Editorial Note

Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison… Reluctant members of the infamous ‘27 Club’, these famed rock artists all died tragically young, at the age of 27, leaving behind the ‘what if? of unfulfilled potential.

It’s one of the most elusive and remarkably tragic coincidences in rock and roll history and spans a century of music-making, reminding us of the much-loved artists we’ve lost, and the sheer talent it takes to create lasting, world-changing music.

Celebrating the legends who will forever be 27, and shining a light on the legacy they left behind, 27 Club is the electrifying live rockumentary currently touring the nation, featuring treasured music and stories from the famed rock artists gone too soon.

With Australian rock icons Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus) and Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah, Bob Evans) with Carla Lippis (Mondo Psycho), Dusty Lee Stephenson, Cam Blokland and Wanderers, 27 Club will arrive in Geelong this month as part of Geelong Art Centre’s brand new bold program REWIRE. To celebrate the arrival, we chat with Australia’s Queen of rock ‘n roll Sarah McLeod, and take a deep dive into the other creative performance experiences that REWIRE features.

Aside from our REWIRE coverage, we’ve chatted to the likes of Arizona quartet Jimmy Eat World, award-winning singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, Festival of Sails Emerging Artist stage runners-up Demi Violet and Wild Gloriosa, Aireys Inlet Music Festival’s newly appointed festival director Patrick Donovan and we sit down with Geelong chef and blues lover Pete Raimondo about Pistol Pete’s nine-year milestone. We also take a closer look at the annual Tastes of Central Geelong festival and Clunes Booktown Festival, our usual round-up of albums, exhibitions and stage show to check out, and we spotlight the new festival raising money and awareness for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health. That’s Forte #741 folks, have at it.

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.

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

Our March cover is 27 Club, as part of Geelong Arts Centre’s REWIRE program.

Geelong’s beloved film developing lab, gallery and cafe

Analogue Academy is closing

Devastating local art lovers and musicians alike, Analogue Academy has announced its closure. The business indicated it was time to move on to new projects and ventures, saying, “after a wonderful decade of art, film processing, coffee, music, poetry and conversation, plus so much more, with a heavy but grateful heart we announce the closure of Analogue.” The final date of trade will be Saturday, March 18.

A massive night market is heading to the Geelong Racecourse

Picture this: a (hopefully) balmy March night spent filling your belly and quenching your thirst from a selection of food stalls and bars and scoring a bunch of awesome goodies from amazing local makers. If that sounds right up your alley, then mark Friday, March 10 in your calendar, because that’s when the Piccadilly Market makes its way to Geelong for an epic night event. It goes down from 5pm at the Geelong Racing Club, with part of the proceeds donated to Beyond Blue in memory of Jonah Lear.

Australia’s only Acoustic Music Festival returns to Ocean Grove this March

The Pavilion at Ocean Grove Park will host Australia’s second and only Acoustic Festival from 4pm on Sunday 12 March and it’s completely free. The lineup includes The Kite Machine, Famous Will Band, Hassall, Peter Paul and Marion, The King’s Poet and The Von Robertsons.

Escape Smash Play brings axe throwing, smash rooms, escape rooms and an arcade to Ballarat

Whether you’re looking for a new way to de-stress or you’re keen to level up date night activities, Escape Smash Play in Ballarat is now a very good option, bringing axe throwing, escape rooms, smash rooms and an arcade to the regional city. Opening late last year, Escape Smash Play is a game-changer for the region, providing a swathe of entertainment from Thursday to Sunday each week.

18th Amendment Bar have created their very own gin

Raising the bar on cocktail offerings and creating epic experiences like we have never had before, Geelong’s famed 1920s Prohibition-style cocktail bar, The 18th Amendment, are continuing to impress, now launching its very own gin. Developed by the award-winning bartenders at the venue, founded by Australian hospitality veteran, Gorge Camorra, there are two styles on offer from 18th, including Australian Dry Gin and an Old Tom Gin. You can purchase the products online or direct from the venue.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach returns to Torquay this April

The World Surf League is returning to Bells Beach, for the 60th Anniversary of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy, the longest-running event on the World Surf League’s elite Championship Tour. Bells Beach means history and heritage for both world surfing and Australian sport. This is the first stop of the Australian leg of the WSL Championship Tour, the event will continue its tradition of falling on Easter weekend from 4-14 April.

The world’s poshest picnic

Le Dîner en Blanc is coming to Ballarat this year

Ballarat will become the first regional Victorian city to host a worldwide dining phenomenon that is sweeping the globe. Le Dîner en Blanc will come to Ballarat on Saturday 1 April where thousands of people, dressed all in white and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass “chic picnic” in a public space.

