The release of Late Developers, coming hot off the heels of their 2022 album A Bit Previous, showcased Belle and Sebastian’s continued sense of artistic growth and songwriting talent. A band who has consistently remained in sync and rhythm with each other, and a core creative vision, Belle and Sebastian’s current oeuvre has been a joy for longtime and new fans alike to be absorbing.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
For Australian fans, they will be able to experience the warmth and richness of the Belle and Sebastian live show at venues right around the country, starting in Brisbane and continuing around the East Coast before finishing in Perth.
Joining Belle & Sebastian will be English singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, marking their first trip down under in over twenty years.
Releasing his first album in ten years – Banana Skin Shoes – in 2020, Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough) re-entered radars with a collection of material to remind new and old fans alike of his exemplary songwriting skill. A Mercury Prize winner (2000’s The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast), Badly Drawn Boy has built a musical legacy as a solo musician and composer that has ensured his status as one of Britain’s most important and defining voices of the late ‘90s, into the early ‘00s.
Since their debut in 1996 with the seminal record Tigermilk, Belle and Sebastian have been an integral player in the development of an indie-pop sound synonymous with music coming out of the U.K. over the course of the following decade. Subsequent releases, including 1998’s The Boy With The Arab Strap and 2003’s Catastrophe Waitress introduced more audiences around the world to Belle and Sebastian’s brand of pop songwriting, solidifying their place as indie royalty.
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When Paris is born, it is prophesied that he will bring the destruction of the city. To avoid this fate, he is sent away to be sacrificed. But this starts a series of events that will inevitably lead to the destiny his parents were so desperately trying to avoid. The Trojan War tells the story of the tragic fall of Troy.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
While this one does not feature a blond Brad Pitt in a barely-there outfit, The Trojan War from the team at A Slightly Isolated Dog and NCM promises to be hilarious, interactive and utterly ridiculous!
Premiering at The Open House theatre at Geelong Arts Centre this Friday night to a sold audience, we’re excited to be giving away 2 x Double Passes to attend the following showing – the 1 pm matinee performance this Saturday 4 May.
Get in quick! Winner will be drawn Friday 3 May.
Further information about the performance can be found here.
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Devil horns to the ceiling – Australian heavy metal heavyweights Polaris are heading out on tour, venturing to uncharted regional corners of the country this June/July.
Polaris will be carrying Melbourne nu-metal group Ocean Grove, Sydney melodic hardcore kids, Bloom and Sydney hard-hitters Inertia in their luggage and allowing them to jump up on the same stages.
Supported by Ocean Grove, Bloom^ and Inertia*
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The 22-date tour will see the band cover three dates in Victoria, targeting audiences in Ballarat at the Civic Hall on Sunday 21 July, Geelong at the Wool Exchange on Saturday 27 July and Frankston for a show at The Pier as their final tour stop on Sunday 28 July.
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“We’re super excited to be heading back out to Regional parts of Australia this June / July. It’s been quite a few years since we’ve been to some of these places and we’re visiting some new towns also which is going to be really nice. I feel very lucky to be able to visit so many different areas of our beautiful country and I love being able to play our music to people that don’t often get tours coming through their towns,” says Polaris’ Jamie Hails.
The shows come ahead of their international jet-setting where they will be playing multiple international festivals and supporting Beartooth for an epic Europe and UK tour starting in October. Both tours continue their celebration of 2023’s full-length Fatalism which saw them skyrocket to number one on the ARIA charts, garnering nominations for Australian Album of the Year at the 2023 J Awards and for the 2023 Australian Music Prize.
Fatalism builds from their 2020 ARIA Award nominated The Death of Me, further leaning into the Sydney five-piece’s trademark blend of melodic metalcore, lush post rock, and electronic flourishes. It’s set to electrify the stages on the upcoming tour.
Tickets for the Polaris The Australis Tour ’24 are on-sale Friday 3 May via Destroy All Lines. Presale sign up is available here.
Anna Jarvis held a small memorial service for her mother in 1907 at St. Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia, where Anna’s mother had been teaching Sunday school. The following year, on May 10, the first official Mother’s Day was celebrated at the same church. Interesting, Anna would end up fighting the holiday’s commercial and political exploitation.
It would be a disservice, however, to not mention Laurence Tureaud, better known as Mr T. For in 1984, appreciation for mothers received a red-hot boost when Mr T tut-tutted ‘Your Mama’ jokes with the song ‘Treat Your Mother Right’. One did not dare be the fool pitied for motherly insensitivities, less they had a cruisin’ for a mo-hawked bruisin’. Not that he would beat down. Heart as gold as his chains that man, chains he gave up following Hurricane Katrina. Indeed his mama did raise him right.
Don’t forget about Mother’s Day. And enjoy these May gigs…
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The Bridge, Castlemaine- Thurs 2 May
Get your kicks with Hussy Hicks, the duo of Leesa Gentz and Julz Parker and their blend of folk, blues, country and roots.
Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff – 2 & 3 May
From her most loved songs through to her musical numbers and even the odd cover or two, it’s going to be a little of everything at these Kate Miller-Heidke shows.
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Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong- Fri 3 May
It’s time to raise a glass to The Go Set as they celebrate 20 years as a band with the release of new live album and doco, Drink to the Night.
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 3 May
Formed in 1992, pop duo Bachelor Girl would become one of the hottest tickets in town in the ’90s and early 2000s. They’ll be joined here by Anna Smyrk.
The Eastern, Ballarat – Fri 3 May
Hana and Jessie-Lee just want you to cut to the chase with their new album, Say What You Mean. Supports include Skyscraper Stan and Al Matcott Band.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 3 May
Suzie makes her Hepburn debut with an evening of soul-stirring music and tales of life and love that will resonate with lovers of Americana and dark folk.
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Fri 3 May
Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat – Sat 4 May
Have you ever wondered that all of reality, as we can ever possibly know it, exists exclusively in our mind? Arj Barker tackles life’s big questions in his new show, The Mind Field.
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Sat 4 May
With more than 180 million streams and over one million monthly Spotify listeners, Brisbane’s Joseph Da Rin de Barbera, aka Young Franco, is one of the hottest DJs and producers going around.
