Forte #617

ISSUE#617 ball ar at | bell arine | Bendigo | ca stlemaine | geelong | surf coa st | warrnambool |

23/07/2015

FREE!

MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK pg.21

megan washington pg.31

harts

pg.22

ms mr

pg.22

batpiss

pg.22

the angels

pg.36

ALSO FEATURING: The Crystals, Hugo Race, Sarah Caroll, Robyn Davidson, Lucinda Goodwin and heaps more!

10 0 % l o c a l ly o w n e d & o p e r at e d

Plus all the latest local entertainment news, music and movie reviews and all your favourite Forte columns!

available from 850+ outlets every fortnight

forte 1

C O L L A RT S O P E N D AY E N T E R TA I N M E N T J O U R N A L I S M AUDIO PRODUCTION MUSIC BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

S AT U R D A Y 1 S T A U G U S T

10AM – 3PM

55 BRADY ST SOUTH MELBOURNE COLLARTS.EDU.AU

2 forte

forte 3

4 forte

forte 5

6 forte

TICK

ETS

S

BS gou

SIX GREAT VENUES!

rmer a f t e rm

SIGNINGS

OVER 130

writers

MORE THAN

7 0 e v e n ts

ON S ALE N

OW!

IN THE he art OF BENDIGO IN

IONA T E R N AT

OR L AUTH

tariq

ali

BENDIGOWRITERSFESTIVAL.COM.AU PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

forte 7

triple j, Tiny Monster & Select Music present

When The Storms Would Come ALBUM TOUR Sat 29 Aug Jive, Adelaide

with Fractures & Glass Skies

Thu 03 Sep Workers Club, Geelong with Fractures

Fri 04 Sep Karova Lounge, Ballarat with Fractures

Sat 05 Sep Howler, Melbourne with Fractures & Edward R

When The Storms Would Come out through Wonderlick on 24th July Featuring History & You Cannot Call For Love Like A Dog Tickets, album & vinyl available from holyholymusic.com

8 forte

forte 9

ed's note Okay winter, you’ve had your fun. Can I please go to work without my car being frozen over? Luckily there’s nothing too frosty in this issue, as the exciting change-your-life competition of Melbourne Music Bank is on the cover and that’s sure to set your heart racing with excitement (read more on page 21). Further in we chat with the always honest Megan Washington (page 31), who spoke to us sleepy eyed one morning in Berlin.

forte issue #617 thursday 23 JUly 2015

If you’re wanting to get active, but perhaps not the physical variety, flick to page 44 and after reading the article with Sean Willmore you’re bound to want to get involved with the Thin Green Line foundation. Things are also heating up with our chat with Robyn Davidson (page 42) who trekked across Australia in the ‘70s (can you imagine travelling across the desert with only a few camels by your side?).

And if you’re willing to brace the chilly winter nights, there’s plenty going on in our gig guide on page 19, but most importantly Splendour of course.

In an update from last time, I have since bought my plane tickets (at a not-so-friendly price) and I’ll see you on the flipside!

FREEBIES!

Ph: 03 5229 7969 PO Box 978 Geelong VIC 3220 fortemag.com.au

enquiries@fortemag.com.au Publisher

McNamara Publishing DIRECTOR

Amanda & the Forte Team

Luke McNamara luke@fortemag.com.au editor

Amanda Sherring

tag us on instagram!

amanda@fortemag.com.au @amanda_sherring

tag us @fortemag_ or #fortemag to be featured!

Art director

James Dulce artwork@fortemag.com.au @yo_ jimbo contributors

@thegetawayplan

@quban_geelong

@birdrockcafe

@lucindagoodwinphotography

Win a double pass to attend the Melbourne Guitar Show at Caulfield Racecourse (August 8 & 9) To enter email your name, number and code word ‘GUITAR’ to amanda@fortemag.com.au

@madebymorton

@afgrovedale

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. Forte accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. Forte reserves the right to edit all articles and letters.

10 forte

Anthony Morris, Adem Ali, Alastair McGibbon, Amanda Sherring, Andrew Pretorius, Cameron Brogden, Chris Cruz, Chris Lambie, Daniel Lock, Emily Hurst, Jessica Alves, Dr John Lamp, Kara Ready, Montana Agustin, Natalie Rogers, Paul S Taylor, Tex Miller, Wylie Caird, Xavier Fenell, Tony Montana printed by

Fairfax Media Printing, Ballarat

bookkeeping by

forte 11

12 forte

2 DAYS RECORDING AT SING SING | FILM CLIP BY OH YEAH WOW ALBUM ARTWORK & 500 CDS | SONG FEATURED IN A BANK OF MELBOURNE AD PUBLICIST, RADIO PLUGGER, MANAGER, BOOKING AGENT & MENTOR If you’re serious about a career in music, enter the competition that’s serious about getting you there.

Submit your track by August 23rd at bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank.

CREATED by

#WeAreForTheMakers

presented by

for details of the application process & the full terms and conditions please visit bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank © 2015 bank of melbourne - A division of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714

BOM 0216 MMB_Full_Page_Forte_Press_FINAL.indd 1

forte 13 15/07/2015 9:28 am

14 forte

forte 15

know!

in the

t h e l a t e s t n a t i o n a l & INTERNATIONAL music & enterta inment ne w s

10 Years of the Beards Just how long can a beard get in 10 years? Go and see the Beards play live and you’ll have yourself an answer. They play the Corner Hotel on October 8 in Melbourne, time to start beard analysing...

A Hermitude Near You They hit the top of the ARIA album chart with their release Dark Night Sweet Light, and they’re sure to be on the top of your gig list when they visit Festival Hall in Melbourne on November 28. Tickets are on sale now.

Best Coast Are Feeling Okay

Beyond the Valley 2.0 Beyond the valley will return this year, but not as we know it. The festival will return over New Years Eve and this time will be held at an exciting new location within The Gippsland Parklands. With a similar two-stage set up, this year’s event will run over three days, beginning on 29th December, with the options of two day tickets also available. “We are stoked to bring Beyond The Valley back in 2015 and to have found a new, permanent home for our festival – the Gippsland Parklands is the perfect backdrop to bring in the New Year! We have worked tirelessly since our inaugural event last year to improve on every area of the event and to ensure that we are able to deliver the absolute best experience to our festival goers. We received such an amazing response from last year and we can’t wait to do it all again with an even bigger lineup.” – Nicholas Greco (Organiser)

16 forte

Best Coast’s new clip to ‘Feeling Okay’ feels almost like the visual representation of asking, are you feeling okay?

Especially in a world of raw eating, cleansing, dieting and a structured fitness routine – almost all are depicted in the clip. Give it a watch, and after, please let us know if you’re okay.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Break There’s no stopping in the world of rock ‘n’ roll, regardless of what appendage you may lose.

For those who haven’t

heard, a few weeks ago Dave Grohl fell off stage in Sweden and broke his leg and in a totally bad ass manner, kept playing the set. Returning to the stage this time with a purple cast on his leg, Grohl played in Washington while sitting on a pretty awesome throne made of guitar necks. Check it out if you don’t believe us.

South Park Renewed No need to worry about your South Park routine coming under fire, as Comedy Central have just signed on the series for another five years. There’ll be plenty of inappropriate jokes about poo and genitals for years to come!

Josh Pyke’s Guide to the Human Body Are you in a little need of some education on the human body? Well, Josh Pyke’s your man and his lyrical clip for ‘Hollering Hearts’ is where it’s at. Donning a skeleton suit, Pyke slowly gets transformed into the man we know him as, organ by organ. “It was great fun getting dressed up to create the foundation for the Hollering Hearts lyric video, I’ve been wanting to rock a skeleton body suit for a while now,” jokes Pyke.

Dune Rats’ Ratbags A little while ago the Dune Rats announced they were starting a record label called Ratbag Records, and they’ve just signed their first band.

Please welcome Skegss to the Ratbag crew.

The 1975 in 2016 Secrets out, the 1975 are back. The news was delivered in a heartfelt (okay, not so heartfelt, but we can dream) letter from Matt Bates on behalf of the band. They hit up Festival Hall in Melbourne on January 20 and tickets are on sale now.

Frenzal Rhomb Get a Break Eight songs into Frenzal Rhomb’s set and they were all feeling the buzz, wanting to school the fans on how to crowdsurf, drummer Gordy Forman stepped forward and launched himself in. It was only when the crowd pushed him back to the stage (upside down) that his arm caught on a barrier and was broken. Here at Forte we’ve had a bit to do with the band, and all we can say is Gordy, you bad ass, we hope your arm is on the mend and that you’ll be drumming again in no time!

know!

in the

t h e l a t e s t n a t i o n a l & INTERNATIONAL music & enterta inment ne w s

Double Trouble

Major Stereosonic News In a chat with News Limited, Diplo revealed that his project Major Lazer will be headlining Stereosonic set for December 5 this year and we couldn’t be happier.

With Tina Fey and Amy Poehler starring in a movie together, some serious laughter is bound to go down.

Titled Sisters (only in our dreams are Poehler and Fey related, things are already looking up), the siblings are sent home to clean out their stuff before their parents sell the house. But in true fashion, there’s one last party to be had, for old times sake.

Time for Splendour The time is nigh to sort out your clashes. The set times were released last week and with the festival this weekend, time to get those pens out and circle the lucky musicians who’ll be seeing your faces over the four days. Head to splendourinthegrass. com to see the times.

Things are Rosie for Jennifer Lawrence No Escape for Groundbreaking Music Known for their clean record in releasing high quality albums, the live set is much the same with the ground-breaking heavy music band The Dillinger Escape Plan. If you’re not convinced, head to the Prince Bandroom in Melbourne on August 28, be ready to be proven wrong. Tickets are available via Oztix now.

The Rosie Project is the next book to be transformed onto our screens and lets just say we’re excited. Written

by Graeme Simison, the Australian novel has been a firm favourite for readers down under and abroad. Jennifer Lawrence is set to play

the role of Rosie Jarman, with the rest of the crew yet to be cast.

Nussy’s Heroin If you haven’t heard of Nussy, it’s about time you did. Otherwise she may just hunt you down and force you to listen to her kind of like in her new clip ‘My Heroin’. Just Kidding. Nussy is the loveliest of ladies and with beautiful vocals to match, but if you don’t have a listen we might just hunt you down and make you watch the clip as it’s that good!

Not So Little Tour Looks like Little May aren’t quite so little anymore (lets be honest, they were never really all that little in the music world) and they’re heading out on their own as part of a national tour.

They bring their sweet tunes to the Corner Hotel in Melbourne on September 24.

The Ooze With Azealia Banks Splendour and its sideshows are soon upon us, and things just seem to be getting sweeter and sweeter. If you’ve got tickets to Azealia Banks, you’ll now get some stellar raps from Aussie boy Ivan Ooze, if you haven’t got tickets yet we suggest you get them now! This lad is tops. Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – July 26.

Suicide Squad Trailer For those holding out on any sort of news relating to the new Suicide Squad film, the official trailer is here, and boy does it live up to it’s eery, badass hype.

Time to get click happy.

T-Swizzle is Tops Love her or hate her, clearly the rest of the world is smitten as Taylor Swift’s album 1989 just became the fastest selling album in the last decade.

You go Tay-Tay!

LIVE MUSIC. COMFORT FOOD. WARM FIRE. COLD BEER. DO IT.

* BURGERS * — $18* —

* PARMAS * — $19 —

* STEAKS * — $18* —

* SHARE PLATES * — $8* —

* STARTING FROM THIS PRICE

GROVEDALEHOTEL.COM.AU 1300GROVEDALE (1300 476 833)

WEB.

FRI 24 JULY:

SAT 25 JULY:

ACOUSTIC DUO SET

SOLO ACOUSTIC SET

LEVI & CODY

SUN 26 JULY:

LUKE BISCAN

JASON HOEKSTRA

FRI 31 JULY:

SAT 1 AUGUST:

SUN 2 AUGUST:

ACOUSTIC DUO SET

BLUES & ROOTS SET

SUNDAY SESSION

LEVI & CODY

THOM

SUNDAY SESSION

PHONE.

GROVEDALEHOTEL

LEVI ANDERSON

forte 17

18 forte

T H E THURSDAY JULY 23RD BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Peter & Kristine Allan BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm BEAVS BAR: Levi Anderson BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 BIRD ROCK: Mexican Night; Mi Casa Su Casa, Taqueria and Tequila CORNER HOTEL: Wolf Alice EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night EUREKA HOTEL: Eureka Thursdays with local DJs THE FORUM: Porter Robinson GPAC: Evita THE LOFT (Warrnambool): Cleveland Blues LORD OF THE ISLES: Trivia in the courtyard MARTIANS CAFE: $25 International Night including drink MAX HOTEL: Parmi night, Trivia Night PISTOL PETES: Cornlicker Cowboys THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13 ST JAMES: Live DJs SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Luke Watt

FRIDAY JULY 24TH BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Nick Saxon BARWON CLUB: Fraser A Gorman BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm, Meat Raffle & Members Draw BEAVS BAR: Luke Biscan BELLARINE LIGHTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL BELMONT HOTEL: Zane Carroll BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 BIRD ROCK: It’s Friday B!tches

fortnig h tly

BLACK HATT: Roadhouse the Band CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ THE EASTERN: Perry Keyes, Patrick McCabe ECHUCA MOAMA WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday EUREKA HOTEL: Live DJs GPAC: Evita THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Levi & Cody HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with live DJs THE LOFT (Warrnambool): Massive THE LORD NELSON: Happy Hour 5pm-7pm MAX HOTEL: 3 On the Tree ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Funk Night!

PISTOL PETES: Troy Wilson & Aaron Gillett with Alex Burns ST JAMES: Live DJs SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Geoffrey Williams WORKERS CLUB (GEELONG): Lepers & Crooks

SATURDAY JULY 25TH BARWON CLUB: Gonzo, Wet Lips, Mosaicz, Fenn Wilson BEAVS BAR: Butters BELLARINE LIGHTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL BELMONT HOTEL: James Carrigg BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 CORNER HOTEL: Everything Everything THE EASTERN: Starboard Cannons, The Mary Gardens, James Ramsay ECHUCA MOAMA WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL

EDGE: Live Music and DJ EUREKA: $5 Night, Reecelow GATEWAY HOTEL: The Angels GEELONG RSL: The Australian Queen Tribute GPAC: Evita, Rick Price THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Luke Biscan HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE (BALLARAT): Marina Prior HOMEHOUSE: Madeleine, Steve Camp, Marcus Pearsons, Keith Evans, James Rogers, Mawry MAX HOTEL: Frequency ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Top Jimmy PISTOL PETE’S: House Wreckers SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music ST JAMES: Live DJs: House, Hip Hop, RnB SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Ultrafox

SUNDAY JULY 26TH BEAVS BAR: Jeff Buckley Tribute Show BELLARINE LIGHTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 BIRD ROCK: Sunday Sessions $9 Pizzas CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh Live music and DJ from 4pm ECHUCA MOAMA WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Jazz from 3-6pm and Parmi Night GEELONG RSL: $13 Carvery lunch GROVEDALE HOTEL: Jason Hoekstra ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Sarah Carroll & Ukulele Carnivale PRINCE BANDROOM: Azealia Banks, Ivan Ooze SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music ST JAMES: Live Music & DJs THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17 SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Patrick McCabe

MONDAY JULY 27TH BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night CHERRY BAR: Jerry Jam Mondays GEELONG RSL: Members Draw, over $3000 in prizes to be won!

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Parmi night THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11

TUESDAY JULY 28TH BENDED: Two Choice Tuesdays CORNER HOTEL: MO, Elliphant ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 MARGARET COURT ARENA: The Wombats, Circa Waves OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Parmi night ROD LAVER ARENA: Blur, Jamie T

WEDNESDAY JULY 29TH BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Karaoke THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Master of Dartness and Poker from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Open Mic, Karaoke, Dave Anderson BENDED: Parmi Paradise & pub Trivia BIRD ROCK:

Drinks Specials, Ping Pong Challenge ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm.

THE EASTERN: Warm up Wednesday GEELONG (52 Garden St): No Lights No Lycra GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: Spinning Wheel and a lot of Parmi’s from $14.50 MARGARET COURT ARENA: Mark Ronson, Pond, Tkay Maidza, Yolande be cool, Jones Jnr and more MAX HOTEL: Lukey’s Open Mic Night, $10 Burger night ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Roast night

THURSDAY JULY 30TH BARWON CLUB: Orpheus Omega BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster BIRD ROCK: Mexican Night; Mi Casa Su Casa, Taqueria and Tequila EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night EUREKA HOTEL: Eureka Thursdays with local DJs GPAC: Evita LORD OF THE ISLES: Trivia in the courtyard MARTIANS CAFE: $25 International Night including drink MAX HOTEL: Parmi night, Trivia night ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music PISTOL PETE’S: LIVE MUSIC THURSDAYS: Sean Patrick THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13 ST JAMES: Live DJs, SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): AMPED Evening Show

calen d ar FRIDAY JULY 31ST BABUSHKA BAR (ballarat): Jane Cameron, Mitchell Paxton & Amie Brulee BARWON CLUB: Batpiss BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm, Meat Raffle & Members Draw BEAVS BAR: Luke Biscan BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 BIRD ROCK: It’s Friday B!tches CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ THE EASTERN: Matheson, Freya Hollick EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday EUREKA HOTEL: $5 Night, Live DJS GPAC: Evita THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Levi & Cody HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with DJs THE LORD NELSON: Happy Hour 5pm-7pm MAX HOTEL: Trojan ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music PISTOL PETES: Sammy Owens Band SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Wes Carr

SATURDAY AUGUST 1ST BABUSHKA BAR: Joe Ransom, Anto Young BEAVS BAR: Aaron Butters BELMONT HOTEL: Cal Young BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 THE EASTERN: Batpiss, Fried Goods, The Yard Apes, Tsugnarly EDGE: Live Music and DJ EUREKA: $5 Night,

Bombs Away GPAC: Evita, Barry Morgan’s Home Organ Party Experience THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Thom HOMEHOUSE: Johnny Canik, Steve Camp, James Rogers, Marcus Pearsons, Keith Evans, Mawry MAX HOTEL: Whooska ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Matt Gurry PISTOL PETE’S: Blue Eyes Cry SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music ST JAMES: Live DJs: House, Hip Hop, RnB SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): B3 Breakout

4-6, Steak night CHERRY BAR: Cherry Jam Mondays ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Members Draw, over $3000 in prizes to be won!

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Parmi night THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11

SUNDAY AUGUST 2ND

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5TH

170 RUSSELL: Kitty Daisy Lewis BENDED: Happy Hour 4-6 BIRD ROCK: Sunday Sessions $9 Pizzas CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh Live music and DJ from 4pm EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Jazz from 3-6pm and Parmi Night GEELONG RSL: $13 Carvery lunch THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Levi Anderson THE LORD NELSON: Sunday Funday Live Music ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17 SUTTONS HOUSE OF MUSIC (Ballarat): Anna Bilbrough

MONDAY AUGUST 3RD BARWON CLUB: $10 Parmis BENDED: Happy Hour

TUESDAY AUGUST 4TH BENDED: Two Choice Tuesdays ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Parmi night

BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Karaoke THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Master of Dartness and Poker from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Open Mic, Karaoke, Luke Biscan BENDED: Parmi Paradise & pub trivia BIRD ROCK: Drink Specials, Ping Pong Challenge ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm. Have fun win prizes book a table GEELONG (52 Garden St): No Lights No Lycra GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: Spinning Wheel and a lot of Parmi’s from $14.50 GPAC: Mother MAX HOTEL: Lukey’s Open Mic Night, $10 Burger night ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Crafty Burger Night OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Roast night PISTOL PETES: Food and Blues

forte 19

20 forte

Melbourne Music Bank FEATURE STORY Written by Natalie Rogers

“It’s bloody hard out there when you’re trying to break into the music industry,” says Melbourne Music Bank ambassador Ella Hooper, “So anything I can do to help another artist, I’m always happy to do.” The singer-songwriter, radio presenter, TV personality and all-round Australian sweetheart is back on board with the Bank of Melbourne to help promote their popular initiative that gives one very talented musical act the chance to win the ultimate head start on their journey into the weird and wonderful world of the music industry.

“I would’ve been very excited to enter a competition like this early in my career. It was when we [Killing Heidi] won triple j Unearthed, that’s what got us on the radar,” Hooper explains.

“So I do see value in music competitions because it gets your name out there and as I said it can be very hard to be successful from a standing start.

You really want to be up and running, meeting people and taking every opportunity – and Melbourne Music Bank is a great opportunity for someone out there.”

Jac Phillips is the Bank of Melbourne’s Head of Brand and Marketing – and she knows first-hand what a leg-up means to any struggling artist. “We’ve got a fairly clear mission at the Bank of Melbourne and that’s to help people make it, and you can interpret ‘make it’ in whatever guise you want.

So the whole point of the Melbourne Music Bank was to build a signature event that supports the music makers of Victoria, because we understand how very difficult the industry is to break into and that you need to be supported. We’re pretty proud of the fact that we can actually help identify, develop and nurture someone’s talent.”

