON
THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE: TOTALLY 80’S
ESPY: FEELS CLUB - ‘AFTER THE FALL’ EP TOUR
MANCHESTER ARRMS HOTEL: UNION STREET BLUES CLUB
EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ
ESPY: PAINTERS AND DOCKERS XMAS SHOW
PISTOL PETES: ANDY PHILLIPS & THE CADILLAC WALK
THE DOOR GALLERY CAFÉ: KIKX ALBUM LAUNCH, LOST POETS NOW
LAMBYS: LEVI ANDERSON, LIAM BLACKWELL
THE CROXTON BANDROOM: GERRY CINAMON
PALAIS-HEPBURN: A VERY VAUDEVILLE CHRISTMAS
BLOOM: LUKE HOVEY
GROVEDALE HOTEL: TASH & ADRIAN
PALAIS-HEPBURN: BAKERS DAUGHTER AKA ALYCE PLAT AND BAND
LAMBYS: ABE ANDERSON, LIAM BLACKWELL
CORNER HOTEL: 30/70 FLUID MOTION ALBUM LAUNCH
FORUM MELBOURNE: ROISIN MURPHY
CORNER HOTEL: A VERY WRESTLEROCK CHRISTMAS
PALAIS-HEPBURN: SUNDAY LEMONADE
BEAVS BAR: LUKE BISCAN
EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC
THE ESPY: HOUNDS A-HOWLIN
THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE: BB KING & ETTA JAMES SHOW FEAT JESSE VALACH & NARDIA ROSE
OLD BAR: PINCH POINTS
THE BERGY SELTZER: BIFFTAPE #1 CASSETTE LAUNCH, SLIM JEFFRIES
THE EASTERN: SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS, RIVAL KIDS, CORDUROY NINJAS & TAYLOR MCKNIGHT
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: MAKO ROAD MELBOURNE
THE DOOR GALLERY CAFÉ: CHESTNUT STREET
GOLDEN VINE: CHRISTMAS AT PUB CHURCH
BARWON CLUB: BLAZE FESTIVAL!
BEAVS: LUKE BISCAN, DJ CHICKEN & CHIPS
THE CROXTON BANDROOM: CATE LE BON
THE BRIDGE HOTEL: ALEX LLOYD ‘UP CLOSE AND ACOUSTIC’
BLOOM: TAKING BACK FRIDAY: EMO & POP PUNK NIGHT
THE DECK: BUSKING FOR A CHANGE
GROVEDALE HOTEL: CRAIG SAYER
BALLARAT TRADES HALL: THE FAT THING, THE PUSH
SUN 15TH
BARWON CLUB: CAM BRYCE
THE LOST ONES BASEMENT BAR: CATE TAYLOR
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: BLAKE SCOTT
170 RUSSELL: EARTHGANG + COZZ
THEATRE ROYAL: THE GADFLY’S
BEAVS BAR: DAVE ANDERSON
BARWON CLUB: SMOKED & OVERDUE, KATALYST, NEURITIS, SIRENS
LAMBYS: ADAM12, TROY BARRETT, DJ JOJO
SAT 7TH
ROD LAVER ARENA: ELTON JOHN
SPORTING GLOBE: 456 SATURDAYS
THE BRIDGE HOTEL: SKYSCRAPER STAN WITH EVE MORDEN
GMHBA: WESTERN UNITED FC V MELBOURNE VICTORY
SPORTING GLOBE: ACOUSTIC FRIDAYS
PISTOL PETE’S: THE JUMP CATS JUMPIN
QUEENSCLIFF BREWHOUSE: THE BIG BLUE
ANALOGUE ACADEMY: MELODY & POETRY
BEAVS BARS: RYAN BELL, CHICKEN & CHIPS DJ
LAMBYS: ADAM 12, LUKE BISCAN, DJ JO JO
VALHALLA BREWING & TAPROOM: LIVE MUSIC
PIANO BAR GEELONG: LADIES LUNCH
BARKING DOG: GUITAR BAR
THE ESPY: SPACEY JANE
RECESS: FABULOUS FRIDAY
PALAIS-HEPBURN: A VERY VAUDEVILLE CHRISTMAS
THE FOX AND HEN: SUNDAY SESSIONS LIVE MUSIC
GROVEDALE HOTEL: JACK WRIGHT
HOME HOUSE: ADAM FARRUGIA, EOGHAN MURPHY, SAM WITHERS, MOJI
GOLDEN VINE: BENDIGO PUB CHOIR - CHRISTMAS
THE EASTERN: SORE POINTS (VANCOUVER), TSUGNARLY. AGENT 37
QUEENSCLIFF BREWHOUSE: TROJAN
BEAVS BAR: RYAN BELL
THE BARWON CLUB: DEATH BY CARROT, THE STATE SYSTEM, STONE DIOSER, SMOKE WITCH
BEAVS BAR: ANDY FORSTER
THE CORNER: THE LEMONHEADS WITH RESTLESS AGE, MURMURMUR
SPORTING GLOBE: 456 SATURDAYS
THE BERGY SELTZER: GRAND BAXTER
THEATRE ROYAL: CASTLEMAINE SOUND
MAX WATT’S: CROWBAR (USA)
170 RUSSELL: NO QUARTER
ANALOGUE ACADEMY: LIFE DRAWING GEELONG
ROD LAVER ARENA: ELTON JOHN
OLD CHURCH ON THE HILL: HOLIDAY HOEDOWN WITH BLUESTONE JUNCTION
FORTÉ 729
MACEDON RAILWAY HOTEL: TEX PERKINS & MATT WALKER
PIANO BAR GEELONG: B*TCHES WITH BALLS!