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Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sat 4 May
Your mind will be blown as star and producer of Celtic Illusion, Anthony Street, will serve up a night of levitations, impossible vanishes, mentalism and a death-defying escape.
Boomtown, Castlemaine – Sat 4 May
Enjoy an eclectic night of sounds and visuals with Jess Parker, Software-Entwicklungskit, Earworm, Elevated Plains, The Artificial Limb (X) The Rev Al and DJ LJoy.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Sat 4 May
Formed in the mid-’90s while its members were at university, the Reg Cole Quartet is an original jazz/soul/Latin outfit. The band is currently working on a new album.
Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay – Sat 4 May
As the frontman for Things of Stone and Wood, Greg Arnold has written his share of beloved songs. More than thirty years later, ‘Happy Birthday Helen’ arguably remains the most loved of all.
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 4 May
Bonding over a shared love of The Allman Brothers Band among others, Melbourne outfit Creek is a blend of heavy blues, psych and alt-rock.
WCPA, Wendouree Sat 4 May
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Fri 24 May
You’ll be getting your Daddy Cool. You’ll be getting your Mondo Rock. You’ll be getting decades of sing-alongs as Ross Wilson & the Peaceniks present their 50 Years of Hits tour.
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The Taproom (Shedshaker Brewing), Castlemaine – Sun 5 May
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree here as father and son combo Family Affair (Charlie and Louis Marshall) share their love of post-punk.
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sun 5 May
Ambitions and creative forces were at a high last year as Andrea Robertson released four EPs with the changing seasons. Now it’s time for the songwoman to take Seasons on the road.
Piano Bar, Bendigo – Tues 7 May
Piano Bar, Ballarat – Wed 8 May
Piano Bar, Geelong – Thurs 9 May
The Whitlams Black Stump duo is taking a break from sitting in the old gum tree as they breathe new life into Whitlams classics on new album, Kookaburra.
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – 9 & 10 May
A little over twenty years ago, Jet created an earworm with ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ and their debut album Get Born. Come along to hear the album in full.
Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat – Fri 10 May
Having first performed in clubs and pubs at the tender age of twelve, Charlie Bedford knows a thing or two about working a crowd. His music is rooted in southern rock, blues, and classic rock.
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 10 May
Some questions can just nag away at you. Like, what do you do when you forget someone’s name? Fortunately Jimeoin is here to answer life’s little questions in new show, Who’s Your Man!?
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 10 May
Inspired by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, Chrissy Schuler and Sarah Barlow are behind the new smoky jazz duo, The Valentines.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 10 May
Formed in late 1989, indie rock outfit The Clouds was an integral part of the Australian music scene in the ’90s. Here they look back at their four albums.
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 10 May
We can learn a great deal from our mistakes, they say. And so it is that Brooke Taylor unveils a collection of tracks about life’s lessons on There’s Magic in Mistakes.
Red Hill Hotel, Chewton – Fri 10 May
As well as his contribution to some of the country’s finest, J.P. Shilo is also known for Hungry Ghosts. D.C Cross, meanwhile, is a guitarist and storyteller who has been creating music for 25 years.
Volta, Ballarat – Fri 10 May
Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, Geelong Sun 11 May
Flannelettes and long, greasy hair is the name of the game as Dear Seattle release their modern-day grunge single, ‘idc’. They’ll be joined by The Tullamarines and Jet City Sports Club.
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Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Sat 11 May
In support of their brand-spanking new album Everything is Bigger than Me, indie-folk rockers Pierce Brothers are kicking it around the country on their biggest tour since 2019.
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 11 May
With an assortment of acoustic guitars, lap slide, cigar box guitars, didgeridoos, harmonica and foot percussion, Craig Atkins is a blues and folk one-man band.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Sat 11 May
With the release of their third album Faith Crisis Part 1 earlier in the year, it’s become a busy time for Middle Kids. They’re off to the US shortly, but not before they tend to local business.
Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat – Sat 11 May
Following three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, the Bull sisters, Vika & Linda, left to start a career as a duo. In 2022 they released their eighth album, Gee Whiz, it’s Christmas.
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Sat 11 May
Songman Mark Wilkinson has drawn comparisons to the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray as he takes you away to a world of soulful indie-folk.
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sat 11 May
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Sun 12 May
Is there such a thing as too much Taylor Swift? Nearly 300,000 Melburnians can’t be wrong. Enjoy a 34-song set as Ella & Sienna and a six-piece band traverse the eras of Ms Swift.
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sun 12 May
Up-and-coming Geelong quartet Meta4 are ready to unleash their jazz-fusion. Joining them will be Chrome Gypsy and Software Update.
Ararat Town Hall, Ararat – Wed 15 May
A musician in a family of farmers, Gretta Ziller jokes she could whistle before she could talk. Enjoy her brand of classically trained rock, pop and blues-influenced Americana.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Thurs 16 May
RnB soul songstress Prinnie Stevens is back with Lady Sings the Blues, Volume 2, a tribute to women in song – their hurt, struggles and pain, while their beauty remains the same.
The Eastern, Ballarat – Thurs 16 May
Once upon a time there was ‘Who the frack is Alice’. Now we have ‘Who the F is Black Rheno?’, a tour that will answer that burning question. Expect an album in the second half of 2024.
The Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Thurs 16 May
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 17 May
Three decades since their formation, Regurgitator have coughed up their tenth album. Titled Invader, it features appearances from Peaches, Tyson Yunkaporta and JK47.
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Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Thurs 16 May
The Capital, Bendigo – Fri 17 May
Never one to shy away from jokes that make you go hmm, Isaac Butterfield is here to tackle the realities of modern day life.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 17 May
Szara is a Dutch singer-songwriter with a love for indie-gypsy folk, Balkan gypsy and flamenco. Andrew is her musical soulmate and trumpet player. Enjoy a night of fiery music.
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 17 May
Having formed in 2023, Elly McK & the Unbelievers may be new kids on the block but they’re already turning heads with their alt-county and Americana.
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 17 May
Two decades on from the release of her debut album The Sound of White, Missy Higgins is heading out for an anniversary tour with a difference.
