Forte #687

BALLARAT BELLARINE

M U S I C

/

A R T S

/

C U LT U R E

/

E S T

BENDIGO CASTLEMAINE

GEELONG & SURF COAST WARRNAMBOOL

1 9 9 1

19.04.18

FREE

LOCAL SARAH BLASKO

20

FEATURE BEER WINE DINE

21

FOOD PLATE UP BALLARAT

36

ARTS BENDIGO QUEER FILM 39

SAT

21 APR

$15 ENTRY

RS I A T S P U

AIRS T S N DOW HIP HOP BEST ITH W B N AND R

UPSTAIRS PARTY WITH WEEKLY GUEST DJS & RESIDENTS DOWNSTAIRS HIP-HOP AND RNB

DOORS OPEN 10:30 PM

STEVE CAMP/MARCUS PEARSONS/NICK OLDEN/KEITH EVANS/JAMES ROGERS/SIMON ONE/DJ C.MARCEL

40-42 MOORABOOL ST, GEELONG 2

03 5222 7333 FORTE 687

HOMEHOUSE.COM.AU

FORTE 687

3

4

FORTE 687

Regional Rampage 2018 POSTER_Blank.pdf

1

6/03/2018

10:03 pm

NEW WORLD ARTISTS & EVP RECORDINGS PRESENT

REGIONAL RAMPAGE 2018 TUES 24 APRIL - MUSICMAN MEGASTORE – BENDIGO, VIC WED 25 APRIL - KAROVA LOUNGE - BALLARAT (EARLY ARVO SHOW), VIC THUR 26 APRIL - BARWON CLUB – GEELONG, VIC FRI 27 APRIL - THE EVELYN – MELBOURNE, VIC C

M

SAT 28 APRIL – PELLY BAR – FRANKSTON, VIC

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

(U.S.A) ‘UGLY PRODUCE’ OUT NOW - NERVEGAS.COM.AU

TICKETS: KINGPARROT.OZTIX.COM.AU

FORTE 687

5

6

FORTE 687

SPHINX

THE SHOWROOM WED 23RD MAY

SPECIALS NIGHTS

E N T E R TA I N M E N T THE CAZBAR

PHARAOHS BISTRO

CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH SAT 23RD JUNE

MONDAY & TUESDAY NIGHTS

MEALS AT $12-$18 WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

SAT 21ST APRIL

STEAK NIGHT From $18

SAT 28TH APRIL

INXSIVE FRI 10TH AUGUST

THURSDAY NIGHT

SCHNITZEL NIGHT From $14

SUNDAY

THE ROCKER

MR. MEANER

SAT 5TH MAY

SAT 12TH MAY

3 COURSE CARVERY

Available for lunch and dinner for $20.00

TASTE OF TAMWORTH FRI 17TH AUGUST

LUNCH TIME SPECIAL From Monday to Friday

WOOSHKA

HOLLOW MAJORS *SPECIALS NOT AVAILABLE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

BEE GEES REVIVAL FORTE 687

7

Marge, marge, the rains are here!

M U S I C

/

A R T S

/

C U LT U R E

The Know Feature Story The Loop Local Feature

10 -11 12 15–19 20

Feature - Beer Wine Dine

21-27

News

28-35

Food

36

Creatives Reviews

37-39 40-41,45

Columns

42

Scenepix

44

The Guide

46

PH: 03 5229 7969 2/105 Skene St, VIC 3220 enquiries@fortemag.com.au

As I write this little ed note, I’m holed up in a blanket burrito with a beanie, bed socks and hot coffee watching it absolutely pour down outside while listening to the fusion of indie and electronica of Crooked Colours’ album Vera… this is the definition of my happy place.

Something I’ve noticed in this past year is that we all need a sanctuary in this busy world. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists, overflowing inboxes, the demands of work and home life and finding time for the friends we adore! When we feel chaos is closing in, we need to retreat to our happy place. It’s a simple concept, but super important for your sanity… just sayin’. This issue we have Melbourne metal monsters KING PARROT on our cover. They’ve just done a mammoth US, UK and Japan tours in support of searing third LP ‘Ugly Produce’ and performed at Australia’s first Download Festival last month. This well-oiled riffmachine is ready to burst eardrums this month, stopping by Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne. We chat to frontman Matt Young on all things angst, aggression, absurdity and antics - have a read on page 12. Further in this issue, we chat to local melodic punk rockers All Hope Remains, American death metal band Morbid Angel, eclectic Melbourne outfit Confidence Man, singer-songwriter and goddess Sarah Blasko, indie rockers British India, German dance legends Cascada, and we’ve got our chat with Ruby Fields and San Cisco from on-ground at Torquay’s The Drop Festival… plus of course heaps more!

FREEBIES We’ve got two double passes to see ARIA award-winning Dan Sultan for his stripped back Killer Solo Tour.

He’s got shows at GPAC Drama Theatre in Geelong on May 11, The Capitol in Bendigo on June 29 and at Queenscliff Town Hall on June 30.

T O EN TE R :

Editor Talia Rinaldo

talia@fortemag.com.au

Advertising Josh Dowling

josh@fortemag.com.au

General Manager Glenn Lynch

glenn@fortemag.com.au

To enter email your name, the code word ‘KILLER’, town of choice and your number to talia@fortemag.com.au

Editorial Assistant Helena Metzke Art Director Nathan Mossop

artwork@fortemag.com.au

Interns Hannah Kenny, Daniel Jubb, Chloe Cicero, Aleesha Coots, Lauren McKinnon.

FORTÉGRAM Tag us @Forte_mag or #Fortemag to be featured!

@dangerouscurvesrock

Oh, and just because we love you all, we have come up with a little beer, wine and dine feature giving you a little snippet of some of our favourite places to go and things to try coming into the cooler months. Peace, good vibes and happy places.

Talia and the Forté team xx

@hannykenny_

LICENSED UNTIL 1AM EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY THE BEST VARIETY OF LIVE COVER BANDS IN GEELONG THURS 19TH - TO BE CONFIRMED 8:00 PM FRI 20TH - COR TEN 9:00 PM SAT 21ST -MR MEANER 9:30 PM SUN 22ND - BETTER ASK GEORGE 3:00 PM THURS 26TH - TO BE CONFIRMED 8:00 PM FRI 27TH - TRAFFIC JAM 9:00 PM SAT 28TH - THE VOLCANOS 9:30PM SUN 29TH - AC/DSHE TRIBUTE SHOW, DOORS 1:00PM

71 YARRA ST GEELONG 8

Publisher Furst Media Pty. Ltd.

FORTE 687

@pivotcitymusic

Contributors Anthony Morris, Alastair McGibbon, Amanda Sherring, Chris Lambie, Dr John Lamp, Natalie Rogers, Paul S Taylor, Tex Miller, Wylie Caird.

Advertisers and agents are advised that all advertising copy is their responsibility under the trade practices act. Advertisements are published in good faith and on the understanding that the content is legitimate and lawful. Advertisers and or agents submit advertisements at their own risk. The editor and creators hold no responsibility whatsoever for the content of the magazine in the case that it may offend. Forté accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. Forté reserves the right to edit all articles and letters.

CREATE IT. LOVE IT. DO IT. / / / / / / / / / / /

FASHION MARKETING CONTENT CREATION ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISM ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT AUDIO PRODUCTION MUSIC PERFORMANCE MUSIC PRODUCTION HANDS-ON INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE ACCESS TO FEE-HELP 2 YEAR BACHELOR DEGREES WORLD CLASS FACILITIES

OPEN DAY 12TH MAY

APPLY NOW COLLARTS.EDU.AU CRICOS PROVIDER CODE 03392K / RTO CODE 0109

FORTE 687

9

GOLDEN FEATURES 2018 AUSTRALIAN TOUR

DREAM ON DREAMER ANNOUNCE

Following the release of the latest single ‘Falling Out’, Australia’s favourite masked producer Golden Features (aka Tom Stell) will be lighting up stages this August, headlining his largest shows to date in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. With the promise of new material and a forthcoming debut album on the way, you won’t want to miss experiencing it live for the very first time! Tickets on sale via secretsounds.com, and if the last sold-out tour is anything to go by you better get in quick! All goes down at The Forum, Melbourne – August 25.

Dream on Dreamer recently announced the forthcoming release of It Comes and Goes, their 4th studio album and to celebrate, they’ll be heading out on a national tour at the end of May! The band has found a way to transition between metalcore and alternative rock with a fresh new vision in sound. The ten track album, It Comes and Goes, is cited by the band as being the release that is the reset button for them, with music that naturally evolves as its members do. They’ll hit venues across the nation, including Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – June 8, Sooki Lounge, Belgrave – June 10, Elliots Bar, Ringwood – June 22 & Pelican Bar, Frankston – June 23.

WEST THEBARTON TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM THIS MAY

EVANGELINE ANNOUNCES MAY RESIDENCY

Sweet, patient friends. The time is nigh! Adelaide’s West Thebarton are thrilled to announce plans to release their long awaited debut LP on May 18. Yep, they’ll be tearing ‘round the nation throughout June too. Can’t wait? We hear ya. Luckily, they’ve let one more banger outta the box in the meantime to keep us from pounding down their door… check their newest track ‘Stuck On You’ - the third single to be lifted from West Thebarton’s forthcoming debut, Different Beings Being Different. Bringing their gritty, soul-filled rock’n’roll party to Melbourne, you can catch them on June 10 at Northcote Social Club.

Tickets are on sale now.

It’s Monster May for Melbourne’s princess of dark electro pop (and Ocean Grove local), Evangeline, when she celebrates the launch a brand new remix of ‘Monster’ with a four week residency at The Penny Black, every Saturday night in May. Featured on her debut EP, Atelophobia, ‘Monster’ has proven to be a crowd pleaser at her live shows. Evangeline will be joined by special guests whom she’s hand selected – to be announced in the coming weeks. Make sure to check her one Saturday night in May.

10

NATIONAL ALBUM TOUR

FORTE 687

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP IS HERE

MELBOURNE IS DECLARED LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Time to end all speculations and hilari-

Well, duh! It’s not completely shock-

ous fake lineup posters, the Splendour

ing and even though Sydney-siders

in the Grass line up is here and it is juicy

are reluctant to admit it, it’s now been

AF. Bringing one helluva bag of bangers

declared official. Melbourne is the live

and anthems for a generation to Byron

music capital of the world. The findings

this July, we’ve got Kendrick Lamar for a

come from Music Victoria’s Live Music

headline set, alongside Lorde in her only

Census, which looks at a variety of sub-

Australian show. Indie favourites Vampire

jects surrounding live music throughout

Weekend are back in action, as well as

the state. The study found Melbourne

Franz Ferdinand and MGMT. Further high-

boasts one live music venue for every

lights include Miguel, Girl Talk in their only

9,503 residents, making Melbourne the

Australian show, DMA’s, and stacks more.

live music capital of the world on a per-

A long list of homegrown acts are also

capita basis. By comparison London

featured, including Hilltop Hoods, Angus

has 245 venues (one per 34,350 resi-

& Julia Stone, Gang Of Youths and Dune

dents), New York has 453 venues (one

Rats. It all goes down from Friday July 20

per 18,554 residents) and Los Angeles

to Sunday July 22 in Byron Bay. Tickets

510 venues (one per 19,607 residents).

on sale today (Thursday April 19) at 9am.

Great job Melbs!

STICKY FINGERS RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE AND ANNOUNCE WORLD TOUR

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE ARE BACK In news that is so very sweet to our ears, Florence + The Machine have made a surprise return with a beautiful new ballad called ‘Sky Full of Song’. This track is the band’s first new music since 2016, and kind of came out of nowhere (not that we are complaining!). It’s being released in partnership with Record Store Day, and will also be sold on a limited edition, double-A-sided 7″ vinyl. Discussing ‘Sky Full Of Song’ for the first time today, Florence writes: “this was a song that just fell out of the sky fully formed.

Sometimes when you are performing you get so high, it’s hard to know how to come down.” Watch this space...

After taking a fourteen month hiatus, Sticky Fingers have returned with new single “Kick On” and an exclusive nine-stop world tour - playing Sydney, London, Mexico City, Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Auckland, and Bali in June. ‘Kick On’ is out now - available digitally worldwide, and word is they’ll hit Big Top Luna Park in Sydney on Saturday June 2.

FRI 20 APRIL:

SAT 21 APRIL:

SUN 22 APRIL:

SOLO ACOUSTIC SET

TRIO ACOUSTIC SET

SOLO ACOUSTIC SET

DELLA

One voice, one guitar, one stomp box – and many happy ears. Della the pro has supported legendary artists Jimmy Barnes, Guy Sebastian, Dragon and many more.

HARLOW & HART This all girl trio perform acoustic covers complimented by angelic harmonies. Their repertoire spans classics from the 50’s, disco, old school RnB, 90’s and hits of today.

CRAIG SAYER

Craig has a diverse repertoire and an uncanny knack for playing the perfect song choices for any crowd. Come on down and experience this great local artist.

* FRIDAYS

7PM-8PM *

ESPRESSO MARTINIS

— $10 —

GROVEDALEHOTEL FRI 27 APRIL:

MADZ GOT RICH DUO ACOUSTIC SET

With Madeliene on vocals and Richard on guitar a great night is guaranteed. Their repertoire covers a range of top 40 hits as well as classics from over the decades.

SAT 28 APRIL:

RACH & LIAM

ACOUSTIC DUO SET Why have one when you can have two? Rach and Liam combine soulful vocals and playful and harmony based acoustic guitars for a killer night out with ya mates.

SUN 29 APRIL:

LEVI ANDERSON SOLO ACOUSTIC SET

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

WEB. PHONE.

He’s a dapper gent who’s finger work is reminiscent of a young Hendrix. He’s a funkster, with riff styled acoustic originals and covers. Go on treat yourself.

FORTE 687

11

KING PARROT Thrashy, naughty, ugly, rough as guts and on a regional rampage WRITTEN BY ALEX CALLAN

IF YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, METAL MUSIC WITHIN AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN ON A PROMINENT RISE IN P O P U L A R I T Y OV E R T H E L A S T TEN YEARS. WHILST GENRES SUCH AS ‘METALCORE’ HAVE SEEN AN I N C R E A S E I N R A D I O P L AY, I T’S THE HEAVIER SOUNDS SUCH AS ‘GRINDCORE’ AND ‘THRASH METAL’ T H AT A R E R E A L LY M A K I N G A S TA N D T O I N T E R N AT I O N A L AUDIENCES... THAT’S WHERE KING PARROT COMES IN. Releasing three albums of sheer brutality, the Melbourne larrikins have carved an incredibly impressive name for themselves that has seen the band be nominated for ARIA’s as well as reigning supreme with international fans. But how did it all start?

“I think initially we were just going to try to do a more extreme sound,” responds the groups lead vocalist Matthew ‘Youngy’ Young. “There was no real aspirations for the kind of stuff we have been doing now; touring internationally and extensively in Australia and releasing three albums.

“We were just a bunch of dudes who just wanted to go 12

out and have some fun on stage and then the ball got rolling a bit and the first record really got good traction,” he continues. “There are a lot of different elements to the band that really work so we have been able to carve a bit of a niche for ourselves and have got to the point were we are established enough to tour a lot and that’s what we love doing.

“We are massively influenced by a lot of the Aussie bands to come through in the 90’s and 2000’s, so it’s great to be in a band that’s influenced by all that stuff and for us to be able to push it out and play it on an international level, it’s been amazing.”

songs which was a bit weird for us because we are used to pretty aggressive audiences, so we were laughing to ourselves a bit, it was an incredible experience.”

This is a clear contrast to the Australian metal crowds, which is who the band is currently playing for alongside US pals in Child Bite on their ‘Regional Rampage Tour.’

“Both bands are signed with Housecore Records in the US. I met Shaun, the vocalist of Child Bite, on our first ever American tour and then the next time we were doing a tour they ended up getting in on a few of our shows and then a few tours where we toured together.

And touring is exactly what King Parrot has done. The “I think both bands are unique in what we do and that release of their third LP ‘Ugly Produce’ has seen the we both have distinct sounds, so, even though genre band head overseas for tours of Japan and Europe, as wise we aren’t exactly the same, there is definitely a well as building up their following within Australia solid connection there,” he says. “We both don’t exactly with an impressive slot at Download Festival this year. fit into any specific category so it’s nice to tour with guys on the same page as us and doing their own thing, Speaking of the Japanese tour in particular, Youngy which is what we do as well. commented: “It was awesome man, we played some other Asian countries, but Japan was like nothing else “We have been having an absolute blast. It’s always great to get back to some smaller cities that we don’t I’ve ever seen. The audiences there are really cool and really polite so it was a bit weird for a band like us - who get to play that often so it’s been great to go see all have the mentality of ‘fuck you, fuck everything’ - to the fans out there.”

With regional metal shows having a name for being go to a country were everyone is so polite. some of the most crazy sets that you can attend, Youngy “We were expecting them to heckle us,” he continues. states who has been the most ‘next level crowd’ on “They were always really quiet and polite in between the tour so far.

FORTE 687

“There are a few definitely,” he laughs, “Canberra and Wollongong have both been highlights on this tour so far. They are places we have played a lot in the last five to six years, and in the last year or two we haven’t as much so it was amazing to see how many people came out to support us. They definitely stand out as highlights of the tour so far, but there is 18 more shows to go so at this point it could be anyone’s game!”

When & Where: Music Man Megastore, Bendigo - April 24 Karova Lounge, Ballarat - April 25 The Barwon Club, Geelong - April 26 Photo credit: Danin Drahos Front Cover Image: Tomoko Inoue

Frontier Comedy Presents

Alex Williamson ★★★★★

“modern comedy at its finest”

“crude, yet hilarious unfiltered, politically incorrect and downright naughty!”

All About Entertainment

★★★★

This Is Radelaide

“Hilarious. Keen eye, wicked mind, razorsharp tongue” Herald Sun

Sat 2 June • Albury Entertainment Centre • Albury Fri 22 June • The Capital • Bendigo Sat 23 June • Riverlinks Westside • Shepparton ON SALE NOW! Book through usual outlets frontiercomedy.com/alexwilliamson AlexWilliamson8

LooseAussieBloke

ShooterWilliamson

FORTE 687

@frontiertouring

13

Queenscliffe Literary Festival each weekend in May. The festival welcomes Keynote Speakers John Bell and Robert Dessaix Conversations, Writing Workshops and Special Events Some highlights: SAT MAY 5TH Keynote John Bell shares ‘My Life in Shakespeare’ SUN MAY 6TH Keynote Robert Dessaix speaks on his travels in ‘A Writer’s Walk Around the World’ SAT MAY 12TH Ross McMullin on ‘Pompey Elliott at War’

SAT MAY 12TH Miles Franklin award-winners Josephine Wilson and Sofie Laguna SUN MAY 13TH Hugh White discusses his Quarterly Essay ‘Without America: Australia in the New Asia’ THURS MAY 17TH Death Over Dinner with Ailsa Piper, Leah Kaminsky and Caroline Baum

SAT MAY 19TH YA Writing Workshop with Gold Inky award-winner Cath Crowley and editor Alison Arnold

SAT MAY 26TH SAT MAY 19TH ‘Travel New York’ Foreign with Stella-winner Correspondence with Heather Rose and Michael Brissenden, Alexandra Carroll Hugh Riminton and Professor Damien Kingsbury

MAY 4TH - 27TH queenscliffeliteraryfestival.com.au www.facebook.com/queenscliffeliteraryfestival

14

SUN MAY 20TH ‘A Camino Experience’ with Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

FORTE 687

LOOP

B A L L A R AT BELLARINE

BENDIGO CASTLEMAINE

GEELONG & SURF COAST WA R R N A M BOO L

Sarah Blasko FRI 20TH APRIL

SAT 21ST APRIL

JACK WRIGHT DAYS GONE BY (TRIO)

FRI 28TH & SAT 29TH APRIL

LIVE MUSIC & AFL FORTE 687

15

TERRA LIGHTFOOT SLIPS UP

CHARLIE COLE DROPS DEBUT

If you’re in the area, you should consider checking out Terra Lightfoot at The Loft, Warrnambool tomorrow night, April 20 (with Letters to Lions). The Canadian singersongwriter is a former member of Dinner Belles, joining the band in 2010 and recording on their 2014 studio album. She released her first solo album, however, a few years prior in 2011. New Mistakes is her new album and features Jake Clemons of the E Street Band.

Raised by parents working in the Melbourne pub scene of the 1980s is going to change you. It is going to put something in your soul.

Meet Bendigo’s Charlie Cole and her band, Cat City. Shit to Lose is their debut album, recorded in a single day in a local dry cleaner in 42-degree heat. It is foot stompin’. It is fist pumpin’. It is meaty rock and roll that will have you packing your car, flipping off the boss and leaving town for a better life. And if you like your life just as it is, there is still room for the album.

CODA CHROMA CIRCLE AROUND

↑↑ CLOSING TIME FOR COOPER LOWER A mellow blend of pop, folk and soul is what Warrnambool young gun Cooper Lower brings to the table. Like so many before him, Cooper began playing music to attract the ladies.

