Editorial Note

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sidonie Bird de la Coeur

Talia Rinaldo

STAFF WRITER

Kaya Martin

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nathan Mossop

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Ben Lamb, Bryget Chrisfield, Zachary Sanderson, Kosa Monteith, Tammy Walters, Andrew Handley, Jacob McCormack, Coco Veldkamp, Luke Carlino, Jasmine Penman, Alexia Petsinis, Matt Parnell

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ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au

DISTRIBUTION distribution@furstmedia.com.au

PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

The music makes it all worth it, so this month we feature one of Naarm’s fastest-rising renaissance women: DJ, producer, fashion and graphic designer, model and all-round good egg Soju Gang, who’s bringing her acclaimed Sorbaes party back to Live at the Bowl. Melbourne’s famous grassy knoll also welcomes Icehouse this month, so we’ve saved room for a trip down memory lane with the legendary Iva Davies. We also celebrate the return of St Kilda Festival with a big centre spread (they have a bloody ripper of a lineup this year) and peruse Midsumma with blond bombshell Joel Creasey.

Speaking of bombshells - Maisie Peters dropped by for a chinwag before she plays a little venue called the MCG with some bloke called Ed Sheeran. We also discuss aliens in the desert with Freya Josephine Hollick, the state of the union with Civic, meet the artists behind ACCA’s freaky new exhibition Data Relations, and find out what a picó soundsystem is, thanks to our new verbena-starters El Gran Mono. Plus all the regular stuff, it’s a huge issue. We need to lie down, where’s that bloody aloe vera…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Our magazine is published on the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

Distribution

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Our February cover star is Soju Gang.

Brunswick Music Festival reveals international headliners

The iconic Brunswick Music Festival is returning for its 35th installment, along with the Sydney Road Street Party, from March 5 to 13. Niger’s Mdou Moctar and Brooklyn psych-pop band Crumb will lead the BMF ‘23 line-up with tickets on sale right now!

Kurt Vile, Black Midi lead Meadow 2023 lineup

The Victorian surf coast retreat returns with international acts from March 31April 2 next year, with Kurt Vile and The Violators, Black Midi, Jen Cloher, Kučka, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Big Scary, Agung Mango and many more.

Tent Pole expands 2023 lineup

Black Lips, Charley Crockett, The Prize and more join the likes of Pavement and Spiderbait at Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree, the newest festival headed for our region in 2023. The inaugural event is taking place at Geelong’s Mt Duneed Estate, on their newly developed Top Paddock site, on Saturday 4 March.

New bar opens inside Coburg’s Pentridge Prison

Located within the historic E Division building at Pentridge Prison, BrewDog Pentridge is a $3 million project and new destination in Melbourne for craft beer lovers. The restored interiors offer a nod to the history of the site, while the sprawling beer garden offers a modern and casual experience.

Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins unite for Australian tour

Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins, two of Australia’s much-loved musical icons and raconteurs, are teaming up for a tour together in February, including a show at Melbourne Recital Centre on February 17.

Ballet Revolución announces 2023 Australian tour

With distinctive Cuban flair, elasticity, versatility and energy, Ballet Revolución has been recharged, rebooted and is now ready to return to Australian fans with a national tour in May 2023 with a brand new production. It’s playing the Palais Theatre on May 26 and 27.

CresFest adds more acts to folk and roots lineup

Natalie & Brittany Haas (USA), Lucy Wise, Fred Smith, Monique Clare, Archer, Greg Champion, The Maggie Carty Band, Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers and Headphones Jones have now been announced for CresFest 2023. These acts join the likes of Kutcha Edwards, While and Matthews, Charm of Finches and more. CresFest takes place from March 31 to April 2 in Cheswick.

MPavilion announces 250 free events

From underground techno to the future of sex, MPavilion has announced its free program taking place in the Queen Victoria Gardens at the ninth MPavilion, until Thursday 6 April 2023.

La Mama announces 2023 summer program

La Mama’s major show for the season is The Grief Trilogy, the culmination of Liv Satchell’s acclaimed award-winning three shows: I sat and waited but you were gone too long, my sister feather, and let bleeding girls lie. These plays have been created over the last seven years with an ensemble of Melbourne’s leading theatre artists: Chanella Macri, Belinda McClory and Emily Tomlins.

A Summer Fe Stival For Everyone

JANUARY – APRIL

SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL

BON IVER • DARREN HAYES • FATBOY SLIM • ICEHOUSE

KING STINGRAY • LORDE • MSO FREE CONCERTS • PASIFIX

PIKNIC ELECTRONIK • REMINISCE • SORBAES: SUNDAE

SYNTHONY • TEENY TINY STEVIES • ULTRA

Lightscape will return to the Royal Botanical Gardens

Cameras at the ready, Victoria’s Royal Botanic Gardens will be home to the massive Lightscape light installation for the second time, for a season in winter next year. Featuring an all-new track, that will span two kilometres of colour-changing installations and large-scale illuminated sculptures, catch Lightscape from June 16 until August 6.