Lamby’s Tavern, Geelong – Fri 17 May
It has been a tick more than fifteen years since Seth Sentry set the hip hop world on fire with his debut EP The Waiter Minute. In 2024 he is celebrating 15 years of breakfast in the afternoon.
Volta, Ballarat – Fri 17 May
Formed by a close-knit group of friends with an appreciation for the heavier sounds in life, Vilify are heading out for their first headline tour in support of new EP, Fever Dream.
Bird Rock Café, Jan Juc – Fri 17 May
Another sibling duo is out to conquer the music world. Meet David and Pete McCredie, a couple of folk-pop loving musos who recently released their debut single ‘Lost without You’.
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sat 18 May
Get a red-hot shot of riff-driven prog as Age of Emergence hit the road in support of their brand new album, The All Seeing Eye: Part 1. Guests on the night include Spacegoat and Get Rekt.
Trash Cult, Bendigo – Sat 18 May
When Bad//Dreems released Hoo Ha! last year, they scored themselves their first Top 10 album. The band describes it as pub rock meets art rock.
Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Sat 18 May
The world is in a sensitive area in 2024. And it is with this in mind why Dave Graney and Clare Moore named their latest album (strangely) (emotional).
The Capital, Bendigo – Sat 18 May
Martha Wainwright has always been one to embrace her wildness. Created during the pandemic, Love Will Be Reborn is her most recent release.
The Bridge, Castlemaine – Sun 19 May
Beginning as the solo project of Rhea Caldwell, Baby Blue now happily hosts five individuals. They recently released their debut album, Of My Window.
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Wed 22 May
Written in her hometown of Violet Town, Ella Hooper released her second solo album, Small Town Temple, at the beginning of 2023.
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Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Thurs 23 May
Stand-up comedy and roast battles combine with Lilly Geddes, Fredricka Arthur, Drago Ivan, Tej Munuganti and many more at Laugh in the Ghettos’ Good as Gold.
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Thurs 23 May
The Capital, Bendigo – Thurs 30 May
Blues, country rock and folk collide in this night of nights featuring three Australian bands. Come along for tunes from Chain, Stars and The Bushwackers.
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Smoke Stack Rhino enter the world of bands with an animal in the name with a healthy dose of blues rock from the Yarra Valley. Their new album is The Mojo Funk.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 24 May
What is it to yearn? When does it find its way to us? All that it is to yearn is explored on the new EP from songbird Lucy Wise, Yearning.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 24 May
Songman Ben Lee has already been in the game for a long time, but if he has it his way he is not nearly done yet. This One’s for the Old Headz is his upcoming new album.
The Capital, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Sometimes things don’t go to plan. Following a sold-out tour in 2023, funnyman Blake Pavey had a plan on dying. He didn’t. He is alive and maybe well. His new show is Still Kickin’.
Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Fri 24 May
Playing songs of life, love and lived experience, Sally Ford & the Idiomatics fuse the musical provenance of its members, including Latin, electronica, ska, jazz, funk and film music.
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Fri 24 May
Well, howdy partner. The Wild Wild West show is a Western-themed night out featuring Left at the Avenue, Fifth Quarter, Carly Jorja and Jasmin Adria.
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sun 26 May
Ross Wilson, Adalita, Rebecca Barnard, Mick Thomas, Lisa Miller, Charles Jenkins, Rob Snarski and more will come together to honour the music of the one and only Bob Dylan.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Sat 25 May
Forget about The Lost Boys and instead turn your attention to The Lost Girls, your go-to hit machine for the songs we love from the ’80s and ’90s.
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 25 May
The growing star power of blues-rocker Stefan Hauk is evident on his single ‘Truth’ where he collaborated with Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice. This show features his power trio.
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sat 25 May
Comedian Troy Kinne isn’t afraid to reveal too much information in his new show Made Wrong. If he makes you laugh and feel better about your own life, it’s mission accomplished.
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Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Sat 25 May
2021 Australian Folk Alliance ‘Solo Artist of the Year’ Kris Mizzi and folk singer-songwriter Mandy Connell are teaming up to put you in a good mood.
Trash Cult, Eaglehawk – Mon 27 May
There ain’t no party like a Trash Cult party. Here your guests of honour are Moody Beaches and Affordable Repayments supporting their new releases and K5.
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Fri 31 May
Private obsessions being aired out in the infinite is what you will find on 2023’s Brain Worms, album number three from RVG.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 31 May
Widely regarded as one of the leading bluesmen of our time, Eric Bibb is no stranger to Australia having first toured in 2001. His most recent album is Ridin’.
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 31 May
It’s dark. It’s emotive. It’s a crossover of classical and pop music. Emily/Grant is the duo of rock loving guitarist Grant Staines and conservatorium-trained pianist Emily Coyle.
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Fri 31 May
In 2023, Travis Collins had the highest-charting Australian country album of the year and the longest-running #1 Australian country single of the year. What does 2024 have in store?
For more gigs in regional Victoria check out our evolving gig guide here.
Illuminate Adelaide is one of Australia’s greatest arts festivals and its lineup in 2024 celebrates the intersection and innovation between art, light music and technology across three full weekends from 04 – 21 July, it features a dedicated program of major ticketed events, music performances and free installations taking over the Adelaide CBD.
Now in its fourth year, Illuminate Adelaide anticipates increasing the audience at its 2024 program, after attracting 1.3 million attendees in 2023. The event supports almost 150 local, national and international artists including 62 coming from overseas and 54 from South Australia.
Co-presented with Adelaide Festival Centre, Joep Beving, the Dutch pianist renowned for his minimalist style and profound connection with the piano will perform his latest album, Hermetism at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Beving became an overnight sensation at the age of 38 after streaming his debut album Solipsism for fun and attracting 85 million views, and is now ranked alongside Nils Frahm, Max Richter and Ólafur Arnalds.
Belfast-born, London-based scientist, electronic musician and artist Max Cooper brings his live 3D AV phenomenon to Illuminate Adelaide, as part of a major world-wide tour. For this Australian-exclusive performance, Cooper will merge immersive visuals, breathtaking sound design, and experimental electronica, creating a truly thrilling experience.
