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BEYOND THE VALLEY

Australia’s biggest New Years festival returns this Dec 28–Jan 01 for four days of music, arts & camping.

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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.

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ON

EDITOR

Talia Rinaldo

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Matt Wilkinson Lucas Radbourne

PARTNERSHIPS & CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Matt Wilkinson

DESIGN

Riley McDonald DIRECTOR

Greg Pettinella

GIG GUIDE

Alex Callan

CONTRIBUTORS

Tammy Walters, Alex Callan, Chester Ogilvie, Chloe Cicero, Jacob McCormack, Kaya Martin

FOR ADVERTISING OR SPONSORED CONTENT ENQUIRIES advertise@fortemag.com.au

ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au

ENQUIRE ABOUT HAVING FORTE MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED AT YOUR BUSINESS OR VENUE distribution@fortemag.com.au

PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd 03 9428 3600

Æ It’s less than three months away from the new year, so it’s about time we started thinking about our New Year’s Eve plans. From that fancy nightclub to that party your friend of a friend of a friend is throwing, to those annual family get-togethers, we know you’re slammed with a ton of tempting options. But what if we told you there’s an event that transcends the ordinary, an experience that promises to be the highlight of your year-end celebrations?

Cast your eyes to our cover for this issue, featuring the epic Beyond The Valley festival, returning to the picturesque Barunah Plains. Starting as a boutique music festival back in 2014, BTV has cemented itself as a heavyweight in the NYE camping festival scene. Complete with a Ferris wheel, an inflatable wedding chapel, Poof Doof Pride Patrol’s fabulous drag performances, and swimming pools, this festival is the ultimate fusion of music, art, and celebration, promising an electrifying experience that will leave you with memories to cherish for years to come. And the lineup? Oh, it’s a doozy! From RÜFÜS DU SOL to Central Cee, Peggy Gou to Kelis, and a slew of other incredible acts, this year’s festival is going to be a sensation.

Further inside, we’ve got exclusive chats with Trophy Eyes, Dan Sultan, The Waifs, and the fabulous regional drag sensation Gabriella Labucci. And as usual, we’ve got your back with all the latest foodie news, album reviews, stage guides, art exhibition highlights, and a roundup of the region’s hottest gigs.

Hungry? Dive into features on a spanking new restaurant by the culinary maestro, Adrian Richardson, a buzzing summer café that’ll tickle your taste buds, and so much more! So, what’s the wait? Let’s get this show on the road.

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.

SOCIALS

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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

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 06 EDITORIAL NOTE 747 COVER Our October cover is Beyond The Valley by
Jordan Munns.
We’re back with a bang after a brief intermission, and we’re here to make October and the run-up to the end of the year unforgettable.
FORTE 747 07 CONTENTS NEWS 8–11 COVER STORY BEYOND THE VALLEY 12–13 “Beyond The Valley is our first born – it holds a special place in our hearts, it’s how it all started!” TROPHY EYES 14 THE VANNS 15 THE WAIFS 16 DAN SULTAN 18–19 GABRIELLA LABUCCI 20 ARTS GUIDE 21 MELBOURNE FRINGE ENCORE 22 TENT POLE: A MUSICAL JAMBOREE 22 ALBUM REVIEWS 24–25 A Thy Art Is Murder Godlike B Big Wett PU$$Y C C.O.F.F.I.N Australia Stops D Gum Saturnia E The Seven Ups A Free Blowing Wind MAVS GREEK RESTAURANT 26 COASTAL GLAMP 26 BITES GUIDE 27 VENUE GUIDE 28–29 A Garage B Maestro C Gypsy Burger D Tempo Kitchen & Bar STAGE GUIDE 30 GIG GUIDE 31–34
These stories, and more, at fortemag.com.au

Ç THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS announce Victorian-exclusive show at A Day On The Green

The Chemical Brothers will headline a massive one-night-only event set to take place this March in Geelong. With the help of their longtime show directors Smith & Lyall, the duo is set to deliver an unforgettable performance full of sensory surprises and time-tested tracks from their vast archive. They’ll be joined by The Presets (DJ set), Anna Lunoe and James Holroyd. Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong on 2 March 2024.

Ç Legendary punk band NOFX announce last-ever Australian tour

Australian fans will have one last chance to catch and fire and fury of the iconic punk rock band NOFX live in action when they stop by as part of their 40 Years 40 Cities 40 Songs Per Night tour. In January, the band will play two shows each in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne before saying goodbye to Australia for good.

Ç Supergrass’ GAZ COOMBES to support ROBBIE WILLIAMS on Australian tour

A Mercury nominated solo performer who is also known for his work as front man of legendary Britpop band Supergrass, Gaz Coombes returns down under for the first time since 2018, when he performed sold out East Coast dates. He’ll support Robbie Williams on Saturday 25 November at Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong for a day on the green.

Ç THE BARWON CLUB’s iconic sign has been restored

Let there be light … the sign outside Barwon Club has been fully restored thanks to the good folks at the Greater City of Geelong. Appearing now in all its neon glory, all the letters of HOTEL now blaze bright for the first time in forever.

An epic Oktoberfest is happening at KRYAL CASTLE

On Saturday 21 October, the spirit of Bavaria will come alive with beer, traditions and a touch of musical magic at Ballarat’s Kryal Castle. Dance to the lively tunes of oompah bands and traditional German folk music plus enjoy live performances from 360, Big Twisty and The Funknasty (The Inspired Unemployed), Joel Fletcher, Daft Punk Discovery, and Rockafellas.

Ç LANEWAY FESTIVAL lineup headlined by STEVE LACY, STORMZY and DOMINIC FIKE

The ever-popular Laneway festival, which last year hosted Pheobe Bridgers, Turnstile, Joji, Fred Again and Haim, has announced another stellar lineup for the upcoming shows, scheduled to take place this February. UK grime rapper Stormzy, lo-fi R&B star Steve Lacy and Euphoria actor and singer-songwriter Dominic Fike lead the charge.

Ç PHIL JAMIESON announces intimate acoustic 2024 Australian tour

Phil Jamieson is all set to bring his solo enchantment to stages across Australia in January 2024. The Nobody Else Tour promises an intimate acoustic experience like no other, showcasing Jamieson’s latest solo album, Somebody Else, as he embarks on a 19-date journey. Locally you’ll be able to catch the rockstar in Castlemaine and Geelong in February.

Ç The GOLDEN PLAINS ballot is officially open for 2024

It’s the beloved festival’s sixteenth iteration and it’s set to be a stunning return to the amphitheatre. It will take place over 9, 10 and 11 March – try your luck at the ballot, the best way to get tickets, by entering before 16 October.

Ç YOU AM I are heading to Torquay this November

You Am I, the beloved Australian rock band with enough awards, stats, runs on the board, and shows under their belt to enter legend status, have announced a range of live dates nationally this November and December on THE YOU’S PULL UP THEIR TROOS TOUR –an enticing opener to the silly season. Catch them on Friday 3 November at Torquay Hotel.

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Ç PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL announces first wave of 2024 artists led by GRAHAM NASH

The March long weekend festival has just announced the first performers for the 2024 event, headed by the legendary Graham Nash. Other international performers include fellow Americans Cam Cole, The Songbird and Gaby Moreno, as well as Canada’s Quote

The Raven, Norway’s Gangar, Scotland’s Gnoss, and Finland’s Teho. From Ireland comes Daoiri Farrell and Lorraine Nash.

THE CRUEL SEA announce The Honeymoon Is Over 30th anniversary tour

The Sydney indie rock band are hitting the road to celebrate three decades of The Honeymoon Is Over. The multi-platinum, fivetime ARIA award-winning record propelled the band into national stardom, securing their spot in Aussie rock history. Catch them at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on 2 December.

Ç KATE MILLER-HEIDKE announces extensive 2024 Australian tour

Her recently announced 2024 Australian tour will feature chart-toppers, pop classics, and tracks from her original musicals like Muriel’s Wedding the Musical and Bananaland. Kate will also debut songs from her upcoming sixth studio album, diving into the world of ‘gothic folk.’ See her at Geelong Arts Centre, Wendouree Centre, Ballarat and Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on 23, 24 and 25 February, respectively.

Ç COSMIC PSYCHOS announce 40th Anniversary weekender in Castlemaine

The Cosmic Psychos are (almost) an Australian punk rock institution who formed in Mia Mia, Victoria 40 years ago. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, the Cosmic Psychos have invited some of their best mates to join them for an epic weekender in Castlemaine in December. The Psychos will play a different set each night, with a super special guest headliner each night.

A Jamaican Music and Food Festival is coming to SEAWORKS

Reggae legends and rising stars from Victoria and around the world will come together for The Jamaican Music & Food Festival in Williamstown on 2 December. The premier celebration of reggae and music of Jamaican origin will also feature performance art, street food and an explosion of culture, packed into one exciting afternoon.

Ç LF SYSTEM, BEN KLOCK, BICEP lead Let Them Eat Cake’s 2024 lineup

Among the winding garden pathways, beneath the embrace of towering trees and whispering bushes, the ambience of Werribee Mansion patiently waits. Emerging from a decade established in the realms of dance, arts, and culture, LTEC returns to celebrate its 11th edition.

Ç THE DARKNESS are heading to Melbourne

The Darkness is heading down under to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their legendary debut album, Permission to Land

Ç TAYLOR SWIFT’s Eras Tour concert film is hitting global screens in October

Following the overwhelming demand for tickets to her sold-out shows across Australia, Taylor Swift enthusiasts can now relive the magic in Australian cinemas on 13 October. Shot during Swift’s show in the City of Angels, the film promises to be a nostalgic journey for fans, with a curated setlist spanning her illustrious career.

Ç Psych-rockers LA FEMME lead So Frenchy So Chic’s 2024 lineup

This January, SFSC will take place at a beautiful new venue at Centennial Park in Sydney on 20 January, while Melbourne will continue the party at the historic Werribee Park Mansion on 14 January. Headline acts La Femme, Kill The Pain, Laure Briard and Malo’ will perform live, turning Australia’s poshest picnic into an unmissable garden party.

It’s been two decades since these British glam rockers burst onto the scene, catch them in their signature full-throttle force at Melbourne’s own Festival Hall on 3 February 2024.

THE WEEKND announces Australian stadium tour

Canadian R&B giant The Weeknd will be bringing his After Hours Til Dawn tour down under this summer with dates planned for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It’ll be the first time he touches down in the country in six years. Witness him at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne on 1, 2, 4 & 5 December.

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Ç AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS to tour regional Victoria in November & December

Amyl and the Sniffers are heading out on a high octane, small town tour of regional and suburban Victoria this summer - one last victory lap to celebrate the phenomenal success of their 2x ARIA Award winning album Comfort to Me. Joined by Dumb Punts, the Sniffers will play Meeniyan, Ballarat, Torquay, Warrnambool, Wodonga and Frankston, plus one very special Under 18’s show at Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne.

Ç The annual RIVER ROCKS and RIVER ROCKS REHAB returns to Geelong

The greatest event to grace Geelong’s rock scene is back for its 15th year this 18 & 19 November, announcing an absolutely ripping lineup to celebrate. Hosted by the Barwon Club Hotel and presented by B.Bookings, Moon Dog Brewery and Popcultcha, the minifest features C.O.F.F.I.N, Cable Ties, The New Christs, The Meanies, Grindhouse and more.

BLUESFEST adds 15 more artists to 2024 lineup

Bluesfest, Australia’s most awarded festival, has revealed a sensational second artist announcement for its highly anticipated 35th anniversary of the festival, held next Easter in Byron Bay. Star-studded additions to the program include headliners Tedeschi Trucks Band to Tom Jones and Jack Johnson, along with an army of crowd favourites like Tim Finn, Dan Sultan, The Cruel Sea and more.

Phillip Island’s OCEAN SOUNDS unveils Xavier Rudd, Spiderbait and more

Each year, Ocean Sounds takes over Churchill Island (Phillip Island’s little sibling) for a delightful event of community and tunes. As the sun descends on 6 January, guitar licks and mellow harmonies will echo out across the sea by the likes of Xavier Rudd, Spiderbait, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Sunfruits and more. Grab your lawn chairs, your best friends and your swimsuits.

