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Meadow is back in Autumn 2023 The Victorian music, camping and BYO Surf Coast retreat returns for its ninth installment

Editorial Note

EDITOR

Talia Rinaldo

PARTNERSHIPS & CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Matt Wilkinson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nathan Mossop

GIG GUIDE

Alex Callan

CONTRIBUTORS

Benjamin Lamb, Tammy Walters, Alex Callan, Tyler Jenke, Mackinley Campbell, Fred Carlyle, Anthony Morris

FOR

While 2022 has disappeared faster than the last slice of Pavlova at the Christmas spread, 2023 is rolling around, bringing with it a bunch of festivals, events and gigs to get excited about.

One we’re particularly keen on welcoming back is the surf coast's beloved Meadow Festival. Taking over the lush farmland hamlet of Bambra for three stacked days of live music this Autumn, the BYO camping festival will come to life with an unmissable lineup headlined by Philadelphia’s lo-fi rocker Kurt Vile and his band The Violators, London’s post-punk revivalists and noise rock band Black Midi, plus local favourites in Jen Cloher, Kučka, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Big Scary and more. A ticket to this little gem for Christmas would be pretty spesh, just sayin’.

Speaking of spesh, we’re pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to summer festivals to hit up, with the likes of Festival of Sails, Great Australian Beer Festival, Midsumma, SummerSalt, Apollo Bay Seafood Festival and more. We also chat with New Zealand-born DJ/producer and big-time dreamer Jolyon Petch, Melbourne duo Big Scary, Melbourne indie folk wonder Breckin, and the Scientists, arguably one of Australia's most influential underground rock bands.

There’s heaps more too so take a flick through my friends, it’s our Christmas gift to you.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

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

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COVER

Our Summer Edition cover is Meadow. Cover photo by Kirsty Renee Hill.

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas my enthusiastic Forte readers for our special Summer edition is upon us and we’ve been busy pulling together the freshest content to keep you cool all summer long.

New one day festival Heaps Good expands lineup

Bringing the best of Falls Festival lineup to Adelaide, Heaps Good has just expanded its lineup, adding G Flip, CC:DISCO!, Pretty Girl, Subjoi, Mum Thinks Blue and Claude, alongside previously announced heavy-hitters like Arctic Monkeys, Peggy Gou, CHVRCHES, Jamie xx, Ocean Alley and Spacey Jane. .

Locals Night returns to Torquay Hotel in January Back for the second time, Torquay's most loved night, 'Locals Night' returns with a star studded lineup of acts + DJ's local to our region. Taking place on Friday, January 20, Locals Night will feature Beans, Bananagun, Savage Honey, Mona Bay and Paraqua, accompanied by DJ Dr Worm.

The Ballarat Beer Festival returns for Summer Returning for its 12th year (which is worthy of a beer itself), The Ballarat Beer Festival will return to the beautiful Northern Gardens on Saturday, February 18, turning the space into a craft beer lover’s paradise. The family-friendly festival will be filled with almost 40 of Australia’s leading craft beer brewers, beer education classes, live music headlined by Dallas Crane, food trucks and more.

Australian music legends headline Pyrenees Hideout Festival

Daryl Braithwaite, Kasey Chambers and The Black Sorrows will headline this summer's Pyrenees Hideout Festival. The rock and country music festival will be held on Saturday 11 February from 12pm-10pm at Beaufort's Goldfields Recreation Reserve. Billed as a fun family day out, it will feature two music stages, a fully licensed bar, wine tasting, market and food stalls, children’s activities and entertainment.

Party In The Paddock expand its 2023 lineup

Beloved Tassie music festival has just announced its second artist lineup, well and truly bringing the PARTY to the Paddock. The festival will now welcome the likes of DMA’s, Vengaboys (EU), Yung Gravy (USA), Art vs Science, Kat Edwards, Close Counters (DJ Set), The Moving Stills and more, joining already announced acts in the likes of Gang of Youths, Benee and The Presets.

The full lineup for NYE on the Hill has dropped for 2022

Three three-day, two-night camping festival for New Year’s Eve is returning to South Gippsland this year after selling out each iteration so far, with BYO alcohol and themed bars, over 30 artists on the bill, a deck disco, comedians, late-night DJs, art installations, morning yoga, chill out areas, food trucks, and a pretty gorgeous location.

Mavs Greek Restaurant named among the very best Greek restaurants in Australia

Representing Victoria at the 2022 National Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence in November, Mavs took out the Bronze prize, well and truly putting Geelong’s only authentic Greek eatery firmly on the map. The local Greek restaurant came in just behind Sydney eatery JAAKS Restaurant and Bar and ESTIA Restaurant in Henley Beach, South Australia who took out gold.

Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana lead new festival Vintage Vibes

Taking place in Adelaide Hills on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd, Vintage Vibes has just dropped a huge lineup for its inaugural edition, headlined by multi-ARIA Award-winning artists, Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana, Angus & Julia Stone, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Temper Trap and Hermitude.

Regional music festival CresFest adds more acts to its glorious lineup CresFest Folk and Roots Music Festival has announced its second round of acts joining the festival in March 2023. Natalie & Brittany Haas (USA), Lucy Wise, Fred Smith, Monique Clare, Archer, Greg Champion, The Maggie Carty Band, Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers and Headphones Jones join already announced Kutcha Edwards, While and Matthews, Charm of Finches and more.

10cc are coming to Geelong and Bendigo for their Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour Iconic 70s rock band, 10cc, is heading to Geelong and Bendigo for their Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour, amongst a slew of Australia-wide tour dates across June and July 2023. Expect to hear all the hits from their extensive discography, including I’m Not In Love, The Things We Do For Love, Dreadlock Holiday, Donna, Art For Art’s Sake and more.

Coastal Jam drops mega Boxing Day lineup for Barwon Heads edition

Renowned for bringing along some of the finest names in the dance and electronic movement as well as festival level productions to regional cities, Coastal Jam returns to Barwon Heads with viral sensation Disco Lines taking on headline duties this Boxing Day (26 December 2022). Joining Disco Lines is TSEBA (SYD), festival favourite, Dean Turnley, Coco Du Ma, DJ Swella, Eva, Coastal Jam resident, Meetwally, Nato, Soul Shakin’, Spin City Disco and Zoe.

Pixar-themed mini-golf course Pixar Putt returns to Victoria this summer

Following a successful summer run at Geelong’s waterfront last Christmas holidays, Australia’s much-loved pop-up mini-golf phenomenon, Pixar Putt, will arrive at Frankston Waterfront from 16 December through to 29 January 2023. The 18 holes are inspired by Disney-Pixar films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and A Bug’s Life.

Jack Botts announces ‘Dream On’ Australian summer tour

With a sound perfect for bringing those coastal road trip vibes to life, Jack Botts will be delivering the summer soundtrack we deserve in January with his Dream On Australian tour, taking to venues across the country. Locally, Botts will perform at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on January 7 and the Torquay Hotel on January 8.

Apollo Bay musician Matt Orchard wins Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award

Beloved Apollo Bay music teacher and musician Matt Orchard has emerged as the local hero at the 2022 ARIA Awards. Orchard, a teacher at Apollo Bay P-12 College, was awarded this year’s Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award in partnership with Telstra, and proudly supported by The Song Room, recognised for his work in giving students a game-changing opportunity in music.

Merivale’s iconic Italian institution Totti’s is opening at Lorne Hotel this summer Sydney hospitality giant Merivale have announced that the iconic Great Ocean Road pub will host their most popular restaurant concept Totti’s. Opening in February, the restaurant will see Merivale Executive Chef (and Totti’s creator) Mike Eggert, along with Lorne Hotel Executive Chef and Surf Coast local Matt Germanchis at the helm, bringing Totti’s famous puffy woodfired bread, house-made pastas and seafood to the Surf Coast.

Hot Dub Time Machine announces back to back shows in Torquay this summer

Off the back of his sold-out Hot Dub Rave Machine tour and playing to tens of thousands of fans from all around the world at Tomorrowland in Belgium, Australia’s Hot Dub Time Machine has announced two very special shows in Torquay in January. Showcasing songs from every decade and genre of music, the DJ will perform back to back shows on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 in 2023.

Ballarat Begonia Festival returns to its original format in March 2023

Ballarat is set to bloom once again as the City of Ballarat delivers its 71st immersive Ballarat Begonia Festival. Returning to its original three-day format from 11-13 March 2023, the free nature-based event in the heart of Victoria’s Goldfields region will embrace the city’s thriving, creative community and showcase its signature collection of rare begonias with an exciting new program. Full details on the event program available from February.

An exclusive major survey exhibition of beloved Australian artist Clarice Beckett is coming to Geelong

Arriving on April 1 2023, Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere is the much anticipated thematic survey of the work of beloved Australian artist Clarice Beckett (1887–1935) which has been curated by Geelong Gallery and presents over sixty exceptional paintings dating from 1919 to the early 1930s. Beckett is now considered one of Australia’s leading female artists of the early twentieth century.

Pako Festa is coming back to Pakington Street in 2023

Pakington street will once again come alive with an abundance of colour, unique costumes, live music, street performers, multicultural food, and traditional dancing in celebration of Geelong’s diverse mix of cultures with people from all walks of life with Pako Festa 2023, finally returning home where it belongs on Saturday, February 25.

Ella Hooper announces Small Town Temple Album Tour

Ella Hooper has revealed an extensive run of national tour dates, kicking off on January 28, 2023 in Barwon Heads at Wonderland Spiegeltent in support of brand new album Small Town Temple, released on January 20.

Riverboats Music Festival unveil 2023 lineup

Taking place at a new temporary location at Echuca’s Victoria Park Reserve from February 17-19, 2023, sun-soaked Riverboats Music Festival will present performances by the likes of Marlon Williams (NZ), Spiderbait, C.W. Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, The Rolling Stones Revue featuring Adalita, Phil Jamieson & Tex Perkins, The Whitlams, Felix Riebl and more, with Rockwiz’s Brian Nankervis returning as Festival MC.

Kalye Marinas brings Filipino seafood boil to Geelong

For the lovers of all things flavour and seafood feast, Kalye Marinas Cafe and Seafood Hub should be the top of your list. Opening in Geelong West, the new Filipino-owned restaurant invites you to don a bib and gloves, turf your inhibitions and get messy digging into saucy piles of seafood and accompaniments.

Legendary Malian Guitarist Vieux Farka Touré returns to Australia

One of the world’s most respected guitarists and musicians, Touré returns to Australia with his full band to perform from his extraordinary back catalogue and critically acclaimed new album, ‘Les Racines’. The album celebrates the universal adage that says ‘to know where you’re going, you must know where you’ve come from. The legendary guitarist and his full band will take to the Theatre Royal Castlemaine on March 9 and Port Fairy Folk Festival on March 10 + 11.

Port Fairy Folk Festival announces third artist lineup

Following an incredible first and second lineup release, the third release artists joining the superb round of folk artists include Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Blues Roulette, Bud Rokesky, Early James (USA), Eilen Jewell (USA), Folk Bitch Trio, Gallie, Georgia Mooney, Georgia State Line, Jon Boden (ENG), Minor Gold, Nick Charles, Sally Seltmann, Scott Cook (CAN), Skyscraper Stan, Startijenn (FRA), Sweet Talk, The Southern Ocean Sea Band, Vieux Farka Touré (MLI) and William Crighton.

Flight Facilities, The Presets lead Bendigo’s new Day By Day Music Festival in 2023

Taking place on Saturday, February 4 2023 at Bendigo Racecourse, Day By Day Festival is the newest event to arrive from the good humans at Daybreak, Agenda & Untitled Group. Esteemed electronic producer duo Flight Facilities and electro titans The Presets will headline, alongside performances from Jordan Brando, KLP, Memphis LK, Running Touch (DJ Set), Set Mo, and Yarra with more to be announced in the lead up to the summer fest.

Castlemaine Town Folk Festival returns in 2023

Flowstate Brewers and Distillers has opened its first cellar door in Torquay

Liz Stringer & William Crighton announce co-headline tour for March

Two of Australia’s finest storytellers, Liz Stringer and William Crighton are joining forces in March 2023 for a co-headline tour. Both notoriously powerful live performers, Stringer and Crighton also share a deep engagement with the struggles, challenges and triumphs of the communities they perform in. Catch them at Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on March 17 and Archie’s Creek Hotel in Archie’s Creek on March 19.

Bad//Dreems, C.O.F.F.I.N lead one-day Port Fairy festival Down South 2023

The one-day festival will head down south on Saturday, February 25 for its second ever installment at Port Fairy’s biggest and best pub, The Star of The West. Heading up the event will be Tarndanya/ Adelaide’s Bad//Dreems and C.O.F.F.I.N from Warrane/New South Wales, plus CIVIC, Future Suck, So.Crates, Blowers and Queenie and her band, and more.

Sawyers Arms Tavern has launched a ‘feed me’ menu feast from an ex-Movida chef Boasting modern Australian fare in the heart of Geelong, Sawyers Arm Tavern is giving Geelong foodies a new stressfree, budget-friendly lunching experience with its brand new ‘Feed Me’ menu, available for lunch seven days a week. For $65, guests may enjoy their choice of three courses and one of the pub’s signature cocktails.