At Nexus Arts, Lion Arts Centre, Helen Svoboda, will showcase her skills in a solo performance that promises to be playful, expressive and masterful. As a double bassist, vocalist, and composer, she brings a unique voice to Australian jazz and art music.
Hailed as one of the world’s most exciting and progressive experimental music festivals, Unsound Adelaide is ready to turn up the volume in Adelaide’s Polish heartland – the Dom Polski Centre.
This year’s line-up includes former Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon; British ambient musician The Caretaker (aka Leyland Kirby) in his first ever show in Australia; the visionary force behind BOREDOMS, Japan’s ∈Y∋ performing with C.O.L.O.; Australian collaboration Yirinda; Shanghai’s 33EMYBW; an Unsound commission with British artist Lee Gamble collaborating with Spanish choreographer/action artist Candela Capitán to bring his new album Models to the stage; Japanese multi-instrumentalist Eiko Ishibashi in partnership with renowned producer and musician, Jim O’Rourke; and Norwegian saxophonist and performance artist, Bendik Giske.
Once the speakers have powered down at the Dom Polski Centre, Unsound Adelaide’s late-night counterpart, Unsound Club takes over The Lab @ ILA with an epic line-up that will move at full throttle.
Filled with blinding beats and live visuals, the program includes a live show from Detroit outfit HiTech (USA), combining footwork, slippery techno and rap to make singular music; Manuka Honey (AUS), who brings sensual chaos to the dancefloor by colliding club genres from across the globe, from baile funk to gqom, pop edits and more; Lee Gamble (UK) playing an exclusive Unsound Club DJ set, taking us on a rapid-fire unpredictable but danceable journey; and Crescendoll (AUS) a Gamilaraay woman and Gadigal based DJ who flirts with juke, jersey, footwork, hard drum, UK bass, garage and acid.
Illuminate Adelaide’s co-founders and creative directors, Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge said: “This year the 2024 Illuminate Adelaide program features some of the most exciting creative innovators and artists the world has to offer – and we can’t wait for July when they will brighten our winter with installations, projections, performances and immersive experiences across the city for a full 18 nights.”
Running for 17 nights, and coming to life from 5:30pm each night, City Lights will transform some of the city’s most cherished cultural institutions and heritage buildings including Government House, Bonython Hall, Art Gallery of South Australia and Lot Fourteen.
From interactive experiences to breathtaking visual spectacles, this year’s instalment will feature a spectacular line-up of immersive activations, created by a stellar mix of national and international visionaries, alongside local South Australian artists.
Experience the magical world of dynamic flaming sculptures at the Adelaide Botanic Garden with Fire Gardens by French fire alchemists, Compagnie Carabosse. Over 12 spectacular nights, witness more that 7,000 giant handcrafted fire pots, enchanting candlelit archways, captivating kinetic sculptures and live music performances, which will transform the garden into a bewitching night-time wonderland.
Acclaimed Berlin design studio, flora&faunavisions have created a breathtaking immersive journey through EDEN, a magnificently imagined interactive digital wonderland where art, nature, and science spectacularly collide. Exclusive to Adelaide, and designed to inspire audiences of all ages, EDEN celebrates both the beauty and importance of the planet.
At Nexus Arts, Lion Arts Centre, Fill the Earth presents seven stories about how we fill our world, spaces and lives. A giant caterpillar giving birth to green balloons, a man negotiating a door, and a woman creating a garden from dead branches are just some of the stories created by the 12 artists through physical performance, visual art, dance and video.
Join us at MOD. for a free screening of Miyazaki’s 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, featuring warrior princess Nausicaä’s battle against an evil queen’s army amidst environmental destruction. Also, at MOD. explore the 2024 exhibition of BROKEN, an exploration of how the world could be different if we imagine new ways of being.
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Base Camp, Illuminate Adelaide’s popular after-dark bar and eatery village will beckon festivalgoers of all ages from a brand-new location at Lot Fourteen. Conveniently located on North Terrace between two of the festival’s centrepiece events for 2024, Fire Gardens at Adelaide Botanic Garden and City Lights, Base Camp is the perfect launching pad for an evening of luminous experiences or simply toasting toes fireside afterward, cocktail in hand.
Find out more here.
Albury, once a major stopover for many touring bands, now rarely gets a visit by any large established act. It was poignant then, that TSSB chose to end such an important tour at a regional outpost.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Opening acts, Albury locals Micro Cuts and Melbourne band Chasing Ghosts proved a perfect precursor for a quality night of solid Aussie sound. The Micro Cuts played a classy set of originals that included a great cover of ‘Song 2’ by Blur, while Chasing Ghosts’ lead singer Jimmy Kyle sang emotively about the atrocities that have plagued Australian history. Rarely have I seen a country town like Albury respond so openly and with the fervour that emerged during the Chasing Ghosts’ set, and the passion the band brought was palpable throughout the room. Truly the perfect opener for the Smithies.
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A Tribe Called Quests ‘Can I Kick It?’ accompanied TSSB walking on stage with roars from the audience, screaming for Wil Wagner to do a shoey from the first second of the set. The band meandered through 15 years of music, from their first EP Don’t F*ck With Our Dreams to their most recent album Life After Football, and it was remarkable that every lyric of every song was screamed back at the band by the crowd with intensity.
The Smith Street Band can capture the emotions and memories of so many in ways that are really unique to this crew. Wagner’s lyrics, paired with beer-fuelled nostalgia, fuelled a crowd who were full of emotion, nostalgia, and a sense of being in it all together, all sharing a deep love for the band’s music. I was certainly not immune, embracing waves of ‘natsukashii’ (the Japanese concept of “joy and gratitude for the past”) remembering the first time I saw the band at a time when the world was coming out of a major lockdown and into a very different world.
Closing the set-off, Smithies went into ‘Throw Me in The River’ off their third album with the same title, this was the perfect final song for such an incredible tour for the band.
I have seen a lot of bands in my life but none compare to the level of care that The Smith Street Band has for their fans; their interactions with the fans have always been incredibly important to the community that surrounds them, and their willingness to meet and talk to fans should be praised more than it is already.