Ç ALWAYS LIVE: Christina Aguilera, Eric Prydz, Jai Paul lead 2023 lineup

After delivering a solid debut run last year, the festival has returned with more than 60 stadium shows, exclusive appearances and intimate shows planned for 24 November to 10 December. The lineup features everyone from hometown favourites to international gems and the venues are spread from the CBD to Castlemaine.

The Northcote RISE FESTIVAL is back after 13 years

After a 13-year hiatus the best High Street festival in Melbourne is returning to Northcote on Sunday 18 February, 2024. Northcote Rise is a precinct stretching from James Street to Robb’s Parade. Bringing the Good Feels on The Rise, the family friendly festival features local artists, outdoor dining and bars from local restaurants, mini stages, and stalls from local traders.

Ç Harts celebrates the musical legacy of JIMI HENDRIX

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and producer, Harts, is bringing his special live performance celebrating the musical legacy of Jimi Hendrix to Geelong this year. Taking to The Story House on 27 October, this electric live performance celebrates the 50 year legacy of Jimi Hendrix and pays tribute to the anniversaries of Hendrix’s studio albums while bringing the distinct flair of his iconic performances as only Harts can.

RUTHERGLEN IN THE CITY returns to Melbourne

Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and dive into the world of premium wines as Rutherglen in the City makes a triumphant return to Melbourne on Saturday, 14 October. This much-anticipated event, brought to you by the Winemakers of Rutherglen, is set to transform The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne into a wine lover’s paradise.

Ç Rapper 360 reveals massive Back To Life regional tour

Following a sold-out run of shows in June, the rapper is back and will be heading to a town near you. 360 has just announced part one of his huge regional tour, set to kick off in Mulgrave before winding through Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT during the month of November. Catch him at Lambys Tavern in Geelong on 6 November.

Ç ROCKET SCIENCE are heading to Ballarat, Geelong and Castlemaine

Rocket Science have dropped their long awaited sixth studio album Push Play, released via the band’s new home, Cheersquad Records & Tapes. To celebrate, the band will embark on a nine-date East Coast tour, heading to Volta in Ballarat on 3 November, Barwon Club in Geelong on 4 November and The Bridge in Castlemaine on 11 November.

THE MURLOCS are heading to Torquay

Melbourne’s The Murlocs have released their brand new studio album, Calm Ya Farm Following their 2022 garage-psych opus Rapscallion Calm Ya Farm ultimately twists country-rock convention into a free-flowing album fully in touch with the frenetic energy of modern life. Catch them at Torquay Hotel on Friday, 10 November.

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EIREBORNE’S Irish dance rock spectacular returns to Australia in 2024

Eireborne’s intoxicating concoction of live rock music intertwined with a sizzling live band and the world’s finest Irish dance and tap performers has ignited the passion of audiences across the globe and now, this all-Australian spectacle is returning to Aussie stages next year. Locally, you can catch Eireborne The Irish Dance Rock Show at Costa Hall in Geelong on 18 May 2024.

GEELONG BEER FESTIVAL RETURNS IN 2024

Set to take place on 20 January, Geelong Beer Festival, formerly known as GABF, is returning to a single day and single session with top-notch breweries, cideries, distilleries, cocktail maestros, vineyards, and delectable local gourmet street food. The main stage will feature Bag Raiders (DJ Set), with support from local favourites Famous Will and the local covers band Madhouse.

Ball Park Music, Alex Lahey lead NYE ON THE HILL’s 10th anniversary lineup

Three days/two nights of music, free camping, BYO drinks (yes you can bring your own drinks!), cocktail bars, incredible views and sunsets, over 30 amazing artists including Ball Park Music, The Grogans, The Vanns, Gretta Ray and more, DJ’s, field games, awesome food, chill out areas, late night boogies, art installations, morning yoga and much more.

Ç Australian heavy trailblazers NORTHLANE announce headline tour

Northlane will be back on home soil this February for their first and only headline tour of the country in 2024. The band will do a full lap around the continent with a packed lineup of guests, featuring Erra (USA), Landmvrks (France) and Banks Arcade. See them on Sunday 11 February at The Forum, Melbourne.

Fall Out Boy, Limp Bizkit, Devo lead GOOD THINGS 2023 lineup

Australia’s largest and favourite travelling music festival, Good Things Festival, returns this December with a bumper line-up set to descend on the east coast. Bands include Fall Out Boy, Limp Bizkit, Devo (The Farewell Tour Celebrating 50 Years), I Prevail, Bullet For My Valentine, Corey Taylor and Pennywise, among others. Get to it at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne on 1 December.

Ç Hard Quiz overlord TOM GLEESON is taking his new show on a regional tour

Tom Gleeson, the mind behind Hard Quiz, is packing his bags and hitting the road once again, this time for his new live show, Gear. After two years of taking the Brass Mug on a whirlwind tour with Hard Quiz Live, Gleeson is set to head across the region for a series of shows. Catch Gleeson on 30 November at Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat.

JET to be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame this year

Marking the first time since an artist has been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame since Archie Roach in 2020, Australian rock band Jet are set to join the ranks on the 20th anniversary of their seminal album, Get Born. They’ll be inducted at this year’s ARIA Awards, which you can catch on 15 November.

A huge COMEDY FESTIVAL is coming to a private island in Victoria

Ç SUN CYCLE NYD reveals 2024 lineup

As the sun beats down on Naarm on the first day of the new year, get ready to kick off the New Year in style as Sun Cycle NYD returns to the iconic Coburg Velodrome. With their lineup featuring the enchanting Erika de Casier, the boundary-pushing Overmono, the techno-wizard Objekt, the infectious Jayda G, the genre-blending Mildlife, and many more, there’s no better place to usher in the new year.

HELLO SUNSHINE FESTIVAL is returning in March

Hello Sunshine festival has announced its 2024 date, making a shimmering return to Caribbean Gardens on Saturday 2 March. The family friendly event will once again be an all ages affair and fully licensed. Expect over 20 international food trucks, a wide range of bars and beverages, over 15 carnival rides and attractions, show-stopping fireworks and market stalls.

Ç CAITLIN HARNETT & THE PONY BOYS are heading to Ballarat and Castlemaine

The Pony Boys channel peak 70’s Mac live, while Harnett delivers honesty in her sweetest tone straight from the hip and all is on display in their elevated second album All Night Long which will be out through Spunk Records on 13 October. To celebrate, they’re hitting the road, heading to Theatre Royal in Castlemaine and Volta in Ballarat on 2 and 4 November, respectively.

Tasmania’s winter festival DARK MOFO won’t go ahead in 2024

After a decade of pushing the boundaries of art and culture, Dark Mofo is stepping into the shadows for a break in 2024, with plans to come back even stronger in 2025. In a statement, they cited “the weight of shifting conditions and the burden of escalating costs” as part of the reason for putting the 2024 event on hold.

Comedy in the Vines is a new all-star comedy festival happening at the Hide & Seek Winery in the Nagambie Lakes Wine Region this November and the lineup is massive. UK comedy star Leigh Francis, Russell Kane, Celia Paquola, Rhys Nicholson, Dave Hughes, Tommy Little, Nat’s What I Reckon, Anne Edmonds, Geraldine Hickey and many, many more pack two days of non-stop laughter.

Ç HEAPS GOOD drops massive lineup

Set to host a massive New Year’s Eve party in Melbourne before cruising up to Brisbane and Adelaide, the one-day festival will be headlined by none other than Sydney EDM royalty Flume and British indie-rock group Foals. The Avalanches, SBTRKT, Basement Jaxx and Holly Humberstone also feature.

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BEYOND THE VALLEY 2023

Æ Beyond The Valley, the renowned four-day festival, will once again be running its renowned and reliable four-day party from December 28 to January 1 and this year it is going to be larger than ever, inviting festival-goers to immerse themselves in a world of music, art, and entertainment, all set against the stunning backdrop of Barunah Plains in regional Victoria.

Returning to Barunah Plains in the Geelong region for the second year, Beyond The Valley seems to have found a truly special home. Christian Serrao, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Untitled Group, shares the serendipitous discovery of this picturesque location: “We’re thrilled about our new home in Barunah Plains. It’s actually a wedding venue, and one of our staff members stumbled upon it on Google Maps funnily enough!”

What makes this location so unique is the natural amphitheatre it offers, perfectly positioning the main stage for optimal music viewing.

“It’s a massive space, it’s one of the biggest festival sites in the world. This allows ample room for camping, ensuring that our patrons have a comfortable and spacious experience, the camping sites are all flat too so no one is slipping down their mattresses in the night.

“Another interesting behind-the-scenes detail is that the artist dressing rooms are located in a beautiful old mansion where wedding guests usually stay. It even has a pool and a tennis court, adding a touch of luxury for our artists.”

With the ambition of catering for 35,000 attendees, Barunah Plains has allowed the festival to adapt to be impactful beyond measure, catering to the changing preferences and needs of festival-goers in the current climate. “We’ve really been thinking about our local community around Geelong and the Surf Coast,” Serrao noted. “It’s just a quick 40-minute drive from the BTV site, so it makes sense to make it super accessible for them and have the ability to drive in and out each day; not everyone wants to camp.”

This year will see the site revamped with the installation of a Ferris wheel and an inflatable wedding chapel, where betrothment is indeed permissible, and in fact, celebrated. There will also be roving drag performances by Poof Doof Pride Patrol which will keep attendees on their toes at all times, something like an immersion that means the festival is always happening all around you.

The Inspired Unemployed boys rose to fame through their satirical and silly videos but at Beyond The Valley, they’ll be bringing their beach club supported by their own beer label Better Beer. And despite Barunah Plains remaining landlocked, this will be a proper beach club featuring multiple pools, real sand, a lifeguard and a bar.

It might be labelled as a festival, but this year Beyond The Valley is raising the stakes; 2023 is more than just about the music, rather it is going to be a unique haven that will etch itself into the narratives of all those who attend.

In combination with the plethora of offerings that 2023 will bring for Beyond the Valley the alluring musical lineup remains a massive feature year in and year out, and this year’s iteration will be no exception.

Making up the musical talent on display are headliners and globally acclaimed Australian heartthrobs RÜFÜS DU SOL, British superstar rapper Central Cee, and electronic music icon Peggy Gou. If that wasn’t enough of a reason to secure your tickets, then as you scroll further down the lineup and see the likes of Destroy Lonely, G Flip, Channel Tres, Jayda G, Romy and the DMA’s, the magnetising talent of these artists make Beyond The Valley 2023 a must.

All the musicians will be adorning a series of meticulously designed stages situated in the exhilarating and huge natural amphitheatre that is Barunah Plains. It’ll be three stages to be precise and they’re three acclaimed stages at that.

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It’s unique and it’s all about the experience at Beyond The Valley
TALIA RINALDO
Credit: Ash Caygill

The Valley Stage features a custom design and world-class production, The Dance Dome sports a monolithic 70-metre-wide LED wall sure to hypnotise all and the much-loved Dr Dan’s has been refurbished but don’t be wrongfooted because it has retained its charm. A novel addition to the festival this year is the Podcast Stage, offering festival-goers a safe and entertaining space to take a break from the music and crowds.

“The Podcast Stage came about with the vision to widen the offerings at Beyond The Valley,” Serrao explains. “With diverse, educational and fun guest podcasters who not only are relevant to the BTV fans, the stage also delivers a diverse and unique angle on entertainment for our attendees while residing at the festival. Punters can drop into the stage and see some of their favourite personalities and educational speakers bring their podcast shows to life.”

From Mason Cox, a Collingwood 2023 Premiership winner, Caroline Kell and Tiktok funny guys Jamo & Dylan, to reality TV royalty Scheana Shay of Vanderpump Rules with her famous podcast ‘Scheananigans With Scheana Shay’ and more, attendees can look forward to engaging with a variety of personalities and educational speakers, enriching their festival experience.

Of course, the inconspicuous and highly mysterious ‘Schmall Klub’ - a hidden party you have to search for in order to arrive at, will also be back in 2023, but don’t expect it to be easy to find.

Among the multitude of events vying for our attention, Beyond The Valley stands out as a beacon of uniqueness and innovation in the vibrant landscape of music festivals, partly credited to its focus on creating a widely accessible event. To make things more flexible, Beyond The Valley has shaken up its ticketing structure for 2023, separating festival and camping tickets to accommodate varying requirements. From pre-pitched tents to VIP upgrades and general camping, there’s an option for everyone. “We are also mindful of the environment,” Serrao added. “Tons of tents get left behind, and it’s devastating to see them go to landfill. That’s why we’ve introduced pre-pitched tents. They’re more affordable than glamping, but they also reduce the need for people to buy low-quality tents.”

