The Deck is hosting bottomless potatoes and vodka sessions in Geelong
Potatoes are one of those miracle vegetables that taste good in just about everything. Fries? Check. Shepherd’s Pie? Check. Roast Veggies? Check. You get the point.
Celebrating all there is about this starch-filled treat is The Deck’s newest bottomless occasion, dedicated entirely to potatoes and vodka.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Running on Saturday 20 May and 27 May across multiple time slots (4pm, 6pm, 8pm), potato lovers can get their stomachs filled with a whole lot of potato goodness. We’re talking hash browns, gnocchi, scallop potatoes, sweet potato fries, potato salad, chips, wedges and loaded jacket potatoes, all alongside unlimited vodka. Yes, UNLIMITED VODKA.
And all for just $49 per person.
The Deck is proof that not all heroes wear capes. Bookings are essential so call 52295504 to avoid some serious disappointment.
Melbourne’s Axil Coffee Roasters barista crowned as best in Australia for the second year in a row
Melbourne barista Jack Simpson from Axil Coffee has been crowned the Australian Barista Champion at the ASCA National Coffee Championships, marking the second year in a row Axil Coffee have taken out the title.
With over 10 years of experience in the coffee industry and seven years as a barista with Axil, Jack will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship in Athens, Greece in June, reminding the world that Melbourne is indeed one of the foremost destinations for defining cafes, coffee-producing global barista champions and award-winning roasts.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
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“It is an incredible honour to be crowned Australian Barista Champion and to go on to represent Axil Coffee at the World Barista Championships in June. Anthony Douglas [of Axil Coffee] has been such an inspiration to me since being crowned World Barista Champion, so to be able to follow in his footsteps is a massive achievement,” said Jack.
Jack’s routine was about the role of the barista to innovate, explore, refine and adapt to the ever-changing landscape and technology of the world.
Judged on taste, technical skill and presentation, Jack’s routine comprised of an espresso, a milk-based coffee and a coffee-based signature drink which consisted of lacto-fermented raspberries, cold vacuum-boiled bergamot tea and clarified milk. To make this, Jack used a variety of cutting-edge techniques and equipment, never seen before.
“I wanted my routine to reflect the constantly evolving nature of the coffee world and the need for baristas to always be thinking creatively in order to keep up with trends in tastes and technology. The techniques and equipment used in my routine are a testament to this.”
This win firmly cements Axil’s place on the global coffee stage. With Anthony Douglas from Axil Coffee being the current World Barista Champion and now Jack’s coach for this year’s championship, Axil expects big things.
The prestigious World Barista Championship will take place from 22nd-24th June in Athens, Greece.
Find out more about Axil Coffee Roasters here.
Western Bulldogs bring AFL to Ballarat’s Mars Stadium this weekend
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d notice the 2023 AFL season has finally arrived, and along with it an arduous six months of studded boots, hip and shoulders, wild goal celebrations, cold froffies, meat pies, and some serious SuperCoach leagues.
While it’s hard to rival showtime at the ‘G, regional football fans are in for a treat this year as the Western Bulldogs once again expand the Club’s community beyond the suburban fringe of Melbourne’s West to include Ballarat and Western Victoria.
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
In partnership with the City of Ballarat, the Western Bulldogs will bring two AFL Premiership games to the region in 2023, host Adelaide on Saturday 20 May at 2.10pm (round 10) and Greater Western Sydney Giants on the final weekend of July (round 20), at a time yet to be determined.
This weekend will be particularly special, with the Ballarat clash taking place during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the AFL’s two-week celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its contribution to football.
The occasion will also feature a Welcome to Country before the match and other Indigenous celebrations to mark the event.
In addition to the match itself, the club will continue to show its commitment to the City by holding a ‘Bulldogs Heroes at Hop’ past players night on Friday 19 April. Join former Bulldogs players Easton Wood, Clay Smith and Josh Carter (Hill) for a special fan night at Hop Temple. The event is free, but bookings are essential via the Western Bulldogs website.
This partnership has been a lasting one since AFL history was made in 2017 when Ballarat hosted the state’s first AFL game for premiership points outside the footy heartland of Melbourne and Geelong.
“We continue to be so proud of the Western Bulldogs and we encourage the entire city to get behind them, even if you do already have a favourite team,” City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said.
“It’s amazing to have them playing in our city and given their recent form, it will be a game you do not want to miss.”
Ballarat AFL Game – Getting There
For those heading to the match, a free shuttle bus service will return, with hundreds of parking spaces also available at C.E Brown Reserve and surrounding ovals. These parking spaces can be accessed from Dowling Street, giving patrons access to the Mars Stadium gates via a short walk.
Additional on-street parking will be available for drivers in Howitt and Norman Streets, as well as Creswick Road (north of Norman Street).
