Forte 743

PAMBULA BEACH, NSW 29 SEP - 1 OCT 2023

DJANGO DJANGO (UK)

OCEAN ALLEY • SON LITTLE (USA)

THE JUNGLE GIANTS • THELMA PLUM

SPIDERBAIT • KEVIN MORBY (USA)

ART VS SCIENCE • BABE RAINBOW

BEN OTTEWELL & IAN BALL (GOMEZ / UK) • C.W. STONEKING

KIM CHURCHILL • LISA MITCHELL

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA • MONTAIGNE

STEPH STRINGS • URTHBOY & MORE + CIRCUS, COMEDY, THEATRE & DANCE

TICKETS ON SALE

wanderer.com.au

EDITOR

Talia Rinaldo

PARTNERSHIPS & CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Matt Wilkinson

DESIGN

Riley McDonald

OUR MIGHTY DIRECTOR

Greg Pettinella

GIG GUIDE

Alex Callan

CONTRIBUTORS

Benjamin Lamb, Tammy Walters, Alex Callan, Tyler Jenke, Mackinley Campbell, Fred Carlyle, Anthony Morris, Chester Ogilvie, Jacob McCormack, Chloe Cicero

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PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

03 9428 3600

Æ Our designer Riley is one of them, and with our May issue, we’re unveiling Forte’s latest glow-up, with a refreshing new design that’s dynamic, eye-catching, modern and most importantly, easy to navigate and read. It’s *Chef’s Kiss* Beyond our fresh new look, as we head towards National Reconciliation Week this month, we’re turning out attention to the Geelong Arts Centre and some of the incredible First Peoples-led events coming to the region. Bringing First Nations voices and stories to the forefront, there are powerful cultural conversations and an experimental contemporary immersive performance in a pub to Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison’s new Australian play The Visitors, a powerful imaginative response to the beginnings of modern Australia.

It also might be worthwhile exploring what’s in store for mid-May Forte. We feature candid interviews with Australian music royalty Kate Ceberano, Geelong-based Celtic punk band The Go Set and alt-pop-rock national treasures Kisschasy, rundowns on events like Black and Blues Festival, Geelong Women’s Business Event and Wanderer Festival, as well as Geelong’s new independent record store, Popcultcha Records.

We’ve also got our usual round-up of gigs, exhibitions, stage shows, venues and albums out and about – with pages of glorious food, music and event suggestions for you to immersive yourself in.

Take a seat and strap in, you’re in for a ride.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS

Our magazine is published on the lands of the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

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DISTRIBUTION

Forte Magazine will be distributed for free monthly to hundreds of regional Victoria locations. To enquire about having Forte Magazine at your venue email distribution@fortemag.com.au

Some people just have the magic touch for creating serious design goodness.

CLINT BOGE AND KINGSWOOD ARE COMING TO LAMBYS TAVERN

Championed by Spinning Half boss Steven Nichols, big names in live music will be heading to the Lambys stage this year, starting with the incredible Clint Boge, frontman for the legendary Queensland quartet The Butterfly Effect and Melbourne alt-rock group Kingswood. Boge will perform at Lambys Geelong on 18 May with Kingswood performing there on 6 July.

Ç TORQUAY’S MOST LOVED NIGHT ‘LOCALS NIGHT’ RETURNS

This May the Torquay Hotel is putting local acts in the spotlight once again, hosting its third edition of ‘Local’s Night’ on Friday, 12 May. The evening will feature The Pretty Little and Bones and Jones on headlining duties with further sets from BLYSS, Raging Moby and Libby Steel, as well as a swag of quality DJs on the decks to keep you moving all night long.

Ç THE AUSTRALIAN INXS SHOW ANNOUNCES MAMMOTH REGIONAL TOUR

The world’s only internationally touring INXS show is making a return to Australia for an extensive run of regional dates. The Melbourne outfit will visit Bairnsdale, Swan Hill, St Kilda, Ballarat, and Ringwood from July through to October with their theatrics and faithful recreations of INXS’ extensive back catalogue.

Ç THY ART IS MURDER ARE COMING TO GEELONG AND BALLARAT

Australia’s premier extreme metal merchants Thy Art Is Murder are set to cause absolute carnage across regional Australia with a huge tour later this year. With support from Justice For The Damned and To The Grave, catch them in Ballarat and Geelong on 28 and 29 June, respectively.

Ç THE DREGGS ARE HEADING TO TORQUAY ON THEIR BIGGEST TOUR YET

After a mammoth 2022, filled with new singles, festival appearances and a bunch of huge live shows, charming indie-folk duo The Dreggs are gearing up for an even bigger 2023, announcing a huge national tour for May, June and July. They’ll stop by the Torquay Hotel on 7 July.

Ç ROCKWIZ ANNOUNCE SPECIAL NATIONAL TOUR TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF MUSHROOM MUSIC

Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis, Dugald McAndrew, and the RocKwiz OrKestra are hitting the road this year with a special series of live shows to celebrate fifty years of Mushroom Group and some of the greatest Australian artists of all time. Catch the show on 2 August at Palais Theatre, Melbourne.

YOU AM I ARE BRINGING THE WHO’S ‘TOMMY’ TO GEELONG WITH HAYLEY MARY AND SARAH MCLEOD

You Am I will pay homage to one of their greatest influences, The Who, as they play their legendary album Tommy, as well as a set of Who classics, live across the country. They will be fronted by two of Australia’s most accomplished female rock voices, Hayley Mary and Sarah McLeod, who will share vocals with Tim Rogers to bring the songs to life. Costa Hall, Geelong on 13 August.

Ç THE CHICKS ARE HEADING TO A DAY ON THE GREEN IN GEELONG AS PART OF WORLD TOUR

Following their sold-out 2017 tour, including a spectacular headline slot at CMC Rocks QLD, global superstars The Chicks are returning to Australia and New Zealand this October. The captivating trio will play nine dates down under, including their a day on the green debut with a show at Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong on 14 October.

SCHITT’S CREEK STAR NOAH REID IS HEADING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEBUT NATIONAL CONCERT TOUR

Best known for winning the world over with his loveable portrayal of Patrick Brewer on Schitt’s Creek for over half a decade, Noah Reid will soon show Australians in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne another more intimate side of himself with his debut Australian tour, in support of his third record ‘Adjustments’.

Ç BACHELOR GIRL ARE PERFORMING A SPECIAL SHOW IN BANNOCKBURN THIS MAY

Iconic Australian band Bachelor Girl, featuring Tania Doko and James Roche, is heading to the Bannockburn Railway Hotel in May. Bringing along their brand new feelgood single ‘Calling Out Your Name’, the beloved duo will perform a monster show at the Railway on Friday, 26 May featuring all their iconic hits from the years gone by.

PRIVATE FUNCTION ARE HEADING TO BALLARAT AND TORQUAY

To celebrate their third studio LP 370HSSV 0773H, Private Function will take their dynamite live show on the road for the Hello A$$hole National Tour, dragging Melbourne’s glam-rock renegades Smooch along for the ride. Catch them at Volta, Ballarat on 3 June and Torquay Hotel on 9 June.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Geelong Arts Centre stands, the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, to Elders present and to emerging leaders, recognising their continuing connection to land, water, culture and community.

Please note: all information within this ad is correct at time of print.

JOEL BRAY DANCE REWIRE 2023

Ç VIKA & LINDA ANNOUNCE SPECIAL REGIONAL VICTORIAN SHOWS IN JULY

A treasured part of Australian music for more than 30 years, sisters Vika and Linda Bull, renowned widely as just Vika & Linda, have announced a run of live shows for July off the back of their acclaimed latest album, The Wait . They’ll be performing in Narre Warren, Frankston, Bendigo and Warragul from 7 July.

THE HARD-ONS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND NATIONAL HEADLINE TOUR

The Hard-Ons have announced the release date of their new album, Ripper ’23, slated for June 2, as well as the April 20 release of the album’s first single “Apartment for Two”. To celebrate the new album, they’ve also announced their Ripper ’23 tour, hitting up Ballarat, Torquay and Castlemaine in June.

KATY STEELE IS HEADING OUT ON A NATIONAL TOUR THIS JULY AND AUGUST

Armed with her profound songwriting and ethereal talent, Perth’s Katy Steele has emerged brighter than ever with the news of a second studio album, Big Star , out in June this year, with a massive national tour to boot. Catch her when she heads to Castlemaine for a show on 5 August at The Bridge Hotel.

Ç BELLARINE ESTATE WINERY HAS LAUNCHED BBQ AND BLUES NIGHTS FOR THE WINTER

Running from 6pm to 10pm on Saturday nights, the BBQ & Blues events will feature a prominent musical guest, award-winning wines and the winery’s newest food offering Texas BBQ @ Bellarine Estate, which pays homage to the heritage of owner Lizette Kenny who hails from Texas.

Ç ÁINE TYRRELL ANNOUNCES IRISH AS F*CK NOT IRISH FOLK AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Irish singer-songwriter Áine Tyrrell is breaking down the stereotypes surrounding her music and heritage as she embarks on her ‘Irish as F*ck Not Irish Folk’ national tour, traversing three states, with 12 shows across major cities and rural centres. Locally, she’ll take Palais-Hepburn in Hepburn Springs on 24 June.

BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL RETURNS

The award-winning Ballarat Heritage Festival is once again delivering an immersive, engaging and fascinating experience for visitors in a way to go beyond the surface with iconic bike rides, lost trades, traditional crafts, walking tours, candlelight concerts, steam trains, and huge beard competition. It runs from Friday 19 May to Sunday 28 May,

Ç GHOST ANNOUNCE FIRST AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR FOR OCTOBER

Frontman Tobias Forge (otherwise known as Papa Emeritus, the “demonic anti-pope”) will be joined by his gang of seven masked Nameless Ghouls for the headline dates. See the Grammy-winning Swedish theatrical rock band in Melbourne on Wednesday, 4 October at Margaret Court Arena.

TRAVIS COLLINS IS BRINGING HIS ‘ANY LESS ANYMORE’ NATIONAL TOUR TO GEELONG

Eight-time Golden Guitar award winner, Travis Collins will celebrate the release of his eighth studio album, Any Less Anymore with the massive Any Less Anymore National Tour. Catch him at Gateway Hotel in Geelong on 8 July.

Ç THE BOUNDARYPUSHING GOLDFIELDS GOTHIC FESTIVAL OF DARK IDEAS RETURNS

Described as ‘Victoria’s answer to Dark Mofo’, Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas will once again ignite Victoria’s goldfields from 4-6 August with a boundary-pushing program of events. Expect ghost tours, cemetery tours, themed food experiences, workshops and performances, plus talks on death, goldfields history and the shadowy side of life.

A RED RUBY WINTER MARKET IS COMING TO THE REGION, CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Prepare yourself for A Red Ruby Winter Market, the new memorable mid-year celebration from the team at Two Daughters Events. Coming to Birregurra on 22 July, the Christmas night market promises to be a spectacular event full of warm food, drinks and live music, plus family entertainment for everyone.

Ç A ONE-DAY BEER AND CHEESE FESTIVAL IS COMING TO GEELONG

Gifting us perhaps the best day of our lives, Blackman’s Brewery has teamed up with local fromagerie Splatters Cheese Bar to host ‘Blackman’s Festival of beer and cheese’. Taking place on Sunday 21 May, expect beer and cheese tastings, live music all day, masterclasses, and gourmet picnic boxes, all designed for those that want to cosy up for the ultimate day out.

HI SUSHI IS OPENING A SUSHI TRAIN RESTAURANT IN GEELONG THIS YEAR

Hi Sushi, Geelong’s first stop for quality Japanese cuisine, is gifting us a new destination venue with the forthcoming Hi Sushi Hi Bar Sushi Train, opening in Bell Park this year. Located at 199 Thompsons Road, the new dining spot will transform the well-recognised pink restaurant, previously home to Le Thai Chef Restaurant.