The Smith Street Band is that band that changes people’s lives – they save people. You can see that if you talk to their fans or even simply go to one of their shows. If you have the chance, I could not recommend seeing The Smith Street Band enough; they are everything you want out of Aussie rock and more.
Belched from the fiery depths into the rustic charms of the Witch County, Suffolk, UK, Cradle of Filth are undisputed giants of the heavy metal realm. Imperious purveyors of a perennially unique strain of dark, dastardly, and wilfully extreme metal, with deep roots in the worlds of gothic horror and occult curiosity.
Led by the inimitable Dani Filth, the band has weathered decades of tumult and trial, earning a formidable reputation as both a singular creative force and one of the most riotously entertaining live bands the metal world has ever produced.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Thus far into their distinguished and highly influential career, Cradle of Filth continue to show their ferocious efficacy with no signs of slowing down as they maintain their unparalleled fusion of gothic grandeur and blackened metal. Filth’s influence is felt far and wide as Dani recently teamed up for a collaborative song with pop megastar Ed Sheeran, which is set to appear on their upcoming album.
No doubt Cradle of Filth will ignite the flames of anticipation with their impending arrival as they descend on our land for a trip through the darkness as we embrace the chaos and bear witness to their infernal live presence. And this time they will not be coming alone; rapidly rising Moldovans, Infected Rain, will be chaperoned by the innovators of extreme for their debut tour of Australia.
Infected Rain is led by the enigmatic, charismatic, and multi-talented Lena Scissorhands, who has cemented her place as one of the greatest frontwomen in Metal. Infected Rain accent the introspective musical journey as they wind between effectively-placed progressive, electronic, and even nu-metal features amid ethereal passages, bolstered by subterranean heaviness and rhythmic grooves topped by Scissorhands’ hair-raising screams and haunting vocals.
Tickets on sale 1 May here.
Applications are open now for APRA AMCOS’ 23% Mentorship program, giving the opportunity for female and non-binary musicians to be mentored by an industry veteran for free.
“I think first and foremost it was the little pep of validation I needed,” Canberra singer-songwriter and 2020 mentee Lucy Sugerman says of her time in the APRA AMCOS 23% Mentorship Program. “Having just gotten out of a record deal and [having] just turned 18, with limited connections in the industry, it was really motivating to hear [that] someone like Julian McGruther (my mentor) had connected with my music and what I was doing.” Sugerman, who released her perfectly titled EP last year spiralling (over discourse on the internet), was able to get a head start on her music career thanks to the mentorship program, which is open now to budding female and non-binary musicians looking for a foot in the door of the industry.
“The 23% Mentorship really provided a safe and guided space for me to learn more about the industry. It was empowering and exciting, and I felt very supported throughout,” Sugerman says. “I realise this can be quite rare in the music industry now in hindsight, so I feel very grateful to have had access to that time and resources, particularly as someone living in a more ‘regional’ city with very limited connections to the Australian music industry at the time.”
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
APRA AMCOS’ Creative Programs and Sponsorship Manager Bella Morris-Clarke, who is overseeing the 23% Mentorship program this year, says that providing pathways into the music industry for those who might otherwise be without them is what the program is all about. “The 23% Mentorship is aimed at our emerging female, non-binary and gender non-conforming APRA members,” Morris-Clarke says. “But we also try to make sure within that community we’re reaching people from diverse backgrounds, regional areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creators. This program at its core is about uplifting the smaller areas of our membership.”
Formally known as the Women in Music Mentorship Program, the program has had a name change for 2024’s edition.
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Because, Morris-Clarke explains, “The APRA AMCOS membership is comprised of just 23% women, non-binary or non-identified music creators. Even when that number inevitably increases it is a reminder of why we created it.”
Applications for the program are open as of now and will close on Friday May 10 at 5pm AEST, with 14 places available for prospective mentees. Along with a mentor to help guide them toward a valuable pathway for their musical careers, each mentee will also receive $3,000 toward projects or work-related expenses and/or travel. The mentorship program runs over a three-month period, ideally from June to August 2024, but the dates can work around availability if need be. “Over that time,” Morris-Clarke says, “we expect the mentors and mentees to meet a minimum of six times with at least one of those being an in-person meet up.”
Sugerman praises the program for giving her the guidance to learn about building the foundation blocks in her career as an artist, developing things like her visual and musical identity as an artist – the kind of things that it’s difficult to know how to do without a veteran there to show you how. It also allowed Sugerman the motivational push she needed, giving her things like “accountability and a more concrete timeline on tasks”. “When you’re self-managed,” she says, “it can be difficult to stay on track with your own development.”
The program for Sugerman wasn’t just about how to make incredibly catchy earworms and beautifully-written melodies; she also was able to learn from her mentor about all the back end of the music biz and the importance of the business side of things. “It was my first foray into understanding how music distribution and release really worked, and everything about those experiences has poured into my various professional endeavours in music now. I still go back to our release checklist for my debut track even now.”
In terms of applying for the program, Sugerman advises that “it’s all about explaining why an opportunity like this is time-sensitive to your career.” Also, she says, “Having a tangible goal you want to achieve and demonstrating that (i.e. putting out your first single) in your application is always really helpful.” Once the applications are closed and considered, Morris-Clarke says that she’s then “the person to let successful mentees know they have been selected and introducing them to their mentor,” adding, “It is without a doubt the best part of my job!”
Once successful applicants join the program, mentees will get to have one face-to-face meeting with their mentor, as well as at least five other meetings in person or via phone, video or email. Other than that, the way in which the mentees want the mentorship to work is left ultimately up to them. Sugerman suggests preparing questions before every mentoring session, as well as not being afraid to be “super proactive”. “My other advice is to have a list of non-negotiables for your creative work and your career (i.e. I want to own my masters, or I want to make sure I’m always getting XYZ% of my revenue).”
There are 14 mentorships available between an Australia APRA member and an industry professional, as well as mentorships for members located in the UK, Europe and North America. The way in which mentees and mentors are paired up is based on career stage, goal focus and priorities, as opposed to the genre of music of the artists. Morris-Clarke says of the industry professionals involved in the program, “We have never been short of amazing mentors. There are people from all areas of the music industry who put their hands up to share their time and expertise.”