Drivers are reminded there is also accessible parking at the North Ballarat Sports Club, however all other traffic will be directed to park at one of the other designated parking areas.
A drop-off and pick-up zone will also be set up directly outside Gate 2 on Creswick Road.
A shuttle bus will depart Ballarat Railway Station Bus Terminal and travel to Mars Stadium from 11.30am.
From 3.30pm, a return shuttle will depart Mars Stadium and drop passengers off in Lydiard St Nth (Train Station). This shuttle service is expected to continue until all patrons have left Mars Stadium.
A fan zone will be located inside Gate 3 on the netball courts with a range of kids activities including inflatable, handball target and kids activities to keep young Bulldogs fans entertained before the first bounce.
Gates open at 12.40pm. Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
Dripping with individuality, Sunfruits’ new-age, anthemic psychedelia and indie-pop debut album ‘One Degree’ truly has it all
If you’re into Victoria’s boutique festival scene, you would have encountered Sunfruits by now.
Throughout the last couple of years, the Melbourne/Naarm-based neo-psychedelia group have become absolute favourites amongst Melbourne’s gig crowd. Many punters have come to love the group’s easy-going and sprightly take on pop-rooted psych-rock.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Upon listening to their debut album One Degree, it’s evident why listeners have been having such fun exploring the group’s diverse soundscapes.
Refreshingly, One Degree doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not trying to be the coolest kid on the block or showcase a new sound, yet it still manages to drip with individuality.
‘Believe It All’ is replete with nursery keys and upbeat pop-rock rhythms, ‘Made To Love’ melds punk-rock energy with Brit-pop vocal harmonies, while ‘Reeling’ adds hand-percussion elements providing an atmospheric Latin flavour to the song’s rhythms.
In short, it’s a lot of fun.
But this is not to say that One Degree lacks depth: there are several perspectives on environmentalism, the world and relationships with oneself and others while musically, the title track ‘One Degree’ strips it back, allowing for isolated vocals and stagnant key arrangements to act as the song’s main driving force. We also see this in the folk-rooted ‘Warning Signs’, which delicately adds strings alongside all four members’ unison vocal arrangements.
For a debut, One Degree truly has it all. Whether you’re a fan of modern psych-rock or a lover of more vintage tones, it’s a release that’ll be packing something for you.
One Degree is out now via Third Eye Stimuli Records. Stream it here.
A three day Festival of Magic is taking over Ballarat’s Kryal Castle in June
It’s time to service those broomsticks.
Promising a spellbinding adventure for all involved, the popular regional tourist attraction Kryal Castle in Ballarat is hosting a three-day Festival of Magic over the Kings Birthday long weekend.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Running from Saturday 10th until Monday 12th June, guests of Kryal Castle will be enthralled by mystical performances and take part in a host of magical activities.
Be fully immersed in the world of fantasy by dressing up and visiting the Magical Markets for enchanting adornments and treasures to take home, or for those seeking to master the art of wizardry, daily spellcasting lessons will be offered where budding witches and wizards can craft their own wands and try out a few spells before snapping a pic with a Nimbus 2000. Ensure no magical training is left out by visiting The Wizard’s Tower to learn the techniques and ingredients required to brew a magical potion.
Across the weekend, guests will also be awed by magnificent live jousting performances by the castle’s resident knights in the main arena. All will be on the edge of their seats as these skilful knights charge at each other on their loyal steeds. Lucky ones may even meet the horses and give them a pat while asking the knights a question or two.
To have life’s mysteries unveiled, the tarot card readings are a must-visit for those interested in the occult for some fascinating foretelling. Other spellbinding activities include a live magician and roaming magic tricks sure to charm even the most sceptical.
“Set to be an exciting weekend, the festival will be full of magical fun for fantasy lovers of all ages with a number of new attractions to experience, as well as the castle’s usual entertainment on offer with a magical twist. The Festival of Magic will be the perfect escape for the long weekend,” said CEO of Kryal Castle Bart Hamilton.
Attendees are also encouraged to don their best magical-themed outfit, and thankfully, both muggles and wizards are welcome.
For festival bookings, head here.
Cult US pop culture podcast How Long Gone announces exclusive Melbourne show
Hailed as “the podcast everyone wants to appear on” (The Guardian) and “a clubhouse for the chattering classes” (The New York Times) – cult podcast How Long Gone is headed to Australia, with hosts Chris Black and Jason Stewart bringing their irreverent live show to Melbourne’s Thornbury Theatre on Sunday 29 October – announced today as part of new Melbourne festival ‘The Eighty-Six’.
How Long Gone Melbourne
Sunday 29 October
Thornbury Theatre | Melbourne, VIC
18+
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
How Long Gone feels like when you used to have friends. Assuming your friends were bicoastal elites, Chris Black and Jason Stewart. And they welcomed you to silently join them as they ushered in a parade of guests – musicians The National, actress Hari Nef, it-girl Alexa Chung, playwright Jeremy O. Harris – to chop it up three times a week.