Forte Magazine has been following the success of last year’s winner Tasmanian-born, now Melbourne-based, singersongwriter Heloise closely since her win. After the release of her winning single ‘This Is Home’, she spent all of last summer on the tour circuit and has plans to record a second EP.

“Heloise is an incredibly talented woman and success was on the cards for her I’ve no doubt, but I’d like to think the Melbourne Music Bank has given her the opportunity to amplify her talent,” Phillips enthuses.

“She’s performed at Falls Festival and performed for us at Sleep at the G. We’ve [Bank of Melbourne] also hired her to perform at various corporate events, and of course she did her single launch show at The Workers Club, which was a sell-out. Heloise also has two songs in the triple j Unearthed charts at the moment. So as far as we’re concerned she’s absolutely riding the wave. She’s off and running and that’s exactly what the purpose of the Music Bank is.”

Now in its third year running, (Hooper wasn’t involved the first time around), from all accounts this year promises to be the biggest one yet. “I’m really proud to be a part of this for the second time. Last year was a really exciting start so I can’t wait to see what kind of talent it attracts because the judging process and the prize has been refined,” Hooper says.

“The guidelines are a little bit broader this year.

We’re learning as we go and we’re trying to make it better each year,” Phillips smiles.

“So what we’re thinking is, given a lot of artists already have an original song up there sleeve it would be easy if you could simply submit that song via our website.

So you don’t have to actually craft a song about Melbourne or specifically for the Melbourne Music

Bank, like in the previous years. As long as it’s an original song that’s been penned by the artist or band and sang by them – then you’ve absolutely got an opportunity to enter. We’ve got a team of experts within our network that helps us identify the twelve finalists, we will be using incredible people like our ambassador Ella Hooper who is absolutely a star in her own right and completely understands this industry. We also have our own internal team like Simone Moss who actually runs this entire Melbourne Music Bank initiative as part of my marketing team. Simone is a real expert, she knows the Melbourne music industry and all the people in it.

So between Ella, Simone, myself and a few others, we judge the entries.”

Potential finalists take note: “They will be judged on originality, musicality, suitability and appeal.

Then we do is put it out to the public vote and the public chooses the top four.”

For anyone thinking this is the big break they’ve been searching for, Ella Hooper offers her advice on how to stand out from the crowd. “One thing that I always recommend in song-writing courses that I run, is to highlight your uniqueness. Your uniqueness is the thing that’s going to make you stand out as well as make you memorable. Even in life, regardless of being in a competition, being a unique artist, having a voice that only sounds like you or a style that’s only you is really how you get ahead.”

So you’ve written and performed an original

Get involved upload your video to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank by the 23rd of August 2015. Good luck!

song that highlights your uniqueness, made the Australian public fell in love with you (and your song), and by some godly twist of fate you’ve made it in to the final four, what happens next?

“From there we will have the finale which we will be held at the State Theatre. The State Theatre is pretty amazing, it’s home to the biggest stage in the Southern Hemisphere so it going to be a truly unique and memorable experience for those four finalists Then we will announce the winner at that event - no one will know the winner until that evening,” Phillips promises.

“Then the very next day the winner will be taken out to lunch by their new dream team,” she continues.

“They’re some of the best minds in the music business and they’ll provide the winner with advice as well as ongoing mentorship. Our winner

will get a booking agent, a PR agent from On The Map PR, a radio plugger and all of those people in that team will be working together with our winner in order to nurture that artist well beyond the competition – and like last year the winner receives time at Sing Sing Studios to record their winning song, with a film clip made by Oh Yeah Wow, plus there’s

the opportunity to make your own CD and we will also use their song in a Bank of Melbourne ad.”

The Bank of Melbourne are leaders in the field of community-based initiatives, and that’s what initially attracted Hooper to the worthy cause. “That’s something that excited me about the program, I was like ‘a bank giving money to musos!?’” she laughs.

“I think it’s fantastic when the corporate world can come and support the arts because making money comes and goes in this profession. Sometimes you’re very fortunate and you do make money, but a lot of the time you don’t!

You do it because you love it, you’re driven to do it, and it’s your passion. So we can always use a hand from the corporate world and

other businesses. It’s great for them to be involved also, it’s fun, it’s inspiring – and we give back as well.

By supporting the arts, they’re supporting our community. Music and the arts is such a big part of the community here in Melbourne, for me it’s the biggest part. Some people would say it’s footy, some people would say food, but I say music.”

forte 21

Harts Written by Jariah Travan

He loves video games, Vegemite on toast, and is a self confessed musical late bloomer, rising star Darren Hart may have the attention of Prince but he is still just as excited to be playing at the Queenscliff Music Festival later this year, confessing this has been an ambition of his for years.

Darren Hart, aka Harts, the one-man musicmaking machine, answers the phone to have a chat in his Brisbane hotel room while on the last leg of his Breakthrough tour, confessing music didn’t come easy for him.

“I didn’t grow up loving music or wanting to be a musician, it wasn’t until later in high school when friends started getting into music around me. I was about 15 or 16 when I fell in love with music,” he says.

Oddly enough Harts actually began learning drums after seeing an ad for lessons in the school newsletter, initially thinking the drums would become his signature. It wasn’t long before Harts craved a more melodic instrument and switched to guitar. It was also around this time Harts decided not to conform to a genre and started to draw on his influences such as; Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Mcfly, Buddy Guy to name a few, who all contributed aspects to Harts unique sound.

“I basically learnt playing guitar from watching Hendrix videos and imitating him – that’s embedded

in what I do now. It’s up to me to try and hone everything I’ve learnt from my influences and really break out and do my own thing – which is what I think I’ve done with the last album and the EP Breakthough. It’s stronger and has more of a sound that’s unique to me,” he says.

“My sound is something I have experimented with over time and realised what could be unique to me?

What can I do that someone isn’t doing out there? What can I do that’s better? I just wanted have a point of difference and offer something unique, I wanted to take the music that inspired me to be a musician and take different styles and create something unique that I could call Harts or my unique sound.”

“ I basically learnt playing guitar from watching Hendrix videos and imitating him...”

This year has been an absolute whirlwind for Harts and he can’t wait to take the stage at the Queenscliff Music Festival after confessing he has wanted to be on the line up for years. The festival takes place in November from the 27th to 29th. The festival will see Harts share the stage with artists such as Angus & Julia Stone, Hey Frankie and Kingfisha.

“I love seeing people enjoy themselves, enjoying the shows and enjoying the long guitar solos I put into a live set. I really love meeting people after the gig, they’re just so thankful that you came to their town or city and everyone’s just got a really positive vibe and it’s really encouraging and gives me that confidence boost. That’s definitely the biggest positive for me,” Harts says.

The tour wraps in a few weeks and Harts will be back in his bedroom studio trying to finish his next album, assuring me that he will be releasing some new material before the end of the year, with international dates ahead. Also on Hart’s bucket list... a gig in Geelong.

When&Where: Queenscliff Music Festival – November 27-29

Batpiss Q&A

Nothing’s off limits when chatting with the Bat Piss boys, and that casual no-fucks-given attitude is shared equally in their live set, which you can catch at the Barwon Club later this month.

Hey Lads, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte, where are you mofos right now and what are you up too?

Well if we’re a bunch of “mofos” I guess we’re all busy busy fucking our own mothers right? But apart from that we’re touring our new album around Australia at the moment and by crikey I miss my mum.

On tour what is your method of transport?

Depends. I don’t mind driving the long hauls but I also fucking hate that drive to Adelaide, it is easily the worst fucking drive in the history of driving so in saying that I like flying too. I like flying to Adelaide.

You Guys released ‘Nuclear Winter’ in 2013 and it caused a fair little stir, you have just followed that up with ‘Biomass’, tell us about the new album?

Biomass is a bit different to Nuclear Winter, we didn’t want to write the same album twice if ya know what I mean. It’s a lot heavier I reckon, plus we took a different approach to the recording side of things.

Nuclear Winter was recorded in just 10 hours and completely live, where with Biomass we spent five days in a studio recording it. It’s definitely not as raw as the first record but still gutsy as fuck.

Given that Biomass was recorded in five days, in terms of the creative side was it a case of piecing it all

together over a couple of years, or did you just get together and say, ‘Time to make album number two’?

Yeah pretty much was just like it’s time for number two fellas.

We’re already working on album number three so once it’s recorded we move on. Paul and I are always writing songs so it shouldn’t be that difficult to knock out another one.

Second albums are hard, how have you found the reception, are the die hards willing to let go of ‘Nuclear Winter’ yet?

A lot of fans have been really digging it, we’ve bumped into a few people in QLD that told us they really like Biomass but said that they prefer Nuclear Winter and that’s totally fine. If people hate it, then I’m totally cool with that too.

Forte have seen you described as ‘dirge rock’, ‘metal’, ‘punk’, ‘drone’ – basically everything – so here it is, I know people hate the genre question, but, how would you best describe your sound, has it changed in the last 48 hours?

Haha!! Probably!! Yeah we get described in so many different genres that I don’t even know what the fuck we are anymore. We are The Piss Urinal rock lords.

You’re currently on the road, what’s life like out

it’s still a source for inspiration for Lizzy.

“For being such a public thing it feels so personal and private. It’s just me on my computer at three in the morning sort of seeing what I react to emotionally, visually and posting that on Tumblr – which I think is what most people do on Tumblr,” she says.

“I think that process is really therapeutic and inspirational and whether that’s inspiration for a song, a video or a photo shoot, I’m always collecting things and collaging pieces for the future.”

While Tumblr is an inspiration source for future content, Lizzy also gains it from what is happening in the world around her. A close experience with a serious hurricane

in New York would inspire one of their biggest tracks, aptly named ‘Hurricane’.

“There was so much stress and anxiety around the event and then it didn’t even happen. I had sort of an interesting night with a man who, I don’t know, braved the storm to hang out with me when the storm hadn’t even come,” she says.

“For me it was sort of a tumultuous time, I was sort of at odds with myself and wasn’t feeling good about myself and so it was hard for me to think how someone could be interested in being with me romantically.

“I think I was just feeling contemplative and really the lyrics to that song came from what would have been a diary entry. What was beautiful was the next day Max had written music for something and he sent it to me. The storm was still on my mind and so I wrote the song and he put exactly what I wrote to the song and that was ‘Hurricane’. I think that it was beautiful that Max and I had different experiences that evening and directly inspired by whatever those experiences were, individually we could make it work together.”

Since those early days, Max and Lizzy have been making it work, not only through their song writing for new album How Does It Feel, but in their live performances and work with LGBTIQ charity Third Wave Fund – the band are donating a percentage of proceeds from their upcoming tour to the group.

The band have learned a lot in two years, and this year’s set at Splendour in the Grass is sure to give Beyonce a run for her money…

When&Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong – July 31, The Eastern, Ballarat – August 1 & The Corner, Melbourne (supporting Tumbleweed) – August 21

there? plenty of Macca’s and servo pies?

Unfortunately........Yes. You’re coming to Geelong and Ballarat, which is Forte land, are you pumped for the regional dates?

Bloody oath!! Keen as fuck!! Lets just hope you bogans out there bloody show up eh? HA! What can people expect at a Batpiss live show?

Well so far this tour Marty has found himself in some very strange places that he likes to rest his head,

MS MR Written by Amanda Sherring

Sporting a cropped top emblazoned with the word ‘Awesome’, patterned short shorts and signature coloured hair, Lizzy Plapinger takes to the stage and looks down across the thousands of excited faces peering up at her. The beat kicks in, with the lyrics soon to follow, and there’s not a face in the crowd that isn’t singing along.

“That’s exactly how it felt, I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re famous here’,” Lizzy says reflecting on MS MR’s first set at Splendour in 2013, likening it to what Beyonce must feel like.

“That Splendour show for us was one of the best nights of our lives and definitely one of the best shows of all time. So we have incredibly high expectations for coming back due to how special that night was, but honestly Australia has never ever let us down.

“Australia was one of the first places to reach out and support our music and it has a really great group of music lovers. I think people are really hungry for music and are open minded to new music and new genres and I’m just excited to get back there.”

Known for being that ‘Tumblr band’ who managed to make it work, Lizzy and Max Hershenow credit the use of social media for enabling them to not only make the big time, but to stay so connected with their fans.

The social media site isn’t something that’s fallen by the wayside since their rise to fame, and 22 forte

When&Where: Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay – July 24-26 & 170 Russell, Melbourne – July 22

so maybe you might find him in the urinal taking a quick dip. Who knows.

Come along and find out.

Anything else?

Our LPs have finally arrived in the country so there will be vinyl for all the lords and lordettes.

loop!

in the

the best source for local music & entertainment news | ba ll a r at | bell a rine | Bendigo | ca stlem a ine | geelong | surf coa st | wa rrn a mbool

MEGAN WASHINGTON pg.31

In a Nick of Time

Boom Goes the Dynamite

It’s always good to have a fallback career. And while Nick Saxon certainly goes alright as a muso, his work as a National Geographic adventure series presenter keeps him busy.

“There’s two things I really love in life,” he says on his site, “travelling and music. NatGeo is amazing. It gives me the opportunity to experience and document cultures, environments and people from around the globe. It’s what fuels my inspiration – the places, the people.” He has plenty of personal stories, too. From 2004-2006 he toured Europe, essentially playing his way across Spain, Greece, Germany and Prague. In a world of soulful surf-folk/blues/pop, he more than holds his own. Babushka Bar, Ballarat – July 24.

There is a strong chance you would be hearing a lot of good things about Asta Binnie, the Tassie gal who simply goes by Asta. The former Rosny College student recently signed with Warner Music worldwide, announcing the deal via her Facebook page. There is also her track ‘Dynamite’ (featuring Allday) which has been setting the music world on fire. The pair also teamed up for a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ for triple j’s ‘Like a Version’, which also set the world on fire. If it is not already on your playlist, now is the time to check out the new video for Dynamite. A fresh tour is also lined up, with Asta setting up a date with The Karova, Ballarat on August 29.

forte 23

loop!

in the

b a l l a r at

|

b e l l a r i n e

Ballarat Laneways Ballarat’s inaugural Ballarat Laneways: Local and Live continues to party on like there is no tomorrow.

For those thinking of a day trip, this is as good a reason as any to pack up the car and forget about the winter blues. Taking place in Alfred Deakin Place, Police Lane and the George Hotel Laneway, the event combines interactive and immersive light installations by local artists Beth Lamont, Damien Orriss, Diokno Pasilan and Saeed Salimpour, while Friday evenings provide live music performances.

Ballarat Laneways: Local and Live finishes up on August 2, so you don’t have much time to think about things. Hit up visitballarat. com.au/Winterlude for further information.

I’m Very Ape and Very Nice Here is some good news for fans of The Yard Apes with the Ballarat old school rock and rollers heading to the LuWOW in Fitzroy on July 31 for a live album recording. From the band: “We have been writing songs feverishly to get them ready for our next album. A live offer of epic fuzz proportions with all the ingredients we have become know for: good times, hip-shakin-dance-abilly, high-octane-energy and sonic MADNESS!” If you’re going to go to only one “ape rock” show this year, make it this one. Note: the band will also perform at Ballarat Laneways on July 24 and The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on August 14.

Actually, you should really head to these shows, too.

Saving Grace When Chris Cornell toured solo in 2011, accompanying him on stage was a red phone.

Depending on the show, and perhaps on the curiousity of those in attendance, he addressed its significance – it was Jeff Buckley’s. Although a YouTube clip tells a different story – so believe what you will – there is no doubting the lasting influence the singersongwriter has on his fellow musicians, not to mention the wider music public. In 1994 he would release what would be his only studio album, Grace. In honour of the songman, Danny Ross, The Bean Project, Jennifer Kingwell & the Garland Thugs and Mark Spano will reinterpret his songs and those he helped inspire at Beav’s Bar, Geelong on July 26.

At Peace with War Alt-country psych collective Immigrant Union hit the road next month for their Anyway’ tour. The story goes that one day Brent DeBoer of 24 forte

|

the best source for local music & enterta inment ne w s

B e n d i g o

The Dandy Warhols had a chance meeting with Melbourne’s Rob Harrow.

They got along alright they did. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and the music was flowing as effortlessly as a good beer. Last year saw the release of their second album Anyway, a ten-song slab of tunes that serves as the reason for their little tour. ‘War is Peace’ is a standout track, a “darkly humorous take on a fictional home shopping channel geared towards selling products to ‘global tyrants’”. The Loft, Warrnambool – August 8.

Traces of Gold Released in 2001, the animated fantasy film Spirited Away became the most successful film in Japanese history. Often ranked among the greatest animated films of all time, it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and tied for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

With the soul-filled ‘Pot of Gold’ – featuring Dylan Frost (Sticky Fingers) – Sydney’s Lyall Moloney lends inspiration from the animated classic. Lyall: “Like the film, this song is about the defeat of greed and the elevation of innocent love. Dylan is the best singer I’ve ever heard. You should sing every song brah, save the world its ears.” The Loft, Warrnambool – August 29.

|

c a s t l e m a i n e

|

g e e l o n g

|

s u r f

c o a s t

|

w a r r n a m b o o l

RocKwizin’ All Over the World For over ten years, music-loving folk have invited Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis, Dugald McAndrew and a cracking band into their lounge rooms, as they relax with a cup of tea. They’re the perfect guests too, providing good laughs and great music – and never outstaying their welcome. Since 1988, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has inducted 73 artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. RocKwiz and ARIA share a solid relationship, and now they want to spice things up by adding you. RockWiz Live! Salutes the ARIA Hall of Fame will feature a selection of Aussie music legends performing alongside the brightest new thangs making their way in the world today. As usual, four participants will be drawn from the audience to sit alongside rock and roll royalty. These shows will not be recorded, so the specialness is reserved for those in attendance. Julia, Brian and Dugald will be there, as will the phenomenal RocKwiz Orchestra, with Even guitarist Ashley Naylor and Vika and Linda Bull joining the music-makers. Brian: “We stretch out and improvise more in the live shows, taking risks and experimenting without worrying about cameras and lights. It’s liberating and often produces delightfully unexpected results.” Costa Hall @ Deakin, Geelong – October 10. What was the first album you bought?

From One Form to Another Following graduation from the Queensland Conservatorium, Katie Noonan formed pop-rock outfit george with her brother Tyrone Noonan. After a couple of successful EPs, the band released Polyserena in 2002, helping them snag the ‘Breakthrough Artist’ ARIA. Much has followed, including time in the solo sun, but with new album Transmutant, Noonan returns to band mode under Katie Noonan’s Vanguard – a place she feels most at home.

According to press, the album’s inspiration is “the musical realisation of a journey, of the personal changes that she’s gone through over the past few years”. It was recorded with assistance from a successful Pledge campaign and expands on a familiar sound. Katie: “The Captains had electronics in that there were samples and stuff, but this explores that world a little more. I bought this very cool vintage drum machine and we played around with a lot of vintage keyboards and synths – it’s been about opening up the sound a little more.” Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – October 16. Kate Noonan’s Vanguard features The Captains bandmates Stu Hunter and Declan Kelly, along with a new face in New Zealand guitarist Peter Koopman.

A Child of Mine “Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’ve been taken back in time to when riding in the back of a van without seatbelts was fun and there were no childproof lids on medicine bottles. When your new flared jeans came with a free acid tab and guitar solos were as long and fuzzy as the hair on the guitarist’s head.” That is how Vulture Magazine kicked off their review of Child’s self-titled debut release, dropped last year. The heavy psych blues enthusiasts began their mission in 2012, pumping out a sound that encapsulates the glory of the 1970s with the distortion-friendly times of the 1990s. The Vine, Bendigo – August 7. Later, they’ll be playing Switzerland’s Up in Smoke festival.

Homebound Bootleg Rascal Have you heard the news about Bootleg Rascal?

The band is releasing their debut album this September – one that promises to “slap ya in the face like a wet fish”.

Most of us can relate to a good ol’ fish slapping, so this would come as pretty sweet news. Of course, there is a bit of business to do between now and then, so to keep fans happy the band is rocking out their latest single ‘Coming Home’. The Karova, Ballarat – September 5.

Orpheus in the Metalworld In support of album number three, Partum Vita Mortem, heavy-hitters Orpheus Omega have announced a lengthy tour. Originally called Orpheus, the band was formed in 2008 as the side project of Chris Themelco and Joao Gancalves. They have since established themselves as one of the country’s standout melodic death metal outfits. Partum Vita Mortem is a concept album which sees the band exploring the human condition through birth, life and death. The Barwon Hotel, Geelong – July 30 (with Stormtide and Hollow World); Music Man, Bendigo – August 29 (with Trigger and Requiem); and The Loft, Warrnambool – October 9 (with Hollow World and Spaulding). [Photo by Joel Adams]

b a l l a r at

|

b e l l a r i n e

|

the best source for local music & enterta inment ne w s

B e n d i g o

|

c a s t l e m a i n e

|

g e e l o n g

|

s u r f

c o a s t

Ian Collard’s Songs of Blues You can’t talk about the blues if you’re not going to talk about Ian Collard. Drawn to the harmonica at an early age and inspired by the likes of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry, Collard is known fondly for his work with Collard Greens & Gravy, not to mention Three Kings and the Backsliders.