However that has panned out is for him to say, but his music is certainly doing some talking with the singer-songwriter ready to welcome his new EP, Mysteries of Midnight. The Loft, Warrnambool – April 27; Beav’s Bar, Geelong – April 29; and Union Hotel, Colac – May 19.

YLVA ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR Melbourne underground noise makers YLVA released their debut album, M E T A late last year via Pelagic Records. Following on from the release, their extreme volume contrasts and stoic patience will be on show for the band’s first Australian tour this April/May! Drawing influences from a deep well of experience in past outfits, YLVA create patient, dark and mysterious pieces of heavy music punctuated with crushing riffs. Starting in Hobart with locals Departé and ending in Melbourne with Norway’s Ihsahn expect an intense evening of doomed sludge that will vibrate you to the very core.

If you enter the world of Coda Chroma, you enter the world of Kate Lucas and Damien Charles.

The project released their self-titled debut in 2017, which was lush with psychedelic pop. With new single ‘Circles’, they have something different in store. Here you have “ultra-minimal 808 beats, handclaps and warped, junkyard organs with one-take vocal performances”. The Bridge, Castlemaine – April 20.

GROOVE CONTROL SUNDAYS

HIGHVIEW KEEP IT SIMPLE

Here’s one for the party goers. Groove Control is your weekly house party - every Sunday from 10pm at Bloom. With a focus on ‘FUN’ and accessibility for all, the venue is open to Groovers from all walks of life, but is designed to be a place for students, hospitality workers and those who don’t want the weekend to end just yet. Entry is $10, or $5 with a student ID or proof of work in the hospitality industry.

From our nation’s capital comes power-rock quintet HighView. With EP Aftermind on its way (June 1), the band is warming up with new single ‘Simple Life’. Frontman Matt Faulkner: “Simple Life is about conflict, confrontation and control.

It’s about trying to maintain perspective in heated moments and trying not to let yourself become absorbed in negative situations.”

Workers Club, Geelong – April 20 & Music Man, Bendigo – April 28.

THE LARKS HEAD TO DAYLESFORD ”The Larks” brings together the stunning vocals of Cherie Bridges, Howard Malkin & Neil Hodgson.

Performing at Daylesford Cider Co on April 22, Cherie is a jazz vocalist who has performed around in the local area for nine years, and more recently teamed up with Howard & Neil to form a band outside the jazz genre.

Expect a warm and playful blend of vintage R&B, soul and beautiful harmonies woven together with extreme experience and musicianship of Howard’s guitar and Neil’s fretless bass.

I’M ON GYPSY FIRE

↑↑ DEATH STALKS THE CREEPSHOW Tickets are still available for The Creepshow’s Geelong show in support of their latest album, Death at My Door. The band is what happens when you wake up one day and decide that you want to start a psychobilly band. And so The Creepshow has been serving up a mixture of punk, country, psychobilly and rock and roll since 2005, in which time they have performed in more than 50 countries. They hit the Workers Club on April 29.

Ten-string guitarist and Bendigobred Matthew Fagan and Czech violinst Romana Geermans are the fiery souls behind Gypsy Fire. Fagan kicked off the Gypsy Fire journey more than 20 years ago and is a pioneer of gypsy jazz in Australia.

Their repertoire includes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and O’Carolan’s Celtic harp and lute music arranged for guitar and violin. Feel the passion at The Capital (Engine room), Bendigo on April 22.

CHECK OUT THE DANGEROUS CURVES If one is to judge a band by its name, Dangerous Curves probably doesn’t strike a feeling of new-age lounge music. If you are thinking hard rock/glam metal, you receive a boozed-up, coke-snortin’ gold star. The Geelong band is all about the LA ’80s-era when playing music was cool but it was the stuff in-between shows that made the band. So Dirty Right is their debut album.

Barwon Club, Geelong – April 20 & Music Man, Bendigo – April 27.

BALLARAT MUSIC & RECORD FAIR Are you in want of some new vinyl? Are you looking to fancy-up the lounge room wall with some concert and album art? Do you need some new threads? The Ballarat Music & Record Fair (Armstrong Street) is where you will find just about everything you need to strengthen your music collection. Following the success of last years first event, the annual Fair will be another huge experience for all crazy vinyl collectors with specialist traders coming from Geelong, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and all points of the compass inbetween. Food and drinks will be available the Forge Pizzeria and there is an ATM right across the road. It goes down at Housey Housey function room on May 6.

TOOT TOOT... Get onboard the vinyl express.

16

FORTE 687

STAMP OUT AND ABOUT

ENTER THE NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE

SELFIES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

What could be more rewarding than the knowledge that you have applied yourself and forgone extracurricular activities and temptation in order to achieve the best possible T1 exam results? Good times with Northeast Party House. That’s right, Urban Spread and DUSA have teamed up to give you a wellearned chance to let your hair down.

Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, Geelong – June 15 & 16.

STAMPSY IS THE MUSIC DIRECTOR AND DRIVE ANNOUNCER AT K ROCK IN GEELONG

REECE MASTIN IS A NEW MAN

Kristal Santos and her friend Jaeda Sky were enjoying a dance festival in Brazil. They were having the times of their lives. The sun was shining, and the tunes were loud.

(please note it’s the early 2000’s so, “jam”). We had our drinks on a table about 10 metres from where we were dancing. That is the last thing I remember. The drug had no taste. It had no smell.

That’s when Kristal took a video selfie. She spun around to capture the moment (because if it’s not on your Insta story it didn’t happen, right?).

Because it was my first drink of the night my friends knew SOMETHING was up. I was falling over my own feet and I was making heaving sounds with my throat. They took me back to our unit and put me to bed. I was passed out for 16hours. My mates tell me they were minutes away from calling an ambulance when I finally woke up. In the weeks following the spiking, I had short term memory loss.

At that moment a crime was taking place. It was happening to her, in plain sight of witnesses.

It was so quick and so brazen, and it could happen to anyone. It could happen to you. Thankfully Kristal watched the video back, or this story could have had a completely different ending.

There is no shortage of musicians who have tweaked their name, and now Reece Mastin joins the party.

Now working under Mastin, the new name brings with it a classic rock sound. No longer is he the heartbreak kid, but now a refreshed singer-songwriter who is ready to show the world what a few years in the business can teach you. His new album is Not the Man for You. The Loft, Warrnambool – July 12 & Workers Club, Geelong – July 13.

Kristal had her drink spiked. A man in the black t-shirt walked past her and slipped something into her cup… while it was IN HER OWN HAND! Her friend Jaeda uploaded the video to twitter as a warning to other party goes to always be mindful of your drink. It’s since had over 10million views.

The whole incident took one second. One. That single second could have left Kristal very sick, or worse.

NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL There are a few names out there for the National Celtic Festival.

International artists include Brid Harper & Dermot Byrne, Paul McKenna Band, Senor Cabrales, Maggie Carty & Máirtín Staunton and Altan, while locals include Maria Forde, Amber, Telenn Tri, Catherine Fraser Trio, Claymore, Fiona Ross, Siobhan Owen, Zeon and Trouble in the Kitchen. NCF takes place from June 8-11, with all details found at nationalcelticfestival.com.

According to alcoholthinkagain.com.au, around half of drink spiking victims are under the age of 24 and 4 out of 5 are female. Between 20 and 30 per cent of incidents reported to police involve sexual assault. These numbers are alarming.

I’ve been a victim of drink spiking. I was at Uni and had driven my friends into town #responsibleadultlyf. We ordered our first round of vodka raspberry when our “jam” came on

It scared me, and it terrified my friends. When the shock subsided, I became a recluse. For months after the incident I found it hard to trust new people and to leave the comfort of my own home. A stranger, the lowest form of foot scum took advantage of me. They preyed on me and they took away my strength with their weakness.

Unfortunately, the person was never caught.

I was incredibly lucky I was surrounded by a group of people who looked after my well-being.

My friends made sure I was safe and cared for me in my recovery. So, I encourage you, avoid sharing drinks. If someone you don’t know well offers to buy you a drink, go to the bar with them. Just buy or pour your own drinks so you’re always vigilant of what goes in your cup and keep a protective eye over your friends drinks too.

Or here’s an idea. DON’T SPIKE DRINKS YA JERK. Yeah, that’s a solid idea.

Stampsy’s on the socials so get ‘round it! lee_ stamps on Instagram, Stampsy on Facebook.

NOMINATE A YOUNG PERSON Do you know a young person who has been making a difference in our community?

Nominations close 29 April 2018

Alex Evans Projection Visualisation

Geelong After Dark A night of pure imagination returns Geelong After Dark brings Central Geelong alive (from 6pm Friday May 4) with edgy and inspiring art works, uncovering secret and unassuming places.

Now in its fifth year, this free event will feature a strong line-up of local, national and internationally renowned artists, inspired by this year’s theme, Earth, to create work that will surprise, challenge and delight.

Wander the laneways, stroll past street corners, linger in front of lit buildings, enjoy the parks and public spaces, transformed for one night only, by art in every conceivable form.

Program highlights this year include Back to Back Theatre’s Single Channel Video; earthinspired projections on City Hall; a glowing rotunda in Johnstone Park; integrated street art and projections in Shorts Place and Earthscape - the interaction of recorded earth sounds, live music and the moving image.

Another thing to look out for is The Amazing Art Adventure which will take kids and parents on

Nominate at: www.youthcan.vic.gov.au FORTE 687

a journey of discovery through the city to make a bee; search for a piano; and learn about the planet in an unusual location.

Geelong’s cultural organisations will also play a key role, with activities taking place in the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre; in and around Geelong Performing Arts Centre; the Geelong Gallery; the National Wool Museum; and the Old Courthouse.

A key feature of Geelong After Dark will be the connection with M~M: Gathering of the City as part of the biennial multi-award winning 80km extreme arts walk, Mountain to Mouth. Held over two days, Mountain to Mouth traverses the City of Greater Geelong and Borough of Queenscliffe, from the You Yangs to the mouth of the Barwon River, creating a contemporary songline in the tradition of the Wadawurrung. Join in as choirs sing in the lead ephemeral art work of Mountain to Mouth, Canoe, as it makes its way along Gheringhap Street to Johnstone Park.

Enter the heart of our city and discover Geelong After Dark. Stay later and indulge in After After Dark from 10pm – simply because why not!?

For more program highlights, visit geelongafterdark. com.au

17

THE TESKEY BROTHERS GET ON UP So, The Teskey Brothers are heading out for a few shows. The soul/blues outfit have exploded in recent times – an overnight success ten years in the making, as they say. They’re playing a few shows abroad before they get to us, so they should be warmed up by the time they whip out new single ‘I Get Up’. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – June 14. They will be joined by Darwin’s Caiti Baker.

MARK LANG ANNOUNCES LAUNCH TOUR

What’s on at the Potato Shed

After three albums as the singer songwriter of Skipping Girl Vinegar, Lang’s journey to a solo artist received an unexpected push when he found himself detained by a State Trooper deep in the American heartland. Giving him the confidence to step forward, here we are, graced with Lang’s debut single ‘Ride On’.

With guest appearances from Hollie Joyce and Chris Bolton (Seagull), the track channels the dynamic spirit Lang found that night in the middle of Missouri as he stepped out of the Trooper’s car a free man. Lang will spend the majority of 2018 touring between North America and Europe but returns home to launch his debut single at The Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday April 28.

The Potato Shed happy to welcome back the feisty, feminist and fierce – multi-award winning internationally acclaimed cabaret femme fatale Anya Anastasia. Her new show ‘Rogue Romantic’ made its European premiere late last year and now visits us here in Drysdale on Friday April 20. Channelling Yma Sumac and Shirley Bassey, Anya’s vocals range from husky cabaret to operatic soprano, to the delight of cabaret, live music and theatre lovers. Rogue Romantic follows hot on the heels of her smash hit critically acclaimed 2017 Edinburgh Fringe hit of ‘Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death’ which sold out at the Potato Shed last year. This one’s Cabaret

MOTHERS DAY IN DAYLESFORD

JAMES BENNETT NEVER RESTS

Head down to Daylesford Cider Co on Mothering Sunday Alternative/roots folk artist James Bennett has been on (May 13), for a delicious lunch and live music by local the road since mid-February on a lengthy tour spanband; Lunar Dust, live from 12pm. Vanessa Craven and ning some 70 dates. Six- and twelve-string guitars, lap her band have been playing at the cidery for several years, steel, stomp box and harmonica make up his arsenal of and always keep the crowd well entertained. Armed instruments. Cally Hotel, Warrnambool – May 15; The with a fantastic range of instruments, personalities Loft, Warrnambool – May 16; Tanswells, Beechworth and sounds always ensure a toe tappin’ time.

– May 18; Gypsy Bar, Echuca – May 19; and Daylesford Cider, Daylesford – May 27.

ELEPHANT HIVE SEEK OUT AUSTRALIA

Israel’s Elephant Hive will take in Bendigo’s Music Man tomorrow, April 20, as part of their first Australian visit.

The instrumental garage power duo was formed out of Tel Aviv in 2015 by Rafael Cohen and Tom Bollig. Their songs tend to be short bursts, clocking in at less than two minutes in length. A debut album is expected this year. They will be joined by ergasia, TJ and Son and Dero.

ANIMAL HANDS HAS THE TONIC With a little lazy research, I can tell those unfamiliar and interested that Melbourne outfit Animal Hands is a name combination of Aussie crime films ‘Animal Kingdom’ and ‘Two Hands’. No love for BMX Bandits at all, but that is okay.

Formed in 2011 and led by Danielle Whalebone, the band is keeping the fuzz and grunge of the ’90s alive. Keep an eye open for their album Tonic Clonic. Spa Bar, Daylesford – April 21.

SOAR INTO LUCY AND THE NIGHT SKY Nine-piece Surf Coast collective Lucy and the Night Sky bring to life the imagination of classical pianist and singer Lucy O’Grady. Elements of folk, rock, Celtic, classical, blues and funk are all there somewhere, which were pieced together perfectly for the album The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me. Forte’s Perri Digby gave the album a tidy four stars out of five. Martians Café, Deans Marsh – April 22.

CL ASSIFIEDS Send your info to: enquiries@fortemag.com.au For individual use only, not for commercial purposes.

18

TRACY MCNEIL & THE GOODLIFE Tracy McNeil & the GoodLife only have a couple of headline shows for the first half of 2018, and this includes a free afternoon turn at The Bridge, Castlemaine on April 29. Tracy has been kicking out the jams since her arrival to our shores in 2007. With the GoodLife, she takes her North American roots and serves them up with a side order of Australia’s alt-country/Americana scene.

PONY FACE’S FAMILIAR FEELING With a little help from their Pozible friends, Pony Face was able to create new album Déjà vu. It is the band’s fifth album, described as “a sincere mongrel of inspired songwriting encompassed in waves of euphoric epiphanies”. Shane O’Mara, the band’s new guitarist, took on production and engineering roles, while Lucie Thorne and Talei Wolfgramm make guest appearances. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – May 5.

OOH AHH, LITTLE BIT MORE James Reyne – WPAC, Echuca on April 20; Momoko Rose – Workers Club, Geelong on April 21; Rose Tattoo – Gateway Hotel, Corio on April 21; Janette Geri – Guildford Family Hotel, Guildford on April 21; Alex the Astronaut & Stella Donnelly – Karova Lounge, Ballarat on April 27; and Wilbur Wilde – SteamRoller gig @ Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum on April 28.

Guitarist Wanted

Band looking for vocalist

style with table seating.

Suburban Sandcastles return on May 9th with The Goddess Project a conversation and film night – looking at aspects and issues in all our lives. The event includes Q&A and food and drinks.

Christian College Geelong will be presenting Alice in Wonderland for four performances here in May on the 3rd, 4th and 5th – presented by the students for families and friends... and anyone who loves Lewis Carrol, call us for details.

The legend that is Roy Orbison will showcased here on May 12th with Issi Dye’s Tribute to Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers featuring Glenn Douglas, this will be a cabaret style show with table seating, one show only on Saturday May 12th at 8pm.

Check out www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ potatoshed and book now on 5251 1998.

See you at the shed!

TRUST IN JOHN FLANAGAN

DR. COLOSSUS PAYS TRIBUTE

If his new album is anything to go by, John Flanagan is a man you can trust. Together with Liz Frencham and Daniel Watkins, the John Flanagan Trio’s new album is Honest Man. Enjoy some folksy three-part harmonies. Ararat Live – May 23; Beechworth Town Hall, Beechworth – May 26; The Bridge, Castlemaine – June 3; Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo – June 16; and Lost Ones, Ballarat – June 17.

The news of Dr. Colossus drummer Nathan Johnston passing away last year hit hard. After much grieving and deliberation, Jono and Mike have decided to hit the stage again to belt out some songs for their fallen friend and bandmate, and all those who loved him. Nathan’s good mate Josh Eales will pick up the sticks, while profits will go to Nathan’s wife Kate’s Trek for Kindness.

Barwon Club, Geelong – June 8.

ONE HOT COUNTRY NIGHT

WAAX ON

If you’re a little bit country, you’ll want a ticket to One Hot Country Night. 37-time Golden Guitar winner Lee Kernaghan will headline the event that takes place at the Bendigo Stadium on June 2. The Wolfe Brothers, Davidson Brothers, Jake Sinclair and Jayne Denham will also perform at Bendigo’s first country music festival, plus the added treat of local country covers act Boots N All.

You may have heard that Brisbane outfit WAAX have a new single in ‘Labrador’, which means you have probably heard they’re going on tour. They have also inked a deal with Dew Process/Universal Music Australia.

And the cherry on top is that they will support Billy Clyro this month. It’s little wonder that wherever you find their name you find the words “electrifying punk”.

Barwon Club, Geelong – June 13.

SNAKES SMELL EVIL

GUY SEBASTIAN IS EXCITED

First, there was a sound – one that is “as sinister and unsettling as it is catchy and highly addictive”. Next there was the smell with debut video track ‘Rotten’.

Now there is the album, Pure Evil. Launched at the Blacken Open Air Festival, Pure Evil is Snake’s introduction to the wider world, having already made an impression within the underground scene. Get your dose of Northern Territory metal.

Forever remembered as the inaugural winner of Australian Idol, Guy Sebastian has, as time allows one, done a lot of growing up since 2003. Music has always been there, and late last year he released his eighth studio album, Conscious. Guy: “I’ve spent a lot of time writing new material and preparing a new body of work that really excites me, and I can’t wait to share it soon.”

GPAC – June 16.

STONEFIELD ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES

STRATEGEM BENDIGO WINEMAKERS FESTIVAL

Victorian four-piece Stonefield have released their third studio LP Far From Earth, the latest addition to their ever-growing catalogue and a veritable psychprog gem! In celebration of the release, the band have also announced an extensive national Australian tour in May and June which will include stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth as well as Belgrave, Castlemaine, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Rosalind Park will once again play host to the Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival. The open-air food and wine festival celebrates the end of harvest for Bendigo region winemakers. As well as wine and food, the festival also offers wine master-classes and music from The Northern Folk and Erica Hawkey. Entry tickets include souvenir festival glass and complimentary wine tasting.

April 28 is the date.

Male looking for players to form a band

Drummer Wanted

Great keyboard player wanted

Looking for a guitarist for my

Geelong based original band are

Looking for a drummer to play

Keyboard player with ability to improvise,

acoustic duo band Intrepid Soul.

looking for a vocalist. Must be able to

Rhythm guitarist, lead guitar, drums

blues rock. Gigs are waiting

playing original Prog rock, Jazz Fusion,

We do regular open mics at The

practice once a week on weekends.

and bass required. Blues and blues/

Contact Josh 0430 971 319

Deck and recently performed at

Male or Female, as long as it fits our

rock genre with a bit of grunge.

Aireys Inlet Music Festival, along

sound. For fans of Queens of the

Influences include The Black Crowes,

nationally (Canada,UK) Must be GOOD,

with some occasional paid gigs.

Stone Age, Muse, The Strokes, The

Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Stone

experienced, any age ok, auditions will

Hives, Temper Trap etc. Contact Nathan

Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Pearl

begin in January for Band performances

on 0478785702 to organise a jam.

Jam, Rolling Stones, Ben Harper.

around Victoria. Register now for audi-

Contact Marie on 0402315353.

Experimental styles. Band has both CD and vinyl releases and have played inter-

Would like to write originals also. If

tions (Geelong area) with John Castellain

interested call Craig - 0404 054 045

on 03 53823484 or mobile 0421255053

FORTE 687

BALL ARAT BLOG

THE ACFIELDS TAKE THE LONG ROAD Hannah and Dan Acfield, the musical partnership known simply as The Acfields, have released their second album. A Road of Dust and Stone follows the sibling folk duo’s 2014 self-titled album, and for the second time was created with assistance from a successful crowdfunding campaign. While a lot of their writing takes place separately, they spent a couple of months writing this one in Brisbane.

The Lost Ones, Ballarat – May 27.

WRITTEN BY GLEN ANDERSON

Still some lovely days in Ballarat as we all wait for the inevitable doom of winter and there is still plenty to see and do if you get ya dancing shoes on.