With a growing audience of over 500,000 downloads and almost 500 episodes so far since its inception in March 2020, How Long Gone has grown from a culture-savvy take on the in-crowd to a podcasting behemoth. January 2023 saw its creators take their sold-out live show to London (their first dates outside of the US); now it’s Melbourne’s turn. Expect hot takes, scene reports and at least one “new guy alert” in what The New York Times calls “a “David Letterman-style” live show.
The guests of How Long Gone come from media, fashion, literature, music, and business – a common throughline isn’t immediately obvious. But each guest – Tavi Gevinson, Phoebe Bridgers, Alison Roman, Caroline Polachek, Bowen Yang, Mac DeMarco, Zane Lowe and many more – are tied together after they surrender to the bedrock charm of the show. As the unscriptable rapport between Chris and Jason seeps into the guests, conversations bloom and take on a life of their own. It’s an honest exchange happening. There is a lot of humour, nothing is sacred. It’s revealing, it’s intimate, it’s engaging – it’s everything you want to happen in a real conversation.
How Long Gone is a podcast created out of pandemic boredom by two old friends. Chris was in New York and Jason was in Los Angeles. Most of these details remain accurate, but what How Long Gone has become is much more than it was in its infancy. They set out to make a podcast and ended up creating a cosmos instead. As Chris told Vogue, the greatest reward is “creating a universe of interesting and engaging people who just want to come together to have a good time.”
Tickets go on sale 10am (AEST), Thursday 18 May via frontiertouring.com/howlonggone. Frontier Members can also access the Presale, which begins Wednesday 17 May (head here for more information).
Skrillex, Ice Spice, Four Tet lead Listen Out 2023 lineup
The music legends over Listen Out have been gifting us stellar lineups since their inception, and this year, they’ve gone above and beyond.
Back for 2023, the assignment is DANCE, with the beloved touring festival curating a huge lineup of international artists will join a stack of Australia’s finest, bringing the good vibes to Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney at the end of September. We’re talking Skrillex, Four Tet, Coi Leray, Young Franco, Lil Uzi Beats and so much more! Peep the full lineup below.
Listen Out Lineup 2023
ARRDEE
COI LERAY
FOUR TET
FRICTION
ICE SPICE
JBEE
JPEGMAFIA
JYOTY
KENNY BEATS
LIL UZI VERT
MALLRAT
MARC REBILLET
METRO BOOMIN
PIRI
SKRILLEX
SPINALL
VENBEE
WONGO B2B LITTLE FRITTER
YOUNG FRANCO
YUNÈ PINKU
With host EBONY BOADU
Also Starring
1TBSP | AYEBATONYE | DONATACHI | HANDSOME
KOBIE DEE | VV PETE | WILLO
Listen Out Dates 2023
Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 23 September – Brisbane Showgrounds, Meanjin / Brisbane
Perth, WA
Saturday 24 September (long weekend) – HBF Arena, Mooro Country / Joondalup
Melbourne, VIC – NEW VENUE!
Friday 29 September (public holiday) – Caribbean Gardens, Wurundjeri Land, Kulin Nation / Melbourne
Sydney, NSW
Saturday 30 September (long weekend) – Centennial Park, Gadigal Country / Sydney
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Some highlights from the lineup include Skrillex’s return to the country for the first time since Listen Out 2018 and will bring new material from his first album since 2014, highlighting why the forward-thinking producer remains at the top of his game. The eight time Grammy award winner comes to us fresh from massive sets at Coachella and Madison Square Gardens with collaborators Fred Again and fellow Listen Out artist Four Tet.
It’s also been five long years between visits from Lil Uzi Vert who will be bringing their innovative and genre-bending style showcased on mega hits like “Just Wanna Rock” and tracks from his #1 album, Luv Is Rage 2.
Diversity is at the forefront with Bronx rapper Ice Spice, Coi Leray (“Players” anyone?) Piri and venbee as they head to Australia for the first time. They’ll hit the stages with Mallrat and Jyoty along with your host Ebony Boadu and more.
With a stack of artists and genres on the bill, Listen Out’s curated stages cover all bases. The Atari Stage features mainly hip hop artists, while the 909 Stage has major dance acts and the Prophet Stage hosts cutting edge electronic and house acts.
There’s still more to come, including a triple j Unearthed spot reserved for an emerging artist in each city.
Listen Out is returning to its usual stomping grounds in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth but is moving to a new venue in Melbourne’s forgotten wonderland, Caribbean Gardens. There’s HEAPS more space, with an easy to get around layout, better views of the stage and easy access with loads of parking and stacks of shuttle buses from the train station.
To make it even more of a party, it’s Listen Out’s 10th birthday.