Ç PINOT AFFAIR RETURNS TO GEELONG WINERIES FOR THREE HUGE WINE-FILLED DAYS THIS MAY

Slated for the 19-21 May, Pinot Affair will take place at 13 individual wineries with an array of Pinot-focused events, including masterclasses, tasting experiences, special lunches, and degustation dinners. Highlights include Austin’s Wines ‘Pinot Piazza’ and Oneday Estate’s celebration with live Blues music and Pinot Noir back vintages.

RIGHT MATE IS HOSTING A RACE DAY FOR MEN’S HEALTH WEEK

Taking over the racing club in Breakwater on 16 June, the event is all about bringing the community together for a fun day out while also raising funds for the local men’s mental health initiative. The luncheon will run from 12pm until 5pm, with tickets including entry, a two-course buffet lunch and a racebook while the drinks will be at bar prices.

EXPLORE THE BELLARINE PENINSULA WITH HOP IT, THE REGION’S FIRST-EVER HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS SERVICE

Created by husband and wife duo Sara and Jon, Hop It is Bellarine’s first and only hop on hop off bus service. Establishing itself with services in the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula, Hop It offers a service that allows you to visit the Bellarine Peninsula at an affordable price and plan your day around a variety of different ‘Hop It Stops’.

Ç NEW PODCAST ‘REMEMBERING CHRISSY AMPHLETT’ COMMEMORATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROCK LEGEND’S DEATH

Ç AUSTRALIA’S MOST STUNNING RUNNING EVENT GREAT OCEAN ROAD RUNNING FESTIVAL RETURNS

The 2023 RACV Solar Great Ocean Road

Running Festival returns 20 & 21 May with nine different distances to choose from, ranging from 60km to 1.5km. With panoramic sea-side views, there’s also glamping, yoga, live music, kite flying, and much more to experience.

GEELONG LANEWAY BAR MEDUSA IS HOSTING A VINYL MARKET

Taking place in the hidden venue, located down the historic Rock O’Cashel Lane, the bar will turn into a record-lovers paradise on Sunday, 4 June. Alongside bumper-tobumper crates full of iconic, rare and funky finds, there will also be DJs on the decks and drink specials to hydrate keen shoppers. From 2pm, free entry.

Ç AWARD-WINNING LIGHT AND SOUND FESTIVAL MOAMA LIGHTS RETURNS

Moama Lights will once again light up Moama’s Horseshoe Lagoon with stateof-the-art installations, projections and cutting-edge moving light technology from 30 June – 23 July. An unforgettable night out with family or friends, this year’s event will also feature an outdoor ice-skating rink, the American Hotel beer garden, food trucks and kids’ entertainment.

UPSTATE STUDIOS EXPANDS TO OCEAN GROVE

Upstate Studios is continuing to take the yoga world by storm and expanding yet again, opening a new studio in Ocean Grove last month, located at 13/73 The Terrace Ocean Grove on level one. Bursting with good vibes and energetic offerings, Upstate Studios is the perfect place to go whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking to mix up your workout routine.

Created by LiSRNR has created a special Behind The Hits episode to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of rock legend, Chrissy Amphlett. Featuring the thoughts and reflections of leading music voices including Ella Hooper, Missy Higgins, Lisa Veronica and Pink, as well as previous interviews with Chrissy, her music and influence on the Australian music industry is celebrated in this special Behind The Hits episode.

JOHN FARNHAM DOCUMENTARY FILM ‘FINDING THE VOICE’ COMING TO CINEMAS THIS MONTH

John Farnham: Finding the Voice tells the untold story of an Australian music icon. In this first authorised biopic, the film follows Farnham’s life from the quiet suburbs of Melbourne to ‘60s pop fame, through incredible highs and lows, and ultimately to record-breaking success as ‘Australia’s Voice’. This is the must-see movie event in cinemas from 18 May.

YOU CAN NOW TAKE THE V/LINE ANYWHERE IN VICTORIA FOR LESS THAN $10

The cost of a daily ticket on the entire regional Victorian network is now capped at the same prices as metropolitan daily fares – currently $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession. On a weekend or public holiday, daily fares are capped at $6.70 and currently just $3.35 for concession.

Ç THE EAST GIPPSLAND WINTER FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR A MONTH-LONG EVENT

The East Gippsland Winter Festival is set to light up Victoria’s east with more than 100 spectacular events. Running from 9 June to 9 July, the festival program features beautiful handmade lanterns, projection art that augments reality, and live music in unexpected places, to wellness experiences overlooking lakes, long lunches and winter feasts in spectacular locations.

OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LEAD THE WAY IN BARWON

Redefining what it is to be a leader, the WDV’s seven-week Enabling Young Women Leadership Program helps unearth that potential through fun and meaningful ways. Participant applications are now open for women and non-binary youth (aged 18-25 years), with disability, who live, work, or play in the Barwon area.

CULTURE,

COMMUNITY & CONVERSATION

Located on beautiful Wadawurrung Country, the regional cultural institution Geelong Arts Centre recognises that stories, song, dance, ceremony and art have been shared on this land for millennia as an expression of identity, culture, spirituality and relationship to Country.

Credit Sam Kennedy-Hein

Æ Committed to a long-lasting reconciliation journey that acknowledges, respects, includes and responds to First Nations community, and connects First Peoples’ stories and voices with the broader community through meaningful artwork, performance and conversation, Geelong Arts Centre is bringing some awesome First Peoples-led events across National Reconciliation Week and beyond.

I LIKED IT, BUT…

Up for something a little different? How about pub trivia with a contemporary dance twist at Little Creatures?

From 11 – 13 May, the brainchild of proud Wiradjuri man, Joel Bray, I Liked It, BUT… takes “experimental contemporary immersive performance” out of the theatre and into the bar, to see what passes the “pub test’.

Served with tongue firmly in cheek, I Liked It, BUT… caters to a broad range of entertainment seekers. Know heaps/nothing about contemporary dance? Come along! Love self-deprecation and some good pub humour? You’ll love this. Keen to open your mind to the world of performance art from the casual comfort of Geelong’s most iconic village brewery? This show has you covered!

A creator, choreographer, and performer, Joel Bray’s practice is inextricably linked to his cultural heritage. Using his body as a vessel for storytelling and evolution, Joel invites audiences to explore the experiences of fair-skinned Aboriginal people and the experiences of contemporary gay men in an increasingly isolated world.

I Liked It, BUT… hits Little Creatures’ Furphy Hall from 11 – 13 May and limited places remain. Get active in your group chat, lock in a date with your mates, and secure your seats now. Tickets cost $25 - $39.

THE VISITORS

Through both conversation and performance, Geelong Arts Centre puts the spotlight on stories that challenge, inspire, and deserve to be told. Visitors leave, right?

Coming to The Story House stage from 1 – 4 November, the renowned Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin Performing Arts present The Visitors; a powerful, imaginative response to the beginnings of modern Australia.

Famed for her plays Stolen and Rainbow’s End, Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison turns her attention to that pivotal moment when the First Fleet dropped anchor.

A riveting, deeply researched insight into one of the most impactful and painful days in Australia’s history, and a hugely entertaining study of how communities respond to change and the unknown.

On a sweltering day in January 1788, seven clan leaders gather on a sandstone escarpment overlooking the harbour. The attendees, six of them Elders and one new initiate, catch up, laugh together, share a meal and compare notes. But beyond the friendly banter, protocols, and hospitality, a momentous decision is waiting to be made.

After its Sydney Theatre Award-winning premiere production at the 2020 Sydney Festival, The Visitors will be reworked for this brand new production directed by one of Australia’s most celebrated directors, Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch AM.

This is powerful, truth-telling theatre at its rawest. Tickets cost $49–$75.

Make sure you stay in the loop by signing up for Geelong Arts Centre’s fortnightly What’s On e-newsletter at geelongartscentre.org.au

Plus, got a penchant for First Nations arts experiences?

Stay up to date with all upcoming First Nations performances and events by selecting ‘First Peoples Programming’ when nominating your interests.

CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: RECONCILIATION WEEK 2023

Kicking off from 27 May - 3 June, the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 is Be A Voice for Generations. The week invites Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to gather, join the conversation, ask questions, and walk together on a journey to reconciliation.

Facilitated by proud Gunditjmara actor and playwright, Tom Molyneux, join a panel of local First Nations artists, respected community members, and allies for this free event as they come together to examine the tangible ways in which we can all use our power and words to be a voice for reconciliation in our everyday lives.

Hear from Member for Geelong and Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples, Christine Couzens MP; proud Worimi artist, Gerard Black; dual-premiership former Geelong Cats football star, Matthew Stokes; Proud Adnyamathanha woman, entrepreneur and Arranyinha business owner, Marsha Uppill; and spend the afternoon immersed in a yarning circle, exploring how to “Be a Voice for Generations: Act today for a reconciled tomorrow”.

Now in its third year, Geelong Arts Centre’s Cultural Conversations series aims to bring First Nations voices and stories to the forefront and to provide a culturally safe space in which to engage in shared learning and important discussions.

Registration is free but essential – capacity is strictly limited.

CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: TRUTH TELLING, TRUTH LISTENING

But that’s not all! Taking place at 5:30pm on 2 November, duck between Geelong Arts Centre’s The Open House and The Story House theatres and heighten your learning with a discussion to compliment the performance of The Visitors.

Come together with a brand new panel to reflect on what it means to truly, deeply listen and acknowledge the histories of Australia’s First Peoples.

With so much discussion about Australia’s readiness for truth-telling, maybe it’s time to flip the script… First Peoples have been telling their truth for more than 200 years; maybe what requires attention now, more than ever, is our readiness to engage in truth-listening.

In a conversation that holds space for First Nations voices from the local community, this Cultural Conversations event will examine the role that theatre can play in communicating truths to audiences who are ready to listen, and how we all have a role to play in navigating Australia’s difficult history.

Registration is free but essential, with panellists to be announced soon.

FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK

Bringing alt-country charm to the Lightning & Rhinestones Festival

WORDS BY BENJAMIN LAMB

Æ Freya Josephine Hollick has been a staple of the Australian music scene for several years, playing a bevy of shows and festivals. Her genre-bending approach to country music has found many fans in all corners of the nation, not solely in capital cities.

“Playing regional towns is a different vibe than playing capital cities”, Freya says. “I find it enjoyable, I grew up in Ballarat, and I’m still there now.

“You’re not really competing for different demographics, people who live in smaller city centres like Geelong and Ballarat gravitate towards the same events, regardless of age, that’s what I like about it.”

Fresh from her cracking sets at Golden Plains, LoJo and Boogie this year, the Australian cosmic country Queen will be heading to Geelong to headline the brand-new Lightning & Rhinestones music festival.

The first of its kind in Geelong, the alt-country festival will take place on June 18 at the Barwon Club Hotel featuring a lineup of Australia’s most talented alt-country musicians, delicious food and drinks, as well as beginner lessons in two-step dancing.

“Anyone that’s playing anything slightly country in Australia is someone that I would consider my mate, we all end up playing the same festivals.

“We all end up having a really fun time together, but it spans across genres when we play shows, and people that are into punk music show up or that are in the punk bands show up.

“It’s a pretty good community of musicians; particularly within Melbourne there’s more people I’m familiar with, but we also have really good mates from Sydney that play different styles of music. It does kind of feel like one big family and everyone’s rooting for each other. We’re all just happy when people get opportunities.”

Festivals are in an interesting place at the moment. After a few years of no-shows, many festivals have moved away from the multi-day multi-genre model and moved towards single-day events showcasing single genres.

While those multi-days festivals still exist, it’s exciting to see a push towards local performers on smaller bills in smaller places.

“I like going to festivals where there’s a diverse array of music, but for these one-day events, I think it’s really fun to just have a theme and book all your favourite bands that play that sort of genre.

“It gives people a pretty good idea of what the scene is like in Australia, which is always cool. I’ve done a few things that are cosmic country oriented just in the past few months, and it’s really fun because I’m mates with all the people that are playing.

“You look at the lineup, and you go, ‘Oh cool, this is great, I get to see all of the people that I’m usually playing on the same night as’.”