Katie Noonan expands tour of Joni Mitchell’s landmark album ‘Blue’

Due to popular demand, and off the back of 10 sold-out shows already this year, Katie Noonan has announced 20 more shows to her tour of Joni Mitchell’s masterpiece ‘Blue’. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this landmark album, Noonan will be accompanied by a guitarist, and perform in the intimate mode for this special run of shows. See it at Pig & Whistle in Main Ridge on 11 May and the Palais Hepburn on 13 May.

The Church announces Australian tour to celebrate the release of 26th album

The ARIA Hall of Fame inductees have dropped their 26th studio album The Hypnogogue and are celebrating 43 years since formation, embarking on an extensive world tour performing new music and songs from their 26-album career. They’ll play Palais Theatre in Melbourne on 15 June.

The Grogans, Kee’ahn lead Gippsland’s new The Far East Music Festival

The Far East Music Festival is bringing The Grogans, Kee’ahn, Kutcha Edwards, Charlie Needs Braces Blue Moon Marquee (Canada), Bones & Jones, The Figmentz and more to Mallacoota in Victoria on the Easter weekend, 7-9 April 2023. The festival is all about bringing life and funds back into the regional area following the 2019/2020 Black Summer Fires and the Pandemic.

Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows announce special show in

Queenscliff

Australian blues rock band The Black Sorrows with Joe Camilleri are heading to the beautiful Bellarine this April with an intimate show at Queenscliff Town Hall. Taking place on 29 April from 7pm, the legendary outfit will take to the stage at Queenscliff Town Hall – a music venue created by the team at QMF – the music jewel of the Bellarine.

Bendigo Writers Festival

returns to the heart of central Victoria this May

Such is Life. And such is Bendigo Writers Festival ’23, which returns to Central Victoria May 4-7 this year with a packed program of excellent writers presenting memorable discussions from every possible angle – just like life.

Lose yourself inside Bendigo’s euphoric humansized Kaleidoscope

From leading installation artist Keith Courtney, Kaleidoscope is a mesmerising symphony of sound and light, staged in a breathtaking mirror maze taking over Bendigo’s Rosalind Park for the month of April. By day, Kaleidoscope is a sparkling crystal palace as the open-air structure transports visitors to another world. As the sun sets, the installation basks in a colour field of ever-changing light.

The Baby Boomers are bringing a night of nostalgia to Queenscliff’s 360Q this March

If you’re looking for great music, good times and epic views, then you’ll want to get to The Baby Boomers Duo’s upcoming performance in Queenscliff. Taking to 360Q Queenscliff on March 25, The Baby Boomers will revisit musical history with classic tunes and tales from the ’50s, ’60s, ‘70s and ’80s.

Mulita BBQ to close its North Geelong venue, announce plans for Mount Duneed

A favourite for American BBQ with fresh and vibrant Mexican influences out in North Geelong, the Mulita BBQ team have announced they will be closing the North Geelong restaurant. While sad for the North side of town, the BBQ masters have also revealed they’ll be opening a new venue in Mount Duneed in June/July this year. Mulita will be hosting a final goodbye to North Geelong with a Farewell Feast on 24 March.

Karen’s Diner is opening a pop-up experience in Geelong this May

A Karen’s Diner pop-up experience will land at Geelong’s famed Piano Bar on Little Malop Street. The diner which is the home of ‘great burgers and rude service’ will take over Piano bar on May 5th, 7th, 12th and 14th, and if y’all show up in force Karen’s has claimed they’ll either come as a longer-term pop-up or simply just stay put for a while until they’ve insulted EVERYONE in Geelong.

Damien Rice announces Australian headline tour for May

Legendary Irish troubadour Damien Rice returns to Australia to play theatre dates around the country this May. The beloved singer-songwriter, whose emotionally wrought songs defined a generation of 21st-century heartache, is riding high on a sold-out international tour and will take his sublime solo performance to Geelong’s Costa Hall on 18 May.

Matt Corby announces ‘Everything’s Fine’ Australian album tour

Revered artist, Matt Corby, has just announced his first national tour in four years presented by triple j, in support of his upcoming album Everything’s Fine out 24 March. Corby will kick off the tour at the Forum in Melbourne on May 22 and take to Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Enmore Theatre in Sydney and finish up at Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide on June 3.

A major exhibition of experimental textiles is coming to the Art Gallery of Ballarat

Pliable Planes: Expanded Textiles & Fibre Practices is the new major exhibition of work by twelve leading Australian artists who reimagine textiles and fibre art is coming to the Art Gallery of Ballarat from 4 March 2023 – 30 April 2023, becoming the first venue of a national tour of this exhibition from UNSW Galleries in Sydney.