Tickets to all shows go on sale Thursday 18 May 2023. Tickets will be available online via www.listenout.com.au or www.moshtix.com.au
There’s a Simpsons trivia night happening in Geelong next week
Do you know your steamed hams from your hamburgers, the year the first episode of The Simpsons went to air, or who actually shot Mr Burns?
If the answer to all of these is yes and you’re ready for so much more then you’re going to want to sign up for the upcoming The Simpsons Trivia Night at The Sporting Globe in Geelong on Wednesday 24 May.
Stay up to date with all the epic events happening in and around the region here.
Taking over the Sporting Globe from 7pm on the chilly Wednesday night, these yellow four-finger icons will be the subject the sporting pub’s latest trivia night bringing together amazing food, great drinks, games and trivia!
The questions are fun – not hard – and will take you back through all the best bits. Don’t worry, there’ll be some head-scratchers in there to separate the winners from the rest.
This event is hosted by Australia’s themed trivia experts, Grape Vine Events and will see 40 questions take place across five rounds with new activities and new ways to win!
Grab some dinner, drinks, and check the venue out before settling in for questions, games, and fun. You and your squad can win some killer prizes!
Doors open from 6:30pm. Simply reserve a free ticket for each of the people participating so the SG can allocate tables for you. Add one ticket per participant at your table.
Book your spot here.
‘Death By Dumplings’: Bird Rock’s weekly ‘all-you-can-eat’ dumpling night is back
Surely one of man’s greatest inventions ever, dumplings are so simple and yet oh so scrumptious. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as dipping these little pockets of amazingness into sauce and then stuffing your face! And nothing says stuffing your face like ‘all you can eat’.
Thanks to California-born restaurateur Anthony Gist, the iconic Bird Rock in Jan Juc – best known now for its delectable dumplings, delicious bao and Sunday Yum Cha – is bringing back its absolutely iconic weekly all-you-can-eat dumpling night.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Launching back in June last year, the appropriately dubbed ‘Death By Dumplings’ night was a roaring success for the venue, attracting dumpling lovers from across the region to indulge in a bottomless plate of oh-so-delicious dumplings!
The absolute feast will kick off on Thursday, 18 May, and take place every Thursday evening. It’s $40 for all-you-can-eat dumplings and a pot of Blackbird Mexican Lager (or a juice or soft drink). There’s no doubt that you will be rolling on out once your belly is full.
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The only catch is the whole table has to partake in the Death by Dumplings experience, so round up your most hungry pals!
Bookings are now open via Open Table and start from 5pm.
Bird Rock is located at 2 Princes Terrace Jan Juc. Find out more here.
The Geelong Wedding Expo returns this weekend bringing together a bunch of local wedding vendors for one day only
When you first start planning your wedding, the list of things involved in the big day can feel seemingly endless. From the venue, photographer, food, rentals, music, photo booth and more; not to mention what you will wear for the big day — the list of things to book or buy and decisions to be made goes on and on.
While there are tonnes of magazines and blogs out there, there’s something special about face-to-face interactions with those playing a part in your big day. If you’re hoping to make more of a personal connection with those involved, be more efficient with your planning efforts (and money), or you’re just keen for a fun day out with your bride tribe (or groom squad), the Geelong Wedding Expo has you covered with the very best of what the local wedding industry has to offer.
Returning for its 24th year and conveniently popping up at the Geelong Racecourse once again, The Geelong Wedding Expo is a not-to-be-missed event if you’re tying the knot somewhere in this stunning region that we call our home.
The Geelong Wedding Expo
- The Geelong Wedding Expo returns bringing together a bunch of local wedding vendors for one day only
- There’s even more than $10K in prizes to be won on the day
- The event goes down at the Geelong Racecourse on Sunday, 21 May 2023
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Taking over the huge racecourse on Sunday, 21 May, the much-loved annual event is bringing together a bunch of local wedding vendors, for one day only. This is your chance to meet all the essential peeps that could help make your special day spectacular. There’ll be wedding gowns, stylists, celebrants, florists, caterers, photographers, videographers and more, all conveniently located in one location.
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Expect representatives from venues like Bellevue Receptions, Inverleigh Hotel, Mt Duneed Estate, The Sands Torquay, and The Ivory Pavillion; some of Geelong’s best makeup artists like Jessica Kate Makeup, Makeup by Tania Ferguson and Crew Faced Makeup Artistry; a bunch of talented celebrants to get to know including Angele Jones, Ashlee Glenn, Della Katessen and Sandra celebrant as well as event florists like A Natural Bunch, Blooms Rock and several vendors to help with décor.
Browse dresses and suits from the likes of And The Veil, Foreverness Bridal Boutique, Bernice Fashions, and Lords Design; peruse your transport options like Luxury Limo Hire, and Mustang & Co; and find someone special to capture your special day with photographers and videographers like Angry Chicken Media, Duuet wedding photography & film, Gaelle Le Berre photography, Little Cine Films, and Still Muse photography.