Beyond The Valley’s commitment to social impact further sets it apart. The festival has pledged to donate $1 from every ticket sold to small-scale charity Igniting Change (an organisation who have set out to improve the livelihoods of those it chooses to support) and is taking several steps towards sustainability and community engagement.

“We try to cover four pillars,” Serrao explained. “This includes selecting a charity partner that we as a company personally align with. The Igniting Change team has come to our office and met the whole team; it’s a really special collaboration.” The festival also places a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, dedicating itself to carbon offsetting to minimise its carbon footprint.

“Supporting and giving back to the local community is another core principle for us,” Serrao adds. “To fulfil this commitment, we have pledged to donate $50,000 to various local groups, such as local sporting clubs and the CFA.”

Moreover, Beyond The Valley prioritises acknowledging and respecting the Traditional Owners of the land, with a Welcome to Country ceremony, allocation of complimentary tickets to First Nations people, and collaborations with local Indigenous artists to showcase their artworks at the festival.

“By weaving these elements into our festival experience, we aim to create an inclusive and enriching environment that goes beyond just entertainment and allows us to have a stronger connection to our community.”

Beyond The Valley has come a long way from its inception in 2014 when it took over the old Pyramid Rock site, but since then the masterminds behind the festival, Untitled Group, have been searching for ways to establish the most unique festival offered in Australia. It’s more than just a festival; it’s an experience that combines music, sustainability, community engagement, and entertainment, all in one stunning location. As Serrao reflects, “Beyond The Valley is our firstborn - it holds a special place in our hearts, it’s how it all started. Beyond The Valley started before Untitled Group was even conceptualised. We call it our ‘flagship’ festival and it is a huge priority for us.”

From modelling its blueprint off of festivals hosted overseas, to all the experience the collective has had running other big Australian festivals like Pitch Music and Arts, Wildlands, Grapevine Gathering, For The Love & Ability Fest, Beyond The Valley 2023 is set to be a truly memorable experience.

Beyond The Valley 2023 could well be the festival of the year, if not the decade.

BEYOND THE VALLEY 2023

WHERE: BARUNAH PLAINS

HOMESTEAD, HESSE VIC

WHEN: 28 DEC 2023–01 JAN 2024

FORTE 747 13
Credit: @Duncographic Credit: Chloe Hall

TROPHY EYES CAME BACK SWINGING

Æ John Floreani is surprisingly disarming. Sitting upright on the couch, he sneaks a hit of his vape before we get down to business. He’s open about his work in a way that’s characteristically vulnerable and articulate.

He has this gentle, captivating demeanour about him, something a friend of mine who toured with Trophy Eyes back in the day had mentioned: “He spends the whole show telling stories, but you just want to hear more.”

This past June, Trophy Eyes released their eagerly-awaited fourth album, Suicide and Sunshine . It was supposed to be a swansong – a culmination of their decadelong career and a final hurrah for the fans. But that’s not what ended up happening.

“Going into this record, we were finished with the project. Lockdown was hard. We had kind of given up on Trophy Eyes as it was and we’d all decided that maybe it was time to cut it loose and get on with our lives. Then after sitting and marinating on that for a little while, we decided to do one last record, say thank you and goodbye.”

The band took a flight to Thailand, where they’d recorded their previous three albums. “When we started writing it, we were like, ‘Oh my God’. It reminded us why we were doing it in the first place and why it was so much fun, why we considered each other family… It was a wake-up call.”

If the album feels like an amalgamation of elements from throughout the Trophy Eyes archive, it’s because that’s how it was conceived. One gets the sense they’re now the kind of band to do anything by accident.

There’s something in there for every type of fan – heartfelt lyricism, earworm choruses, pit-ready breakdowns and crushing walls of sound. Floreani’s impressive vocal range is on full display, switching seamlessly between growls reminiscent of the band’s debut, ‘Mend, Move On’, and dynamic, crystal-clear melodies like that of their 2020 single ‘Figure Eight’.

“We got all of our favourite sounds that we do together and Frankensteined it, you know what I mean? Because we’ve had three very different sounding albums prior to that and a very broad musical journey, so this time we were like, “Let’s get all of them and mush them together, all the best parts.”

In doing so, they created this massive, definitive album with a sense of finality that’s hard to ignore. It also has something to do with the theme. Floreani has an ongoing fixation with the bitter and the sweet, the fleeting moments of joy and pain that make up our nuanced existence. The juxtaposition of light and dark is on blatant display in the title of the album and can be felt throughout its entire 40-minute run time.

“There was a photo that brought the whole concept together,” he tells me. He’s speaking of an image from the Apollo 11 moon landing.

“The guy still on Apollo took a photo of them coming back from the moon, and in the photo was the shuttle and all of earth, so conceptually that sparked something in me – to think that everybody, every story, every person that’s ever lived and died that we know of it in that photo – all except the man that took that photo.

“I played into this idea of what it’s like to live life outside of everybody else, just a new take on looking at life outside of your little life – life as the phenomenon, not the experience of the actual thing itself.”

In support of Suicide and Sunshine , the band is heading out on a 13-date regional with Dear Seattle, kicking off in Cairns and winding its way back to their hometown of Newcastle.

“People from country towns know how to let go and have fun a bit better. They don’t take themselves so seriously and that energy comes through in the show. Especially if it’s a smaller room, there’s no stage barrier, it’s in some sweaty corner of a bar somewhere. That’s where we started, so it’s a lot more comfortable for us.”

As for the band’s future, well, it’s still up in the air. In the wake of a career-defining record, how do you move forward?

“I think our plan is to look at that as its own sound and define it more and more as we go on,” says Floreani. “I think it’s just now about rounding off the edges and diving deeper into that sound as if we’ve never written anything before that. Choosing this as our foundational jumping-off point for music for the future. I think from now on, it’s just defining it, getting better songwriting, making better music, writing better lyrics… It’s all about doing it but better next time.”

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 14
‘It’s a definitive sounding record because it was going to be our last’
WORDS BY KAYA MARTIN
“I played into this idea of what it’s like to live life outside of everybody else, just a new take on looking at life outside of your little life – life as the phenomenon, not the experience of the actual thing itself.”
TROPHY
PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON 27 OCT VOLTA, BALLARAT 28 OCT TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY 29 OCT
EYES X DEAR SEATTLE REGIONAL TOUR

THE VANNS

“Sometimes it can be hard getting away from your instruments, like when I’m talking from the point of view of a drummer, it can be hard to translate ideas that’ll work for Cam as a guitarist. So Chris was kind of like a neutral fifth member who helped clear up those lines and reign it in enough that it didn’t become some crazy avant-garde rock album.”

When asked about the clashes they experienced during the recording of Last Of Your Kind, Banjo laughed and said, “There’s always going to be a little bit of friction, but it’s nothing like the stories you’ve heard about Fleetwood Mac or Oasis. I’d more so call them brotherly hustles, because it’s never anything too crazy.

“But that’s healthy. It helps to push our views and not let them linger for too long, meaning we can start thinking about what’s coming next instead of being stuck on the past.”

This is exactly what The Vanns have done, with the release of Last of Your Kind allowing the group to set their sights on their next goal, their biggest headliner tour to date.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking,” Banjo confessed. “Like, these are really big rooms, but at the same time it’s very intimate because the people coming along are coming to see the stuff that we’re making and to connect with us, which is a huge challenge to pull off.

“You know, those people are there to see you and you don’t want to let them down. Which is something that’s really rewarding and grounding at the same time.

Æ These indie rockers from New South Wales are an integral part of the Australian festival scene. From electrifying performances at Splendour In The Grass to Yours and Owls and New Years On The Hill, they’ve graced some of the biggest stages. And when they’re not headlining your favorite events, you can bet they’re on the road for their own headlining tour.

It’s fitting then that when we finally caught up with the group’s drummer, Andrew ‘Banjo’ Banovich, he was feeling ‘a bit dusty’ from a festival gig the night before.

“It’s pretty constant,” he laughed when we mentioned their intense touring schedule. “It’s nice in some regards, but other times it’s good to have a Saturday where I can actually have a Saturday.”

“But, it’s also really exciting and super rewarding. After every show, we walk off the stage going ‘Man, we’re doing something right’, which is sick, because it really keeps our spirits going and makes us even keener on the next shows. It keeps us hungry, which is good.”

Hitting the road, exploring new cities, and gaining new fans isn’t just about staying hungry for The Vanns. It’s also their primary inspiration for their long-awaited second studio album, Last Of Your Kind

This album is a collection of musical stories born from their experiences and lessons learned on the road.

“Because we all wrote the album in one room together, it’s kind of funny when we look back on the songs and talk about the album, because it’s almost like every song on the album speaks to our personal experiences,” states Banjo.

“It’s mainly about our trials and tribulations being on the road, and how being on the road can affect relationships and things like that.

“I guess at its core, it’s just about the four of us and our growth. We’re just trying to tell our story and hopefully people can take that and use it as anecdotes to their own lives and stories.”

This creative process was made smoother with the help of Chris Collins (known for his work with Skegss, Middle Kids, Tyne-James Organ), who served as the album’s producer and acted as a mediator when the band members had differing ideas and memories of events.

“Chris was the producer, but he was also the spare guy in the room who was there when we got to the standard head-butting moments of recording. It was as if he was another member of the band and he largely became the voice of reason for a lot of decisions.

“So we’re scaling up the production and adding extra visual components. Musically, nothing’s really changed– we’re just playing our songs, and keeping it live and authentic, but we’re really trying to make this tour feel like more than just a gig. We want to really distinguish it as a show, not just your standard gig, and I think that’ll feel evident for the fans that come along.”

The Vanns will kick off their large-scale tour this November at The Forum in Melbourne, followed by stops all over Australia, accompanied by their friends from Shag Rock. If Banjo’s words are any indication, this is a tour you absolutely cannot afford to miss.

THE VANNS

WHERE: THE FORUM, MELBOURNE WHEN:

FRI 3 NOV

FORTE 747 15
If you haven’t seen The Vanns live yet, you haven’t been trying hard enough.
“After every show we walk off the stage going ‘Man, we’re doing something right ’”
WORDS BY ALEX CALLAN

THE WAIFS

Donna Simpson looks back on 20 years of Up All Night

Æ Twenty years ago, Australian trio The Waifs’ 2002 single ‘London Still’ entered the music-loving hearts of people across the nation where it’s firmly remained ever since.

The heartfelt, plucked ode to missing home “resonated with every Australian that has ever found themselves in a far-flung, cold place somewhere across the globe”. It caught the ears of the mainstream and youth radio station triple j, who threw it onto high rotation and catapulted Josh Cunningham and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson into the spotlight.

The success of ‘London Still’ paved the way for the following singles ‘Fisherman’s Daughter’, ‘Lighthouse’, ‘Highway One’ and ultimately the band’s 2003 LP Up All Night, which 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.

“It’s funny because when the album came out, everyone was calling us ‘the new kids on the block’; a breakthrough band and yet we’d been around for 13 years before that,” the band’s Donna Simpson shares.

“We’d just been doing it independently, and we still are independent, but that album just had a breakthrough on commercial radio and that was like the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket; that’s what tipped it over the edge for us.

“It just meant so much. Everyone was listening to it and we weren’t savvy to it. And we never really have been, you know, we hear people’s stories about it, but it still doesn’t cease to amaze us.”

With the release of Up All Night, 2003 went on to become an unforgettable year for the band comprising of sold-out 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.

Recorded between LA and Melbourne with Canadian producer Mark Howard and beloved ARIA Award-winning Australian producer Chris Thompson, Up All Night was the band’s fourth album, having already released three LPs, self-titled The Waifs (1996), Shelter Me (1998) and Sink or Swim (2000).

At the time, it found the trio at their most rootsy yet, exploring elemental themes of loss and loneliness to burnished soulful music with the rough edges intact.

Simpson credits its success to their tireless touring ahead of its recording. Constant touring laid a broad foundation, musical chemistry, and an approachable relatability through their lyrics solidified a lifelong, dedicated fan base.