FRI 6 DECEMBER:
SAT 7 DECEMBER:
SUN 8 DECEMBER:
SOLO ACOUSTIC SET
DUO ACOUSTIC SET
SOLO ACOUSTIC SET
JACK WRIGHT
Jack crafts lush melodies and up beat percussion filled with soul and passion. You can look forward to hearing influences from the likes of John Butler and Andy McKee.
DEAN COCKERELL DUO To keep it fresh, Dean will be supported by a guest accompanist. You’ll find out who on the night. But what we can tell you is that you will love their dulcet tones.
CRAIG SAYER
Craig has a diverse repertoire and an uncanny knack for playing the perfect song choices for any crowd. Come on down and experience this great local artist.
* FRIDAYS
7PM-8PM *
ESPRESSO MARTINIS
— $12 —
GROVEDALEHOTEL FRI 13 DECEMBER:
WILL GARDINER SOLO ACOUSTIC SET
Will’s music is perfect for a relaxed atmosphere, yet has the versatility to get everyone on the dance floor. His covers range from Johnny Cash classics to Ed Sheeran.
SAT 14 DECEMBER:
JACK WRIGHT
SOLO ACOUSTIC SET Jack crafts lush melodies and up beat percussion filled with soul and passion. You can look forward to hearing influences from the likes of John Butler and Andy McKee.
SUN 15 DECEMBER:
TASH & ADRIAN DUO ACOUSTIC SET
GROVEDALEHOTEL.COM.AU 1300GROVEDALE (1300 476 833)
WEB. PHONE.
Tash Melody (vocals) and Adrian Montagnese (on keyboard) know how to pack dance floors by taking you on a journey through the 70s to today, performing all your favs.
DEC 27 YACHT CLUB DJS | DEC 28 SPIDERBAIT JAN 03 THE MURLOCS | JAN 05 RUBY FIELDS JAN 10 TOUCH SENSITIVE | JAN 11 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS JAN 17 THE GROWLERS (USA) | JAN 18 THE AMITY AFFLICTION JAN 19 THE AMITY AFFLICTION JAN 24 SECRET HEADLINER (ANNOUNCED JAN 1ST) JAN 25 A NICE DAY TO GO TO THE PUB 2 SOLD OUT
SELLING FAST!
SELLING FAST!
SOLD OUT
FEATURING COSMIC PSYCHOS AND FRIENDS
JAN 26 COASTAL JAM | FEB 07 SUNNYBOYS FEB 14 EVES KARYDAS FEB 21 CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS PH: 5278 2911
SOLD OUT
WWW.TORQUAYHOTEL.EVENTBRITE.COM
SPHINXHOTEL.COM.AU FORTÉ 729
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TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER Your NYE Party never looked this good as Piano Bar take over The Pier! Tickets $65 pre Christmas & $75 post Christmas Doors 7:30pm & Entertainment from 8pm For more information & to purchase tickets head to thepiergeelong.com.au/nye-2019
2019 NYE PARTY SNACK ATTACK + LUKE BISCAN DJ JO JO + DJ JUBTEK Doors 9pm · $10 before 11pm · $15 after
NYE @ WWG Bring in the New Year with our NYE Party. Featuring an open air observatory for your fireworks viewing at 9pm + 12am!
FEED ME
Join us for our Chinese themed New Year's Eve
WWG Outdoor NYE Party Bring in the New Year with our NYE Party. Featuring an open air observatory for your fireworks viewing at 9pm + 12am!
$75per adult · $25 per child 5:30pm onwards · 8pm onwards (2 hour seatings) Bookings essential via wahwahgee.com.au/dine-at-wah-wah-gee Credit card details required to reserve your booking
Start Time: 6pm · Live acoustic: 6pm Drinks: at bar prices Tickets online at wahwahgee.com.au/nye-outdoor-party
Tickets: $55pp Pre 25th Dec $69pp Post 25th Dec Includes: Entry Finger food until 9pm DJ from 7pm The best private viewing of Geelong's Fireworks! Tickets online at wahwahgee.com.au/nye-at-wah-bah
ALL DAY DINING LIVE MUSIC FROM 3PM 6/8 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong EdgeBarGeelong
edgegeelong
(03) 5222 2666 | edgegeelong.com.au
FIREWORKS AT 9PM+12AM OPEN FROM 9AM NYD!
FREE ENTRY BOOK NOW