King Parrot will be belting out heavy grind when they hit Karova Lounge on Wednesday April 25. Child Bite will be the support act and it is only $20 to get in.

Alex The Astronaut and Stella Donnelly will be playing on Friday April 27. Two of Australia’s most exciting songwriters have recently announced that they will be joining forces for a co-headline tour this April. Only twelve gigs across Australia, so making a stop-over in Ballarat is a real treat for us.

Kalimna Jazz is playing at Munster Arms on Saturday 28 April from 7pm.The two piece outfit have been playing around the traps for several years now and piano and trumpet are two of the key instruments of any fabulous jazz duo so it looks like a fine way to spend a Saturday night.

Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird will land at Karova Lounge on Friday May 4. Over the past 18 months, the band have slowly been lifting their profile with some of their diverse songs. Electric

BLOODY DZ DEATHRAYS Having warmed up the masses for Foo Fighters in Brisbane, DZ Deathrays are heading into the badlands with their new album, Bloody Lovely. From the band: “We are more than excited to take these songs out on the road and into any dive bar, theatre or festival stage we possibly can.” The Karova, Ballarat – May 17.

Support comes from Clowns, who happened to warm up the masses for Foo Fighters in Melbourne.

Brown has some really great tracks on it, a sound that really reminds me of David Bowie and Bryan Ferry. The Melbourne Bitter EP will no doubt get a run also on the night and the melancholic tones of lead vocalist Lachy Rose will have you in a trance before you know it.

Mick Thomas and The Roving Commission will play a unique show on Saturday May 5 at The Cabaret Club (4/9367 Western Highway, Warrenheip). The band is embarking on another album which will be recorded in June and there will be a bunch of new stuff that will be played by the band. It’s $35 at the door or $30 pre-sale. The start time is a relatively early 8.30pm, so get on ya bike. There is a courtesy bus that will make trips in and out of the CBD every hour. The pick-up and drop off point will be outside the old Suttons House Of Music.

Don’t miss out on The Clunes Booktown Festival as it is on again over the weekend of May 5 and 6.

A great event for the local community and I can recommend a trip out to this event.

Coffee of the week is definitely Yellow Espresso which is down the East end of Sturt Street. A very happening place and a great vibe!

SPIT SYNDICATE ANNOUNCE 20-DATE NATIONAL TOUR Sydney’s hip-hop powerhouse duo Spit Syndicate have announced their fifth studio album ORBIT, to be released on Friday, 11th May 2018 via One Day Entertainment. Barely a year since they released the criticallyacclaimed ONE GOOD SHIRT HAD US ALL FLY, Spit Syndicate return with ORBIT, their most progressive work yet, featuring guest appearances by Tuka, Turquoise Prince, imbi the girl and Kai (Jackie Onassis). To celebrate, the duo will be embarking on a huge 20-date national tour. They’ll hit Karova Lounge in Ballarat on Thursday June 21.

* W I TH S P E CI A L GU E S T I M OGE N CL A R K Geelong Youth Awards 2018 Nominations are now open Nominations are now open for the biggest celebration of young people in our region - the Geelong Youth Awards.

Do you know a young person aged 12 - 25 who is making a difference in the areas of education, leadership, community work, sport, culture, arts, environment or youth development in Greater Geelong?

If so, nominate them for a Geelong Youth Award.

This could give your young person the spark they need to reach their potential.

Youth Portfolio Councillor Jan Farrell said the awards acknowledged the many remarkable young people in our community: “There are so many young

people doing amazing things in our community and it’s wonderful to see them recognised through these awards. I love seeing young people following their interests and passions and, as we’ve seen in the past, many of them go on to be very successful in their chosen fields,” she says.

Nominees can be nominated in a variety of categories including arts and music, community citizenship, leadership/positive role model, social justice (advocacy), sport, or the young carer category.

The winners will be announced at a gala event at The Pier on 1 June 2018. All nominees will receive a certificate and award winners will receive a personal trophy and a $500 contribution to support their ongoing interests and education.

It’s quick and easy to nominate, simply visit www.youthcan.vic.gov.au. Nominations close on 29 April 2018.

Don’t delay – get your nomination in today.

FORTE 687

19

Sarah Blasko Getting rid of all the crap and focusing on the important stuff WRITTEN BY HELENA METZKE

“P E O P L E K I N D O F H AV E T H I S VENEER AND I SEE IT SO MUCH,” B E G I N S B L A S KO. “A N D I G U E S S ANYTHING THAT TALKS ABOUT R E M OV I N G T H AT V E N E E R A N D G E T T I N G T O T H E H E A RT O F WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN LIFE CAN BE CONFRONTING FOR PEOPLE. “THAT’S CERTAINLY WHAT I FELT I WA S W R I T I N G A B O U T,” S H E CONTINUES BEFORE CONCLUDING, “BECAUSE YOU JUST WANT TO GET RID OF ALL THE CRAP THAT YOU DON’T NEED IN LIFE AND FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT STUFF.”

surrounding a search for authenticity.

you’re getting through it, then the next you sort of feel like you’re right back to where you started.

“I feel that what is within the record is very relatable,” she says. “Although, some of its potentially a bit tough “I guess the two versions of the individual are the more to listen to – I know for me it’s quite difficult to sing accepting, moving on, Zen being and the other which some edges of the album – because it feels quite honest, is just angry and deeply upset, who really just wants to but I suppose it would be about people being authentic.” smash things – and I think it’s all part of the grieving process when you feel hurt.”

“Often people present themselves in a certain way and they’re very different behind closed doors,” Blasko In support of Depth of Field, Blasko has packed her bags explains, “Or they think that they’re a certain way but and is preparing to jet set her way around the world they’re actually the opposite of who they think they are.” on her headline tour.

This exploration of emotion, accompanied by this notion of two sides to oneself and a search for authenticity is vividly depicted in video for ‘A Shot’, the second track which was lifted off Depth of Field prior to its release.

Visiting the likes of LA, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, London and Paris, Blasko is ensuring the love is also shared with her homeland, after recently announcing a National tour which will see her return to our shores in May and June of this year.

‘A Shot’ is said to be about the heartache which comes “I’m just really looking forward to playing these songs,” from feeling betrayed by someone you never thought she smiles, “With each album, it feels really different would betray you and has been predicted to rank as playing them live and it’s always really exciting playing one of the greatest vocal performances in Blasko’s them live for the first time.” storied career.

Directed by McLean Stephenson, the video for ‘A Shot’ “I’m also really keen to play a bunch of shows that are all standing rooms,” explains Blasko. “Although there brings the song to life with great intensity. are a few [shows] that are seated due to different venue “For me, it’s sort of two sides to one character, explains In discussing the meanings, and/or messages listeners restrictions in certain towns and cities, it’s mostly Blasko, “Like when you feel let down by somebody, or might make, and/or take away upon listening, as well as standing rooms.” you feel hurt, there’s these real conflicting emotions.

Blasko’s own input of meaning into the featured tracks, “I’ve played a lot of seated venues over the years and she went on to emphasise an underlying dialogue “On the one hand you feel like you’re stronger because that’s great if you want to do something that’s really

Australian singer-songwriter, musician and producer, Sarah Blasko, is celebrating the release of her most recent effort, Depth of Field. Following ARIA Award winning, AMP shortlisted, Eternal Return, Depth of Field marks the artist’s sixth studio album since beginning the development of her solo career in 2002.

20

FORTE 687

quiet, but sometimes it can be a bit conflicting for some people,” she continues, “Some people really want to get up – there were a couple of really hilarious shows we did for Eternal Return where there were arguments in the crowd, with people wanting to get up and dance and move around.

All crap eliminated and the important stuff focused on, Blasko is just really excited to be playing “sweatier rooms” on her forthcoming tour.

Release: Depth of Field is out now When & Where: The Capitol Theatre, Bendigo – June 21 170 Russell, Melbourne – June 22

BEER WINE DINE BEER WINE DINE It’s true when they say drinking good wine (or beer) with good food in good

company is one of life’s most civilised pleasure... you really can’t go wrong.

Lucky for you (and us), Geelong’s and surrounds is packed with all kinds of

eateries, bars and events to enjoy. With all of this choice available, how do you decide what is the best and what really tops the list, or where you should head for a ‘wine and dine’ weekend away?

We’ve highlighted a few of our favourite local beers and wines, and a couple of weekend events you should get to.

Cheers to the weekend!

Talia & the Forte Team FORTE 687

21

71 YARRA ST GEELONG 22

FORTE 687

and around two hours from Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong, this long weekend event is not to be missed.

At this event, you can expect a warm welcome and the chance to taste world renowned wines of the Heathcote region. Enjoy dinners, long lunches, master-classes, music, vintage launches and over 20 cellar doors open just for you, plus much more.

Heathcote On Show Enjoy exclusive tastings, new releases, music, gourmet food, community activities and more at over 30 locations across the Heathcote Region WRITTEN BY CHLOE CICERO

If you’re a fan of wine, food and fun, we have your Queen’s Birthday long weekend sorted.

Experience the Heathcote Region at Heathcote On Show, where artisan winemakers, chefs, brewers, and musicians welcome you to Heathcote where you can enjoy exclusive tastings, new releases, music, gourmet food, community activities and more at over 30 locations across the Heathcote Region. Just 30 minutes from Bendigo,

What To Do You will be able to attend multiple tastings, indulge yourself in food as well as local events to look forward to, this event is definitely something to get excited for. With so many wineries for you to visit, you will surely be kept busy over this long weekend. Each winery has their own signature wines and tastes, with some being more family friendly than others, but at all of them, you can expect wine tastings, large amounts of food, and live music to keep you entertained throughout the day.

On Saturday, June 9 on High St in Heathcote from 10am - 3pm, you can look forward to the High Street Festival and Market with local hand-made merchandise, vintage cars, and of course all the food and live music available for you. There will also be an animal farm for the kids, and kids at heart. Local wine makers will help you with a ‘Taste of Cellar Doors’ so you can plan your weekend and make the most of your visit.

Again on Saturday from 6:30pm – 10:30pm, you can attend ‘A Mid-Winters Night’ which is held at Munari Wines. There will be wine, food and three spectacular bands to entertain and impress you throughout the evening. Hot food will also be available from Soul M8’s food truck. Bookings preferred.

On Sunday, June 10 from 6pm onwards, you can attend a night of “Wine Food and Film”. Join visitors and locals to enjoy a film screening of Somm, which is a documentary that follows four wine stewards preparing to take the Master Sommelier Exam, which is one of the world’s most-difficult tests, presided over by the notoriously secretive Court of Master Sommeliers. A booking is essential to attend this.

If you are a fan of great wine, food and fun then “Burlesque De Vine” is a must. On Sunday from 6:30pm onwards you can attend an intimate evening with hostess and MC, Poppy Cherry. You will also be able to indulge in a ‘Taste of Winter in Paris”, which is a decadent four course French inspired food and wine pairing dinner, as well as a show which features several of Melbourne’s most talented Burlesque artists, who’s performances will be paired with each course, to tantalise your senses. Bookings are also essential for this.

straight to the cellar door, so this will be super great if you are staying in Bendigo. Tickets from Bendigo, to the cellar doors are $20, and only last one day, so make sure you get enough passes for the two days.

Where To Stay With plenty to see over this long weekend, we recommend that you book your accommodation as soon as possible. Visit www. heathcoteonshow.com.au for all the details and links for bookings.

When & Where: Heathcote On Show @ Heathcote, Victoria– Queen’s Birthday Weekend (June 9 – 11, 2018). For all the information and program details visit the website, Facebook or Instagram.

Getting There Getting to this event will be easy, with buses running on Saturday and Sunday from Bendigo to Heathcote, as well as buses going

Moses of French Saloon has composed a delicious four course menu to complement KAIJU!’s hop monster beers and the incredible, awardwinning wines from Paradise IV. This one goes down at Kirk’s Pub (382 Little Bourke St, Melbourne) on Saturday May 19 from 6:30pm – 11pm. Tickets for this one are $150, numbers limited.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BACK YARD BARBIE! What’s not to love about a bogan tinnie party? There’s nothing not to love! Here, Team Woodies invites you to celebrate the rise of the craft beer can with our epic bogan tinny party. Get your shortest pair of stubbies out, avoid the salt water crocs, and prepare for an arvo of bogan delights. With all the best Aussie tins available (KAIJU! included), you’ll also be treated to live music, flamin’ sausage sizzle and have your change to share a tinnie with the brewers themselves.

This one goes down at The Woodlands Hotel (84-88 Sydney Rd, Coburg) on Saturday May 19 from 1pm. Best thing is it’s FREE. KAIJU BEER X IZAKAYA CHUJI - BEER & BOARD GAMES Finish Good Beer Week the best way with a relaxing Sunday evening featuring KAIJU! Brews, tasty Japanese food and the best contemporary board games! After a whole week of beer-induced fun, this is the perfect way to round it all off.

This one goes down at Izakaya Chuji Japanese Restaurant (165 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) on Sunday May 20 from 5pm. Tickets $49.

Celebrate Good Beer Week with KAIJU The best beer week in the world In just eight years, Good Beer Week has grown from an innocent pot to boisterous pint-sized, transforming into a global festival that celebrates the beauty of beer through more than 300 diverse and innovative events across Melbourne and Victoria. Running from May 11-20, the awe-inspiring, dedicated week aims to encourage more people into the good beer world, and we couldn’t think of a more worthy way to spend a week dedicated to our favourite type of brew than with some events by a long-time Forté favourite, KAIJU! Here are a few thirst-quenching events any beer fanatic should get around.

KAIJU’S ULTIMATE MARIO KART CHALLENGE Ready for the good times? Well, it’s KAIJU! versus you, with the ultimate Mario Kart challenge. Not only do you get the chance to take on take on

KAIJU! brewers and LOOP bar staff for your chance at GLORY in a Mario Kart round robin, but you also get treated to a free KAIJU! brew on arrival.

You’ll also be privvy to half price beer during our Mario Kart Challenge, and a free knock-off BBQ on the rooftop as the sun sets over Melbourne.

This one goes down at Loop Project Space & Bar (19-23 Meyers Place, Melbourne) on Sunday May 13 from 3pm – 6pm. Tickets are $20.

Explore the best the beer scene has to offer, learn something new, or have a week of good times with friends. Good Beer Week is what you make of it.

Tickets via https://goodbeerweek.com.au/events/search?q=Kaiju

BAD LOVE’S BREWERY BAKE OFF! The good times continue with the bake off! Here, KAIJU! and Nomad (brewery) go head to head in a bake off the likes of Good Beer Week have never seen before! Both brewers will bring their two favourite beers together to match with two Bad Love beer based desserts for a fun and entertaining evening exploring the best in boozy baked goods! Ah, bless the sweeter things in life.

This one goes down at Bad Love Club (5/68-82 Hopkins St, Footscray) on Wednesday May 16 from 6pm – 9pm. Tickets are $35.

KIRK’S PUBLIC BAR: AN EVENING WITH KAIJU! & PARADISE IV Now is where the foodies can step up and get involved. Callum from KAIJU! Beer and Doug from Paradise IV Wines will present what will be an unforgettable evening of food and drink. Here, Chef Todd

FORTE 687

23

Experience the new Cellar Door Now serving light lunches and platters Open Anzac Day from 12pm

Light Lunches & Platters Exclusive Cellar Door Sales Guided Tastings Open 7 days - 10.30am - 4.30pm Anzac Day from 12pm 190 Scotchmans Road, Bellarine To book a table, phone (03) 5251 3176 www.scotchmans.com.au 24

FORTE 687

Celebrate the best gastronomic makers and producers of the region with a ticket to an iconic wine, food & music festival With

each ticket providing access to the festival

village with plenty to eat, drink and do, The Grampians

Grape Escape is the festival you will want to be a part of.

Founded in 1992, the Grampians Grape Escape festival is a natural oasis, attended by around 10,000 people each year who graze their way through some of the region’s finest wines, fine food and produce.

A ‘must-attend’ event, here’s some things to pop on your to-do list: REGIONAL BEVVIES Some of Australia’s most distinguished winemakers are active in the Grampians region.

Experimenting with techniques and pushing boundaries, these wineries will bring award winning and newly discovered wines. Being legends, they also cater for those who aren’t wine drinkers with boutique beer, cider and other distillery delights.

PADDOCK TO PLATE Continue the romance wine has with food and feast from the variety of festival food trucks and taste your way around producer samples. With variety to satisfy all members of your party, devour a Angus beef burger, demolish Spanish Paella or try a festival favourite, Forge Pizza. Finish up with a delightfully naughty Danish donut, cheese plate or a coffee inspired bespoke dessert to get you through the day… after all, this food frenzy is hard work.

GUEST CHEFS This year, GGE are teaming up with chef and host of the popular TV series River Cottage Australia, Paul West, PLUS one of MasterChef AU’s most loved contestants and friendly face of channel 10’s TV hit, The Cooks Pantry, Matt Sinclair for masterclasses and cooking demonstrations using the finest local and seasonal produce. This one is sure to be a hit with festival attendees so don’t miss out.

LIVE MUSIC A deliciously talented line-up and a glass of wine will warm festival goers up. Dance to the beats of

LITTLE CREATURES GEELONG PRESENTS WESTSIDE BEER MARKET In celebration of Good Beer Week WRITTEN BY CHLOE CICERO

Little Creatures Geelong is very proud to present the ‘Westside Beer Market’ event for this year’s Good Beer Week. Going down on Saturday May 12, from 12pm – 5pm, the team will be bringing together all of the local breweries, brew clubs and beer creators on site at Little Creatures for their very own mini-beer festival, celebrating the talents of the West.

With pop-up stalls full of delicious beer, great food and entertainment, this is one market to get excited for.

Little Creatures Head Brewer, Warren Pawsey, explains how he can’t wait to share the love of beer out west (and frankly, neither can we!). “We’re really excited to be putting a spin on the Little Creatures markets which we have been running for several years now in Geelong,” he says. “We’ve brought in experimental brewers who will be showcasing exotic and innovative flavours, exclusive beer goodies and merch for the crafty types and the best of the breweries

banjo-wielding, blues-loving bands or relax with a picnic possie on the lawn to romantic folk tunes.

Uncover your new favourite artist or sing with your mates to a well-known cover. These good vibes will make the perfect accompaniment to a chilled festival weekend. On Saturday May 5, you can enjoy the sweet sounds from Coby Grant, Nick Charles, Stringybark McDowell & Mollycoddle, Wanderers, Madhouse and The Settlement, while Sunday on May 6 you can kick back to the sounds of Alice Skye, Grim Fawkner, Mitch King, The Kite Machine and Orange Whip.

LITTLE FOODIES This event is family-friendly with plenty of mess and outdoor fun for your little foodies. While mums and dads enjoy the wine and beats, kids can pet native animals, play in the kitchen, or become pros at potting herbs. Sunday is funday with extra little foodie kids’ activities including a rock-climbing wall and pasta making.

MASTERCLASSES & TICKETED WORKSHOPS From blind ice cream tasting to composting 101, or the one pot wonder of Tagine to the dos and dont’s of wine…get the most of your festival experience, sit back and learn from the expert exhibitors. Masterclasses are free for all to attend, but for an intimate educational experience, add on a workshop such as the Chocolate and Wine pairing, Beer and Meat pairing, Duck Terrine with guest chef, Matt Sinclair and DIY Natural Skincare with Rebecca Sullivan.

OK, NOW ALL YOU NEED IS TICKETS Each ticket to this iconic festival provides access to the festival village with plenty to eat, drink and do.

Tasting tickets come with a souvenir glass, enviro bag and free tastings until 4pm each day. They start from just $55 per day and General admission is also available. Both are available as a day or weekend ticket and there’s also the option of accommodation and ticket packages available via the website.

Check it all out at grampiansgrapeescape.com.au/ buy-tickets//.

When & Where: Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, Halls Gap – May 5&6

that our region has on offer.”

The long-established Geelong Craft Brewers Club will be brewing two kegs just for the event, so guests are encouraged to try the beer for free and judge them using their official Beer Judge Certification Program judging sheets – super professional. There will also be an opportunity to learn about an all-girl brewing society, The Pink Boots, who will be showcasing a keg of their latest all-girls brew to try.

Arrive from 12pm and have a wander around and taste the local home brewers’ experimental flavours and make sure to grab some quirky beer gear from Little Creatures & White Rabbit Breweries, Blackman’s Breweries, Flying Brick Cider Co, Prickly Moses, Cockies Beer and many more.

Why not get together to celebrate the brilliant breweries that this region has to offer. There will be live entertainment from Upton Brown, as well as juggling stilt walkers, wacky DJ’s and mouth-watering food including Pork Rolls and Woodfired Pizzas. Also making an appearance will be a keg of Little Creatures’ latest seasonal release, The Fuggle Is Real Stout, for everyone to enjoy.

The market is free for all and you are invited to stick around for some beers, dinner and some pumping tunes at White Rabbits Barrel Hall, or Little Creatures Canteen, following the market until 10pm.