These shows come months after the release of her latest album, The Real World which was worked on in part at the popular Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, alongside a selection of the world’s most recognised and well-regarded musicians. “They’re all amazing players in there, they’ve all been doing it for such a long time. But when you’re working with any musician, regardless of whether they’re a big deal and have been playing for 50 years, or someone that’s been playing for 10 years, the experience is always pretty similar when people are passionate about music,” she explains.

“Although, it was an amazing experience, and they’re all amazing musicians. The pearls of wisdom that you get come from all kinds of different places on the road, and they all tend to sort of mirror one another.”

Regardless of the kind of music you’re into in Australia, there’s clear camaraderie among people in the industry, no matter what genre they are playing.

The Lightning & Rhinestones Festival will also feature music from Ben Mastwyk and His Millions, Georgia State Line, Katie Bates and Patrick Wilson.

“My bandmates play with pretty much all of the other acts,” Freya adds with a laugh. “So it’s going to be really fun because it’s people I’ve played a lot of shows with over the years, and people whose work I’m already familiar with, who might have new music out that I haven’t had a chance to see yet.

“It brings the community together, which I think is really nice, you rock up, you know everybody that’s on the bill, and it’s a really good hang.”

FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK, AT LIGHTNING & RHINESTONES FESTIVAL

WHERE: BARWON CLUB HOTEL

WHEN: SUN 18 JUN

TICKETS: VIA OZTIX

“It’s a pretty good community of musicians... It does kind of feel like one big family and everyone’s rooting for each other. We’re all just happy when people get opportunities.”

THE GO SET

“It really closes the gap between a band like us who have to go and spend our time doing all kinds of other shitty jobs rather than doing what we want to do and that’s making music and also having to spend every cent we make on a studio to try and get a very average record.

The Go Set’s

Justin

Keenan on their new record The Warriors Beneath Us

WORDS BY BENJAMIN LAMB

Æ The Go Set have been a staple of the Australian music scene for many years, playing thousands of shows across the globe to many adoring fans. Now the Geelong-based band have just dropped their long-awaited eighth studio album The Warriors Beneath Us, 20 years on from their beginnings and still sounding as fierce, as vital, as the first day they set foot on a stage.

“It’s always good to release an album because there’s a sense of relief,” frontman Justin Keenan says. “A lot of work goes into inception until the final product, and especially during COVID, we’ve had to find new ways to make music together, because we haven’t been able to stay in the same spot.

“We’ve had to think about different ways to run our band, so this was a really big relief to get this album out.”

COVID saw many bands and artists move into interesting ways of performing, writing and recording, with The Go Set finding that the extended self-sequestration allowed them to spend more time on their music.

“If you’re an independent act, you don’t have the benefit of money to make highly produced records and you don’t have the benefit of time to sit around and make five different versions in five different keys and time signatures of a song that you’ve got.

“One of the things about this making this album was that we benefited greatly by having time to be able to determine what version of a song we wanted, and we could tweak it for two weeks. You can’t do that in the studio on an indie band budget.

“If you lock everyone down and there’s nothing else to do, it’s like, hey, we’ve probably got the same time luxury that The Rolling Stones have got now and then when it comes to production.

“Certain technologies that would have cost thousands of dollars and half a day to get on your records, those things are now all programmed. You can get computer programs that can replicate particular drum sounds, so you can really make the album

“Now, we’ve got great quality production and we’ve got time on our side. But COVID has definitely helped us to make records with those advantages that we didn’t have before.”

Now multiple albums into their illustrious career, The Go Set’s music is jam-packed with sophisticated lyrics that take you on a journey.

This continues with The Warriors Beneath Us

“I think this album is a little bit different; in the past, I wrote the words and then came up with a song or a melody and gave it to the band fairly complete,” Keenan says of the lyric writing process.

“This time around, I would come up with the theme and the majority of the words and then give it to Joel [Colliver], the guitarist who was also our producer, and say ‘I think the song kind of should go like this’ and ‘I think it’s in this key’ and ‘I think this is kind of how the chorus goes’.”

The Warriors Beneath Us features several tracks full of personal stories and moments, with the track ‘Opportunity’ focusing on a chat between members of Keenan’s family.

“That was actually a conversation with my dad, my son and myself that brought that about. And it’s a little bit tongue in cheek as well; I guess all three generations in my family, we’ve all gone through being kind of lefty socialist, protest system type people.

“I know I see my son going through it now and just talking about, ‘I should have done this, I could have done that, I would have done this. This could have been different if I’d done that. Or you should do this’. You always hear that you should do this.”

“Generally, those comments are born out of someone else’s life experience, not yours. You should definitely change the way you do this, or you should break up with that person, or you should do this for a job. And I think that it’s largely about the idealism of youth and then the reality of adult life.”

The Warriors Beneath Us is out now.

“We’ve had to think about different ways to run our band, so this was a really big relief to get this album out.”

JUSTIN KEENAN, THE GO SET FRONTMAN

GEORGIA RAY

Spinning heartbreak into buoyant indie pop with ‘Hypnotherapy’

Æ The first thing to know about Georgia Ray is that she’s just as infectiously bright and inspiring as her music. Based in Melbourne, the singer-songwriter embraces authenticity in her songs, telling her raw stories of heartbreak, loss and hope.

Seeing her move in an all-encompassing direction of upbeat, catchy pop-rock, ‘Hypnotherapy’ is Ray’s first release of 2023 and the direct follow-up to last year’s duet ballad, ‘Picture of Us’. Laced with irresistible pop-rock hooks and infectious sounds, influences such as Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift and Paramore surge within the release with Ray’s big, punchy chorus and crisp electric guitars. Recorded at Aviary Studios in Abbotsford with production from Ray’s brother Kyle Gutterson, the result is a vibrant and pop-fuelled three-minute journey that greets the ears as not just a simple song but as an enveloping and enjoyable immersive listening experience.

“I wanted to write a song that excites me in that same kind of way, and I also really wanted this song to be poppy and upbeat to counteract the opposite nature of the lyrics. I wrote this song while living alone amid a Melbourne lockdown too, so I think I was really needing some stimulation!” Sonically, it’s vibrant and infectious. Yet lyrically, it is surprisingly mellow. In ‘Hypnotherapy’, Ray delves into her own experiences as she claims in the song that being hypnotised would be the only way to cure her broken heart.

“There was a time I was so heartbroken that I thought maybe hypnotherapy would be the only thing that could heal me because it might be able to change my way of thinking about that person and the memories associated with them, as well as the loss in general and allow me to feel like myself again.”

Ray’s intimate, vulnerable lyricism, stunning vocals, and enchanting production have set her apart as a fast-rising musical sensation and ‘Hypnotherapy’ in particular leaves the listener ready for more, come Ray’s release of her forthcoming EP, due out in October this year.

GEORGIA RAY

THE MERRI BAR, PRESTON

‘Hypnotherapy’ is out now.

WANDERER FESTIVAL

Simon Daly’s groundbreaking music and arts event returns with Django Django, Ocean Alley, Son Little and more.

Æ With last year’s inaugural event heralded as a phenomenal success, the one-of-a-kind music and cultural experience Wanderer Festival is set to return to the breathtaking Pambula Beach on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales this September.

Taking place from September 29 until October 1, the boutique three-day event promises to be a multi-generational event, attracting both veterans and families alike, especially with the huge lineup the team have put together for its second-ever iteration.

Leading the lineup is groundbreaking British indie rock band Django Django, unstoppable psychedelic-surf-rockers Ocean Alley, American rhythm and blues musician Son Little, and beloved Aussie indie-rock band The Jungle Giants who will also be joined by Storyteller and creator, Gamilaraay woman Thelma Plum, the legendary Spiderbait and the captivating US songwriter Kevin Morby.

Art vs Science, Babe Rainbow, Ben Ottewell & Ian Ball (Gomez, UK), C.W Stoneking, Kim Churchill, Lisa Mitchell, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Montaigne, Steph Strings, Urthboy and many more also feature, with more to be announced leading up to the event.

Atop its world-class music lineup, which will feature more than 70 artists, Wanderer also features a program of art, comedy, theatre, circus and artisan workshops over three unforgettable days and nights. The unique and creative spirit of the Sapphire Coast region is integral and will be featured throughout the music and arts program, epicurean feasts and craft offerings.

The festival is curated by Falls Festival’s own Simon Daly, “I’m thrilled with how Wanderer is shaping up this year. We’re curating a really strong program consistent with what Wanderer is all about. It is diverse in every sense and includes plenty of well-known favourites as well as amazing new talent.

“We are really proud to be delivering such a world-class event in the Sapphire Coast. It is really rewarding creating something so equally loved by both the local community as well as travellers coming from all over Australia for an unforgettable experience in this stunning part of the world.”

WANDERER FESTIVAL

PAMBULA BEACH NSW

29 SEP–01OCT TICKETS: WANDERER.COM.AU

WHAT WE BECOME”

THE REFORMATION OF KISSCHASY

WORDS BY TAMMY WALTERS

and assessing the way forward, Good Things came to us – they must have heard through the grapevine that we were talking to someone else about doing the show and allowed us to come out to do a festival. It seemed like the perfect way to ease our way back into live music again.”

Æ Everybody sing and dance and stand, now everybody clap your hands because Kisschasy are back!

The same year Queens of the Stone Age dropped their third and most thrilling album, Songs for the Deaf, Darren Cordeux, Joel Vanderuit, Sean Thomas, and Karl Ammitzboll banded in Melbourne as childhood germ-sharing game Kisschasy.

The band released three studio albums, United Paper People , Hymns for the Non-Believer, and Seizures, two EPs, a documentary DVD and a compilation album. They were regulars on the live music front, playing Australian flagship music festivals Big Day Out and Groovin’ the Moo, and received several award nominations, including winning the Channel V Oz Artist of the Year in 2009.

On 17 July 2015, Kisschasy announced their breakup, putting it down to their individual music crossroads, embarking on their final national tour and kissing goodbye to their fans and the songs that shaped a mass of disgruntled Gen (wh)y’s.

That was until our favourite alternative festival, Good Things, resuscitated them last year and sparked another Australian Tour this May.

“We’re pretty excited. It’s been a long time since we’ve done some proper touring. We got the appetite going after Good Things so it’s really cool to have another go around,” comments bassist Joel Vanderuit.

“Initially it had all come up in, I think, 2020 which was the 15th anniversary of United Paper People coming out so originally we had a promoter approach us out of nowhere offering if we wanted to tour the record which sounded cool but obviously what happened, happened in 2020 and on and on. During that time of rescheduling

Uniting the physical people by playing their debut album in full for a chorus of ‘Do Do’s and Woah’s’ and a cry along to ‘Black Dress’ came with a nostalgia grab for both the crowd and the band.

“It was quite a nostalgic process rehearsing for that because some of those songs we hadn’t played in a long time. We also had to rehearse on our own for a while. Darren now lives in the States so he didn’t get home until two days before the festival, so we had two days of full band rehearsal after nine years off which was pretty good but got through it.

“But reliving that album, our first full-length album and reminiscing the process of recording it and being a young band, like ‘holy shit we have a record deal’ and people were starting to come to our shows back when that was released. All of that stuff came from that record so to be able to relive that and play it live and, quite honestly, that people still give a shit is quite humbling,” says Vanderuit.

The band will be delving further into their beanbag of songs for the upcoming May tour, curating a setlist of early 2000s ‘Ghosts and Dinosaurs’. Freshen up on ‘Opinions Won’t Keep You Warm At Night’ (with recommended watching of the music video that can be interchangeable with any political head), ‘Spray On Pants’, and the rock ‘n’ roll song ‘With Friends Like You, Who Needs Friends?’.

“Basically a full set from our full catalogue. We’re all gonna have to rehearse alone again to start as Darren won’t come until a little bit before the tour starts, but we just wrapped up setlist conversations and so we’ve got stuff from really early days from EPs and all albums and we’re tossing up maybe throwing in something we’ve never done live before.

“So yeah, it’s gonna be a full eclectic pick from every release we’ve ever done so it should be fun,” says Vanderuit. The tour at this stage is a one-off event with their continued musical affair with continental distance and their eight-year shifting tides that keeps the Kisschasy permanent reformation answer ambiguous.