“We’d been touring for ages, doing seven months tours and nine months tours all through the US and by this stage, these songs were really honed, they’d already grown to their fruition. “Sometimes when you do a new album, and this is what I always regret, you’ve got to write some new songs, but it takes a couple of years, or at least a year of playing them live for them to evolve and grow into their right spot.

“So with these songs on Up All Night, we’d already done that. We’d been road-touring these songs heaps and so they’d already found their place when we went to record them. We had so much time to get these right whereas I don’t think we’ve done that with any other album since.”

Two decades on from the iconic album release, The Waifs are rounding out their huge four-month 20th Anniversary Australian tour with a final Victorian show in Geelong this November.

“It’s a pretty nostalgic thing to do,” Simpson says of the 20th anniversary tour. “It takes me back to what I was wearing, what I was doing, who I was dating and the festivals that we played at when the album broke through. All those little things that I’d sort of forgotten about.”

While fans would expect to hear the iconic ‘London Still’, the tour has seen The Waifs deliver a plethora of other storytelling masterpieces, performing the album in full with a sprinkling of fan favourites as a five-piece band, performing with the musicians who had a hand in making the iconic record.

“There’s a certain alchemy to this band. There’s no stopping and explaining or reteaching. We all just went into it and it was all there,” Simpson says of performing songs they haven’t played in years. “The harmonies come naturally and so does the playing; it’s really beautiful and special. And I love hearing Vicky sing the songs that she put aside for so many years.” The original road warriors, The Waifs have become an enduring presence in the Australian music industry with multiple ARIA Awards, platinum albums and successful tours across the world. And still, they continue to forge a proudly independent path 30 years on and show no sign of slowing down.

THE WAIFS

WHERE: COSTA HALL, GEELONG

WHEN: FRI 10 NOV

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 16
“This is our thing. Our celebration. It’s a well-deserved celebration and it’ll be quite a nostalgic one too.”

BRISBANE RANGES

Escape the daily grind.

Spring is the time to indulge your adventurous spirit. Hike granite peaks you’ve never ventured. Sip on crisp wine in lush vineyards. Lap up the sun in the great outdoors.

From beaches and family fun to fresh foodie finds, hit the road and explore something new in Geelong and The Bellarine.

Start planning your trip at visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

FORTE 747 17

DAN SULTAN

Æ When Paul McCartney announces an Australian tour, stopping in the same city you’re set to perform in on the same night, there is only one option; you move your show.

That’s exactly what the ARIA and NIMAs winning ‘Old Fitzroy’ singer-songwriter, Dan Sultan, did.

“We’re doing it on the Friday because I want to go see Paul McCartney too. It’s a moot point,” says Sultan. “Besides, it would have been unfortunate for Paul McCartney not to be able to come to my show, so that’s why I moved it. He said, “Dan,” - you know, he called me up - “Anyway you can move your show?” and I said ‘Because it’s you, I’ll move it’,” he jokes. Sultan’s show at Melbourne Recital Centre with a new date of Friday 20 October is the final stop on his Double J-supported tour. It sees him hitting up three glorious acoustic-amplified venues - Princess Theatre in Brisbane, City Recital Hall in Sydney and Melbourne Recital Centre - to celebrate his seventh studio album and self-titled offering. Unlike his usual high-octane rock shows that have crowds on their feet, Sultan wants to create a serene sound immersion.

“When I was talking to my booking agent and my manager in the first meeting we had about the tour I just said, “I want seated venues”, which I think caught them by surprise. It’s a sonic scene where I want everyone to sit down and just have it all wash over. Those beautiful venues are purpose-built for acoustics and people can just sit and hopefully enjoy themselves,” Sultan explains.

Lending itself to the heavenly acoustics of these renowned theatre settings, Dan Sultan is the first album in six years after an unintentional ‘hiatus’ and the first as a new parent. Created within the cocooned Covid lockdown state, the self-titled selection sees Sultan at his most realised as an artist.

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 18
The award-winning Arrernte /Gurindji singer-songwriter at his most realised as an artist.
Credit Clint Peloso

Sultan agrees, “Yeah, I am. But, that being said, I think I felt that with every one of my records. I feel like for me if I’m doing it right and doing it in a way that I’m finding fulfilling then I need to be feeling those things, and I need to be feeling them more than the last time. So I’ve been lucky I had felt that with every record, but then I do this record and it’s the most important thing in the world.

“But that’s the thing as well. This is the first record I’ve done as a parent which I think has to have an effect. You know what I mean? It has to. So then that [being a dad] becomes the most important thing in the world. It’s very liberating to know that [the record] is not the be-all and end-all. But with me I think the next thing has got to be better than the last thing; if you’re heading in the right direction, which I am and have been.”

The building blocks of Homemade Biscuits, Get Out While You Can, Blackbird, Killer and the ABC deviation of Nali & Friends have established Sultan’s serenading style but the self-titled LP is peak-Sultan in a new era of his life. With thematics of family, sanctuary and self-actualisation, Dan Sultan listened to his gut when delving into song-building.

“I’ve always been fortunate to be able to listen and to be able to hear what I feel like I’m meant to be doing. So whether that’s what you would call that instinct, I don’t know. I’ve always felt pretty tuned into the work. I haven’t always done what I’ve been told to do by the work but on this record I have. So that’s where I think the bravery comes into it and the fulfillment artistically comes into it. You know I’m completely fulfilled with this record,” he comments.

The record also sees him partner with fellow Sydney-sider Julia Stone for the single ‘Fortress’. The collaboration is one of beauty that sees two of Australia’s soaring voices harmoniously marry, but the track teamwork almost didn’t happen.

“We were doing a writing session - separate to ‘Fortress’ - with Joel Quartermain, my co-writer and producer on the record. I had actually written or started writing ‘Fortress’ the day before and then after Julia came in and we wrote a couple of really beautiful songs that aren’t on the record, but will be on something soon, one day - don’t know what yet,” Sultan explains. “Joel was actually thinking ‘Fortress’ would be good to have Julia on and I was sort of humming and harring a little bit - nothing to do with Julia of course - I mean she’s incredible you know, she’s such a powerhouse producer, songwriter, song, songwriter, singer, artist and she’s a really good mate too; we’ve known each other a long time. Anyway, we got to doing the show and tell, and she was like, ‘I want to sing on that’. She took it away, and I asked her to write a bridge for it.”

The track sees the two build a sacred haven, impenetrable to outside negative influences. With the reassurance of “Never gonna touch us” and “They won’t get in”, the two erect walls around their most protected possessions. So what are the external forces they are defending against?

“Everything. Anything outside of the family home. It could be anything- it’s a rainy day, you get home, lock the door, and get warm. It can be your boss; or any outside factor. Anything,” Sultan says.

“For me, I had started a family with my wife and it was a really incredible time and there’s all the things that come along with that and that instinctual feeling of responsibility, and protection; strength that my wife and I felt as parents and new parents and partners and lovers. So it’s just about the home, the family home, but it could also be about your favourite pair of trackies.” This track, fellow singles ‘Ringing In My Ears’, ‘Wait In Love’, ‘Won’t Give You That’ and ‘Story’, and the rest of Dan Sultan will form the basis of his tour set with support from soul-shaker WILSN. The tracks will also trickle into his upcoming Queenscliff Music Festival appearance where he will be joining the Kates; Something For Kate and Katy Steele alongside Ian Moss, Alice Ivy, Boy & Bear, and Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls. Running for a jam-packed four days across 23 - 26 November 2023, Sultan will pop up on the Sunday to close out the festival.

With ample opportunity to witness Dan the man at his best [the good samaritan he is, sacrificing his original show date for Sir Macca for goodness sake], there is simply no excuse to sleep on Sultan.

FORTE 747 19
MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE 20 OCT QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL, 26 NOV
DAN SULTAN
“I haven’t always done what I’ve been told to do by the work but on this record I have. So that’s where I think the bravery comes into it and the fulfillment artistically comes into it. You know I’m completely fulfilled with this record.”

GABRIELLA LABUCCI

From local drag queen to Drag Race finalist,

Æ With each episode filled with elaborate makeup, gorgeous costumes, hilarious innuendo and just a bit of drama for good measure, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under has been showcasing talented drag queens for several seasons. This year, we were thrilled to see a beloved regional Victorian queen not only represented, but strutting their stuff right into second place.

A staple of the Ballarat drag scene, Miss Gabriella Labucci started popping up on screens internationally around three months ago, as she competed on season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under. Gab has been loved for her ability to not take herself too seriously, showing new sides of her drag, and for her problematic-free vibes.

This ocker queen has been doing drag for eight years and is an integral part of the regional Victorian drag scene. Regularly performing at the wonderful Piano Bar Ballarat, Gab had already amassed a loyal local fanbase before her time on the show, and the support has only grown as the episodes have rolled on.

“The support has been so overwhelmingly positive and I feel truly honoured to represent Ballarat and regional drag”, Gab says. “It’s so weird getting stopped in Kmart or Woolies for Ballarat locals to talk to me and grab a photo, and tell me they hated my Kylie runway (they don’t do that, but I wouldn’t blame them!).”

Gab explains Drag Race to people as “a mix of all competition reality TV shows, but done in heels, corsets and wigs”, and the challenges this year saw Gab dressed as everything from a saucy sauce bottle to Emma Wiggle, working with dogs, and putting her faux-10 years of hula hooping experience to good(ish) use.

This season included some stellar guest judges, including Adam Lambert, who provided critique alongside regulars Ru, Rhys Nicholson, and Michelle Visage, and even told Gab he liked her boobs (honestly, what a highlight).

“I applied for Drag Race because I desperately wanted to be the dickhead that I am, on a global scale”, shared Gab. In a message to her supporters, Gab says, “I’d like to say thank you so much for supporting the buffoonery that is my drag. I’m glad that the regional folk get it and love a laugh and don’t take it too seriously. I love the love, and I can’t thank you all enough.”

The vibrant staff at Piano Bar Ballarat had been hosting weekly viewing parties, among their usual weekly event lineup, which were drawing enthusiastic crowds while the season was airing, and gave people the chance to meet Gab and a fellow Drag Race queen. The venue is a fun and inclusive space that guarantees a good time, delicious food, and plenty of laughs. Piano Bar is one of few safe spaces for drag in regional areas and is loved for it.

“I think regional Victoria has so much fun with drag because they don’t exactly have as much access to drag as you would in the big city. The patrons love it so much and have such a good laugh with us”, Gab says. “It’s also really important because some places have never met a drag queen before, so it also becomes a very powerful moment to educate as well as have fun…[and] it provides queer visibility for areas that don’t have a queer scene. There may be a young queer youth in the audience that sees the glitz and the glam, and feels seen and validated in their own town.”

Drag Race also provides the opportunity for Aussie designers to have their work showcased. Jak Hocking-Vogele, known also as Srgt Yass Queen, had their designs aired across two episodes this season. “The opportunity for the local designers to get their work out there and seen by the public is fantastic”, he says. “The fact we have such a platform like Drag Race is amazing; it gives a safe space for people to be who they are, from Queens to Kings, to the crazy and dramatic, and everything in between.”

Jak believes that Gab’s unique drag style, comprised of crazy faces and occasional spontaneous roller skating, is what gives her the “it factor”. “Her personality and performances are a bit strange, and for me, seeing that on stage, TV, or socials is something I wish was available to me as a young kid”. Jak adds, “There will be people out there that will see her and relate, on a level only she can give.”

While the crown wasn’t Gab’s this year, it did go to a fellow Aussie, the first-ever to win Drag Race. Melbourne queen Isis Avis Loren took out first place, following a Finale Eleganza Extravaganza runway theme, which saw both queens catwalking in their most elegant attire.

Since the season ended, Gab has been busy sharing her love of drag at venues around the country, and we are very proud of our local larrikin.

You can catch up on the latest episodes on Stan, and follow Gab on Facebook and Insta!

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 20
“I applied for Drag Race because I desperately wanted to be the dickhead that I am, on a global scale”
Gabriella Labucci showed what regional Victoria has to offer
WORDS
CHLOE WADDELL

ARTS GUIDE

Exhibitions to see this month

IMMERSION IN NATURE

Highly influential French artist Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (1869-1954) said: “An artist must possess nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.”

Immersion in Nature allows artists who have been impacted by mental illness to express their thoughts and insights into their individual recovery, wellbeing and therapy through the subject of nature.