It all goes down at Little Creatures Village (221 Swanston Street, Geelong) – Saturday May 12.

FORTE 687

25

MARK YOUR DIARY Why you need to visit Heathcote on Show: Discover amazing wines, tour vineyards and wineries Experience a tutored master class and be guided through tastings by winemakers Take a walking tour in a vineyard Explore the town and discover a collection of new and exciting cafes and lifestyle stores Indulge in many food and wine locations offering cheese, olives, antipasto platters and more, along with winter favorites Buses available – Bendigo to Heathcote Sat 9 and Sun 10 plus shuttle buses to cellar doors Saturday and Sunday

26

All this and just a 90 min drive from Melbourne and only 40 min from Bendigo.

If that proves too much to do for just one day – best make a weekend of it!

www.facebook.com/heathcoteonshow

For all the details contact: www.heathcoteonshow.com.au, Heathcote Visitor Information Centre (03) 5433 3121 or www.heathcote.org.au

instagram.com/heathcoteonshow #heathcoteonshow

FORTE 687

SCOTCHMANS HILL The ideal location to wine and dine this Autumn As the weather turns cooler amongst delightful sunny days, clear nights, and the occasional shower of rain, Autumn weekends are made for a trip to a winery.

Scotchmans Hill is a leading local winery in the heart of the Bellarine Peninsula that has been producing cool climate wines since 1982 and rated among James Halliday’s Top 100 Australian Wineries.

The Scotchmans Hill winery and Cellar Door is located in Drysdale, Victoria, Australia; the vineyard is 75 minutes drive from Melbourne

and whites of several varietals, and they offer the full range of their estate grown wines for tasting at the cellar door with knowledgeable staff on hand.

Whether you are a wine newbie or an experienced taster, wine tasting is a fun way to learn about what you like and don’t like. It’s the perfect opportunity to try new wines, and Scotchmans Hill have the knowledge to make sure you find the perfect drop just for you.

During the wine tastings, the staff (and self-confessed wine affectionados) are approachable and informative; you are literally treated as a long lost friend. It’s their job to know everything about the wines they’re serving and trust us when we say, they do. Not only do they tailor a tasting to your individual needs, whether you’re into whites or reds or only prefer the sweet stuff, the staff will keep it fun as well, making sure you get the very best out of the experience – even if you’re still learning the difference between your pinot gris from your pinot noir.

Let’s be honest though, when you think of wine, you think of cheese… or specifically, you think of a big, beautiful cheese platter on the table, glowing with all types of cheeses, perfect fruit and crisp crackers. The opportunities and mouthfuls are endless. Scotchmans Hill understand and value this, with their delectable platters on offer for visitors to kick back and indulge in two of life’s greatest culinary pleasures.

Think a selection of Drysdale Goats Cheese, Mersey Valley Cheddar, Apostle Whey ‘Bay of Martyrs’ blue cheese, Otway Walnuts, Manzanillo Grove Olives alongside Barwon Valley Ham, Cabonossi, Prosciutto and rounded out with La Madre sour dough, Lavosh crackers and even some luscious dip. Are you drooling yet?

On top of their mouthwatering platters, they are now serving light lunches featuring seasonal, local produce with offering such as the smoked chicken wrap, fresh salads, local pork on La Madre charcoal CBD, and only 20 minutes from Geelong. brioche buns and the standout reuben sandwiches. Perfect if you are A trip to Scotchmans Hill is a chance to enjoy some delicious wine in need of a afternoon snack to go alongside that bottle of award in an iconic and beautiful area. With a humble charm and initial winning 2016 Scotchmans Hill Chardonnay. cottage sight, the rustic cellar door instantly strikes your curiosity.

The Scotchmans Hill team believe that wine, according to Ernest Inside the setting is light filled and homely, with an intimate tapered Hemingway anyway, is one of the most civilised things in the world, roof and lengthy wooden L-shaped bar which wonderfully creates and if you’re sitting on a shaded patio outside your favourite cellar an opportunity to chat with fellow wine enthusiast about their door, sipping a glass of their finest product and taking in the charming experiences.

Australian countryside that surrounds them, it’s certainly hard to Heading outside, the terrace is decked out with bricks, a number argue. of outside settings, umbrellas and a picturesque view overlooking the While summer may be gone, don’t put away those floppy hats just immaculately maintained vineyards, accompanied by Port Phillip Bay yet; round up your favourite crew and honour the most beautiful and the Melbourne skyline, makes a perfect (and spacious) backdrop season of the year with a trip to Scotchmans Hill. to enjoy a glass of your favourite drop with your favourite company.

For more information head to www.scotchmans.com.au/ Now that you’ve got an idea about the pure ambience and charm of the most renowned winery on the Bellarine, it’s also worth noting this world-class outfit produces some wonderful cool-climate reds

FORTE 687

27

headspace can help young people 12 - 25 with: - general health - mental health and wellbeing - alcohol and other drugs - education, employment and other services

For further information, to find your nearest headspace centre or for online and telephone support, visit headspace.org.au

headspace.org.au headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health

28

FORTE 687

FORTE 687

29

completed a lap around the country, the four-piece came to an agreeance that they should give it another crack. “When we were little, we’d see a band like Cut Copy or The Presets and they’d work for three years on making an album and then they’d come out and do Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and then they’d take another year off and it’s like ‘gosh, you worked so hard on that album, don’t you want to play more?’ so for us, playing live is our favourite thing to do so we’re just keen to get out there and play again,” Declan says.

BRITISH INDIA ‘MIDNIGHT HOMIE’ TOUR In a quick chat to the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Declan Melia, we find out all there is to know about their national tour which kick starts in May. WRITTEN BY HANNAH KENNY

One of Australia’s most loved indie-rock bands, British India came to the dreaded realisation that in order to stay relevant, no creative barriers could interfere with the flow in their latest record, Forgetting The Future (2017). Rejuvenating their fractured artistic chemistry with production expertise from Oscar Dawson, British India discovered the sound they’d always been looking for in their intrepid sixth studio album.

A gentle mix of high-tempo, bravado hip-hop and indie-rock, the record is electrified through the waves of vulnerability and aggression that quiver over the course of Forgetting The Future. With 16 tour dates scheduled for next month, including performances in Ballarat, Melbourne and Geelong, the band are approaching the tour with a

freestyle approach. “We haven’t been doing any band stuff for the longest period of time ever in our career which is kind of a conscious decision. We’ll get together maybe a few days before the tour starts and we’ll kick some songs around and play through them, but it’ll probably be more like playing covers and old songs, our favourite songs, maybe writing new songs. There’s not going to be a point where we look at each and say ‘OK what song are we playing next?’ I think that kind of thing really takes the spontaneity out of the live show which is a thing that’s probably most important to us,” Declan says.

The album represents the evolution of British India as a band, delving down a pathway of raw emotion in its most honest form. With five other albums to draw comparisons against, Declan believes Forgetting The Future is the strongest record the band has ever made. “It’s the record that I’m proudest of. We’ve always said that the day we put out a record that we think is less good than the one we put out before, we will stop doing it. We knew that in the studio and we knew that we had to do something special because it just gets harder,” he explains. “You establish this relationship with your fans and you don’t want to let them down, you don’t want to rip them off by making something half-assed and you want to do something different – so there’s a lot of pressure factors at play. I think that we found a sound on our record that we’d been looking for, for many years.”

Six months since Forgetting The Future entered the Aussie music radar, Declan and his three band buddies, Nic, Will and Matt, decided that it’d be a waste not to do a larger national tour. Having already

Returning off the back of their 2015 album, Nothing Touches Me, Forgetting The Future is the band’s inaugural record produced with Oscar Dawson. Attempting to rehash their usual approach to music in the studio, Declan and the boys found that their old techniques were growing tired. “As soon as we finished touring Nothing Touches Me, we got back together in this really expensive studio in South Yarra, writing music like we had always done, but it wasn’t working. Our philosophy has always been; don’t make a record if it’s going to be average. We thought at what point are we going to stop sinking money at the studio, wasting time? That’s when Oscar Dawson stepped in and said ‘hang on, there’s something here, just try it like this’ and our whole method of working changed. That was the catalyst,” Declan describes of working with the producer.

Eleven years since the release of their debut album, Guillotine, the future is looking pretty bright for British India, especially given their recent signing with New York record label AntiFragile. The band’s creativity has certainly flourished since their hay day of 2007, taking bold moves to represent their identity as a band. The cover art for Forgetting The Future is indicative of the album and Declan’s inspirations in writing lyrics for the record. “It encapsulates the sound of the band. You’ve got this classic image of Mary, the Western idea of beauty and then you’ve got these really destructive elements behind it too, and that’s just the way that we write songs,” he says. “There’s a line that we always use, ‘we’re screaming beautiful songs.’ This vulnerable song, and then you sing the hell out of it.”

With their sights set on playing really good live music for their fans, British India are gearing up to party with a range of different communities, Newcastle being an old time and nostalgic favourite. “Just tell your readers to come to the show, it’s gonna be a great party!” he requests.

When & Where: Tap House, Bendigo – May 11 Karova Lounge, Ballarat – June 9 The Barwon Club, Geelong – June 16

of fast songs. We really hit it off right at the end with another fast one which is one of our favourites – ‘Worthless’ That will be our new music video that will hopefully be coming out soon.

“We are very keen,” he continues, referring to the release of the EP. “We’ve been recording since December and getting all those finer touches down to making sure it’s just right, from artwork through to everything on the recording and coming up with great ideas – it was such a good process and now we’re just excited to get it out and then we can start on some new material.”

Having spent the last months tracking their debut EP at a variety of studios (in Geelong, Werribee and Point Cook), the finalised product was mixed and mastered by Roman Koester (The Red Shore, Thy Art On their debut EP ‘Hindsight’ Is Murder).

“We really wanted to branch out and have different engineers inputs just to give us the feel that we WRITTEN BY TALIA RINALDO wanted,” he explains. “We’re not trying to say that we’re trying to revive the ‘90s pop punk, but that’s Melodic punk band All Hope Remains, hailing from what we’ve all grown up on and we wanted that feel the Surf Coast, kicked off the year with the release to come through in our music. of ‘Never Learn’ - the first single off their soon to be “We went to one studio because we knew drums released EP ‘Hindsight’. Consisting of members from were recorded really well from a particular album at former local bands Driveby Epic and Lostboyfound, this studio, and then with vocals, Gilly (our vocalist) the four piece play their own brand of fast melodic wanted to really work with Roman from Complex punk that harkens back to the 90’s and early 00’s Studios, and then we thought we might as well record which they’ve been working on perfecting for the guitars at a different studio as well,” he smiles. “It past 12 months. really broadened our horizons on what the final “We’ve been friends for a while, and we just really product would be.” wanted to get back on stage and have a bit of fun and With the complete product ready to be shared with write some cool tunes with some cool riffs,” drummer the world, the band can’t wait to unleash their brand Tony Maloney explains. “It’s just four mates hanging of fast melodic punk on an extremely healthy Aussie together and just having a really good time.” punk scene with a run of support shows that will hold With just one listen, you can see how the EP places them in good stead for the rest of the year.

All Hope Remains right at home amongst a bill of Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords type bands. Consisting Release: ‘Hindsight’ out on April of seven tracks, the EP kicks off with opener ‘Sorrow 27 through Pivot City Music Sustained’ which begins with cool octaves and high

All Hope Remains

energy for the first 30 seconds before launching into the adrenaline pumping song. Speeding up the pace, All Hope Remains launch into a high tempo track ‘Bleed Regret’ while ‘These Machines’ takes on a slower pace.

“It’s a good little seven songs,” Tony says. “It starts off very catchy at the start and then we go into a couple

30

When & Where: The Workers Club, Geelong – April 20 Black Hatt, Geelong – April 28

MELBOURNE - MEMO MUSIC HALL - SATURDAY MAY 5 THORNBURY - THORNBURY THEATRE - SUNDAY MAY 6

www.drfeelgood.org

FORTE 687

Confidence Man; the current reigning Kings and Queen of indie dance WRITTEN BY TALIA RINALDO

When Conf idence Man arrived last year, they made serious waves with their irresistible, irrepressible dance music, and were hailed by triple j as the best new band in Australia. Going by some pretty wild pseudonyms (a tactic that has allowed Confidence Man to be taken seriously as its own idea and project), the Brisbane based dance pop band is fronted by Sugar Bones and Janet Planet, and backed by two mysterious musicians in black veils (Clarence McGuffrie and Reggie Goodchild).

All seasoned performers in outfits like Moses Gunn Collective, The Belligerents and Jungle Giants, Confidence Man is a machine custom designed to make you dance and lose your cool.

“We were all living together at the time back in Brisbane and we were just messing around in the studio. It was really fun and we were doing this new kind of music that none of us had really done

opens the door for a lot of interesting dance moves that you can whip out.”

As to if it comes naturally to Sugar Bones, he simply laughs. “Well, it definitely comes naturally for Janet, it’s like her dream come true. It’s definitely become easier for me though and all the ideas of the vibe that we want to put out with the live show came really naturally and is really fun to come up with. We just muck around in the lounge room and try and think of stupid dance moves.”

Now, 2018 looks to be their biggest year yet, with Confidence Man releasing their debut album Confident Music For Confident People last week.

The 11-track release features the breakout singles ‘Boyfriend (Repeat)’, ‘Bubblegum’, ‘Better Sit Down Boy’ and the brand new tongue-in-cheek jam ‘Don’t You Know I’m In A Band’.

The debut album will see the band take their portable party live show across this country in May to celebrate, including a coveted spot on the entire Groovin The Moo (GTM) tour which Sugar before in our other projects and it was just super Bones is keen to be a part of. “We played last year fun,” Sugar Bones (the hunk in hot pants) explains. in Townsville, just the one show. That was great fun and a really cool festival so it will be good being on “We started doing it once a week and just having fun the whole thing this year,” he smiles. “I’ll be looking with it, then it just developed into a real thing. It’s forward to Paul Kelly actually, I’m an all-time Paul pretty much being the same music from the get-go; we’ve developed it a lot but it was always up-beat, big Kelly fan which isn’t very Confidence Man, but that’s bass lines, a bit cheeky and a bit silly from the start,” my secret crush on the side - chilled, folk, country he says. “As everyone has these quite serious other music.”

We have no doubt that it’s going to be full of projects, it’s a real chance to let the hair down and surprises, with Sugar Bones giving us a slight hint of not be restricted by any kind of image.”

As one of the biggest acts to come out of what to expect: “It will be everything from the album, Australia last year, you just need to see their live all the fresh tracks, we’ve got a few new costumes, show to understand why. They’re the dance crew a few little tricks up our sleeves, and a few more that bring their bangers to life through their exciting little additions.” energetic, no-fucks-given vibe on stage, complete What we do know is that Confident Music for with synchronised dancing and pure pop melodies Confident People is fuelled with big vibes, Con Man wit, and is simply brash and bright as hell - you won’t that has seen them already play European festivals such as Glastonbury, Down The Rabbit Hole Festival want to miss out on seeing it live this year before and Dot to Dot Festival. Simply check out the video they head overseas for a massive international tour. of them performing their break-out debut ‘Boyfriend Release: Confident Music for Confident People (Repeat)’ at Splendour In The Grass and you’ll see out now. what we mean.

“We wanted to do something different with the When & Where: live show and make it a bit more of a performance Groovin The Moo, Bendigo – May 5 and not your standard gig kind of thing,” Sugar Bones explains. “I think having this kind of music 170 Russell, Melbourne – May 20

FORTE 687

A tribute to Dean McInnes With the sudden loss of beloved local musician Dean McInnes recently, the Forte team want to extend their condolences to Dean’s family, friends and the local music community. We reached out this week to the music community to get some words about Dean and the positive impact he had on the people around him.

Spero Ferendinos - Local guitarist I remember seeing him playing this beautiful PRS at Lamby’s once and I asked him about it, and despite how drunk I was, he talked to me about it for 15 minutes.

David Weir - Guitarist/Vocalist - Good For Wednesday Dean was an amazing guy. Friendly, Enthusiastic and he was inspiring to watch on stage. Musical prowess that will be missed alongside the man himself.

Matthew Jelley - Guitarist/Vocalist - Modern Divide I’ll never forget my experience of performing Muse - ‘New Born’ with Dean, he had arrived late from another gig and had clearly had a few travellers.

Chucks the guitar over his shoulder and proceeds to nail the song, smashed the solo and sung some beautiful harmonies. Song finishes and he just says with a big smile “that went alright”.

31

MILD MANIC Unleash hectic new single ‘Global Threat’ and announce East Coast tour

Diesel Rewound is where we get to ‘rewind’ through the hits of a 15-album career that has produced 35+ singles. Diesel is in solo mode for this tour, allowing him to roam even further into 30 Year Thang Solo Tour the “nooks and crevices” of his back catalogue as Celebrating 30 Years “OFF The Bus” he trawls through the highways and back roads that have made him the journeyman of music he is today.

Geelong punters are in for a treat with well So, what better way to celebrate than with a night known singer/guitarist Diesel gracing the stage that combines a 25th Anniversary commemoration at The Gateway Hotel on Friday May 4. of Diesel’s breakthrough #1 solo album “Hepfidelity” Just over 30 years since crossing the Nullarbor and a range of hits from a stellar career? Hepfidelity with $95 between him and his band (Johnny Diesel – Through The X-ray will see Diesel retracing tracks And the Injectors), a lot of hard work has paid off, from the album that established him as a solo artist and musical traveller. So “get on the bus” and and now he is rock royalty in Australia.

The Injectors debut album went on to become celebrate Diesel’s 30 year thang! the highest selling Australian debut album of all time. Spawning hits such as ‘Soul Revival’, ‘Cryin’ When & Where: Shame’ and ‘Don’t Need Love’, he will forever be a The Penny Black, Melbourne – April 27 significant part of the Aussie Rock landscape.

Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – April 28

DIESEL

Leave it to a pop-punk band that defected from NSW to set up camp in Melbourne to present a largescale threat to society. Mild Manic is the band, and ‘Global Threat’ is their new single. We chat to vocalist Sam Rees.

Hey, thanks for chatting with Forté. You’re getting set to embark on an east coast tour of Australia to coincide with your new single ‘Global Threat’ being released. Are you excited about getting on the road?

Bloody oath, heaps excited! Touring is where life is at.

You’ve played big gigs like the No Worries Festival in NSW but also smaller gigs at pubs and clubs. How do you find they differ? Do you prefer one over the other?

Sure, we like playing the bigger shows due to being able to play in front of bigger crowds… The festival vibe is always awesome, everyone is always having fun BUT smaller shows are more exciting in a sense that you never know what you’re walking in to. One night you could play to five people, the next night it could be a full room and even though you could be playing to less people, the intimacy is what we are about.

FIVE MINUTES WITH WINSTON SURFSHIRT Introducing Winston Surfshirt, the Sydney-based band who developed a cult following with their smooth style and raucous live shows. The band originally emerged as the solo project of singer/rapper/producer Winston Surfshirt, before organically adopting other local artists and snowballing into what is now a sixpiece musical collective. To kick off 2017, the band released their debut single ‘Be About You’, which reached Number One on Spotify’s Australian Viral Charts, followed by ‘Ali D’ and ‘Same Same’. Now they’re on their way to Bendigo’s Groovin The Moo with their debut album Sponge Cake in tow. We have a quick chat with frontman Winston.

Hey Winston, thanks for chatting to Forte Mag. You guys had a crazy year last year, and now recently signing to BMG – congrats! Has that been a goal for a while?

Yeah well it seems crazy! Thanks, that has been a goal for a little bit - not that we ever thought anything like that was possible - but the past year we’ve been working on that so it’s pretty amazing.

You guys have been labelled by many as ‘Australia’s most laidback band’, is that how the band has always been?

Yes! To be fair, we just toddle along and it

32

FORTE 687

You guys are pretty renowned for the high energy shows and live sets. How do you get up and about for gigs like that every night?

We find that it always helps to show appreciation for one another before going on stage and also thinking about why you’re there in the first place.

It’s not really the preparation before the show that matters the most to us though, we are all very close to each of our songs and I think that is what helps us bring a high energy to our sets. No matter what state we’re in; tired, hungover, still drunk, etc. our emotional attachment to the songs give us the energy that we need to smash it out.

You boys relocated from the NSW coast to Melbourne. How do you find the music scene in Melbourne compares to home and other scenes around the country?

Coming from a small rural area without a massive music scene like we did, anywhere we moved to would have had a larger scene and more opportunities… but coming to Melbourne, the music capital of Aus, really shows us how much opportunity there is out there for up-and-coming bands. Although, it’s very competitive because there is SO much talent down here. TLDR; it’s pretty kick-ass.

There seems to be a theme with emerging rock bands weaving stories in their songs of heartache, mental health and a negative view of society. Do you think that applies to Mild Manic?

Firstly, we don’t like the idea of getting caught up on negative things full stop. However, in the way of our song writing, we’ve definitely all been affected by negative things over the years and we’ve all learned to channel that negativity into our music with a “the sun will still shine tomorrow” sort of attitude. We think it’s a really good thing that mental health is becoming a bigger focal point in the music industry today because it is such a real thing that needs to be discussed more and more.