Including Sugerman, there’s been a plethora of success stories from the 23% Mentorship program. Artists like Annie Hamilton, Eliza Hull, BVT, dameeeela and Telenova’s Angeline Armstrong are just a few of the stand-out musicians who have gone on from the mentorship program to have incredible careers in the music industry. Some of the music professionals that will be mentoring in the program this year include Kristy Lee Peters, Jannah Beth, Claire Collins and Harry White.
Ultimately, “The 23% Mentorship is one of our most important programs because it is actively working to address the gender imbalance in the music industry by giving fair opportunities for work and uplifting this community of music creators to go on to build sustainable careers in the industry,” Morris-Clarke says. “Programs like this are so important because we know that equity, equality and diversity only add to a thriving and successful music industry which is beneficial for us all.”
Find out more and apply for the 23% Mentorship here.
This article was made in partnership with APRA AMCOS.
Music juggernaut Billie Eilish announces Australian arena dates for 2025 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Presented by Live Nation and Frontier Touring, the nine-time Grammy award-winning, two-time Academy Award-winning, and two-time Golden Globe-winning songwriter will be playing a mammoth four arena shows in each city across Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Qudos Bank Arena and Rod Laver Arena from 18 February until 8 March 2025.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The announcement comes with a slew of shows across North America, Europe, the UK and Ireland, starting in September 2024.
Billie Eilish was last in Australia in 2022 promoting her second album, Happier Than Ever, which saw her blow-away audiences in the same arenas. Since then Eilish has played huge stages including Coachella where she brought out Paramore’s Hayley Williams for a rendition of ‘Misery Business’ – where she would return again this year to perform with Lana Del Rey, as well as performing her award-winning Barbie movie single ‘What Was I Made For?‘ at the 66th Grammy Awards, the 96th Academy Awards and on Saturday Night Live.
Billie Eilish’s forthcoming album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT was written by Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, her brother and long-time collaborator, who also produced the album. It is due for release on 17 May via Darkroom/Interscope Records.
Tickets for BILLIE EILISH: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR will go on sale Friday 3 May with times staggered per market. Both Frontier Members and Live Nation Members will have early access to tickets on Thursday 2 May – Friday 3 May.
Additionally American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning next Wednesday 1 May (while supplies last) – this is one of the many entertainment benefits American Express Card Members can access. Presale start + end times will vary by market, check your local listings at billieeilish.com for more information.
Vodafone customers can secure early tickets during a pre-sale commencing Thursday 2 May (times staggered, refer below). Head to Vodafone.com.au/ticket for more information.
In keeping with her commitment to making a difference in the environmental impacts of her music and touring, a limited number of Changemaker Tickets will be available for the Australia dates. A portion of the proceeds from the Changemaker Ticket will support OzHarvest and other not-for-profit organisations in collaboration with Support + Feed addressing the impacts of food insecurity and the climate crisis.
Please note all shows have been announced and will go on sale on Friday 3rd May – no further Australian shows to be added. Get in fast to avoid disappointment!
Further show information and ticketing can be found here.
Metalcore giants The Amity Affliction will embark on a headline tour across the country this November for the 10th anniversary of their acclaimed album Let the Ocean Take Me.
To celebrate their seminal fourth studio release, the band will be performing the album in its entirety each night along with fan favourites from their extensive catalogue.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Since emerging in 2008 with their debut Severed Ties, The Amity Affliction have consistently delivered. They’ve clocked four No. 1 records, earned multiple Gold and Platinum certifications in their home country and enjoyed a string of Top 30-charting albums on Billboard.
Throughout their career, The Amity Affliction have remained a featured attraction on some of the biggest festivals in the world — from Download UK, Reading and Leeds, Wacken, Vans Warped Tour, Rock am Ring, Rock im park, Graspop, Sonic Temple, Welcome to Rockville, Hellfest, Slam Dunk, Jera on Air, and more.
The band has sold out countless headline treks and have hit the road with everyone from A Day to Remember to Motionless in White to Silverstein to Sum 41 to Beartooth to PVRIS.
Tickets on sale 12pm Thursday, May 2. For complete tour & ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au
Having sold out arenas worldwide – including iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden and London’s O2 Arena – Jim Jefferies stands out as one of the most popular, provocative, and respected comedians of our generation.
His previous 2022 Antipodean tour was a massive success, with 27 shows selling out across Australia and New Zealand. Now, it’s time for this boundary-pushing comedian and political commentator to head back down under… bringing his latest stage show to fans across the nation.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Having graced some of the world’s best comedy stages, including Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Reading and Leeds, and Glastonbury, Jim Jefferies was awarded ‘Stand-Up Comedian of the Year’ at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival in 2019. He is currently the host of runaway hit game show The 1% Club (7), which continues to receive phenomenal ratings, reaching a total national audience of 1,520,000 in February 2024. Jefferies’ ability to tackle controversial topics with intelligence and humour has earned him a huge global following and critical acclaim… making him one the most successful, arena-selling comedians on the planet.
With nine Netflix comedy specials to his name including 2017’s highly praised Freedumb, 2018’s brutally hilarious This Is Me Now and 2020’s Intolerant, Jim also hosts popular podcast I Don’t Know About That – listen here. Jefferies’ early sitcom Legit aired for two seasons to a diehard US fanbase, while his late-night satirical program for Comedy Central, The Jim Jefferies Show, became one of the most talked-about shows worldwide for three years running following its 2017 debut – even Brad Pitt asked to make a guest appearance.
Joining Jim at all shows as special guest is Mickey D. From his early days as a teenage talent scouted during a high school musical to winning scholarships at prestigious institutions like the Sydney Opera House and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Jefferies’ journey to comedic stardom has been nothing short of remarkable.
Tickets to Jefferies’ 2024 Australian tour will go on sale Friday 3 May (9am local time) via frontiertouring.com/jimjefferies.
The newly launched Music Product Stewardship Alliance is a collaborative effort bringing together key players from the recorded music industry to address sustainability challenges associated with vinyl and CD production and distribution.