He has also performed harmonica on albums by Clare Bowditch, Jeff Lang and Ash Grunwald. In 2014 he coughed up his debut solo release, Swamp Stomp and Boogie.

The album is two parts.

The first has Ian in solo mode, accompanying himself with guitar and harmonica. The second welcomes Grant Cummerford and Jason Liu Soon to the mix. The Vine, Bendigo – August 1.

Girls of Country Shake Off the Blues The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival takes place this weekend. Have you got your ticket yet? Well, you don’t need one, as the majority of the festival is free! That’s the best news you’ll receive all day. More than 40 acts will perform throughout the event which is expected to attract crowds approaching 20,000. Performers include Alister Turrill & The Vagabond Brothers (pictured), Louis King & the Liars Klub, Dreamboogie, the George MacFloyd Blues Band, White Lightning, Genevieve Chadwick, Sean McConnell, Tex Miller, Three Kings, Safari Motel, Marshall Okell, Andrea Marr and Geoff Achison. The festival takes place across July 24, 25 and 26 with further information available through winterblues.com.au.

Jeanie is Crazy Gray skies have cleared up and Olivia Phyland has put on a happy face. Admittedly, things are going pretty well for the girl from Wagga Wagga. First up, she was recently selected as co-host – a role she shares with Scott Tweedie – of The Loop, a new music program on ELEVEN which is all about music – airing clips, chinwagging, that sort of thing. She is also onehalf of Jeanie, a country pop duo formed late last year that recently released their debut, Crazy. TV composer Aaron D’Arcy shares that gig with her. The four-track EP features the track ‘You’ll Be with Me Till I Die’. From the presser: “The single heralds the arrival of a smart, new brand of country pop music, its bouncy acoustic guitar riff and soaring vocals reminiscent of any number of Nashville bars scattered along the fabled Music Row, pedal steel sliding in and out in the background, xylophone tinkles adding a sprightly edge to create an instant foot-tapper … The pair combine effortlessly, their voices as one, complementing each other over D’Arcy’s guitar, pulling off the necessary country lament while keeping to the melodic hookiness vital to good pop music.” Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – August 1.

Amber Lawrence has invited along special guests Aleyce Simmonds and Christie Lamb on the ‘Girls of Country’ tour, which recently kicked off in NSW. Amber is the reigning Golden Guitar winner for Female Artist of the Year, picking up the award after being nominated six times previously. Her latest album is 2014’s Superheroes. Aleyce won 2014’s Australian Independent Female Artist of the Year. She is also a five-time Golden Guitar nominee, who rose to prominence following her Telstra Road to Tamworth win. Christie is a rising star in country music, having received a finalist nomination in the 2015 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards for Best New Talent. The Barwon Club, Geelong – August 20.

With These Final Words It’s time to rock along to Wollongong punk rockers Born Lion with me. In celebration of their debut album Final Words, the awesome

|

w a r r n a m b o o l

foursome is heading out on the road – and it all kicks off at Geelong’s Workers Club on August 21. Warrnambool fans can also get in on the action with the band hitting The Loft on October 16.The album comes at a time when things are going rather swimmingly for the band, most notably their tour this month with US pop-punk powerhouse Yellowcard. Members of Grenadiers and Gay Paris appear on the album, while Dave Hammer (Thundamentals) was in charge of production duties. Born Lion formed out of Sydney in 2012.

Welcome to the Gun Show Cherrywood, Saint Jude, Twin Beats, Sheriff, The Bakers Digest, The Yard Apes, Willow Darling and Green Tin all joined Mightiest of Guns throughout their recent residency at the Old Bar in Melbourne. It was a fitting venue for the dark, slacker country band, who launched their debut EP, Strange Birds, to a soldout crowd at the venue back in 2013. According to their Facebook, their debut full-length, Drink Over Your Grave, should be with us soon enough.

Until then, you can get in on with single ‘Hot North Wind’. The rockabilly romp is promoted as a “flashback of rolling in the gutter all summerdrunk in dire need of rescue”. The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine – August 14.

I’m a Poet The Bendigo Goldfields Bush Poets association is dedicated to Australian bush poetry, Australian song and yarn-spinning.

Proudly keeping the spirit of the likes of A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Dorothea Mackellar and Henry Lawson alive, several gatherings/concerts take place each year in Bendigo. Their next event takes place at Bendigo’s Newmarket Hotel on August 16. Another is lined up for the same venue on October 18.

Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal free consultation tattoo removal and fading

18 James St, Geelong 5221 4174 0478 616 905

geelonglasertattooremoval.com.au

loop!

in the

Embracing SAFIA ‘Embracing Me’ is the new single from Canberra’s indie-electronic outfit SAFIA and they’re all fired up to take it around the country. The band sat down with the triple j crew early this month to give the track its first spin, where they also revealed a little teaser that their (long-awaited) debut album may be on its way. A crew of some 50 people (family, friends and extras) featured in the “religious cut-off community”-style clip.

Once again, the band joined forces with Crux Media, notching up their fifth collaboration in a relationship that began back in 2013. The Karova, Ballarat – August 20 & Bended, Geelong – August 21. This will be the band’s final tour of the year.

forte 25

loop!

in the

b a l l a r at

|

b e l l a r i n e

Queenscliff Seconds

Huge supports announced for Fleetwood Mac’s Geelong date!

Byron born mega stars Angus and Julie Stone along with Stonefield, have been announced as the support act for the A Day On The Green featuring Fleetwood Mac at Mt Duneed Estate.

In what can only be described as a massive addition to the bill, Angus and Julia Stone will compliment proceedings perfectly and will make those with tickets to the already SOLD OUT show at Mt Duneed Estate feel all the more lucky. The Geelong show is happening on Saturday November 7. It isn’t only good news for Geelongian’s either, Angus and Julia Stone will perform all outdoor shows with the On With The Show World Tour in Australia and New Zealand this October/ November. The A Day on the Green concert in Geelong is completely SOLD OUT, however for ticket information to other shows, please visit: www.livenation.com.au.

It’s time for a second serving of some Queenscliff Music Festival (November 2729) loving and here at Forte, we sure love our seconds. Announced this morning are; All Our Exes Live in Texas, Augie March, Blue Eyes Cry, Cookin’ on 3 Burners ft Tex Perkins, Damian Cowell’s Disco Machine, L-Fresh the Lion, Morgan Bain, Raised by Eagles, The Snowdroppers and Tinpan Orange.

The second line up is added onto the already impressive first announcement: Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey will perform along with Angus and Julia Stone, The Hoodoo Gurus, Kate Miller-Heidke, Robert Foster of The Go-Betweens, country legend John Williamson, Nicky Bomba and the Melbourne Ska Orchestra and ‘Breakthrough’ hitmaker Harts

Birregurra Festival Is Coming The Sun will Rise Tomorrow Olivia Harrison once said of her late husband, George Harrison, “George had a really curious mind, and when he got into something he wanted to know everything.” Often referred to as the quiet Beatle, George was as much an innovator and philosopher as a musician. His views on life have inspired countless over the years, including Aussie songman Wes Carr.

Here Comes the Sun is his tribute. In Carr’s words: “If it wasn’t for George, I wouldn’t have started Transcendental Meditation five years ago, the practice played a large part in my recovery from depression. To me, George was a spiritual leader in his own way, as he was a guiding light for so many … The times certainly were ‘a changing’ and George was at the forefront of a global shift that today still rings true for so many. I believe George’s music has more relevance now than it ever did – for all of these reasons, I knew I had to pay homage to the work of George Harrison through a live show.” In Here Comes the Sun, Carr interprets Harrison’s songbook, taking on such songs as ‘My Sweet Lord’, ‘What is Life’ and ‘Something’. Suttons House of Music, Ballarat – July 31. * This is not a show endorsed by or connected with the Estate of George Harrison or the Harrison family.

It’s almost Birregurra Festival time, and while there hasn’t been any news dropped just yet it’s worth keeping your ears and eyes open!

Last year saw the Pierce Brothers, Yirrmal & the Yolngu Boys and Residual take part in the festivities, and word has it this year is going to be even better!

The Hornets Hit the Big 2, 0 The Piping Hot Chicken Shop in Ocean Grove is a great place for delicious food, awesome music and to hang out with friends, but they also throw a damn happening party and The Hornets are taking advantage of this as they celebrate 20 years as a band. Head to the venue at 8pm on August 14 to take part in the festivities.

Made from Jarrah

WHO WANTS FREE STUFF? Check out the Forte Freebies on page 10!

26 forte

With an effortless fusion of rock, blues, folk, roots and world music, Jarrah Thompson released his debut album, Stargazer, in 2008. From fuzzed-out guitar rock to fingerpicking soul, the album led to a solid two years of touring in which Thompson performed around 300 shows.

Comparison to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, CSNY and Santana didn’t hurt his credit, either.

His second album, Rio Claro, was recorded in Brazil, named after the city in which he stayed for six weeks while on tour. Reconnecting last

|

the best source for local music & enterta inment ne w s

B e n d i g o

|

c a s t l e m a i n e

|

g e e l o n g

|

s u r f

c o a s t

year, Jarrah collaborated with the Brazilian Percussion Orchestra for a series of video and audio. Goldmines Hotel, Bendigo – July 26 (in trio mode).

Roped Into Music For the past few years he has served as the co-songwriter for punk-grass band Cherrywood, and now Joshua Seymour is thrilled to present a collection of his own tunes on his debut LP, Rope Tied Hope.

Recorded in Texas over a six-day period at David Willingham’s the Echo Lab – a Grammy-winning engineer responsible for more than one hundred albums – the album is an Australian take on Americana.

The release draws from personal experience, playing out over fingerpicking guitar and mandolin. Seymour launched the album at The Toff in Melbourne late last month, but has lined up a good handful of further dates, including one at The Barwon Hotel, Geelong on August 16.

Doin’ the Chicken Strut Once upon a time, Chris Russell took to the stage with little more than an open-tuned seafoam green Danelectro and a Goldentone Reverbmaster. By the close of 2011, a year which kept the songman busy with shows in Australia and the US, Dean Muller (Cosmic Psychos) had joined on drums. Dave Folley (Tex Perkins, Archie Roach) has since been entrusted with the stickman role.

The pair have been working out and toning up in order to bring you new single, ‘Swimsuit’.

w a r r n a m b o o l

The Suburbs of Perry Keyes Songman Perry Keyes has been referred to as “Redfern’s answer to Bruce Springsteen”, while Peter Garrett has said, “Peter is the real deal; songs from the heart, from the Aussie street. He is a rare talent.” The Sydney Morning Herald, meanwhile, said “Perry Keyes is a Sydney romantic who can see the battered beauty beneath the gloss.” Yet, despite this, his name is not as familiar as many Australian songwriting greats, though it probably should be.

Throughout the ’90s he remained largely absent from music, later picking up work as a taxi driver. In 2002, Bek-Jean Stewart and Grant Shanahan of Sydney band Eva Trout helped him break out of his musical hibernation. The Eastern, Ballarat – July 24.

Celebration of a Nation If it is possible for a band to be full of flavour, Sol Nation would take honours.

Featuring Paulo Almeida (The Dili Allstars), Colin Badger (Painters & Dockers) and Deline Briscoe (The Black Arm Band), and with their colourful mix of reggae, samba, funk, salsa, East Timorese folksong and African dance music, the seven-piece outfit is a reflection of their multicultural home of Melbourne. At the end of the month, the band will hit the road in support of their debut album Melting Pot, an appropriate name if ever there was one considering their fusion of sounds.

Suttons House of Music, Ballarat – September 4 & Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – September 5.

|

From the press: “Drums power along like New Orleans bound barge, leaving a wake of shattered drumsticks and smashed cymbals to wash ashore whilst Chris’s voice dances like a sinewy body around bonfire guitar.”

The Barwon Hotel, Geelong – August 7.

Words of a Mother Noni Hazlehurst has long been a part of our TV and film viewing.

She played the lead in the miniseries Nancy Wake, The Shiralee and Waterfront. She had a regular role as Sharon Lewis on local soap opera The Box, before joining the cast of The Sullivans as Lil Duggan. Later, she hosted lifestyle program Better Homes and Gardens. Despite her many years and varied roles in TV and film, she is perhaps most fondly remembered as a Play School presenter, a position she held from 1978 to 2002. If being an actor/actress is about the search for new challenges, Noni has found hers in onewoman show, Mother.

Based on the writings of Dorothy Hewett and the ancient Greek play Medea, the play was penned by Daniel Keene (Boxman) in just ten days and was written with the award-winning actress in mind. Mother sees Noni playing Christy, a woman who finds herself at the fringe of the world. Homeless and aging, Christy’s stories of her colourful life attract the curiosity of locals. Tackling issues of homelessness, isolation and poverty, Mother has received glowing reviews and shows are selling out. GPAC - August 5-8.

Kennedys Creek Music Festival You may have come across the article that suggests attending a music festival can be

good for your health.

The research was conducted by tech company Withings, whose report indicated that a festival-goer can burn some 9000 calories across a threeday event. Another report, taken from the larger population of festival attendees, suggests another reason why musical festivals can be good for your health: because they’re fun. The ripping little festival that calls itself Kennedys Creek Music Festival is coming on up, serving up one cool little boutique blast.

This year it is running under the banner ‘The Beat of the Blackfish’.

Details are minimal at the moment, but keep an eye on kennedyscreek musicfestival.

It’s in the Eyes Like Canned Heat, Lepers and Crooks are out on the road again.

Earlier this year the band embarked on a whopping 60-date tour, but it seems they dig the punishment of playing show after show after show, eating truck stop food and the ‘I-will-showertomorrow’ smells that heavy touring can bring.

At the beginning of the month the band kicked off their ‘Through Gypsy Eyes’ tour, and although it’s not as exhaustive as their previous run, it will be delivering some new tunes. You see, since that big ol’ tour, the band has been locked up in a regional NSW shed writing songs for their upcoming album. And they want to see if you like what they’ve been cooking. The Workers Club, Geelong – July 24.

Drop the Bomb Say kids, do you like multi-platinum artists, party boys and all-round bad-boy role models?

Well, here at ‘Funky Cold Medina Industries’, we have what you are looking for. Bombs Away is what happens when brothers get up to no good. Featuring

Sketch (Matthew Ronald John Coleman) and Tommy Shades (Thomas Edward Hart Coleman), the duo left their Gold Coast home for Perth in their early adult lives. By late 2009, they had formed Bombs Away and in 2010 toured their first single, ‘Big Booty Bitches’.

They are one of the few acts to hold down five concurrent Top 10 tracks on ARIA, iTunes, Beatport, DJ Download and Djtunes charts.

Element Nightclub, Ballarat – August 1.

General Lee A king of Australian country music, Lee Kernaghan carried on the family’s tradition.

His father, Ray, has been inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and has a dozen Gold albums under his belt. In 1986, Lee was introduced to producer Garth Porter and by 1991 the pair had begun their songwriting relationship. The following year saw the release of The Outback Club. Featuring the single ‘Boys from the Bush’, the album won the Best Country Album gong at the 1993 ARIA Awards. To date he has notched up over thirty #1 hits on the Australian Country Chart, won enough Golden Guitars for several shelves and sold over two-million albums.

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – November 6.

You’re the Voice Courthouse Youth Arts is doing the call out to young storytellers of all mediums for their roving, boundarysmashing spectacle, Voicebox. The multidisciplinary initiative will take place in the newly reclaimed Powerhouse building this October, with a competitive audition process for all interested parties. From CYA: “Writers will develop monologues, actors

and dancers will bring these to life, and other scenic, visual and sound artists will help create a world around them like nothing Geelong has experienced before – all under the guidance of our Australian-first ‘Creative Collective’ of young specialists in their disciplines.”

Hit up courthouse. org.au for all the stuff you need to know.

They’re All Charm David Gagliardi, Sam Whiting and Lachlan Ewbank are the three gentlemen behind trash-rockers Heads of Charm, a fine little band that recently coughed up their wham-bam threetrack EP, Enough is Enough. This kind of news calls for a tour, and while the band has scored a support date with …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, there’s room for us commoners, too. The Eastern, Ballarat – August 7.

We’ve Got Gigs, They’re Multiplyin’ Alma Kalorama has the looks that kill at The Vine, Bendigo on July 24. Punk-sludgers Batpiss kick start your heart at The Eastern, Ballarat on August 1. Rick Price, Greg Champion and Mike Rudd take a walk on the wild side at GPAC on July 25. Nathan Kaye will be too fast for love at The Main Bar, Ballarat on July 25. The second annual Light of Day Australia won’t go away mad at the Piping Hot Chicken Shop tomorrow, July 24, and July 25. Remember that tickets for the Queenscliff Music Festival are currently on sale. Save the date: the Great Australian Beer Festival takes place on February 13. Save the date: the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival takes place February 12-14.

Fast Five with LEPERS & CROOKS! The Lepers & Crooks lads are doing a few shows in and around Geelong, so we thought what better chance to see what they like about the place, that and guilty pleasures...

What’s your favourite thing about Geelong?

Probably the people we’ve met. Last time we played in Geelong a few ladies got their hands on our CD after the show, the cab driver obligingly cranked it on their way to the strip club which we thought was pretty sweet.

Pizza or hamburger?

Hamburger fo sho! Not saying we don’t love a good pizza but burgers for the win if we had to pick.

Guilty pleasure on tour?

We enjoy the touring lifestyle and work hard at it so we tend not to carry any guilt when it comes time to indulge.

Do love a good cocktail and cooked dinner when it’s available though.

Someone says after party after the show?

We say hell yeah about a thousand times more than hell no ... but there was one time when half of us were really sick and had to bail on the after party to book a hotel last minute so we could run back and forth to the bathroom. We were lucky to make it through the set.

Social media refresh/ checks per day?

If we’re out having a good time then we’ve probably lost our phones but the long drives leave plenty of hours for catching up.

When&Where: Workers Club, Geelong – July 24 & Torquay Hotel, Torquay – July 25

Top Five Reads with Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice With the colder weather there’s plenty of time to sit down and read a good book, so in no particular order Ellie from Wolf Alice offered us her top picks.

1. Just Kids by Patti Smith – I read that a long time ago but I really like it.

2. I don’t know who it’s by because it’s by a collection of people, but the biography of

Edie Sedgwick, that was a really good read, really long but if you can get through it’s really interesting.

(Possibly Edie: An American Biography

by George Plimpton and Jean Stein).

3. The House of Spirits by Isabel Monday 4. The Secret History by Donna Tartt, although I haven’t read that in a long time so maybe if I re-read it I wouldn’t like it so much. But at the time I absolutely loved that.

5. I really love this collection of short stories

by Miranda July called No One Belongs Here More Than You.

When&Where: The Corner Hotel, Melbourne – July 23 & Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay – July 24-26

forte 27

10 SQ M

It may be a small cafe located in an alleyway (just over 10 square metres) but what this cafe may lack in space, it more than makes up for in quality products and service. Owner Greg Hall-Burns pays great attention to each coffee, using Sensory Lab beans and a special ‘weigh-in, weigh out’ system ensuring a perfect coffee every time.

Stop by for a chat, a great coffee or for a quick lunch and watch as people walk by.

Where: Unit 2, 124 Ryrie St, Geelong When: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

Darriwill Farm Cafe

As winter is at its peak, it’s only natural for us to seek comfort in the meals we eat.

Our stomachs crave the warmth found in hearty winter meals of slow-cooked lamb, healthy soups and the rich butterscotch sauce of a sticky date pudding. These are all items found at the Darriwill Farm Café and meals that head chef Josh Beaumont loves to cook. Produce is sourced as locally as possible, with an emphasis placed on quality ingredients. Each dish is made with love – often meals that Josh makes at home – and served up with a smile.

Where: Shop 10-11, Highton Village, 65-71 Barrabool Road, Highton When: Mon-Sun 7.30am-5pm

Eddy and Wills

What was once a hairdressers, security company and another cafe, this quaint building has been turned into Eddy and Wills, a cafe with its own distinct personality. It’s always the little things that make a home a home and Eddy and Wills is no different. Take a seat at a table in the outdoor area and you’ll be offered a colourful f leece blanket to keep warm, or head inside and as well as taking home a coffee you can pick up a book to read from the community library the cafe have set up. Each dish is made with the same attention to detail with Code Black as the cafe’s coffee supplier of choice.

Where: 130 Church St, Geelong West When: Tues-Sun 8am-4pm

Blame Finnigan

What used to be a matte black cafe has since seen a new life with the owners of Blame Finnigan taking over the space. The cafe has now been brightened with colourful chairs, a quirky caricature on the walls and f lowers on each table.

Located in a great space to avoid the hustle and bustle of town, this cafe is a great pit stop to pick a quick snack up for work (there are many sandwiches and snacks available in the front counter) or for a tasty soup to keep you warm.