Following the good-time success story of the first-ever Town Folk Festival early in 2022, the festival is coming back for a second installment on February 11th 2023 with a huge line-up of acts performing including Big Scary, Phoebe Go, Folk Bitch Trio, Jade Imagine, The Maes, Maple Glider and more. The one-day festival takes place in Castlemaine across four stages in three venues, The Bridge Hotel, Shedshaker Brewery and Boomtown Winery.

Taking over a space at 17/10 Cylinders Drive, Torquay, the intimate distillery/ Bar is the result of three years of hard work, and will see the bright and open warehouse venue host gin-lovers, providing tasting paddles of Flowstate’s range of gins which change frequently depending on the season and availability.

Boom Crash Opera bring national tour to Geelong

After a long hiatus Dale Ryder, Peter Farnan, Peter 'Maz' Maslen and John Favaro are back to celebrate with a select run of shows in 2023. The band will unleash Onion Skin, Dancing In The Storm, Get Out Of The House, The Best Thing and tour namesake, Bettadaze, plus a host of hits from their extensive arsenal of hits from the 1990's and beyond. Catch them at Wool Exchange, Geelong on June 17.

Yakiniku Hachibeh is Torquay’s new Japanese ‘Yakiniku’ (grilled meat) restaurant

Mia Wray announces ‘Stay Awake’ EP and Australian headline tour

Following a fruitful month in London –which included her debut headline show in the UK and resulted in an invite to the Great Escape Festival as part of its First 50 – Mia Wray has arrived home inspired and announces her debut EP Stay Awake, out Friday 10th February alongside news of a national tour. Mia Wray will perform an intimate show at Anglesea Town Hall for The Sound Doctor Presents on March 25.

Daylesford wine bar has been named one of the country’s best for 2022 Bar Merenda was one of the 50 finalists announced for the 2022 Young Gun of Wine Wineslinger Awards. Tucked away on Howe Street in Daylesford, Bar Merenda is a cosy European-style hyper-regional bar serving wines from France, Italy and Australia, with a small but thoughtfully created blackboard menu of Mediterranean snack-like dishes composed of ingredients from their garden and district producers – local focus and local favourite.

From the team behind revered local restaurants Shinya Ramen and Toki, Yakiniku Hachibeh is the latest addition to Torquay’s Gilbert Street Japanese precinct. At Yakiniku Hachibeh, the specialty is high-quality Australian wagyu beef, with choices of sirloin, scotch and short ribs. Here the chef uses Stone Axe full blood Wagyu.

reunite

heading to Torquay as part of 2023 Australian tour

Alt-pop-rock national treasures, Kisschasy have announced they’ll reunite for a special one-off Australian headlining tour in May 2023. The national tour begins in Brisbane, before making its way to Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Torquay. This will be the band’s first national tour in eight years, with lead singer Darren Cordeux making a special visit back to Australia after relocating to Los Angeles in 2015.

Kisschasy

and are

Bluesfest is heading to Melbourne for the first time next year

Australia's favourite contemporary blues and roots music festival is heading to Melbourne for the first time, on April 8 and 9 next year. It will feature performances from some huge international and local talent, including Ash Grunwald, Buddy Guy, The Doobie Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass and many, many more.

Golden Plains adds more acts to the sold-out 2023 festival lineup

After dropping an absolutely crackin’ lineup that has seen tickets sell out, Golden Plains has got another couple of killer acts for the 2023 lineup, including Mo’Ju EXEK and DJ Kiti. Aunty Meredith really is the cool Aunt that just keeps on giving.

Famed in Tasmania and Geelong, Japanese restaurant Kosaten opens in Ballarat

Portarlington Mussel Festival returns for its first event in three years

Returning on January 14 in 2023, The Portarlington Mussel Festival makes its way back to the Bellarine for its first event in three years. The mussels are only the beginning here; there are dozens of other food booths with local produce, market stalls, local beer and wine tastings, art shows, cooking demonstrations, fun for the kids with roving entertainers and great local musicians across five stages.

Birdz, The Grogans lead beachside festival NinchFest 2023

They will take centre stage at Mornington Peninsula’s NinchFest 6, alongside William Crighton, DJ Dexter, Nice Biscuit, and more at Andrew’s Beach Recreation Club on February 10 and 11. Tickets are on sale now, with free entry for kids under 13.

Ausecuma Beats to play Hepburn Springs with Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange

Call it a match made somewhere in musical heaven, the minds behind Ausecuma Beats, comprised of members from Senegal, Mali, Cuba and Guinea, found they melded easily with the Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange (also known as ZFEX) following weeks of recording and sharing material remotely together. See them at the Palais Theatre in Hepburn Springs on February 19.

The Geelong Wine Walk returns for 2023

The Geelong Wine Walk supporting the APCO Foundation is back bigger and better in 2023, bringing some of our region’s finest wineries, distilleries and breweries to the heart of Geelong on Saturday 11th February 2023. Your ticket includes tastings, canapes and exciting live entertainment at all eight venues, as well as your own tasting glass and tote bag.

Beachside festival By The Pier releases its 2023 lineup

Taking place in Queenscliff during the last weekend of March, By The Pier will host Thelma Plum, King Stingray, SAFIA and more. Taking place on March 24 and 25 in Queenscliff, By The Pier is the perfect way to soak up the last few rays of summer.

A unique and playful take on traditional sushi train eatery, Kosaten Japanese takes a more personalised approach. Instead of selecting from a stream of dishes as they travel past, you order from an a la carte menu via an iPad and the dishes and drinks are delivered directly from the kitchen to you via a train. Shinkansen-style. Find it at 30 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central.

MDOU MOCTAR announces debut Australian Tour

A self-taught Tuareg guitar prodigy, Niger psych-rock guitar sensation Mdou Moctar, bringing his mighty band to Australia and contemporary Saharan music and “rock music“with a show at Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on March 10, Golden Plains on March 11 and WOMADelaide on March 12 + 13.

The Imperfects Podcast bring their first-ever live show to Geelong in 2023

We’re all imperfect. No one knows this better than The Imperfects podcast. And now, performing their first-ever live show, co-hosts Hugh Van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton and Josh Van Cuylenburg are about to find out how truly imperfect they really are.

Wish Upon A Song returns, bringing some of the best Disney hits to Geelong

Presented by one of Victoria’s leading musical theatre companies Geelong Lyric Theatre Society, 'Wish Upon A Song – Volume II' showcases the Magical Music of Disney while bringing together many of Geelong’s most talented musicians and performers. The production will take to Costa Hall from January 26 to January 28 2023.

Thundamentals bring ‘All This Life’ Australian tour to Torquay

Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and The Game are teaming up for a huge Australian tour in 2023

In a holy union of 90s Hip-Hop, legendary rap banners Ice Cube, Cypress Hill and The Game have announced their joint tour of Australia. The tour kicks off on March 23 at Melbourne’s own Rod Laver Arena.

Mobile Disco Presents - ‘Hot Sauce! NYD’ with DJ Spen and Eric Powell

Still haven’t got your NYE plans sorted? Take a road trip down to the Great Ocean Road when Hot Sauce brings the best of house and disco to the iconic Lorne Hotel NYD New York’s DJ Spen and the Mobile Disco’s Eric Powell. This is a boutique event and tickets will be limited for these very special shows.

Fresh from releasing their highly anticipated sixth studio album All This Life, featuring singles ‘Top Of The World’ and ‘Lifted Up’, Thundamentals have announced a national tour for January and February 2023 to celebrate. Thundas will be joined and supported by special guest and the lead vocalist of Horrorshow, Solo, for this tour. They’ll perform at the Torquay Hotel on February 11.

The annual Veeped Xmas party returns to the Barwon Club

Taking over the entire venue on Saturday, December 17, Geelong’s best and longest-running Christmas rock n roll extravaganza will feature music from Tommy Dynamite and the Explosions, The Skips, Final Final, Social Haunts, Something Krook, The Roswell Greys, Grytt, Grimwoods, Biff, The Astroturfs, Blacktides, Lay Low, and more.

The Victorian music festival bringing an intimately beautiful BYO weekend of camping and live music to Bambra in 2023

Credit Kirsty Renee Hill

Part of the Otway Hinterland, Bambra is surrounded by rolling hills and bushland, only a stone’s throw away from the Otway National Park in all its natural wonders. It’s not always a spot people would visit during a trip down the Great Ocean Road, but for the past few years, there’s been one very good reason to.

Cherished Victorian surf coast festival Meadow, previously known as By The Meadow, is a three-day camping festival in the Bambra area on Gulidjan, Gadubanud and Wadawurrung land.

Continually evolving and now in its ninth year, this festival is right now at the peak of its game, promising yet another three-day two-night exploration of genre-expanding local and international live music in 2023.

From Friday 31 March – Sunday 2 April, the festival will see the iconic Bambra Bowl come to life by an unmissable lineup headlined by Philadelphia’s lo-fi rocker Kurt Vile and his band The Violators, London’s post-punk revivalists and noise rock

band Black Midi, and national favourites in Jen Cloher, Kučka, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Big Scary, Agung Mango and many more.

Vastly different to the wild, raucous Falls festivities that used to go down in Lorne over New Years, Meadow simply started as a 21st birthday party for Festival Director Cameron Wade, which has organically grown into an annual event, capped at 1,500 tickets and focused on creating a small, musically-minded community.

"As an independently run festival, we’ve been relying on the passion of our small team, the generosity of our mates and community and plenty of hope to keep the wheels spinning over the past few years,” says Wade.

“As things very slowly return to normal we’re over the moon to be able to present a programme closer to what we’ve always hoped Meadow could be.”

Birthed by a love of all things music, good times and even better mates, the Bambra-based festival boasts a communal presence that simply cannot be forged, where everyone camps together at the event site under the open skies and reception is limited, offering the perfect chance to disconnect.

Now in the wake of 2022’s homegrown celebration including Tropical Fuck Storm, Methyl Ethyl, and Maple Glider, this next chapter of Meadow is sure to cover every inch of the music spectrum and is one for the history books, promising to draw a perfect blend of local community members, live music lovers and pure partygoers to the Otways.

Running from early Friday evening until just after midday on Sunday, Meadow Music Festival offers uniquely intimate performances on just one stage with no overlapping set times, perfectly curated for the audiences who attend each year and for artists who want to be heard. Revitalising the festival experience, it's here you'll find music lovers discovering new music, and not hanging at the campsite waiting for the most notable bands to begin.

Using some of Australia’s finest flora as a backdrop, the regional gathering has maintained its intimate aesthetic over the years by staying true to its small beginnings and involving local businesses, regardless of the festival’s ever-growing popularity. Shying away from standard food trucks, Meadow opts for local Otway producers instead. There will be a selection of local beer, Otway Hinterland wines and a selection of cocktails on offer too.

With community at Meadow’s heart, the festival also leads the way in creating a sustainable event, with a focus on reducing its environmental impact as much as possible. Here, all food and drink will be served with reusable plates, cutlery and cups. All punters need to do is return their empty crockery once they’re finished so the circle continues. BYO drink bottles are also encouraged.

“We’ve booked a few of the most innovative international performers and songwriters to join some of our favourite contemporary musicians from Victoria (and Australia),” Wade explains.

“Overall the 2023 lineup represents a diverse cross-section of music right now and our favourite part is that we’re presenting it all from a small stage with a maximum capacity of just 1500 people at the base of the Bambra Bowl. There are not many places where you can see acts like Kurt Vile or Black Midi, alongside exciting local talent like Daine and Jen Cloher, in such an intimate environment. We’re very proud of this.”

For a more in-depth look at what Meadow 9 offers, the festival will be welcoming Kurt Vile & The Violators (US) back to Australia, promising to treat crowds to old classics and new gems from Vile’s vibrant yet meditative 2022 album Watch My Moves. Joining Vile, from abroad, is Black Midi (UK) who are limbering up to explode onto the stage with their carefully curated chaos, equal parts intense, absurdist and theatrical.

Amongst this expansive lineup, there is something for everyone, whether it’s the taut terse brand of rock charged by Jen Cloher’s incisive generous songwriting or tracks that will shake the gum trees from electronic producer Kučka who is no stranger to festivals having shared the stage with Flume at Coachella and multiple headline sets at Dark Mofo and Vivid in 2022 alone.

Bringing the entrancing and stomping energy is local heavyweights Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, alongside songs from the raw and restlessly innovative indie duo Big Scary or the unapologetic free-flowing bars of underground rapper Agung Mango.

For those that flourish in the deepest parts of the night, Meadow’s stage will host some of Australia’s finest selectors and producers after dark. From Sydney, Mall Grab collaborator Loods will bring his series of 2022 dancefloor hits from a European summer stint straight to the Bambra Bowl alongside local favourite Rona and the eclectic sonic stylings of Ayebatonye.

But, that’s not all, other local movers and shakers include Daine, Mirasia, Ruby Gill, Komang, Gena Rose Bruce, Delivery, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice Workhorse, Way Dynamic, Wildfire Manwurrk will all be hitting the Meadow stage with DJs to be announced in February.

Building on this, all proceeds from car passes (needed by all vehicles) will support replanting native trees and shrubs across the festival site and surrounding areas (via East Ot way Landcare).

Oh, and did we mention the festival is a BYO event as well? Between tickets, travelling, food, merch, accommodation, and gumboots, you can end up spending quite a pretty penny on a weekend of fun and music, but these guys have your best interests at heart. Embrace the privilege of bringing your own booze but just remember to leave the glass at home.