Shout out to the Don’t Fret podcast!

When & Where: The Penny Black, Melbourne – April 27 Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – April 28

organically happens. As little equipment as possible is a pre-requisite, we hardly have anything usually.

The bass player used to play a uke-bass which is the smallest possible bass he could find and the drummer was on a sample pad so that was a little box, and I just had a loop pedal and a guitar at the time.

Has that setup changed much?

I’ve stopped playing keyboards and guitars, I just sing now, it’s a lot more fun and a lot easier. I play my instruments every day anyway when I’m writing so it’s not like I need to do it on stage anymore… now I can dance about.

In regards to the debut album Sponge Cake, that one was finished quite some time ago. Have you been working on new music since?

I think we finished it like three years ago now, but then we got signed to a label and management and we had to take some songs out and put some songs in so that took time. As for new music, I’m just doing the same thing, writing music and whatever happens, happens.

You guys are also heading to tour UK and Europe this year, are you keen?!

Oh, cannot wait! I’ve gone back to the UK every year for the past three or four years and played some shows, but they are mainly solo. This will be the first time with the band! It should be a lot of fun, we sold out the London show already and we just changed venues as well so that’s a good start.

Organically adopting other local artists and snowballing into what is now a six-piece musical collective, have you finished adding members to the band or is there more to come?

You’ll never know, but there’s so many people, let’s just settle down for a minute! It’s definitely harder than one person but we’ve got people organising us now otherwise we’d be screwed… I’m hopeless at Australia, I’d be in Bunbury instead of Bendigo.

Thanks for the quick chat, hopefully we see you in Bendigo!

You hopefully will see me in Bendigo!

When & Where: Groovin The Moo @ Bendigo - Saturday May 5

DROPPING IN WITH SAN CISCO

“I wasn’t even there though, what happened?,” asks Jordie, before Scarlett responds, “I just took her to the pub and asked her if she wanted to be in the band.”

“What’d she say?,” asks Jordi. “Yes, of course,” Scarlett responds, before Jordi further questioning, “Was she excited though, or was she like, I don’t know?”

WRITTEN BY HELENA METZKE “She was very excited,” explains Scarlett. “Well, there you go!,” exclaims Jordi, before we all burst into We dropped in on San Cisco, who were dropping in simultaneous laughter. on Torquay’s first ever The Drop festival, which was Jordi and Scarlett go on to explain that while dropping in on the Rip Curl Pro. I hear you – that’s a everyone has a slightly different playing style, their lot of dropping in, man. change in bassist has barely caused a change in the bands’ much-loved sound.

Graced by the presence of lead singer Jordi Davieson “I believe everyone has a slightly different playing and drummer Scarlett Stevens of San Cisco, we caught style, but it’s not hugely different,” confirms Scarlett. up on the happenings of the band, their addition of a “She learnt all the songs before we even rehearsed, new bass player and their thoughts on festival versus exactly how they were on the CDs – a lot of preparation pub shows. went into it on her end.”

Featuring on the bill of the first ever The Drop At this point, we could hear the crowd outside riled festival, alongside acts Ruby Fields, Holy Holy, Dune up and ready to go for the San Cisco disco that was Rats and SAFIA, the indie pop four-piece have also been about to ensue at The Drop, Torquay, when we asked completing their Distance Regional tour, but we’re told how they felt their festival performances differed to this might be the last we’ll be seeing of these groovy headline shows. kids for a little while.

“Well, according to our crew, we play pub shows “We’ve been doing these shows and we’re just better – apparently we’re better when we’re just chilled planning to take it pretty mellow for the rest of this year out and I don’t know, I guess sweaty pub shows are and into next year, because we’re writing and working more our vibe,” laughs Jordi. on the next record,” says Jordi.

“There’s just a lot more pressure at festivals I think, “We’re just going to drop off the radar a little bit – lots of writing, a bit of meditating,” continues Jordi, that you’ve got to put on some crazy performance,” before Scarlett concludes with a laugh, “We’ll be going explains Scarlett.

“But I’m going to take on board what the crew have a bit Eat, Pray, Love.” said and try and not care as much – and just do it,” The band recently underwent a slight change when exclaims Jordi, “Apparently I do it better when I don’t it announced the departure of its bassist, Nick Gardner, care… Well, not that I don’t care, just that I’m not who was swiftly replaced by fellow Fremantle muso and putting the pressure of myself.” good friend, Jennifer Aslett.

Finally, it was important to us that we knew what “It’s been very easy,” says Jordi. “And she’s played with us before,” interjects Scarlett, before Jordi continues, the secret ritual was that the two were about to walk “Nick is now at university doing engineering and loving away and complete with their fellow band mates, in that change of lifestyle, while Jen loves playing in the order to aid them in becoming stage-ready. band – so it’s worked out well for everyone.”

“The latest one we’ve been doing is country versions When asked about the scenario that played out in bringing Jen to become a part of the four-piece, it would of our own songs,” exclaims Jordi, “But tea towel fights are pretty good as well – anything that gets us a bit appear Jordi was just in the dark as you or I. “We basically just took her to the pub,” says Scarlett. silly.”

original songs that they’ve written and perfected at Collarts, alongside how they have honed their skills in the Music Performance course.

Between performances you will be able to join in conversations and ask questions about Collarts Music and the course. During this performance class, Audio Production students will be assisting and working on the live stage, so this class is ideal for those curious in both Music Performance or Audio Production, and anyone passionate about music in a live setting!

Music Production: Intro To Ableton Workshop In this interactive 30-minute workshop at the Fitzroy campus, you will learn the basics of Ableton at an introductory level. Introducing the digital audio workstation, Intro to Ableton is ideal for those curious about Music Production and those wanting to learn the few first tools to create, edit and deliver Music Production. During an overview with plenty of time to ask questions to industry experts, you’ll oversee a number of loops and learn tricks, tips and techniques for making music in Ableton. With plenty of demonstrations, this workshop will best be suited to those interested in Music Production and its basic techniques.

COLLARTS OPEN DAY Wondering what life at Collarts is really like?

Find out for yourself at their open day WRITTEN BY CHLOE CICERO

Content Creation: How To Master A Flat Lay Image Ever wondered how those Instagram influencers get that perfect shot? In How To Master A Flat Lay Image, you’ll learn how to perfect the flat lay image on your smartphone so you’ve got the skills and technology right in your pocket. Led by expert teachers from the Content Creation course and assisted by the Content Creation students, this workshop will involve getting hands-on in order to teach you photography and styling skills to create better, more appealing content.

A great workshop for those passionate about Content Creation, this workshop will allow you to work through flat lays and learn hands-on, with plenty of time to ask questions and get familiar with the courses.

Audio Production: Live Recording Workshop Ever wondered how Audio Production works in a live recording session? In the Live Recording Workshops, you’ll be working with current Music students to record and edit their performance in realtime, using a large screen to show and explain the process from start to finish. You’ll be able to see live performances and how Audio Production works through demonstration and explanations, with time to ask questions and get hands-on. This workshop is perfect for those interested in Audio Production, but we also encourage those interested in music performance to check out the space too.

You can also take part in an Industry Panel which will be discussing the current state of the music industry and what it takes to make it in the arts and entertainment industries.

You can also learn how to develop a mood board for fashion marketing. And take part in Enrolment 101, which is an overview of the enrolment process and the Collarts student experience.

The open day runs from 9:30 – 4 at the South Melbourne, Fitzroy, Collingwood and the City Campuses.

Register now for Open Day or click here and get all the information you need about Open Day times, sessions and tours. If studying at Collarts interests you or if you’re wanting to learn more, check out our courses here. Applications for 2018 are now open!

At this years’ Open Day (May 12, 2018), Collarts opens their doors to the public and invites you to come and experience life as a student on their campus!

Throughout the day there will be info sessions on each course, where you will be able to ask questions and chat with teachers, graduates and student advisors. It’s a great opportunity to check out the campus’ facilities and the innovative and dynamic music, audio, arts and learning spaces. Food and refreshments are also provided throughout the day to keep you going, with staff around every corner ready to assist you.

With strong personal and professional development leading the Collarts ethos, it’s only natural that our Open Day would get hands-on beyond posters and flyers. A big part of that is the opportunity to speak to industry experts and students through a number of workshops on offer. Check out some of the one’s you should get to below: Music Performance: Open Live Performance Class Come along to see an open live performance from current Music Performance students and alumni. You’ll get the chance to listen to

FORTE 687

33

true beginnings were based on the idea of creating a porno funk band, inspired by an album called Pornosonic (a Ron Jeremy album) and have since seen the band create a stoner rock feel influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath and Clutch.

“We just wanted to go back to the old school and just do what’s been working for 1000 years and play rock and roll. We wanted to scale everything back, simplify everything and make it simple and easy going so you can spend a lot more time jamming on the groove, and just enjoying the riff - rather than playing 5000 riffs per second,” he laughs.

“Even though I’m playing guitar in both bands, it’s a completely different animal,” he explains. “Frankenbok is full bloody thirsty, Vikings type aggression, while Never is sitting back, getting your dance, getting your groove on, playing guitar... it’s party music. It’s definitely not as intense as the metal. It’s been a really nice break to play music that even our parents like.”

With already two EPs under their belt, Never released their third EP, the appropriately titled Volume 3, late last year, which you can expect to hear at their upcoming performances at Meltdown. As for what’s to come, Azza is just keen to continue the momentum with intentions to fill the year out with monthly gigs.

Introducing Australia’s Newest Heavy Music Festival: Meltdown WRITTEN BY TALIA RINALDO

Presented by the Dirthouse Agency, Meltdown Festival is Australia’s newest touring festival and steps up to meet demand for a quality alternative and heavy metal event since the demise of Soundwave (while not to the same scale) and will hit up Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over successive weekends in May. With the aim to see local bands get the opportunity to play alongside some of the best talent Australia has to offer, the festival will feature the likes of Gay Paris, Child, Arteries, The Black Swamp, Sumeru and Never, with the remaining line up consisting of great local bands from each city.

With the festival around the corner, Aaron Butler, better known as Azza Bok from Melbourne stoner rock band Never, is keen to be a part of a festival celebrating the Australian heavy music scene for a day

of good times, great bands and making memories that last a lifetime.

“We’re stoked to be doing that,” Azza beams. “Old Never has been around for a while now, and we’ve had all these plans of world domination like every band, but we’ve had a few hiccups with a few dislocated shoulders and broken bones and broken hearts and all the sorts of things that change your plans for the year,” he says. “We’ve had some setbacks but this is gold, it totally gives us the opportunity to stretch our legs.

“It’s totally something that we’ve always wanted to do, we’re all pretty big fans of a lot of the bands that are playing. Our other guitarist Dan McGougel, one of his favourite bands in the whole world is a band called Child, who are actually on this line-up,” he laughs. “You should have seen him when he found out that, he was like a kid at Christmas getting a new bike. He couldn’t be happier. He makes it his business to see this band every chance he gets and it’s the biggest thing in the world for him to see them regularly, let alone play with them... We’re all pretty stoked.”

Better known for his guitar work in Frankenbok, Azza has been playing guitar with Never for a number of years (alongside ‘Bok vocalist McGougel), and this band is in stark contrast. Starting out as a ‘pisstake’ side project called The Melbourne Sympathy Orchestra, Never’s

“We’ve done lots of EPs and there’s always song writing going on. I think everybody in the band has a different idea about what is going to happen next, whether we record a full length, or keep putting out EPs or this or that. There’s a little bit of ‘let’s just keep doing what we’re doing’ and just see what comes about.

“I think what I’ve learnt after a really long time of doing this, is sometimes you can take your well laid plans and stick them up your well laid ass,” he laughs before continuing. “Because we’ve had all those setbacks, at the least, we want to be playing a show a month, just to keep it up. I feel like we’ve got the momentum finally moving now and we really want to keep that going.”

As for the upcoming festival, Azza has just one piece of cliché advice for you all. “This is the first time for this festival and it would be great to see people support it because it’s just going to mean it will come back twice as strong next year. Come down and get in front of live music... that’s pretty much the cliché thing I have to say.”

When & Where: Meltdown @ The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne - Saturday May 12

Tickets via moshtix

‘See You Later Alligator’ – a track which resulted in their first gold record. Their last album to feature

ROCKING COUNTRY BLUES

Dr Feelgood make their return to Australia soil WRITTEN BY ALEESHA COOTS

It’s been over 30 years since Dr Feelgood toured Australia, so it’s a long enough wait when they return in May for a series of shows around the country.

Dr. Feelgood are an English band that cover a variety of genres including rhythm, blues and rock.

Kicking off their career in 1971 in Essex, Dr. Feelgoods most commercially productive years were in the 70’s, yet the band has remained popular throughout the last four decades despite their members changing multiple times.

The raw and uncompromising style of their performance resulted in the album ‘Stupidity’ that immediately went to the number one position in the U.K. Charts, and they have had global success with songs such as ‘Roxette’, ‘Milk and Alcohol’ and

34

co founder Lee Brilleaux was ‘Down at the Doctors’ which was recorded two months before his death in 1994.

Their current line up features Kevin Morris (drums) and Phil Mitchell (bass) who have both been in the band for 33 years, Steve Walwyn (guitar) who has shredded for the past 26 years and guitarist Robert Kane (previously in The Animals) who joined in 1999 and stands as the newest member of the band.

In 2010, Jullien Temples’ film Oil City Confidential told the story of the bands from a years featuring the Wilko Johnson era. Wilko is said to have influenced both the bands style and the English Punk movement. With music ranging from pub Rock to R&B, they’ve got one hell of a sound which can be enjoyed through their numerous albums produced through the last forty plus years.

The band continues to tour extensively throughout the World and are giving you the chance to party with them this May.

“ ...without a doubt the best Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Sunday opening band EVER! Well deserving the audience standing ovation, which mind you are only one of a few bands I have seen do this in my 25 years at the festival.

- Helen Jennings, PBS 106.7 FM

"

FOR TOUR DATES VISIT www.rhythmxrevival.com

When & Where: Memo Music Hall, Melbourne - May 5

Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury - May 6 Tickets on sale now http://www.drfeelgood.org/ tour-dates/ or direct with the venue.

FORTE 687

ALBUM OUT NO

W!

MORBID ANGEL On the return of Steve Tucker for their ninth studio album and furious hellspawn riffage Kingdoms Disdained INTERVIEW BY GLENN LYNCH

WRITTEN BY TALIA RINALDO

Known as one of the most original and influential bands in the genre and beyond, Morbid Angel are legends in their own right; true pioneers of death metal who have being perfecting the fine art of extreme music for over thirty years.

With their last release in 2011, album Illud Divinum Insanus (the first Morbid Angel album in 16 years to feature original vocalist David Vincent) coined a mid-paced, industrial-tinged and a disappointment to most of their loyal fans, the recent release of their ninth studio album Kingdoms Disdained sees a return to the real Morbid Angel sound which can be directly linked to the reunion of guitarist and founder Trey Azagthoth with bassist and vocalist Steve Tucker who led Morbid Angel for three albums between 1997 and 2004.

CASCADA Get taken on a nostalgic journey through the biggest dance anthems You all know the songs: ‘Everytime We Touch’, ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’, ‘What Hurts the Most’ – they are the your favourite dance anthems of the noughties.

And now, the German dance trio are bringing these tracks to Melbourne for the Wild Nights Tour as one of the five biggest dance superstars live on stage for a serious nostalgic journey. We chat to vocalist Natalie Horler ahead of the tour.

Hey Natalie, thanks for chatting to Forte Magazine. This upcoming tour marks your first time in Australia. Do you have any preconceived notions or expectations about Australia?

I’ve only ever associated positive things with Australia... Christmas on the beach, Aborigines, Sydney’s Opera House, kangaroos....I can’t wait to visit.

What sparked CASCADA to join this tour, why is now the time for you to come to Australia?

Obviously you do need someone willing to book you and create an event to get us to come so farit’s not a country we can visit for just a weekend.

So when this opportunity arose, we jumped at the chance. We’ve always spoken about touring Australia, but it hadn’t been possible until now.

What inspired you to break into the dance scene in the first place, and what keeps you there?

That all came about with Yanou and Manian, who were already producing dance music before I met them. They had already written some tracks

“I think that’s a chemistry thing, that was never really talked about between Trey and myself, that’s an album that never happened,” Tucker explains, of the ill-fated Illud Divinum Insanus. “I think it’s an album that people involved that made that album (sic.). When everybody has a different opinion of what the band actually is, you end up with an effort like that.

“For me man, Morbid Angel is and always is the epitome of death metal,” he continues. “If somebody said show me one band in death metal, I would show them Morbid Angel. I mean, that’s what it’s always been for me so I think to take such a left turn I don’t think it’s very shocking to anyone that fans weren’t too thrilled with that album.

“Of course in this social media world there’s some haters but there always is. I think most people would agree this album [Kingdoms Disdained] is a pretty intense album, and it’s what you would expect out of a Morbid Angel album, it has all of the elements you would expect.”

As the epitome of death metal, Kingdoms Disdained marks a return to the bludgeoning death metal style fans were accustomed to; a flatout, uncompromising and brutal metal assault.

Recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, FL and produced by Morbid Angel with Erik Rutan (Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Six Feet Under, Belphegor), Azagthoth, Tucker and drummer Scotty Fuller created 11 pieces of devastatingly dynamic death metal, with some serious menacing vocals by Tucker himself.

However, it’s the trust between Azagthoth and Tucker that recaptured the type of brutality they tapped into on 1998’s Formulas Fatal to the Flesh and 2000’s Gateway to Annihilation.

“Honestly, I think Trey really likes the direction I have always took with the vocals, he always tells me to do whatever,” he explains. “We will talk about stuff, I’ll always ask Trey what he was thinking or whatever when he wrote stuff, and sometimes that ends up being a topic of a song. As far as phrasing, Trey doesn’t really say much at all. He usually doesn’t even really listen to it until the end and then he’ll say man that was great!

“I think he trusts me and trusts that I’m going to make something he’s going to like. Honestly, if

under the project name “Cascada” and when I got involved and became their vocalist, it all just got bigger from there. No way was I going to change a winning team then.

Were you surprised by the impact of your breakout single (and absolute banger) ‘Everytime We Touch’? It’s one of those songs that still gets played to this day.

I know. It’s very humbling, knowing that one of our songs is played world wide and gets called an evergreen already. I think every artist would be grateful for that.

Being a band for almost 15 years, how do you feel you have evolved from your beginnings? Do you find your sound has changed much?

I think it’s normal to evolve and try our different styles, but at the end we seem to recognise where our strengths lie and that happens to be our early sound. But one has to be open and go with the times as well. It’s not an easy game, this show business!

Looking at the tour that is bringing you over, Wild Nights, it’s a bit of nostalgic journey through the biggest dance anthems, what can we expect from you at these live shows? What do you enjoy most about bringing these songs to an audience in this type of setting?

Of course we‘ll be playing our biggest hits and some of the favourites...at the end of the day I just thrive to make sure everyone has fun and gets into a good sweat. The best thing for a performer is when the audience forgets everything around them and just enjoys the show with you.

Thanks so much for your time, we are looking forward to catching you at this tour! What can we expect from you for the rest of 2018 and beyond?

There are a few things in the works I can‘t talk about yet, but mostly I‘ll be touring Spain, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Ireland, Austria and Germany all throughout the year. Can‘t wait to see everyone in OZ! xx Don’t pretend you’re not keen to get down to Cascada’s ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’! It’s all happening at Trak Lounge, Melbourne on Friday June 22. For more info visit www.arenaent.com.au/ wild-nights-tour/

he came to me and he passionately said dude ‘I hate this please change it’ then I would change it.

I have no problem with that, I would change it if he felt so strongly about any part, but that’s never happened. To me Morbid Angel is about a vision that Trey’s always had, every album is still about Trey’s vision of what Morbid Angel is and should be and what it’s about, I think he should always be happy and content, he should always feel inside his own Kingdom if you will.”

Armed with the furious, apocalyptic, go-forbroke record, Morbid Angel are embarking on a US headlining tour in April, with Tucker touching on the possibility of bringing the all-in release to Australia.

“I’m hoping that it will be later in the year sometime, I know everyone’s weighing options and stuff but hopefully we’ll make that happen sooner than later,” he admits. “I’ve never myself been to Australia and I want to go, I really want to see it so I’m going to push for it as much as I can. There is some amazing metal coming out of Australia right now and it seems like a great place to go play metal so I think it will be a great thing.”

So take some advice: don’t walk meekly around the edge of Kingdoms Disdained, go all-in on the journey and Morbid Angel’s intense importance to these times will be crystal clear.

Release: Kingdoms Disdained out now.

STAFF PICKS GLENN - JUDAS PRIEST - STAINED CLASS Hard to choose one, but this is one of their best.

This album was the centre of an infamous lawsuit with accusations of subliminal messages in the album, which is clearly a load of shit. the title track, Exciter and Saints in Hell are 3 highlights on an album filled with them. 30 years later, with the new album, they still reign as the undisputed Kings of Heavy Metal.