Where: Corner of Ryrie & Fenwick St, Geelong When: Mon-Fri 7am-3pm; Sat 8am-2pm

Burger Johnny

There’s a new burger joint on the block and they’ve upped the anti when it comes to high quality and delicious burgers. With a promise to deliver the best day in, day out, Burger Johnny are a spot that’s sure to become one of your regulars. And it’s all made possible thanks to careful consideration in each ingredient – local suppliers are always first choice – and contributions from each of the team. There’s no reason why burgers can’t be a healthy, delicious, nongreasy feast and Burger Johnny have now made it possible!

Where: 141 Ryrie St, Geelong When: Mon-Sat 10am-late

The Farmer’s Place

Local fare is always on the menu at The Farmer’s Place. The Surf Coast’s latest eatery on Anglesea Rd, Freshwater Creek is set on a small working farm and proudly serves food made from fresh produce growing in the garden or sourced from the local area.

Market shelves are stocked with grains, fresh produce, meats, dairy products and condiments from local suppliers as well as house made specials such as winter warming soups of fresh seasonal ingredients. Outside there is plenty of space and visitors are encouraged to explore and check out the vegetable gardens, orchards and farm animals.

Where: 675 Anglesea Rd, Freshwater Creek When: Mon-Wed 7am-4pm; Thurs-Sat 7am-10pm; Sun 7am-6pm

Blue Door Espresso

What used to be an unused garage has now been turned into a quaint and cosy coffee shop. Enter through the aged blue door and you’ll find a clean interior with glossy white tiles on the far wall, white brick lining the walls and intimate seating arrangements each with a wood finished table.

Meals are made from locally sourced produce, something the owners strongly believe in, with all day breakfast and brunch on offer at the cafe. Think bacon and lots of it. The cafe also features a rotating ‘band burger’ designed by local musicians from the area.

Where: 2A/105 Skene St, Newtown When: Tues-Fri 8am-4pm; Sat 8.30am-3pm

ADVER YOUR HER

CALL ABBEY O

28 forte

10 sq m

eddy & wills

the farmer's place

darriwill farm

blame finnigan

burger johnny

Chapel on Little Ryrie

Originally functioning as a Baptist church since it opened in 1857, Chapel on Little Ryrie simply oozes charm.

The buildings past lingers with the baptismal font exposed below through a clear section in the flooring, the high arched ceiling and the aged wood throughout, though it’s the quirky additions like the quote ‘Thou God Seest Me’ on the far wall as you enter that make the Chapel the popular eatery that it is. Adding a homelier touch to the café are the homemade treats that sit in the front counter teasing each customer that approaches and the comfort food ethos is evident throughout the menu.

Where: 10 Little Ryrie St, Geelong When: Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm

blue door espresso

chapel on little ryrie

bear & bean

two sugars

Bear & Bean

Two Sugars

Bear and Bean is a cafe that ticks all the boxes on what we all hope for in a cafe, there’s a comfortable brown leather suite to the right for those wanting some time to relax, plenty of space for family and friends and an abundance of healthy options throughout the menu (including a number for those with dietary requirements). For this family run cafe, there’s also an immediate sense that you belong. Conversation f lows easily from staff and even between customers at tables.

This isn’t just a once-in-a-while destination, but a place to come every week, if not every day.

Where: Located in Little Ryrie St Car Park, Geelong When: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm

Part of the charm of Two Sugars – aside from it’s sophisticated yet rustic décor – is its ability to transform from all-round café by day to modern Italian restaurant by night. During the day indulge yourself with the all day breakfast on offer with a New York Bagel, pancakes and brioche French toast featuring on the menu or opt for a traditional lunch option of Thai beef salad and salt and pepper calamari.

For those wanting a quick snack, there’s even more on offer in the display cabinets at the front and you’ll soon find yourself wanting one of each. When the sun sets is when the transformation takes place, and this truly is a cafe that you could spend all day and night in.

Where: 65 Barrabool Rd, Highton When: Mon 7am-5pm; Tues-Sun 7am-late

RTISE CAFE RE!

ON 0431 898 745

forte 29

30 forte

MEGAN WASHINGTON

LOCAL FEATURE STORY Written by Amanda Sherring

Megan Washington has never had any problem with witty banter, as she talks to me from Berlin, quips and one-liners are easily thrown in as if entertaining on all levels is in her nature.

However, it’s her way with words and retrospective writing that resulted in a concealment of her true emotions and experiences in her songs. From the outside, it wouldn’t occur to the average listener that any concealment was taking place, but for Samuel Dixon (producer and song writer) he could see the truth hidden beneath her poetic and ambiguous word choices.

“I feel that’s kind of what Sam saw in me, and that’s what he focused on bringing to the foray,” she says.

“I wonder if someone else may have seen some of that in me and endeavoured to bring that out.

But no, I don’t think anyone else could have done what Sam did because there’s only one Sam. I was really ready to work

with a producer who felt more like a coach in a lot of ways, and that’s absolutely how I found Sam for sure.”

On the first day of working together a song was created.

Megan had entered into a new level of song writing, but it wasn’t the easiest transition to make.

Dixon let Megan write for months and it wasn’t until she showed him a song when he questioned the truth behind it – unravelling her clever and creative writing to get to the crux of her emotions.

“There were moments where it was really tough. To me song writing is quite hard and I don’t really enjoy it that much,” Megan adds with a laugh.

“I do enjoy it on a lot of levels, but it certainly isn’t an escape for me. It’s some weird mixture

Fast FIVE with MEGAN WASHINGTON! Favourite thing about the ‘80s? Graceland by

Paul Simon

A musician you respect for their lyrical honesty: Leonard Cohen, it’s gotta be Leonard

Cohen because he’s the best and the most important.

Place you haven’t gone but would love to go:

India! I just think I would really like it and love it.

I wanna go and live on a mountain free and just do yoga.

If an actor/actress were to play you in a movie, who would it be? Josh Thomas in drag.

What’s your go-to on tour snack? Blueberries

and these great nut bars that you can get from the servo that are macadamia only and honey that wraps them together – it’s fucking delicious. But I’m a big healthy touring advocate, I’m all about the health.

If anyone would love to bring some delicious vegan treats to the show, I will take them happily.

of therapy, fantasy and memory and I really don’t sort of go, ‘Yeah fun, another day of writing’.

“It was really difficult to go through a lot of the realisations and revelations that I drew in that record [There, There], but I think in the end it was worth it and there were definitely some very difficult moments.”

This new process of writing saw Megan delve into past relationships, engagement break-offs and depth of the soul type content, all of which was released in her sophomore album, There There [2013], also touted as her most honest release to date.

Now almost two years later, Megan has since done a tour supporting the release, and is returning for another tour (one of her longest to date) in a more intimate setting.

With the rigorous process of writing each song for There There, it’s hard not to wonder what the memories contained in the songs mean to her now?

“When the song is in the process of being written it is coming from a place of, for me, this is only true for me I don’t know if it’s true for anyone else, but when I’m writing something I’m really in it, I’m really there. I’m in the memory and I’m in the moment and I’m trying to make an association in the song that will mean something to someone else,” Megan says.

“Once the song is written, especially once it’s tracked and recorded, it just becomes a piece of repertoire. It’s almost like all the gross feelings and emotions are vacuum sealed into a little bag of songs. Singing the song

is not so much about opening the bag, but holding the bag up in front of the audience and saying, ‘This exists’ and that’s kind of how I think of performing the music after it’s been written. It really doesn’t hurt me once the song has finished.”

In this string of shows, 26 to be exact, Megan will be stripped back performing an acoustic set and welcoming any and all chances for the show to evolve. She even jokes of it potentially turning into a spoken word event, something I’m sure everyone would still enjoy.

Much like her second album contrasts the first [I Believe You Liar, 2010], this tour is a stark contrast to the tour supporting her debut, one that proved to be a real eye-opener for the musician.

“There’s all these real structured boxes to tick, and so I suppose with my first record I really tried to tick all the boxes and basically kill myself in the process. I got pneumonia three times and stopped touring and I had zero love life and I was just a maniac,” she says.

“At the end of it I was just really tired and that was kind of all. So I guess my focus really shifted from trying to get and build and grow and sell more records to actually making things that I thought were good and spending my time with people that I think are good and trying to actually be a human not like a music machine.”

Now with a new angle on the industry and being a musician, Megan can return to how her love for singing as a 10-year-old began, simply to perform on stage and entertain (or in her words “show off ”).

When&Where: The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine – August 19, Music Man, Bendigo – August 20, Karova Lounge, Ballarat – August 21, Barwon Club, Geelong – August 26 & Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – August 28

forte 31

FROC K IT W h at I s ‘ S m a r t C a s u a l’ E x a c t ly ?

Written by Katherine Reynolds www.katthewanderer.com | facebook/katthewanderer | @katthewanderer

Written by Jessica Alves | @jessicazalves

Is it just me, or does the phrase ‘smart casual’ strike fear into your heart too? Honestly, it’s been a term that I’ve struggled with for years, and have only come to terms with recently. I mean, what does that even mean? Is it smart, or is it casual? How can it be in-between?! WHY MUST YOU TAUNT US WITH CONFUSING DRESS CODES?!

Alright, calm down Jess.

To put it short and sweet, everybody’s idea of ‘smart casual’ is different. It’s the kind of dress code that leaves things to the guests’ interpretation, which is so, freaking, terrifying, purely because you have no idea what anybody else is going to be wearing.

While I was doing a bit of research — i.e. catching up with my blogs — I stumbled across a formula for the perfect smart casual outfit; two parts ‘smart’, one part ‘casual’. The ingenious recipe was created by Carmen Hamilton of Chronicles Of Her (thechroniclesofher. blogspot.com.au). Because of the ratio, it essentially ensures that you’re never over dressed or under dressed. There are endless combinations, but I went with two.

Firstly, I went with a similar outfit to Carmen in her post — a skirt and a pair of heeled sandals with a casual oversized shirt — however I

changed up the shapes a little.

This outfit does sway slightly further toward the casual side of things, however if you then added an additional black blazer, or played with different shapes and colours, you can bring back the ‘smart’ element of the ensemble.

For outfit numero duo, I went with my own styling options. Firstly, I went with a white pair of jeans, a pair of black and white heeled sandals and a camel turtleneck. Our casual vs. smart ratio is a bit more blended in this outfit, due to the choices in garments and the fabrics that they’re made out of. The shape of the turtleneck gives it its ‘smart’ vibes, however it’s slightly oversized and slouchy – making it a little more casual than smart. Whilst white jeans are still jeans – and jeans will never be formal – the crisp whiteness pulls them closer to the dressier side by making them look less like jeans and more like pants.

The real deciding factor between whether or not this outfit is casual or ‘smart casual’ lies in the choice of shoes. If I wore this outfit with a pair of street shoes, nobody would bat an eye.

However, pairing them with a heel instantly transforms the outfit into a ‘smart casual’ appropriate get-up.

Remember, it’s all about

Finding the Little Moments During Your Travels

ratios. Try and keep it so that for every one element of casual clothing you have, add two elements of smart attire. And don’t forget, these items can all come in the form of accessories too!

It feels so great to have mastered the old “what to wear when the invitation says ‘smart casual’” dilemma, and no longer have to worry about the fear of what everybody else is going to be wearing! Now we just have to figure out what every single other dress code entails and we’ll be set.

There’s something truly remarkable about taking a step back from a main street in a capital city, or busy tourist spot that you’re visiting, and being welcomed with something undeniably spectacular. It gives you the feeling that you’re the only one that’s discovered this hidden street, or secret garden, and gives you a feeling like no other. It really adds another dimension and appreciation to your travels.

It’s a real treat, and something everyone should aspire to do every once in a while. Put the map aside for the rest of the day, or be a little nosy and walk down a more residential street, see how some

people live their lives in these countries. I honestly do it more than any normal person should!

But I truly love it. I get a thrill when I try and imagine who settles in these homes, what they would be decorated like inside, what local food they would be cooking, how they would speak to each other, or where they work. I do this in London quite a bit, but would hate to think how much the rent would cost!

Seeing where people live and what day-to-day life is like in another country is one of those rewarding things about travelling. You get to take a peak into someone else’s existence, and maybe even imagine yourself in their shoes for a minute.

It’s way too easy to get caught up in the main attractions and tourist traps when you’ve got a long list of things to see in a place, you just move along with the crowd and become any old tourist. So just take a step back and immerse yourself in the real vibe of a city or town. You never know what you’ll find.

This could lead you to eating at a local, family run restaurant, serving the freshest, most local cuisine you could ever dream of.

Or it could allow you to speak to the locals, learn more about them and even try and speak a touch of their language. It may sound boring to some, but it’s one of those experiences that you’ll always remember. A local experience.

A moment I’ll never forget is one that took place in Tuscany, Italy. We were walking through the local village we were staying in, and found a viewpoint towards the edge of the town.

After we were done taking photos, we began walking back to our hotel, but an old man stopped us in our tracks, and whilst speaking no English whatsoever, invited us into his home and took us through to his garden, which had an even better view. The awkward exchange between him and us was so sweet and so genuine that I nearly had a little cry afterwards. I’ll always cherish that moment.

So, do yourself a favour and treat yourself to these little moments. The quiet streets, the grand houses, the lives.

With 13 stores in the Geelong, Bellarine, Ballarat and Surf Coast areas we really are the.

EXPERTS IN EVERYWHERE

SAY HELLO TO THE TRAVEL EXPERTS

Our locally owned and operated stores have well-travelled consultants that will cater to your individual requirements no matter what type of holiday you are after.

Come and see us soon for fantastic deals and our latest specials.

32 forte

Ballarat

(03) 5332 8088

Newtown

(03) 5221 9888

Drysdale

(03) 5251 1125

Highton

(03) 5243 9311

Leopold

(03) 5250 1210

Torquay

(03) 5261 9333

Ocean Grove

(03) 5256 1888

Geelong Market Square

(03) 5221 1722

Ocean Grove the Terrace

(03) 5255 5252

Geelong Central

(03) 5223 2788

Geelong West

(03) 5221 3611

Waurn Ponds

(03) 5244 3600

Corio

(03) 5274 2511

CLASSIFIEDS Send your info to editorial@fortemag. com.au. For individual use only, not for commercial purposes.

Lead Vocalist Wanted for already established psych pop-rock band based in Geelong, wth over 12 months of gigging experience in Melbourne and Geelong.

Female an advantage, but open to try anyone.

Hear live recordings at: zumamusic.bandcamp. com. Please contact us at: zumaofficial@gmail.com or 0432049239.

Drummer & Keyboard Player Wanted for pop/rock originals band.

Phone 0421901530 Guitarist Urgently Needed for Sex Pstols tribute. Gigs waiting.

Gelong based. Call Sid 0415328051 Local Bendigo Band Looking for Female singer, cover music, gigs waiting, phone Chris 0403258151 Drummer Wanted!

Any age is ok, as long as you can play. Call 0430971319 Bass Player Wanted for dynamic (gigging) blues rock three-piece. Contact 0430971319 for more info.

Bass Player Wanted Experienced Bass player required for established working covers band: think Blondie, Free, Cream, SRV, CCR, Fleetwood Mac, Garry Moore and popular ‘60s/on wood bands.

Own gear and transport a must. rehearsals at Ocean Grove. Call Ray on 0418512975 for more info.

The Farmer’s Place

‘Meet the Producers’ Dinner Wednesday, July 8

Written by Amanda Sherring, Photos by Brooke Taylor

Coming across the Farmer’s Place in the heart of farming and produce in Freshwater Creek, it’s almost like finding a secluded getaway – a home away from home. While the venue is located geographically in the heart of local farms, it also serves as the heart on a more emotional basis, and that became evident in the inaugural meet the producers dinner held on July 8.

Of what is said to be the first of many special events, the dinner enables you (as a consumer or fellow producer) to meet the creators of produce in the region. Featured on the night was Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm, Hilbilby Cultured Food, Great Ocean Ducks, Freshwater Creek Free Range, Moriac Farmstead Dairy and Ravens Creek Farm.

Over the course of the evening there were plenty of local wines to be had, finger food to indulge in and many like-minded individuals to join in conversation with. What soon followed was a five course (beyond expectation when the event was advertised as a three course) meal created purely from the local products by Farmer’s Place chef Luke Wakefield.

Dishes ranged from duck fillet with duck sausage to a dessert of rhubarb in varying forms of too-good-to-be-true treats and techniques.

The quality served in each course was above and beyond and easily a chefs hat quality – something that can surely be attested to by each of the attendees. Wakefield’s creativity in the dishes was something that needs to be experienced, whether it’s in the next ‘Meet the Producers’ dinner or for lunch on the weekend.

Where: 675 Anglesea Road Freshwater Creek Victoria, 3217 When: Sun - Thur: 7am - 4pm (kitchen closes 2.30pm) Fri - Sat: 7am - 10pm

forte 33

Jesse Hooper Q&A

It’s the quiet achievers who really make their own place in the world, and Jesse Hooper is one of them, and humble as ever. Past member of Killing Heidi, four time ARIA award winner and accomplished singer/ songwriter, we had a chat to Jesse about his newest venture: teaching at Collarts in Melbourne.

Hi Jesse, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte magazine, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?

Really well! Very busy teaching at Collarts and working on some new music collaborations.

We understand you’re teaching at Collarts (Music, Audio & Management College), can you give us a run down of the course you’re teaching and what it’s all about?

Sure thing. I coordinate and teach the songwriting stream and ensemble program as part of the Music Degree taught at Collarts. All our music students participate in the ensemble program, where they work as bands to rehearse and perform repertoire under the guidance of expert musician mentors.

Students can also specialise as an instrumentalist, vocalist or songwriter – which is where I teach students who choose songwriting. Collarts recently added Steve Mackey from Twelve Foot Ninja to join the songwriting team, which is helping our students create some killer new original works.

Given you were previously with Killing Heidi, what was

the decision behind moving into teaching music after being in a successful band?

While in Killing Heidi, Ella and I would regularly host music performance and songwriting workshops for schools and aspiring artists.

We always loved sharing our knowledge and industry experience, so moving into mentoring and teaching was a natural progression for me. I started running a community arts and music program at The Artful Dodgers Studios in Collingwood where I mentored disadvantaged and marginalised young people, including many refugee and newly-arrived participants. This work was an inspiring way for me to use my music and mentoring skills in a new environment. Now I also bring my experience of being in a critically and commercially successful band to my teaching and course design at Collarts – which I love.

Many bands wouldn’t think of studying music to further their career, how important is it for musicians to study as well?

It’s vital. The more aware and skilled you are as a musician, the more opportunities you will be able to seize and maximise.

What music projects are you currently working on?

I am currently producing and writing a collaborative track featuring refugee hip hop act FLYBZ, Pataphysics, Ella Hooper, Waleed Aly and Dan Sultan! It’s shaping up to be very exciting and the track is a showcase of multiculturalism.

We saw you recently organised a Collarts singersongwriter night, are there lots of opportunities like this with Collarts?

Yes, I am always placing

our students into external performance opportunities. I am regularly asked to provide entertainment for community, corporate and festival events, which provides vital performance experience for our students.

What was the decision behind pursuing a solo career as well?

Well I’m starting my own project later this year, it’s early days but I have some great collaborators lined up so stay tuned!

As you’ve won four ARIA Awards now, is that an added pressure that’s in the back of your mind when you’re creating new music or does it not phase you at all?

No not really. I have learned that putting commercial expectations into your music can be very stifling to creativity. I am very proud of my past awards and achievements, but I do not want to be one of those old rockers clinging to past glories.

I love writing and performing and I hope that when I release

more of my own music that it finds a receptive audience. I used to feel like I had to eclipse my past successes with every new work, but now I try to go where inspiration leads. *If you are interested in studying songwriting or music performance, visit Collarts College (where Jesse Hooper teaches) at their st Open Day on Saturday 1 August, 10am till 3pm. Or visit their website for more info collarts.edu.au or send them an email info@collarts. edu.au

regional victoria's #1 music & entertainment magazine and online service!

34 forte

forte 35

The Crystals Q&A

They’re one of the most defining girl groups of the ‘60s singing such hits as ‘Then He Kissed Me’ and ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ and now they’re coming back to Australia – and Geelong – for the second time, proving to all girl bands out there they’ve still got what it takes.

Hi there, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte magazine, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?

It’s a pleasure. We are just about to depart for Australia and our tour Down Under. It is exciting!

This tour marks your third trip to Australia, are you looking forward to visiting again?

Coming to Australia is always fabulous. It is such a beautiful, clean country. And the people are so friendly!

Have you had the chance to actually see the sights while you’re down here? Any highlights?

This time we will have a couple of days in Sydney and Melbourne. We will be sure to get to the Sydney Opera House, the harbour bridge and we have heard the restaurants and coffee shops are excellent in Melbourne. It will all be a thrill.

The Crystals are known as one of the defining girl groups in America from the ‘60s, what are your thoughts on how girl groups have developed over time?

The development over time has been quite astounding.

Girl groups have featured in movies and in Australia there has been the Sapphires movie based in the late sixties.

Probably the most significant thing has been the improvement in recording technology.