HOOP GALLERY, TORQUAY 12–22 OCT

As part of Art of the Minds Mental Health Week

KUNGKA KUṈPU (STRONG WOMEN)

Drawn from the Art Gallery of South Australia’s acclaimed Tarnanthi program, Kungka Kuṉpu tells the inspiring story of women supporting women across generations through paintings, large-scale woven installations and moving image. It will showcase works by celebrated artists from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Included is Kungkarangkalpa, more widely known as Seven Sisters, an important women’s songline of great significance to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people.

GEELONG ART GALLERY 21 OCT 2023 –25 FEB 2024

FABRIC OF LIFE FESTIVAL

The love affair between art and fashion is believed to have been shaped between the 1930s and 1960s, before blossoming in the 1970s. It’s a form of creativity alive and well today. Locally, the Fabric of Life Festival is a celebration of wearable art that pays homage to the historic Fletcher Jones garment industry of Warrnambool. Categories include Sustainable Style, Earthly Elegance, Whispers of History, Fabricating the Future and Wild and Free.

ST. PIUS X HALL, WARRNAMBOOL 28 OCT

REGIMES OF VALUE: THE POLITICS OF TASTE, TRADE AND DESIRE

Regimes of Value, according to anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, arise from the societal elites who attempt to control consumption and exchange, and a society that wishes to expand it. From historic works including a Meissen vase and Franz Hochmann’s A Horse Market in a German Village, to contemporary works including acquisitions by Shireen Taweel and Ebony Russell, this new exhibition examines this concept.

BENDIGO ART GALLERY UNTIL 24 OCT

BEYOND FAIRYTALES

It’s not always easy to open up, but art can often be a way to channel all those things we wish we could say. Asking the viewer to consider and question the realities hidden in the “fairytales” surrounding gender, Beyond Fairytales is an exploration of gender equity and relationships through the lens of young multicultural leaders. Personal stories, pop culture critiques and commentary of global movements are captured through photomedia, film, sculpture and interactive artworks.

FEMXLE EXPERIENCE ART REBELLION, BALLARAT THROUGHOUT OCT

PLATFORM ARTS FEAST

Three wonderful exhibitions are taking place throughout October at Platform Arts. My Heart is a group showcase that seeks to mend a hurting heart. In Orchidaceae Porta, Holly Goodridge and Shan Dante combine queer theory and expanded painting to challenge societal norms. In An Echoing Dream, Victoria Jost invites the viewer on a journey of magic, dreams and fiction in a way that allows them to experience the exhibition as a state, not as a place.

PLATFORM ARTS, GEELONG UNTIL 3 NOV

SPRING SCULPTURE PRIZE

The history of sculpture dates back to around 32,000 B.C. Today, people may point to David, The Thinker, Venus de Milo and Lincoln Memorial as some of the greatest works. Locally, the Spring Sculpture Prize has been a rich part of Central Victoria’s art scene since 2006. The Major Prize, the Ron Anstey Memorial Prize and the People’s Choice Award are among the categories recognised at this exhibition. It’s a lot of art, with a lot of heart.

LOT19, CASTLEMAINE 14–29 OCT

COMMUNITY ARTS CALENDAR

Having your work featured in a calendar is pretty handy indeed. As one reminds themselves of what their day presents, they get to take in someone’s wonderful work. The Surf Coast Arts Calendar Competition gives Surf Coast Shire residents an opportunity to have their work hanging in the homes of local residents and beyond. There will be 13 lucky winners, which includes the people’s choice front cover.

ANGLESEA ART SPACE 13–28 OCT

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Fringe returns to Geelong with six eclectic shows over three nights

Æ The stage is set, the lights are ready to shine, and Melbourne’s weirdest festival is bringing the best of the best to Geelong from October 26-28 with the return of the Melbourne Fringe Encore.

Allowing regional Victorians to get in on a piece of the colourful and wonderful action of Melbourne Fringe Festival for the third consecutive year, the takeover will feature an eclectic mix of performances from local artists, comedians, and awe-inspiring talents across three nights in the brand-new Open House theatre!

Here’s a sneak peek at the performances you can expect:

DUMPLINGS DARLING:

LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS BY ALISA

TANAKA-KING & ANIA REYNOLDS

A heartwarming performance that combines storytelling, love, and handmade dumplings. Part theatre, part live music, and reminiscent of childhood storytime at the library, it’s an intimate protest piece combating fear and division. Food is also served throughout the performance.

PORK CHOP BY SCOUT BOXALL

Satirical genius Scout Boxall presents an exhaustive examination of their former addictions and hyper-fixations, offering a peek inside a pulsing brain that hums and screams.

FULL CREAM BY RYAN HAMILTON, EM

KEAGAN, GEORGIE WOLFE & JONNO GRAFFAM

A story of two ‘fat queer housemates’ and the joy they find in friendship. It’s a celebration of being happy and not the elephant in the room. Blending verbatim text, devised theatre, and a mukbang, Full Cream imagines a stage where fat people belong.

HIGH PONY BY MEL & SAM

A high-energy, side-splitting musical comedy madness from the award-winning duo Mel & Sam. Get ready for them to yank you by your ponytail through a chaotic hour of musical sketch comedy.

OF THE LAND ON WHICH WE MEET

Using acrobatics, contemporary dance, and aerial performance we follow the journey of three contemporary Australian circus artists with distinct relationships with Country; an indigenous Australian, a descendant of migrants, and a descendant of colonial settlers.

JOY MACHINE BY YUMMY

Prepare for an outrageous, outlandish, and unpredictable cabaret ensemble that will leave you in awe. Led by Fringe favourite Valerie Hex, prepare for the perfect balance of fast paced, sexy, and ridiculous variety show perfection.

MELBOURNE FRINGE ENCORE

WHERE: GEELONG ARTS CENTRE

WHEN: 26–28 OCT

TENT POLE: A Musical Jamboree Returns in 2024 with a Spectacular Lineup

Mark your calendars and prepare for a musical experience like no other, because the Surf Coast’s Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree is set to return on Saturday, 17 February 2024, at the picturesque Mt Duneed Estate.

This fantastic all-ages festival, which made its unforgettable debut this year, promises to be even bigger and better in 2024, with a lineup featuring 10 of the most iconic names in the music industry across two huge stages.

Dinosaur Jr., the legendary US alternative rock band, will be headlining and playing their seminal 1993 album Where You Been in full. This will be the band’s first visit to Australia since 2017, and it’s sure to be an explosive performance.

Joining them are renowned Scottish indie pioneers Mogwai, the Arizona desert noir and alt-country legends Calexico, the Melbourne powerhouse Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, revered post-punk rockers RVG, Melbourne punksters Civic, the one-ofa-kind techno artist Our Carlson, garage post-punks Delivery, Frankston’s indie pop purveyors The Belair Lip Bombs, and altrock singer-songwriter Al Matcott.

With a diverse lineup that spans from emerging artists to influential musicians and iconic bands, Tent Pole also features interactive installations, shaded chillout areas, delicious food and drinks, and a curated marketplace with a wide range of merch and records for sale. Plus, championing a family-friendly atmosphere, children under 12 get in for free.

More than just a music festival; Tent Pole is a celebration of timeless tunes and cutting-edge sounds, created by Roundhouse Entertainment, the team behind Australia’s iconic outdoor summer concert series ‘a day on the green,’ Love Police, led by music maverick Brian ‘BT’ Taranto, and Johann Ponniah, founder of I OH YOU, one of the country’s most successful independent record labels. Come for the music, stay for the experience.

TENT POLE: A MUSICAL JAMBOREE

WHERE: MT DUNEED ESTATE, GEELONG

WHEN: 17 FEB

Tickets go on sale 13 October at 2pm via Ticketmaster.

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 22 MELBOURNE FRINGE ENCORE
Credit: Cara Totman
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Photo: Peter Foster

THY ART IS MURDER

Godlike

Æ Thy Art Is Murder’s sixth studio album, Godlike, has to be one of this year’s most interesting releases. Its first three singles, ‘Join Me In Armageddon’, ‘Keres’ and ‘Blood Throne’ all received positive receptions, the album’s physical copy pre-order sold out, and the group’s European tour received venue upgrades due to the high demand of tickets sold. It really seemed like Godlike was about to be the album to promote Thy Art from bandrooms to stadiums.

But that’s not quite how it panned out. A month before the album’s release, the group’s longtime vocalist Chris ‘CJ’ McMahon reshared some divisive tweets about the Trans community, swiftly resulting in him being ‘cancelled’ on social media. In turn, the band parted ways with McMahon, announcing that Godlike had been re-recorded with new vocals done by Aversion Crown’s Tyler Miller.

It was a move that sparked a lot of controversy. Unsurprisingly, the wider deathcore community is a fanbase that harbours a lot of opinions, which in this instance, they let fly. Some suggested the group change their name, others (including a very unasked-for opinion from Falling In Reverse’s Ronnie Radke) called for a mass boycott, while some others even remarked that they would no longer listen to the album, insisting that Miller’s version is a “knock off.”

WORDS

LABEL: HUMAN WARFARE

RELEASE: OUT NOW

Now, as an Infinite Death era Thy Art fan, I can’t understand the hate that the re-recorded version of Godlike is receiving. Having heard both versions of the album, I’d struggle to tell you the difference.

If it’s Miller on Godlike, we need to commend his last-minute efforts, because he’s identified each nuance of McMahon’s performance on the album and replicated them flawlessly. The only noticeable difference between the versions is that the mix of the re-recorded versions is a lot rougher around the edges. Which, if anything, works in its favour, with its imperfect master and haphazard mix feeling like a throwback to iconic Myspace metal acts like Job for A Cowboy and As Blood Runs Black.

‘Destroyer of Dreams’ hits you in the face with machine-gun rhythms, hammering breakdowns and unrelenting blast beats. ‘Lesson In Pain’ maintains the energy with the guitar shrieking guitar riffs and explosive double-kicks, while the title track ‘Godlike’ goes full Spinal Tap mode and ups the ante to 11. It’s truly a whirlwind of chaotic riffs and sheer-drop breakdowns.

On top of that, its lyrics are as poignant and thought-provoking as ever, the breakdowns are bigger than ever before, and the level of technicality is far superior to anything Thy Art has done previously.

Stand by CJ if you want, just know you’re missing out on one of the group’s most exciting releases to date.

BIG WETT PU$$Y

Æ When the opening lyrics of an album are “I’ve got the best pussy in town right here”, you know you’re about to be taken on a wild ride. Needless to say, Big Wett knows how to get people’s attention - and keep it. On her debut EP, the aptly titled, PU$$Y, the Melbourne/Naarm-based provocateur continues to stretch her ever-undignified wings with a collection of the most utterly obscene, yet deliriously thrilling dance-floor rompers the Melbourne music scene has heard in recent years. Possibly even ever.

A single listen to PU$$Y and you’ll see what I mean. There’s nothing subtle about it. From narratives of “big dicked” escapades to acknowledgments that her “pussy” so “sick” she “took it to the vet”, Big Wett’s an artist unabashedly proud of flaunting her sexual identity. Yet, while alternatively scuzzy in nature, there’s something very likeable about her output.

‘BAGS’ combines raunchy, self-assured pop alongside 90’s rave aesthetic and disco-synth sparkle. ‘DON’T U WANT IT ALL’ adds elements of acid-house wobble and trance-inspired breakbeats, while ‘NUMBER 1 PUSSY’ toys with pulsating rhythms and mechanical vocal cadences akin to club classics like ‘Technologic’ (Daft Punk) and ‘Pump The Breaks’ (Dom Dolla).

She’s certainly not a one-trick pony. While sex may well and truly sit at the forefront of Big Wett’s artistic persona, PU$$Y is more than just an album of debauchery. It’s a bombastic and boisterous debut that’ll undoubtedly set the club scene alight.

LABEL: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM RECORDINGS

RELEASE: OUT NOW

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 24
BY ALEX CALLAN
ALBUM REVIEWS

Australia Stops

Æ I learnt two things from C.O.F.F.I.N’s third album. The first is that, if they wanted to, C.O.F.F.I.N could beat the living daylights out of me. The second is that as a group, C.O.F.F.I.N upholds the rights that the Beastie Boys fought for.