Experience music from Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs live concert in Melbourne

This May some of the country’s finest vocalists will join forces to take on the soundtracks of Quentin Tarantino, bringing Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction to life, reliving some of the wickedest music on celluloid. Liberty Stage is bringing both albums to life for one night only in Sydney at the State Theatre on Thursday, 4 May and at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Friday, 5 May.

Kate Ceberano announces national orchestral tour and a new album to celebrate her 40-year career

Australian music royalty Kate Ceberano will celebrate her illustrious 40-year career with the release of her 30th album, My Life is A Symphony, and a national concert tour that debuts with recording partner the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall on 27 May. Ceberano will take audiences through her incredible catalogue from pop anthems to the iconic songs she has interpreted along the way.

Gandel Gondwana Garden is Melbourne’s breathtaking new natural history experience

If you’ve ever wanted to walk among prehistoric plants and megafauna, Gandel Gondwana Garden is the place to go. A new outdoor gallery at Melbourne Museum, the exhibition expands the existing Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery to create a huge 900 square metre garden of immersive learning covering hundreds of millions of years of Australian natural history.

US psychedelic rockers Earthless are heading to Geelong in March

San Diego heavy psych trio EARTHLESS are heading down under in March 2023 with a headline Australian Tour. Formed in 2001 in San Diego and citing Japanese psych bands like Blues Creation, and Krautrock bands like Amon Düül II as early inspiration, Earthless have risen to the top of the hard rock/heavy psych scenes in recent years. See them at the Barwon Club on 17 March with support from Dr Colossus and Neon Goblin.

Victorians can get $250 again this March just for comparing energy prices

In great news for Victorians, the $250 Power Saving Bonus will be re-opened to all eligible Victorian households from 24 March, including those that received payments under previous rounds, when they visit the Labor Government’s bill-busting Victorian Energy Compare website.

Geelong’s Splatters is running daily all-you-caneat cheese sessions

Australia’s first and only Cheese Train, Splatters has brought back its famed ‘All You Can Cheese’ sessions. The bottomless sessions will run daily (from 11am Friday, Saturday and Sunday) until the end of March, where you can indulge in as many train plates as you can for just $39.

P!NK is bringing her huge Summer Carnival Tour to Australia in 2024

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer, performer, and international pop icon P!NK has announced her highly anticipated return to Australia with a massive tour in February and March, 2024. P!NK’s Summer Carnival 2024 will head to Melbourne for two dates on February 23 and February 24 at Marvel Stadium.

The Herb and Chilli Festival is bringing the heat to the Yarra Valley

Richard Clapton announces 50th anniversary shows

Richard Clapton, or Ralph as he’s affectionately known, is celebrating 50 years as one of Australia’s foremost singer/songwriters with anniversary shows at the State Theatre in Sydney on Saturday, 15 April and the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on Friday, 19 May.

Portarlington’s National Celtic Folk Festival unveils the first look at its 2023 lineup

Ocean Grove announce massive East Coast Tour for April with shows in Bendigo and Geelong

The lights are equally bright away from the city, and Melbourne Oddworld heroes Ocean Grove are set to bring their luminous live show on an 11-date regional East Coast tour this April. With support from Melbourne punk lords Deez Nuts and Sydney emo rockers Bloom, Ocean Grove will take to Tonic Bar in Bendigo on 19 April and Barwon Club in Geelong on 20 April.

From June 9 to 12, the National Celtic Folk Festival will celebrate its 19th year bringing the best in Celtic culture to the shores of Portarlington. Some of the first artists announced include Daoirí Farrell (Ireland), Sorcha Costello, Conor Connolly and Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill (Ireland), Colin Lillie (Alice Springs) and Charm of Finches

(Melbourne)

This March 18 & 19, for the eleventh year running, spice lovers will have the chance to celebrate these flavours in all of their zesty glory at the Herb and Chilli Festival. With spicy eats, thirst-quenching beverages, cooking demos, eating competitions, a chilli cook-off, a market and a kid zone, there’s something for all.

Regional music festival CresFest expands 2023 lineup with more glorious acts

Building on its already brilliant lineup, Tenzin Choegyal (Tibet) with a local orchestra, Martha Spencer (USA), Catriona McKay & Chris Stout (Scotland), Pirritu, Skyscraper Stan, and The Lost Clog have now been announced for CresFest, 31 March - 2 April 2023. In addition to the new acts, CresFest have also announced a new partnership with The Boîte, bringing young graduates of the Portfolio Project with roots in Chinese and Indian music to CresFest.

The official Elvis musical is coming to Australia in 2023

Authorised by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis: A Musical Revolution is set to tour Australia in 2023. Penned by acclaimed international writers, Elvis: A Musical Revolution is a new bio-musical exploring the extraordinary life of the award-winning cultural icon and rock ‘n roll superstar, Elvis Presley. The Australian premiere will open at Sydney’s State Theatre from July 2023, before rocking into Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre from September 2023.