With the backdrop of a rugged edge-of-the-world type beauty found only in the Otway Hinterlands, a unique vibe, a killer lineup, no overlapping set times and BYO, Meadow Music Festival is the Victorian boutique music festival that gets it right.

General Release tickets are now on sale for $285 + BF, teenagers accompanied by adults can join the festivities but require a full ticket, while children under 12 enter for free.

Head to www.meadowmf.com

“As things very slowly return to normal we’re over the moon to be able to present a programme closer to what we’ve always hoped Meadow could be”

JOLYON PETCH

Words by Benjamin Lamb

We’ve been back at it for a while, but there’s still something special about the return of gigs to Australia. No matter what kind of music you’re into, there’s no question that there’s something in the air when we hit the mosh.

One artist who’s had a triumphant return to the live stage is New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based DJ/producer Jolyon Petch, the artist recently announced as part of the new 1915 festival making its way to Geelong this new year’s day.

“This year I've been doing a lot of touring,” Petch says. “It's been great to get out into all the different states, cities and rural areas around Australia and see how everyone's going.

“It's great to see the scenes alive again.”

From electronic to metal gigs, people are happier when you’re in a crowd in this post-covid era; there seems to be something special about it all.

“In the first three or four months after, people were just so excited to be out again and be around other people and not having to be so away from everybody.

“I think a lot of excitement is still around and everyone’s super hyped to just be out and partying again.”

If you buy a ticket to a festival, from massive multiple-day internationals to one-day small festivals, there are always some artists on the lineup that you probably haven’t heard of. As part of this, artists - big or small - often change their sets and appeal to a broader demographic than their solo gigs.

“I'll focus a lot on the remix, mash-up bootleg type things, unreleased bits and pieces, just stuff that people kind of know.

“Obviously for festivals, that's the kind of music you want to amp the crowd up with, and then play some stuff they've never heard before. I'm producing a lot of my own music for my shows, and hopefully, when people hear me play and finish the set, I'll get a whole heap of new followers.”

Petch’s work has been getting a great deal of attention lately, with his track ‘Dreams’ (featuring Reigan) recently being nominated for an ARIA award for Song of the Year alongside some Aussie heavyweights in Tones and I, Rufus Du Sol and Flume.

“Being nominated as an artist from the club scene alongside the main artists of Australia is a pretty big accomplishment,” he says.

“Coming out of the pandemic and having a track that blows up on the radio airplay charts was crazy.

“It’s crazy to think that I'm beating the likes of artists like Bruno Mars, one of the biggest artists in the world. It was an absolute privilege to be nominated alongside all these guys that are just killing it.”

On top of the great work from Petch, the 1915 NYD festival lineup will feature music from the Stafford Brothers, Groove Terminator and Dexter, with Petch recognising the event as an excellent opportunity to reconnect with his fellow artists.

“I haven’t caught up with the Stafford Brothers in years, and it just so happens that my brother's going to be coming over for new year's so it'll be the Petch brothers and the Stafford brothers, which I'm looking forward to, so we'll see who can drink each other under the table,” he adds with a laugh.

“It'll be a good catch-up with mates who I haven't caught up with for a long time, and it’ll give me a great opportunity to check out what they're playing in their sets these days.”

Closing out the year in Sydney before heading to Geelong on NYD, the multi-platinum-selling dance artist will return to our region again in January, also hitting the stage at the Great Australian Beer Festival at Johnstone Park.

“Those crowds are great, they've been drinking for half the day, and I jump on for the closing set. I'm playing a lot of things that they can sing along to and they all love to participate.”

1915 Presents NYD 2923 @ The Mills is taking place at grand, all-occasions bistro 1915 in the former Federal Woollen Mills - a Geelong venue that is set to be the perfect home for the festival.

“It's an old mill that's been completely renovated, refurbished and looks the part. It's going to be amazing.”

1915 Presents NYD 2023 @ The Mills is happening on January 1 2023 in Geelong. Tickets are on sale now.

On 1915 Presents NYD 2023

@ The Mills, playing festival sets and catching up with the Stafford Brothers

BIG SCARY

Filling Meadow and Castlemaine Town Folk with Daisy and Me and You

Words by Tammy Walters

2023 is fast approaching and our live music calendar is filling up nicely. A new addition to that schedule is the annual Surf Coast festival, Meadow, back for its ninth year running.

The wholesome weekend of Friday 31 March until Sunday 2 April will see Meadow’s homestay Bambra Bowl explode with a charming lineup of musical talent including Melbourne indie pop devoters, Big Scary.

Coming off the back of their first headline tour since 2013, Tom Iansek and Joanna Syme, who make up Big Scary, are stoked to join the festival.

“I’ve never been so I can’t wait! I love one-stage festivals and I love that they knew how to grow organically. They did it the right way where they built from a community and it has more longevity that way,” explains Syme.

“One of the fun things about touring again is buddying up with other muso’s which is what I love about festivals. Just hanging out with other bands, making those friendships, and seeing other bands play.”

The festival will see Syme reunite with many familiar faces including longtime friend Jen Cloher, Red Link Cup footy teammate Cash Savage and fellow festival fronter, Kurt Vile.

“It’s funny - I actually ran into Kurt at the Nick Cave, Courtney Barnett, Warren Ellis Hanging Rock gig the other night and I felt like such an idiot because I reintroduced myself to Kurt - because he is so famous, I couldn’t actually remember if I met him and he was like “oh yeah, we hung out in Tasmania at Panama Festival” and I was like “oh yeah!”,” she laughs.

Big Scary will further make a headline appearance at Castlemaine Town Folk, leading Phoebe Go, Folk Bitch Trio, Jade Imagine, The Maes, Maple Glider and a stellar Victorian lineup across The Bridge Hotel, Shedshaker Brewery and Boomtown Winery.

All of these live performances come after a mammoth two years of album releases and award recognition. This year saw the Big Scary duo release Me and You, a juxtaposing album to the 2021 AIR Award-winning Best Independent Pop Album or EP, Daisy, both having received warm reception across their live shows.

“I think that you can compare the songs on Me and You to Daisy, with Daisy being the more dramatic, fun, and silly album, and Me and You being the more earnest and romantic album. I think both work really well but people were particularly moved by the Me and You songs and I got such great feedback, quite emotional feedback from it. It’s awesome because you’ve created true emotion,” Syme says.

“We’re going to be doing other things in our lives, always, but it has been really nice reconnecting with that part of what we do and getting to talk to fans and remembering that I’m a musician,” she laughs.“I forgot how moving live music is and when you get to feel that again it’s awesome!”

Even with their contrasting nature, there was crossover within the two album writing periods with both Daisy and Me and You written in Phillip Island in 2019, removed from their normal lives of new family commitments and burrowing into the creative process.

“They were all written at the same time and we didn’t know what they were going to be released as and, kind of always with Big Scary albums, we have this issue of how do we make sense of all of the genres that come through. We made different permutations of what would fit together and this is what we fell upon.”

With 2023 beginning to take shape for the Iansek/ Syme collective, there are still a few uncertainties around Big Scary’s form.

“It will be an interesting one because Tom actually wants to relocate to London - which doesn’t mean the end of Big Scary - that’s just normal. We’ll do things when we can. We do have another album we want to finish but I just don’t know if that will be next year or in the future. We might play a show in London. I don’t know! There’s a lot of question marks.”

She adds, “It is actually the tenth anniversary of Not Art, an album of ours that has probably made the most connection to the most people. It might be nice to highlight that in some ways.”

Catch the duo while they're still on the same continent at Meadow and Castlemaine Town Folk in 2023.

Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree

The new music festival bringing 12 bands to two stages at Mt Duneed Estate

Words By Talia Rinaldo

Promising to turn the festival experience on its head with a lineup of international acts and local heroes, Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree is the newest festival headed for our region in 2023.

The inaugural event takes place on Saturday 4 March at Mt Duneed Estate, on their newly developed Top Paddock site, and will feature twelve acts across two stages and a no-holds-barred attack on your aural senses.

More than just the music, Tent Pole is a cross-generational, neo-nostalgic celebration and gathering for like-minded music, art and culture lovers; the weird, the wonderful, the outsiders and everyone in between. Remembering, discovering and absorbing. All-inclusive and accessible. All senses catered for; all sensations welcome.

Heading up the ground-breaking new one-day festival is influential and iconic US indie heroes Pavement. One of the most popular bands to come out of the American underground in the last three decades, Pavement will feature the unbeatable line-up of Stephen Malkmus, Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg, Mark Ibold, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West.

The band last toured Australia in 2010 and has just celebrated the 30th anniversary of their seminal 1992 debut album Slanted and Enchanted, a timeless record that not only changed indie music but one that continues to inspire musicians to this day.

Joining Pavement, the festival will also be bringing over Texan blues alt-country singer-songwriter Charley Crockett and his band and US garage punk rockers Black Lips.

With a voice as smooth as silk – and ancestry that traces back to American folk hero Davy Crockett – Texan singer-songwriter Crockett will make his highly anticipated Australian debut next March when he and his band bring their unique rootsy take on Americana music to audiences down under.

Atlanta-based combo Black Lips will then tear up the Tent Pole stage with their raucous southern fried, garage punk, sonic glory. Considered one of the best live acts around today, their recent 10th studio album, Apocalypse Love, shows they’re not slowing down as they enter their third decade.

Alongside these international acts, Tent Pole will also showcase national heroes including indie-rock royalty Spiderbait, legendary Geelong locals Magic Dirt, alt-pop-rock faves Floodlights, San Diego rock’n’soulers

The Schizophonics, NT rockers Black Rock Band, punk trio CLAMM, Melbourne punk

trio legends MOD CON, power pop rockers

The Prize and Bellarine-based psychedelic dream pop, prog rockers Sirens. Huge!

With a bill teeming with revered, respected and rising stars, the new Surf Coast event is the first collaboration between 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 (home to one of the country’s most successful independent record labels). They are combining their decades of expertise in booking the finest bands from all over the globe to give music fans the ultimate experience.

“After 21 years and 500 shows, it’s exciting to launch a new event to complement the day on the green experience. It’s been fantastic to curate a smaller boutique event with BT and Johann,” says Roundhouse Entertainment Director Michael Newton.

“The Zoom calls have been fun so far. Mt Duneed Estate is a great site, and with more bands to come we look forward to firmly stamping Tent Pole as a mainstay on the Victorian festival calendar for many years to come.”

In a celebration of art, music and retro road trips, OK Motels will take over the second stage, curating a line-up that will embrace their unique love of all things rural and retro. And with a nostalgic nod to the ’70s – Kate Berry, the founder and photographer behind everyone’s favourite Instagram account – with Shaun Adams, will produce a very OK program celebrating music, nostalgia and the great Aussie road trek.

Auslan Stage Left, a national organisation specialising in the arts and performance interpreting, will also be at the event, providing access for the Deaf Community.

Prepare for iconic, indie, lo-fi, hi-fi, post-punk, alternative, and renegade rock. Celebrating an eclectic mix of artists, while showcasing a musically diverse mix of seminal and highly influential international and Aussie acts, as well as local, up-and-coming and emerging artists. So magnificent, it will take two stages to contain them all! Arrive early and discover your next favourite band!

Tickets for Tent Pole are on sale now. Head to www.tentpolemusicfestival.com for more info.

Credit Bobby Cochran

Great Australian Beer Festival Geelong 2023

The Great Australian Beer Festival (GABF) and beer lover’s paradise is back and we can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day in the new year… or this time, two summer days. For the 2023 edition, the beloved festival is expanding to run over two days in January.

The festival will now take place on Friday, January 20 from 4pm to 10pm and Saturday, January 21 from 12pm to 7pm in 2023.

Building on from April’s 2022 event which featured two jam-packed sessions over one day, the epic local beer festival will descend upon Geelong’s Johnstone Park bigger and better than ever with two whole days of epic beats, eats and beer with plenty of room to move, and less crowd to contend with as you sip and sample your way around GABF.

Delivering an immersive ‘Taste of the Region’ style festival for its 10th anniversary, patrons will have the opportunity to celebrate the region’s best in food/drink, arts, and entertainment with a colossal lineup of world-class breweries, cideries, distilleries, cocktail specialists, vineyards and local gourmet street food.

The GABF experience is as diverse and unique as the spectacular range of producers that inspire it. For 2023 the festival has partnered with the City of Geelong to help cement itself as Geelong’s signature summer festival experience, welcoming locals, and visitors alike to explore the latest in trends, innovative creations, simple delights, and old faithful favourites.

“As habits shift and the demographic of the festival-goer becomes more sophisticated, the demand for quality, artisan products and experiences increase as well. As a festival, we have also evolved from a locally attended showcase of breweries to an iconic cultural and destination experience in the city centre, attended by a broad cross-section of the local community and primarily by a targeted, intra/interstate audience” says Kieran Blood, Festival founder and Co-Director.

“We are both excited and honoured to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the City of Geelong to continue to invest in diverse programs that will develop GABF into a signature “taste of the region” event and ‘must do experience’ for all.”