Their third release, Australia Stops , resembles the bloke at the bar who parties outrageously and is genuinely in good spirits– but could throw down at any second. It’s brazenly tough rock n’ roll that doesn’t care about polishing the edges. Think elements of early Tumbleweed, The Meanies and Cosmic Psychos loaded with more of a primitive edge.

Led by the distinctive thump and growl of drummer and vocalist Ben Portnoy, Australia Stops wastes no time in laying in its hits. ‘Give Me A Bite’ brings the energy early for ‘Cut You Off’ to lay cataclysmic grunts of high-octane punk rock riffage. ‘Keep It Dark’ powerfully adds undertones of a heavy, drilling tension through its use of jagged staccato riffs and filthy solos.

‘Lover’s Leash’ channels Motörstyleesque punk simplicity alongside Portnoy’s perfectly imperfect gruffed vocals. Then to shake things up a bit, ‘Beasts’ pairs militantly orchestrated snare patterns and sleazy guitar licks alongside frenzied drawls of harmonica that kick into heaving breakdowns.

It really is a non-stop thrill ride that helps to elevate C.O.F.F.I.N as more than just one of the crowd.

Saturnia

Æ While most people tend to know Jay Watson as the touring drummer for Tame Impala and once drummer now guitarist/ synth player for Pond, Aussie psych-rock fanatics will be quick to recognise Watson as his side moniker, Gum.

Having released solo albums as Gum for the past decade, Watson is no stranger to the creative spotlight. Although, while a fan-favourite of Tame and Pond enthusiasts, his previous five efforts have often fallen more into sleeper-hit territory. They don’t quite make the impact they should upon release, to then be regarded as favourites of the psych scene years later. This is especially given the fact under Gum, Watson has maintained a quality largely lost in the inspired work Pond and Tame have delivered over recent years (9, The Slow Rush).

Saturnia takes this to another level. Through combinations of the laid-back bedroom-made aesthetic that made the world fall in love with psych-rock in the early 2010’s, 70’s prog-rock freak and futuristic synth-pop sparkle, Saturnia hones in on the stylistic juxtapositions of modern psych and marries it with elements of some of rock and folk’s finest icons.

From the Jethro Tull-esque freak-out of ‘Argentina’, to the electro-pop jazz changeup of ‘Would It Pain You…’, to the Young meets Zeppelin guitar harmonisations of ‘Real Life’, Saturnia maintains a timeless nature that lends from both old and new, while still offering up something completely its own.

It’s brooding and sombre, yet also strikingly beautiful in equal measure.

THE SEVEN UPS

A Free Blowing Wind

Æ The Seven Ups are so criminally underrated. When it comes to the Melbourne music scene, they get some love no doubt, but considering the level of musicality that the local heavy-groove stalwarts showcase time and time again on their albums, they should really be adorning crowds at festivals worldwide.

It’s hard to picture anyone that wouldn’t enjoy their music. They possess a universally enjoyable sound that’s just so hard to resist. As soon as you put on one of their records, the band’s lush instrumental soundscapes and groove-laden arrangments transform the room around you.

Their newest effort, A Free Blowing Wind, is no exception to this. As always, it’s part jazz, psych, and funk all in one; but this time around there are a few welcomed change-ups that further expand the group’s already all-encapsulating palette.

‘Introduction’ sets the scene with an enveloping drone, intimidating dread and intrigue as the album’s title track is introduced. Continuing the tone, ‘A Free Blowing Wind’ hums string arrangements into a flutter of horn echoes, providing the perfect backdrop of eastern-tinged psychedelic rhythms for the inclusion of Mind Meng Wang’s hypnotic inclusions of guzheng (Chinese harp). ‘A Cosmic Scale’ toys with dissonance, shoegaze drone and 60’s psych-rock shimmer, while ‘Monoliths’ delivers bashful horns that beg for a boogie, and the closing track ‘River Stones’ delicately adds the distinct flavour of pan flute.

Their sound is infectious. Honestly, if The Seven Ups released a 24-hour-long album, I’d listen to it.

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C.O.F.F.I.N
GUM
LABEL: DAMAGED RECORDS RELEASE: OUT NOW LABEL: SPINNING TOP RECORDS RELEASE: OUT NOW LABEL: NORTHSIDE RECORDS RELEASE: OUT NOW

Victoria & Tasmania’s reigning

Greek culinary royalty

Æ Mavs Greek Restaurant, the culinary gem of Geelong, has once again clinched the title of the best Greek restaurant in Victoria and Tasmania, marking its second consecutive win.

This Greek haven stole the spotlight at the prestigious 2023 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence for Victoria & Tasmania, cementing its reputation as the go-to destination for Greek gastronomy in the region.

Celebrating Australia’s vibrant culinary landscape, Mavs secured not one, but two illustrious awards at the annual awards. In addition to reclaiming the title of Best Greek Restaurant again, Mavs also earned the esteemed Best Family Dining award.

Derived from the owner’s family name Mavromoustakos, meaning ‘black moustache,’ Milton Mavromoustakos and his wife Julia Ryabova have transformed Mavs into a beloved regional treasure over the past six years. Nestled in Geelong’s West End precinct on Little Malop Street, Mavs exudes an infectious, anything-goes spirit, winning the hearts of locals and visitors alike with their indulgent Mediterranean spread.

Milton, hailing from Rhodes, shared his elation, saying, “Mavs took out state excellence awards in two categories – Best Greek restaurant (second year running) and Best Family Dining – at the Gala night held by Restaurant and Catering Association at Zinc on Federation Square.

“Last year Mavs was awarded Best Greek Restaurant VIC and TAS and later received a Bronze National Award!

“It’s a great recognition for us and our team and a good motivation to keep up good work.”

“Mavs is our first and biggest venture. It was quite scary in the beginning as no other Greek restaurant had succeeded in Geelong before. But now we pride ourselves on being the best in the state for two consecutive years. Mavs family has extended now and includes Souva Bar in Grovedale and LoukouMadness

Greek desserts on Little Malop st with another Souva Bar and restaurant coming to Drysdale soon.”

With a deep-rooted commitment to classic Greek fare, prepared with the utmost dedication to premium ingredients and meticulous attention to detail, Mavs beckons patrons with its impressive menu. If the awards prove anything, it’s that Mavs’ combination of uncomplicated yet perfectly executed Greek fare, an enticing beverage selection, an inviting ambience, and warm, efficient service is a winning recipe for success.

COASTAL GLAMP

Unplug, Unwind, and Elevate Your Camping Game in Style at Bellarine Estate

Æ For those who crave an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life but shudder at the thought of roughing it in a basic tent, there’s a solution on the horizon.

Coastal Glamp, the epitome of lush outdoor accommodation, is back with a bang as they kick off a new season, offering campers an extraordinary getaway experience nestled amidst the stunning vineyards of Bellarine Estate.

Located on the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula, Bellarine Estate, a family-owned and operated winery, has been a cherished establishment since its inception in 1996, courtesy of the Kenny family. Featuring an inviting cellar door and a revamped dining space, the estate boasts 30 acres of vineyards graced with an array of grape varieties, including Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Coastal Glamp is discreetly nestled behind the estate’s Cellar Door and enveloped by vineyards, offering a captivating space that can host various tents in different configurations, catering to couples, families, or small groups seeking a slice of paradise.

Coastal Glamp beckons explorers to discover the wonders of the Bellarine Peninsula while delivering a unique, enjoyable, and welcoming experience. Whether you’re into world-class wineries, breathtaking beaches, or exhilarating activities, this is your playground. Share a quiet moment with your partner while sipping a glass of wine amid the idyllic surroundings or take in the vibrant atmosphere of the beer garden. Travelling with the kids? There are outdoor games for all ages. With friends? Your tents can be set up together in a designated area. Wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready to embrace a new day of adventure.

And here’s the icing on the cake – the Cellar Door offers sumptuous lunch and dinner options so you don’t even need to venture far for a gastronomic delight.

The bookings for this extraordinary experience are now open for the upcoming season, which runs from November to April, with a modest two-night minimum stay requirement.

Coastal Glamp at Bellarine Estate – where nature meets comfort, and adventure meets sophistication.

Use the promo code FORTE20 for a 20% discount off your booking PLUS for bookings in November, receive a complimentary hamper (value $110).

MAVS GREEK RESTAURANT

WHEN: 73A LITTLE MALOP ST, GEELONG

OPEN: LUNCH: MON, WED–SUN 12–2:30 PM

DINNER: MON, WED–SUN 5 PM–LATE

COASTAL GLAMP

WHERE: BELLARINE ESTATE

WHEN: NOV–APR

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 26 MAVS GREEK RESTAURANT

BITES GUIDE

Food and drink to try this month

FRANKIE. BAR & EATERY is relocating to a bigger and better location in Geelong

Geelong’s beloved EUREKA HOTEL reopens

After months of renovations and improvements, the iconic Eureka Hotel has officially reopened. Drawing inspiration from renowned venues like The Espy and Garden State Hotel, the newly-refurbished Eureka Hotel offers five bars, including a garden bar and an outdoor terrace sure to impress, along with two dance floors, a brand-new d&b Audiotechnik P.A. system, cutting-edge lighting, and mesmerising visuals. The band room is also back with some big acts on the horizon. The crown jewel of this revival is Evie, a brand-new, highend club experience.

NECTAR is Geelong’s new Mediterranean-inspired dining destination from the team at Recess

At Nectar, head Chef Mandy Wright has crafted a menu that celebrates the vibrant cuisines of the Mediterranean, featuring dishes like Carpaccio of Bresola, Moreton Bay Bug Linguini, and a delectable burrata with fennel jam. The bar is equally enticing, with classic cocktails, fine wines, and light snacks, making it a perfect spot for socialising. As you’d expect from the team at Recess, Nectar is more than just a restaurant; it’s a versatile space that caters to all occasions. Whether you’re seeking an intimate lunch with friends or a lavish dinner date, Nectar sets the stage for unforgettable moments.

In some big news, the beloved Pan-Asian fusion restaurant is gearing up for a big move after outgrowing its current location. Fear not, loyal frankie. fans; your favourite spot isn’t going far. frankie. will remain in central Geelong on Malop Street and relocate to the opposite side of the street to 26 Malop Street. This new, larger venue spans two levels, boasting a designated function area upstairs, complete with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor. Expect the same PanAsian fusion dishes and incredible cocktails you know and love, but with a more premium experience in the most spectacular space. Frankie will be closed from 16 - 27 October, opening at the new location on 28 October.

Regional favourite BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS expands into Melbourne with a new venue

Bridge Road Brewers, known for its Beechworth origins, opens its Melbourne venue in Brunswick. With room for 350 patrons, Bridge Road Brewers Brunswick reimagines the traditional beer hall with op-art designs by local artist D.R.E.Z. Head Chef Jabili Mchawala’s menu blends global flavours with North East Victoria’s produce, offering classics like pizzas and soft pretzels. The venue houses a fully operational brewery with a 30-tap bar, offering a wide range of brews, from light and easy to dark and malty, perfect for craft beer novices and connoisseurs alike.

AUGUSTUS GELATERY sweetens Bendigo with 30th store opening

Bendigo has just scored a new ice creamery to ensure we can all get a cone of something soft, cold and delicious when the temperature rises. Augustus Gelatery, the purveyor of delectable frozen treats, has opened its 30th store in View Street, Bendigo. Here you’ll find a massive selection in-store with 36 different kinds of the Italian treat, including all your favourites and some unique ones that you’ve just got to try, as well as cakes and shakes. The new Augustus Gelatery is located at 37 View Street, Bendigo.

ITINERANT SPIRITS

DISTILLERY opens in the historic Ballarat train station precinct

Ballarat’s storied train station precinct just got a whole lot more spirited with the arrival of Itinerant Spirits, the city’s latest multispirit distillery. Nestled within the venerable walls of the 160-year-old heritage-listed Ballarat Goods Shed, this world-class distillery is churning out three exceptional spirits - Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka, and Wayfarer Whiskey - all crafted with a dash of local pride. They source their grains, botanicals, and natural volcanic spring water from the very heart of Ballarat, giving these spirits a truly local flavour. This 140-seat venue has an extended collection of spirits, and for those with an appetite, there’s a mouthwatering pizza menu, cheese and charcuterie boards.