We were one of the very first that recorded with Phil Spector and what he claimed was his Wall of Sound. Recordings today are much clearer and sound fabulous Surely back then there was so much pressure placed on appearance and the ‘unified appearance’ of the group, was it hard to always maintain that with the pressure you were under?

On the Dick Clark rock n roll tours in the fifties we would do 60 shows in 60 days. The pressure to have a unified appearance was great. Just imagine the washing that is needed on the tour and the very little time to do it. It is a lot easier now.

It must be nice though to get back together and dress

When&Where: The Capital, Bendigo – August 5, Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston – August 6, The Geelong Playhouse, Geelong – August 7 & The Palms at Crown, Melbourne – August 8

up, what’s your favourite thing about touring again as The Crystals?

The most favourite thing is bringing joy to the people who have enjoyed our records over many years. We are very appreciative of their on-going support. And to see young people getting in to the music is a special thrill.

And you’re touring alongside some other legendary performers (The Allstars and Ray Burgess), are you glad to have such icons support you?

We have heard about the Allstars from other American acts who have toured with them. They have an excellent

reputation. We have also heard about Ray Burgess and that he toured with Michael Jackson. We are going to have some fun with these guys as we rock n roll.

Your music is rather timeless as well, having been played on numerous movies and television shows to this day, is it nice to know that your music will live on through numerous forms?

Yes it has been on vinyl, cassette, cartridge, compact disc, video, movie and now it is available again on vinyl. It keeps on spinning around and that is fabulous and we are very grateful.

Have you ever been caught off guard watching a show/movie and heard one of your songs played?

We were caught off guard when we first heard our first recording on the car radio. That was a blast and it sounded so different from in the studio.

The Angels Written by Natalie Rogers

No pub jukebox worth its salt would be complete without an A to Z collection of The Angels’ legendary hits. In fact, I’ll wager that no Saturday night in the pubs around Australia would be complete without a unified chorus of ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?’ sang arm in arm, with glasses raised high. Now imagine that scenario with The Brewster brothers up close and personal, playing The Angels’ biggest hits, classic rarities and all the crowd favourites.

The A to Z Tour was created due to overwhelming popular demand. The Angels camp listened to fans persistent pleas to hear more of the Aussie rockers impressive back catalogue, so the Brewster brothers, John and Rick, took it upon themselves to come up with the 26 track set list.

“John and I put it all together,” Rick says, “and of course there are a couple of spots that we don’t have a song. One of them is Q – we just call that question time!” he laughs.

“That’s when we throw it out to the audience and ask them what they would like us to play – everybody loves it.”

Rick says that he and John spent time reminiscing about old times while trawling through their body of work, but insists that The Angels’ commitment to the band, onstage and off, is as strong as ever. “Getting up on stage in front of a crowd and playing these songs never loses its appeal – it’s what we love to do,” Rick says.

Fronted by The Screaming Jets’ powerhouse vocalist Dave Gleeson (who sang with the band on and off before taking over the role permanently after the passing of Doc Neeson in 2014), The Angels will play 26 tracks back to back.

“We play ‘Take A Long Line’, ‘No Secrets’, ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ – all the good ones.

Obviously Z was always a problem but solved very quickly because we all love ZZ Top, as does everyone out there, so we hope to do them proud with a cover of ‘La Grange’.

“We also play some of our more recent songs from ‘Take It To the Streets’ [2012] and ‘Talk the Talk’ [2014],” he continues.

“These are songs that Dave Gleeson has been involved in, both writing and performing them.

Queenscliff Music Festival: Organiser Andrew Orvis Q&A

After proving he’s got the goods to run a music festival last year (2014 was Andrew Orvis’ first run as the organiser for QMF), Andrew is backing it up with an already impresive line up featuring Angus & Julia Stone, Harts and Paul Dempsey.

Hi Andrew, thanks for taking the time to chat to Forte, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?

I’m cold!!! What is with this weather? Wouldn’t it be nice to be stuck in Bali right now? Currently finalising plans for our 2nd line up announcement which will be out now, which may or may not include someone that we’ll call T. Perkins so we keep it a secret. No no wait, we’ll go with Tex P as that’s less obvious.

Things are coming along very nicely for QMF, how is everything going on the organiser side of things?

The festival planning is going really well. We’re smashing ticket sales this year. WAY ahead of similar time last year, so all smiles in the office. Response has been awesome, and there’s a buzz around town like I’ve never experienced.

It’s now your second year at the festival, are you pretty confident seeing you’ve passed the first year with flying colours?

Someone scared me about the whole 2nd year, second album thing. The sophomore release. Not many bands follow up their first with something equally as good, or better. I can’t even think of one?! Luckily I’m not in a 36 forte

band, and can’t play guitar for shit. So I’m confident this years festival will be a ripper!

How was that first year for you, was it what you thought it would be?

It was full on! I kinda knew what I was in for having been involved for many years. It was a big year for QMF. Whilst 2013 was an awesome festival musically, culturally, festivally etc, unfortunately financially it didn’t go so well so there was a bit of pressure to get that side of things right in 2014. The stars aligned, the weather was awesome, I managed to score some awesome acts, and people turned out in record numbers. It went well. Mind you I had nightmares all year about it all going bad!

When&Where: When & Where: The Gateway Hotel, Corio – July 25

“It’s always been critical to us to write new music, as it continually injects that life blood into the band and that’s what keeps us going, I think. Glesso’s an amazing performer and so was Doc,” Rick quickly adds. “They’re poles apart in style and performance but equally as energetic.”

The Angels have endured a lot in their 40 year history – but the loss of long-time bass player and friend Chris Bailey, to a rapidly aggressive form of throat and lung cancer, stands out as the most difficult. Thankfully, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the Brewster family and John’s son Sam stepped up to the plate. Although he

Are you changing much up with this second year?

Not really. I’m like one of those oldies who hates change. I figure we pretty much nailed it last year, so it ain’t broke, and we don’t need to fix it. Only thing is we’re getting rid of VIPs. Everyone at QMF this year is very important, so we’re looking after the 99% rather than the 1%. What was the VIP Lounge will remain, but it will be open for all to enjoy.

The first line up has been pretty huge already, can we expect many more bigger names to come?

Yer I’ve got heaps of artists to come. That’s 12 of what will end up around 70 acts. Next announcement is another diverse bunch. Everything from hip hop to alt country.

Stay tuned.

With so many festivals slipping away, what keeps QMF going strong?

Queenscliff. It’s all about the place. Sure people come for the music and festival, but they love the town. They love the cafes, pubs, beaches, steam train, old buildings, museums etc. It’s obvious we’d be nothing without Queenscliff.

Can you offer up any tips to the first-timers on how to get the most out of their experience atQMF? Download the App so you can plan you’re weekend.

Don’t peak too early as Sunday is always an awesome day.

Go and experience the town while you’re at the fest. Have a beer at the Vue Grand. Catch a ride on the QMF Express.

Go to the beach. Buy an ice cream. We have the best fish and chip shops going around. See some bands you’ve never heard of. Take less selfies. Dance a lot. Pash someone. Smile.

What’s the best thing to do in Queenscliff itself?

Get a burger from the Ripview Kiosk. Seriously the best you’ll ever have.

Thanks again for the chat, any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?

“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens” - Jimi Hendrix

is proud to carry on the tradition of close-knit family ties within The Angels, you’ll find no nepotism here. Sam has spent many years cutting his teeth in the Australian rock scene and played alongside current drummer Nick Norton in various musical projects.

“He picked Chris’s brains before he passed away and spent a lot of time with him, so it was very fitting. Towards the end Chris said to us ‘Sam is your man!’ and he handed over the baton. He’s a great guy, but over and above that he’s an incredible musician,” Rick says.

“Although, it’s something we’re not really used to, the

whole band getting along – we’re all friends. We eat together and drive in a van together. We didn’t do that for years and years!” he laughs. “Now there’s a very genuine camaraderie and the positive chemistry totally effects how we perform. It projects out to the audience as well – they feel it.”

When&Where: Queenscliff Music Festival – November 27-29

Forte Columns

PULP Written by Alastair McGibbon

too heavy to hug Written by Paul S Taylor

Corey Taylor has been making metal headlines recently by calling out all sorts of shit during interviews. His first shot was aimed at Kanye West where he said something a long the lines of, if you need to call yourself the world’s greatest rock star (kinda like how Kanye refers to himself as) then you’re not the world’s greatest rock star. Seems fair enough. In a different (radio) interview, Corey then suggested Axl Rose stop being a “douchebag” by making Guns N Roses fans wait for up to three hours for the band to appear on stage. Again, seems fair enough.

But why are we all listening to what Corey Taylor has to say all of a sudden anyway? Because Corey has written a book, his third book, actually. Entitled You’re Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look At The Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left it is a big old rant by Taylor about what in pop culture and society pisses him off.

I’m just waiting for the day someone releases a book about what pisses them off about Corey Taylor. Then a follow up book about that what pisses them off about Slipknot.

Also, in ‘only in stupid America, ha, America is so f*ckin’ stupid’ news, a young Boston man was arrested for wearing the ultimate in metal accessories, a bullet belt while getting on and riding a bus. An image of this totally metal guy is available online and I can assure you he looks like a cookie cutter metal fan. Apparently not only do the wheels on the bus go round and round, the passengers on the bus go insane and insane as they called 911 to report the guy looking like a metal head with a bullet belt. The man was arrested and charged with possessing ammunition or some shit (the ammo in these sort of “fashion” bullet belts aren’t real, FYI America) but charges were later dropped, thank f*ck.

In other news

Lamb Of God will release their seventh studio album VII: Sturm Und Drang in July.

Counterparts will release their new album Tragedy Will Find Us on Friday July 24.

Orpheus Omega will play The Barwon Club on Thursday July 30, The Corner on Friday July 31 and an all ages show at Musicland on Sunday August 9.

Baptiss will play The Eastern in Ballarat on Saturday August 1.

King Parrot will be at The Barwon Club on Thursday August 13 and Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on Saturday August 15.

Bullet For My Valentine will release their new album Venom on Friday August 14.

Ghost will release their third album Meliora on Friday August 21.

Grave Pleasures (ex Beastmilk) will release their new album Dreamcrash on Friday September 4.

TesseracT will release their new album Polaris on Friday September 18.

Silent Knight will play Melbourne’s Bendigo Hotel on Thursday October 8.

Devin Townsend Project and Periphery will be at 170 Russell on Sunday October 25.

Nightwish will play only one show per capital city on their Endless Forms Most Beautiful Tour 2016 and the Melbourne show will be at The Forum Theatre on Monday January 11.

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

blues news Written by John (Dr John) Lamp Proudly pesented by The Sleepy Hollow Blues Club

Anyone remember Canned Heat?

Canned Heat is an American blues/ boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965.

Canned Heat was founded by blues historians and record collectors Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson and Bob “The Bear” Hite. Hite took the name Canned Heat from a 1928 recording by Tommy Johnson.

They were joined by Henry “The Sunflower” Vestine, another ardent record collector who was a former member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. Rounding out the band in 1967 were Larry “The Mole” Taylor on bass, an experienced session musician who had played with Jerry Lee Lewis and The Monkees and Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra on drums who had played in two of the biggest Latin American bands, Los Sinners and Los Hooligans.

The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists. The band’s biggest hits were ‘On The Road Again’ in 1968, ‘Let’s Work Together’ in 1970 and ‘Going Up The Country’ in 1969. These became rock anthems throughout the world with ‘Going Up The Country’ being adopted as the unofficial theme song for the film Woodstock and the “Woodstock Generation.”

Founders Alan Wilson and Bob Hite passed away in 1970 and 1981, respectively. Henry Vestine died in 1997, and Robert Lucas in 2008.

From 2014, Canned Heat has been John Paulus, Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, Larry “The Mole” Taylor, Harvey “The Snake” Mandel and Dale “Kingfish” Spalding. Yes, all those nicknames does make them sound like the cast of The Sopranos, but it’s straight off their documentation – who am I to change it?

I know that this is starting to sound like “the axe that killed Anne Boleyn” (it’s only had three handles and two heads since then), but the Canned Heat spirit, and the sound live on. Now, more than 50 years later and with thirty-eight albums to their credit, Canned Heat is still going strong.

Fito’s book, Living The Blues tells the complete and outrageous Canned Heat story of “Music, Drugs, Death, Sex and Survival” along with over 100 captivating pictures from their past. A screenplay, that somewhat mirrors the book, is currently being written and efforts are underway to develop this into a feature length movie.

Among the Heat’s latest projects are a CD series entitled The Boogie House Tapes, Volumes I, II and III put together by Fito and Dr. Boogie, aka Walter de Paduwa, Canned Heat’s biggest fan and historian.

They and/or their music have been featured on television (In Concert, David Frost, Merv Griffin, Midnight Special, Playboy After Dark, etc.), and in films (“Woodstock,” “Big Fish,” and “Forrest Gump”).

So, why the column about Canned Heat? They are returning to the Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival as part of their 50th anniversary tour. Mark the diary for the Cup weekend, and get your tickets for the Festival, they will be going fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to yet another edition of Pulp! You’d think I’d have run out of things to say by now, but you’d be wrong!

As it happens, by pure accident we’ve got ourselves something of an Image Comics/Kirkman double-whammy; after last issue’s discussion of The Walking Dead, a copy of Robert Kirkman’s love letter to superhero comics – volume 1 of Invincible, ‘Family Matters’ – has found its way into my collection.

Honestly, I can’t think of a better description than ‘love letter’; Kirkman clearly loves his capes and cowls, and Invincible certainly lives up to the spandex-clad greats.

Invincible kind of comes across like an alternate take on Spiderman; the protagonist, Mark Grayson, is an American teenager, doing all the teenage-y things: juggling school, a part-time job and a fascination with girls (despite not really understanding them). The one thing that’s different about him? His dad is the world’s greatest superhero: Nolan Grayson, aka Omni-Man. Mark’s whole life is made even more complicated as he grows older – not only does he have to wrestle with puberty and responsibilities, he also has to contend with his own emerging superpowers! Taking inspiration from his ultra-famous father, Mark decides to become a hero in his own right, and takes the name Invincible. Because, well, reasons. Making friends with a Teen Titans analogue, Mark sets himself up as a new hero and begins his mission to protect the world.

If this is all sounding kind of familiar, you’re right – Invincible seems to take its cues from a number of popular heroes, primarily taking inspiration from DC and Marvel powerhouses Superman and the aforementioned Spider-man.

While it might come across as a repeat of what we’ve already seen, Invincible still manages to cover new ground. While there are undoubtedly homages to other,

PUNK! Written by Christopher Cruz

Agent 37/Bad Drunk Count bass ace Zach Watson has vowed to shave his beloved (not to mention much loved!) beard to raise money for The Cancer Council. There’s gonna be a huge show at the Eastern Hotel in Ballarat on Friday August 28th, with live performances from The Shorts, Joe Guiton and the Suicide Tuesdays, possibly Bad Drunk Count and more bands to be confirmed. $10 gets you in, and that money goes right to The Cancer Council. How awesome is that?! Raffle tickets will also be available on the night, and there’ll no doubt be some awesome prizes.

Super, super cool! This is the sort of shit punk rock USED to be about, and no doubt still could.

The utterly amazing SNFU (Canada) are headed our way for a string of Australian shows next month. Go to the Drunk Promoter’s Facebook page for details. I’ll be at the Bendigo Hotel show (in Collingwood, not Bendigo, I keep having to say that!), but there’s a show happening in Frankston, too! Special guests for all shows Wolfpack.

Have you guys seen the video Melbourne drunk punks Strawberry Fist Cake made for their killer new track ‘Drinkin’ Tonight’? It has tonnes of drinkin’ in it! It’s soooo fun! Go watch it now!

Hellcat Records band Time Again are getting back in the saddle, with an all new line up and new record in the works.

more famous heroes – Superman being the most obvious – Invincible sets up its own, individual universe that is worlds apart from the main Marvel and DC universes. To be honest, it’s still rather unusual to be reading an Image-published cape-and-cowl story; after all, this is a comics publisher that hit the jackpot with artistic, creator-owned stories that stood apart from the mainstream publishers.

That said, Kirkman is Image’s COO, so I guess he can do what he likes.

It’s really enjoyable to see the largerthan-life superheroes blend in seamlessly to familiar, domestic life; for example, dinner conversation trending towards recapping their latest, ridiculous exploits rather than talking about school or work. Part of that appeal is due to Mark’s mother, Debbie; despite being faced with rather ridiculous situations, she takes everything in her stride and carries on conversations as per normal. It’s deadpan humour at its best, and seeing the superhero realm collide with domestic bliss is a big part of the appeal to me.

Artist Cory Walker has done an excellent job, too; the character design is fantastic, and the titular character’s costume – despite its slightly garish colour scheme – is particularly appealing and fresh.

When it comes down to it, Invincible is just a really solid series. It still treads some familiar ground, but to be fair, it’s almost impossible to come up with a non-clichéd or completely original superhero origin. It takes the relatability of Spider-man, the everyman/adaptability of Superman and adds in some great storytelling to boot. If you’re a fan of capes and cowls – and let’s face it, if you’re reading this you probably are – then this is definitely a comic you should be reading.

Definitely one of the most underrated street punk bands out there. Please check them out if you haven’t already.

Time to rant about something uniquely Australian: tour supports. Do tour promoters have any idea how to put a line up together? I’m pretty sure they don’t. This is a country where The Spazzy’s opened for Marylin Manson and Ratcat opened for the Psychedelic Furs.

A country where emo/screamo bands end up supporting old-school punk bands on their Australian tours, instead of, I don’t know, ACTUAL punk bands.

This doesn’t seem to happen anywhere else in the world. In the US, punk bands play with punk bands. Hardcore bands play with hardcore bands. Pop punk bands play with, you guessed it, pop punk bands. Mixed bills are great for festivals, don’t get me wrong, but when you’re stuck in a small venue, waiting to see a punk band you’ve idolised since your childhood, the last thing you want is to ensure two support acts who sound NOTHING AT ALL like the headliner you’re there to see. And local bands, before clamouring for a spot on a tour, ask yourself if you’ll COMPLIMENT the bill...or stand out likes dogs balls!

Hanging out for that movie Suicide Squad? The official three minute trailer is now available online after making its debut at San Diego Comic-Con. Looks frickin’ fantastic, I gotta admit!

Jared Leto does a pretty good Joker.

Y’all know that Pennywise (celebrating the 20th anniversary of their incredible About Time album) and Anti Flag are touring the country together in September, right? One Vic show, at 170 Russell (once known as Billboards!)

Monday September 28. Supports TBA. Speaking of Pennywise, the guys are currently on tour across the US, opening for the legendary Danzing.

More next time, kids- try not to freeze to death in the meantime!

pop culture

THE NIGHT VIBE

Written by Anthony Morris

Written by Tex Miller thenightvibe.com.au

If you’re a fan of Australian film, you might have noticed over the last year or so a shift in the way the local product hits cinemas.

Gone – or at least, somewhat reduced – are the days when your typical Australian film was thrown into a bunch of cinemas to compete with the best the world has to offer. Instead, we’re increasingly seeing Australian films given what distributors like to call “showcase” sessions. Often one-off or limited screenings that include Q&As with cast and crew or other added extras before or around the same time as the film becomes available on digital platforms. This is a response to a number of factors that have been getting a whole lot of press over the last year or so, and if you were about to say “piracy” you’d be dead wrong – even if that does play a part in all this.

Part of the reason for Australian films moving out of cinemas is that they just don’t do all that well in cinemas, but that’s not their fault. Yes, Australia does make a lot of duds and audiences are somewhat gun-shy when it comes to local product, but it’s much more that the kind of films we make – low to mid budget dramas, mostly – are the kind of films that people don’t go to the cinemas to see these days.

Big budget spectaculars, dramas aimed at old people, and broad comedies are what put bums on seats, and we just aren’t that good at them.

So the cinema market has changed; still, what’s the harm in putting an Australian film on in cinemas for a week or two just in case? The problem there is that our cinema owners have a rule whereby a film that goes to cinemas can’t appear anywhere else for 90 days – no DVD release, no digital, no TV, nothing. It’s meant to stop those other formats from taking away cinema business, and it works just fine for blockbusters as they wait until they’ve finished up in cinemas before turning to other formats. But smaller films these days can’t afford to wait, especially in Australia. In the US now it’s generally expected that a smaller film will come out in cinemas and on digital at the same time (for no other reason than it won’t be appearing in that many cinemas so the advertising will cover digital too), and once something’s available on digital it’s pirated. In Australia if you go to cinemas you can’t go digital for 90 days: during those 90 days your film will usually be released overseas digitally, be pirated, be watched by everyone in Australia who wants to see it because unless you’re a blockbuster you’re only playing in a handful of inner-capital-city cinemas anyway, and then when you come out on digital no-one buys it.