While beer lovers are in for a treat, so are music lovers. Headlining the Friday night session is iconic ARIA nominated artist Jolyon Petch, best known for his singles "Holding On" and "Dreams", which spent three weeks and seven weeks respectively at number one on

the Australian ARIA Club chart. Indie rock singer-songwriter Tyne-James Organ will also take to the Gage Roads Live Music Stage alongside Petch. Organ has steadily grown his audience and reputation over the last few years with hard work, brilliant stagecraft, wearing his heart on his sleeve and an undeniable talent for writing beautiful music.

As for Saturday, the Gage Roads Live Music Stage will be brought to live by Melbourne three-piece Telenova, who will be bringing their dreamscape of 70s chords, haunting melodies, cinematic songwriting and nostalgic trip-hop beats, and legendary Australian blues musician Ash Grunwald along with local emerging talent. The full music lineup for both days will be announced soon. There’s just something about a cold beer and a live band… we can’t wait.

Alongside the tunes, Saturday’s session will also host live cooking demonstrations at the Brick Lane Culinary Stage showcasing local ingredients featuring our favourite culinary names, as well as The Barrett Burston Masterclass, Trivia, Cocktail mixing, brewer forums, beer/food matching, free tastings and more delivered by local industry stalwart Tiff Waldron.

With a reputation as Australia’s most diverse and colourful beer festival, 2023 will also see the introduction of a live comedy stage featuring iconic and emerging comedians performing on the Brick Lane comedy stage on Friday 20th January. Hosted by Stewart Bell, Geelong will be treated to a belly full of laughs from Tom Ballard, Nick Cody, Alex Ward and Kirsty Webeck.

GABF overflows with fun, from the moment you set hands on your tasting glass, ‘til the time you’re tipping back your last beer of the day, and the return to the central location – just a short walk from Geelong station – will offer easier access for visitors and has plenty of accommodation and nightlife options for those kicking on afterwards. How good is that?

GABF will transform the iconic and picturesque Johnstone Park into a beer oasis on Friday, January 20 from 4pm-10pm and Saturday, January 21 12pm-7pm 2023.

Find out more and book tickets at www.gabfgeelong.com.au

Breckin

Enchants with warm, ethereal chamber-folk EP Singular

Arriving in November, four years after her powerful debut album Shiner, new EP Singular finds Breckin, the moniker of Melbournebased award-winning visual artist, poet and singer-songwriter, Heather Marsh doing what she’s long done best: Crafting lush, lilting experiences out of stirring folk sound and expressive lyrics.

This time around, there’s even more weight to the songwriter’s art, with Singular being the wondrous bookend to a wild and winding journey that saw Marsh physically unable to create music.

“I released my debut album, Shiner, in late 2018. I already had material to begin this EP and was excited to start recording and producing to build on the success of Shiner,” she explains.

“Then in 2019 I acquired Functional Neurological Disorder which affected my speech, ability to walk, and muscle strength and gave me a right-hand tremor. It was frightening and really challenged everything I knew about my identity.

“I was referred to the Alfred Hospital’s neurological movement disorders clinic and my diagnosing neurologist happened to also be the guitarist in a popular Melbourne band. He recommended that part of my recovery include singing and playing as those brain pathways weren’t as affected as speech or other forms of movement. I can honestly say that music saved me.”

With music providing comfort and inspiration, Marsh found the strength when she needed it most and nearly three years on, she’s emerged revelling in life’s beauty.

Stretching playful tendrils into sparkling and surprising possibilities on her acoustic Guild M20 (the famous ‘Nick Drake’ guitar), Marsh comes to life, with the EP full of sweet, vulnerable musing, unearthly and powerful vocal harmonies and an intoxicating, filmic indie-folk guitar.

“Singular, I think, lives up to its name. They are unique songs that travel in unexpected ways.

“I’m so deeply grateful to all the folks who encouraged, worked alongside me and cheered me on to the finish line with this EP. Now I feel genuinely ready to sink my teeth into the next project knowing I took care of these babies and let them out into the light of day.”

Col Darcy

Col Darcy re-emerges with new record Beautiful Hopeless

A landmark moment in his creative journey and a solidified introduction to a new era, Beautiful Hopeless is the new album from Melbourne-via-South Australia-based rapper and producer Col Darcy.

Previously creating music under the moniker Caper, now more than 20 years into his career, the rapper has reinvented himself and re-emerged with his given name Col Darcy, truly offering him his moment to shine.

“I've been under the name Caper for the past 20 years. It was just time to retire the name like a sports guernsey and come back with a fresh start. I wanted to reinvent myself with a more refined sound, story and perspective on life,” Darcy explains.

“I thought the best way to do it is to give people more of me by having my real name and presenting it with my latest honest narrative in Beautiful Hopeless.”

Released in November, Beautiful Hopeless sees Darcy expose his vulnerabilities into an art form, with each song providing an emotive and raw insight into what drives his creativity. Using music as a therapeutic outlet, the album centres around feelings of hopelessness from Darcy’s experiences in facing challenging adversities and painful loss.

“On Beautiful Hopeless, I captured a period of time involving my flaws and feelings of hopelessness. And the album now becomes like a mirror for me to really take a good look at myself and try to understand my feelings and what I'm saying.”

Influenced by the likes of Kota The Friend, Mick Jenkins, Kendrick Lamar, Homeboy Sandman, Vince Staples and Tyler The Creator, the album sees Darcy’s hypnotic rhymes complement perfectly the warm bassy, organic beats to which he drops his very raw, and at times, highly evocative lyrics over.

Darcy has truly mastered his genre, with some genuinely well-crafted verses that keep you guessing and impressing. Beautiful Hopeless is truly thought-provoking and heartfelt hip hop, so much so that at times feels like Col Darcy is throwing rhymes over his own heartbeat.

Stream Beautiful Hopeless on Spotify.

Stream ‘Singular’ on Spotify and keep up with the latest from Breckin at breckinmusic.com

SCIENTISTS

Talk Chemistry and New Discoveries

Words by Tammy Walters

From a scientific perspective, the world is evolutionary; from apes to Neanderthals to humans; embryos to tadpoles, to frogs. It’s about chemical compounds binding to force those evolutions, and it’s about making new discoveries.

For Perth post-punk rockers, Scientists, their entire career follows this formula.

Forming in 1978, they have seen multiple incarcerations spawning from The Exterminators and then The Invaders, to holding two forms as a Perth-based punk band of the late 1970s and the Sydney/London-based swamp rock band of the 1980s under the title The Scientists, the Kim Salmon led band eventual dropped their tadpole tail to be just Scientists that we know today.

“Anything after 1982 doesn’t have ‘The’ in front of Scientists. I just liked the idea that it was Scientists better, it was good enough for Ramones, it’s good enough for us,” Salmon laughs.

Following their 1982 self-titled debut album, The Scientists, aka The Pink Album, Scientists would release six albums, with the mid 80’s seeing the band as one of the most successful independent Australian bands and growing a major fanbase in the UK. But by 1985, cracks started to appear.

“Things happen with bands. In our case, we had some label issues that we had to get through which we did eventually but it took a bit because it was legal stuff. That took up a lot of energy and resources and kind of wore the band down a bit and we ended up imploding,” explains Salmon.

“Our drummer that we relied on in the ’80s, Brett [Rixon], had left around 1985 and replacing him - the band had this particular chemistry, as much as the sound itself was incredibly robust and like a bull at a gate, the mechanisms to make it work and chemistry was a very delicate balance and we couldn’t seem to make it work with drummers until we finally got Leanne [Cowie] our tour manager. She had bought Brett’s drums and had kind of been secretly practising away on the side. She had no experience as a musician or anything, and in 1985 on the tour with Siouxsie and the Banshees, she jumped in and played, and has been with us ever since. There was just this chemistry!”

That chemistry continued until 1987 when the band called it a day. Salmon went on to front Kim Salmon and the Surrealists and joined the second incarceration of the Beasts

of Bourbon from 1988 until 1993. Reforming in 2006 the band made special appearances around the world, but 2017 would see them officially start to release new music.

“We were pretty dead against being an old band and getting back together and making new material because we thought ‘Oh people hate that’. They don’t hate it; they ask for new material, listen to it and go back to the old stuff so it’s like why bother? There’s not a great history of old bands getting back together and doing good stuff. So we had that to battle against,” says Salmon.

With a few single releases supporting tours in the lead-up, 2019 saw the band inducted into the Western Australian Music Industry Awards Hall of Fame and jump headfirst back into the studio to form the 2021 release of Negativity; a culmination of the band's past and their explosive chemical compatibility.

“It was definitely informed by what had come before with Scientists. The odd thing about Negativity is that those pieces that we did many moons ago to tie us over like Survival Skills, when I listen to them now, the songs don’t sound like a band in one place. They sound like many things coming together in a production room. Negativity really does benefit from having everyone in the room at the same time and it's organic as much as that doesn’t really reflect our name,” Salmon laughs.

“The things that people expect outside of the band and what we expect as a band for the Scientists to sound like can be very different and that’s because we have all evolved individually, our likes, our styles, but we always want to come back to that essence.”

This album will be on showcase at their upcoming February 2023 tour, along with potential new singles, where they will be bringing Double Agent and Imperial Leather to the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on Saturday 11 February and Barwon Club in Geelong on Sunday 12 February for two huge nights of postpunk jams.

Get your tickets via Oztix.

Festival of Sails 2023

While Geelong’s iconic Festival of Sails has long been known for its exciting action on the water, it’s also become a favourite entertainment destination over the traditional January 26 holiday break.

And according to Event Director Steve Harper, as the event looks forward to celebrating its 180th-anniversary milestone this January, the entertainment lineup has been reinvented to appeal to a more diverse local and visiting audience with 30 incredible acts across three stages.

“In 2023, we’re really keen to deliver a broader entertainment offering, which maintains our traditional nod to past musical acts, but we also want to introduce and showcase a wide range of emerging and independent artists and acts from across Melbourne and Victoria,” he says.

“Looking at our lineup of talent from Thursday, January 26 through to Sunday, January 29, I’m feeling pretty confident that we’ll have something for just about everyone to enjoy!”

From Melbourne group Quivers, standby for their anthemic and spellbinding jangle pop delivered by their glorious quartet of male and female voices. Their tuneful jangle and heart-filling harmonies about grief, friendship and love make Quivers a must-see on your entertainment must-do list.

If you’re looking for intelligent music and great musicianship, then ‘Skyscraper’ Stan Woodhouse is your man. Lauded for his observational lyricism and his cocktail of wit and grit, delivered in a versatile baritone, what’s not to love about this critically acclaimed musical powerhouse?

Indie rocker Tam Vantage will also be joining the 2023 Festival of Sails lineup with his much-loved and moody take on life. An industry veteran who never disappoints, this multi-talented and enduring artist is one not to miss.

Melbourne cosmic-country-rocker Ben Mastwyk and his seven-piece band don’t shy away from their swaggering, psychedelic bar-room tributes that have evolved from his love of classic country music and music adventures across America’s south. Gold-suited, rhinestones and award-nominated, this is country at its best!

And the talent just keeps coming!

Winter McQuinn’s sweet spot is a showcase of free-spirited and lightfooted paisley boogie. His debut album ‘A Rabble of Bees’ was described as “psychedelic pop that draws on the ‘60s flower power that comes pollinated with dashes of 21st Century environmentalism and political awareness”. Intrigued? You’ll find this Melbourne/Naarm musician centre stage at the Festival of Sails.

Rolling Stone magazine described her as “one of the best sounds in Australian music today” and Jess Locke won’t disappoint when this Melbourne-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist struts her stuff. Her haunting lyrics and powerful presentation will captivate you. As Rolling Stone describes her ‘…a songwriter capable of balancing introspective reflection with pop-skewed accessibility’, you have to witness Jess in action.

And for the lovers of old-school Aussie rock hits and faves, you can’t go past The Badloves, Chocolate Starfish and perennial favourites The Chantoozies (who all need no introduction) to deliver a veritable musical feast of classic Aussie rock and pop gems from the 90’s to now.

Award-winning, crowd favourites and Aussie music institutions; they’ll all feature at the Festival of Sails.

Festival of Sails runs from January 26 - January 29. For more info, visit festivalofsails.com.au.

“Looking at our lineup of talent from Thursday, January 26 through to Sunday, January 29, I’m feeling pretty confident that we’ll have something for just about everyone to enjoy!”

THE RUBENS

On SummerSalt, festival lineups and new music

Words by Benjamin Lamb

You’d be hard-pressed to find a harder-working band than The Rubens. Since they first burst onto the scene when they uploaded their first song, ‘Lay It Down’ to triple j unearthed and debuted at #3 on the ARIA chart with their first album 10 years ago, they’ve become a staple of many festival lineups over the years, most recently being announced for the popular SummerSalt festival, making its way to Victoria this summer. We caught up with the group’s keyboardist Elliot Margin to chat about it all.

Having released their fourth album 0202 in early 2021, The Rubens released their most recent single ‘Waste A Day’ late last year, the track being one of the few times Elliot and his brother Sam have worked together on a track.

“It’s one of the rare times in which Sam and I co-wrote together,” Elliot says. “Usually, we work the demos out on our own, bring them to each other, and then go from there.

“But this one was from the very beginning; it was fun and different; it can get to the nub of an idea a lot quicker when two brains are working towards it.”

A band still at the top of their game, The Rubens always receive a massive reception when they play festivals, and now more than ever, their fans are keen to get back out there and experience live music.