“We haven’t delved too far into it yet. I don’t think there will be anything, certainly not in the short term after this. Darren’s pretty involved in what he’s doing over in LA, and I run my own business and I’ve got quite a few staff and things like that so can’t keep jetting off on tour all the time. Karl is in a similar boat, and Sean and the guys all have families now.

“There are more complications than there were eight or nine years ago. We haven’t really discussed it. That might come up on the tour when we spend a bit more time together, but there’s not any music or anything hiding. So no plans as yet, but never say never is what Darren keeps telling us.”

That’s all the hope we need.

KISSCHASY, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TOWNS

AND BEC STEVENS

WHERE: TORQUAY HOTEL

WHEN: FRI 19 MAY

BLACK & BLUES FESTIVAL

Geelong’s three-day dark beer and blues music festival returns to Valhalla

Æ Malty, musty, rich or creamy, dark beers fill the void caused by winter’s chills and this June one of our favourite local taprooms is hosting an event that’s sure to appeal to anyone that loves a decadent dark beer served with a side of blues music.

From 9-11 June, Valhalla Brewing and Taproom are hosting a three-day dark beer and blues music festival to showcase Australian independent dark beers and local, live blues and roots music.

Taking over the space in the heart of the Geelong CBD, the Black & Blues Festival will see all 10 of Valhalla’s taps pour deliciously dark brews (think stouts, porters, Black IPAs and Pilsners) accompanied by 10 soul-filling blues musicians: it’s a match made in Valhalla.

As for the music, this year’s impressive lineup features 2023/2022 Byron Bay Bluesfest artists Bud Rokesky and Fiona Boyes.

Fresh from his 2023 Bluesfest shows and tour with Matt Corby in late May, Bud Rokesky will bring his heart-on-sleeve stories to the Taproom on Sunday, 11 June. A native of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Rokesky has spent the last few years behind the wheel, mostly in solitude, seeking out stories that dwell in the deepest parts of the soul.

Headlining Saturday at the Taproom, 10 June, Fiona Boyes will bring her sassy and soulful electric and acoustic blues to the stage. Internationally recognised for her deep blues fingerpicking and slide guitar, she is the only Australian ever nominated for the USA Blues Music Awards in Memphis.

Joining these two powerhouse musicians are the likes of Willie J, Jungle Jim Smith, Maggie Alley & Jack Meredith (duo), The Ironbark Brothers, TK Reeves, Trinity Jayne, Kaliopi and Xyla.

Whether or not you’re a fan of dark beer, the lineup of outstanding talent and unforgettable acts is reason enough to go check it out. Limited weekend pass tickets are available online at $79. The ticket includes access to all 10 live blues acts across the weekend, 10 x 200mL glasses of dark beers and one pizza.

GEELONG WOMEN’S BUSINESS CLUB

Bringing like-minded women together to connect, network and socialise in June

Æ Driven by the belief that every woman can achieve amazing things in business and life, the wildly successful women’s networking event Geelong Women’s Business Club (GWBC) is back with its latest hometown event.

Taking to Bellevue Receptions on Friday, 2 June, GWBC will bring together like-minded speakers to both inspire and empower guests across life, business and career topics.

Leading the guest panel and speaker lineup this year includes social media star and model Tess Shanahan, Tully Humphrey from Tully Lou, former MAFS alum Nadia Stamp, GT Magazine’s Fashion editor Emelia Morris and GWBC founder and local influencer Merrin Schnabel.

Alongside the keynote speeches, panellists and the gold nuggets of knowledge and wisdom they will share, the event will also feature canapes and champagne on arrival followed by a sit-down dinner, and dessert, all served with a side of amazing networking.

Since Merrin Schnabel launched GWBC back in 2019, the event has gone from strength to strength with a boom in women starting their small businesses and the demand for empowering networking opportunities - so much so the event has expanded internationally.

“We are so excited to bring GWBC back to Geelong. We’ve got a huge international rollout this year of our events, with New Zealand also happening in September, so to start the year with the first event in our hometown of Geelong just makes sense,” says founder Merrin Schnabel.

An experienced businesswoman herself, Merrin is a master networker who has been able to bring in an impressive list of speakers to the events, with charity being a key part of what GWBC stands for.

“Not only are our events a way to network with like-minded individuals, gain knowledge and wisdom within that you can then implement into your daily life and business, but we also align with charitable organisations to give back to communities most in need.”

The Geelong June event will be donating to the Sharing Tulli’s Smile Fund to support their invaluable work and to bring smiles to children’s faces in hospital with music therapy.

GEELONG WOMEN’S BUSINESS CLUB

BELLEVUE RECEPTIONS, GEELONG FRI 02 JUN

Tickets are on sale now from the Geelong Women’s Business Club website.

WORDS BY TAMMY WALTERS

Æ She raised money singing her hits with the Channel Seven team for the Good Friday Appeal contributing to the record-breaking $23,061,320 donation to The Royal Children’s Hospital cause. Days prior she highlighted the life and voice of fellow jazz juggernaut and friend, the late Renée Geyer, during her public memorial service, closing out a star-studded event of performances from Paul Kelly, Marcia Hines, Russell Morris, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson and Deborah Conway.

It’s what Kate Ceberano does - a constant presence that unites the nation through the power of music and her big effervescent smile.

The loss of friends in the industry and retrospective career reflections have been prominent over the last two years. In addition to the shock departure of Geyer, Ceberano and the nation said goodbye to Australian music and acting darling, Olivia Newton-John.

“I lost a lot of friends during Covid and I continue to lose them,” Ceberano candidly explains.

KATE CEBERANO

TAKES TIME TO THINK ABOUT HER LIFE IN SONG

“These are women that shaped who I am. You know, Marcia Hines who is still with us, Chrissy Amphlett, Renée and Olivia Newton-John; these were the women of my era. Each of them were so profoundly different from each other which was beautiful.

“The fact that at the time the way of the artists was built entirely on a place of independence and originality, there was no sense that anyone would ever dream of trying to be anyone else. You just wanted to be you. It was the screaming kind of revolution of you. And these women went out there and crusaded for the rights of all women to be themselves, be their own voices, and control their own minds and independent thoughts. They were a revolution, and long may they reign.”

These life celebrations and career reflections run parallel to her own story, circulating the industry at the same time and being a strong, empowering female front. It comes at a time when Ceberano was deep diving into her own career catalogue to form her 30th album.

The ruby-anniversary album, My Life Is A Symphony, sees Ceberano rework and re-imagine her classic hits and most personal pieces with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

The album, which was originally intended for a 2020 release, was mixed by Grammy-nominated Justin Stanley and Lachlan Carrick, and produced by Stanley and Roscoe James Irwin. Irwin also wrote the MSO arrangements and orchestrations. The time machine experience took her back to the place where it all began.

“One of the most moving experiences was being in the studio and singing and recording ‘Brave’. We went back into the studio where I recorded it 30 years ago and my daughter was singing backing for the new version.

It was like what the fuck! Recording these songs as a teenager never planning or imagining being a mother or what it would look like, and there you are with your one child, in this space as a full-grown woman - OH MY GOD! Never thought it would happen.”

Accompanying the My Life Is A Symphony release, Ceberano will be embarking on a national tour. With the first round of shows selling out, Ceberano has added a round of additional dates adding to her 4000 live performances throughout her illustrious career - an average of 200 shows performed per year since her 1983 global genesis.

“It’s that amount of hours that makes someone comfortable to be in the driver’s seat of whatever their career or craft is like in business or on the stage,” Ceberano explains.

She continues, “The stage has been very familiar to me since I was a child. I can probably count many different parts of me that would not be as comfortable in other environments but being on a stage, it’s like I come alive. I feel the stage, I feel confident on the stage but I also feel like I can take people on some kind of Magical Mystery Tour and consequently when I get on stage my whole body wakes up and I ease into that space. I feel like I’m engineered for it.”

KATE CEBERANO

WHERE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL

WHEN: THU 28 SEP

TIX: MSO.COM.AU

My Life Is A Symphony releases 12 May.

Within the last month, Kate Ceberano has brought us together for celebrations of humanity.

“When I get on stage my whole body wakes up and I ease into that space. I feel like I’m engineered for it”

Credit Ian Laidlaw

Credit Justine Walpole

THE WAIFS

Up All Night 20th-anniversary Australian tour

Æ The Waifs are one of Australia’s most beloved bands, and now they are celebrating the 20th-anniversary of their seminal album Up All Night with an extensive Australian tour.

Spanning May to September, the band - comprising sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson and Josh Cunningham - will travel to all corners of the country performing the album in full with a sprinkling of fan favourites.

The tour is set to be a celebration of the band’s history, with special guests joining them along the way who have each had their impact on The Waifs’ career. The lineup includes Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang, Liz Stringer, Felicity Urquhart, and more to be announced. There will also be a special Melbourne appearance by multiple ARIA Award winner Missy Higgins, who supported the original Up All Night album tour in 2003.

The original independent avant-garde folk heroes, Up All Night debuted at #3 on the ARIA charts and won four ARIA Awards for Best Blues and Roots Album, Best Independent Album, Engineer of The Year, and Producer of the Year for Chris Thompson. The album features some of the band’s most beloved tracks, including ‘London Still’, which was voted in at number three on the triple j Hottest 100.

2003 was an unforgettable year for the band, comprising soldout international headline tours, being the first Australian band to play New Orleans Jazz Festival, touring with Bob Dylan in Australia and the USA, and being named in Rolling Stone’s ‘Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll’ story, that cited their independence and mainstream success as a game-changer for musicians in the future.

Now, 20 years after the release of Up All Night, The Waifs are continuing to forge a proudly independent path. With no sign of slowing down, the band are ready to welcome fans back into the world of Waif as they take to the road for their Australian tour.

Locally, the band will travel across Victoria from 31 May to 13 June, taking to Queenscliff for two shows, Ballarat, Melbourne, Shepparton, Meeniyan, Northcote, Traralgon, Upwey, Bendigo and Warrnambool.

Head to thewaifs.com for dates and ticketing details.

HEATH ROBERTSON

The Ocean Grove-based artist delivers a joyful, nostalgic listen in new single

Æ With the intrinsic ability to create ear-catching hooks with riveting guitar licks, relatable lyrics and solid beats, all inspired by a bygone era, Ocean Grove-based Heath Robertson has slowly been embossing his name in the music industry over the last few years.

Growing up in a musical household, the son of award-winning artist Andrea Robertson and David Robertson and brother of Carly Robertson, in no time at all, Heath has established himself as an up-and-coming star in his own right.

Fusing the blues with ’70s-influenced surf-rock, Heath takes listeners on a nostalgic trip back in time but manages to do so with a modern and refreshing twist - all without compromising authenticity in any way, shape or form. A true breath of fresh air, Heath’s music has an infectious energy that transports listeners to a sundrenched beach. His distinctive guitar riffs are complemented by soulful vocals and a driving rhythm section.

Now Heath is capitalising on that solid foundation with his newest single, full of life and energy, passion and palpable emotion. Titled ‘You Can Be Found’, the scorching single is a catchy, raw blues-rock number with notable early Aussie pop-rock influences, melding the iconic sounds of Easybeats and Sunnyboys.

Striking the balance between catchy melodies and killer guitar solos, the single is fast and punchy and showcases the ‘sophisticated’ style of blues and promises to lift our spirits every time we press play.

Releasing the single on 7” Vinyl, Heath’s release will also include B Side track ‘Leave Me Be’, wielding a bit more grunt, but equally as impressive as its flip side.

The award-winning artist will launch the single at the Barwon Club on 14 May, delivering a set of new, original songs. He will be joined by band newcomers; Fin Strijker on electric guitar (Fenn Wilson) and Alister Hull on bass (Pollyman), with mainstay David Robertson on drums.

Heath Robertson and his band will be supported by local rising stars Paraquay and Carly Jorja (solo) promising a rocking night of sounds that will have listeners exclaiming, “Oh yes!”