There will even be music and DJs like Dy Dave, Fiction Cover Band and Stage Door Band and a whole bunch of food and drink vendors for all your cocktail, dinner and dessert requirements including Spoke Ice Cream, Miss Fizz, The Cannoli Project, Beat it Frost it, Laura Creative Cakes, Workers Geelong BBQ restaurant and Love Kate Cake Co.
You’ll even come across vendors you completely forgot you would even need when planning your perfect wedding day including Geelong Fireworks, personal trainers from Team McLean Fitness Club, and environmentally friendly confetti from Ballarat Ecofetti. That’s barely half of it though, expect to find so, so much more on the day!
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From the dress to the honeymoon, you can seriously turn your vision into reality, narrow down choices and priorities, and still have fun planning your wedding—all in one place, in one afternoon.
While attending a traditional bridal showcase might not be for everyone, The Geelong Wedding Expo promises an upbeat yet relaxed experience outside, where you can have a chinwag with all the aforementioned vendors without the pressure of harsh lights, take in the stunning fashion show, indulge in the best street eats from local food trucks, and chill out to some great live music. There’s even more than $10K in prizes to be won on the day.
Tickets are on sale now.
The Geelong Wedding Expo takes over the Geelong Racecourse on Sunday, 21 May from 10am-2pm. For a full list of participating vendors, visit the website here. General Admission tickets can be purchased online here, with limited tickets on the door on the day.
‘I’m comin’ home’: Dom Dolla announces largest ever hometown headline show at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Renowned Australian house music producer Dom Dolla (aka Dominic Matheson) has announced his largest-ever headline hometown show this summer at the legendary Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Saturday, December 16th.
With a busy start to the year, playing at Coachella, sold-out Red Rocks Colorado, sold-out headline tours across North America, Europe, and the UK, as well as headlining Beyond The Valley, performing the countdown and bringing out Nelly Furtado on stage, the beloved ‘San Frandisco’ DJ will finish off the year at home at the iconic stage in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.
“I’ve dreamt about hosting a show at the bowl since I was DJing in my bedroom. I’ve lost count of the amount of huge shows and festivals I’ve attended there over the years growing up in Melbourne,” Dom Dolla says.
“I never thought something like this would really be possible, this really is a dream come true and I can’t wait to show you what we have in store for it. I’M COMIN’ HOME!“
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Dom Dolla is experiencing a meteoric rise in the music industry. His signature style of house music has connected with global audiences, making him one of the most exciting names in electronic music.
His most recent single ‘Rhyme Dust’, a collaboration with MK, was one of the most anticipated tracks leading into 2023. The song took the internet by storm, going viral prior to its release after he included it in his Selected Sessions stream from a rooftop in Belgrade. The original sound received over 80 million streams prior to its drop, resulting in an outpouring of fans demanding for it to be released.
Since its release, ‘Rhyme Dust’ has clocked up over 30 million global streams, featured as BBC Radio One’s Hottest Record In The World, been most played song on triple j, was #1 on the Aria Club Chart, went top 10 US Billboard Dance chart and was #1 overall on Beatport globally.
Dom Dolla’s breakout year following the release of “Take It” has been followed by a royal flush of releases, including “San Frandisco,” “Moving Blind,” “Pump The Brakes,” and “Strangers” w/ Mansionair. His catalogue now accumulates over half-a-BILLION streams, with 2x Platinum & 2x Gold Certified Singles. He’s also been commissioned by the biggest names in music to deliver official remixes for The Gorillaz & Tame Impala, Dua Lipa, RÜFUS DU SOL & Calvin Harris.
With more music on the way and surprise guests, Dom Dolla promises to kick off the summer season with an electrifying bang.
Presale registrations are open now and goes on sale 12pm AEST Wednesday 17th May. Tickets on sale to the general public on Thursday 18th May 12pm AEST here.
A bunch of new Geelong V/line train services are being added this month – including a late Saturday night train
Following the month of disruptions to the Geelong train line, local passengers will soon see a swathe of extra services added later this month.
Providing more options of travel on the Geelong line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, there will be 31 extra extended services every week thanks to new train stabling facilities in Waurn Ponds, announced by the state government.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
There will be 21 extra services for South Geelong and Marshall stations and 26 extra services to Waurn Ponds Station, with extended services in the morning and evening peaks, including the last train to Geelong on Saturday night. Currently, the last train home from Melbourne on a Saturday night is at 12.10am, with a coach service at 2.15am. With the new services, there will be another train now at 1.10am.
The new services will start running from Sunday 28 May.
A newly built train stabling yard in Waurn Ponds has made the extra services possible by providing storage for trains overnight, supporting more services on Victoria’s busiest regional train line.