Created by Green Music Australia, the peak body for the environment and music, the alliance boasts an impressive lineup of industry leaders, including ABC Music, AIR, Artist First, GizzVerse, Holiday Records and many more. With support from the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the City of Sydney, Green Music Australia will lead research efforts and facilitate discussions to identify collective issues and innovative solutions.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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The inaugural roundtable, held in Sydney in mid-April, saw participation from 33 individuals representing 21 companies. Discussions centred around the environmental impact of physical music products in the Australian market and opportunities for positive change. Green Music Australia provided insights gleaned from alliance members’ data, complemented by the latest research and technological advancements from around the globe.
Berish Bilander, CEO of Green Music Australia, expressed pride in launching the alliance. “We all love visiting our local record store and purchasing a copy of our favourite album. But many of us don’t realise how polluting some of the materials in manufacturing and distributing music products can be.
Environmentally friendly options exist, and there’s a growing appetite from the sector and artists to make the switch. With vinyl sales quadrupling in Australia over the last ten years, it is more important than ever that we collaborate on shared solutions. Crafting a planet-friendly product is often an imperfect journey. This alliance is here to steer a greener pathway towards making eco-albums the industry norm.”
Moving forward, the Music Product Stewardship Alliance will delve into various aspects of vinyl and CD production and distribution, including emissions and waste footprint, packaging challenges, local manufacturing opportunities and emerging solutions. The alliance aims to continue its research and investigation efforts leading up to the second roundtable scheduled for July 2024.
For more information, head here.
What better time to venture into the grand and rugged mountain ranges than when Grampians Grape Escape festival is on.
Taking place from Friday 3 May until Sunday 5 May 2024 in the picturesque Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, this three-day festival is a feast for the senses and a showcase of the best the region has to offer. This wine, food and music festival is the holy trinity of good times.
Here are five reasons you should pack the car and head to Grampians Grape Escape, Halls Gap:
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Homegrown Drops
Can’t go past a good drop – thankfully the Grampians, Pyrenees and Henty region house some of the finest winemakers in Australia. Over 30 wineries have signed up to showcase at the Grampians Grape Escape festival, bringing their greatest wines to the forefront. You have Mountainside Wines, Clarnette Wines, Miners Ridge Vineyard, DogRock Winery – the list goes on. This festival is a great chance to meet the makers, sample wines with a tasting ticket, join a masterclass, or simply stock up on the cellar for the bitter winter weather.
Along with wine, beer, cider and spirit distilleries will also be on-site to quench the thirst.
Food Glorious Food
They say never drink on an empty stomach – you won’t have to worry about that with the culinary delights available at Grampians Grape Escape. Food trucks will be plotted around the site, ready to serve up a storm for the stomach. Bao buns, dumplings, burgers, the beloved food truck favourite of hot chips – does it get any better? Yes, it does! Local produce representatives will be on-site with homemade chilli and chutney and there will be masterclasses and cooking demonstrations by guest chefs Tim Bone, Nornie Bero, Karen Martini, Check and Dogs, and Matthew Evans.
Belting Tunes
Get on your dancing shoes – the Grampians Grape Festival has got the goods on the music front with a stacked lineup of seventeen talented artists. Kicking it all off with Feel-Good Friday you can settle into the weekend with Soulty from 4pm and homegrown acts The Settlement and Orange Whip sending off the first day. Across Saturday and Sunday six acts will be on the stage each day. Flying in from Perth is The Little Lord Street Band, bringing with them their new album Time and Place. Afro-fusion Melbourne band One Spirit Africa will blow your socks off with their powerful Afro-beats. Geelong legends Bone and Jones will jump up on the stage and two huge headliners, Smoke Stack Rhino and The Narratives will close out Saturday. Sunday sees another Geelongian grace the stage – Daniel Aarons will sooth the crowd with his stunning songwriting, Tek Tek will bring a bold performance and Bel Kil will tease her upcoming EP. Mega music moments will come from 19-Twenty and Madhouse. In the emcee chair is the legendary Julia Zass who is sure to pump up the crowd for an epic experience.
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Fun for the whole Family
Let’s not lull you into a false sense that the festival is all about the adults. Grampians Grape Escape is one of the most family friendly festivals on offer with a dedicated precinct for the kids to explore. The David O Jones Mitre 10 Little Adventurer’s Precinct includes a giant cubby house activity with a garden and shed that kids will help construct and deck out. The precinct also boasts a herb and flower planting station, rock climbing, badminton and table tennis, as well as a Parent Pod for convenience. Outside of the designated precinct there are stop-and-play stations strategically set up around the wineries so parents can taste while the kids are kept entertained. And that’s on top of all of the dancing and singing they will be doing at the Itinerant Spirits Music Stage.
Stunning Locations
It would be remiss to not include the glorious Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park location as a selling point. The stunning setting of Halls Gap on its own is a tourist attraction. If weather allows, spend a day climbing The Pinnacle, check out Boroka Lookout or explore MacKenzie Falls. A stop into Halls Gap Zoo is a must-see on the Grampians adventure. There is so much to explore in the region – Grampian Grape Escape is just the excuse to get you there.
With that much packed into one festival, you’re bound to get your money’s worth. Tickets are still available to Grampians Grape Escape. You can purchase them here.
Village Cinemas is celebrating one of the biggest movie franchises by taking over the big screens for back-to-back-to-back chronological screenings of both the Original Star Wars Trilogy and Prequel Star Wars Trilogy on Star Wars Day Saturday 4 May and the following day Sunday 5 May 2024.
With sessions at all Victorian Village Cinemas locations, the force of the powerful space series is set to send you into hyperspace.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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The Luke Skywalker meets Darth Vader George Lucas trilogy of Episode 1 through 3, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of The Jedi, will be screening in remastered 4k on Saturday 4 May from 1pm across all Village Cinemas.
The following day you can sit through the ultimate villain origin story of the legendary Darth Vader with the prequel trilogy of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
If a 382-minute marathon is not your style, Village Cinemas is also screening Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace from May 2 – 5 in all Victorian locations to mark the 25th anniversary of when the space saga all began.
You can find more information on the Star Wars Trilogy Marathons, locations, and ticketing here.
