Whatever brand you rely on − from Samsung, Rinnai and Fujitsu systems to Toshiba AC units − heating and cooling systems can sometimes act up, leaving you feeling frustrated, uncomfortable and a bit like Goldilocks porridge- too hot or too cold.
Our friends at Plumber Near Me have you sorted to tackle the whirls of winter and prepare you to beat the summer heat with these five troubleshooting tips.
Wielding all of the power in the world, this tiny temperature ticker can be the root of all problems. First things first, double-check that your thermostat is set to the correct temperature. It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often this gets overlooked.
Make sure it’s at a level that matches your comfort preferences. If it’s set too high or too low, your AC might not kick in when you need it to. The recommended temperature setting for summer is 23-24°C, and 18-20°C during winter, ensuring you’re not overworking the little guy. AC still isn’t cooperating? It might be time to swap out the batteries. Yes, even thermostats need a little juice to function correctly. Pop open the cover and replace the batteries if they’re dead – it’s a quick fix that could save you from sweating bullets or shivering later on.
The unsung workhorse of your air conditioning system, filters work hard to keep the quality of your air clean and fresh and they need a little TLC too. If they’re neglected they can become the Achilles’ heel of your AC unit.
Dirty air filters can restrict airflow, causing your AC to work harder than necessary and driving up your energy bills. Plus, they can’t effectively trap dust, pollen and other allergens, which means you’re breathing in all sorts of nasties that could affect your indoor air quality and even trigger allergies. They do a lot for us so the least we can do is take a few minutes every month to inspect them. If they’re caked with dust and debris it’s time to clean or replace. Most filters are easy to remove and can be either vacuumed or rinsed with water. If they’re beyond salvaging, don’t hesitate to swap them out for new ones – your lungs and your wallet will thank you.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Ductwork and vents – this is something that often gets overlooked if you’ve got a ducted air conditioning system. These unsung heroes play a crucial role in distributing cool or warm air throughout your home, but if they’re not in good shape, they could be sabotaging your system’s efficiency. First things first, take a stroll around your home and check all your vents. Make sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture or curtains. Blocked vents can restrict airflow, making it harder for your AC to heat or cool your home effectively.
Next up, it’s time to inspect your ductwork. Look for any signs of leaks, such as visible gaps or tears. Even small leaks can lead to significant energy losses and higher utility bills. If you spot any issues, seal them up with duct tape or call in a professional for repairs. Finally, consider investing in a duct cleaning if it’s been a while since your last one. Dust, dirt and even mould can accumulate in your ducts over time, reducing airflow and compromising your indoor air quality.
Out of sight, out of mind but one of the most crucial factors of your air conditioning system: the outdoor unit. This powerhouse is responsible for dissipating the air extracted from your home, ensuring that your indoor space stays comfy. However, like any other component of your air conditioning system, it requires some TLC to perform optimally.
First off, take a quick look around the outdoor unit to ensure it’s free of debris and vegetation. Leaves, twigs and other outdoor clutter can obstruct airflow, causing your AC to work harder and less efficiently. Next, turn your focus to the condenser coils. Over time, these coils can accumulate dirt and grime, hindering heat transfer and reducing your system’s efficiency. Give them a good clean with a hose or soft brush to keep them in top shape. Lastly, check the clearance around the outdoor unit. Ensure there’s at least 70cm (2ft) of space around it to allow for proper airflow. Anything obstructing the unit can impede its performance and lead to overheating.
Refrigerant plays a crucial role in the cooling process of your air conditioning system, so it’s essential to ensure there are no leaks compromising its efficiency. Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for:
By following these troubleshooting tips and incorporating them into your regular maintenance routine, you can prolong the life of your air conditioning system, improve energy efficiency and enjoy a consistently comfortable indoor environment for years to come.
Find out more at www.plumber-nearme.com.au
This story was made in partnership with Plumber Near Me.