“The pandemic forced us to realise again how lucky we are, we've been back playing shows for a while now. They've all been so special, but this tour especially, we're really looking forward to the venues, all the places we're going to be playing.”

Delivering another season of live music in some of the most scenic locations in the country, SummerSalt festival features some great bands and artists alongside The Rubens with City and Colour, Ben Harper, Alex the Astronaut, Middle Kids and Angus & Julia Stone joining the festival.

“I’ve never seen City and Colour before, they’ll be cool to see.

“I knew that we were playing the festival; you get the email and you make the phone calls, and you get locked into it. Then when I saw the poster for the lineup, I was like, holy moly, this is something awesome to be a part of.”

The exciting part of this festival is that it hits some points across the country that don’t often get live music, with Victoria’s incarnation taking place in Torquay and the Yarra Valley this February.

Elliot notes that there’s always something a little bit special about bringing music to these regional areas, with punters excited to have a night out with a popular band.

“Over the last year, for our record [0202], we did a lot of regional touring. There is a difference between playing in capital cities to regional towns, people are super appreciative of getting live music out there.

“And maybe, you roll up to a small town where there might not be a lot of Rubens fans in the town, but you might be the only event that's happening that night. And people will come along just because it's fun to go to, and you might win some people over, and that's the special thing.”

To win these soon-to-be fans over, Elliot notes that there is often a process to appeal to a broader demographic.

“We’ve played on a lot of different stages where we've had to try and figure out what our approach would be, supporting other bigger artists like Bruce Springsteen or Pink, to playing Falls Festival.

“I think what we've realised over the years is it really just comes down to putting on what is our most engaging show and putting on a show that people are going to really, really connect with.”

Festivals like SummerSalt do a great job of appealing to several different people, showing that an Aussie music festival is always a special place.

“Australians are good at putting on broad music festivals that usually have music for everyone, I think which is cool and special.

“As a punter, I’ve been to music festivals where maybe I've only known one or two bands on the lineup, and then I've left the festival becoming a fan of a whole new array of bands.”

And for those that already are fans of The Rubens, the good news is there’s some new music on the horizon.

“At the moment we’re working on new music, writing and recording. Next year is when new music shall be drip-fed out to the public, which is exciting.”

SummerSalt is taking place at Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley on February 4 and Torquay Common, Torquay on February 5 2023. Tickets are on sale now.

Credit James Simpson

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 58

Fresh out of London’s Natural History Museum, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year arrives at The National Wool Museum

Geelong is now the exclusive Victorian home to the works of some of the most spectacular images from our greatest photographers from all around the world, with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 58 on display at the National Wool Museum.

This much-anticipated annual exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

Using photography’s unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images shine a light on stories and species around the world and encourage a future of advocating for the planet.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for over 55 years.

Launching in 1965 and attracting 361 entries, today the competition receives over 50,000 entries from all over the world, highlighting its enduring appeal. This year’s award-winning images will embark on an international tour allowing them to be seen by well over a million people.

Four Australian photographers have been recognised in this year’s top 100 photographers for Wildlife Photographer of the Year from the Natural History Museum London. These photographers have been recognised in a field of over 50,000 entries receiving highly commended awards in the categories of Animal Portraits, Photojournalism, Behaviour Amphibians and Reptiles.

Capturing the wild, wacky and beautiful, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition guarantees to inform viewers about unique animal behaviour and leave them in awe of our beautiful natural world.”

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 58, Natural History Museum London, is on show now until May 7 2023 at National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool Street Geelong.

Sweet Adeline

One year on and this hidden dog-friendly caravan cafe has fostered a river community by the Barwon

For one year now, Sweet Adeline cafe has been serving some of the best coffee in town from a stylish renovated 1950s caravan on the bank of the Barwon River.

While founders Bart & JT have faced a myriad of challenges with the recent flooding which has devastated many households, businesses and entire towns in Victoria, the business has continued to thrive.

Nestled behind the giant trees on the bank of the Barwon River, flooding was a known possibility for the local cafe when they chose their location, though it didn’t stop them from achieving their dream. And when the floodwaters rose without warning in recent months, it was the cafe’s local community that saved their business with Sweet Adeline’s wonderful regular customers and friends braving difficult conditions, muddy feet and paws to indulge in 100% organic blend coffee, premium hot chocolate and warming Chai.

Some locals even volunteered their time, energy and equipment to assist with clean up after flooding and sandbagging to prevent further flooding, hinting to the infectious and strong sense of community and belonging the cafe has fostered.

Now the cafe is celebrating its first anniversary, having transformed an empty parking lot into a welcoming oasis complete with a kiddie play area, a lush edible garden and a glamping tent for comfortable shelter.

On this milestone, Bart and JT are wanting to acknowledge all of their regular, two and four-legged customers who have become friends and welcome everyone who enjoys superb handcrafted beverages and delicious food in a somewhat unique setup to venture to Sweet Adeline Cafe.

Welcoming the summer heat with Puppy Pool Parties and refreshing drinks, you can’t go wrong these summer holidays by heading down for delicious food and low-key fun right on the river. The cafe also provides picnic mats, free for families who want to enjoy their food and drinks on the river bank. Whilst there, don’t forget to say hello to their new fur baby, Peach. Recently adopted from New Castle Dog Rescue, this new addition to their river family will melt your heart.

More than a cafe, Sweet Adeline is located at 1/560 LaTrobe Boulevard, Newtown.

Credit Scott Portelli

They say variety is the spice of life, and having just announced their stellar 2023 program of events, Geelong Arts Centre is pulling out all the stops to provide something for everyone.

Showcasing high-calibre works from the nation’s most highly regarded companies, as well as acclaimed homegrown talent, this is a season you won’t want to miss! And with five flexible subscriptions covering all four programs, you won’t have to!

OUR SEASON 2023

Featuring 8 unique stories that break boundaries, start conversations and celebrate innovation, ‘Our Season 2023’ covers a diverse and timely range of subjects and themes.

Kicking off the season with a bang, John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra brings Australian musical theatre stars, Lucy Durack, Caroline O’Connor and Silvie Paladino, to Geelong for Leading Ladies (17 Feb).

Later in March, after a sold-out run on the West End, see the original Griffin Theatre Company Production of Suzie Miller’s acclaimed one-woman show, Prima Facie (28 Mar - 1 Apr), starring Sheridan Harbridge.

FAMILY MAGIC

From 19-20 January, Fat Fruit and Performing Lines present The Rainbow Tree; a heart-warming performance for children 4-8, fusing musical storytelling with moving image, crafted in collaboration with children from Rainbow Families.

On 4 March, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra provides the opportunity to introduce babies and toddlers to the magic of music with Jams for Juniors: Grieg’s Peer Gynt.

Starting 23 March with electrifying live rockumentary 27 Club, experience music and stories from the likes of Joplin, Winehouse, Cobain, Morrison, and Hendrix; legends who will forever be 27 and the legacy they left behind.

From 11-13 May, I Liked It, BUT… heads to Little Creatures for pub trivia with a twist in this silly, irreverent and interactive experience to be remembered, birthed from the mind of creator, choreographer and performer, Joel Bray.

GEELONG ARTS CENTRE PRESENTS SEASON 2023

Something for everyone across four outstanding programs

Later from 28-29 July, RECKŌNING is a powerful celebration of Indigenous culture through storytelling, original songs, and dance. A recognition of past injustices, a journey through understanding, and a celebration of Indigenous cultures’ survival, creativity and strength.

Finally, from 3-5 August, dive into an otherworldly interactive, digital experience that explores entitlement, consumption and the global gap between rich and poor with Rich Kids: A History Of Shopping Malls In Tehran.

DELIGHTFUL DAYS & MATINEES

Then on 27 May, Sydney Dance Company presents ab [intra]; a journey through the intensity of human existence combining ambient sound, exquisite dancing and ferocious physicality.

From 28-29 July, The Australian Ballet On Tour celebrates 40 fantastic years of taking ballet all around the nation with the most moving, enthralling and exciting moments of its repertoire.

On stage from 30-31 August, Opera Australia’s finest voices and a live orchestra present Rossini’s most famous ‘opera buffa’, The Barber of Seville September 6-9 will see Michelle Law’s brand-new glitzy intergenerational comedy come to life with Belvoir St Theatre Production, Miss Peony

Then Bell Shakespeare hits Geelong from 5-7 October with Shakespeare’s famed Twelfth Night - reimagined.

Finally, from 1-4 November, Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin Performing Arts present The Visitors; a riveting insight into one of the most impactful and painful days in Australia’s history, and an engaging study of how communities respond to change.

In April and June, childhood favourites will go from page to stage!

Come 1 April, children aged 6+ are invited on a theatrical journey of smelly scenarios and unlikely friendship with CDP Kids Production Mr Stink, based on David Walliams’ award-winning picture book.

Then on 17 June, the Australian Chamber Orchestra will enchant children aged 2-8 with a whimsical, intergenerational reimagining of Mem Fox and Julie Vivas’ Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.

Plus, on 26 August, Windmill Theatre Company Production present HICCUP; a hilarious rocking musical extravaganza for children aged 4-8 about working together, finding friendship and how to, once and for all, stop the hiccups.

REWIRE

In 2023, Geelong Arts Centre introduces a brand-new program of genre-bending performances and unique experiences with REWIRE; a celebration of experimental art, contemporary Australian voice, and immersive experiences with a modern edge that challenges, thrill and delight.

Making daytime events memorable and engaging in 2023, on 16 August, acclaimed local music theatre star, Zoy Frangos, and his equally talented wife, Elisa Colla, hit the stage accompanied by the brilliant Richard Chew for Zoy Frangos: Variations. The son of a Greek migrant father and Indigenous Australian mother, Variations chronicles Zoy’s family and musical story through the lens of his cross-cultural upbringing.

Then, on 22 November, Anna O’Byrne reflects on the unique experience of being hand-picked by Dame Julie Andrews to play Eliza in the 60th-anniversary production of My Fair Lady in the aptly named Becoming Eliza; an acclaimed concert featuring iconic songs from beloved musicals.

Individual tickets and subscription packages are on sale now. Explore the full program and find out more at geelongartscentre.org.au/ geelong-arts-centre-presents/

FILM GUIDE

Movies to see this Summer

Words by Anthony Morris

The Banshees of Inisherin

Writer-director Martin McDonagh reunites with Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell (from his classic In Bruges) for a darkly comedic tale of friendship gone sour. On a tiny island off the coast of Ireland, Padraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) are lifelong friends - right up until the moment Colm tells Padraic he never wants to speak to him again. Confused, Padraic keeps wanting to know why, which only makes matters worse. Tensions escalate, sides are drawn; a happy ending seems unlikely.

In cinemas December 26

Blueback

Avatar: The Way of Water

It’s been over a decade since James Cameron’s 3D epic Avatar changed the way we looked at movies (literally). Now the first of a proposed four sequels has arrived, and if the trailers are any guide it’s going to look stunning. Story details remain sketchy - the humans are back to pillage the planet of Pandora and the now fully Na’vi Jake (Sam Worthington) is on the run with his family – but it’s the visuals that are the real selling point here and it all looks amazing.

In cinemas December 15

As a young girl, Abby befriended a wild blue groper while learning to dive. But when her hometown’s local reef is threatened by commercial fishing interests, the now-adult Abby and her activist mum must fight to save her friend’s habitat. This is about as star-studded as an Australian film gets: based on a best-selling novella by Tim Winton and directed by Robert Connelly (The Dry), it stars Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell and Eric Bana (as Mad Macka).

In cinemas January 1

I Wanna Dance

With Somebody

Naomi Ackie stars as Whitney Houston in a career-spanning biopic produced by her record producer Clive Davis (played here by Stanley Tucci). Houston’s life was full of ups and downs, so it’ll be interesting to see how heavily this focuses on the pop singer’s drama. The trailers have promised plenty of inspirational moments, while the producers and Houston’s estate (which is closely involved with the film) have reassured fans it won’t shy away from her many struggles.

In cinemas December 26

The Fabelmans

Steven Spielberg makes his first foray into autobiography, looking back at a childhood growing up in post-WWII New Jersey (and Arizona, and California) with a fractured family and a love for the movies so strong it would reshape pop culture around the world. Starring Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, it’s a lightly fictionalised look at Spielberg’s youth featuring plenty of references to both his greatest hits and the themes that have run throughout his four decades of classic movie-making.

In cinemas January 5

M3gan

It’s evil doll time again, only with a science fiction twist as a toy company robotics specialist (Allison Williams) creates M3gan, a life-like doll with artificial intelligence. What could possibly go wrong? For starters, when the doll’s creator unexpectedly becomes the custodian of her orphaned niece, M3gan (who is programmed to be a child’s best friend) becomes a little too protective of the new addition to the family. Better lock up the knife drawer.

In cinemas January 12

Babylon

Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle (First Man, La La Land) turns his sights on the early days of Hollywood with this comedic epic starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and a cast of thousands partying extremely hard and living life to the fullest creating an art form out of nothing. Advanced reactions from those who’ve seen it have been mixed, to say the least, but they all have one thing in common: this is a film that, once seen, won’t easily be forgotten.