ARTS GUIDE

Exhibitions

to see this May

WORDS BY CHESTER OGILVIE

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Believed to have originated before the 14th century but immortalised by Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale, ‘there’s no place like home’ is often used as a wish, and sometimes a lament. Despite imperfections, we crave the comfort and familiarity of the place we call home. In this exhibition, this notion is questioned as the idea of Australia, its continuous culture, colonisation and migration, is explored. Sometimes, it’s not so comfortable.

WARRNAMBOOL ART GALLERY UNTIL 28 MAY

PRE-RAPHAELITE:

DRAWINGS AND WATERCOLOURS

Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat is this most stunning exhibition of drawings and watercolours from Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. The Pre-Raphaelites (originally the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood) was a group of English painters, poets and art critics, including Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais. Pre-Raphaelite will be presented in conjunction with In the Company of Morris, an exhibition of artists influenced by textile designer, artist, poet and fantasy writer, William Morris.

ART GALLERY OF BALLARAT 20 MAY–06 AUG

DAVID FRAZER: FOR THE LOVE OF SONG

The strong connection between music and art can be illustrated by a great album cover. We can identify them without titles. Local artist David Frazer’s new exhibition For the Love of Song sees him team up with iconic artists including Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Nick Cave, Paul Kelly and Don Walker. Handmade books and prints, endorsed and signed by the artists, linocuts, broadsheets and wood blocks form this music lover’s exhibition.

CASTLEMAINE ART MUSEUM UNTIL 28 MAY

THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY: 90 YEARS OF AN AUSTRALIAN ICON

On June 10, 1933, the first issue of Australian Women’s Weekly appeared in Sydney. Printed in black-and-white newspaper format and priced at twopence, it had sold out by lunchtime. In this celebratory exhibition, some of the trailblazing women who have contributed to the magazine will be recognised for their place in history. And who could forget the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book? BENDIGO

LUCINDA GOODWIN: RETROSPECT 001

Time is limited to check out the new rock and roll collection from internationally recognised photographer Lucinda Goodwin (Patron to Pit), Retrospect 001. For a healthy dose of musical blood, sweat and tears without the long bar lines, Goodwin’s new exhibition is a 13-year catalogue that includes live musical works and personal projects. Among them is the stripped-back COVID video series, Music from the Burbs. In conjunction with the exhibition, Goodwin is launching her debut publication, Retrospect 2022.

PLATFORM ARTS, GEELONG UNTIL 19 MAY

SOLDIERS HILL ART COLLECTIVE ARTWALK

The Soldiers Hill Art Collective began when Lynne Makings kept running into artists on her daily walk with her pooch. The eclectic group of artists, all within the region of Soldiers Hill, then set about creating an open and inclusive collective where creative diversity is valued and promoted. This month, local shopfronts, businesses and studios will display a diverse range of creative works to enjoy on your stroll – with or without a pooch by side.

SOLDIERS HILL DISTRICT, BALLARAT 19–28 MAY

NIKON-WALKLEY PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

The Walkley Awards are considered the highest honour in Australian journalism, stretching back to 1956 when five categories were instituted by Ampol founder, Sir William Walkley. Today, it has grown to thirty categories. From news to sport, portraiture to photographic essays, the Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism showcases those moments throughout the year that challenge us, inspire us or simply leave us in awe. All the 2022 winners and finalists are on display here.

NATALIE ANDERSON: LONG SHADOWS, QUIET LIGHT

Driven by the desire for lifelong learning and a connection to the country, Natalie Anderson is a landscape artist fascinated and inspired by the landscape and ocean around Geelong. In her new exhibition, Long Shadows, Quiet Light, Natalie was fuelled, in part, by loss. However, as she discovered, there is still light to be found and a beauty in the shadows that paint the world.

SALT CONTEMPORARY ART, QUEENSCLIFF UNTIL 28 MAY

POPCULTCHA RECORDS

Described as a passion project, Popcultcha Records is Howard’s love letter to his hometown, and his contribution to seeing Geelong become the home of live music it once was.

Æ Since its move to the old Griffiths Bookstore at 96/98 Ryrie Street back in 2021, Popcultcha, Australia’s premier pop culture retailer, has been aiding local music lovers in search of wax with its dedicated record section within the store and online. Now giving vinyl purveyors something truly to get excited about, Popcultcha is seriously changing the game locally with their latest retail venture Popcultcha Records.

Taking over the entire upstairs level of their Flagship Ryrie Street store in the Old Griffiths Bookstore building, expanding into vinyl was always part of the Popcultcha vision for founder Ash Howard though the space upstairs wasn’t originally flagged as an option.

“It’s a passion project of mine. I’ve been collecting records for more than 10 years, so I always intended to steer Popcultcha in that direction at some stage.

“When we bought the building, downstairs was always going to be Popcultcha and we weren’t quite sure what we were going to do upstairs. We were thinking about making it into a high-end accommodation,” Howard explains.

“But the whole record thing took off and it really needed its own space. We were too cramped trying to fit it all into the existing footprint of the store downstairs.”

Climbing the almost hidden staircase to the right of the Ryrie Street store, customers are met with over 4000 in-stock vinyl record titles, as well as an incredible range of books, comics, graphic novels, manga, apparel and much more.

The space is expansive with rows upon rows of vinyl, primed for music lovers to indulge in aimless wandering, finger-flipping through never-ending stands of vinyl and making crucial decisions based solely on an album’s cover art.

Staffed by experts and collectors with obsessive ears, here you’ll find everything from Xavier Rudd, Van Morrison, Nick Cave, The Kooks, Black Sabbath and Prodigy, to Pixies, Taylor Swift and Silverchair, and everything you could imagine in between. With plans to feature a range of local artists too, there’s even a whole section dedicated to soundtracks, with specific soundtracks coming from New Orleans and Austin.

“My favourite record store in America is Amoeba Music in LA [one of the World’s Largest Independent Record Stores and a music lovers’ hangout for free live shows] so that was the model for me. We’ve just arranged it from A to Z, we’ve not tried to pigeonhole any artist or any genre. It’s more just an exhaustive catalogue of anything and everything.”

“When I turned 18 in Geelong, there was a vibrant music scene; there were so many pubs you could go to any pub and there would be live music, and that just doesn’t happen anymore,” Howard reflects.

“The Barwon Club do an amazing job in bringing acts to town and we love that, so we want to be complimenting what they’re doing with in-store events or experiences, but we’ve also created a pretty unique space up there and if we can be doing some live performances, then that can be our little part to add to Geelong’s music scene.”

With neon signs, timber floors and green walls, the store can do this thanks to a dedicated stage, which has already hosted in-store artist appearances by bands and acoustic musicians, with plans to host more exclusive events, signings, meet and greets, and showcase local artists and musicians regularly.

Popcultcha’s expansion into the world of vinyl is a natural progression for the company, which has been at the forefront of pop culture retail in Australia for over a decade. By branching out into records, Popcultcha can offer music lovers a new and exciting way to engage with their favourite artists and discover new ones.

“Our aim is to be one of Australia’s best independent record stores. So if we can do that, I think what we have to offer versus other record stores is pretty special, with the records and events and with all our complimentary products as well. From actions figures and statues to books, collectables and records, it all makes for a very interesting visit when you come to Popcultcha.”

POPCULTCHA RECORDS

WHERE: LEVEL 1 (UPSTAIRS) 96/98 RYRIE ST, GEELONG

OPEN: SEVEN DAYS

“This store is my love letter to Geelong”

There’s just something to be said about the experience of selecting a distinctive vinyl from a shelf, extracting the record from inside and sliding it onto the player. It’s absolute * magic *.

Enabling Young Women Program – Barwon

A leadership program for any stage of your leadership journey focusing on confidence, rights, and speaking up.

The program is open to Women and non-binary youth (18–25 years), who identify as someone:

• With a disability (Physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive, etc.)

• Deaf / deaf / hard of hearing

• Who lives with chronic illness, and / or pain

• Who is neurodiverse e.g. autistic

• Who lives with mental health challenges

For more information:

BIG WORDS Nightmares of a Stardom Dream

Æ Ghostface Killah did some pretty cool things on Wu-Tang’s 2016 tour of Australia. Having previously picked wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott from the crowd at Meredith 2014 to come on stage and perform Method Man’s verse in ‘Protect Ya Neck’, he got the tennis superstar out to reprise his role as a guest feature. He also did something a little bit different for the group’s encore. Coming back on stage after a blistering one-hour set, he proudly introduced a busker who he had encountered on the streets of Melbourne that day, who then brought in the group’s encore with a freestyle of their own.

Little did we know at the time, but both of those surprising guest vocalists would go on to achieve some pretty amazing feats over the coming few years. Alcott, as many of you know, went on to win 2022’s Australian of the Year, while Kieren Lee, the rouge busker who performed to 7000 die-hard Wu-Tang fans, would end up fronting one of Melbourne’s most hyped alt-R&B outfits Big Words.

Eight years later, Big Words - comprising multi-instrumentalists Lee and Will Scullin and drummer Teon Catalano - are finally dropping their highly anticipated debut Nightmares of a Stardom Dream, and while it may have seemed like a long time coming, it’s one that’s well worth the wait.

Surprisingly, it’s not even a rap album. Instead, Nightmares of a Stardom Dream cuts its teeth somewhere between the atmospheric soundscapes of English new-wave electronica act Groove Armada and the swooning vocal ranges of Steve Lacy and James Blake.

‘Tell Me That You Love Me’ bares itself as a remarkable opener, coming in with the power that many would reserve for an album’s closing moments in its opening few seconds. With a carousel sensibility to its lofi tempos, it’s an opener that’ll immediately grab your attention.

It’s all the more surprising when the alt-country, America-inspired ‘Scared To Death’ comes in as a follower. But, it’s also a moment that ushers in the myriad of different genres that Big Words will go on to toy with for the rest of their debut.

‘Speed Racer’ merges heavy dub beats with distorted high-pitched vocals; ‘Summer Never Felt This Sad’ methodically adds industrially tinged percussion alongside Lee’s soaring groans, channelling elements of early Radiohead; while ‘Starlight’ plays with spacious key arrangements and white noise dissonance, in a succinct but calming track that could easily find its place as the background music for a meditation video.

It’s surprising, but also not that surprising when ‘Sitting At The Bottom of the Well’ adds the crackle of vintage organs and heavily shoegaze-inspired riffs into the works. Considering Nightmares of a Stardom Dream highlights that Big Words are an act that refuses to fit into just one box, why wouldn’t they add heavy shoegaze to the mix? They damn near experimented with everything else.

ALEX LAHEY The Answer Is Always Yes

Æ At times, it seems like everyone likes Alex Lahey: everyone except Alex Lahey.

Ever since the release of her first album, I Love You Like A Brother in 2017, the Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist has had Australians in awe, with her witty observational style of lyricism and downtrodden punk-rock riffs becoming a clear staple amongst the Australian festival circuit.

But where most listeners find relatability and transparency in her perceptive lyrics, the artist herself seems to find fault, often holding herself to account by highlighting her flaws before listeners or critics ever get the chance to.

From acknowledging that writing a song inspired by drug use is “such a fucking cliche” (‘The Sky Is Melting’), to lamenting the fact that she’s “been here before, playing the same fucking three chords,” (‘Permanent’), on her new 10-track album, Lahey’s a songwriter who is very weary of accepting praise.

Whether a result of her self-doubt or just a lack of faith in how the audience will interpret her music, Lahey isn’t just afraid of praise, she seemingly thinks she’s undeserving of it, with songs like the closing track ‘The Answer Is Always Yes’ openly grappling with the fear that her success may be fleeting.

But that’s what makes it so exciting. With Lahey’s fear of being replaced helping to push the artist into previously unchartered territories, The Answer Is Always Yes delivers some of her most innovative and imaginative work to date, even if she doesn’t think so.

DEUCE

Wild Type

Æ If you’re reading this issue on a lazy Sunday, Deuce’s second release, Wild Type, is one for you.

Expanding on the cinematic stylings showcased on their self-titled album in 2021, Wild Type continues to propel Curtis Wakeling (The Ocean Party) and Kayleigh Heydon’s hazy dream-pop vision with effortless comfortability.