TUTTI is Geelong’s vibrant

new dining destination

with local

ingredients

and a Michelin-trained chef Geelong’s arts precinct just got a lot tastier with the arrival of Tutti, a vibrant dining destination inside the Geelong Arts Centre. Derived from the Italian term meaning “with all voices or instruments performing together,” Tutti offers a harmonious fusion of flavour and creativity. Led by Michelin-trained Executive Chef Nathan Darlington, the menu highlights 80% locally sourced ingredients, celebrating the region’s producers. As part of the Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street Redevelopment, Tutti embodies the synergy of art, culture, and cuisine, making it a mustvisit for food and culture enthusiasts alike.

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GARAGE

Æ Are you in search of a coastal café that not only serves up delectable coffee and food but also provides a welcoming space for catching up with friends? Look no further, because Garage has got you covered. Located within a beautifully refurbished old petrol station, Garage has been delighting its patrons for over six years. If you’re after a hearty breakfast, this is the place to be.

Every day, Garage buzzes with the lively atmosphere of allday brunch and lunch offerings. So, just take a seat, savour your St.ALi coffee – whether you prefer to sip it slowly or down it in one go – and immerse yourself in the wonderful vibes.

What sets Garage apart is its expansive alfresco area, basking in the morning sun. This is the ultimate spot to relax and catch up with friends over a cup of coffee. And if that already sounds appealing, hold onto your seats because there’s more to come!

Garage has recently introduced a tantalising array of fresh cocktails, including the irresistible coconut margarita, an unmissable mimosa, and the ever-reliable espresso martini, made with freshly extracted St.ALi orthodox espresso. They also offer an impressive selection of wines, local beers, and ciders. Now, you can add some zest to your brunch or enjoy a delightful afternoon beverage under the warm sun.

At Garage, they take immense pride in serving good quality, locally sourced food and coffee. Paired with their friendly, topnotch service, Garage should undoubtedly be at the top of your list – not just in the upcoming warm weather but every day. From the beloved Big Johnny Burger to their homemade Granola and the must-try Chilli Scramble (rumour has it, it’s absolutely fantastic), they offer a delightful menu complemented by a range of hot and cold beverages.

Don’t miss out on the Garage experience – it’s a coastal café like no other!

MAESTRO

Adrian Richardson’s newest culinary masterpiece, Maestro, has just opened in Geelong.

Æ The modern Australian restaurant is at the heart of the new Geelong Quarter development, nestled within the Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, and celebrates the region’s finest ingredients through an expertly curated menu by award-winning Chef Adrian Richardson and executive Chef Migo Razon.

This new dining sensation showcases Chef Richardson’s skills, widely acclaimed as the ‘meat maestro’, who brings his unique blend of creativity, expertise and flair to elevate the Maestro experience, leaving a lasting impression designed for a diverse set of diners.

The menu is a fusion of international flavours, including housemade pasta, Filipino dishes, and French-style desserts. Highlights include linguini prawns, Nicola potato gnocchi, veal cutlet, and a whole flounder, as well as steamed Portarlington mussels, housesmoked salmon and a variety of steaks on the grill. For dessert enthusiasts, Maestro offers delights such as the Eton Mess with berries, lemon curd, and cream, and a decadent gluten-free Crème Brûlée. Vegan and gluten-free options by Chef Razon feature the rich and umami Kingbrown Mushroom with miso, shallots, and almond milk, and the comforting and flavourful Devon Meadows Leek soup.

In addition to the delectable main courses, Maestro presents a selection of bar snacks and house-made small goods accompanied by premium condiments, including the dry-cured and slow-aged De Palma Wagyu Bresaola and the Mr Cannubi Caocollo served with olive oil and croutons.

The Maestro bar offers an extensive range of wines and beers, including selections from the Moorabool Valley, Bellarine Peninsula, classic Victorian varieties, beloved Australian wines from Clare Valley, and a touch of international flair with French wines from the Loire Valley and Champagne region.

Chef Richardson’s dedication to honouring local flavours is evident in the venue’s mouth-watering offerings, with imaginative dishes showcasing the region’s best seasonal produce. Maestro’s modern interiors, featuring low tables for an intimate dining experience and an open layout, allow guests to witness the chefs’ culinary mastery in the open kitchen.

WHERE:

OPEN:

LEVEL ONE, 40 RYRIE STREET

MON–SUN 12–2:30PM

SUN–THU 5–9PM

FRI–SAT 5–10PM

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 28 VENUE GUIDE
WORDS BY CHLOE CICERO WHERE:
STREET, OCEAN GROVE OPEN: TUE– WED 7AM–2:30PM THU–SAT 7AM–3PM SUN 8AM–2:30PM
15 LELEAN

GYPSY BURGER

Æ Have you ever wondered how to elevate a beef burger to a whole new level of deliciousness? The secret, as it turns out, lies in growing your very own beef, and that’s precisely what the ingenious minds behind Gypsy Burger did. Back in 2014, they kicked off their culinary journey with just a food trailer, and today, they’ve expanded to three trucks and a restaurant. Owners Adrian and Jess have truly made their mark in the world of food.

Fuelled by their passion for food and Jess’s family background in the meat industry, this dynamic duo embarked on their first venture with The Gypsy’s Lunchbox: a mobile food and coffee trailer that showcases some of the finest produce from the heart of Victoria’s countryside. Adrian’s exceptional culinary skills meant that they could cater to a wide range of tastes. The catering menu predominantly features American-inspired gourmet BBQ delights, including pulled meats, sliders, burgers, and Southern fried chicken. Most of the meat they use comes from their family’s properties, ensuring a genuine paddock-to-plate experience.

Their restaurant, aptly named Gypsy Burger, boasts a diverse menu with options to suit various dietary preferences. From classic beef and fried chicken burgers to vegetarian and vegan choices, and even a fish burger, there’s something for everyone. Of course, no burger joint is complete without fries – they’re an absolute musthave. Gypsy also offers an enticing selection of treats, including cheeseburger spring rolls, buffalo wings, mac & cheese balls, and cauliflower bites. Dessert lovers will rejoice at the thought of vanilla bean crème brûlée, deep-fried ice cream, and jam donuts.

For those who always check the cocktail menu first, Gypsy is a paradise. Their must-try cocktails include the Gypsy Sour, Gin Smash, and Pineapple & Ginger Dirty Mojito, plus there’s an impressive selection of wines, spirits, and a variety of tap and fridge options.

When they set out to create the restaurant, their goal was to provide a casual, family-friendly atmosphere while still serving epic cocktails. And they’ve absolutely nailed it. Plus, they’ve even thought about the little ones, with a kids’ cubby and sandpit on-site. So, make your way to Torquay and experience Gypsy Burger for yourself.

TEMPO KITCHEN & BAR

Æ Located in the heart of the city, this is where you’ll discover a dining experience that pays homage to the local produce and flavours of Victoria.

Tempo’s team are passionate about using the freshest seasonal ingredients, sourced directly from local farmers, fishermen, and producers in the region. The talented chefs elevate these ingredients into innovative, mouthwatering creations, promising a dining experience that excites the senses and embraces the best of the region’s flavours.

Featuring bespoke breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, an extensive cocktail list and snacks and small plates to nibble on at the bar, Tempo’s offering embodies the essence of Australian cuisine, providing a unique and unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors alike.

The menu certainly takes pride in a seafood and grill focus that showcases the very best of Victoria’s bounty, but it has also been thoughtfully designed to offer a wide range of options. Highlights include locally-raised, grass-fed steaks, artisanal cheeses and seafood from king prawns to kingfish sashimi. You’ll also find seafood linguine, stuffed eggplant, oysters, tortellini, and baby back pork ribs.

Whether you’re seeking a relaxed lunch with friends, an intimate dinner for two, or a joyful feast with family, Tempo caters to all dining preferences, making it the perfect destination for any occasion.

But Tempo is not just a restaurant; it’s poised to become the social hub of Geelong. They’ll be featuring local entertainers, including DJs and musicians, to add a touch of local flair. Moreover, Tempo offers a beautiful private dining room for special events and a wine nook for added privacy for more intimate gatherings.

And let’s not forget the bar menu, thoughtfully curated to complement the culinary delights. With a selection of wines, beers, and cocktails, the bar ensures that guests enjoy a comprehensive and indulgent experience.

If you’re a local resident or a visitor to the charming city of Geelong, Tempo Kitchen & Bar is a culinary journey you won’t want to miss.

WHERE: 5 ZEALLY BAY RD, TORQUAY

WHEN: MON, THU–FRI 12–3PM & 5PM–LATE SAT–SUN 11AM–LATE

WHERE: 10/14 EASTERN BEACH RD, GEELONG

OPEN: SEVEN DAYS, 6:30AM–9:30PM

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The Novotel Geelong’s brand-new Tempo is set to become a shining star in Geelong’s culinary scene.

STAGE GUIDE Performances to see this month

LUKE BLAZE: REBORN

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a show of wonder, excitement and danger, danger, high-voltage. Nurtured by arguably the country’s most well-known illusionist Cosentino, Luke Blaze is earning his place on the podium as one of the country’s leading magicians and illusionists. Australia’s youngest current underwater escape artist, Luke has lived in a world of magic since he was eight years old. Transportations, levitations and fire-eating are all found in his new show Reborn, plus a healthy dose of comedy.

WCPA, WENDOUREE 15 OCT

THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS – THE DISTRACTION

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®

Inspired by a hot flush and a bottle of wine, Menopause the Musical® is a celebration of women who have survived ‘The Change’. It follows four women at a lingerie sale, with lyrics parodying classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. After having been seen by more than 17-million people worldwide, it returns to regional Victoria.

LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, WARRNAMBOOL 12 OCT

COSTA HALL, GEELONG 13–15 OCT

RIVERLINKS WESTSIDE, SHEPPARTON 18 OCT

HOPE SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR

Hope is an all-new concert by three-time Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir; celebrating songs and anthems from the Freedom movement of Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950’s America. Expect beautiful renditions of works by legendary artists James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and the oneand-only Aretha Franklin.

LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, WARRNAMBOOL 15 OCT

ULUMBARRA THEATRE, BENDIGO 17 OCT

BALLARAT CIVIC HALL, BALLARAT 19 OCT

COSTA HALL, GEELONG 22 OCT

THE WIZ

With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown, The Wiz is a super soul music version of the beloved The Wizard of Oz. First performed in 1974, an Australian production would take place two years later in Melbourne and Sydney. In 1978, it was made into a film starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. Enjoy a timeless classic, reimagined for a modern audience and featuring a lively soundtrack of rock, gospel and soul music.

BLUESTONE THEATRE, KYNETON UNTIL 22 OCT

We spend a lot of time on our screens. So how do you go about business of live performance in a world of screen-time? Combine them, of course. In The Distraction, The Umbilical Brothers take the energy of live performance and the spectacle of cinema for a show that is simultaneously on stage and screen.

BALLARAT

GEELONG COMEDY FESTIVAL

If a comedian tells a joke in an empty room, is it still funny? Yes. No chance of empty rooms here, however, as you enjoy a huge program featuring Aditya Gautam, Adore Händel, Aiden Willcox and Isaac Haigh, Andrew Silverwood, Brad Oakes, David Rose, Ellen Mahoney, Evan Hocking, Gordon Southern, Greg Fleet, Jarryd Goundrey, Kate Hanley Corley, Lily Fish, Murphy McLachlan, Ned Townsend, Neptune Henriksen, Nick Schuller, Sarah Maree Cameron, Stevie Stix, Tom Ballard, Tony Knight and Vincent Tshaka.

26–28 OCT

TARTUFFE

BENDIGO COMEDY FESTIVAL

A funny thing happened on the way here tonight… The Bendigo Comedy Festival is back for its fabulous fifth outing with a line-up that will scratch your comedy itch. And that lineup is Heath Franklin, Gillian Cosgriff, Dane Simpson, Daniel Connell, Alex Ward, Patti Fawcett & Dane Knowles, Grant Lockwood, Big Grebby & Poppa’s Local lineup Show, Breast of the Fest and the Comedy Festival Gala.

THE ENGINE ROOM, BENDIGO 11–15 OCT

When a wealthy French family welcomes Tartuffe into their home, they seek to uncover his true nature. Tartuffe is a burger with the lot and then some. You have circus performers, snake oil salesmen, big costumes and characters, a fast pace, pride, family disagreement, piety, religious bigotry and hypocrisy – all set in the 17th century and featuring rhyming couplets. A satirical comedy by Molière, Tartuffe (or The Imposter or The Hypocrite) is the fourth production of 2023 by the Torquay Theatre Troupe.