Celebrating Regional Victorian arts and publishing, the annual Melbourne Art Book Fair has launched its fresh regional program with some mainstay locations and new literary sites.
Returning for its fourth year, the Regional Victorian program unfolds across Monday 27 May to Sunday 2 June 2024, spotlighting art book publishing throughout the state, featuring over 22 events across 11 venues. This year, the festival returns to Castlemaine and Ballarat, and expands to Geelong, the Surf Coast and Bellarine with events ranging from workshops, talks, performances and even an arts market, covering zines, poetry, visual arts, theatre and more.
Targeting audiences spanning children to adults, emerging artists to established professionals, the Melbourne Art Book Fair event aims to showcase the highest quality of publishing in the state.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Here are the events happening in each town:
Returning to the festival, the town of Ballarat will be hosting multiple MABF events including Cover Stories with Alison Goodman as presented by Ballarat-based collective of writers and spoken word performers, Words Out Loud, in partnership with second-hand bookshop Everybody Knows Books. Published author Alison Goodman uncovers the art of book covers during this talk on Thursday 30 May. Join Fontella the zine machine co-founder Tegan Crosbie for a workshop on collage zine making at The Workshoppery at Barkly Square, or hang out with her co-founder Siobhan Finn during the Whimsy, Visuals & Verse: Collaborative Workshop.
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Castlemaine Art Museum (CAM) are putting on a buffet of events for MABF. Hosting their own Art Book Fair on 1 – 2 June, they will also be presenting installation piece and artist talk with Digital Mould Design, launching book ‘Sphere 5-8’ with an in-conversation session, hosting a panel discussion to discuss how self-publishing artists can broaden their regional reach, and holding a paper marbling workshop courtesy of The Harebrained Press. All of that across one weekend!
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Geelong has levelled up this year for MABF with the entire arts precinct getting involved. Over on Gordon Avenue, Oxygen College will be hosting are artist exhibition, Artist’s Books: A Local Perspective, in Geelong Arts Centre performance work How To Catch A Star will be on show, The G: Zine Collective will host multiple zine making workshops, as well as launch a zine vending machine and Geelong Gallery will host childrens workshop Geelong Tots – Art Books.
The city will be transformed for Feasibility Study presented by artists collective Ilana Russell, Sarah Jones, and Sarah Walker better known as The Contemporary. The project is birthed from catalyst work Expanded Field by artists, academics and architects Steven Rhall, Phip Murray, Vicki Hallet and Jose Rodriguez, with text-works displayed through the CBD. Creative Geelong will also be present May’d Arts Festival, a two-day festival at CentrePoint Arcade celebrating art, music, food, books, clothing and the community across Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June.
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Heading into Barwon Heads, you will find two events under the Regional Victorian program. The first is An Evening with Annabelle Hickson and Sophie Hansen; a book launch and artist talk presented by Heads and Tales Bookstore. The second is a collaborative workshop hosted by Barwon Heads Arts Council and Patsy Bush, Cubes: Exploring Different Forms of Artist Books.
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Regional Arts Victoria sector-and-community collaborating initiative, Making Change will head to Patagonia in Torquay to host Next Wave: The Future of Independent Publishing. This panel discussion will include input from speakers Gill Hutchison, Mick Sowry, Oliver Georgiou, Sean Doherty, and Tasmin O’Neill as moderated by writer and photographer Ula Majewski. Over in Port Fairy, head into Blarney Books & Art on Sunday 26 May for an artist talk with Lorena Carrington for event Long Lost Fairy Tales and New Found.
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What a way to celebrate the rich binding of the art and book worlds. Further details on the program can be found here.
May is National Inventions Month, an annual celebration that seeks to promote “the positive image of inventors and the real contributions they give to this world”. Perhaps you think of the wheel, invented by Shabubu de Wheel. Or perhaps your mind turns to the telephone, invented by Lambshanks Telephone. Or penicillin, invented by Persnickety Penicillininny. Or the printing press, invented by German inventor and craftsman Johannes Gutenberg.