“We’re continuing to improve services for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line, giving the growing Geelong community better access to more reliable, frequent and affordable public transport,” says Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan.
The 31 extended services are on top of the 20 extended services per week delivered last May following upgrades to Waurn Ponds Station.
Major construction is also ramping up on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication which will enable even more services to support Geelong’s rapid growth. The project is delivering eight kilometres of duplicated track, station upgrades, level crossing removals and more than five kilometres of new walking and cycling paths.
Passengers further up the line will benefit from platform extensions at Sunshine Station, which will allow nine-car VLocity trains to stop at Sunshine, boosting capacity along the south-west corridor by 50 per cent.
More detailed information on the new timetable is available at ptv.vic.gov.au, vline.com.au and PTV’s journey planner app.
Australia’s Voyager place 9th at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023
Australian synth metal band Voyager placed 9th in the Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest after winning in the second Semi Final.
The band performed their progressive pop metal trag “Promise” alongside 25 finalists from competing countries. The official results were determined by combining the scores of the voting juries and viewing public in 37 countries, as well as the rest of the world for the first time. Loreen from Sweden won the contest with her song “Tattoo,” followed by Käärijä from Finland in second place and Noa Kirel from Israel in third place with her song “Unicorn.”
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Voyager expressed their gratitude for the love and support they received from Australia and the world throughout their Eurovision experience. They were honoured to represent Australia as the first band to do so and are excited to continue their journey with the release of their new album and upcoming tour. Voyager’s performance, complete with custom sequined outfits by Perth-based label Zhivago and ’80s staging with a Toyota MR2, was well-received by Liverpool and the world.
Their Eurovision appearance is the perfect launchpad for their eighth album “Fearless in Love,” set to be released on July 14 via Season of Mist, with homecoming tour dates in Australia and Europe to follow.
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Viewers who missed Voyager’s performance during the live broadcast can tune in to the primetime broadcast on SBS and SBS On Demand at 7.30 pm with commentary from Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey. Fans can use the hashtag #SBSEurovision to join the conversation on Twitter, where you will also catch exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
For more information on Voyager, follow this link.
Coldplay announce second Australian 2023 stadium concert due to overwhelming demand
Due to extraordinary (and unsurprising) demand during today’s presale, Coldplay will now add a second Perth concert as part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour.
This second history-making event will take place on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Perth’s Optus Stadium. An Australian-exclusive, the tour is expected to drive thousands of visitors to Western Australia to experience an incredible performance, injecting millions into the local economy.
The new show for Sunday, November 19 will go onsale at 10am tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16 and fans are being warned there will be no presales, no registrations and no codes required. ALL tickets for the new event will go on sale to the general public at 10am (AWST) via the Live Nation website.
Coldplay Australia 2023
- The universally beloved band is confirmed to play at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 18 and November 19 2023
- The new show for Sunday, November 19 will go onsale at 10am tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16.
- There will also be a limited amount of tickets released for the first show on Saturday, November 18.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Alongside the news of the new show, there will also be a limited amount of tickets released for the first show on Saturday, November 18.
Coldplay have also confirmed they will make a limited number of Infinity Tickets available for the two Perth shows at a later date. Infinity Tickets are released for every Coldplay show to make the Music Of The Spheres World Tour accessible to fans for an affordable price. They will cost just $40 AUD per ticket. They are restricted to a maximum of two tickets per purchaser, and must be bought in pairs (which will be located next to each other).
Coldplay announce one-off Australian 2023 stadium concert in Perth
Support on this new event will be provided by Australian multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Tash Sultana, along with Thelma Plum, who will each perform standalone sets.
“Due to unprecedented demand, Coldplay will be adding a second show in Perth for their Music of the Spheres tour. It’s incredible to see that thousands of fans are keen to travel from all over the country and across Asia to see the world’s biggest band play a historic event in Western Australia,” says Mr Luke Hede, Vice President of Touring, Live Nation Entertainment.
After a triumphant 2022 where Coldplay sold more concert tickets than any other artist and broke attendance records around the world, the iconic band – who won Tour of The Year at the 2023 iHeartRadio Awards – will bring their spectacular stadium show, bursting with lasers, fireworks and LED wristbands to Perth, where they will perform classic hits such as “Yellow”, “Viva La Vida”, “Clocks”, “A Sky Full Of Stars” and “My Universe”.
Since kicking off in March 2022, the Music Of The Spheres World Tour has sold over six million tickets across Europe, North America, and Latin America, receiving rave reviews from fans and critics alike, with The Times calling it ‘the greatest live music show ever’, the Dallas Observer acclaiming the visuals as “mind-blowing” and the Houston Chronicle describing the band’s performance as “pure joy”.
The Australian-exclusive performance will be promoted alongside hotel packages designed to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore further.
Purchase tickets and find out more here.