Live at the Bowl keeps getting bigger

Arts Centre Melbourne’s four-month long festival Live at the Bowl has added a heap of new artists to the lineup, which includes Fatboy Slim, ULTRA Australia, Soju Gang, Dan Sultan, Piknic Electronik and more.

Melbourne Guitar Show returns to Caulfield

The Melbourne Guitar Show is a gathering of nearly 5000 of the city’s most dedicated musos. Happening on March 4 and 5 at the Caulfield Race Course, it’s the event’s first time back in three years, so guitar fanatics will surely be itching to get their hands on some new equipment.

Ngaiire to perform with the MSO

Ngaiire and the MSO are combining forces on March 18 at Hamer Hall for an all-out concert. A performance that was originally commissioned by the Sydney Opera House and the SSO for the Opera House’s 50th Anniversary, this incredible performance draws upon her latest album, the critically-acclaimed 3, as well as the hits from her career.

ACMI’s new exhibition celebrates game-changing women

From Marlene Dietrich to Pam Grier to Tilda Swinton to Margot Robbie, ACMI’s latest blockbuster Winter Masterpieces exhibition will celebrate the formidable women of the screen through never-before-seen costumes, large-scale projections, interactive experiences and more. A celebration of the game-changing women of film, Goddess will run from April 5 until October 1 at ACMI.

Barbecue festival Meatstock returns

Taking Melbourne Showgrounds on 18-19 March, at the heart of the two-day festival is an unmatched lineup of BBQ pitmasters and authentic ‘low and slow’ barbecue, cooking on some of Australia’s biggest and craziest smokers and barbecues.

Section 8 launches six-month-long series, Level Up

Level Up, which is already underway, is a six-month series scheduled to take place at Section 8 until April 2023. The free-entry series, which happens every second Sunday of the month, is structured into six events that each celebrate different aspects of Melbourne’s creative community.

Melbourne Women in Film Festival drops 2023 program

The annual Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) will return for its seventh year from 23 – 27 February 2023, taking place at ACMI, the official presenting partner of the festival. Through the theme Connections, MWFF will explore creative collaborations with local and international filmmakers.

Victoria’s Pride reveals Melbourne street party lineup

Scheduled for February 12, 2023, Victoria’s Pride street party will transform Gertrude and Smith Street into a multi-sensory festival-type atmosphere that will include a diverse array of performances running from 11am-9pm. Headlining Victoria’s Pride is the multi-disciplinary and highly talented Keiynan Lonsdale.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24

STAY GOLD - BRUNSWICKDOORS 7.30PM - tix - bit.ly/catbitemelb with Admiral Ackbar's Dishonourable Discharge

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25

TI TREE HOTEL - WARRION

DOORS 8.30PM - tix - bit.ly/ti-tree-hotel

1 hour south west of Geelong - onsite camping both shows with

St Kilda Festival reveals expanded 2023 program

St Kilda Festival is back and better than ever from 18 – 19 February, featuring First Peoples First on the Saturday and then a return to huge crowds on the Sunday, with Hoodoo Gurus, Confidence Man, Genesis Owusu, Christine Anu and Yothu Yindi all on the lineup.

Masked Wolf, Vera Blue coming to Fed Square

Fed Square has announced the return of Fed Live, a free music festival in the heart of Melbourne, featuring some of Australia’s biggest acts. On Saturday February 18, Vera Blue headlines with support from acclaimed indie-pop songstress Gretta Ray. Then on Friday March 24, perhaps the biggest drawcard of them all – Sydney rapper Masked Wolf.

Free Twilight Sounds festival heads to the north

Taking place on February 11, this free outdoor festival will light up Heidelberg Park for a day of soul, jazz, blues and R&B featuring the likes of DJ MzRizk, Mahalia Barnes, Benny Walker, The Meltdown and Mayfield.

Sunset Safari returns to Werribee Zoo

With many African animals being most active at dusk, the return of the Werribee Zoo Sunset Safari is the perfect time to see some of the world’s most iconic animals, sparking awe and wonder among visitors for a fifth exciting year with a new route for the 2023 season. It takes place on Saturday evenings until February 25.

Castlemaine State Festival announces 2023 season

Now in its 47th year, Australia’s flagship regional arts event The Castlemaine State Festival will run from 24 March to 9 April 2023 in Castlemaine, drawing thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas to the regional centre to experience a family-friendly, fun, and accessible 17-day event.

King Stingray to play all-ages $20 show

Breakthrough band King Stingray is ready to bring the heat with a one-off youth show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on March 31 as part of Live at the Bowl. The Northeast Arnhem Land favourites will have the Bowl rocking with their unique Yolŋu surf-rock style combining elements of ancient Indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk.