In cinemas January 19

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

This action comedy from writer/director Guy Ritchie has been delayed for close to a year due to various issues, but finally, we’ll get the chance to see Jason Statham as super-spy Orson Fortune on a mission to take down billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). But instead of just shooting the bad guys, this time Fortune and his team have to work with a big-name Hollywood actor (Josh Hartnett, not playing himself) to uncover Simmonds's scheme... and then shoot the bad guys.

In cinemas January 12

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 2023

Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival announces 2023 lineup and new signature program.

Words by Fred Carlyle

Wi th a spectacular variety of festivities and events including live music, visual art exhibitions, superb performances, social events, theatre, open panels and more, Melbourne’s revered LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural festival, Midsumma, is returning to 2023. The event will be kicking off the new year with an explosion of over 200 events, in 120 venues, running between January 21 and February 12.

2023 will see the return of Midsumma’s major outdoor events such as the iconic Midsumma Carnival – Kicking off the three-week festival in its usual stunning fashion at Melbourne CBD’s Alexandra Gardens (Jan 22) and the cherished Midsumma Pride March where over 7400 marchers will be taking to the streets in St Kilda and Catani Gardens (Feb 5).

Made up of 17 events and representing an increasing number of commissioned works that highlight the depth of talent and the immediacy of queer stories, The Midsumma Presents program will also be returning to 2023 with a variety of fan-favourite events. This includes the treasured Midsumma Extravaganza which will enter its fifth year in style with Australia’s queer comedy royalty Joel Creasey and RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under favourite Kween Kong hosting the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage in style (Jan 21).

The fan favourite event Homophonic! will also be returning to the Midsumma Presents Program for its 13th year of outrageously fabulous new classical chamber music. Written by LGBTQ+ composers, they’ll be bringing the disco ball to the concert hall at Tempo Rubato by celebrating homosexual harmonies, Sapphic symphonists, and the sound world of today’s queer composers (Jan 27 & 28).

A new addition for Midsumma Festival 2023 is the new curated signature program, A Safe(R) Space; Consisting of 21 works from a range of artists across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, this new signature program will be delving into the topic of what defines a safe space for artists and communities.

“It’s been a joy and a journey for all of us to work with the artists, venues, and producers from the A Safe(R) Space program and to explore the provocation of safer spaces and what this means to people from our LGBTQIA+ communities,” says Midsumma’s program manager,

Brendan Cooney. “We look forward to watching this wide range of events explore the concept of “safer spaces'' and illuminate how it can be vastly different for individual members of our diverse communities.”

There’s something for everyone within the A Safe(R) Space as the program delivers a multitude of events such as the Big Thick Energy festival located at Malthouse Outdoor Stage which will be promoting body positivity and liberation through movement, creativity and high-energy entertainment curated by performance artist Demon Derriere (Feb 10 & 11).

Other unmissable highlights include the visual narratives of gender diverse and non-binary identifying artists; Kin Francis, Caleb Thaiday, Luce NguyenHunt, Ari Tampubolon and Indra Liusuari at The Body Is More Than This exhibition at the Immigration Museum (Jan 26 – Feb 12) and the compelling one-man show Transmansplaining by self-described “Short balding, bearded, gay trans man”, Ben MacEllen (Jan 25 &).

Also included in the A Safe(R) Space program is Stranger Than Usual, a unique, awe-inspiring musical performance designed for Deaf people that uncovers Australian artist Asphyxia’s personal experience of being Deaf, queer, chronically ill and needing to use a wheelchair (Feb 2-4).

“We are invited to declare our access needs and feel secure that every practical effort will be made to include us, and it won't be as an afterthought,” Asphyxia explains.

“It’s not expected that we fit into binary gender norms nor that we are heterosexual - it is assumed that we could be any of multiple sexualities. Experiences of marginalisation and oppression are well understood so they don't need to be explained but can be shared and commiserated. We don’t need to educate people about our disabilities, gender or sexuality. We don’t get mansplained, especially about our disabilities, sexuality, gender and experiences of marginalisation (and naturally Stranger Than Usual will be a Safe(R) Space).”

The Melbourne Midsumma 2023 Festival will run between January 21 and February 12 across metro Melbourne and regional Victoria. Head to midsumma.org.au for the full program.

Bel Kil MY YEAR

Album

Reviews by Alex Callan

It can be relatively easy for artists to break through and cash in on the pop market. On the other hand, creating something with longevity can be significantly more difficult. With society’s perception of what’s ‘fashionable’ changing every few months and an oversaturation of artists cashing in on fleeting trends, most hit pop songs tend to maintain a short shelf life. After all, something can only be classified as the ‘hot new sound’ for as long as it’s still classified as ‘new.

arrangements give off a sombre Lana Del Ray-esque quality. But that doesn’t damper the timeless quality of Kil’s songwriting, which, unlike many of her peers, displays all of the fundamental components of a catchy pop song, without reliance on repetition.

Title track ‘My Year’ introduces slowed industrial synths and kaleidoscopic subdued vocals before kicking into vibrant percussive breaks and disco-orientated basslines; whilst ‘Escaping’ blends haunting whistled harmonies with acoustic guitars, delicate string arrangements and immersive vocal layering.

In another contrasting moment, ‘Cards’ ushers in 90’s trip-hop beats, ethereal synths and sleazy vocal harmonies akin to Air or Massive Attack. ‘Backup Plan’ adds more of a rock flair with the inclusion of funk-orientated choruses, sinuous basslines and harmonious backing vocals powerfully matching the swagger of Kills’ anthemic choruses.

Alien Nosejob Stained Glass

One day, the next generation of punk enthusiasts will open up the history books and find out just how important Jake Robertson has been for the emerging Melbourne punk scene.

As an artist who is tirelessly working away behind the scenes, Robertson’s output is absolutely prolific, with the Melbourne-based rocker’s resume featuring credits in everyone from Ausmuteants to Smarts. However, the last couple of years has seen more focus on his solo project, Alien Nosejob, which recently dropped its fifth LP Stained Glass

Unsurprisingly, the lucky few that remain are quite often the artists revered for bringing their own identity to the genre. That’s where Bel Kil comes into the picture. From the mind of producer and engineer Annabel Kilpatrick, Bel Kil adopts an expansive style that lends from multiple genres, decades and influences, all whilst maintaining a modern pop edge.

On her debut EP My Year, Kil highlights a blend of enigmatic dream-pop vocals, trip-hop percussive arrangements and funk-laden basslines in an immersive array of soundscapes that prove as an artist, Bel Kil isn’t trying to fit into just one box.

Now before the naysayers chime in, I’ll contend that it is hard to possess originality in this day and age, and sure, the heavy synth hooks may draw comparisons to Lorde and the string

Presented with a wry, laid-back demeanour My Year offers an incisive perception of love and dreams, often masqueraded by vibrant, uplifting hooks. In the EP’s title track ‘My Year’, Kil powerfully pairs statements of her ex-partner’s intent alongside vibrant disco hooks and hip-hop-inspired breaks, profoundly stating “You keep me in your pocket, then light me up and deposit like a cigarette”.

As previously stated, pop music tends to have a cyclical nature, but yet it’s hard to imagine an era of pop that wouldn’t embrace My Year, with Kil’s debut effort standing up as a refreshing take on old and new characteristics of the genre.

Label: Independent Release date: November 10

Departing from his garage punk rock, Stained Glass highlights more of a 70’s rock n roll approach, finding itself somewhere between AC/DC and Status Quo with a bit more of a DIY edge. With Robertson primarily known for his highpitched snarled vocals, ‘Beatles vs. Stones’ debuts a lower vocal cadence for the artist, adding a 70’s English postpunk feeling to the catchy opener.

‘Post Punk Posers’ reintroduces the hardcore tones that Robertson’s cut his teeth on, with high-pitched vocals and an improvisational feeling to the guitar solos perfectly upping the ante alongside the song's more aggressive tone. Feeling like a celebration of the 70’s rock sound, ‘RNR Rubbish Bin’ resembles Ballroom Blitz if Sweet discovered leather jackets and cigarettes.

Although, that’s part of the allure of Stained Glass. It’s in-your-face rock and roll without the bullshit, as it should be.

Label: Anti Fade Records

Release date: November 25

Ella Hooper Small Town Temple

For almost two decades now, Ella Hooper has been an absolute force within the Australian music industry. First blasting onto the scene as a teenager, her work in Killing Heidi absolutely dominated the charts, earning the esteemed songstress a wealth of accolades along the way.

By the age of 18, she was the first woman to be awarded APRA’s Songwriter of the Year. Now 39, Hooper’s longawaited second solo release Small Town Temple displays a triumphant reinvention for the revered songwriter, with the singer’s newest edition highlighting a massive departure from the dream-pop soundscapes found on In Tongues.

From the country twangs and yodelled vocal delivery of the title track to the soulful Motown grooves of ‘Love In The Time Of Cowardice’, Small Town Temple is certainly an album that debuts a new Hooper.

‘Old News’ stands out due to its refined, organic approach which allows Hooper’s stark songwriting and wellrounded vibrato to shine. ‘Get Down, Stay Down’ adopts pounding Suzi Quatro-esque drum beats, whilst ‘Achilles Heel’ displays an impressive contrast between Hooper’s vocals and off-kilter beats, creating a free-flowing melody perfectly apt for the intimate nature of the song's lyrics.

In a particularly defining moment, album closer ‘Long Gully Road’ sees Hooper deliver almost an isolated vocal performance, with the song's enigmatic melodies laying an immersive foundation for Hooper’s authentic vocal delivery. A powerful closer to an incredibly notable release. Label: Independent Release date: January 20

Gordon Koang Community

It’s pretty easy to see why Gordon Koang and collaborator Paul Biel have become such darlings of the Melbourne music scene. As the follow-up to the esteemed debut Unity (2020), Community will immediately suck you in with its earnest and enthusiastic charm.

Merging elements of East African pop, modern psych-rock and MiddleEastern rhythms all in the mix, Community is an incredibly vibrant affair, with Koang’s second release possessing an incessant groove and jam-like quality to the release. With a seamless flow between songs, Community impressively feels like one continuous track, with a methodical nature to the linear rhythms that create such a simmering repetition throughout.

Most known for their work in Traffik Island, ORB, Leah Senior and Beans, Community features the inclusion of Melbourne-based musicians Zak Olsen, Jesse Williams, David “Daff” Gravolin and Jack Kong, who add a psychedelic twist to Koang’s output.

‘Nyina Walthana’ channels Zam-rock rhythms akin to WITCH, whilst ‘Male Mi Goa Ji Sobat’ is filled with meandering key arrangements, staccato picking and polyrhythmic qualities resembling that of GOAT. ‘Kerang’ adopts Latin-inspired soundscapes, with a powerful sweeping nature to the snare hits that’ll be sure to get people dancing.

With each song acting as an ode to something, Koang’s second release is a collection of humble dedications, with his heartfelt messages to very specific places and people delivered in an infectious manner that is accessible to everyone.

Label: Music In Exile / Above Board Release date: November 11

Bird Machine Bird Machine EP

There’s something about Bird Machine’s debut self-titled EP that is so wholesome yet poignant at the same time. From the minds of Geelong-born, New Zealand-based Luke and his wife Jenna Grbin, Bird Machine’s debut dabbles between “good and bad dreams”, with the EP’s primary focus revolving around the duo’s personal experiences of loss, love and the coping mechanisms attached to the process of grief.

Delivered with introspection and a raw tenderness, Bird Machine’s output spans a wealth of dreamy soundscapes, merging alt-rock, folk and pop together to create a unique melancholic quality.

‘Our Kind’ feels reminiscent of the alt-country stylings of Jeff Buckley, with the folk-orientated opener delicately balancing vocal crescendos with string arrangements and loud, reverbed drum tones. ‘Twice In The Heart’ is much more subdued in its approach, with powerful dual vocals predominantly acting as the song's driving force. The gently floating and rolling single ‘Time & Space’ sees Jenna emotionally sing about living in the wake of personal loss; it’s an incredibly delicate moment that stands out due to its introspective and perceptive recount of loss. The closing track ‘I’m Right Here’ adds in elements of psychedelic with certain effects creating a dissonant, washed-out feeling to the echoed vocals.

Considering the EP was self-produced, there is a lot to be impressed by, with Luke and Jenna Grbin’s debut displaying an expert prowess in songwriting, composition and production. A masterful first effort.

Label: Independent Release date: November 25

By The Pier 2023

After Christmas, you’re going to need a real holiday.

Sometimes, after an especially crazy Christmas, it’s like you almost need a second holiday to unwind from your first holiday.

We’ve all been there! If you’ve got someone on your Christmas list who is constantly overworked and needs a little R&R, tickets to By The Pier will do them wonders. The Queenscliff festival is the perfect way for music fans to unwind by the beach and soak up the last of the summer.

Running on March 24 and 25, this year’s By The Pier will feature Thelma Plum, SAFIA, Holy Holy, King Stingray, Slowly Slowly, Alice Ivy, Big Twisty & The Funk Nasty and a whole handful of other beloved Aussie acts. It is designed as an offshoot of the beloved Queenscliff Music Festival held in November. Taking place on one big outdoor stage, By The Pier offers fans a more intimate and easygoing experience than its bigger sister, with plenty of downtime to explore the gorgeous Bellarine Peninsula.