Ebbing and flowing between arpeggiated synths, melancholic guitar licks and dreamy indie-pop melodies, Deuce’s follow-up release can only be likened to the sensibility of a leaf in the wind. It just has that free-flowing quality to it.

Whether it’s providing shimmery guitar licks alongside murky Ethel Caininspired vocals (‘Fall Apart’), or merging twangy alt-country guitars with dark-folk ominosity (‘That Hill’), Wild Type is an album that delivers each song with an equal level of coziness. At times, feeling so casual in its approach that you often forget that you’re listening to an album.

‘Rabbit Hole’ sees Wakeling adopt a dreary dreamlike quality to his vocals, channelling subtle elements of early The Velvet Underground. ‘Control’ leans more into the pop side of ‘dream-pop’ by delivering more upbeat rhythms and catchy hooks in its chorus, while the aptly named ‘Breathe’ delicately balances dulled vocal harmonies alongside glimmering guitar licks and the bassy horn arrangements.

If Wild Type shows us anything, it’s that music doesn’t need to be brash to warrant attention.

It’s multifaceted but not complex, making it the perfect easy-listening album for your Sunday afternoon. Boil the kettle, rug up on the couch and immerse yourself in the world of Deuce, you won’t be disappointed.

FENN WILSON

Honey Dates Death / Ghazals

Æ Fenn Wilson’s always been one to bypass bandwagons. His first album, Ghost Heroin , was shrouded in roguish charm. Not only did it distinguish the Melbournebased songwriter as one with a penchant for gloomy gothic balladry and profoundly textured lyricism, but it also showcased a level of songwriting penmanship unparalleled by most artists in their mid 20’s, with many of Wilson’s narratives feeling hauntingly mature for an artist so fresh into adulthood.

So naturally, his second release, Honey Dates Death / Ghazal , was never going to have a young man’s sound.

But while it’s an album that explores Wilson’s self-growth (or lack thereof) in the wake of his father’s passing, it draws a firm line from his sombre earlier works, adding an alt-rock edge through an explosion of horns, strings and pulsating percussive elements.

Dancing ties in hand percussion, masterful violin arrangements and powerfully strummed riffs alongside Wilson’s commanding vocal cadence; ‘Laying With Bones’ explores delicate harmonisations between electric and acoustic guitars; while ‘Fools Gold’ adds powerful horn-laden crescendos, contrasting against the song’s backdrop of doomed lust.

The difference is palpable, with the bare bones of Wilson’s debut now fleshed out with lush rock balladry, full band bravado and gothic-country drawl. And with Wilson’s gravelly vocal timbre and descriptive songwriting acting as each song’s pillar, it’s both moving and mournful, with Wilson navigating his way through social critiques, solemn confessions and stark realisations with equal levels of ease and unease.

SUNFRUITS

One Degree

Æ If you’re into Victoria’s boutique festival scene, you would have encountered Sunfruits by now. Throughout the last couple of years, the Melbourne/Naarm-based neo-psychedelia group have become absolute favourites amongst Melbourne’s gig crowd. Many punters have come to love the group’s easy-going and sprightly take on pop-rooted psych-rock.

Upon listening to their debut album One Degree, it’s evident why listeners have been having such fun exploring the group’s diverse soundscapes.

Refreshingly, One Degree doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not trying to be the coolest kid on the block or showcase a new sound, yet it still manages to drip with individuality.

‘Believe It All’ is replete with nursery keys and upbeat pop-rock rhythms, ‘Made To Love’ melds punk-rock energy with Britpop vocal harmonies, while ‘Reeling’ adds hand-percussion elements providing an atmospheric Latin flavour to the song’s rhythms. In short, it’s a lot of fun.

But this is not to say that One Degree lacks depth: there are several perspectives on environmentalism, the world and relationships with oneself and others while musically, the title track ‘One Degree’ strips it back, allowing for isolated vocals and stagnant key arrangements to act as the song’s main driving force. We also see this in the folk-rooted ‘Warning Signs’, which delicately adds strings alongside all four members’ unison vocal arrangements.

For a debut, One Degree truly has it all. Whether you’re a fan of modern psychrock or a lover of more vintage tones, it’s a release that’ll be packing something for you.

UPTOWN GEELONG

CERES DISTILLING CO.

Put your hands together for the newest distillery on the block, the familyowned Ceres Distilling Co.

Æ Located in the vibrant and diverse Pakington Street, the restaurant is ideally situated close to Geelong CBD and surrounded by a mix of small and large businesses, making it a perfect spot for various groups in the local community. If you’re looking for a casual brunch or planning a corporate function, Uptown Geelong has the perfect ambiance for all occasions.

Whether you’re feeling full of life, or after a recovery meal, Uptown has you all sorted, serving food and drinks made with love. The menu features a number of breakfast and brunch options, including classic dishes like fluffy pancakes, french toast and eggs benedict to more innovative creations like smashed avo, chilli scramble eggs and breakfast burritos. There’s something for every taste and craving, with a bunch of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

With its reputation for excellent customer service, delectable food and friendly staff, the restaurant has become a staple in the community.

Uptown also stock a range of sweets from Melbourne-based Ribbons and Bows Cakes and use the beans from Geelong’s very own Cartel Roasters for all their coffees. If you’re not sold on that, then they even have a lunch deal featuring a regular coffee paired with a bagel, croissant or toastie for only $15.

Additionally, Uptown Geelong has plans to open up a cocktail bar which will provide the perfect setting for Friday night drinks with colleagues or friends. From their locally sourced food and coffee to our indulgent speciality coffee, Uptown breathes new life into the world of cafes in Geelong.

Æ Located in Grovedale, Ceres Distilling Co specialises in craft vodkas and gins. Ross and Denise Johnston started this adventure with a passion for quality Australian Craft Spirits and have created a space where people can learn about distilling and support local industry and Geelong’s small business manufacturing sector.

Rustic charm is all over this venue. Seating a comfortable 68 patrons, this high-quality establishment is the perfect location for any type of catch-up. The space is fitted out with industrial booths, high bar tables and comfortable Chesterfield seating; it’s hard not to fall in love with the design and layout from the moment you walk in. Elevating the space, the main wall features a stunning nine-metrehigh mural of the distillery’s version of Ceres: the Roman Goddess of agriculture and harvest, airbrushed by RMG signs. This gorgeous goddess is accompanied by sculptural and visual artwork that is spread throughout the distillery.

Not only do they have an array of signature cocktails that highlight Ceres Dry Gin, Ceres Pepperberry Gin and Ceres Strong Gin, but they also feature a Japanese-inspired menu designed to perfectly pair with the craft spirits, including a range of Katsu Sandos, Yakitori skewers and a salmon Crudo. If Japanese isn’t for you though, you can also order a charcuterie board that still pairs perfectly.

The distillery prides itself on the visitor experience, providing vision into the distilling facilities including the stills, barrel wall, bottling line and labelling equipment. They also offer gin tastings and masterclasses, where you can learn how to make some of your favourite cocktails or drink pairings on the menu, alongside distillery tours.

Ross and Denise have goals to expand the spirits available and will be releasing a craft vodka range this year and a craft whisky range in 2024. There’s also a Barrel-aged Sherry gin coming soon in the next few weeks, so it’s the perfect excuse to check them out.

WHERE: 316B PAKINGTON STREET, NEWTOWN

OPEN: 8–3.30PM MON–SUN

Uptown Geelong is the go-to breakfast and brunch restaurant for anyone looking for a unique fusion of Modern Australian and Asian cuisine in a contemporary retro-style setting.

MOUNT MORIAC HOTEL

Once a simple stop for stagecoaches and riders, the Mount Moriac Hotel was and still is a charming destination for travellers and locals to enjoy a good meal, quench their thirst and gather with friends and family.

Æ With a country pub atmosphere, only 20 minutes from the Geelong CBD, the Mount Moriac Hotel is not your ordinary country pub. There are six different dining spaces for you to choose from, depending on your mood, which include bistro and bar dining, an undercover beer garden and an MT/Yard space.

Not only is the food and drink list incredible but there is also a $12 happy hour (7:30pm) special on cocktails every Saturday night. If you want to do a back-to-back sesh, they also have live music and a meat raffle every Friday night, you’d be crazy not to head on over.

Also, if betting is for you, the Mount is a registered TAB venue, so you can place some bets, have some bevs and look forward to a classic pub feed.

Now, if you’re in the middle of a road trip and are looking for somewhere to crash in between, the Mount Moriac Hotel also offers free camping spots for a maximum of 48 hours, which due to limited capacity, is only available to campers with a table reservation. It’s simple, just pitch your tent or park your caravan in the nearby available spots, and head inside for a parmi feed and a couple of dozen drinks of your choice. You don’t have far to go when you’re ready for a snooze.

The Mount also has function spaces on offer, so consider them for your next shindig.

HANAYA FUSION CAFÉ

WHERE: 1115 PRINCES HIGHWAY, MOUNT MORIAC

OPEN: 7 DAYS – HOURS DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE DAY

Æ Tucked away between Pakington St. and Shannon Ave, this little gem is one you’re going to want to keep coming back to. Hanaya is an Asian fusion café, open for breakfast and lunch every day and offering dinner on Thursdays to Sundays.

The breakfast and lunch menu are complete with Aussie favourites for breakfast, like a Hash Brown Brekkie Roll, a Double Bacon and Egg wrap or roll, and a big selection of toasties. However, it also features a vegetarian wrap with a Japanese twist and a Chicken Karaage wrap.

There is more of a Japanese-style menu for dinner, so we’re talking pork or vegetarian Gyoza, Japanese curry, roti taco sandwiches, Takoyaki or a Sando with a Hawaiian twist. It wouldn’t be a Japanese restaurant without mouth-watering ramen, and the menu features fried chicken ramen, among others. To make things even better, the staff at Hanaya encourage patrons not to be shy and to slurp away.

Not only are your standard tea, chai and coffee selections available to order, but they also have a range of Japanese soda drinks and a special drink menu that features a Cold Brew, Espresso Mojito, Matcha Mojitos and a Matcha Lemonade. We also have it on good authority that the café has its very own secret drink menu, however, we are only privy to one drink on the menu, and that is the ‘Mint My Heart’ three-layer drink, which features a green mint syrup, milk and coffee. Like a cocktail, but not frowned upon to drink in the morning…

There is something here for everyone, regardless of whether you want to stick to what you know or branch out and try something new.

Hanaya offers both dine-in and takeaway, so it really is the best of both worlds. They also stock a range of pantry items, Sweet by Nature slices, and Wallington’s own Ket Baker pastries.

WHERE: 64 ELIZABETH STREET, GEELONG WEST

OPEN: 9–3PM TUE–SUN / 5.30–9PM THU–SAT (DINNER SERVICE)

Are you on the hunt for a local hidden gem? Well look no further, we’ve found the perfect new place for you to obsess over. Readers, introducing Hanaya Fusion Café.

STAGE GUIDE Performances to see this May

WORDS BY CHESTER OGILVIE

VICTORIAN PINUP PAGEANT

Charles Gibson is credited as illustrating the first pinup in 1895, his designs becoming known as Gibson Girls. In its seventh year, the Victorian Pinup Pageant is a performance-based presentation where entrants are encouraged to achieve their personal best. Open to novices and the experienced alike, all categories are gender-neutral. This is all about promoting confidence, self-awareness and equality while celebrating the fashion and music of old. BALLARAT

ROMEO AND JULIET

Arguably Shakespeare’s most well-known work, the tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet first premiered in 1597. As it is today, it was one of the playwright’s most popular during his lifetime. From Romeo Must Die to Warm Bodies, adaptations have served film generously. Here, the Castlemaine Theatre Company, with direction from Rob Jorritsma, gives it a modern makeover, transporting the young lovers to the dark and gritty laneways and alleys of an inner city.

PHEE

CARL BARRON: SKATING RINK FOR FLIES

The most difficult questions often come from children. Muse, for example, ‘How do ants feel?’ It is this very question, asked of a teacher when Carl Barron was a small boy, that helps form his new show, Skating Rink for Flies. The most ponderous of ponderers tackles the things many of us think about in our quiet moments. Plastic bags, peanut butter and, of course, ants are all subjects here.