But some out there, those whose minds wander and ponder in the wee hours, might think of the Pet Rock. See, back in 1975 when rocks were at an all-time low in availability due to the rock wars of the 1960s, advertising executive Gary Dahl came up with the Pet Rock. Packaged in cardboard boxes with ventilation holes and straw bedding, the Pet Rock, which also came with a 32-page training manual, became a short-lived wonder. Still, more than one-million were sold at $4 a pop.
Enjoy your May festivals and events…
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery – 1 – 31 May
I love rocky road, so have another triple scoop with me, ow!
Once upon a time, an everyday person would become legend when they decided to combine chocolate, marshmallows, peanuts, raspberries and coconut. All hail Rocky Road. This May, the Rocky Road Festival is back with 31 flavours to tantalise the tastebuds. You will also be able to taste Rocky Road infused pastries, ice creams, sundaes, waffles and hot chocolates.
More through here.
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Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, Halls Gap – 3 – 5 May
Hey! Got any grapes?
What did the green grape say to the purple grape? Breathe, dammit, breathe! Listen up grapelles, the wine, food and music getaway that is the Grampians Grape Escape arrives this month. From serious Shiraz and small-batch cider to boutique beers and barrel-aged gin, it has a tipple for every taste. There will also be more than 100 stalls, local produce, tunes, masterclasses and more. Guests include Karen Martini, Tim Bone, Nornie Bero, Matthew Evans and Chefs and Dogs.
More through here.
Blackman’s Brewery, Geelong – 4 May
I got beer, cheese and records. What’s it gonna be?
This is going to be brie-lliant. It’s going to be so gouda, you won’t want to leave. It don’t get much feta that this. Blackman Brewery’s Beer & Cheese Festival returns for another day. Enjoy a day of beer and cheese pairings by Jo Bangles, Head Cheese Master of Splatters and Head Brewer Matt Atkins from Blackman’s Brewery, masterclasses with Renn Blackman and live music all day long.
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Bendigo Showgrounds, Bendigo – 4 & 5 May
And now we see eye to eye, that another man’s trash is collectable
Do you need a new knick-knack? How about some bric-a-brac? Maybe you dig a thingamajig? With more than 120 stalls, the Bendigo Collectables Fair is sure to have something for every room in your house – and even something for the shed.
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Melbourne – 6-12 May
Life comes from the pen of a writer
It’s not so much a case of the three Rs as it is the three Is as intellect, imagination and inquiry take the stage at the Melbourne Writers Festival. Your program includes Paul Murray: The Bee Sting, An Evening with Michael Cunningham, Leslie Jamison: Splinters, Year in Review: Australian Politics, Lauren Groff: The Vaster Wilds, Spooky Stories with Joel McKerrow, Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Man of Two Faces, The Ghost in the Machines, A.C. Grayling: Who Owns the Moon?, Rosie Batty: Hope, Bruce Pascoe: Writing Place and Season and Louise Milligan: Pheasants Nest.
More through here.
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Melbourne Astor, St Kilda – 7 May
Melbourne RMIT Capitol, Melbourne – 9 May
Peninsula Cinemas, Rosebud – 22 May
Village Cinemas, Geelong – 23 May
Call me king of the mountain
Launched in 1976, the BANFF Mountain Film Festival is regarded as the most prestigious festival celebrating and rewarding mountain culture, sports and the environment. 35 countries are visited as part of the festival’s world tour, with Australia getting an adrenaline-filled two+ hour feast of explorers, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers.
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Ballarat – 17-26 May
Well, who are you? I really wanna know
We can live somewhere a long time without ever really knowing where we live. First held in 2006, the Ballarat Heritage Festival welcomes visitors to explore the hidden treasures and untold stories of the historic city. Highlights include Victorian Opera’s family show Parrwang Lifts the Sky, artisanal skills showcase Craft Lab 24, outdoor video installation Monuments, a vintage car show, Heritage Harvest with Julie Goodwin and Darren Purchese and Ballarat Steam Train Rides.