LAUREN - FAT FREDDY’S DROP - BAYS My pick this week is Fat Freddy’s most recent album ‘Bays,’ released in 2015. Groovy reggae dub and soulful vocals. Fav track on the album is ‘Slings and Arrows.’ Love everything these guys produce, they can do no wrong!

JOSH - UNDEROATH - ERASE ME The new wave of “stadium heavy” music came through in dominant fashion in the last few years with bands like Bring Me The Horizon leading the way, however Underoath have taken that sound and refined it with their first album in 8 years Erase Me. The album is a collection of songs that can only be described as textured and heavy melodic anthems. A considerably underrated band that have delivered the goods with their new release, well worth checking out.

NATHAN - THE SWORD - WARP RIDERS One of the best rock albums of all time in my opinion, every song on the album is amazing from start to finish keeps you interested and wanting more.

Shredding solos and massive riffs, the good shit.

Finding MaRLo in A State of Trance WRITTEN BY SAM YOUNG

There is more to MaRLo than pumping out beats to the masses as a world class DJ. He was born in the Netherlands and moved to Australia in 1994. It was here where he truly created a career as a DJ. If he wasn’t on the world stage however, you would find him brewing up computer animation classics. Making movies like Finding Nemo. This is where his passion for creating music began. He was making computer animation throughout high school and needed to make background sound effects and background music for his animations. At the same time as producing his masterpieces, he was out every weekend attending clubs and raves. Falling in love with dance music. His animation drove him to the world of music production, Hollywood will have to wait for now.

A long time ago, in a galaxy, no this isn’t a Star Wars animation segue. Rewind. A long time ago, early on in MaRLo’s career, an opportunity presented itself to collaborate with the team from Cirque de Soleil. Living in Amsterdam at the time, he had just performed at an event called

FORTE 687

Trance Energy. The team heard his music and they undoubtedly appreciated his sound. The way he has a lot of percussive elements, Cirque de Soleil thought he’d be a good fit to remix some of their music. He then went on to remix all the tracks they were playing during their show in his own style. At the launch of their next performance, he was the main DJ playing those remixes.

It is such powerful spectacle that has incredibly gifted acrobatics and demands the best of the best in all departments. MaRLo shared his music with the team and with music being such a powerful force in all areas of life, this only enhanced the acrobatics in the show and the feeling throughout the audience.

MaRLo has always had an incredible feel for what the people enjoy. The specific moment that made him fall absolutely in love with dance music was attending massive festivals where tens of thousands of people would flock each year. Seeing everybody dancing to the same beat, no matter what background they are from. No matter what their culture or nationality is. They’re just enjoying the same moment together. That really touched him.

You could find Guadalupe from Spain swaying to the same beat as Dave from the corner shop. That was special to him. To think that dance music could be that powerful.

Starting with nothing inspires MaRLo. Having a blank canvas or in his situation, a blank computer screen. Fascinated by spending a lot of hours, a lot of time and a lot of effort creating something, MaRLo works at his craft. At the end of a session, you have a track to listen to. When he plays it for the fans, MaRLo bounces off the energy of the crowd, never one to pre-plan his set. It’s clear, sharing the entire experience with the people is his gift.

Release: ‘A Thousand Seas’ – MaRLo feat Roxanne Emery When & Where: ‘A State of Trance 850 Showground - April 21, 2018

Sydney’

Sydney

Tickets available now via Ticketbooth.

35

AUTUMNAL ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR WEEKEND GETAWAY As the daunting cool change approaches, day trips to the beach are now off the cards. So this weekend, grab your parents, pals or petite ones (alliteration intended) and plan a day trip to the Yarra Valley’s must-visit Rochford Wines.

Only an hour out of Melbourne, Rochford overlooks the renowned ‘green’ lawns, rolling hills and vineyard views complemented with an open fireplace to keep you warm until your heart’s content. To tempt you even more… here’s a ‘taste’ of Rochford’s latest menu, topped off with WineMaker Marc Lunt’s recommended wine pairings;

-A delectable baked Camembert, Chardonnay, confit garlic, cumquat & rosemary paired with Rochford’s 2017 ‘Dans les Bois’ Chardonnay -Slow cooked oxtail, smoked kipfler, pear & roasted bone marrow jus gras – Complemented

by Rochford’s 2017 Estate ‘la Gauche’ Cabernet Sauvignon.

FIVE WAYS TO ENJOY PLATE UP BALLARAT BALLARAT WILL TRANSFORM INTO A G R AZ I N G TA B L E O F F O O D, W I N E AND CRAFT BREWS AS PART OF THE I N A U G U R A L P L AT E U P B A L L A R AT. RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY, THE FOOD FESTIVAL WILL SHOWCASE THE FINEST PRODUCERS, WINEMAKERS AND BREWERS OF THE WESTERN REGION. HERE ARE FIVE WAYS YOU CAN MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THIS FOOD FESTIVAL. 1. The pie competition 20 of Ballarat’s eateries have created special pies as part of the Plate Up festival pie competition.

Take a look at the list of offerings and eat your way around the town as you indulge in a pastry (or few) conjured up using fresh and local ingredients. With a focus on local produce, each pie must feature three local ingredients, must be true to type, and served as a plated meal. The competition will include the People’s Choice Best Pie (so don’t forget to cast your vote!) as well as the Critic’s Choice Best Pie judged by a team of food experts including Richard Cornish and local culinary genius Peter Ford.

2. The dinners Whether it’s a food truck fiesta, a warehouse festoon, an exclusive fine dining event or an immersive art experience, Plate Up Ballarat will have a dinner event to delight the palette and excite the senses. Make sure to coincide your visit with at least one of the festival’s dinner events, and secure your place pronto because they’re selling out quickly!

3. The workshops Harvest your own produce, create a pizza, bake your own cakes, create an authentic Thai curry or get insights into the beer brewing process. Whatever your end game, you’ll get there, with an array of workshops taking place throughout the city for foodie lovers and budding chefs alike.

4. The parties Grazing tables featuring all the charcuterie and cheese you could hope for, Sunday sessions with locally-produced cider, brews and live music, grand openings featuring the wine and spirits of the region, and speed dating events with the wine connoisseurs of the west - there’s a party for all to be had!

5. The brunches and lunches The fun doesn’t only begin after dark. Plate Up will feature a whole host of events to kick-start your day or liven your afternoon, so make sure to familiarise yourself with the program, and include a little bit of everything!

Plate Up Ballarat will be held between May 1 and 31. For more information, visit plateupballarat.com.au

They are so simple and yet so scrumptious – dumplings are surely one of man’s greatest inventions ever. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as dipping these little pockets of amazingness into sauce and then stuffing your face!

Brought to you by the team behind Geelong’s epic Cake Bar, comes the announcement of their new store, Dumpling Bar.

-Truffle stuffed poussin slow cooked in milk & tarragon, with parsnip 39 & wild mushrooms – Paired beautifully with Rochford’s 2015 Ellwanger Trocken Riesling.

-Pistachio crusted rack of lamb & confit neck, smoky eggplant, vine leaves, feta 40 & pine nuts with Rochford’s 2017 Estate Syrah.

For a match made in foodie heaven or to simply indulge in the picturesque scenery, reasons to visit Rochford Wines are endless.

www.rochfordwines.com.au

36

There’s a new Dumpling Bar coming to town

We don’t know where or when, but what we do know is that there will be authentic handmade dumplings, bamboo steamed and of course, there is a promise of Asian beers and saké. The only thing greater than a perfectly cooked batch of dumplings shared with a few mates, is a batch of dumplings teamed with Asian beer. These guys are onto a winning combo!

Keep up to date and stalk out the page on Instagram to be the first to know more: @dumplingbar_au

FORTE 687

Get a bamboo steamer full of happiness at Dumpling Bar soon!

Note: Image is a stock image.

QUEENSCLIFFE LITERARY FESTIVAL A unique and intimate celebration of the written word Reading is quite often a solitary activity, however literary festivals are the ideal place for book aficionados and lovers of the written word to come together and connect with book creators and fellow bookworms.

The Queenscliffe Literary Festival is the annual book and writers’ festival in the Borough of Queenscliffe throughout May, and this year marks its fourth year. The festival has grown each year to now feature around 30 events across four weekends in May (4 -27). The 2018 festival theme is ‘Exploration’, and will feature acclaimed and emerging authors speaking at events covering a huge variety of topics – from fiction to travel writing, from crime to gardening, and from history to surf. There is something to spark everyone’s interest!

The festival opens May 4-6, featuring Keynote Speakers: Bell Shakespeare founder, John Bell, speaking on ‘My Life In Shakespeare’; and acclaimed author, Robert Dessaix, speaking on his travels and writing in ‘A Writer’s Walk Around the World’.

On May 12, Stuart Kells and Patti Manolis, Geelong Library CEO, will take you on a wander through ancient, modern and fictional libraries, and Dr Charles Lane will speak about his privilege of living with the extraordinary African nomadic tribe, the Barabaig. The Memories of Music will be discussed by Andrew Ford, composer and broadcaster, Professor David McCooey and local musician Andrea Robertson.

The crime writing event on May 19 is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves losing themselves in a good book about solving crimes, thrives on the mystery of murder, or just enjoys the gritty suspense. Renowned journalist Michael Brissenden (The List) and author Sarah Bailey (The Dark Lake), will be in conversation with Angela Savage,

Geelong Racing Club presents Sunday at the Track WRITTEN BY CHLOE CICERO

Calling all young racegoers... if you are between the ages of 18 and 40, you are invited and encouraged to join the Geelong Racing Club for a memorable afternoon experience of racing, fashion and entertainment with The Colts and Fillies – Sunday at the Track race day.

Hosted by K Rock’s Lee ‘Stampsy’ Stamps, and with special guest AFLW Star Lily Mithen, it is sure to be a golden day on the track.

Going down on April 29 from 12:30pm – 5:30pm, Sunday at the Track of course will be happening at the Geelong Racecourse in the Media Puzzle Room (Gargan Stand) and is a cocktail style event with canapes being served throughout the day and beer, wine and champagne available from the bar.

The theme for the Colts and Fillies event will be

Director of Writers Victoria. Brissenden’s The List is a pageturning thriller where justice, revenge and the war on terror collide from the brutal battlegrounds of Afghanistan, to the western Sydney suburbs and the halls of power in Canberra, while Bailey’s The Dark Lake is a suspense thriller about a detective with secrets of her own who hunts the killer of a woman who was the glamorous star of their high school.

Bringing the event closer to home, local authors, Greg Jones (Walk A Crooked Mile) and Col Moyle (Indebted) will be talking about their journeys writing non-fiction, and will be facilitated by local author Dorothy Johnston (Through a Camel’s Eye). This is a great session to inspire all and gain a look into the success coming from just outside our doorstep.

Local Voices goes down on Saturday May 19 at 10am.

Young Adult writing has taken the publishing and movie industries by storm in recent years, with YA stories becoming publishing sensations and huge Hollywood hits.

If you’re interested in writing Young Adult fiction, then the YA Writing Workshop is for you. On Saturday May 19 at 1pm, award-winning author Cath Crowley (Words in Deep Blue) and renowned editor Alison Arnold will guide you in the trends, languages and themes in YA, to what publishers are looking for. There are limited numbers available so get in quick.

That’s only a snapshot of what you can expect at this year’s Queenscliffe Literary Festival. There’s so much more with four weeks of various literary experiences, including a foreign correspondent’s panel with Michael Brissenden and Hugh Riminton; the history of the Queenscliff Scooter Race with Shooting the Past’s Clare Wright; a talk on native gardening by the authors of the beautiful book Native: Art and Design with Australian Plants; Hugh White discussing his Quarterly Essay ‘Australia In The New Asia’; travel writing talks on Paris, Kyoto, Tokyo and New York; a talk on World War 1 Major-General Pompey Elliott by acclaimed biographer Ross McMullin; and more.

If you are a reader, you want to meet your favourite authors, discover writers you were previously unaware of, and enjoy chance meetings with people who share your passion for books, make sure to quickly grab tickets so you don’t miss out. Death over Dinner and Miles Franklin events already sold out.

The Queenscliffe Literary Festival will be held at various venues across Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, all weekends in May. For more information go to: queenscliffeliteraryfestival.com.au

white and black with gold touches with guests encourage to dress neat casual (think Gossip Girl not One Tree Hill).

Tickets to this unmissable afternoon are $85 per person, with your ticket including everything from entry to the Racecourse, as well as a finger food luncheon and a five-hour beverage pack, access to a private prime viewing area of the track, with unlimited access to live music and DJ’s and a complimentary 2018/19 membership to the Geelong Racing Clubs young racegoers club – the Colts and Fillies (valued at $50). It’s pretty much a steal at that price!

Mon - Fri 8 - 4 // Sat 9 - 4 // Sun 9 - 3 11 Rutland st. Newtown ph: 0438 897 450

This event will give you all the excitement of being at the races with a youthful twist of music and entertainment, which will see sets from Abe Anderson (Acoustic Set), DJ Slax, DJ Steve Toppa and of course, the live racing action.

@neighbour_geelong

If you’re keen to keep the party going, there’s also the official afterparty which will be at The Sporting Globe Geelong from 5.30pm.

neighbourgeelong.com

Tickets are available at www.grc.com.au or call (03) 52294414 for any other enquiries.

FORTE 687

37

EUROVISION IS COMING TO GPAC Warm up your clackers Geelong!

WRITTEN BY CHLOE CICERO

Experience the fun and excitement of Eurovision, live in Geelong next month when Song Contest – The Almost Eurovision Experience comes to GPAC for eight special shows.

LIFE DRAWING GEELONG IS BACK (AGAIN) Three years strong Life drawing might not be something you’ve ever thought of doing, but it’s an experience everyone should try (at least once).

Held at Analogue Academy every Tuesday from 6-8pm, the untutored classes only cost $10 and include basic materials (this means you can rock up empty handed - straight from work/school/ your couch).

For those who don’t know, life drawing is the act of drawing a living person. Normally this means drawing a nude model in “real life” - not through a photo or from memory.

Back for its third year, Life Drawing Geelong organiser Jane clears up two key misconceptions about life drawing:

The Almost Eurovision is a glitzy comedic and loving tribute to the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual international singing contest where more than 40 countries participate in a war of music and usually ends up making headlines around the world.

Based on the event that’s current in its 63rd year, The Almost Eurovision Experience is as close as you can get, with 11 countries competing, anxious contestants and all the quirkiness that delights and

men - depending on what you prefer). However, this type of comment is typically accompanied by porn music interpretations and awkward stripper moves.

This is not what happens in class. Our models are professionals and people, we’re extremely protective of them. Its just not like that.

Secondly: That you have to be half decent at drawing, or have some kind of technical qualification/education. I’m a science/policy geek but love the classes as they scratch the other side of my brain. They’re a great opportunity to concentrate, focus and escape from everyday life.

Plus, no one can see your drawings (unless you want them to).”

When & Where: Eurovision is coming to GPAC from Thursday 10th with eight shows running through to Saturday 19th May Tickets are on sale now via GPAC

So it’s that time again folks, it’s time for The Wizard’s Annual Book and Record Fair! This year the fair will run on Saturday May 5 and Sunday May 6 from 10am to 5pm. Come and find some wizardry treasures at the Messenger Hall in Ballarat, from a huge range of records, to CDs and cassettes, books, magazines, comics, sheet music, ephemera, portable record players, amongst other collectables - there is something to suit all tastes!

There’s absolutely no judgement - so, don’t use a lack of artistic ability stop you from drawing.

If you’re feeling extra game, there may even be the chance to attend the class as the model! Plus Josh’s playlist is epic (from Analogue Academy).

Life Drawing Geelong

THE WIZARD’S ANNUAL BOOK AND RECORD FAIR

Every Tuesday 6-8pm (until we need a holiday) Analogue Academy $10 (cash only) No bookings or skills required

“Firstly: Many people think that the classes are just an excuse to see “hot” naked women (or

38

makes you cheer and cringe.

The competition is real, and voting is authentic, happening live via smartphone to decide the winning Country. It’s everything you’d expect in a Eurovision Final and MORE! Yes... that means everything - from powerhouse performances, spectacular costumes, lighting and of course, nonstop laughs from a fab line up of local talent.

Co-written by comedian Glynn Nicholas and brought to the region by The Geelong Lyric Theatre Society, this hilarious event actually coincides with the dates of the ‘real’ 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Portugal this May. Whether you’re a fan or not, you can enjoy the perks and joys of Europe’s strangest and biggest event - minus the plane ticket.

What’s not to love about that?

If you do enjoy Eurovision though, you will absolutely LOVE this.

WRITTEN BY LAUREN MCKINNON

FORTE 687

You might leave with a book, a valve radio, an old Goodfellows lemonade bottle, a scanlens second series football card, a copy of Horrie “The Wog Dog” 1st edition in its dust jacket, or a Beatles or Hendrix record.

There’s one thing left to do... come see the wizard, join in the fun and find a bargain as you browse through the thousands of items for sale.

Your personal guide to the Bendigo Queer Film Festival WRITTEN BY HANNAH KENNY

FOUNDED BY CHRIS WALTERS IN 2004, THE BENDIGO QUEER FILM FESTIVAL ( BQFF ) AIMS TO SCREEN A HIGH QUALITY FILM A N D A RT S CA L E N DA R E V E N T TO T H E QUEER AND BROADER COMMUNITY. LATE THIS MONTH, BQFF WILL CONTINUE ITS ONGOING CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE LO CA L Q U E E R PO P U L AT I O N OV E R T H E COURSE OF ONE JAM - PACKED WEEKEND. K N OW N F O R I T S ACC E S S I B I L I T Y A N D EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVE STANDARD, THE FESTIVAL IS A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT THRIVES ON ATTENDANCE FROM UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL WALKS OF LIFE. One of the few regional centres in the nation that hosts its own queer film festival, the event is undoubtedly a representation of the authentic community spirit that’s immersed within the town.

Commemorating 15 years of inclusiveness, the films are scheduled for screening at the La Trobe Art Institute, the cornerstone of Bendigo’s picturesque arts quarter.

We’ve created a shortlist of the films we think you should make your way on over to.

‘THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRE’ (2017) Saturday, 28 April @ 1.30pm – Running time 94 minutes Icon of the fashion world, Andre Leon Tally is an industry heavyweight with a style that pushes the

boundaries. Known as one of the most significant voices in fashion, Andre’s influence on couture is widely recognised in his craft. In her film, The Gospel According to Andre, Kate Novack takes viewers on an emotional journey, delving into Andre’s upbringing in Jim Crow South to making it as a significant figure in fashion. An exploration of Andre’s personal relationships, the Black Church of his childhood and his ground-breaking work at successful publications like Women’s Wear Daily, W and Vogue, the film has been described as “a cinematic monument to one of the most unique figures of 20th Century American culture.”

‘SIGNATURE MOVE’ (2017) Saturday, 28 April @ 5.00pm – Running time 80 minutes Two unalike women from different worlds meet in Chicago and charm themselves into a forbidden love. Zaynab, a Pakistani Muslim whose mother is obsessed with finding her a husband, is unbeknown to her, gay. To let out her frustrations, she decides to take up Lucha-style wrestling, where she meets Alma, a Latina bookstore owner, and her life begins to change. A blend of cultural indifferences, heartache and uncertainty, the film regenerates the stereotypical lesbian rom-com.

‘BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)’ (2017) Sunday, 29 April @ 12.30pm – Running time 144 minutes Winner of the Grand Prix and Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, BPM is a passionate film from Robin Campillo. Set in the early 1990s, the story is centred around the AIDS pandemic and its impact on the community. Act Up-Paris activists resort to public actions to fight against general indifference. Nathan, a new arrival to the movement, faces problems when he meets Sean, a radical militant.

When & Where: The BQFF runs from Friday April 27 to April 29. Further information through bendigoqueerfilmfestival.com.au.

FORTE 687

ALEX WILLIAMSON So Wrong, It’s Wrong WRITTEN BY ALEESHA COOTS

Due to popular demand, global comedy sensation Alex Williamson has just added an encore show (Athenaeum Theatre, Fri 25 May – pop it in the calendar) to follow a string of sold out shows at this years Melbourne International Comedy Festival Shows.

Amounting to 2.5 million followers and hundreds of millions of views across his social media platforms, Williamson began performing in 2007 and went on to be a state finalist in triple j’s 2009 RAW comedy competition. After a stint in radio, he moved to Los Angeles where he performed duties for The How Hits Live from LA and gathered content from various A-List celebrities at red carpet events.

In 2012, Williamson brought his online characters, songs and stand-up comedy to life in a hilarious live solo show ‘Alex Williamson and Friends’. This show and his following shows have sold out countless times at all the major comedy festivals since 2012, with last year alone selling out festival seasons across Australia and the

UK, as well as two tours across New Zealand and Australia.