Hawke’s Brewing bring ‘80s nostalgia to GABS Craft Beer Festival this weekend with epic Lucky Prawn pop-up
Beloved independent, Australian-owned beer company Hawke’s Brewing Co. is bringing 1980s-soaked nostalgia to this year’s GABS Craft Beer Festival, with the Bob Hawke co-founded brewing outfit bringing not only delicious beer but also cult Chinese-Australian bistro The Lucky Prawn to the Melbourne event this weekend.
While making its GABS Festival debut, the brewery will be dishing up a few Cantonese-style gems for the Melbourne crowd with the pop-up.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Visitors to the Hawke’s stand will be treated to the breweries core range classics, Lager, Patio Pale, Underdog Session Lager and XPA, while getting first dibs on its GABS festival-exclusive ‘One Hit Wonder’, an 8.5% Hazy Double IPA, aptly named the ‘Bob Hulk Double Haze Rage IPA’.
On the other side of the festival, the Lucky Prawn pop-up will be dishing up prawn and vegetarian dumplings, dim sims, spring rolls, as well as its famous Lucky Prawn Toast. And if 1980s game shows are your jam, the brewery is giving festival-goers the chance to win from a showcase of beer and merch prizes by playing ‘Tins of Fortune’, a knock off combination of Wheel of Fortune and backyard-drinking game, Goon of Fortune.
From 1983 to 2023: A brewery’s nostalgic journey of Australia, Bob Hawke and beer
The brewery’s Marrickville-based venue, The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, welcomed in over 100,000 guests in its opening year, with its nostalgic delivery of “good beer, good leisure and Chinese meals” helping it win multiple hospitality awards, including TimeOut Sydney’s ‘Best Casual Drinking Venue’ and Beer & Brewer’s ‘Brewpub of the Year’. The brewery is now looking to bring elements of its venue offering to the punters of Melbourne.
“We’re incredibly excited to be making our GABS Festival debut by bringing the best of our brewing and hospitality chops to the beer-lovers of Melbourne,” says Says Nathan Lennon, Hawke’s co-founder.
“Our first year of contract brewing was in Melbourne, so it’s great to be back and celebrating the industry’s best brewers in the city where Bob Hawke enjoyed more than a few beers just down the road at The Curtin Hotel.”
GABS Craft Beer Festival takes place at Carlton’s Royal Exhibition Building from Friday 19th May to Sunday 21st May. To grab a ticket, head here.
Belinda Carlisle returns to Australia in 2023 with ‘Decades’ tour
Belinda Carlisle returns to Australia in November 2023 with her ‘Decades’ tour, which celebrates 35 years of her solo career.
Featuring all her hits in a catalogue of music that influenced a generation, Carlisle will kick off the tour in Western Australia before heading to stages in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in November and December 2023.
Belinda Carlisle Decades Australian Tour
Tuesday 14 November – Astor Theatre WA
Thursday 16 November – The Palms @ Crown VIC SOLD OUT
Saturday 18 November – Palais Theatre VIC
Wednesday 22 November – Anita’s Theatre NSW
Friday 24th November – Enmore Theatre NSW
Saturday 25th November – Enmore Theatre NSW
Wednesday 29 November – Civic Theatre Newcastle NSW
Friday 1 December 2023 The Tivoli QLD SOLD OUT
Saturday 2 December 2023 Twin Towns NSW
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
From her first foray into the music business, with the LA based, punk-influenced band the Go-Go’s in 1978, Carlisle achieved instant stardom with hits including ‘We Got The Beat’ and ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’.
After the band’s break up Belinda Carlisle embarked on her hugely successful solo career and released her first solo album in 1986, her second album Heaven On Earth produced the worldwide hit ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’ which hit number one on both the US and UK charts. The hits kept on coming with the release of her iconic 1989 album, Runaway Horses which boasted the top 10 hits ‘Leave a Light On’ and ‘Summer Rain’. Belinda Carlisle continued to produce hits including the number one classic ‘In Too Deep’ showing that she had real longevity in the pop scene.
Belinda Carlisle and now released her anticipated brand new five track Kismet EP, featuring the single “Big Big Love,” which marks the pop icon’s first new English language studio recording since 1997 and the triumphant reunion with the incomparable songwriter Diane Warren.
Produced by Mati Gavriel, Kismet, is released on Warren’s label imprint RAF through BMG and in addition to “Big Big Love” features the brand-new tracks, “If U Go” (EP’s new focus track), “Deeper Into You,” “I Couldn’t Do That To Me,” and “Sanity”.
Kismet is available now on CD and across all streaming platforms/digital services.
Purchase tickets to the tour and find out more here.
070 Shake announces first-ever Australia and New Zealand headline tour
070 Shake is in the process of building her legacy. While her name might not be universally known just yet, she’s well on the way there: she’s Madonna’s favourite artist and that’s a pretty strong start.