After a record-breaking nearly 3000 entries, Happy Mag has revealed the finalists of the annual independent music competition Needle In The Hay.
Needle In The Hay was set up by Happy Mag to champion and empower emerging Australian and New Zealand bands and musicians at a time when they need it most in their careers. The competition, now in its seventh year, continues to be a launchpad for emerging artists, with past winners including the ‘Booster Seat’ band Spacey Jane, pop superstar Maple Glider, and multi-ARIA-award winning artist, Tones and I.
NSW
QLD
WA
SA
VIC
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NZ
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Usually a selection of the top 30, this year Happy Mag expanded their finalist pool to 40 deserving acts. In amongst the 40 finalists is local songwriter, Noah Vernon offering up latest body Back N Forth.
You might recognise Vernon from his acoustic spots at The Belmont Hotel, The Grovedale Hotel and Queen of the West, or from his original blend of R&B, soul, pop, rock and folk with stellar singles ‘Rocketship‘ and ‘Anxiety’. The beloved Geelong local has been honing his songwriting and sound since 2017. His latest track ‘DONNIE DARKO’, released 1 March 2024, is a testament to his artistic growth.
With a prize pool of over $30,000 including vinyl pressing, high quality recording gear, and plug-in packages, the competition prize aims to setup artists to amplify their career. The grand prize is a single pressed by Zenith Records, alongside a list of runner-up prizes.
This year the magazine has enlisted a wealth of knowledge for their judging panel including ARIA award-winning singer Ben Lee, and industry heavyweights Abbie Chatfield, Akala Newman, Dave Jenkins Jr., Jadey O’Regan, Ash McGregor, Pam Thornback, Andy Golledge and Emmy Mack, all with the tough task of selecting the winner.
More details on the competition and finalist can be found here.
30 years, 10 albums with the new one dropping today, Regurgitator are invading the music sphere once more. Out today, Invader is a self-produced work predominantly recorded and mixed by Quan Yeoman and Ben Ely with the assistance of Greg Jard. Leaning into the Brisbane-boys infectious, high-octane power puff of pop-meets-rock-meets-electronic plays, Invader includes collaboration with Peaches, JK47 and Tyson Yunkaporta (Sand Talk), fizzing with fun funky freedom.
The album drop comes with the announcement of a venue change for their upcoming Geelong show, moving from iconic underground nightclub Lambys Tavern to the house of rock ‘n’ roll, the Barwon Club.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Leading in with ‘This Is Not A Pop Song’ featuring Peaches, followed by the killer opening track ‘Cocaine Runaway’, Invader sees a return of form from Regurgitator, swirling with kaleidoscopic synths and building a sense of nostalgia. Coming in nearly 30 years after their debut Tu-Plang and their celebrated sophomore Unit, the album sits impeccably in the playful pen that Regurgitator have created and is set to be Ben Hur big live.
Kicking off down south in Hobart on Friday 10 May, and wrapping up in Australia’s north at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on Saturday 22 June, the ‘it’s so invasive…tour’ slides into a whopping 23 towns and cities. The tour will introduce the world to new Regurgitator flesh, touring member Sarah Lim who will slay on keytar and guitar. Along for the ride are good friends, The Party Dozen and Displeasure (NZ).
Tickets still remain for the Geelong show and can be purchased here. Give Invader a listen now.
The City of Greater Geelong has announced a new funding stream for the arts to cultivate clever and creative projects. Introducing the Clever and Creative Seed Fund, a funding initiative that aims to provide artists and creatives with small grants to initiate, explore or activate new ideas or new approaches to their work.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
With a total grant pool of $10,000, artists may apply for up to $2500, as subject to budget limitation, towards a new creative project. Funding is distributed on a first in basis to applicants assessed as eligible and who fulfil the criteria until 31 May 2024, or when available funding is fully allocated, whichever comes first.
The grant is open to artists of all career stages and disciplines including emerging artists and creatives for the exploration, testing and development of a new creative arts project, and mid-career and established artists and creatives exploring a new direction or developing a new innovative or experimental project. These grants are open to not-for-profits, charities, unincorporated bodies, for-profit businesses and sole traders who hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
Under the community grants banner, Clever and Creative Seed Grants builds on our already thriving arts community through the funding of multiple activities. Applications can be for activities such as:
Grant funding can be distributed across artists/creatives fees, materials, venue and studio hire, equipment purchases or hire, inclusion and access costs and documentation and evaluation.
Applications open Tuesday 30 April and will close 5PM, 31 May 2024, or when funding allocation has been exhausted.
Further details on the funding opportunity can be found here or you can contact the Community Grants Team at [email protected] or phone 5272 5560. Grant guidelines can be downloaded here.
With their first year under their belt, Geelong Comedy Festival are looking toward another exciting year of tear-filled laughter, announcing the festival’s return and accepting performance applications.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
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Their inaugural event was a showstopper, cementing the festival as a fixture of the regions entertainment calendar. Giggles through to the full-belly cackles echoed through host venues Valhalla Taproom, The Brewery, Beavs Bar, The Arborist, Medusa Bar and The Green Room Wine and Whiskey Bar, thanks to their mammoth line-up of local and renowned comics.
Last years Geelong Comedy Festival saw talented hard-hitters take the stage, including Tom Ballad Live, Sarah Maree Cameron in her show One Womb Please!, Nick Capper and Brett Blake teamed up for Double Impact, Evan Hocking with I Don’t Get It…, and a list of laughing stock including Adore Händel, Aiden Willcox and Isaac Haigh, Blake Everett, Chris Martin & Taylor Edwards, and Ellen Mahoney.
The festival was also a chance for local talent to rise up under the spotlight, with this years iteration no different. Geelong Comedy Festival encourage those who live for the cackle, are the comedians of their group or simply need a space to test their zingy-oneliners to submit an application.
Applications can be made directly through the Geelong Comedy Festival website by filling out the Performer Application form. The best part though is that applications fees are free. Even better, there is no charge for venue hire either, with the incredible host venues providing sponsorship to the Geelong Comedy Festival.
Apply to be a performer in this years Geelong Comedy Festival here.