That’s why Australian films are avoiding Australian cinemas as much as possible in 2015: cinema owners would rather have you watch a pirate copy than allow the distributors to sell it to you legally. Kinda puts all those “piracy is killing the Australian film industry” stories in a different light…

Over the past couple of weeks, you may or may not have noticed that our government have been saying things about musicians making money and how that they can ‘help’ us out. Well without this becoming a column aimed at slandering Tony Abbott and his ridiculous government that really can’t seem to get anything right – half the world has legalised gay marriage why can’t we! But that’s a story for another day, no the Australian Taxation Office or ATO as they are affectionately known, has released a report saying that Australian musicians earn on average $300k dollars a year. Using a fictional character ‘Stephanie’ as an example to illustrate the benefits to new tax breaks for small business.

It’s funny to think that this example of ‘Stephanie’ is a good one because according to the ATO and our government, she rakes in 300k just for playing her guitar. Now reading this column, I think that I am probably just stating the obvious here when I say that there are many other musicians in the same boat and you simply aren’t able to just play guitar and earn three hundred thousand dollars a year. Mr Hockey, it takes a little more than just that to make things work. To a certain extent talent is one of the main factors to being successful in the music industry, but there are many other things that come into play as well.

Earlier in the year, I remember when Tony Abbott now infamously said you either have to ‘Earn and Learn’ and so now under that guise, why don’t we all dust off those acoustic guitars in our bedrooms and head out on the road and be rock stars? Given that it is really ‘that’ easy, what are you waiting for? He does listen to Nickelback and so quite possibly we can’t take a word of what he says as the truth, but Joe Hockey wants us all to get a good job that pays good money, so why don’t you head out and play with your friends.

For most musicians, it isn’t about the money, it’s about the gratitude that you get when you play at a gig and how great you feel when you play something someone knows and you have the whole crowd singing along with you – there really isn’t a bigger buzz that you can get than from a big crowd that is behind you. What I don’t really understand is how stupid our government is; I know that I said this wasn’t a political rave, but seriously how are these people running our country?

Yes, this time around in 2015 they acknowledge that music making is a part of the economy that’s great, however their figures are seriously a load of complete bollocks. If you are a small sole trader, according to the new budget website that was released recently you earn a taxable income of $300,065. Really Australian Government? If this is the case, then I’m booking a vacation tomorrow.

Luckily, Johnny Barrington from Canberra band Super Best Friends, who released their debut album Status Updates (which is brilliant and well worth checking out) earlier this year, wrote a letter to Joe Hockey, telling him to check his figures and stop listening to Nickelback. The latter I don’t think of which will be possible, but maybe, just maybe.

After Johnny Barrington took to Mr Hockey to tell him that all of this budget stuff was complete nonsense, the government came out and said that they made a slip up. Oh well, that’s a change then isn’t it?

Whilst they admit that Stephanie isn’t real there are actually musicians out there making close to that figure. Who knows whether the government is talking about the likes of Tame Impala or more local and grassroots level artists, however, Neal Hunt a band manager for 28 years said that the government was out of touch, and those figures were a complete fairytale’.

More realistically bands are more likely to make between $350-800 dollars a night but then if you split that between five members and costs to get to the gig, it doesn’t really even out does it? Anywho, music is about playing for thrills and not as Mr Knopfler put it “Money for nothing and your chicks for free”. forte 37

Melbourne Guitar Show: Rob Walker Written by Amanda Sherring

No matter where you’re from in the world, the guitar is a symbol we can all recognise and relate to. In the UK alone over 750,000 guitars are sold each year, and it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most played instruments in the world.

It’s this popularity and love for the instrument that has seen the return of the Melbourne Guitar Show by the AMA, a show that has run on and off over the past decade or two.

The show will run at Caulfield Racecourse on August 8 and 9, offering the latest in products, knowledge, performers and a celebration of what makes the guitar such a great instrument – which organiser Rob Walker is happy to outline.

“First of all it combines percussion with melody so you’re instantly a one man band. You can sing with the guitar, it’s portable, it can be played in so many different ways and styles from f lamenco to power playing to shredding and heavy metal – it’s just amazing how many styles guitar can be applied to,” he says.

“It’s no wonder that it’s the most popular instrument, but I think it’s portability and that it can be picked up and played at the drop of a hat is a really strong aspect of why the guitar is so popular.”

On display at the show is one of the largest offerings of guitars

and equipment, a ‘monster’ exhibition of electric and acoustic guitars, ukes, FX, amps and more.

“We’ve got a whole group of local luthiers, and amp makers from Australia. And their guitars are always just that bit different to the mainstream guitars,” he says.

“There’s different shapes, different styles and looks so we’re excited about that. I think people could be surprised by the number of vintage pieces we’ll have on display, there’s some very old stuff dating back to the ‘50s and ‘60s.”

Over the two days there will also be numerous workshops to help with mastering general guitar techniques, ukes, tones and more. The chance to see this in action will also come from the live performers from the cream of the crop in the Melbourne music scene, including AJ Leonard, Jamie Pye, Shannon Bourne, King of the North, Ben Kelly and more.

While the show is about celebrating the guitar as an instrument, it’s also about

celebrating the community that comes with it – something Rob is very proud of.

“What a fantastic guitar community we have!” Rob beams.

“The talent that we have is equal to anywhere in the world, so that’s what I’m proud of and we’re going to showcase it to the best of our ability. People can come along and get a bargain, or look at the old guitars, new guitars and Australian made guitars. There’s a real lot to do on the weekend.”

From the show, Rob would love nothing more than to see another 20 musicians emerge from the inspiration and motivation received at the show – as well as picking up some oneoff and quality stock.

Tickets and the full program line up can be viewed on the website: http://www. australianmusician.com.au/ melbourne-guitar-show/ When&Where: Caulfield Racecourse, Caulfield – August 8 & 9

Hugo Race and the True Spirit Q&A / Photo by Wendy Morrissey

Hugo Race is a man constantly on the move, whether it’s moving to another country for a future collaboration, escaping the Melbourne cold or evolving as a musician, there is nothing about Hugo that is common. We had a chat to the musician ahead of his Australian tour with the True Spirit.

Hi Hugo, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte Magazine, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?

Well, I just arrived back in Melbourne from Italy. I was touring there as a solo performer with a show that uses live sampling but is based in my solo work and the records I made with Fatalists. It’s a whole other proposition to the True Spirit and is a highly mobile way to tour. On this tour I played in far eastern Europe as well as Mediterranean islands, hard work but very inspiring on all kinds of levels. I had to get back to Melbourne to finish the soundtrack for George Gittoes’ new film Snow Monkey, which will premier at MIFF on August 3 – we are all very excited to see the final film, as it is still changing in these last weeks prior to the screening.

So you’re going to be leaving the lovely climate of Italy for the rainy bliss of Melbourne in your upcoming shows back in Australia, is it quite a big adjustment for you or do you slip straight back into it?

There’s always a period of acclimatisation particularly when you move between high summer and deep winter. I had to ask myself why I was doing this – wrenching myself off the beach in Sicily to 38 forte

get back to Melbourne’s arctic cold snap. But there are reasons – not only Snow Monkey, but the Australian tour of the True Spirit, which begins this week. It couldn’t wait any longer, I had to go, appointments to keep and planes to catch. Now I’m here I’m flat out catching up on everything after being away for six weeks. It’s hectic and I like it like that. Sometimes...

I know you’ve said in the past that you move from place to place to take up different opportunities that are thrown your way, how did working with The True Spirit come about?

Over the last five years I spent more time in Melbourne, moved back here and so started working more with my brothers here in the city. We started recording for our own diversion - we were playing live occasionally and building up an audience again after doing very little for several years since the release of 53rd State back in 2009. We wanted to perform new material - so I asked the band to cowrite with me, titles, riffs, anything to generate new songs. I felt that I already was releasing a solo or Fatalists record every year so the Spirit would have to be a collaboration between me and the band. And this worked out well, making the new album a

When&Where: The Eastern, Ballarat – August 14, The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine – August 15 & Flying Saucer Club, Melbourne – August 21

communal record from the Spirit of the band - hence the title. We worked very slowly because there was no pressure and I was often away doing other things, and that slow process produced what I think is the most considered record we’ve ever done.

Given your new LP is called ‘The Spirit’, which has been getting incredible reviews, do you think as people now we really struggle to connect with our spirits?

I don’t know if we’re really struggling to connect with our spirits, but there is so much interference it feels that way.

For a start, the media cycle with its focus on constant capitalist expansion in the face of a worldwide environmental meltdown has produced a harrowing psychic climate, particularly in Australia.

People have become statistics, profit and loss entities to support predatory financial markets. If Google could rip out your soul and plant a chip in your brain legally, they would. The mainstream political establishment, the churches, I don’t recall any of this scenery looking quite so vile before as it does right now. We are connected with our spirits, with The Spirit, at all times - that’s the reality. The rest of it - the politics, the social degradation, the moral vacuum - is a fantasy expressing the emptiness of the agendas of the powerful, may they burn in hell.

I know you’ve said that you like to leave the meaning up to the listener to decipher, have you had many instances where their perception has fell in line with yours

(whether that’s through a review or commentary somewhere)?

I actually think my song lyrics are fairly explicit - there’s no free association at all. I like free association in conversation, but choose not to use it when I’m writing. Yes, often people’s ideas about a song are similar to mine and then again, sometimes not. I think one of my recurring themes is ambiguity and paradox - because a lot of our lives are mysteries about which we are never quite sure. As in, did that really happen or I did imagine the whole thing?

That memory, was it a dream or an invention? Did she really say that? And then you look around and realise that everything you see is merely your own perception of events and none of it ever

objectively happened. You just thought it did. But a little thought is a powerful thing, powerful enough to even make us think we’re real.

Thanks again for having a chat, any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?

I don’t know about wisdom, all I have are my opinions - one of which regards the True Spirit. The True Spirit is an amazing band of intuitive musicians playing together since 20 years in which time they’ve evolved a telepathic communication that leads to really startling live performances. So the last thing I’d like to say is get down to the shows on this Australian tour, it won’t happen again for a long time to come. It’s magic, mystery and chaos with a backbeat and it’s a music like no other. Don’t miss out, it is now.

BATTLE BAY Round 7

SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 11:30AM LEISURETIME CENTRE, 262-268 ANAKIE ROAD, NORLANE

All day entry - ADULTS: $10 / KIDS UNDER 12: FREE Game 1 - 12:30PM Sisters of Anarchy (NSR) vs ATom Bombs (GRDL) Game 2 - 2:30PM Dolly Rogers (SSRD) vs Pulp Vixens (NSR) Game 3 - 4:30PM Psychotics (GRDL) vs Rat Pack (BRDL)

forte 39

Refining the Palette

Patron to Pit: Lucinda Goodwin Photography

Blue King Brown @ Bluesfest

Q&A

Standing front row in the mosh it’s hard not to envy the musicians on stage and the photographers below, capturing their every move. Lucinda Goodwin just so happens to be one of the latter, but she originally was in the same spot as the rest of us idolising gig photographers and musicians. We had a chat to the photographer ahead of her debut exhibition at Courthouse Youth Arts, Patron to Pit. Hi Lucinda, thanks for taking the time to chat to Forte, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?

No worries, I’m good.

I’m actually in the middle of finalising everything for the exhibition and a bit of editing of some shoots I’ve been working on.

I know your love for music photography first came when you saw some photographers in the pit at Falls, was that the first major festival you went to?

No actually, I had been to Queenscliff Music Festival two years running before I went to Falls, I volunteered to put some posters up around town for a few days and in turn got a weekend pass. Falls was my take on schoolies!

What was it that made you want to become a photographer at festivals/ gigs?

I had just accepted a place in a photography course for the following year, and after turning 18 I started getting more into the music scene because of the friends I had at the time, so it was a perfect opportunity to put the two together. Not only that but it gave me something to do at friends shows.

Has it so far lived up to the dream?

Definitely, I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities because of it!

What’s the actual vibe like when you’re down in the pit?

It differs show to show, you can go to a festival like Bluesfest with 120 photographers, three video guys, and 15 security and it’s the calmest environment.

But in turn you can go to a Melbourne venue and the

40 forte

pit has 12 photographers and two security and it can be tense and a pretty tight squeeze. Normally you will find that it’s very chilled out before the act comes on, then as soon as the house lights dim, the madness begins, photographers running in every direction, and trying to stay out of the way of paying patrons and security.

We can imagine you’ve probably attended too many gigs to count, has there been a highlight for you?

Too many highlights to name! A few of my absolute favourites are shooting the ARIAs Last year – not many 22 year olds can say they have been to the arias and drank champagne on a roof top with the best of the best in the music business. Bluesfest this year too was incredible, not only the vibe of the whole festival but the camaraderie within the photographers, plus the line up was amazing!

What’s it like for you when you do get that one incredible shot?

It’s pretty rewarding knowing you captured the split second something amazing happened on stage, and sometimes you may be the only photographer that captured that exact moment. Because like all art, photography is subjective.

And of course, you’re showcasing your experience to date in an exhibition at Courthouse Youth Arts, what kind of works have you selected to put on show?

Any favourites?

I’ve got a wide range of works on show, I started shooting music at the end of 2010, start of 2011,

Release the Crowd(funding) We’ve all been to that one festival, or many, where you feel one with the crowd. They’re your family, and for those 45 minutes of a band’s set where you’re rubbing up against each other’s sweaty body it feels like home. Capturing that and more is Australian music photographer Nic Bezzina, who is launching a crowdfunding campaign to help make his festival crowd photography book, Release the Crowd, a reality. Visit: www.kickstarter.com/projects/nicbezzina/release-thecrowd-by-nic-bezzina to show your support.

Pez Crowd @ QMF

Lucinda Goodwin Bluejuice @ Fat As Butter

A Trail of Discovery Part of the joy of art is discovering new things, whether that’s in the form of a new artistic friend, something you didn’t realise about yourself or just a new art form you’ve never seen before. Held over August 15 and 16 throughout the Shire, the event showcases over 25 artists with the chance to see their studios as well. Look up www.facebook.com/SurfCoastArtsTrail for more.

When&Where: Official launch (free) from 6pm at Courthouse Youth Arts Gallery.

Exhibition running until August 14 Website: lucindagoodwinphotography.com

so I have a pretty large body of work. There is stuff from really early on to the Remi show I shot a month ago. The show consists of about 90 prints plus portfolios which act as diaries of each year as its own body of work, so a lot of photographs for people to enjoy.

My favourites are more based around the stories attached to images. There’s a shot of Courtney Barnett that was my very first printed magazine cover for Cargo Art. The Gang Of Youths portraits after their first sold out show at Northcote Social club on the back of their debut album, which reached #5 on the ARIA album charts in its first week. The Hilltop Hoods shot that I stood in the pit waiting to happen and was the only

photographer to grab that moment. I also have a soft spot for the local guys featured who have become some of my closest friends, the likes of Famous Will, Alister Turrill, Kyle Taylor, Rach Brennan, RDZJB, The Kite Machine and Murdena all feature.

Any last bits of wisdom you’d like to share with our Forte readers?

Keep your smart phones in your pocket at shows, or if you must, only take a few snaps.

Enjoy the show and go tap the photographer on the shoulder and ask where you can see their photos, guarantee they are better than the ones you took on your iPhone! And get out to local shows, there is so many amazing musicians in Geelong for you to see and fall in love with their music!

Courtney Barnett @ The Corner

A Healthy Dose of Film Created in 2013 by Monash Health, the Reel Health International Short Film Festival runs throughout August (with one screening in September) and across the Barwon region (Norlane, Barwon Heads, Colac, Lorne etc). The festival serves as a platform for film makers to talk about health issues and their affect on communities.

“During the Festival, audiences will see films that share personal journeys and family experiences, and that are truly inspirational, thought-provoking and, at times, breathtaking,” says Anne Doherty, Reel Health Film Festival Director. “The short film genre is a platform that has the potential to change the paradigm of health conversations by giving a voice to the voiceless and providing an avenue for the great story tellers to tell their health stories,” she says. All screenings are free, but get in early to book your spot.

Refining the Palette

Skaters Rejoice As part of a photography series that included 300 portraits, Nikki Toole has just culminated the whole experience with the release of its book, Skater, a 144-page book showcasing portraits of skaters around the world.

Copies of the book can be purchased from the Geelong Gallery shop.

Pictured: Daniel Whitechurch and Laura McKellar, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, 2009

by Nikki Toole

Amber Daly Written by Amanda Sherring

As an artist you’re constantly creating, imagining the world in a different light and trying to make sense of things through your art.

Stepping into Amber Daly’s studio, overlooking the hills of Highton and the Barwon River, there’s a scattering of sketches from her walks around home and a large painting of a table within her studio – seen in a new light of purple hues, grey and strong line work.

“As an artist I think you always need to continually create but you mightn’t have access to something really different, so you should still be able to find something within your immediate surrounds,” Amber says gesturing to her recent painting of the studio table.

“I think that’s a really good challenge as well.

And I think that with my tools and everything it should be an inspiring place to work.”

And that it is, but for Amber her fluidity in creating new works didn’t flow on from her degree in fine arts. On completing the course, she actually took eight years off creating, before realising that she wasn’t doing what she wanted to do.

Her realisation led to an application to two big name galleries in

Melbourne, only to be turned away. Not wanting to be put off her dream to pursue her passion, she created a gallery herself in Richmond.

“Artists are meant to do new things and to step outside and say, ‘I want to start something’. I’d applied to a couple of galleries and wasn’t getting any work so I thought I’m just going to do it myself,” she says.

The decision to open her own gallery soon spring boarded her career and she was represented by a well-respected Melbourne gallery for five years.

Though while she was constantly creating, Amber found that her passion was getting skewed by the pressure to sell in a commercial setting.

“I’d reached a point in my painting where I wasn’t really happy with my work, it was just big paintings,

bright colours – it was more than that – but it started to lack a bit of substance and it became a bit too commercial,” she says.

“I was moving away from what I was painting as my subjects and why that was important for me to paint or draw that particular thing. If I was interested in that what did you have to say about it? So many people are interested in that too but what’s your voice? What do you then want people to get from it?

“I didn’t want people to buy my work because it simply matched their interior of their house, so I thought I need to find something to help me get back to why I’m doing what I’m doing and in the first three weeks og going back to study I realised that was exactly the right thing to do.”

Hanging on Every Word

With this in mind, Amber has a memo of sorts on the wall in her studio, reminding her of the value each artwork has for an artist: ‘You aren’t buying a thing, you’re buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a moment of someone’s life’.

Now back studying her masters in fine arts, Amber has had to unlearn all that she knows to understand the reasons behind her actions.

While she is relearning, her style is still the same, described as a naïve style it’s a raw take on the world coming purely from emotions and no outside sources.

“It’s very direct coming from my emotions and not particularly influenced by any other movements or outsiders, you get into the sway and get into the movements and that’s sort of the direct approach,”

she says.

“You’re really in a vacuum and working in your own world and just working form that.”

Emotions are evident throughout each of Amber’s artworks, there are those featuring her experiences in losing her mother, the shock of the Bali nine trial and her wishes for those rushing through life without enjoying it. The latter of which is certainly something Amber no longer has to worry about, as she is truly doing what she loves and that comes through in each of her pieces.

When&Where: Metropolis Gallery, Geelong – until August 1 Website: www. amberdalyartist.com

Following up on its inaugural event last year, the Word for Word National Non-Fiction Festival in Geelong will run again this September 11-13. The program was officially launched last week with over 70 noteworthy speakers. Highlights on the program are playwright Hannie Rayson, award-winning journalist Latika Bourke, archaeologist Adam Ford and, with a keynote address, world-renowned scientist and author Professor Tim Flannery. For the full program visit wordforwordfestival.com.au.

Black Panther Visits Lorne Arts Festival Bucking the trend for summer festivals, Lorne Arts Festival is back for its fifth year and with a killer program in tow (August 28-30). Proving that the coast is where it’s at, this year sees a breadth of events that showcase some of Australia’s best cabaret, sideshow, circus, theatre, comedy, visual art and music events. A highlight of the program is Black Panther Woman (directed and produced by Rachel Perkins) which recounts Marlene Cummins’ experience in the first and only Australian Black Panthers chapter, the abuses she suffered from men within the Indigenous community and her need to break a 40-year silence.

The film will screen only once on Saturday August 29 at 2.30pm.

Photo by Alina Gozin’a

forte 41

Refining the Palette

Bendigo Writers Festival:

Robyn Davidson Written by Amanda Sherring

In 1977 after two years of rigorous preparation, Robyn Davidson, then in her 20s, set off on her own with a dog, four camels and equipment for a 1700 mile trek across the Australian outback. It was a trip of firsts; a liberating experience that was captured in her book, Tracks.

“It’s the easiest book I’ve ever written,” Robyn admits straight away.

“It was easy in the sense that I was full of confidence and I didn’t know how hard it was to write so I wasn’t sort of on my back like a

42 forte

monkey. Also, I think it was still so vivid to me and that sense of it being a very vivid, wonderful thing in my life gave me a lot of impetus for writing.”

“I didn’t keep any notes at all on the

journey and I didn’t write it until two years later. I wrote it while in England far away from the environment but I remembered everything and I seemed to remember the whole nine months in great

clarity. Then as soon as I’d written the book it sort of took over the original memories in a way.”

Since then Robyn has continued to live a relatively nomadic life, travelling around the globe including time spent with the Rabari in northwest India in 1992.