THE MAC, TORQUAY 26 OCT–4 NOV

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CIVIC HALL 12 OCT LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, WARRNAMBOOL 13 OCT KYNETON TOWN HALL, KYNETON 20 OCT THE CAPITAL, BENDIGO 21 OCT
GEELONG VENUES

GIG GUIDE

THU 12 OCT

STREET LEGAL, MERAKI MINDS, COOLDAD

VOLTA, BALLARAT

8 PM $18.40

ASH GRUNWALD

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $50

FRI 13 OCT

JENNY DON’T & THE SPURS, THE PINK STONES, THE BURES BAND

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $43.85

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL

THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG

7:30 PM $79.90

NICHOLAS ELLERBY PALAIS HEPBURN

6:30 PM $15

TRAVIS COLLINS, THE PARLE BROTHERS

THE SETTS, MILDURA.

6 PM $44.90

EMOWEEN

VOLTA, BALLARAT

7 PM $28.85

DIDIRRI THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

8 PM $35.70

THE FAT THING

FT: Dead Salesmen Duo and The Ergot Detective.

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

7:30 PM

KOIROI AND FRIENDS

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $14.30

SAT 14 OCT

WINSTON SURFSHIRT

TORQUAY HOTEL

8:30 PM $49.90

Stronger Than All

FT: System Of A Don’t and Alice Remains

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

7 PM $20

THE PIANO MENTHE SONGS OF ELTON

JOHN & BILLY JOEL

THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG

8 PM

ADULT $59, CONCESSION $52

BABBA!

PALAIS HEPBURN

6:30 PM $35

ASH GRUNWALD, THE MOJO CORNER

QUEENSCLIFF TOWN HALL

7 PM $54

LUNE

THE WOOL EXCHANGE, GEELONG

8 PM $19.99

SAMMY OWEN & LIAM KEALY’S

BURNING B3 TRIO

PISTOL PETE’S FOOD & BLUES, GEELONG

9 PM $15

SUN 15 OCT

HOT POTATO BAND, SWEETHEARTS

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

4:30 PM $39.80

DIESEL THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG

8 PM $80.83

RICK PRICE

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

7:30 PM $36.75

THU 19 OCT

DESCENDENTS, VOIID, THE CUTAWAYS

TORQUAY HOTEL

7:30 PM $84.90

BOLLARD, BIGSHAREBAG, BRUNETTE RED DRESS AND MONGEESE BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

7 PM $18.40

BEN SALTER, WARREN MASON THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

7 PM $28.60

PUNK NIGHT

VALHALLA TAPROOM, GEELONG

7 PM FREE

FRI 20 OCT

MILDLIFE

TORQUAY HOTEL

8:30 PM $55

MUNDANE JANE, MERAKI MINDS, PAISLEY LACE

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $18.40

CATE TAYLOR & CORN NUT CREEK

PALAIS HEPBURN

6:30 PM $20

PORPOISE SPIT, SKINK TANK, GROVE THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

7 PM $17.35

Belgrave Soundwave

FT: The Velvet Club, Majak Door and Pink Lady

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $27

ILLY ALL SEASONS HOTEL, BENDIGO

8 PM $51.35

HISTORY OF HOUSE

THEATRE ROYAL, BENDIGO

8 PM $79.90

TEENAGE DADS, THE MOVING STILLS, LOLA SCOTT

VOLTA, BALLARAT

8 PM $41.25

DAN SULTAN MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE

7 PM $54.55

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OCTOBER 2023
go to forte.com.au/gigguide
For more gigs

FANCY FACE - ‘EL GRONKO’ ALBUM TOUR

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $18.40

OPAL OCEAN

PALAIS HEPBURN

7 PM $20

EUROA MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS FLOW

FT: Vaudeville Smash, The Fauves, Cool Sounds, Bones and Jones and more

EUROA BUTTER FACTORY

1:30 PM $86.95

Oktoberfest

FT: 360, Joel Fletcher, Big Twisty & The Funknasty and more

KRYAL CASTLE, LEIGH CREEK, BALLARAT

12 PM $66.30

COOLDAD, DE PORSAL, BRUNETTE RED DRESS

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

7 PM $11.25

Voodoo Boogie

FT: The Detonators, Collards Greens, Gravy and Rod Pains Fulltime Lovers

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

7 PM $51.55

ILY

VOLTA, BALLARAT

8 PM $51.15

SAM BUCKLEY

PISTOL PETE’S FOOD & BLUES, GEELONG

9 PM $10

SUN 22 OCT

COUCH WIZARD, HOT MACHINE, INKED FACTOR

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

4:30 PM $18.40

SUPERSTAR –THE CARPENTERS SONGBOOK

PALAIS HEPBURN

12:30 PM $40

RAT!HAMMOCK, HOLLIE JOYCE (ALL AGES)

QUEENSCLIFF TOWN HALL

1:30 PM $15

BOLLARD, THE THING FROM SPRING, THE PEARLIES

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

6 PM $17.35

THE HORNETS

PISTOL PETE’S FOOD & BLUES, GEELONG

5 PM $15

THU 26 OCT

COOLDAD, VIOLET, GARDEN LANE

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

6 PM $15

FRI 27 OCT

THE PEARL JAM EXPERIENCE, BLACK HOLE SONS

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $41.85

HARTS PLAYS HENDRIX

THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG

7:30 PM $74.40

SWEET TALK

THE BRIDGE HOTEL, CASTLEMAINE

9 PM $22.95

JUKEBOX FRIDAYS

MEDUSA BAR, GEELONG

4 PM FREE

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

VALHALLA TAPROOM, GEELONG

7 PM FREE

SAT 28 OCT

LAGWAGON

TORQUAY HOTEL

8:30 PM SOLD OUT

THE KITE MACHINE, FIGURES, FORMILES

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

7 PM $20

TOMMY FLEMING

COSTA HALL - DEAKIN UNIVERSITY GEELONG WATERFRONT

7:30 PM $69.95

ARJ BARKER

THE STORY HOUSE, GEELONG

8PM $54.90

SWEET TALK

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

7 PM $22.95

TROPHY EYES

VOLTA, BALLARAT

7:30 PM SOLD OUT

FUNK MONKS, EVEN FLOW

THE WOOL EXCHANGE, GEELONG

8 PM $38.80

SNAG!

FT: Kerri Simpson, Tim Neal, Dean Addison & Mark Gurden

PISTOL PETE’S FOOD & BLUES, GEELONG

9 PM $15

SATURDAY NIGHT DJS

MEDUSA BAR, GEELONG

6 PM FREE

SUN 29 OCT

TROPHY EYES, DEAR SEATTLE

TORQUAY HOTEL

7:30 PM $59.90

SWEET TALK, DAVID M WESTERN

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

5 PM $23.50

SIN CITY, THE BRAKES, THE THING FROM SPRING

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

6 PM $11.25

THU 2 NOV

CAITLIN HARNETT & THE PONY BOYS, BONES AND JONES

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

7 PM $25

ISABELLA MANFREDI

THE BRIDGE HOTEL, CASTLEMAINE

7:30 PM $34.20

METAL NIGHT

VALHALLA TAPROOM, GEELONG

7 PM FREE

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 32
OCT
SAT 21

M i s t e r C o . x L i a M a g u

" B e t t e r L i v e s " t a k e s a u d i e n c e s o n a c a p t i v a t i n g j o u r n e y t h r o u g h t h e s t r u g g l e s a n d t r i u m p h s o f a c o u p l e d e t e r m i n e d t o c a r v e t h e i r p a t h t o s u c c e s s a n d h a p p i n e s s .

T h i s p u l s a t i n g t r a c k d e l v e s i n t o t h e c h a l l e n g e s f a c e d b y t h e p r o t a g o n i s t s , s h o w c a s i n g t h e i r u n w a v e r i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o e a c h o t h e r a n d t h e i r d r e a m s .

W i t h i t s i n f e c t i o u s r h y t h m s a n d c a t c h y m e l o d i e s , " B e t t e r L i v e s " r e s o n a t e s a s a n a n t h e m f o r t h o s e s t r i v i n g f o r g r e a t n e s s w h i l e o v e r c o m i n g o b s t a c l e s . M i s t e r C o . , t h e m a s t e r m i n d b e h i n d t h i s s i n g l e , h a s t e a m e d u p w i t h t h e t a l e n t e d M e l b o u r n e i n d e p e n d e n t a r t i s t

L i a M a g u t o b r i n g " B e t t e r L i v e s " t o l i f e .

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F O L L O W U S @misterco.melbourne @lia.music.melbourne Photo Credit Lucinda Goodwin

FRI 3 NOV

YOU AM I, MOJO CORNER, NATHAN SEEKTZ

TORQUAY HOTEL

8:30 PM $61.20

GABBY STEEL, JASMIN ADRIA, LIBBY LEISSNER

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

7 PM $13.30

A NIGHT OF OPERA:

MIRUSIA LIVE

PALAIS HEPBURN

6:30 PM $55

ROCKET SCIENCE

VOLTA, BALLARAT

8 PM $34.95

DOG TRUMPET

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

8 PM $45.90

SAT 4 NOV

MILO EASTWOOD + ADRIANA WITH JARV!S AND MAXIMA

TORQUAY HOTEL

8 PM $15

ROCKET SCIENCE

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $34.70

BJÖRN AGAIN

COSTA HALL - DEAKIN UNIVERSITY GEELONG

WATERFRONT

7:30 PM $83.40

IVAN ARISTEGUIETA

PALAIS HEPBURN

7 PM $35

RILEY PEARCE

DAYLESFORD HOTEL

8 PM $33.70

CAITLIN HARNETT & THE PONY BOYS, BONES AND JONES

VOLTA, BALLARAT

7 PM $28.85

10 Years of Sooki Lounge

FT: T-REK

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $31.65

LEARNING TO FLY - TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

8 PM $59.70

SUN 5 NOV

Lightning & Rhinestones: A Home-Grown

Alt-Country Music Festival

PALAIS HEPBURN

12 PM $44.95

JEREMY BEGGS & THE LONG ROAD

VOLTA, BALLARAT

3 PM $18.40

10 Years of Sooki Lounge

FT: The Pierce Brothers, Coco Jumbo, The Coffins and more

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

1 PM $53.05

THU 9 NOV

THE EXPLOITED, THE DEADBEATS

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $69.90

MINOR GOLD

THE EASTERNM, BALLARAT

7 PM $23.50

BONNIE ANDERSON

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $36.75

FRI 10 NOV

THE MURLOCS, THE TOADS

TORQUAY HOTEL

8 PM $51

HYBRID NIGHTMARES, STORMTIDE, IN EDEN SLAIN AND SCAPHIS

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

7 PM $23.50

THE WAIFS

COSTA HALL - DEAKIN UNIVERSITY GEELONG WATERFRONT

7:30 PM $91–$79

SIONNACH RUA’S GET IRISH SONGBOOK

PALAIS HEPBURN

6:30 PM $45

AL MATCOTT, LADY LYON, STEEL WHEELS.

BIRD ROCK CAFE, JAN JUC

12 PM $18.40

SCREENSAVER, OUZO

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT.

7 PM $19.40

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

8 PM $45.90

ELLA HOOPER

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE

8 PM $35

SAT 11 NOV

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA

TORQUAY HOTEL

8 PM $45.90

MODELS –‘40 YEARS OF MOTION’

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

8 PM $49.99

GARETH LIDDIARD

THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE

8 PM $51.55

ROCKET SCIENCE

THE BRIDGE HOTEL, CASTLEMAINE

9 PM $34.20

SUN 12 NOV

SAN CISCO, NOAH DILLION

TORQUAY HOTEL

7:30 PM $66.30

CJ COMMERFORD & THE SUPERTONES

BARWON CLUB HOTEL, SOUTH GEELONG

4 PM $23.50

DAVID M WESTERN

THE EASTERN, BALLARAT

6 PM $17.35

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 34

LATE NIGHT LANEWAY BAR

ROCK O’CASHEL LANE GEELONG

FORTEMAG.COM.AU 36
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