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Camp Reserve, Castlemaine – 25 May
Let’s go camping. Let’s set up for a day and then pack it all away
Dallas Keogh-Frankling passed away following injuries sustained in an U18s football match last year. Known as a true team player with a far-reaching impact, Live at the Camp was created to honour both him and the role community sport can play as an outlet for difficult emotions. Camp Reserve has a rock and roll place in history, having hosted AC/DC and John Farnham. Your line-up is Castlemaine Idyll Band, Fryer, Kian, Logan, Tentendo and Yaob.
More through here
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St. Patrick’s Cathedral Hall, Ballarat – 25 & 26 May
Let me be your pin-up girl tonight
Check out that dreamboat in the flip top. Check out that dolly in the shades. Check out this nifty event. The Vintage Vibes Weekend is a celebration of pin-ups with the Australian Pinup Pageant and Miss Vintage Australasia on show. All categories are gender neutral in this celebration promoting confidence, self-awareness and equality. You’ll also find stalls, classic cars and a rockabilly dance, daddy-o.
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Kryal Castle, Leigh Creek – 25 & 26 May
The thunder of a hoof, only got one tooth
You have been weighed. You have been measured. And you have absolutely been found wanting. It’s that time of year when gallant knights do battle in the annual Keith Ryall Memorial Jousting Tournament. As an added treat this year, the Historical Medieval Battle community will battle it out in full medieval armour, with swords, axes and shields. You also have potion making, axe throwing, archery, face painting and live performances. Huzzah!
More through here
Remember to wear your winter woolies to these festivals!
Dubbed one of the largest winter festival programs in Australia, East Gippsland Winter Festival returns for a fourth year, celebrating ‘How We Winter’ in the region through a dedicated program of art, performance, music and gastronomy.
As the winter solstice marks the onset of winter on 21 June, the month-long East Gippsland Winter Festival invites visitors to the region for a winter escape full of cosy activities.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Originally created in response to the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires by festival founder Adam Bloem, East Gippsland Winter Festival has become a spirited celebration in the community. In 2023, the festival saw 25,393 attendees explore the program which included 149 individual events across 33 towns.
2024 has a stacked program with over 100 confirmed events spanning the region, showcasing the natural splendour of East Gippsland. There is something for everyone with the festival coinciding with the Victorian school holidays. From family-friendly free events such as live music in majestic surrounds to lakeside wellness experiences and winter feasts, the 2024 East Gippsland Winter Festival is bursting.
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Some highlights of the festival include a deliciously relaxing sunrise bathes at Hilltop Escarpment of Metung Hot Springs followed by a breakfast picnic overlooking Lake King on 21 June, the sword-wielding excitement of Medieval Winter Fire Festival at Bruthen on 22 June, and the whimsical world of illumination at Lake Lights: Enchanted Shore at Lakes Entrance Foreshore on 6 July. The lights continue in Paynesville for Water & Lights; a magical lantern-lit installation parading off the jetties, followed by a cosy outdoor cinema session and a food truck fair. Over in Orbost, dive into Deep In The Weeds, an annual music festival hosted by Sailor’s Grave Brewing.
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The gastronomy guide is elevated with events from Guy Grossi and Sodafish for collaborative winter feast ‘Inverno’, and Moscow Willa Hut will be hosting a High Country Lunch presented by well-regarded local chef Stuart Derham.
This richly diverse festival is not one to be missed.
The 2024 East Gippsland Winter Festival will run from 21 June – 21 July. For more information including ongoing program updates head here.
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.
Sign up for early bird presale here.
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.
By entering, you agree to receive marketing collateral from Forte and competition partners. For more info, check out our privacy policy.
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.