Her time spent in India was nothing like the successes of her travels through the Australian outback, and as a result her book Desert Places, illustrating her time

spent with the Rabari living off flatbread, goat’s milk and parasite infested water, was a book of failures – something she is more than happy to portray.

“I think life is always about success and failure and that’s just what life is,” she says.

“Some things you succeed at and some you don’t and it’s how you ride both of those things that makes life.

Ultimately, I think success and failure are very subjective things.”

Honesty always has been, and still is,

of huge importance to Robyn and it’s something she has maintained throughout her career as a writer. A test on honesty for all in the industry comes when those in the film industry take on their book, and Robyn’s honesty has shone new light on the experience for others.

“I liked all the people involved and I think I was realistic about that a film will never be a book, it cannot be a book,” she says.

“As long as the filmmakers make an

honourable attempt to sort of stick with the essence of the book, that’s as good as it gets really. Because a book has to solve certain problems and a film has to solve different sorts of problems, so I think writers are naïve when they think that their book, as they conceived it, will find an exact replica on the screen – it doesn’t work like that.”

Robyn will discuss the adaptation of books to film alongside Raimond Gaita (Romulus My Father) at the Bendigo Writers

Festival on Sunday, August 9. Also at the festival will be Rohan Anderson (Whole Larder Love), John Marsden (Tomorrow When the War Began), Nam Le (The Boat) and many others.

For the full program and for tickets please visit: www. bendigowritersfestival. com.au.

WHEN&WHERE: Bendigo Writers Festival, various locations – August 7-9

reel health

FREE

International Short Film Festival

)HDWXULQJ D VHOHFWLRQ RI FDSWLYDWLQJ VKRUW ÀOPV IURP DOO RYHU WKH ZRUOG UHHO KHDOWK VKRZFDVHV VWRULHV RI FRXUDJH DQG LQVSLUDWLRQ EULPPLQJ ZLWK KRSH VWUHQJWK IULHQGVKLS DQG VXUYLYDO Saturday August 1 ~ 3pm BARWON HEADS Hall - 79 Hitchcock Ave Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYOX

Tuesday August 18 ~ 3pm Cumberland LORNE Resort - 150 Mount Joy Parade Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYPU

Wednesday August 5 ~ 7pm (Launch night) Village Cinemas GEELONG - 194 - 200 Ryrie St Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYPC

Thursday August 20 ~ 12 midday Norlane Child and Family Centre, NORLANE – 52 - 56 Gerbera Avenue Book at http://www.trybooking.com/ICXW

Friday August 7 ~ 7pm Courthouse Youth Arts GEELONG - 60 Little Malop St Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYPG Thursday August 13 ~ 7pm COLAC Cinema - Cnr Gellibrand St & Rae Street Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYPP Friday August 14 ~ 7pm SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre, DRYSDALE - 17 – 21 High St Book at http://www.trybooking.com/ICYC

Tuesday August 25 ~ 7pm Surf World TORQUAY - Surf City Plaza, Beach Rd Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYGU Friday August 28 ~ 7pm EAST GEELONG 8QLWLQJ &KXUFK ¶%D\ 5RRP· 195 Ormond Rd Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HYPX Wednesday September 23 ~ 7.30pm QUEENSCLIFF Uniting Church – 83 – 89 Hesse St Book at http://www.trybooking.com/ICXJ

forte 43

Sarah Carroll, Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine

Q&A

Amidst her busy schedule of radio appearances, gigs and general antics we had a chat to Sarah following on from her Ross Lipson Award in November last year and ahead of her show in Bendigo.

Hi Sarah, thanks for taking the time to chat with us!

How are you and what are you up to at the moment?

I’m wrestling with the concept of winter and being Victorian and wishing I wasn’t. Apart from that, fab!

Just had an amazing run of gigs, supported Tim Rogers at Saints and Sailors on Wednesday night, lovely gig at the Wesley Anne on Thursday, 3 Pairs mini tour on Friday and Saturday and Suzannah Espie single launch on Sunday. Phew!! Getting ready to record my next album in Tamworth in September.

You are undeniably known as the ‘Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine’, is that a title you wear with pride?

It’s a comedy title my friend Susan bestowed upon me with her trademark heavy irony. However, it’s proven to be a handy marketing device and I am proud of it, so up her nose with a rubber hose.

You’re also known for your many collaborations with various musicians, do you like to mix things up in your career?

If you’re going to make anything like a living in music, you must be flexible and ready to work with others. Never say no to an invitation to collaborate! It’s taught me so much and made me a better musician I think.

What’s the biggest thing you learn from working with

a new musician?

How fast they can decide to order in a cafe.

Too slow, they’re out. And, how can I accompany/ use their skills/sing with them best?

You’ll be working alongside the Ukulele Carnivale for a few shows, did you first get together for your shared love of the Ukulele?

Indeed! I taught Susan Russell to play when she began composing these great little songs but had no instrument. I’d been mucking around on it for a year or two by then. Now all three of us are quite the connoisseurs!!

What kind of dynamic do they add to your live performance or vice versa, what do you add to theirs?

We perform separately mostly, but I love what they do and they like to include me here and

When&Where: The Old Church On the Hill, Bendigo – July 25

there...we support and love each other and try to pass opportunities around. Why just last week, Susan was kind enough to send me a contact for a gig opening a new road in Craigieburn!! Thanks, Suz!!

What do you think is the biggest misconception about the ukulele as an instrument and the sound it produces?

People see it as a toy; silly, small and only for dilettantes and children.

And what drew you to the instrument to begin with?

The incredible delicacy of the sounds it made in the hands of Azo Bell.

Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us, are

there any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?

It would be wise to come to our shows!!!

Thin Green Line: Sean Willmore Written by Jariah Travan

Picture this... you have a passion for exquisite animals, so you become a ranger where it is your duty to fight on the frontline for these beautiful creatures to live another day – or at least another week. You risk your life for this cause because you believe in their right for freedom, your number of comrades decreases every hour because the animals aren’t the only ones who die in this battle against the poachers. This is the cause The Thin Green Line Foundation was created to support the men and women who risk their lives to care for these dying breeds.

Green Line likes to think outside the box and what better way to raise funds and awareness than with a festival. Greenline Grooves for World Ranger Day, is a music event to honour and celebrate the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect the endangered. With 100 per cent of donations going direct to the ground in 17 different projects around the world.

Not only will you be supporting an exceptional cause, but who wouldn’t want a nice cold bevy while reliving the wonder years with midnight oil covers.

The event will focus on the iconic protest hits of Midnight Oil, recapturing the lyrics and what it meant, all in a cruisy reggae dub vibe performed by

indigenous artists and put together by Declan Kelly.

Sean Willmore, the man with a plan, is the founding father of The Thin Green Line Foundation and president of the International Ranger Federation. Having travelled the globe to tell the world of the dangerous untold stories of his fellow rangers, Sean has put together an event not to be missed.

“People can be overwhelmed by everything happening around the world, just reading about rangers being killed people go, ‘Stop telling me bad news’,” he says.

“So it’s kind of our philosophy; we are going to tell you what’s going on but here’s something you

can do about it. Part of that’s just coming to a gig, watching a band, having a good time – you’ve actually contributed. Rather than be overwhelming, we would rather be empowering.

“We’re reaching out to be people who aren’t necessarily converted as well. It’s just about the music, you can come have a beer, just relax, while the rangers are crawling on the frontline all we have to do is go to a gig, so we try to make it easy for you to get involved.”

The event will be held over two days, Friday night the 24th and Saturday afternoon the 25th to accommodate for families. Green Line Grooves will see Declan Kelly present Diesel n’Dub, featuring Emma Donovan, Declan Kelly, Radical Son, Pat Powell and Tony Hughes plus other special guests. Also appearing on the night will be Oscar Jimenez (Watussi) as Amaru Tribe and Yirrmal Marika (Yolngu Boys).

Sean’s main goal for this event is to see people having fun. “We want you to have a good time and want people to go away from it and think this is a really cool organisation that does really beautiful work and I want to get behind them, so bring your friends along and pack out the joint.”

To know more about the event and purchase tickets head to gasometer.oztix.com.au to donate to The Thin Green Line Foundation head to thingreenline.org.au.

When&Where: The Gasometer, Melbourne – July 24 & 25

Genevieve Chadwick Written by Tex Miller

Genevieve Chadwick is a blues artist that has often been described as the love child of John Lee Hooker and Janis Joplin and from just one look at her YouTube clips it’s easy to see these comparisons at play. Having released her second full length album as a result of the Playing For Change initiative – which saw her work with Mark Johnson – she is set to play at the Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival over the last weekend in July and it’s easy to hear the excitement in her voice in being able to get back down to the river and up on stage again.

“It’s one of the most unique blues festivals in Australia. It’s all in the venues and so you don’t have this caged in vibe and there is such a great atmosphere through the streets,” Chadwick says.

“There is music everywhere and Echuca is such a lovely town as well – there are always a couple of fires burning and it has it’s own flavour and vibe. The audience that comes are also fantastic, and they are into the music and there are no dickheads in sight. It’s hard to have a bad time.”

Music has always been part of a massive part of Chadwick’s life and while her mum was still pregnant with her, she went to see Dire Straits. Ever since that day, even while in the womb, Gen has been set for the big time. Talking about the influence of the one and 44 forte

only Mark Knopfler, Gen describes it “as an education before she was even born”.

“I think the thing about Dire Straits and Knopfler is that it’s easy on the ears. It’s great song writing and beautiful guitar work. He has a particular style about him that is so tasteful and he is one of the greats that’s for sure,” she says.

Her debut album Riding The Wind, Forgetting Time, which was released in 2010, set the seed for the success that has followed – which included international touring and playing alongside the likes of Joan Armatrading, Allen Stone, Beth Hart and Ben Caplan.

Yet despite all the success, Chadwick feels that the best aspect to playing music is being able to connect with people through it.

When&Where: Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival – July 24-26

“Connecting to an emotion with the audience that is watching is very important to me and while I also get that recognition and be able to play alongside those big names, it’s not why I play music. I play because I like to feel that connection with people,” Chadwick says.

The Playing for Change project – which Chadwick was involved with – aims to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music.

“When I first met the Playing for Change guys, they asked me whether I knew the Maroon 5 song and so we

YouTubed it, then we did some filming in May Lane in Sydney and a few months later, the film clip was in the Top 10 on MTV. It was pretty crazy to see myself in a Maroon 5 clip that’s for sure. Music has an unbelievable power and it always starts with one,” she says.

In the writing process for the third album, Chadwick is keen on road-testing new tunes at Echuca. “Although I won’t have a new album by then, it’ll be cool to play some new songs and see the reaction that I get from people. So if you’re headed up there for the weekend,

come down and say hello!”

For your chance to see Genevieve Chadwick, plus a handful of others, head to www.winterblues. com.au and get your tickets to the Winter Blues Festival on in the last weekend of July.

forte 45

5 THINGS I HOPE TO SEE IN ‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ The Force Awakens is less than six months away, which may seem like a while to some readers, but to me it’s sure to fly by in no time amongst a flurry of promo hype and unprecedented excitement. In saying that, I still remain cautiously optimistic, however here are five things I hope to see in the film.

1. A REALISTIC LIGHTSABER BATTLE

As I said, this one is pretty obvious.

I mean, would it be a Star Wars film without one? Now you may be asking yourself, what does he mean by ‘realistic’? Well basically what I’m looking for is a more gritty, violent battle, not two guys doing a whole bunch of flips as they move their surroundings around with their mind. What I love so much about Luke vs Vader Round 2 is how it ends. It’s literally Luke finding a weakness and repeatedly attacking it until eventually Vader’s arm is gone. Brutal.

3. JAR JAR BINKS

Ok let’s just get one thing straight, Jar Jar Binks is a terrible character.

I can appreciate what Lucas was trying to do, but Binks’ forced, overbearing comedy was just too much. However, whether we admit it or not, I think there’s a small part in all of our hearts for this loveable Gungan, and I for one wouldn’t mind seeing him make a cameo (brief if possible).

I’ve read online that Abrams has hinted at the skeleton remains of Jar Jar appearing in The Force Awakens, this would also suffice.

2. THE CANTINA THEME

4. LESS CGI, MORE ANIMATRONICS

Obviously this isn’t a visual, but still it’s one of the most endearing tunes from the original trilogy.

I’m not entirely sure how Abrams could include it in the film without just blatantly playing it, all I know is that it’d be a throwback that wouldn’t go under-appreciated by this Star Wars tragic.

I’m forever having debates with colleagues about the use of CGI. Call me old fashioned, but CGI can really take me out of the moment. Didn’t anyone else wish there were more animatronics in Jurassic World? No? Ok maybe it’s just me. Now there are many rumours circulating that The

Force Awakens will focus more on motion-captured animatronics for aliens and droids, instead of the simple CGI. To me, the reliance on CGI hurt the prequels (let’s not discuss Yoda, or the fact that not a single live-action stormtrooper appeared), so fingers crossed these rumours become a reality.

5. A CLIFF-HANGER ENDING

Many people may disagree with this, but I think the ending of The Empire Strikes Back is what makes it the best film of the franchise.

I can only imagine how insane it must have been, leaving the theatre after seeing Han frozen in carbonite and taken away by

A REBOOT SUGGESTION

19 USELESS FACTS

FOR HOLLYWOOD

ABOUT HAN SOLO

One of the most common complaints of Hollywood of the last few years is that it has “run out of new ideas.” Consider the biggest movies of this year so far: Jurassic World – sequel. The Avengers: Age Of Ultron – sequel. Mad Max: Fury Road – sequel. Coming up we have Star Wars: The Force Awakens – a sequel to a sequel that was actually a prequel. Throw in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Mission Impossible 5?!, Kung Fu Panda 3: Does Anybody Remember Us? and, The Hunger Games: Something. Oh, and don’t forget the (second) upcoming Spider Man reboot after the last attempted trilogy’s disappointing sequel…

1. Harrison Ford actually

Now, we here at Torrent This hear this argument loud and clear – although, given that we watch a lot more movies than most, we’ll counter the “There’s nothing original” list with Birdman, Whiplash, Interstellar, Nightcrawler et al.

But while we don’t entirely subscribe to the theory that there are no new ideas in Hollywood, we admit that everybody has to accept that sequels are here to stay, well at least until they stop making oodles and oodles of money. So while we can’t fight it, we can embrace it, by pitching to Hollywood a new idea for reheating old ideas. Allow me to explain:

46 forte

Boba. Not to mention the bomb dropped by Darth. Will Han survive? Is Vader really Luke’s father? I must know NOW! It’s something I’ve always wanted to experience as a Star Wars fan and now I finally (fingers crossed) will have the chance. In a world dominated by binge-watching,

ending The Force Awakens with a cliff-hanger would leave audiences salivating for the next installment.

I don’t just want to leave that first screening mesmerized by what I’d just witnessed, I also want to leave it craving more.

was as a thank-you after Solo was cashiered from the Imperial Navy for refusing to make the order to have Chewbacca skinned, a punishment for commandeering a ship with Wookie children destined for slavery. All of this takes place in the expanded Star Wars universe.

the Millenium Falcon in Return Of The Jedi. So, is it a uniform? Or is this a fetish we don’t know about?

Written by Dando. Read more articles at www.torrentthis.tv

improvised the lines when talking over the Death Star’s intercom, in order to make it seem truly spontaneous. I guess Lucas’ script didn’t live up to the expectations of some.

2. Instead of being from

Corellia, which he is in the movie, the original version of Solo was from Ureallia.

3. Empire Magazine voted

We’ve already had sequels. We’ve already had reboots. What we would like to see are re-castings. Not of the Toby Maguire gets usurped by Andrew Garfield variety, though.

We’d like to see re-castings using the exact same members of the original cast. Imagine, say, Interview With The Vampire where Brad Pitt plays Lestat, Antonio Bandaras plays Luis de Pointe du Lac, Tom Cruise plays the writer and Christian Slater plays Whore on the Waterfront.

(Third character listed on IMDB. We’re not making that up). Not for you? Imagine Notting Hill, but it’s Julia Roberts clumsily trying to win the affection of mega moviestar Hugh Grant. Or maybe you’d prefer to see a version of Pulp Fiction where Bruce Willis politely explains that his wallet is the one that says “Bad Mother Fucker”.

Here’s what re-casting achieves: 1. We get to see multiple actors’

interpretations of the same role.

Get a great cast and you can make four versions of the same movie.

2. From a studio perspective,

anything can become a franchise.

Lower key movies with an emphasis on acting over action can regain dominance due to their potential versatility.

3. It gives us a chance to live in

a world where Michael Douglas recreates Sharon Stone’s infamous leg-crossing scene in Basic Instinct.

I’m not saying that’s a pretty world.

But it’s a damn compelling one.

So, what do YOU think? We’d love to hear your ideas!

Written by Mitch Grinter. Read more articles at www.torrentthis.tv

Solo the 4th best movie character of all time.

4. Ford is the only actor to star

in films directed by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.

5. Solo was the only non-Jedi

in the original trilogy to wield a lightsaber. He does so when slicing open the dead Taun Taun to help keep Luke warm in the blizzard on Hoth.

6. A young Solo was originally

going to make a surprise appearance in Revenge Of The Sith, but obviously that never happened. At least we get the stand alone origin film in 2018 7. Solo’s debt to Jabba The Hutt

is the result of lost cargo.

8. Speaking of debts, Chewbacca

isn’t just a friend to Solo, he has sworn him a life-debt. This

9. Stars such as Nick Nolte, Kurt

Russell and Al Pacino were all once considered for the role of Solo.

10. In another case of improvisation,

the script had Solo replying “I love you too” to Leia in the final scene of The Empire Strikes Back, once again Ford improvised the line and we were left with the iconic “I know” reply. Lucas sure is lucky that Ford was around to patch up the holes in the early days.

11. Everyone’s favourite ship the

13. During the battle of Endor,

our man Solo cops himself a feel of Princess Leia’s chest.

14. During the filming of Episode 7,

Ford suffered a fractured leg when part of the Millenium Falcon set fell.

15. In the lead up to playing

the role of Captain Kirk, Chris Pine drew inspiration from Ford’s portrayal of Solo.

16. Growing up, Solo worked for

a smuggler named Garris Shrike.

17. Solo was also once named

Vyyk Drago.

18. A Han Solo action figure released

in the mid 90s was criticised for being “unrealistically muscled.”

Millenium Falcon once belonged to Lando Calrissian. Solo won it from him in an infamous game of sabacc.

19. If you look closely, a figure of

12. In a strange turn of events, Lando

Written by Jimmy O’Connor. Read more articles at www.torrentthis.tv

wears Han’s clothes when driving

Han frozen in carbonite appears throughout episodes of Firefly.

Follow us online and keep up with all the latest local entertainment news, interviews, reviews and heaps more cool goodies!

fortemag.com.au

forte 47

pistol pete's

pistol pete's

pistol pete's

the barwon club

the barwon club

the barwon club

the barwon club

48 forte

the barwon club

beav's bar

eureka

eureka

eureka

beav's bar

eureka

beav's bar

beav's bar

forte 49

homehouse

homehouse

homehouse

captain

homehouse

captain

captain

homehouse

the max hotel

the max hotel

the juke

slate pool lounge

the juke

slate pool lounge

slate pool lounge

50 forte

the juke

forte 51

Film Reviews

Films reviewed by Anthony Morris

Self/Less

Ant-Man A lot of people (myself included) had this one marked down as a flop after Marvel and writer-director Edgar Wright – who’d been working on it for close to a decade – parted ways. But while there’s enough traces of Wright’s trademark style here to feel bad for what we’ve lost (plus enough generic marvel superhero stuff to maybe explain why he walked), this still manages to be the most likable and fun Marvel superhero movie in a long time.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a thief – well, cat burglar – with a Masters in electrical engineering and zero job prospects as he’s just been released from San Quentin.

Paper Towns It was fairly easy to see the appeal of John Green’s first big-screen adaptation, The Fault in Our Stars: a teen romance where everyone had a terminal illness, the combination of jokey banter (to mask their pain) and teen mythology (these guys were certain to live fast, die young, and leave good-looking corpses), it was the kind of hit that makes a career. And with Paper Towns, so it has proved to be.

Quentin (Nat Wolff ) has been in love with Margo (Cara

Insidious: Chapter 3 The Insidious movies are about as basic a horror movie as you can get: someone messes around with ghosts, they get possessed, then it’s exorcism time. The only real twist across the three films is that the exorcism stage involves people actually travelling into the spirit realm to rescue the possessed person’s soul, which is why this is a prequel – psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) died in Chapter 2 and without her there’s nothing to distinguish this series from, say, The Conjuring (made by the same team of James Wan and Leigh Whannell).

52 forte

Meanwhile, across town and in a far more traditional Marvel movie, former shrinking super-hero Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) has discovered that his former protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) has used his company to crack (almost) the secret of the ‘Pym Particle’ that can shrink objects and people without making them implode.