Now, the 25-year-old singer, songwriter and rapper has announced a handful of sideshow dates surrounding her already-announced Splendour in the Grass performance this July. She’ll be swinging by Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre before heading off to Syndey and Auckland.
070 Shake Australia and New Zealand Tour 2023
- July 22 – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
- July 23 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
- July 24 – Power Station, Auckland
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
In 2018, the New Jersey native made a splash with her debut album, Glitter, released on Kanye West’s record label GOOD Music. Fans may recognise her soft, earthy voice from the ultra-catchy outro of Ye and Kid Cudi’s track, Ghost Town.
Since then, she’s been rising up the ranks with viral hits such as Honey and Guilty Conscience, which was remixed by Australia’s own Tame Impala.
070 Shake has become known as a hot commodity in the American music scene, collaborating with the likes of Beyonce, Fred Again, Pusha T, Christine and the Queens and Nas and touring with international giants including Coldplay and Kid Cudi. The artist has also just revealed that she’s in a relationship with actor Lily-Rose Depp.
When she comes to town this winter, she’ll be touring on the back of her 2022 EP, Escapism. Fans should expect a raw and energetic live show bringing together intimate songwriting with razor-sharp performance.
While it might be the first time Australia sees 070 Shake as a headliner, it likely won’t be the last.
General admission tickets for 070 Shake go on sale on May 19 at 10am AEST, with a presale for Frontier members running on May 17.
To grab your tickets to the Melbourne show on July 22, head here.
Matchbox Twenty announce huge 2024 Australian tour with special guests Goo Goo Dolls
Matchbox Twenty will make their long-awaited return to Australian stages in 2024 for an extensive 10-stop tour in February in support of their new album “Where The Light Goes”, due out on May 26 and marking the band’s first new music in 11 years!
The multi-Platinum, hit-making, superstars last toured our shores in 2012 – as part of their ‘North’ tour – and this time Matchbox Twenty have recruited Goo Goo Dolls to perform on the tour. Matchbox Twenty will kick off their Australian tour in Perth on Tuesday 13th February before touring to Adelaide, Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Matchbox Twenty 2024 Australian Tour Dates
Tuesday 13 February PERTH, RAC Arena
Thursday 15 February ADELAIDE, Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena
Friday 16 February MELBOURNE, Rod Laver Arena
Saturday 17 February YARRA VALLEY, Rochford Wines
Tuesday 20 February WOLLONGONG, WIN Entertainment Centre
Thursday 22 February SYDNEY, Qudos Bank Arena
Friday 23 February CANBERRA, GIO Stadium
Saturday 24 February NEWCASTLE, Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Monday 26 February GOLD COAST, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Tuesday 27 February BRISBANE, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“You’d think that it would feel surreal being back on-stage fronting Matchbox Twenty after going solo, but it feels very comfortable to be honest,” lead singer Rob Thomas said.
“It always feels comfortable if you dance with the date that you came with, and Matchbox Twenty is the date that I came with. Performing on stage with your mates that you’ve been in a band with for decades is such a privilege and it’s something we never take for granted, especially these days. Our Australian tour follows a massive 50-plus date U.S. tour for Matchbox Twenty, so we’ll definitely be match-fit and ready to rock your socks off as well. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen all your Aussie faces. Already looking forward to February!”
Matchbox Twenty have sold over 40 million records worldwide, dominating the charts and performing for millions of fans in arenas and stadiums all around the globe. From ruling MTV and radio playlists, Matchbox Twenty have also clocked up billions of streams in recent years, which speaks to the enduring appeal of their music. Matchbox Twenty have achieved hits in each of the last three decades, with 2017 marking the 20 years since the release of their chart-topping, Diamond-certified debut album ‘Yourself Or Someone Like You’.
In April this year, Matchbox Twenty dropped their first new music in over a decade: ‘Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream)’, the lead single from their upcoming fifth record ‘Where The Light Goes’ (due 26th May) – following up 2012’s chart-topping ‘North’ album. ‘Where The Light Goes’ delivers another great batch of real, relevant, and relatable songs from Matchbox Twenty.
Produced by Gregg Wattenberg alongside band members Paul Doucette and Kyle Cook, Matchbox Twenty’s forthcoming album finds the band excited, energised and benefitting from the individual musicians’ respective solo journeys. He’s released five solo albums to date and Rob Thomas has proven to be one of the most highly decorated artists in recent years: collecting three Grammys, 11 BMI Awards, the inaugural Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award and two Billboard Songwriter of the Year honours just to name a few. And his bandmate Paul Doucette has been busily scoring and contributing original music to various film and TV projects (including ‘Utopia’ and ‘For All Mankind’).
A Telstra pre-sale commences at 2pm on Wednesday 17 May to 2pm Friday 19 May 2pm. Tickets to the general public go on sale at 9am (local time) Tuesday 23 May. For more, head here.