COSTA HALL, GEELONG 30 MAY–03 JUN

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DINOSAURS

It starts innocently. You click on one link, then another, then another. Soon, you’ve forgotten to eat, your cat is scratching at your leg and you’re in the early hours. Created by Belle Hansen and Amelia Newman, The World According to Dinosaurs is a physical theatrical grandeur that tells the story of two friends meeting on the final day of human existence. This is a hyperlinked interrogation of globalisation through a palaeontology lens.

THE ENGINE ROOM, BENDIGO 17,18 MAY

THEATIA PODSIE RADIO PLAY FESTIVAL

On the evening of October 30, 1938, the CBS Radio Network broadcast an Orson Welles-narrated and directed version of The World of the Worlds. It has a colourful place in history. Thanks to Emma Louise Watson, the art of the radio play is back in full swing with Theatia Podsie. Here, Someone New Theatre Company takes community stories and converts them into plays before recording and distributing them as podcast performances.

EASTERN HUB GEELONG 24–27 MAY

BLACK SUN / BLOOD MOON

In 2018, inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg, the student-led Fridays for Future climate movement began. This important message is at the heart of Black Sun / Blood Moon. Ten-year-old Maddy and Katie, the assistant of a climate-denying politician, form a friendship as they set out to lend their voice to the chorus. Video and projection, life-size puppetry and a small cast of four present a fantastical quest for a better world. LIGHTHOUSE

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS ASCENT

The Sydney Dance Company’s new production, Ascent, is a contemporary classical meets futuristic experimentation world featuring three innovative works. The triple bill features world premieres by Rafael Bonachela and Marina Mascarell, as well as the return of Antony Hamilton’s acclaimed Forever & Ever. Highlighted by a magnetic musical score and inventive installations, and driven by emotion and physicality, Ascent aims to move, excite and activate audiences.

ULUMBARRA THEATRE, BENDIGO 31 MAY

& JULIET

The basic premise is the question, ‘What if the ending we all know so well was just the beginning? What if Juliet chose her own fate?’ This hilarious, inspiring and poignant new musical is wrapped up in one of the most addictive and joyful soundtracks to ever hit the stage. Shakespeare gets a remix with some of the world’s most loved and glittering pop anthems from legendary songwriter Max Martin and collaborators, including Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, The Weeknd and Kelly Clarkson, to name a few.

REGENT THEATRE,

Credit: Pedro Greig

GIG GUIDE

MAY 2023

THU 11 MAY

LOWERCASE

POETRY‘THE BUSH’. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 7pm. Gold Coin Donation.

‘I LIKED IT, BUT…’ ft. Joel Bray Dance & Hassall.

Little Creatures Brewery, Geelong. 7:30pm. $39.

OCIE ELLIOTT. Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $46.95.

LIVE MUSIC. Beavs, Geelong. 9:30pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

FRI 12 MAY

‘I LIKED IT, BUT…’ ft. Joel Bray Dance & Hassall.

Little Creatures Brewery, Geelong.

7:30pm. $39.

THE TERRYS. HABA, Rye.

7:30pm. $33.13.

FRIDAY NIGHT

LIVE FT. JUNGLE

JIM SMITH. Valhalla Taproom, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SALLY FORD & THE IDIOMATICS. The Palais Hepburn.

6pm. $15.

MAMMONS THRONE, HORMAGAUNT, OCEANLORD. The Eastern, Ballarat.

7pm. $10.

PRADA CLUTCH’S ALL-DRAG REVUE. The Capital, Bendigo.

8pm. Adult $71.50. Concession $67.50.

ROBERTSON BROTHER 60’S VARIETY SHOW.

Costa Hall, Deakin University Waterfront, Geelong. 8pm. $79.95.

COOL CHANGE (LAST EVER GIG). The Elephant & Castle, Geelong. 8:30pm. $8:30.

SAT 13 MAY

THE PUSH ALL-AGES TOUR

ft. The Terrys, South Summit and more. Glen Eira Auditorium. 5pm. $31.62.

EL COLOSSO, GUTTERFIRE, THE GLYCEREENS, PLANET OF THE 8S, LAMASSU. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 6pm. $18.40.

LADIES LUNCH & HENS AFTERNOON. Piano Bar, Geelong. 1pm. $45.

THE CAVEMEN, SPACEJUNK, THEE CHA CHA CHAS. The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $17.35.

BLUE SUNDAY BLUES BAND. Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues, Geelong. 9:30pm. $20.

‘I LIKED IT, BUT…’ ft. Joel Bray Dance & Hassall. Little Creatures Brewery, Geelong. 1pm and 7:30pm. $39.

KATIE NOONANJONI MITCHELL’S BLUE 50TH ANNIVERSARY. The Palais Hepburn. 6:30pm. $55.

AFRICAN MUSIC & FOOD PARTY. The Engine Room, Bendigo. 1pm. $20.

THE BEATLEZTHE ULTIMATE BEATLES TRIBUTE. Golden Vine, Bendigo. 9pm. $30.

THE ROBERTSONS BROTHERS. Capital Theatre, Bendigo. 3pm. Adult $79.95. Concession $74.95.

MERAKI MINDS, CASSELLS AND SAMI. Volta, Ballarat. 8pm. $13.30.

HARD QUIZ LIVE - HOSTED BY TOM GLEESON. Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 5pm. Adult $64.90. Concession $59.90.

SUN 14 MAY

WARRNAMBOOL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

PRESENT: MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT. St Joseph’s Church, Warrnambool.

4:30pm. Adult $35. Concession $30.

GLYCEREENS, THESE THINGS, RODDY AND THE RODENTS, THE COOLABAHS. The Eastern, Ballarat. 5pm. $11.25.

ROBERTSON BROTHERS 60’S VARIETY SHOW. The Lighthouse, Warrnambool. 3pm. Adult $79.95. Concession $74.95. OCEANIQUE. The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 2pm. Free.

HEATH ROBERTSON BAND - ‘YOU CAN’T BE FOUND’ SINGLE LAUNCH. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 4:30pm. $21.45.

TEENY TINY STEVIES: ‘HOW TO BE CREATIVE’ TOUR.

THE PUSH ALL-AGES TOUR

ft. Teenage Dads, Jaguar Jones and more. Box Hill Town Hall. 5pm. $31.60.

‘LOCALS NIGHT 3’

ft. The Pretty Littles, Bones and Jones, Blyss, Raging Moby, Libby Steel and more.

Torquay Hotel. 8pm. $30.

CULL, POPPIN’ MOMMAS, SPACE JUNK, JODIE FLANGE. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 7:30pm. $18.40.

MEDUSA

FRIDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL VINYL/ HOUSE DJS.

Edge, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJs at Dive. Dive Bar. 5pm. Geelong. Free.

Captain Fridays.

Captain. Geelong. 7pm. Free.

THE MUSIC OF ENNIO MORRICONE & THE WILD WEST FT. FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine. 8pm. $45.90.

THE GLITTER GANG.

The Elephant & Castle, Geelong. 9:30pm. Free.

SATURDAY NIGHT

DJS FT. DEGS IN SPACE. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

PRADA CLUTCH’S ALL-DRAG REVUE. The Lighthouse, Warrnambool. 8pm. Adult $71.50. Concession $67.50.

WAX SATURDAYS. Waxyard Geelong, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS AND DJS.

Edge, Geelong. 3pmDJs from 6:30pm. Free.

SCOTTY D

VINYL DJ. Black Salt, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

CAPTAIN SATURDAYS.

Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 10:30am. $35. VINE MOTHERS DAY.

Golden Vine, Bendigo. 12pm. $40.

ANNA LEEROBINSON - AFTERBIRTH. The Potato Shed, Drysdale. 8pm. $40.

GUITAR BAR

SUNDAY SESSIONS. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 2pm. Free.

WAX SUNDAYS. Waxyard Geelong, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm.Free.

THU 18 MAY

JENNA KERNAGHAN ART EXHIBITION. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

FRENZAL RHOMB - ‘THE CUP OF PESTILENCE’ ALBUM TOUR. Northcote Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. $60.79.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE FT. ANNA SCIONTI.

Valhalla Taproom. Geelong. 7pm. Free.

WRAITHIAN, SWORD & STONE. The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $15.

CLINT BOGE -

‘THE FINAL DAYS OF AUTUMN’. Lambys, Geelong. 8pm. $39.55.

TIM FREEMAN. Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $56.10.

DAMIEN RICE. Costa Hall, Deakin University Waterfront, Geelong. 8pm. $99.

PUNK NIGHT WITH DJ DREAD. Valhalla Taproom, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

ROBERT FORSTER. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine. 8pm. $54.60.

RHITOM SARKAR, SAM EVANS. Volta, Ballarat. 7pm. $23.75.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

FRI 19 MAY

THE PUSH ALL-AGES TOUR ft. Cub Sport, Cry Club and more. Hawthorn Arts Centre. 5pm. $31.62.

SUNFRUITS. Major Tom’s, Kyneton. 8:30pm. $15.

VANESSA WORM, BARBIE GAULT, EDDIE EXAMPLE, TILLY & EMMYK’. Captain Bar and Lounge, Geelong. 8pm. $10.

GEORGE KAMIKAWA, BRET MOSLEY, THE VON ROBERTSONS, JIMI HOCKING. The Blues Train, Queenscliff. 7pm. SOLD OUT.

THE CAVEMEN, GRINDHOUSE, THEE CHA CHA CHAS. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 8pm. $18.40.

‘BACK TO THE PIT

ESCARION, NOTHING, CARTHUS, THE SENSEMILLIAN. The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $15.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER COLLECTIVE.

The Capital, Bendigo. 7:30pm. Adult $69.00. Concession $59.00.

SATURDAY NIGHT DJS

GUITAR BAR SUNDAY SESSIONS. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 2pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

WAX SUNDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

THE WHITLAMS’ TIM FREEDMAN. The Palais Hepburn. 6:30pm. $52.08.

KISSCHASY. Torquay Hotel. 8pm. SOLD OUT.

THE NECKS. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine.

8pm. $66.85.

MAY BURLESQUE. Golden Vine, Bendigo. 9pm. $30.

CHARMAINE

WILSON - THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIUM. The Capital, Bendigo. 7:30pm. $55.

MEDUSA

FRIDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL VINYL/ HOUSE DJS. Edge, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

ROJDAR. Lambys, Geelong. 9pm. Free entry until 10pm, $10 thereafter.

DJS AT DIVE.

Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm Free.

SAT 20 MAY

GEELONG JAZZ DAY (LT MALOP ST PARTY)

Piano Bar, Geelong. 1-5pm. $20.98.

GEELONG JAZZ DAY (LT MALOP ST PARTY) .

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues, Geelong.

1-5pm. $40.

MASKELL LOVE BAND.

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues, Geelong. 9:30pm. $15.

VOL 4’: JOHNNY HUNTER + MORE. Theatre Royal, Castlemaine. 8pm. $10.

NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE. Northcote Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. $56.10.

ZEP BOYS.

The Palais Hepburn. 7pm. $49.

GET RHYTHMA TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH AND JUNE CARTER.

The Lighthouse, Warrnambool.

7:30pm. Adult $63. Concession $58.

MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT. Bannockburn Railway Hotel. 8pm. $10.

ANDREW WALLACE BAND.

The Elephant and Castle, Geelong. 9:30pm. Free.

CLINT BOGE - ‘THE FINAL DAYS OF AUTUMN’ TOUR. Volta, Ballarat. 7:30pm. $40.05.

CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS, GUT HEALTH. Torquay Hotel. 8pm. $40.40.

THE AUSTRALIAN DOORS TRIBUTE. Golden Vine, Bendigo. 9pm. $30.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW.

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 7:30pm. $49.

ft. Sam & Marley. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

CAPTAIN SATURDAYS.

Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS AND DJS. Edge, Geelong. 3pmDJs from 6:30pm. Free.