Pym and his semi-estranged daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) want to stop Cross before he goes too far, and the best way to do that is to steal his invention and destroy his research. But for that, they’re going to need a thief… The stakes are smaller (pun intended) and the tone is lighter than usual for recent Marvel films, but that works to

Ant-Man’s advantage, especially as it gives both Rudd and Douglas room to make their characters more than just quip-spouting gag machines. The special effects aren’t spectacular but they’re well thought-out, leading to a couple of sequences that make good use of the Ant-Man suit’s shrinking capabilities. Best of all, this is a stand-alone film (end credits stuff and a solo Avengers cameo aside), which means it’s largely free of the increasingly crushing burden of the Marvel universe. No doubt that’s to come, and every repeat appearance from Lang is going to put more lines on Rudd’s face. But for now at least, this is a piece of silliness that firmly stands alone.

Delevingne) ever since she moved in across the road back when they were kids, but as they grew up he focused on school work while she became a local legend for her wild, untameable ways. Then one night she appeared at his window, asking for his help in a revenge plot that would take them all over town – and lead to the best night of his life.

The next day she was gone without a trace… well, almost without a trace, and as Quentin and his friends look deeper into the mystery of her disappearance they begin to suspect she might have left clues – clues she

wants to lead Quentin to her.

Despite what the trailers might have you believe, this is a lot more about the road-trip – and the bonding that takes place on it – than Quentin’s ‘Big Night’, which is a good thing because the big night is the kind of oversold “night that changed everything” that works a whole lot better when it’s just some guy telling you about it. Then again, the road trip – where pretty much everyone eventually gets what they want, unless you’re a girl in which case what you want is to be with a nerd – is pretty much teen mythologising too. It seems Green’s big hook is telling teens that their lives really are freighted with meaning, presenting them with idealised versions of themselves that he then undercuts just enough to make them plausible (if you don’t think about it too much).

Ironically, while most of this film gets the job done and nothing more, the scenes that really work are the ones where Quentin and his friends just hang out; when Green isn’t hammering home just how amazing his characters really are, it turns out they can be kind of fun.

This time around teenager Quinn (Stefanie Scott) is the one dabbling with the occult – well, she’s just saying “is that you mum?” a lot in the hope that her recently dead mum is watching over her.

Unfortunately, as Elise points out in the opening scene, when you call out to one of the dead all of them can hear, and her creepy old apartment building has a ghost lurking in the ducts that’s looking for someone to play with.

It’s all largely by the numbers stuff here scare-wise, though there is at least one quality shock development and director Whannell (Saw, numerous other horror films)

does a better-than-usual job at making the creepy moments actually creepy. Scott does a decent enough job here, especially early on, while Dermot Mulroney as the dad is somewhat less than engaged, and Whannell and Angus Sampson’s return to reveal the origin of their low-rent Ghostbusters act is as good as you’d expect considering by the time they arrive on-screen the film is already ramping up for the big spooky trip to the other side of the grave. There are enough of these films going around at the moment that you only really need to see one or two in a lifetime; if this isn’t your first, it’ll probably be your last.

There’s two ways a brain-swap – or if you prefer, body-swap – movie can go: either the actors being swapped ham their characters up so much it’s obvious when one of them is playing the other, or the actors both just play themselves (well, their characters) and leave the whole “same body, different mind” side of things to take care of itself. Fortunately, despite some fairly broad work from Ben Kingsley in the opening scenes as a billionaire New York property developer, when he has his mind transferred to what he

thinks is a brand new blank slate body (Ryan Reynolds) Reynolds plays him more as a man feeling his way through a new situation than as an obvious version of the character Kingsley played.

It’d be nice to think this was some subtle commentary on the way our bodies shape our personalities, but it’s more likely that it was simply because this isn’t really a film that’s all that interested in the ramifications of rich old people being able to transfer their minds into the bodies of the poor. Yes, it turns out Reynolds’ character wasn’t a freshly grown body

as advertised but was a war vet (the body comes equipped with combat reflexes that’ll come in handy later) who sold his body for reasons that you wouldn’t really think would require the second half to the film to be a string of shoot-outs and chase sequences and yet here we are. It’s hard to know whether to be pleased that this at least has a few ideas thrown into the mix or depressed that those ideas are only touched on at best; at least Reynolds’ solid performance as a man in over his (brand new) head gives this fantastic tale some much needs grounding.

Magic Mike XXL For a movie that contains next to no story – Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) decides to escape his struggling furniture business for a road trip with his former male entertainer buddies to a strippers convention – Magic Mike XXL manages to be a whole lot of fun. That’s because it’s a dance movie first and foremost, and it’s a sign of just how low that genre has sunk that pretty much all the reviews to date of MMXXL don’t seem to have mentioned it. While serious reviewers will happily check out a movie about male strippers, the likes of the Step Up series of dance movies remain largely (and in the case of at least a couple of them, unjustifiably) ignored. The first Step Up is where Tatum got his big screen start and he’s still got the moves here, whether it’s him reclaiming his dance mojo while at work (‘Pony’ comes on the radio, reminding him of the glory days) or showing he’s still got the right stuff in a plantation mansion that’s been turned into a ladies-only pleasure-dome by a madam out of Mike’s past (Jada Pinkett-Smith).

Half the fun here is the increasingly bizarre yet always fun (and often hilarious) dance routines; the other half is the way the guys

Mr Holmes The year is 1947, and it’s been 30 years since Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) last solved a mystery.

Now retired and keeping bees in Suffolk with his grumpy housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her idolising son Roger (an excellent Milo Parker), he’s decided to finally tell the story of his final case in his own words (Watson, who wrote and fictionalised all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, being long gone). But with his memory

t h e w ra p Terminator: Genisys This time-travelling robot franchise hasn’t had a winner since 1991, but unfortunately this isn’t about a bunch of filmmakers going back 20 years to find a director who can make this work. Schwarzenegger still retains some of his classic charm though.

Ted 2 – who are totally unselfconscious about their bodies and always ready to party – might have personal issues of their own but never let them get in the way of making the ladies feel good. Whether it’s a random convenience store clerk, the cougaresque mother (Andie McDowell) of a hottie they met on a beach or the cheering crowds throwing bills at them on stage, these guys – and this film as a whole – is all about making the ladies feel special. Some might point out this just makes this film identical to a good strip act, nothing more; others might say that any film where a rival strip team puts on a Twilight-based show doesn’t have to apologise for anything to anyone. fading – despite a recent trip to Japan to secure a memory-restoring herb – will he be able to figure out why he quit all those years ago?

Despite presenting viewers with at least three mysteries, this is a film more concerned with aging and regret than puzzle-solving, and Mr Holmes’ heart resides firmly in Holmes’ growing friendship with Roger rather than his observational skills. Yet ironically the film’s strongest moments are the brief scenes and flashbacks where Holmes displays his full prowess.

The plot is designed to refute the Holmsian legend by suggesting that dispassionate observation actually removes you from the emotions that govern human behaviour – which may be true, but it proves to be less entertaining to watch than the Great Detective at the height of his powers.

What ties it all together is McKellen’s consistently enthralling performance – he’s charming as Holmes in his prime and achingly human as a old man feeling himself ebb away.

With less story but more sketch comedy interludes than the surprisingly effective first instalment, this manages to get laughs while never really satisfying as a film. Then again, how many stories can you tell around a foul-mouthed stoner teddy bear?

Jurassic World Dinosaurs! Sure, there are humans in this film too, but we all know it’s the dinosaurs that you want to see. And a good thing too, because all the human stuff here is firmly average at best.

Inside Out Pixar returns to their tear-jerking best in this often very funny look at what happens inside a little girls head – basically there’s feelings, and those feelings have feelings, and a lot of those feelings can be pretty sad.

Minions A fast-paced comedy caper film (and prequel to Despicable Me) this often very silly film is pretty basic stuff – but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun.

Far From the Madding Crowd This Thomas Hardy adaptation turns the source material into a relatively straightforward romantic drama, but the focus on the characters’ emotional lives makes the love triangle here come alive.

Music Reviews

Helen Shanahan

Holy Holy

Full Tote Odds

Art of Sleeping

FINDING GOLD

WHEN THE STORMS WOULD COME

PLACE YOUR BETS

SHAKE SHIVER

Independent

Sony Music Australia/Wonderlick

Obese Distributed

Dew Process/UMA

Helen Shanahan has just released her new EP entitled Finding Gold. Accepted into Canadian Music Week last year, which was headlined by the likes of City and Colour and Tegan and Sara, she is definitely a talent to discover before she blows up into the mega time. Having played at the Americana festival in Nashville last year, she draws many comparisons in her playing to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Missy Higgins, who she lists as influences.

Growing up in Perth, there’s no doubt that Helen is built for the big time given that the exports from WA are massive. Think Tame Impala, Jebediah, The Waifs, John Butler, Eskimo Joe, Bob Evans, do I need to go on?

In terms of picking a favourite track on this release, there is no definable way of doing so. Combining her talents on guitar and piano, this EP is full of blissful pop that is sure to make you smile. (I’ve been smiling ever since I put the CD on). Sounding a little like Colbie Caillat on the track ‘Love Lost’, this EP is sure to be on my most played on iTunes in a day or so. Helen Shanahan makes music that sends shivers down your spine and also makes your toes tingle in a good way.

If you’re after easy and mellow pop tunes, check this EP Finding Gold out today.

Reviewed by Tex Miller

Naming their album When the Storms Would Come is a very smart choice from Holy Holy, as in their past releases the storms were very much there in their broodier style tracks. With this album, it’s as if the whole album is inches from it and happily sitting in the unfamiliar territory right before the dark clouds roll in.

Light guitar work flits through ‘Outside of the Heart of it’ and Timothy Carroll’s vocals saunter in, giving it a casual smooth-flowing vibe. The same is echoed in ‘A Heroine’, a highlight of the album which comes and goes in waves of intensity, slowly pausing just when you think you’ve had enough but only making you want more. Lyrically it’s a clever song that isn’t tarnished by the clichéd rhyming that many bands fall into.

Aside from the hits of ‘History’ and ‘You Cannot Call For Love Like a Dog’ from the radio, the whole album is worth considerate play on the radio, in your car, at home, just on repeat anywhere really. It’s an easy listen that works as a whole or can be taken a part and listened to in fragments. Carroll’s vocals do a great job of soothing your soul, and it’s a much easier listen than their past broodier tracks – and that’s not to say those tracks were bad either. It’s just a pleasant change.

Reviewed by Amanda Sherring

Full Tote Odds have released their sophomore album The Chosen Few and it’s a sign that Australian hip hop is in a thriving place right now.

Following on from their 2012 debut Place Your Bets, this record is both an engaging and refreshing listen. Having listened to the album through a couple of times, I have to say that my favourite track is probably ‘Look To The Sky’. The backing track to which the Adelaide brothers throw down over, is something that you could definitely play at a dinner party ‘Take Me Down’ features an acoustic guitar and strings that shows that Full Tote Odds are not just about massive hip hop beats – there is enough variation in this album to find something to indulge in. No doubt an Australian tour will follow and that will probably be announced in the next couple of weeks. An impressive follow up to their highly successful debut disc. Get out and support Australian hip hop. The beats are fresh and elegant and you should definitely check this out. I guarantee, you won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Tex Miller

As soon as ‘Win Your Heart’ starts off there’s a juxtaposition between the upbeat jangly guitar and darker vocals of Caleb Hodges, reminiscent of The National. It’s an obvious difference, but when the chorus breaks out, so does Hodges.

‘Crazy’, ‘If Only You Could Ease My Mind’, ‘Voodoo’ and ‘The Cage’ are notable highlights, you’ll recognise a few from the radio.

‘Jefferson’ comes so close to hitting the mark but there’s something about the composition that misses out, possibly more time dedicated to instrumental solos would have been the difference?

Forcing you to take a break and listen stop and listen is ‘I Could Make You’ – and the attention paid is well worth it. It’s a slower track compared to the others and the appeal is in the lingering vocals and consistent guitar and drum beat.

If you haven’t heard of Art of Sleeping before, it’s about time you did. I’d happily say they are one of the next few bands to blow up in 2016, this is their year.

Shake Shiver is simply their debut release, but it’s already risen the bar to what a debut release should be.

Reviewed by Amanda Sherring

Kid Radio

Kaurna Cronin

SELF TITLED

Glass Fool Songs & Whispers

Kid Radio’s self titled album is set to launch on July 24, it’s a collection full of soulful electronic sounds, emotive lyrics and heavy beats. The four-piece act wrote the entire album on an acoustic guitar and then went to town on a synthesiser, in an outcome that is sometimes good, sometimes not so great.

If you’re into your chilled out, soulful electronic music then you will dig Kid Radio, but don’t sink into any one type of mood because sonically each track varies a fair bit, which is great for the diversity factor but it can also seem a little disjointed at times. For example, the first track, ‘Yell Fire’ is really emotive, deep and has a great sense of darkness about it. Then track two has a really poppy sound about it and is laden with special effects, and then just when you’re getting used to that, some Caribbean sounds are thrown in there too. It’s all a bit confusing. Track four, ‘LCDs’ has a nice sound about it and is experimentally good but the cliché lyrics, ‘I don’t want a second chance, I don’t want your circumstance’ make me think of a bad R&B song from the ‘90s.

Overall, Kid Radio are great at creating soulful electronic music and are not afraid to experiment with sounds but the over production and pop vocals in some tracks really bring the entire album down.

Reviewed by Montana Agustin

Kaurna Cronin is a name that you may not have heard before, but with the release of his latest record Glass Fool you definitely will know the name soon. He’s just announced a European tour and plays a brand of electric/ acoustic folk music that will definitely warm your heart. Opening with ‘Inside Your Town is Inside Your Head’, this track is nice little pop ditty that will be sure to get your hands beating rhythmically on the steering wheel as you cruise down the open road.

From just one look on Kaurna Cronin’s Facebook it’s easy to tell that he is a star on the rise.

Having toured throughout France and the UK and set to travel back there, as a debut record, this is incredibly impressive. Tight little pop hooks and Dylanesque harmonica lines, it’s inoffensive music that is just nice to listen to on a cold wintery day to warm your heart and get you excited about summer.

Recorded by Jordan Power in Byron Bay, the album features the likes of Timberwolf aka Chris Panousakis, Dom Sykes and Lizzie O’Keefe to name but just a few, this is an impressive disc. Think Husky, think Passenger, think Ryan Adams, this album is incredibly beautiful in the instrumentation and melodies, and it is sure to charm the pants off you. It sure charmed the pants off me. What are you waiting for!? As the feature record on many radio stations and websites around the country, check out Glass Fool for yourself today.

Reviewed by Tex Miller

Ceres The Tote, Melbourne – June 27 Supports: The Pretty Littles, Sincerely Grizzly Oslo & the Flying High-O’s

Anybody who knows me is aware that I’m a bit of a Ceres fanatic. Having seen the band perform live for the first time last November — and right after they formed no less — it’s fair to say that I had high expectations for their Winter Tour.

I was seated front and

centre at the stage for the entire show, right in front of vocalist Tom Lanyon at their sold out Melbourne show at The Tote.

They played a lot of the oldies, which everybody really enjoyed, whilst also giving us a preview of one really fantastic new song rumoured to be holding a position in their current record in the works.

Everybody lost it, myself included. Really, the entire show was near perfect, apart from one small thing.

Nearing the end of the show, I managed to get the chance to request a song. Upon requesting ‘Pomegranate’, my favourite Ceres song, Tom promptly

apologised, stating that they, ‘Didn’t know it’. It’s such a small thing, I know, seeing as they did flawlessly execute all of their rehearsed songs. It just would have been so nice for them to know their origins as well as they know their current songs, because those original songs are the ones that I fell for in the first place.

However, as per usual Ceres made up for their lacking in fulfilling my personal preferences in their banter, wonderful performance and high energy. I can only hope that they maintain their excellence with the next coming record.

Reviewed by Jessica Alves

forte 53

Last Words

grog watch Tony “needs a GPS for a pub crawl” Montana

One of the things that almost never gets mentioned when it comes to rising house prices and rent and so on, is that the pricing is putting people out of easy access to pubs. “Wait on a second there, Tony,” I hear the one remaining long-time reader of this column as she lurches out of her grave, “There’s no-one more vitriolic in their distaint for the very idea of ‘pubs’ than your good self – why, the entire history of this column in all it’s many forms over the years has been little more than a one-man war on the very idea of having to pay bar prices for booze!” And yes, I can’t deny it, the thought of having to pay six dollars or more for a vodka ’n’ coke where the vodka is basically watered-down store brand metho and the coke is more water with a cola-

flavoured twizzler stirred around in it makes me violently ill.

I mean, what’s the deal with the bartender pouring the vodka into the glass via a shot glass only he makes sure it just splashes out of the shot glass into the actual glass in such a way that it doesn’t even all go into the glass? Is this something they teach people at bartender school to make it look like you’re getting more than a shot when once you’ve seen it done a few times it’s obvious that you’re a): getting less and b): they’re actually wasting some of the booze, which suggests the stuff they’re serving can’t be worth all that much to them? In short: God I hate pubs.

And yet, often they come with bottle shops attached. It’s a paradox that has haunted me throughout my adult life.

But back to my point, which is that the way our society is going in a decade or so the only people who’ll be able to afford to go to a pub are the people who ruin a pub. And I don’t mean because bar prices will finally

soar out of the reach of all but the wealthiest drunks. I mean because no-one will physically be able to get to a pub. Look, Australian cities are all generally built the same: you’ve got a bunch of old stuff in the middle, and a bunch of new stuff on the fringes.

The old stuff is where all the pubs are, having been built back when there was bugger-all else to do in an evening but go to the pub, and so even with pubs being turned into restaurants and wine bars and sports bars and everything else wanky under the sun, there’s always a handful of good oldfashioned watering holes scattered around the neighbourhood. The new stuff is nothing but endless stretches of suburbia with the occasional milk bar scattered around until you get to a massive shopping centre that might have a bottle shop but most certainly does not have a place to drink. Now, until relatively recently poor people lived in the old stuff because it was old and crap, and therefore they had

easy access to pubs. But now rich people have decided they want to live near pubs – and public transport, and endless coffee shops, and everything else they’re ruining our cities with – and they’re making it too expensive for poor people to live there, thus forcing them out into the new stuff. Where there are no pubs.

“So what,” that long-time reader croaks, “it’s not like they’re prisoners out there.” Like Hell they’re not: see, part of the importance of living near your local pub is that you’re actually near it – gone are the days when you could drink drive home from the boozer, especially if you live a 20 minute drive out in the middle of an endless suburb, and as for public transport you must be [expletive deleted] kidding. Taxi? Yeah, let’s spend twice as much money getting to and from the pub as we spend there, and that’s with the pub charging eight bucks for a vodka ’n’ coke. Designated driver?

No-one falls for that trick these days.

Look, if you can’t walk home from the pub you’re not going to the pub, and increasingly the only people who can walk home from the pub are massively wealthy property speculators, people who work so hard to pay off their mortgage they don’t have time to go out, people desperately renovating a dump to try and make enough money to buy a real house, and wankers. And yet we have a government in this country that says rising house prices are a good thing. Not if you want a generation of Australians that have seen the inside of a pub it isn’t. Sure, they might occasionally visit a “pub” for a meal and think, “Hey, there’s a bar over there, that’s unusual”, but they’re never going to know what it’s like to have a local – a place where they can walk in on a regular basis, see a bunch of pissheads they know by name but would never dare speak too outside the pub’s grubby walls, have a couple of drinks while talking utter bullshit

about some pointless sporting event and then stagger off home, stopping only to walk through the drivethrough bottle-shop to buy a couple of cans of pre-mix as travellers for the long ten minute walk home. It’s going to be the end of an era in this country, the death of something we took for granted for so long – well, by “we” I mean “you”, I wouldn’t be caught dead there. At least, not until they figure out how to get the vodka into the bloody glass without slipping half of it on the floor.

THE OC QUIZ! While it had a relatively short run, or at least to all fans of the TV show it would seem too short, it’s time to relive the priviledged life of the upper class in Orange County. Welcome to the OC bitch!

1. Who created the OC? 2. Which Vampire Diaries character featured in Season 1 on the OC as a waiter and what character did they play?

3. What does Luke say to Ryan when he welcomes him to Orange County?

4. Who was Chris Pratt’s character and in what season?

5. Where did Anna move from when she moved to the OC? 6. When Marissa is in a relationship with Alex what is the present she gives her as token of their relationship?

7. How many Imogen Heap songs featured on the OC? 8. What was the name of Seth’s boat?

9. Where was Marissa off to on the day she died and in which season?

10. What is the concept of Christmukkah?

11. What is the drug the Marissa od’s on in Tj? 12. What is the name of Seth’s horse?

13. Which superhero does Summer dress up as for Seth?

ANSWERS: 1. Josh Schwartz / 2. Paul Wesley as Donnie / 3. ‘Welcome to the OC, Bitch” / 4. Che’ the hippy / 5. Pittsburgh / 6. Silver Heart necklace / 7. Four / 8. The Summer Breeze / 9. Greece, season 3 / 10. Eight days of presents followed by one day of many presents / 11. Painkillers / 12. Captain Oats / 13. Wonder Woman

54 forte

forte 55

56 forte