Located just a stone's throw away, the festival makes for a great excuse for a weekend getaway to one of Victoria’s sweetest seaside towns. Visitors can enjoy gourmet food trucks, bars and hot local talent at the festival while spending their idle hours sunbathing on one of Queenscliff’s many sandy beaches. With plenty of heritage buildings, cute cafes and restaurants to check out on a stroll down Hesse street, the town has just enough attractions to keep visitors busy while still hanging onto that laid-back coastal vibe.

Queenscliff also has a rich Victorian-era history, as it has been adored as a holiday destination since the 1880s. Step back in time with a stay at the extravagant Vue Grande or Ozone Hotel, or book one of the many other hotels, motels and holiday homes. And don’t forget to pack a beach towel!

Last year’s debut By The Pier event became a beloved fixture of the festival season, hosting the likes of Boy & Bear, Vera Blue and Julia Stone.

Two-day adult tickets to this year’s festival cost $198.65 are up for grabs now at www.bythepier.com.au. Trust us: there’s no better gift than a chilled-out weekender.

Apollo Bay Seafood Festival

Staring at the sea while eating the ocean’s finest bounty is one of life’s simple pleasures, and the coastal haven of Apollo Bay has an entire fest dedicated to it.

That’s right; the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is back for summer for its first proper event in three years this February, championing fresh, local seafood and the rugged beauty of the coastal town.

Kicking off the festivities on February 17, the event will be running a series of very special Friday night dinners at some of the most loved restaurants in Apollo Bay and the Otways, including Birdhouse Apollo Bay, Casalingo Italian Restaurant Apollo Bay, and The Perch at Lavers Hill, among others. Each restaurant will present a special set menu focusing on local seafood and local produce, with spaces strictly limited.

On Saturday, February 18, the festival takes over the picturesque Apollo Bay Harbour for a one-day celebration of the town's finest seafood featuring pop-up restaurants, cooking demonstrations, and seafood markets.

Food lovers will be able to feast on pescatarian treats like lobster rolls, seafood dumplings, huge paellas, octopus skewers, southern rock lobster, abalone sashimi, Apollo Bay Bakeries’ famous Scallop Pies, calamari cones, bao buns organic oysters and much more, all while being surrounded by the stunning sea view backdrop of the Great Ocean Road region.

Kids will be able to get in on the fun with a hands-on educational program featuring interactive demonstrations and displays, sailing lessons, casting competitions and harbour expeditions, while some of Australia’s best musical acts will take over two stages, kicking on late into the evening.

The 2023 event will once again host conversation sessions on Sunday, February 19, drawing in a range of speakers including fishermen, scientists, ocean activists, farmers, chefs and Indigenous knowledge holders to explore some of the key issues that affect the ocean, and the land, and how we as humans can live with both in harmony rather than depleting and destroying.

Tickets are on sale now at www.apollobayseafoodfestival.com

Meatstock

Summer Nights with Lambys

Boxing Day is surely one of the greatest days of the year. It is a day where you can do anything without reprimand. Over in Geelong, it’s all about tradition, and that means treatin’ yourself to a few Mario Karts at good ol’ Lambys.

While Lambys is always a treat, Boxing Day is your chance to dance away those hangovers and bloated bellies while partystarter Nathan Jennings headlines, bringing the best Dfloor vibes supported by local DJ legends. Happy Hour will also be rolling with 2-for-1 Mario Karts, $6 WP shots and $7 basics before 10pm.

If you’ve not yet locked in your plans for New Year’s Eve, there’s no better place to ring in 2023 than at Lambys. Promising to go out with a bang, Lee Harding & Bedrock will be providing the tunes maintaining that classic Lambys vibe we all know and love, alongside DJ Dozza and Lachy Jones who will be packing in the tunes with the bands in the Main Room. You’ll also find Ryan Quirke and Ryan Harcoan on the decks in the Cave letting the new years celebrations run well into the wee hours of 2023, while 2-for-1 Mario Karts will be poured before 10pm.

And of course, what would a summer be without Lambys Sunday nights? Maybe it was once known as the day of rest, but in our day and age, that final day of the weekend is all about the Sunday session.

Whether you’re a uni student with time to party and money (or no money) to burn, or you’re in the local hospo game with Monday off over summer, Sunday nights and Lambys are a no-brainer with its great atmosphere, vibing crowd, a packed dance floor and some very fond but hazy memories. For summer, Lambs have just launched their sun-soaked Sunday Sessions, with free entry for everyone, awesome DJs on stage all night and half-priced drinks for the Students, Hospo Legends and Emergency Service Crew out there.

The summer forecast? 100% chance of Mario Karts.

Lambys is found at 66 Brougham Street, Geelong. Doors open 9pm.

Combining all things BBQ and music, Australia’s biggest barbecue festival Meatstock has announced its return, heading to Melbourne in 2023.

Taking to 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. Vendors include Phat Boyz Smoking, Smokin Hot ’N Saucy, 2 Smokin’ Arabs, Black Iron Smokers, RG’s Food truck and many more. Alongside the plethora of juicy meat, barbecues, bourbon and plenty of beer, the festival will feature the internationally renowned and daring Professional Bull Riders (PBR) for some extreme edge-of-your-seat entertainment this year.

From cowbells to dumbbells, festival-goers can also get primal in the Strong Man and Woman arena, bearing witness to some of the biggest weapons in Oz battle it out in unbelievable strength tournaments like the Viking Deadlift, Truck Pull, Deadlift Medley, Max Monster Dumbbells and the Stone series.

The entertainment continues with Heat Beads Melbourne Barbecue Wars, where 50 teams from across Australia will be battling it out to be crowned the best barbecuers in the state. Over 20 butchers will also be going head to head on stage competing to be crowned Victoria’s best butcher, while the Street BBQ King of the Grill competition will pit barbecue teams against each other cooking steak, wings, bacon, hot dogs and burgers.

If this isn’t enough, you can park up and watch competitors live on stage in the hilarious Beard and Mo Wars and must-see competitive eating competitions, or stock up on the best products at the barbecue expo.

Last, but not least, Meatstock has all your senses covered, pulling together some of Australia’s best country music acts to put on one hell of a show. In Melbourne, we’ll be seeing the likes of Brad Cox, Amber Lawrence, Darlinghurst, The Pleasures, The Surreal McCoys, Davidson Bros, James Ellis and the Jealous Guys and Frank Sultana, as well as Queenie, Rose Zita Falko and The Smith & Western Jury.

Ticketing options range from single-day GA to weekend super passes with kids welcome and free for those under 12.

Meatstock takes place at Melbourne Showgrounds from 18-19 March 2023. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.

Gigs + Events

Dec15

–

Jan21.

For more gigs head to fortemag.com.au/gigguide

Thursday

December 15th

CIVIC, THE PRIZE, DRAGNET

The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 7pm. $28.60.

NORTHLANE, WINDWAKER. The Wool Exchange. Geelong. 7pm. $49.40.

RÜFÜS DU SOL, JON HOPKINS, LUKE ALESSI.

Flemington Racecourse. Melbourne. 6pm. $136.

LIVE MUSIC.

Bombora’s Beach Bar. Torquay. 4pm. Free.

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

Friday December 16th

RÜFÜS DU SOL, JON HOPKINS, LUKE ALESSI. Flemington Racecourse. Melbourne. 6pm. $136.

HOLD//FIRE ‘DAYDREAMER LAUNCH’ WITH LOCALLES AND SARGENT BAKER. The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 8pm. $18.40.

SHELTER BLOOM TAKEOVER FT: CRUSH3ED, LUCAS BOSTON B2B JERB, MELO HAUS, EVA, YANZO, BLATA. Bloom Nightclub. Geelong. 10pm. $18.08.

SAMMY OWEN & LIAM KEALY’S BURNING B3 TRIO.

Pistol Pete's Food and Blues. Geelong. 9:30pm. $15.

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

SUPPERCLUB FRIDAYS PRESENTS: OUR FAVOURITE THINGS Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:30pm. $20.

BIRD MACHINE & STRESS WALTERS SHOW. Analogue Academy. Geelong. 7pm. $15.

WOOSHKA - SPECIAL XMAS SHOW. The Elephant & Castle. Geelong. 8:30pm. Free.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE. The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. Free.

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

FLORENCE BAR FRIDAYS. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

JAY HOWIE. Valhalla, Geelong. 8pm. Free

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

OPEN FOLKIN’. Old Church On The Hill. Bendigo. 6pm. Gold Coin Donation.

Saturday December 17th

VEEPED XMAS XIFEATURING: TOMMY DYNAMITE & THE EXPLOSIONS, THE SKIPS, FINAL FINAL, BIFF, GRIMWOODS, SOMETHING KROOK, GRYTT AND MORE. The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 2pm. $23.50. GRINCHFEST FEATURING: CLAMM, A, SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS, VINTAGE CROP, EGGY, THE PRIZE AND MORE. Collingwood Town Hall. Melbourne. 3pm. $40.

OCEAN GROVE ‘ODD WORLD XMAS’ FEATURING: BLOOM, TOWNS, DADDY ISSUES. Stay Gold. Melbourne. 3pm. $34.90.

BONES AND JONES + FOLK BITCH TRIO ‘A VERY BONESY BITCHMAS’. Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8:30pm. $29.10.

MOJO CORNER.

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues. Geelong. 9pm. $20.

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

PUNCHLINES ON PAKO WITH DAVE THORTON FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS NICK CAPPER, ETHAN CAVANAGH, LISA GATENBY, LUKE

MASSEY AND TIM YOUNG.

Geelong West Town Hall. Geelong West. 6pm. $30.

THE BLACK SORROWS. Theatre Royal. Castlemaine. 7pm. $59.70.

ELVIS BY ANTHONY PETRUCCI - ‘THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL’. Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:30pm. $35.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE. The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 5pm. Free.

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

SATURDAY NIGHTS AT THE GH. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. Bombora’s Beach Bar. Torquay. 12pm. Free.

COLONEL VIPERS WHIPSTICK BAND.

The Golden Vine. Bendigo. 9pm. $10.

QUEEN VS ABBA. The Wool Exchange. Geelong. 7:30pm. $10.

Sunday December 18th

THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION, THE STRIPP, SACRAMENTO SWEATERS.

The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 6pm. $18.40.

GARRY ALLEN.

Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues. Geelong. 3pm. Free.

ROB MILLS AND BOBBY FOX PRESENT: THE KINGS

OF CHRISTMAS. Costa Hall. Deakin University Geelong Waterfront. 3pm. $69.90.

VINYL MARKET - FEATURING STALLS FROM: BAD NEIGHBOUR RECORDS, PREHISTORIC SOUNDS AND WAYNES WORLD OF MUSIC. Medusa Bar. Geelong. 2pm. Gold Coin Donation Entry.

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

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

ROOFTOP SUNDAYS. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 2pm. Free.

RHYLEY MCGRATH, MADDIE (SOMETIMES).

Bomboars Beach Bar. Torquay. 3pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 1:30pm. Free.

CAPTAIN SUNDAYS: SUMMER SERIES. Bar Captain. Geelong. 3pm. Free before 5pm.

SUNDAY SESH. Lambys Tavern. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

Friday December 23rd

THE WOOL EXCHANGE XMAS PARTY FEATURING: THE GLITTER GANG. The Wool Exchange. Geelong. 8pm. $12.25.

SWEAT DREAMS PRESENTS: JUNO MAMBA AND FRANCI INFERNO ORCHESTRA. Volta. Ballarat. 8pm. $23.75.

PISTOL PETE’S ALLSTAR CHRISTMAS PARTY. Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues. Geelong. 9pm. $25.

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

MADHOUSE

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

GBOMM’S CHRISTMAS BLOWOUT FEATURING: THING FROM SPRING, BARRACOUTA, RUMMIKLUB, CONFETTI WESTERN. The Eastern. Ballarat. 5pm. $15.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE.

The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. Free.

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

FLORENCE BAR FRIDAYS. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

BAD SANTA PARTY. Valhalla, Geelong. 8pm. Free

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

Saturday December 24th

XMAS EVE AT VOLTA FEATURING: FONTERAY, MERAKI MINDS, SAMI, SAM DARCY, CONFETTI WESTERN. Volta. Ballarat. 7:30pm. $18.40.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE. The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 5pm. Free.

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

SATURDAY NIGHTS AT THE GH. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

Monday December 26th

UNO & BARWON HEADS HOTEL PRESENT - ‘COASTAL JAM BOXING DAY PARTY’ FT: DISCO LINES, TSEBA, DEAN TURNLEY, COCO DU MA, DJ SWELLA, EVA, MEETWALLY, NATO, SOUL SHAKIN’, SPIN CITY DISCO, ZOË AND MORE. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 3pm. $55-75 .

DARUDE. The Inn Hotel. Geelong. 1:00pm. $23.27.

HUMAN MOVEMENT. Geelong Bandroom. Geelong. 9pm. $18.06.

DIVE PRESENTS: BOXING DAY CAR PARK PARTY FEATURING: PAPA SMURF, BELLA CLAXTON, LUKE HOVEY, SENOR SENOR, SOUL SHAKIN, DAARONS. Dive. Geelong. 1pm. $16.91.