Legendary punk Henry Rollins announces Good To See You Australian Tour

Tocumwal’s new music festival Good Times expands lineup for 2023

Surprise Chef, Bumpy, Wax O Paradiso and Glass Beams are among the many incredible acts joining Cash Savage & the Last Drinks, C.W. Stoneking & his Primitive Horn Orchestra and FLOODLIGHTS at the inaugural Good Times festival this Saturday 25 March 2023 in Tocumwal NSW.

Jen Cloher announces Australian tour for May with intimate show in Anglesea

Pete Murray announces Greatest Hits Australian Tour

Aussie music mainstay Pete Murray is hitting the road this July and August on the Greatest Hits Tour to celebrate his first ever ‘Best Of’ album spanning the past 20 years. The Byron Bay singer-songwriter and national treasure will kick off the tour at the Forum Melbourne on July 8, and take to stages Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, and Perth before finishing up in Adelaide in early August.

Port Fairy Folk Festival announces Archie Roach Foundation Stage lineup

Celebrating first nations artists both established and emerging, the stage will feature music from the likes of Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Birdz & Fred Leone, Bumpy, Dobby, Emma Donovan, Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse, Pirritu, and a group tribute to Uncle Archie.

Mount Duneed favourite The Hop Inn has closed its doors

In an absolutely devastating blow to the local dining and music scene, The Hop Inn Mt Duneed & Brew Crew Coffee has permanently closed its doors. In a lengthy statement to social media, the owners revealed the closure comes from various financial stresses and uncertainties.

Boardwalk Country Music Festival brings Jimmie Allen, Gavin DeGraw and Kasey Chambers to Ballarat

The Boardwalk Country Music Festival is a mammoth undertaking, rolling from city to city throughout our fair country this April and bringing in some of the most celebrated names in the Australian and International country music scene. It will take place at Kryal Castle in Ballarat on 22 April.

Punk rock icon. Author. Radio host. Actor. Grammy winner… 34 years since his first visit down under, Henry Rollins will bring his Good To See You tour to Australia in June/ July 2023 – his first spoken word tour in AU since 2016. Armed with a microphone, Rollins will perform in intimate theatres nationwide, including Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo on 21 June and Civic Hall, Ballarat on 22 June.

The Smashing Pumpkins are bringing The World Is A Vampire Festival to Ballarat

The Smashing Pumpkins will bring The World Is A Vampire Festival to ten cities across the nation this April, including a stop at Kryal Castle in Ballarat on 23 April. The festival will feature Jane’s Addiction, Amyl & The Sniffers, RedHook, Battlesnake and local acts opening each show. Plus, each show will feature professional wrestling matches between Billy Corgan’s NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) and the WAOA (Wrestling Alliance of Australia).

The multi-award-winning Jen Cloher has announced an Australian tour taking in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Anglesea, Melbourne and Sydney this May to celebrate the release of the singer-songwriter’s fifth album I Am The River, The River Is Me. As part of the tour, Cloher will take to The Sound Doctor Presents on Friday, May 26.

Ella Hooper leads stacked Aireys Inlet Music Festival lineup for March

The three-day re-imagined Aireys Inlet Music Festival spectacular has unveiled its star-studded, strong local lineup for its return, going ahead once again as a specially curated music festival from 17-19 March. Headlining is Ella Hooper, alongside Rocket Science, Andy Golledge Band, Bones and Jones, Belaire Lip Bombs, Foggy Notion, Immy Owusu, Forever Son and more.

LIT: The free 10-day luminous after-dark wonderland returns to Werribee

Taking over the park at the heart of Werribee City Centre, Wyndham Park from 17-26 March, attendees can expect wondrous landscapes transformed by brilliant lighting experiences including a breathtaking laser show and rainbow sky canopy, interactive projections, a pulsing light lawn, a magical glowing nature trail, plus much more.

Apollo Bay has just been crowned the fourth best beach in Australia

Deservingly known as paradise by the sea, Apollo Bay and its tranquil beaches have been recognised as one of the best beaches in the whole of Australia. In no shock to us, Tourism Australia’s annual Best Australian Beaches list for 2023 has been revealed and Apollo Bay in Victoria has come in at number four! Not only that, the ‘Bay’ is the only Victorian beach in the top 10!

Castlemaine Idyll 2023: Castlemaine’s annual talent contest returns

Castlemaine Idyll is Castlemaine’s ultimate annual talent contest returns for 2023 on Saturday, March 18 from 2pm –8pm. A competition like no other, one that’s been running for over 12 years, this talent quest features all the hottest local talent, a hugely talented professional band, celebrity judges and a community uniting joyously in support.