Hilltop Hoods and more join Ability Fest lineup

Ability Fest have just revealed their 2023 lineup featuring Hilltop Hoods, Sampa the Great, Meg Mac, BROODS, SHOUSE, DZ Deathrays, Telenova, Alex Lahey and more. Taking place on March 25 at Birrarung Marr, Ability Fest is proudly Australia’s first all-accessible music festival and one of the leading inclusive events in the country.

RocKwiz’s Really Really Good Friday returns to Hamer Hall

After 14 seasons, 117 episodes and countless tours around the nation, the television show turned stage show extravaganza RocKwiz is considered by many to be an Australian music institution. The gang are back with hometown favourite RocKwiz’s Really Really Good Friday at Hamer Hall on April 7.

Sugababes reveal headlining tour

Lowrise denim, belly chains and velour tracksuits are back – and so is one of the most era-defining girl groups. No list of the queens of Y2K would be complete without all three members of Sugababes. The iconic Brit-pop girl group will play three shows in Australia this February, including Margaret Court Arena on February 24.

Julia Jacklin announced for OK Charlton festival

OK Charlton have just announced their secret headliner – the indie-pop darling Julia Jacklin. Joining the likes of CIVIC, Party Dozen, Frente, Eaten By Dogs, Ali, ENOLA and more, she will be appearing at the festival in Charlton from February 17 – 19.

Charli XCX announces headline Melbourne show

With over 175 million total Australian streams, global pop star Charli XCX has announced her Crash The Live Tour 2023 is coming to Northcote Theatre on Thursday 2 March.

Beck announces Australian headline tour

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee and eight-time Grammy-winner Beck will perform an intimate and unique acoustic show at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Monday 3 April.

Ella Hooper announces 2023 Australian tour

With her second solo album Small Town Temple, the one and only Ella Hooper has announced a national run of tour dates to showcase the tracks live, along with a selection of new material and some old favourites. She’ll be performing at the Malthouse Outdoor Stage on February 19.

The Grogans are touring Australia

The Grogans are hitting the road for a huge slew of tour dates across the first half of 2022. As well as appearing at Ninchfest on February 10, The Grogans are heading to The Croxton on April 14 and an under-18s matinee performance at The Gasometer on April 22.

Hardwell leads Ultra Australia 2023

Ultra Australia, the leading electronic music festival, will return to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain gardens in Melbourne on Saturday, April 15 and has just announced its Phase 1 lineup for the autumn festival, featuring Hardwell, Darren Styles, Timmy Trumpet.

Charley Crockett is touring Australia

Hailing from sun-baked South Texas, the singer-songwriter is as Americana as it gets. This March, for the first time ever, he’ll be bringing his vintage, blues-tinged sound to Australia for four dates only, including the Northcote Theatre on March 5.

Weird Al Yankovic announces 2023 Australian tour

The prince of parody is heading Down Under for his The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. He’ll be playing the Palais on March 10.

The Murlocs announce Rapscallion tour

Returning from their Headline tour in the United States and sold-out performances at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre supporting King Gizzard, The Murlocs are bringing their highly anticipated and energetic live show back home to Australia with their Rapscallion tour. Catch them when they head to Naarm/ Melbourne for a show at the Northcote Theatre on April 22.

Echo Beach announces bush-boogie event

The crowd pleasing Echo Beach festival is back, but with a twist. The day-long event is forgoing the beach for the bush this year, and will take place at the Collingwood Children’s Farm on February 11. Adriana, Jex Opolis, Mayurashka, Tornado Wallace and more are locked in to play.

Strawberry Fields launch new festival Good Times

With a lineup featuring the likes of Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, CW Stoneking and Floodlights – with more acts to be announced in the leadup – Good Times is set to live up to its namesake on March 25 in Tocumwal, on the banks of the Murray River.

Rone has a new pop-up installation

Relive 2021’s exhibition Rone in Geelong at a new, free pop-up installation in the city. You will find the free Tableau of Without Darkness There is No Light in front of Arts Centre Melbourne.

Mondays from 5:30PM

Mondays from 5:30PM

Hosted by MJ (100% Phat)

Sunday 5 February Big Band Frequency

Friday 10 February

Bush Gothic

Saturday 11 February

Grand Baxter

Sunday 19 February

Songs of Elvis Costello

Tuesday 21 February

Rainee Blake

Thursday 23 February Ruth Hazleton

Friday 24 February Love me or Leave Me

FRONT BAR

Tuesday 7 February Danny Ross

Saturday 11 February Georgia Rodgers

Sunday 12 February Winfield Road Experiment

Tuesday 14 February Shoehorn

Thursday 23 February Dani Forsyth

Saturday