Thursday December 29th

BEYOND THE VALLEY FT: BENEE, BICEP, CHARLOTTE DE WITTE, DENZEL CURRY, DIPLO, DOM DOLLA, FLIGHT FACILITIES, HONEY DIJON, KAYTRANADA, NELLY FURTARDO AND MORE. Barunah Plains. Hesse. 28 Dec 2022 - 1 Jan 2023. $481.

FALLS FESTIVAL FT: THE ARCTIC MONKEYS, LIL NAS X, PEGGY GOU, CHVRCHES, JAMIE XX, AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, DMA’S & MORE. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 29 Dec, 202231 Dec 2022. $287.

SHANNON BOURNE BAND. Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues. Geelong. 9pm. $15.

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

Friday December 30th

NYE ON THE HILL FEATURING: HOCKEY DAD, NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE, RUBY FIELDS, SLOWLY SLOWLY, SLY WITHERS, TEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS, ADAM NEWLING, STEPH STRINGS AND MORE. The Farm. Loch Village, Victoria. 30 Dec, - 1 Jan 2023. $269+bf.

DAN WATERS & BEN MASTWYK. Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 7:00pm. $20.

LIAM KEALY TRIO. Pistol Pete’s Food & Blues. Geelong. 9pm. $15.

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

LIVE MUSIC. The Elephant & Castle. Geelong. 6pm. Free

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE. The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. Free.

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

FLORENCE BAR FRIDAYS. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

JACK MEREDITH. Valhalla, Geelong. 8pm. Free

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

Saturday December 31st

NYE AT THE FARM - ‘WHEN PIGS FLY 22’ FEATURING: BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE, CLOSE COUNTERS, DJ LUV YOU, EMMA VOLARD, FEIGN JIMA, MILDLIFE, SADAR BAHAR AND MORE. Collingwood Children’s Farm. Collingwood. 3pm. $75.44.

MOBILE DISCO PRESENTS - ‘HOT SAUCE! NEW YEARS EVE’ WITH DAVE LEE AND ERIC POWELL. Lorne Hotel. Lorne. 6pm. $52.50.

The Thorn. Thornbury. 3pm. $89-129.

NYE PARTY. Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. $75.

PIANO BAR ON THE PIER.

Cunningham Pier. Geelong. 7:30pm. $88.

NYE CELEBRATION WITH THE MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA. Memo Music Hall. Melbourne. 8pm. $89+bf.

NYE PARTY. Torquay Hotel. Torquay. 7pm. $85.

NEW YEAR’S EVE UPSTAIRS AT 360Q. 360Q. Queenscliff. 7pm. $195.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DOWNSTAIRS AT 360Q. 360Q. Queenscliff. 7pm. $195.

NEW YEAR’S EVE UPSTAIRS AT WAH WAH GEE. Wah Wah Gee. Geelong. 7pm. $79.

NEW YEARS EVE AT WESTEND. Westend Hotel. Geelong. 6:30pm. Free.

DISCOINFERNO: A NEW YEARS EVE EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Palais Hepburn Hepburn. 7pm. $59.

DJ RAMDADDY. Apollo Bay Hotel. Apollo Bay. 8:30pm. Free.

BRIGHT BREWERY NEW YEAR’S EVE 2022. Bright Brewery. Bright. 9pm. $40.

NEW YEARS EVE CABARET 2022. Portarlington Parks Hall. Portarlington. 7:30pm. $25.

H20 BAYSIDE FEATURING: ALISSA BAYLEE, ANDY MURPHY, DJ FEMME, CLARA YATES, NICK VAN WILDER. Port Melbourne Foreshore. Melbourne. 8pm. $155.

NEW YEARS EVE DINNER & CELEBRATIONS. Club Italia. Leopold. 6pm. $95.

KELLI BROGAN. CLIFTON SPRINGS GOLF CLUB. Clifton Springs. 7pm. Ticketing Information TBC.

NEW YEARS EVE AT PIANO BAR BENDIGO. Piano Bar. Bendigo. 7pm. $65.

LIVE MUSIC. THE HOP INN. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

LUCKY DAY OUT FEATURING: KID INK, JOEL FLETCHER, TIGER LILY, ROCKAFELLAS, ORKESTRATED, BRYNNY AND MORE. Kinetic Stadium. Frankston. 6pm. $53.85.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE. The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 5pm. Free.

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

SATURDAY NIGHTS

AT THE GH. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. Bombora’s Beach Bar. Torquay. 12pm. Free.

‘WHITE PARTY’ FEATURING: SI DAY, DJ SHORTY J, DJ LILT. 2 Chambers. Geelong. 8pm. $99.

NEW YEARS EVE AT CORNER HOTEL WITH DONNY BENÉT, OUR CARLSON + DELIVERY. Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8:30pm. $67.

NEW YEARS EVE AT RECESS BAR. Recess Bar. Geelong. 9:30pm. $25.

EAT THE BEAT NYE FT. WEHBBA, RORY MARSHALL, DAGU, SARAH ARMSTRONG AND MORE. New Guernica. Collingwood. 9pm. Ticketing Info TBC.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

AT THE HEADS.

At The Heads. Barwon Heads. 7:30pm. $170.

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE VINE. The Golden Vine Hotel. Bendigo. 10pm. $15.

‘TUSK’ THE FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE SHOW - NYE PARTY. Rafferty’s Tavern. Warrnambool. 7pm. $38.01.

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

NYE AT 4 PINES FEATURING

LUKE BISCAN. 4 Pines. Warrnambool. 7pm. Tickets from $90.

NEW YEAR'S EVE FEATURING WOOSHKA. The Sphinx. Geelong. 7:30pm. $27.07.

SOS ABBA SHOWNYE PARTY. The Elephant and Castle. Wallington.7:30pm. $70.

Sunday

January 1st

LET THEM EAT CAKE FEATURING: ANNA, BONOBO, DJ KOZE, ELKKA, GERD JANSON, KINK, STEPHAN BODZIN, X CLUB AND MORE. Werribee Mansion. Werribee. 12pm. $159.34.

SUN CYCLE NYD FEATURING: ANTAL, BERTIE, C. FRIM, DJ BORING, FOLAMOUR, FREDDIE GIBBS, JOB JOBSE, OR:LA, SHERELLE AND MORE. Coburg Velodrome. Coburg North. 12pm. $120. PIKNIC #5 FEATURING: SASHA KHEN, PAT TASSONE, EKABLUE, BINI, CEDRO, FRANK MOSS, ELLIOT CREED AND MORE. Bourke Street Courtyard. Melbourne. 3pm. $81.65.

ROOFTOP SUNDAYS. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 2pm. Free.

NYD @ THE MILLS FEATURING: GROOVE TERMINATOR, DEXTER, JOLYON PETCH, THE STAFFORD BROTHERS. 1915. North Geelong. 3pm. $89+bf.

MOBILE DISCO PRESENTS‘HOT SAUCE! NYD’ WITH DJ SPEN AND ERIC POWELL. Lorne Hotel. Lorne. 6pm. $52.50.

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

LIVE MUSIC. Bombora’s Beach Bar, Torquay. 12pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 1:30pm. Free. SUNDAY SESH. Lambys Tavern. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

GEELONG CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (CLOSING SHOW). Adventure Park. Wallington. 6:45pm. $32.50.

Thursday January 5th

ARCTIC MONKEYS, MILDLIFE. Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Melbourne. 6pm. $149.90.

NASAL SPRAY, DJ RAMDADDY. Apollo Bay Hotel. Apollo Bay. 8:30pm. Free.

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

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

Friday January 6th

UNTITLED DAY PARTY FEATURING: CHARLOTTE DE WITTE, DJ KITI, HOUSE MUM, LAURA KING AND WILLIAM KISS. The Timber Yard. Melbourne. 3pm. $99.99.

BAREFOOT SPACEMEN, FINAL FINAL, HANNAH VELLA, VEDA VARCOE. The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 7pm. $18.40.

SUPPERCLUB FRIDAY

PRESENTS: GEORGIA RODGERS. Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:00pm. $15.

HOT DUB TIME MACHINE. Torquay Hotel. Torquay. 8:00pm. $56.10.

THE DUKES, LUKEY LUKE Apollo Bay Hotel. Apollo Bay. 8:30pm. Free.

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

LIVE MUSIC. The Elephant & Castle. Geelong. 6pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE.

The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT GUITAR BAR

The Barking Dog. Geelong West. 5pm. Free.

FLORENCE BAR FRIDAYS.

Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

Saturday January 7th

UNO PRESENTS - ‘COASTAL JAM WARRNAMBOOL' FT: ODD MOB, LATIFA TEE, DEAN TURNLEY, MEETWALLY, TWELVE DJS AND MORE

. Pavilion Cafe and Bar. Warrnambool. 3pm. $50-60.

HOT DUB TIME MACHINE

Torquay Hotel. Torquay. 8:00pm. $56.10.

JACK BOTTS

The Bridge Hotel. Castlemaine. 9pm. $49.50.

OUSMAN SONKO & KAIRO FAMILY BAND

Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:00pm. $25.

CRAZY P SOUNDSYSTEM, CASEY LEAVER, JIMI THE KWEEN, KELLY TEE, LUKE VECCHIO, SOME SHEILA North Wharf. Docklands. 4pm. $62.70.

KATIE NOONAN PERFORMS JONI MITCHELL’S ‘BLUE’

The Palais. Geelong. 7:30pm. $59.

COPYCAT KILLERS

Apollo Bay Hotel. Apollo Bay. 8:30pm. Free.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE.

The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 5pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT GUITAR BAR.

The Barking Dog. Geelong West. 5pm. Free.

SATURDAY NIGHTS

AT THE GH. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC Bombora’s Beach Bar. Torquay. 12pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

Sunday January 8th

UNTITLED DAY PARTY FEATURING: HONEY DIJON, JOB JOBSE, AYEBATONYE, DAWS, KALYANI. The Timber Yard. Melbourne. 12pm. SOLD OUT.

JACK BOTTS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS (TBC)

Torquay Hotel. Torquay. 5:30pm. $45.90.

RACHEL BAIMAN

The Bridge Hotel. Castlemaine. 3pm. Free.

OPERATION OUCH! LIVE ON STAGE. Ulumbarra Theatre. Bendigo. 1pm & 4pm. Tickets from $49.90.

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

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

SUNDAY SESH. Lambys Tavern. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

ROOFTOP SUNDAYS

Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 2pm. Free.

Friday January 13th

DELIVERY, VINTAGE CROP

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

SUPPERCLUB FRIDAY PRESENTS: OLIVIA LAY. Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:30pm. $15.

FLYNN GURRY.

Apollo Bay Hotel. Apollo Bay. 8:30pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE.

The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. The Barwon Heads Hotel. Barwon Heads. 7pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT GUITAR BAR

The Barking Dog. Geelong West. 5pm. Free.

Saturday January 14th

MATT BOURKE AND THE DELUSIONAL DRUNKS ‘SMALL TOWN BLUES’ EP LAUNCH WITH TOMMY DYNAMITE & THE EXPLOSIONS AND LIBBY STEEL. The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 8pm. $13.30.

JAY HOWIE, WILLIE J, JIMI HOCKING’S BLUES MACHINE, KALIOPI & THE BLUES MESSENGERS Bluestrain. Queenscliff. SOLD OUT.

‘AMY WINEHOUSE SHOW’ PRESENTED BY ATLANTA COOGAN & THE BACK TO BLACK BAND Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:30pm. $40.

THY ART IS MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, CHELSEA GRIN, SPITE. The Forum. Melbourne. 7pm. SOLD OUT.

GUITAR WARS - ‘THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN’ Bannockburn Railway Hotel. Bannockburn. 8pm. $48.56.

M79: JAN - FEB RESIDENCY

The Bridge Hotel. Castlemaine. 8:30pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE JUKE.

The Juke. The Grovedale Hotel. Geelong. 8:30. Free.

LIVE MUSIC AT GUITAR BAR

The Barking Dog. Geelong West. 5pm. Free.

SATURDAY NIGHTS

AT THE GH. Geelong Hotel. Geelong. 9pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC. The Hop Inn. Mt Duneed. 6pm. Free.

Friday January 20th

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL FEATURING: JOLYON PETCH. Johnstone Park. Geelong. 4pm. $24.09.

TY SEGALL. Anglesea Memorial Hall. Anglesea. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT.

GRACE PETRIE. The Barwon Club. South Geelong. 8pm. $34.70.

LOCALS NIGHT 2: FT - BEANS, BANANAGUN, PARAQUAY, SAVAGE HONEY, MONA BAY AND DJ DR WORM.

Torquay Hotel. Torquay. 7:00pm. $32.15.

KIM CHURCHILL

The Bridge Hotel. Castlemaine. 9pm. $35.

SUPPERCLUB FRIDAY

PRESENTS: FLYNN GURRY. Palais Hepburn. Hepburn. 6:30pm. $15.

AIDAN JONES: TACO

The Engine Room. Bendigo. 8pm. Adult $22.00. Concession $18.00.

BATTS - THE ‘NIGHTLINE’ ALBUM LAUNCH. Theatre Royal. Castlemaine. 8pm. $32.65.

Saturday January 21st

JONNO ZILBER, AARON POLLOCK, CAM WALTER BLUES BAND, THE VON ROBERTSON’S. Bluestrain. Queenscliff. 6:30pm. $150.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL FEATURING: ASH GRUNWALD & TELENOVA

Johnstone Park. Geelong. 12pm. $24.09.