Fast forward six years and Williamson has crafted a name for himself through his unique brand of vulgar, yobbo comedy. Now he is taking his latest stand up show ‘So Wrong, It’s Wrong’ across the Australia for a 13 date national tour after performing at the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, New Zealand Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Perth Comedy Festival. Labelled ‘crude, yet hilarious’ and ‘unfiltered, politically incorrect and downright naughty’, ‘So Wrong, It’s Wrong’ has been summed up by the phrase ‘drugs, pedos and terrorists’ from the blurb on the MICF website. In saying that, you probably won’t want to bring your religious grandma to this one!

Be prepared for his twisted outlook to shake your faith in humanity, before restoring it ever so slightly and then smashing it once again beyond repair in this one-hour honesty session.

Tickets to all his shows are on sale now.

When & Where: Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne – May 25 Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury – June 2 Capital Theatre, Bendigo – June 22 Westside Theatre, Shepparton – June 23

39

REVIEWS

FILMS REVIEWED BY ANTHONY MORRIS

THE DEATH OF STALIN

I FEEL PRETTY

When Stalin died in 1953, he held the power of life or death over every citizen of the Soviet Union. It was a nation in a permanent state of terror; this film opens with an orchestra frantically repeating a radio performance after Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) phones demanding a copy of the recording – only no recording was made. So, when he dies, his underlings (played by Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Jeffery Tambor, Jason Issacs and others) – all complicit in the endless stream of purges and murders – are almost giddy as they jockey for power. Their backstabbing and scheming manages to be constantly hilarious while based on a system built on eliminating problems with a bullet; numerous brilliantly sharp scenes of office politics begin in torture chambers or end with background characters being rounded up to die. Finding anything to laugh at in this situation is surprising; that this is easily one of the funniest films of the year verges on miraculous.

At first this seemed like a pretty iffy concept for a movie in 2018; Amy Schumer plays a woman whose life is turned around when she suddenly and irrationally becomes convinced she’s gorgeous. But the film isn’t quite so black and white. Yes, fashion world underling Renee Bennet (Schumer) is initially bummed out by her looks – but it’s clear as she struggles through her day that the real problem isn’t how she looks, but how she feels. So, when a combination of a wish and a bump on the head has her thinking she’s a perfect 10 (importantly, it’s all in her head – there’s no scene where we see a fantasy version of her), it’s the new confidence this gives her that’s the real change. Now she’s going after her dream guy and her dream job, and while none of this is all that hilarious – this is a warmly funny film rather than side-splitting. Schumer, playing a character that’s pretty much sweetness personified, makes Renee someone impossible not to cheer for.

This is pretty much feel-good filmmaking personified (the only real bad guy is Renee’s lack of confidence); it’s so firmly committed to doing the right thing that wishing it might have been funnier just seems mean.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY Being based on a best-selling novel means you can’t dump the source material’s unwieldly title, but don’t let that put you off; director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) hasn’t lost his touch when it comes to charming tales of romance. It’s just after World War 2, and London-based author Juliet Aston (Lily James) has just received a strange request for help from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. They only want a book, but she senses there’s a story there, and heads off to Guernsey (an island in the English Channel) to investigate and meet the Society members. She ends up finding more than she expected; the island was occupied by the Germans during the war, and while the Society’s origins are humorous, the fate of one of its members seems less so. The more she investigates, she closer she feels to them – but with her fiancée waiting back in London, her growing closeness comes with a price. This charming mystery-romance is cosy without being cloying – the quirky characters are never over-thetop, the war time struggle is realistically small-scale (while still being dramatic), and Guernsey itself couldn’t ask for a better advertisement. It’s a delight.

RAMPAGE

TRUTH OR DARE

Based on a classic ‘80s arcade game that no-one seems to remember (it’s real though – it even makes a cameo here), Rampage never seems exactly sure how seriously to take its mass monster carnage. There’s plenty here that’s plenty silly: when a sinister space experiment crash lands on Earth a trio of regular animals – a alligator, a wolf and George, the albino gorilla that’s the best friend of ex-Special Forces turned primatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) – suddenly turn violent and grow to giant size. If that wasn’t bad enough, the evil corporation responsible figures the best way to handle things is to lure them to Chicago, which they will then… destroy? It seems too early in the year to be sick of seeing cities be destroyed by giant monsters but here we are, and while Johnson is perfectly suited to this film’s silly destruction – and this is a film that features a flying wolf – it never quite figures out how to make everything around the crashing and bashing seem interesting. Maybe if it knew what to do with the human characters that might help; Davis has a supporting cast that vanish early on, the brother-sister bad guys aren’t nearly enough fun, and Jeffery Dean Morgan as a cowboy MIB somehow isn’t badass enough.

When a group of uni students led by Olivia (Lucy Hale), each with their own personal quirks (one’s a drunk, one’s a med student selling drugs on the side, there’s a love triangle, etc) go on spring break to Mexico, they end up in a creepy abandoned mission playing truth or dare with a stranger who then reveals they’re now all cursed to play the game until they die. They go home, forget about it, and then they start to die. The twist is the demonic game is attacking the bland teens on two fronts; either they do some stupid prank that’ll probably get them killed, or they have to say something horrifically hurtful or dangerous. Unfortunately, their personal issues are largely out of The Bumper Book of Soap Opera Cliches; these are persons with no personality.

Throwing in previously un-mentioned rule changes half way through isn’t great either, and the “messed-up snapchat filter” face the demon gives people when speaking through them ranges from slightly creepy to downright laughable. There are a couple of mildly effective set-pieces here, but most of the twists are either predictable or dull – you know you’re in trouble when the highlight is Ronnie, the douchebag who appears out of nowhere, does nothing but hit on women, and dies first.

RECORD WATCH

Czarface / MF Doom

Czarfaces Meets Metal Face (Silver Age) 2 of Hip-Hop’s most creative forces collaborate for this release.

Czarface is made up of 7L, Esoteric and Inspectah Deck (from Wu-Tang Clan) and joined by veteran MF Doom (KMD, Madvillain, Danger Doom). Nerdy Comic book references abound which has been a fixture of both artists careers combined with excellent production and more words than a Courtney Barnett song!

For Fans of Madlib, J Dilla & Wu-Tang Clan

Available from Prehistoric Sounds Warrnambool & The Amazing Mill Markets Newcomb

LADY BIRD 2017 | DRAMA/COMEDY | 1H 35M APR FRI 20: 11:00AM; SAT 21: 3:40PM; SUN 22: 8:15PM; MON 23: 11:00AM, 6:00PM; TUES 24: 1:15PM, 8:15PM; WED 25: 4:00PM; SAT 28: 6:30PM; SUN 29: 1:00PM; MON 30: 2:30PM DEATH OF STALIN APR FRI 20: 3:30PM, 6:00PM; SAT 21: 1:30PM, 8:00PM; SUN 22: 11:00AM, 6:00PM; MON 23: 1:00PM, 8:30PM; TUES 24: 11:00AM,

6:00PM; WED 25: 1:30PM 8:30PM; THURS 26: 1:00PM, 8:00PM; FRI 27: 1:30PM, 6:00PM; SAT 28: 4:00PM; SUN 29: 3:15PM, 7:30PM; MON 30: 11:00AM, 8:15PM; MAY WED 2: 1:00PM BREATH MAY TUES 1: 8:30PM KANGAROO FUNDRAISER APR FRI 27: 8:30PM MET OPERA 2017-18 SEASON: SEMIRAMIDE APR SAT 28: 10:00AM; MAY TUES 1: 10:00AM

NT LIVE 20172018 SEASON: JULIUS CAESAR APR SAT 21: 11:00AM PHANTOM THREAD APR FRI 20: 1:00PM; SAT 21: 5:40PM; SUN 22: 3:30PM; MON 23: 3:30PM; TUES 24: 3:30PM; WED 25: 11:00AM, 6:00PM; THURS 26: 3:30PM; FRI 27: 11:00AM; MAY TUES 1: 6:00PM; WED 2: 3:30PM THE SQUARE 2017 | DRAMA/COMEDY | 2H 31M

CNR. MOORABOOL & VERNER ST. SOUTH GEELONG | WWW.PIVOTCINEMA.COM.AU 40

FORTE 687

APR FRI 20: 8:15PM THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI APR SUN 22: 1:15PM; SAT 28: 9:00PM THE SONG KEEPERS APR THURS 26: 11:00AM, 6:00PM; FRI 27: 4:00PM; SAT 28: 2:00PM; SUN 29: 11:00AM, 5:40PM; MON 30: 1:00PM, 4:45PM; MAY TUES 1: 4:00PM; WED 2: 11:00AM

John Butler Trio: Sharing the magic with regional Victoria Ulumbarra Arts Centre, Bendigo – March 22 Reviewed by Alex Lynch Photographed by Opus Imagery In Fremantle, 1998, John Butler formed the John Butler Trio. Twenty years later, while the trio

changed over the years, the music they produce and perform remain similar, raw and passionate folk/rock. This year, late in March the Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo was gifted with these talented and experienced group of musicians, John Butler Trio.

Before the trio came the storm, Danielle Caruana aka Mama Kin (John Butler’s wife) and her guitarist Tommy Spender graced the stage as Mama Kin Spender.

This very dynamic duo creates a very energetic and empowering atmosphere, but also there is somewhat of a primal aspect to her music. Mama Kin Spender truly warmed the audience up in preparations for the John Butler Trio.

At first, I wasn’t sure if a theatre is the right atmosphere for a band such as John Butler Trio, thinking that the type of music they create is best enjoyed out in the open, in nature. Pretty quickly I was convinced that John Butler Trio could play anywhere, any time and it would still be a positive enjoyable experience. Throughout the night John would mention that we (the audience) were so quiet. The energy was there, subdued until after the song, out of respect for the artist. Regardless, the trio brought enough energy for all of us.

The crowd remained attentive and mesmerised

by John, his tremendous passion and raw guitar skills were a sight to behold. It’s clear what twenty years of experience in the music industry brings to the table, an invaluable ability to naturally gel with the other band members and keep the audience’s attention with passion.

By the end of the night the audience remained quiet throughout the songs, with large bursts of energy after. The night came to a fitting end when John would perform two songs for an encore with his wife, Mama Kin. Capping the night off with a bang!

Touring worldwide in 2018, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future to see John Butler Trio. If you have the chance, do so.

Note: Photos were taken at the rescheduled John Butler Trio performance at Leura Park Estate on April 7 2018.

A PERFECT CIRCLE

DANGEROUS CURVES

CHARLIE COLE + CAT CITY

CLIO

Eat The Elephant

So Dirty Right

Shit To Lose

Something Left to Leave Behind

BMG

Independent

Decoy Rekkids

Independent

Reviewed by Alex Callan

Reviewed by Glenn Lynch

Reviewed by Daniel Jubb

Reviewed by Chloe Cicero

Geelong’s own Dangerous Curves have unleashed their debut album, and what a rocker it is! A breath of fresh air in the current climate, 10 songs songs of hard rockin, sleazin’ music that takes me back to the glory days of the late 80’s, where music was hard, heavy and fun!

‘Sensational Submit’ starts thing off, and it is a cracking song. Killer chorus, catchy riffs and the scene is set. Track two, ‘Art of the Heart’ is the ‘single’, with a film clip shot in Geelong’s very own bowling alley, and has a sleazier vibe than the opener whilst retaining the catchy element.

There are touches of southern blues/rock which enhances the sleazier side of things, but ultimately, this is a hard rock album, whichever angle you take.

I must say the album lost me (just a little!) towards the middle, then things cracking again with the title track and the point is really driven home for the remainder of the album. You can hear the influences of bands like Poison, Kiss, Motley Crue throughout the album, but this is no copy cat album. A solid performance all round, these lads just might make it on a bigger scale.

Stay tuned...

Bendigo product Charlie Cole + Cat City is Melbourne pianist, vocalist and songwriter Clio Renner has just completed her latest solo endeavour renowned around music circles for their high-octane style of rock that takes no prisoners and their latest ‘Something Left to Leave Behind’. Backed by captivating strings and harmonies, this album reflects upon the end album Shit To Lose is as good a representation of the band as you’re likely to find. Its fast-paced. Its balls-to- of a relationship with sorrow and poise, eventually finding the-wall. It good old fashion rock and roll and we love it. acceptance. Clio outlines that “the confusion, anger and From the get go, first track ‘Come And Get It’ sadness after hearing your ex-partner has moved on. This drops you in the deep end and gives you what’s on song is working through all of that.”

Staying true to Clio’s style, the title track ‘Something the package. Pulsating energy and unrelenting riffs are a hallmark of what Shit To Lose is all about and Left to Leave Behind’ combines a pulsating orchestral is highlighted by its title track which is a minute and arrangement with contemporary keys and direct, heartfelt half of short and sharp rock with Cole’s piercing vocals lyrics. The strings ebb and flow, reaching epic heights yet complimenting the track perfectly. still creating an understated mood. If you’re a fan of a The evident high energy on offer reflects the band’s sweeping melody and heartbreaker strings, this soaring track will be your favourite elegant break-up track. ominous stage presence that translates perfectly to the album in the wake of an obvious increase in production Her beautiful voice is so soft and soothing that it draws value accentuated by clean guitar riffs and crisp vocals. you into the mood and story of her songs. The moment her Whether you are a returning fan or new to the track ‘Lying Still’ begins, you are immediately captivated wonder that is Charlie Cole + Cat City, Shit To Lose and keeps you in that state the entire way through, while is an album that repeatedly hits you over the head ‘Sleep For Years’ has almost a change in pace, combining in the best possible way. Get it, listen to it and you emotions from empathy and understanding to heartbreak won’t regret it. and anger. Speaking of a relationship that has been

Eat The Elephant marks A Perfect Circles first studio album in 14 years and it could quite honestly be the best progressive rock effort we have seen within that timeframe.

Opening with the elegantly sombre title track, ‘Eat The Elephant’, eases listeners into a journey of mesmerising soundscapes that flow effortlessly into one another. With Maynard James Keenan’s vocals taking a relaxed, melodic approach, this album highlights a truly unique sound that many other acts have tried, but not executed with nearly as much finesse.

Songs such as ‘The Contrarian’ shows diversity within the bands sound, having an overall aurora that is reminiscent of many Middle Eastern songs, whilst, ‘The Doomed’ features moments that will be a favourite for lifelong fans of A Perfect Circle, with the song’s conclusion differentiating itself as heavier than the rest of the album.

Eat The Elephant may well be the bands most experimental release yet. Filled with orchestral arrangements and progressive rhythms, it’s seamless flow helps to highlight unique facets within each song and every song. It is truly a masterpiece that could have only been curated by the likes of Keenan and Howerdel.

irrevocably damaged, the haunting lyrics showcasing the fragility of trust made clear through Clio’s sweet yet powerful voice.

It is easy to see why she is so popular and has toured with so many well-known artists. She has the power of lyrics that could break 1000 hearts in a room at once – and we adore it.

FORTE 687

41

WRITTEN BY ALASTAIR MCGIBBON

BLUES NEWS

WRITTEN BY JOHN (DR JOHN) LAMP

TOO HEAVY TO HUG

SURFBEAT

WRITTEN BY ANTHONY MORRIS

POP

PULP

WRITTEN BY PAUL S. TAYLOR

BY JOHN FOSS

How do you promote a movie or television series in 2018? The big problem with our current fragmented media landscape is that the days when you could just stick an ad for your new show in front of your old show and say “job done” are largely over.

Think about where you see movie trailers: these days they’re promoted as online events, rather than the ad you yawn through waiting for the feature film to start.

Which means that while the big trailers for big films get the big coverage – think of the recent trailer for the upcoming Star Wars spin-off Solo – anything less obviously “big news” sinks without trace. Which is a shame, and not just in terms of advertising: trailers are not only entertaining in their own right, they can often be more entertaining than the finished film. For example, the recent blu-ray release from Umbrella, Drive-In Delirum: The New Batch is the most recent addition to their long-running collection of classic trashy movie trailers from the 60s, 70s and 80s. A lot of these movies you’ve probably never heard of (or have never heard anything good about) – they’re largely action movies, horror flicks and the occasional sexy tale of sexiness - but in tightly edited two- and three- minute trailers these B-movies become A-grade entertainment.

Sure, they’re designed to sell you on seeing the finished film; that’s why they have all the good bits. And if you’ve ever suspected that a lot of movies would work a whole lot better if they were cut down to a handful of big moments… well, this definitely isn’t going to persuade you otherwise.

This collection’s a highly entertaining salute to a time when pretty much the only way to advertise a movie was at the beginning of another movie, when producers didn’t have to worry about advance word or snarky posts trashing their trashy film, and when spoilers didn’t matter because you’d put all the best moments in the trailer anyway.

In contrast, season one of US sitcom The Good Place is now out locally on DVD, and it poses a very different question: how do you promote a series’ first season when the second season has just wrapped in the US? Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say that The Good Place is a sitcom that’s proven itself more than capable of burning through a lot of plot twists and turns; as that’s become a lot of the appeal of the show, promoting its’ early days is promoting a show that it rapidly leaves behind.

Fortunately, the early days make for very funny viewing. When Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) wakes up in the afterlife, she’s more than a little surprised to find herself in “The Good Place” - her dodgy life should have made her a prime candidate for the downstairs department.

She rapidly figures out that she’d better become a good person before Michael (Ted Danson), the being overseeing The Good Place, figures out a mistake’s been made, and so she persuades University Ethics professor Chidi (William Jackson Harper) to help her lift her game. The Good Place is delightfully offbeat, the cast of heavenly misfits rapidly settle in, and Danson is a comedy titan for a reason; if this was a trailer, that’s all you’d be getting.

Another week, another comic, and another edition of Pulp swoopin’ down on ya like a pissed-off Batman! That’s right, ladies and gents, Pulp is back once again to delve into the realm of capes and cowls to talk about whatever wonderful story I’ve picked up this week and to allow me to continue associating my name with Batman in print (I’m living the dream, yo). There’s no dark knight detectives in this week’s comic, however; as promised, I’ve dredged up another title by Walking Dead maestro Robert Kirkman – Outcast volume 1, A Darkness Surrounds Him. Typically, I’m a few years late to the party; Outcast has been around since 2014, and has since been adapted into a TV series that airs on Cinemax in the US, which I can only assume is either a cable channel or some form of medication.

You have no doubt read several times my comments on using jam sessions to develop skills and form a band with like minded individuals. Well, there’s a flip side to that – sometimes those bands don’t last. Not for any bad reason, but because people change and sometimes want to move on.

One band currently facing that end is Buxom Blues Quintet (BBQ). BBQ had their origins in the regular Sleepy Hollow Blues Club. They started out as a quartet of Kay J Gibbons (vocals), Ethan Farmer (guitar), Steve Minutoli (drums/percussion) and Lenny Keys (keys), all Sleepy Hollow regulars and used to each other in the jams.

Later Peter Kure (electric upright bass) joined, and the quartet became a quintet.

Buxom Blues quickly gained a strong local following, packing out blues venues around Geelong and the Bellarine. They played Bluestone Blues Festival to great acclaim and were the first band to be invited to play at the newly formed blues festival in Tooleybuc up on the Murray River.

From the huge voice of singersongwriter, Kay Gibbons, to the soulful strings of, Ethan Farmer, they pack a punch into every song. Add the backbone of bassist, Peter Kure, and the resident hippie-in-the-hat, drummer, Steve Minutoli, and resisting dancing is futile.

Throw in the incredible talent of a boogiewoogie, honky-tonking piano man and you’ve got yourself one helluva good time.

As a youngster, Kay slept behind pianos at local country dances. As a young adult, she played in a stack of cool bands and supported Aussie greats like Brain Cadd, Mental as Anything, Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, Dragon, Joe Camilleri, Screaming Jets and many more.

Ethan Farmer has already graced the stage with the likes of Jimi Hocking, Wayne Jury and Geoff Achison. He played with Mr. Black and Blues, Michael Pollitt, at the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival and jams at Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and has assisted at their Youth in Blues program. He was runner-up in the Lazenby Young Blues Guitarist Award. His new project, Ethan Farmer Band is already getting gigs around the place.

When Lenny rips out one his solos the keys fly off the piano! He’s tinkled the ol’ ivories from the streets of Tamworth to the blues alleys of our cities. H has also sat in with The Housewreckers and Derek & The Champs to name a few.

Steve spent eight brilliant years with local legends, Backstreet Blues Band, and now divides himself between BBQ and pub rock band Copycat Killers. Peter and Kay have gigged together since high school!

Pete has also played with a huge number of bands in the region including Blue Jam, Blue Dogs, Derek & the Champs and Ball & Chain to name just a few. For this band, he’s switched his usual bass to an electric upright.

After getting the pick of the gigs that they were interested in, they then produced an excellent CD — get a copy before it disappears!

We will miss them, so you better see them! Sleepy Hollow Blues Club, April 22.

WELCOME TO THTH, Forte’s premier source of all things heavy, hard, fast and metal.

In a serious instalment of THTH, a study looking into the correlation between musical preferences/sub cultures and self-harm/suicide from the University Of Manchester suggests that younger fans of heavy metal are five times more likely to self-harm or attempt suicide. The study does admit that the higher rate of selfharm and/or suicide is not just limited musical preference and/or sub culture association but there should be other signs and/or behaviours.