SCOTTY D VINYL DJ. Black Salt, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

CAPTAIN SATURDAYS.

Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SUN 21 MAY

SNOWY, DEUCE. The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 3pm. Free.

DELSINKI, BROOKE TAYLOR & THE POISON SPITTING GIN QUEENS.

Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo. 3pm. $30.

GUILTY PLEASURES. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 6:30pm. $10 door tickets.

LEARNING TO FLY - A CELEBRATION OF TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS. The Capital, Bendigo. 4pm. $65.00.

ORIGINAL SUNDAYS. Beavs, Geelong. 5:00pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

THU 25 MAY

COME TALK ART. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. Bombora’s Beach Bar, Torquay. 4pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. Beavs, Geelong. 9:30pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

FRI 26 MAY

THE PUSH ALL-AGES TOUR ft. King Stingray, The Vovos and more. Clayton Hall. 5pm. $31.62.

COSMIC PSYCHOS. Volta, Ballarat. 8pm. $45.15.

FLOODLIGHTS. The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 9pm. $33.75.

SPEED & VANS AUSTRALIA PRESENT: THE REAL BAY SYDNEY SHIT TOUR

ft SPEED, Sunami, Scowl.

Prince Bandroom, Melbourne. 7pm. $45.

COOL BRITANNIA. The Wool Exchange, Geelong. 7pm. $34.70.

BACHELOR GIRL. Bannockburn Railway Hotel. 8pm. $45.

LLOYD SPIEGEL TRIO.

The Palais Hepburn. 6:30pm. $30.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE FT. JUSTIN

KEENAN (THE GO SET) . Valhalla Taproom, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

JOTHI X LEILANI LE FLEUR, HASSALL.

The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 8pm. $18.40.

‘PROM NIGHT’.

The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $10.

THE AUSTRALIAN EAGLES SHOW.

The Lighthouse, Warrnambool. 8pm. $69.

MATINEE SERIES: THE BELLS OF BROADWAY.

The Capital, Bendigo. 11am. $20.

MEDUSA FRIDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL VINYL/ HOUSE DJS. Edge, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm Free.

CAPTAIN FRIDAYS. Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SAT 27 MAY

THE PUSH ALL-AGES TOUR

ft. King Stingray, Teen

Jesus and the Jean Teasers and more.

The Centre, Ivanhoe.

5pm. $31.62.

PISTOL PETE’S AND SOUTHERN COMFORT PRESENT: THE SOUNDS OF N’AWLINS

FT. TRAVIS WINTERS BAND.

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues, Geelong.

9:30pm. $15.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW.

The Lighthouse, Warrnambool.

8pm. $45.

JEN CLOHER. Northcote Theatre, Melbourne.

7:30pm. $51.

SATURDAY NIGHT DJS FT. MIAMI SAMI. Medusa Bar, Geelong.

6pm. Free.

THE MCNAMARR PROJECT, JARROD SHAW, BILL BARBER, ANNA SCIONTI. Bluestrain, Queenscliff.

7pm. SOLD OUT.

STEWART REEVE - CHAMELEON.

The Potato Shed, Drysdale. 8pm. $40.

CHRIS MASUAK (EX-RADIO BIRDMAN) , DOG SOLDIER, BABY 8, THE FICTION. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 8pm. $28.60.

LEILANI LA FLUER & JOTHI. The Palais Hepburn. 7pm. $20.

THE SINSEMILLIAN, SEAS OF TITAN, BLACK SEA OF TREES, BONESPACE. The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $19.40.

LIVE MUSIC AT AIREYS PUB. Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet. 5pm. Free.

GET RHYTHMTHE JOHNNY CASH & JUNE CARTER SHOW. Golden Vine, Bendigo. 9pm. $20.

THE PIANO MEN: THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BILLY JOEL. The Elephant and Castle, Geelong. 9:30pm. $27.50.

CALL ME MAYBE: 2000S + 2010S PARTY. Volta, Ballarat. 9pm. $15.30.

ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING GREATER BENDIGO. Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 6pm. $5.

THE AUSTRALIAN EAGLES. The Capital, Bendigo. 8pm. $69.

WAX SATURDAYS. Waxyard Geelong, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS AND DJS. Edge, Geelong. 3pmDJs from 6:30pm. Free.

SCOTTY D VINYL DJ. Black Salt, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm Free.

CAPTAIN SATURDAYS. Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SUN 28 MAY

VAN WALKER, LITTLE FAITHS. The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 3pm. Free.

MUSIC OF THE NIGHTAUSTRALIA’S PREMIER

TRIBUTE TO ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. The Lighthouse, Warrnambool. 2pm. $64.95.

ORIGINAL SUNDAYS.

Beavs, Geelong. 5:00pm. Free.

GUITAR BAR SUNDAY SESSIONS. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 2pm. Free.

WAX SUNDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS.

Edge, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

DJs at Dive. Dive Bar. 5pm. Geelong. Free.

THU 01 JUN

MAKE THEM SUFFER - ‘10 YEARS OF NEVERBLOOM’ ANNIVERSARY TOUR.

170 Russell, Melbourne. 6pm. $59.90.

BLAKE PAVEY -

‘LITERALLY DYING’. The Engine Room, Bendigo. 6:30pm & 8:00pm. $40.

PALAIS DISCO BINGO! -

Hosted by Miss Dolly. The Palais Hepburn. 6:30pm. Free.

THORNHILL‘DRESSED TO KILL’ REGIONAL TOUR WITH YOUNG LIONS, INERTIA, TAPESTRY. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 7:30pm. $34.90.

‘UNIFY: OFF THE RECORD’ ft. Northlane, In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Redhook, Fit For An Autopsy, Ocean Sleeper, Mirrors, Chasing Ghosts, Banks Arcade, Future Static. The Pier, Frankston. 2:30pm. $79.90.

CARL BARRONSKATING RINK FOR FLIES. Costa Hall- Deakin University Waterfront, Geelong. 8pm. $79.90. JUST BRILL. The Potato Shed, Drysdale. 10:30pm. $17.

DEAD CITY RUINS. Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $31.65.

‘ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS’PRESLEY, ORBISON & CASH. The Capital, Bendigo. 8pm. Adult $59. Concession $55.

GRYTT, CONVICT CLASS, WRAITHIAN. The Eastern, Ballarat. 7pm. $17.35.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE FT. SONS OF THE BLUES. Valhalla Taproom, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

MEDUSA FRIDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL VINYL/ HOUSE DJS. Edge, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm Free.

CAPTAIN FRIDAYS. Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SAT 03 JUN

SLEAFORD MODS. The Forum, Melbourne. 7pm. $79.90.

PISTOL PETE’S AND OLE SMOKY MOONSHINE

PRESENT: PISTOL

PETE’S COUNTRY & AMERICANA NIGHT FT. SHAKEY STILLS.

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues, Geelong. 9:30pm. $15.

PRIVATE FUNCTION, SMOOCH. Volta, Ballarat. 8pm. $34.95.

THE CHANTOOZIES.

Bannockburn Railway Hotel. 8pm. $25.

CARL BARRONSKATING RINK FOR FLIES.

Costa Hall- Deakin University Waterfront, Geelong. 8pm. $79.90.

ROSS NOBLE‘JIBBER JABBER JAMBOREE’. The Capital, Bendigo. 8pm. $54.90.

BENDIGO CHORALE & GLEN EIRA CHOIR CONCERT. St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bendigo. 2:30pm. $30.

KEVIN WELCH.

The Palais Hepburn. 7pm. $25.

CELTIC ILLUSION REIMAGINE.

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 7:30pm. Adult $79.90. Concession $74.90.

WAX SATURDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

SATURDAY NIGHT

DJS FT. PALISADES. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS AND DJS.

Edge, Geelong. 3pmDJs from 6:30pm. Free.

SCOTTY D

VINYL DJ.

Black Salt, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

SUN 04 JUN

VINYL MARKET. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 2pm. Free.

ORIGINAL SUNDAYS.

Beavs, Geelong. 5:00pm. Free.

GUITAR BAR

SUNDAY SESSIONS. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 2pm. Free.

ROOFTOP SUNDAYS. Geelong Hotel. 2pm. Free.

WAX SUNDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS.

Edge, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

THU 08 JUN

DREAM MACHINE BALI

ft. 1300, Boy & Bear, Girl Talk, Harvey

Sutherland, Illy, LDRU, Northeast

Party House, Peking Duck and more.

Bali, Indonesia. 8th June - 12th June. 4 Day Packages from $799.

KEENAN TE. Howler, Melbourne. 8pm. $34.90.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS.

Edge, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

FRI 09 JUN

NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL

ft. Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy (Scot), Sorcha Costello, Conor Connolly & Padraig Ó Dubhghaill (Ire), Daorio Farrall (Ire), Zeon and more.

Portarlington Township. 09–12 June. Full Weekend Tickets: Adult $220. Student $100. Youth $70.

PRIVATE FUNCTION, SMOOCH, ALIEN NOSEJOB, BY AUDIO. Torquay Hotel. 8:30pm. $35.70.

FRENCHY‘JUDGEMENT DAY’. The Lighthouse, Warrnambool. 8pm. $59.

ASTRODEATH

VOL. 2 - ALBUM LAUNCH. The Barwon Club, South Geelong. 7pm. $23.50.

1927: NEXT GENERATION TOUR WITH JASON SINGH. The Capital, Bendigo. 7:30pm. $70.

MITCH JAMES - ‘THE LONG HARD ROAD HOME’ TOUR. Highline Bar & Lounge At The Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool. 7pm. $25.

PACO LARA DUENDE. The Palais Hepburn. 6:30pm. $45.

KING’S B’DAY LONG WEEKEND EVENTS.

Valhalla Taproom, Geelong. 9-11June. Weekend Passes from $79.

LIVE MUSIC AT GUITAR BAR. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 5pm. Free.

MEDUSA FRIDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL VINYL/ HOUSE DJS. Edge, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

CAPTAIN FRIDAYS. Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SAT 10 JUN

SUBCULTURE 2023: ft. Billy Gilies, Bryan Kearney, Craig Connelly, Nikolauss, Giuseppe Ottaviani and more. Melbourne Showgrounds. 1pm. $132.70.

FLOODLIGHTS. Torquay Hotel. 8:30pm. $35.70.

THE ANGELS. The Gateway, Corio. 8:30pm. $45.

‘NOCHELLA’. Volta, Ballarat. 8pm. $13.30.

FRENCHY‘JUDGEMENT DAY’ TOUR. The Capital, Bendigo. 8pm. $59.

BJORN AGAIN: ‘THANK ABBA FOR THE MUSIC’ TOUR. Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo. 8pm. $79.

LIVE MUSIC AT AIREYS PUB. Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet. 5pm. Free.

A TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC. The Palais Hepburn. 7pm. $30.

WAX SATURDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

MEDUSA SATURDAYS. Medusa Bar, Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS AND DJS.

Edge, Geelong. 3pmDJs from 6:30pm. Free.

SCOTTY D VINYL DJ. Black Salt, Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.

CAPTAIN SATURDAYS. Captain, Geelong. 7pm. Free.

SUN 11 JUN

THE WAIFS - ‘UP ALL NIGHT’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR.

The Capital, Bendigo. 7:45pm. Tickets starting from $89.10. FLOODLIGHTS. Volta, Ballarat. 8pm. $34.95.

DAMAGED GOODS CLUB‘HALLWAYS’ TOUR. The Eastern, Ballarat. 6pm. $13.30.

PIERCE BROTHERS - ‘IN THE WATER’ TOUR WITH WOODLOCK. Torquay Hotel. 8pm. $45.90.

ORIGINAL SUNDAYS. Beavs, Geelong. 5:00pm. Free.

GUITAR BAR SUNDAY SESSIONS. The Barking Dog, Geelong West. 2pm. Free.

ROOFTOP SUNDAYS. Geelong Hotel. 2pm. Free.

WAX SUNDAYS. Waxyard Geelong. 3pm. Free.

LOCAL ACOUSTICS. Edge, Geelong. 3pm. Free.

DJS AT DIVE. Dive Bar, Geelong. 5pm. Free.