I don’t wanna get all preachy here, but if you’re in a situation where you’re considering either self-harm or suicide, just think; the two most prolific metal vocalists Jonathan Davis and Corey Taylor both publicly shared the immense shit they went through growing up and what did they do? They lived through it, they’re stronger for it, and they used those experiences to make music. If they can, you can. If you find yourself in need of help, younger people call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 and for adults call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

2018 RIP CURL PRO – THE FESTIVAL OF MICK The 2018 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is one of the great sporting events in Australia.

People travel from around the country to sit on gritty sand at Bells and watch the world’s best surfers go crazy in big gnarly waves for the chance to ring that big old Bell in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Bells is always a big party but this year was going to be different. This year Bells featured the Festival Of Mick.

Early in the year three times world surfing champion and four times Bells winner Mick Fanning announced that this years Bells would be his last ever professional surfing contest. Immediately social media lit up and the phones at accommodation places in Torquay started running hot. Easter 2018 would be Mick’s last chance to boogy at Bells... it was the place to be in 2018.

Fanning started the event with a not that convincing win in Round 1. The waves were good but he lacked rhythm and flair. The event site was chockers as people poured into the Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve for one last look at Mick and the hope he would make the final. Driving to Bells you passed professional and hand made signs declaring peoples love for Mick. During the next two rounds he just scrapped through and didn’t seem to know how to get out of second gear. Still he was winning and everyone was stoked. Mick was in his last professional contest and we all wanted it to go on as long as possible.

Finals day dawned and the surf was now pumping at Bells. Solid 6-8 foot waves rolled in through the morning darkness before unloading on the Bells reef. Semi-final 1# saw Mick defeat Californian Pat Gudauskas with two solid rides over 8.0. Mick was displaying the passion and power of old.

Speed down the line, huge top turns and wave gouging cutbacks. It was pretty exciting to see and the large crowd on the beach was loving every minute of it.

The Wmone’s final was held next.. momentarily interrupted by a roar from the beach as Mick ran down the steps and onto the sand at Bells for the last time.

Mick started off slow in the final while Italo Ferreira from Brazil opened with one okay and one terrible ride. Mick got better mid heat posting an 8.10 after riding a large wave to the beach. The crowd was ecstatic. Would he win his last professional event, would he become the first surfer to win five Bells contests?

It all looked likely as Mick held the lead towards the end of the heat but then came the sliding door moment. Italo paddled for a solid wave and Mick holding priority let him have it. Italo went into a frenzy blasting three solid off the top turns before falling off in the shorebreak. The crowd was stunned as the judges awarded what was a good wave (but not a great wave) 8.33. Mick sat and waited for another high scoring wave but with three minutes to go it never came. The siren sounded, Italo exploded with joy and Mick caught one last ride into the beach, to be greeted by hundreds of fans.

One of the greatest careers in professional surfing was over. The Festival of Mick had delivered (almost!)

Kyle Barnes has had a shit life. It wasn’t always shit, though – his early life, living with his mother, was quiet, safe and happy.

One day, however, something changed; his mother changed. Where she was once loving and kind, she was now cruel and violent. She neglected and abused him, and for a long time Kyle wondered why she hated him. She recoiled from his touch, and spat curses at him. It wasn’t until when day when he snapped, and forced her to confront him – and drove something evil from her body. His mother was possessed by a demon, and since that day, the demons have haunted him. He spent the majority of his life as a shut-in, and it’s not until he has a chance encounter with his local priest, Reverend Anderson, that he is roped into a campaign to drive the demons from their victims and cleanse his home town.

Outcast is pretty damn dark, if that wasn’t already obvious. It deals with some pretty heavy themes, like the aforementioned possessions, as well as some heavier stuff like child abuse and sexual assault. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, but when stitched together, all of these topics make for one really gripping tale. It’s almost a cross between the earlier seasons of Supernatural (back when it had some legitimately unsettling stories) and Paranormal Activity; you get the distinct impression that there’s a lot you don’t know, and a lot of things that are out to get both Kyle and Anderson. The majority of the characters seem to be a bit broken; Kyle is depressed and filled with guilt over his past actions with his family, Anderson seems to be struggling with his faith, and the majority of the townsfolk seem to be suffering in some way.

Kirkman has managed to craft a story that leaves you with this overarching sense of dread; you can just feel events spiralling out of control, but the effects are yet to be seen. I have to admit that I haven’t been the biggest fan of Kirkman’s work in the past, but Outcast is probably one of the better titles I’ve read from his selection (Invincible is still top of that list). Outcast is definitely a story for the horror devotees out there; it’s not the kind of thing you’d want to read if you prefer the lighter side of comics. That said, it’s written by one of the more popular horror writers around, so don’t just take my word for it – pick it up, have a read, and judge for yourself.

Proudly presented by the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club 42

FORTE 687

In other news ++ Wiegedood will release the closing episode of their trilogy; De Doden Hebben Het Goed III on Friday April 20. ++ Tesseract will release their new album Sonder on Friday April 20. ++ King Parrot and Child Bite will play Bendigo’s Musicman Megastore on Wednesday April 24, Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on Wednesday April 25 and Geelong’s Barwon Club on Thursday April 26. ++ The Contortionist with special guests Sikth will play Max Watts on Thursday May 3. ++ Dimmu Borgir will release their new album Eonian on Friday May 4. ++ Diocletian will play Melbourne’s Max Watts on Sunday May 6. ++ The Direct Underground Fest will feature Ihsahn, Belphegor, Dioletian, Wiegedood, Encircling Sea and Revocation will be held at Max Watts on Sunday May 6. This is your last chance to see Ihsahn live in Oz so get in quick. ++ Ihsahn, with special guests YLVA, will play to a sold out crowd at Max Watts on Monday May 7. Hopefully a second show will be announced. ++ Cradle Of Filth will be at 170 Russell on Friday May 11. ++ Sevendust will release their new album All I See Is War on Friday May 11. ++ Sepultura with special guests Death Angel will play 170 Russell on Tuesday May 15. ++ Pain will be at Melbourne’s Max Watts on Friday May 25. ++ Jonathan Davis will release his solo album Black Labyrinth on Friday May 25. ++ Alien Weaponry’s debut album Tu will be released on Friday June 1. ++ The Pantera set and Soulfly set from Dynamo 1998 will be released on Friday June 22. ++ Machine Head will rock the Forum Theatre on Saturday July 21. ++ Satyricon’s Australian tour has been postponed and the band will now tear Max Watts to shreds on Thursday September 6. ++ Tesseract will play 170 Russell on Friday September 14. ++ 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

Meet you after dark!

Friday 4 May 2018 Surprises around every corner

Central Geelong | From 6.00pm

AMAZING

ARTS ADVENTURE

FOR AGES 4+

Featuring M~M2018 Gathering of the City

www.geelongafterdark.com.au FORTE 687

43

#fortescenepix

AMPED

B E A VS

BEAVS

AMPED

MS BARTRONICA

MS BARTRONICA

T H E DECK

THE DECK

B L A C KMAN

PISTOL PETE

THE DECK

ROSE TATTOO

ADAM HARVEY & BECCY COLE

DIESEL

SAT 21ST APRIL

FRI 27TH APRIL

FRI 4TH MAY

FIND US ON FACEBOOK 44

AMPED

FORTE 687

Photo Review: The Drop Festival Saturday March 31st Torquay Photographed by Opus Imagery

Thirsty Merc deliver a sweet time, a hot night

Geelong gig saw the band off to a powerful start on the most recent leg of their Take Me Back tour, which is an honest celebration of Thirsty Merc’s 15 years.

An inspiring and refreshing set list featuring tracks throughout which had never before been performed live, crowd members were surprised, while simultaneously delighted as all the hits went on to make an appearance.

Queue tracks such as Someday, Someday and In the Summertime which came out of the bands’ debut self-titled album in 2004, as well as radio staples including 20 Good Reasons, Mousetrap Heart and Tommy and Krista, audience members were reminded of just why Thirsty Merc have come to be the well-known and loved act they are today.

Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong Reviewed by Mia Turnley

Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong Support: Taylor Sheridan

Thirsty Merc delivered a sweet time, a hot night and everything was definitely more than alright on Wednesday 4 April at Geelong’s Barwon Club.

Being mid-week, the crowd rolled into the venue slowly – but steadily nonetheless. To warm us up and prepare our souls and earholes for what was to come, was acoustic act Taylor Sheridan. Kicking things off with a soulful rendition of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, the crowd became mesmerized by the Kyneton-based singer-songwriter. Quite possibly the perfect introduction and mood-setter for the mid-week performance, the crowd settled in nicely, as Sheridan followed with a handful of original tracks which drew together elements of pop, funk and rock.

A short intermission and enter Thirsty Merc; who went on to give me 20 Good Reasons to be missing my recently adopted 10.00PM bed time. The

The Jungle Giants: Used To Be In Love Tour When: Thursday April 5

When: Wednesday April 4

Reviewed and photographed by Helena Metzke

a few songs from their new self-produced album, ‘Quiet Ferocity’. ‘Waiting For a Sign’ had the whole crowd waving their hands in the air to the climactic bridge. The bright lights exposed the band properly for the first time to viewers, which enlivened the crowd.

Due credit must be given to all members of the band for bringing with them their sheer skill and charisma, as well as their love for what they do. It takes a special kind of energy to get a crowd moving to the extent they were on a Wednesday night. A special mention must also be made of the bands’ drummer on the night, for delivering one of the most impressive drum solos I have seen in some time. So much so, that I now want to take up drumming myself.

Come the end of the night, crowd members were left beaming as they filed out of the venue, with some still singing along in a much less impressive tone than that of lead-singer Rai Thistlethwayte on their way to their patiently awaiting taxi.

It’s clear to see why Thirsty Merc have been titled one of Australia’s finest live acts. Their tracks have truly become part of Australia’s musical DNA over the passage of time and it excites me to see how their mark will continue to develop in the future.

It’s been reported that the band, and especially Hales, have been working tirelessly to tighten their third album, and in the songs played from it this was clear. All band members played succinctly and with purpose, delivering a seamless set.

Breaking it up and going back to the classics, The Jungle Giants played ‘On Your Way Down’ and it’s about here that I lost my train of thought because Alice Ivy the support act was half walking, half boogieing through the crowd. Pause review while I gush – Alice Ivy has released some pretty remarkable music recently and seems like an allround legend. If you didn’t already know she’s a local, so you should definitely check her out!

Only after choking up and managing to get a few strangled ‘I love you Alice’s out, I composed myself and was able to again focus on the music… Which is what I will get back to now… *resume review*.

Brisbane indie-rock band The Jungle Giants opened their first night of their Australian tour with a reverberating electro-pop sound that seized every member of the audience at The Jungle Giants continued to excite the crowd The Barwon Club on Thursday night. With fun with thumping tracks like ‘Quiet Ferocity’ and pink and purple lighting and a tight first tune, ‘Every Kind of Way’. By this stage, the crowd was the Brisbane band had won the crowd within so amped that there were people hanging from the the first five minutes of their stage presence. rafters, a sea of people on shoulders, crowd surfers, One shining, admirable feature of The Jungle a mosh pit and many, many drinks being spilled. Our Giant’s performance was that the band wasn’t there energy seemed only to be mirrored on stage, with just to promote their new album – they were there The Jungle Giants intensifying their performance. to have a good time and ensure everyone else was Just when you felt the fire of a Jungle-Gianthaving a great time too. infused intoxication in your belly, the lead guitarist After exploding onto the stage with their first took the stage solo and went absolutely ham on a tune, The Jungle Giants continued the high-energy funky riff. After an elongated solo performance, the burst with ‘She’s a Riot’, with the whole crowd other band members re-entered the stage, getting singing and bopping along to the tune. Hales’ voice, into the groove. incredibly unique and endearing, sounded even better and stronger in the live set than in recordings, which is a rare and very welcome surprise for a band The Jungle Giants went out with a bang with ‘Bad with such high intensity.

Dream’, ‘Used To Be In Love’ and ‘Feel The Way I do’, leaving a permanent, funky, electro-pop skidmark of After impressing and engaging the crowd with one of their golden oldies, The Jungle Giants played a memory on The Barwon Club bandroom.

FORTE 687

45

GUIDE THURS 19TH

EATING OUT MONDAY

ELEPHANT & CASTLE:

EDGE: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ

MURPHYS: ANZAC DAY

BEAVS BAR: DAVE ANDERSON

AMPED: LUKE BISCAN

GATEWAY HOTEL: ROSE TATTOO

PISTOL PETE’S:

BENDIGO QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

BARWON CLUB: JOHN GARCIA

GROVEDALE HOTEL:

BEAVS BAR: ANDY FORSTER BLOOM: DNA PRESENTS

THRIFT SHOP PARTY

EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ

GPAC: A FINE ROMANCE, ICKYPEDIA

HEALESVILLE: DAN SULTAN PISTOL PETES: DAN HOWLS SILVERS CIRCUS WORKERS CLUB:

SWEETHEARTS FRI 20TH

AMPED: COR TEN BARWON CLUB: DANGEROUS

CURVES, 74 KINGS, ABLAZE,

HARLOW & HART

GPAC: NEW JERSEY NIGHTS, JIMEOIN

HOME HOUSE: DIXIE, KELLIE PEARCE

KAROVA LOUNGE: NORTHWOOD

THE LOFT: LITTLE GEORGIA, NANCIE SCHIPPER

PISTOL PETES: BLUES ALLEY RECORD STORE DAY SILVERS CIRCUS THE SPHINX: ROCKER SUN 22ND AMPED: BETTER ASK GEORGE BARWON CLUB: ABE

EDDIE EXAMPLE

ANDERSON

BEAVS BAR: LUKE BISCAN

BLOOM: GROOVE CONTROL

CITY QUARTER BAR: LIVE

CITY QUARTER: LIVE MUSIC

ENTERTAINMENT AND DJ

AND DJ FROM 4PM

EDGE GEELONG: LIVE

GROVEDALE HOTEL:

GPAC: THE TAP PACK

PISTOL PETES: PISTOLVILLE

MUSIC AND DJS

GROVEDALE HOTEL: DELLA KANGAROO FLAT HOTEL: DAVID TURPIE

THE LOFT: LETTERS TO

LIONS + TERRA LIGHTFOOT

CRAIG SAYER

JAZZ – DES CAMM BAND SILVER CIRCUS MON 23RD

THE FORUM: SIMPLE PLAN

HOME HOUSE: HOMEHOUSE

TUES 24TH

PISTOL PETES: SAMMY

WITH JEFF JORDAN

FRIDAYS PARTY WITH DJS OWENS BLUES BAND

POTATO SHED: ROGUE ROMANTIC

SANGUINE ESTATE CLASSICAL

BEAVS BAR: ANZAC EVE

COSMIC PSYCHOS MURPHYS: ANZAC DAY EVE

WORKERS CLUB: HIGHVIEW,

MUSICMAN MEGASTORE:

AMPED: MR MEANER BARWON CLUB: ALEX LAHEY, DJ PINKY

BEAVS BAR: LUKE BISCAN THE BRIDGE: ELIZA HULL

46

WAKE, DEFENESTRATION BEAVS BAR: COMEDY FRENCH

WOMEN DO EVERYTHING WITH KATE HANLEY, ANDY FORSTER

GASOMETER: CLIO PISTOL PETE’S: THE LITTLE LORD STREET BAND

KING PARROT

PISTOL PETE’S: ETHAN FARMER BAND WED 25TH BEAVS BAR: ALEX VAUXHALLMILLER, LUKE BISCAN KAROVA LOUNGE: KING PARROT

BRIDGE HOTEL: CLIO EDGE: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ GROVEDALE HOTEL: RACH & LIAM

BARWON CLUB: ALL FOR

KAROVA LOUNGE: TRAVALLEY MUSIC MAN MEGASTORE: PELLY BAR: KING PARROT

BEAVS BAR: LUKE BISCAN

SPHINX: MR MEANER

CITY QUARTER BAR: FRIDAY

UNWIND FROM 5PM. LIVE WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND DJ EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC AND DJ

THE EVELYN: KING PARROT GATEWAY HOTEL: BECCY COLE & ADAM HARVEY

GPAC: A TOWN NAMED WARBOY GPAC: JIMMY BARNES, MARINA PRIOR & DAVID HOBSON

GROVEDALE HOTEL: MADZ GOT RICH

KAROVA LOUNGE: ALEX THE

ASTRONAUT, STELLA DONNELLY

BLUES COLLECTIVE

WORKERS CLUB: JOHN

LUKE SHELLEY’S RHYTHM

X REVIVAL, WAYNE JURY SUN 29TH AMPED: AD/DSHE

BENDIGO QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

FRIDAYS PARTY WITH DJS

THE LOFT: COOPER LOWER MUSIC MAN MEGASTORE: DANGEROUS CURVES THE PENNY BLACK: MILD MANIC

PISTOL PETE’S: KINGS

& ASSOCIATES SAT 28TH

AMPED: THE VOLCANOS BARWON CLUB: ACDC TRIBUTE

FORTE 687

GEELONG RSL:

Steak Night $13

GOLD DIGGERS:

$15 Burger or Parmi $15 Parmi Night $15.90 Angus Rump or $19.90 Porterhouse

WEDNESDAY

GEELONG RSL:

Pot and Parmi Night $13

GOLD DIGGERS:

$25 Express Lunch

IRISH MURPHY’S:

$15 Burger Night

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (HEPBURN SPRINGS):

Frugal Foodies $20 menu

THE SPORTING GLOBE:

$14.90 MVP Parmas & $8.90 Pints + Jam Jars

THURSDAY

BARWON HEADS HOTEL:

Parmi Night

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $22 Seafood & Chips Night GOLD DIGGERS:

Happy hour 5-6

IRISH MURPHY’S:

$20 Steak Night

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (HEPBURN SPRINGS):

Frugal Foodies $20 menu

CITY QUARTER: PERFECT AND DJ FROM 4PM

BAR 61 TORQUAY: Burger & Beer Happy Hour 5 - 7

SUNDAY SESH LIVE MUSIC EDGE GEELONG: LIVE MUSIC

GROVEDALE HOTEL:

FRIDAY

BARWON HEADS HOTEL:

Steak Night

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday!

LEVI ANDERSON

GOLD DIGGERS:

Happy hour 5 - 6

BLOOM: GROOVE CONTROL

IRISH MURPHY’S:

Happy Hour 5 - 7

PISTOL PETE’S: BUXOM BLUES

THE SPORTING GLOBE:

Double Desserts Buy 1, Get 1 Free

SUNDAY AT THE TRACK WORKERS CLUB: THE

TUES MAY 1ST GPAC: CREATURE – AN

ADAPTATION OF DOT

AND THE KANGAROO

SATURDAY

BAR 61 TORQUAY:

Burger & Beer Happy Hour 5-7

THE SPORTING GLOBE:

SUNDAY

GEELONG RSL:

$20 Bud, Heineken 3 & Sparkling Buckets

$13 Carvery lunch

IRISH MURPHY’S:

$15 Fish & Chips

PLATE UP BALLARAT WED 2ND BEAVS BAR: OPEN MIC,

KARAOKE, LUKE BISCAN PLATE UP BALLARAT

AIREY’S PUB: LIVE MUSIC

$23 Steak & Drink night

THE SPORTING GLOBE: $14.90 burgers, &15.90 Jugs

CREEPSHOW, RESIGNATORS

HOTEL: MATT GIRI

Pizza Night

ELEPHANT & CASTLE:

HOMEHOUSE: SHAMELESS,

PISTOL PETE’S: ELECTRIC

BENDIGO QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

TUESDAY

BARWON HEADS HOTEL:

THE SPORTING GLOBE:

DJ PHILLY

Frugal Foodies $20 menu

THE SPORTING GLOBE: Half Price Wings, Ribs & Pints

IRISH MURPHY’S:

DARCY, LOUISE MCGREGOR,

CITY AT MIDNIGHT

$10 Lunch Specials

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (HEPBURN SPRINGS):

GPAC: BOSOM BUDDIES

MILD MANIC

FRI 27TH

HOME HOUSE: HOMEHOUSE

SILVERS CIRCUS

AIREYS PUB: JEFFREY JORDAN

CHILD BITE, IN MALICE’S

KAROVA LOUNGE:

THE FORUM: SIMPLE PLAN

SAT 21ST

BARWON CLUB: KING PARROT,

KANGAROO FLAT

– ANZAC DAY EVE

BLACK HATT: ALL HOPE REMAINS

THURS 26TH

BLOOM: SONIC BLOOM

MUSIC FESTIVAL

ALL HOPE REMAINS

RHIANNON SIMPSON

$23 Steak & Drink night

GOLD DIGGERS:

TRIVIA

BARWON HEADS HOTEL:

Trivia Thursday Night from 7:30pm

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Wednesday from 8pm GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: LORD OF THE ISLES: WORKERS CLUB:

Trivia Wednesday Night Trivia Thursday Night in the Courtyard

Themed Trivia Wednesday Night

PH: 5278 2911

SPHINXHOTEL.COM.AU FORTE 687

47