Dark Mofo expands 2023 program, announces more tickets for sold-out shows
Marking the festival’s tenth iteration, Dark Mofo is returning from June 8 to 22, showcasing a range of international acts across two huge weeks. Following a massive demand in tickets sales in its first week, festival organisers have now announced new shows and a slew of venue upgrades to increase capacity for the festival’s most popular shows.
“The exploration of darkness is key to our identity as a festival, but at the heart of Dark Mofo is powerful ritual, collectivity and transformation,” said Art Program Curator and Senior Producer Dexter Rosengrave.
“We’re really excited by these new additions to the program because they elicit an individual response that communally exalts us all,” they said.
Dark Mofo 2023
- New shows including TRANCE by Tianzhou Chen, and Community of Grieving by Zosia Hołubowska and Julia Giertz
- More tickets on sale for Trentemøller, NYX x DO.OMYOGA, and Laterne by Berlin Atonal
- Dark Mofo runs 8–22 June in Nipaluna/Hobart.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
With an already impressive list of performers, including Thundercat, Ethel Cain, Sleaford Mods, Trentemøller, HEALTH, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, Laurel Halo, King Woman, Drab Majesty, Eartheater, Witch and Molchat Doma, Dark Mofo has now secured a new participatory event for the festival, TRANCE, by Berlin-based Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen which will run from 8–10 June at MAC2.
Over three days, Tinazhuo’s cast of characters will push the corporeal limits of the body with a 12-hour performance ritual each day—split into six 2-hour chapters—and provide a space for the audience to participate in a journey to reach a trance state of mind.
TRANCE references religious iconography, Butoh choreography, and pop culture in a hedonistic, psychedelic transcendental performance where physical theatre evolves into an ecstatic rave.
Audiences will be able to come and go as they please with a Trance Pass, a ticket that is valid for entry throughout the entire three days of performance.
Another new announcement is the performance Community of Grieving, by European sound artists and music activists Zosia Hołubowska and Julia Giertz, from 17–18 June at Black Temple Gallery.
Using live music, dialogue and theatrical costume, Community of Grieving draws on traditions of vesper and lament. Merging sonic meditation, narration and audio essay, this haunting and melancholic performance is a mourning ritual for those we have lost to the pandemic, and more recently, war.
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With many Dark Mofo events in high demand, organisers are moving three previously sold-out shows to the larger 2,500 capacity concert venue at MAC2, enabling a second release of tickets available.
A significantly bigger production is now planned for Trentemøller (DNK), the indie electronic music composer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire.
After a flash sell-out, more people to participate in NYX’s electronic drone choir soundscape event DO.OMYOGA: Nada Sound Ceremony (yoga mats will be provided).
And Dark Mofo’s audio-visual electronic music spectacular Laterne by Berlin Atonal is super-sizing, featuring Caterina Barbieri presents Spirit Exit (ITA), Blackhaine (GBR), Amnesia Scanner & Freeka Tet: kaaos.ooo (DEU), Rainy Miller (GBR).
Dark Mofo runs 8–22 June in Nipaluna/Hobart. Find out more information by heading here.
Moody Beaches are heading out on a national tour in support of new album ‘Acid Ocean’
Melbourne’s fierce post-punk / grunge trio Moody Beaches have unveiled their new record Acid Ocean, out now via Poison City Records / Beast Records (France) and to celebrate, they’re heading out on a national tour across April, May and June before jetting over to Europe in July for a string of shows.
Locally they’ll head to Castlemaine, Melbourne and Bendigo and for the tour have enlisted a suite of stand-out special guests for the tour, including The Dacios, Porpoise Spit, Second Idol, The Belair Lip Bombs, K5 and plenty more.
Moody Beaches Acid Ocean National Tour
Friday 28 April
The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
w/ Jess Parker & Band
Friday 12 May
The Servo Food Truck Bar, Wollongong
w/ Chimers
Saturday 13 May
Union Hotel, Sydney
w/ Second Idol
Saturday 20 May
The Nightcat, Melbourne
w/ The Dacios + Porpoise Spit
Saturday 27 May
Trash Cult, Bendigo
w/ Affordable Repayments + K5
Friday 9 June
Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast
w/ The Belair Lip Bombs + Hott Sexx
Saturday 10 June
Bearded Lady, Brisbane
w/ Deaf Cult + Hott Sexx
Sunday 11 June
Sonic Sherpa, Brisbane
Free
Friday 28 – Sunday 30 June
Binic Festival, France
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Recorded by Andrew Hehir at Soundpark and mixed by Sam Lowe, Acid Ocean is a potent 10-track serve of harmony-driven and brooding, fuzzed-out anthems, with cutting lyrical themes touching on social and economic injustices, invisibility as we age, and the numbing from modern life.
Simultaneously, the album leans into joy, celebrating the strange delights of everyday life, and finding simple pleasures in imperfect moments.
Moody Beaches have already shared three singles from Acid Ocean – the thunderous album icebreaker ‘Crowded World’, the inherently introspective portrait of self-doubt and criticism, ‘Counting Reasons’, and the subdued slow burner, ‘Golden Days’.
The Beautiful Monument announce Misery Loves Company Tour
They say misery loves company, but there will be nothing but smiles and emphatically good times this June when Melbourne post-hardcore dynamos The Beautiful Monument bring their renowned high-energy stage presence around Australia for their Misery Loves Company headline tour.
Celebrating their recent single Hellbound and plenty more with visits to Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and, for the first time ever, Perth, The Beautiful Monument will also be joined by Newcastle rockers Eat Your Heart Out and Sydney pop punks Headstrong.
The Beautiful Monument Australian Tour
THURSDAY 22 JUNE 2023 – BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE
FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2023 – HAMILTON STATION HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2023 – FACTORY FLOOR, SYDNEY
THURSDAY 29 JUNE 2023 – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL, MELBOURNE
FRIDAY 30 JUNE 2023 – LUCY’S LOVE SHACK, PERTH*
*Eat Your Heart Out & Headstrong not appearing
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“TBM has entered a fierce new era that we can’t wait to share with everyone,” shares The Beautiful Monument vocalist Lizi Blanco. “We have a few surprises and a heavy hitting show coming your way this June on our Misery Loves Company Tour!”
“What is Misery without the company of our friends Eat Your Heart Out and Headstrong! We couldn’t be happier to be hitting the road with these two amazing bands and bringing Australia a tour they never knew they needed.”
Dedicated to the mantra “it’s okay to not be okay” throughout their career, The Beautiful Monument bring an elegant and energetic breath of fresh air to the Australian music scene. Fluctuating between raw and emotional lyricism, potent arrangements and an extensive sonic repertoire that spans alt-rock, flashes of punk, electronic hues, stirring anthems, vehement ballads and beyond, a visit with The Beautiful Monument, whether in person or via one of their many releases, is one that invariably stays with you long after the music has faded away.
Already armed with two critically acclaimed albums, 2017’s I’m The Sin and 2019’s I’m The Reaper, The Beautiful Monument have consistently commanded attention since emerging in 2015, becoming repeatedly in-demand in a live setting, including recent appearances alongside Sleeping With Sirens and Void Of Vision, and upcoming performances with Escape The Fate in Melbourne this weekend and at UNIFY Off The Record in Adelaide this May.
With their fan-favourite track Give Up currently generating over 2 million individual streams on Spotify alone, The Beautiful Monument continue to cement their status as one of the most innovative and charismatic groups in town; and whether they’re embracing their inner electro goth on their latest release Hellbound or offering a shoulder to cry on with tracks like Stay, Deceiver and more, a 2023 live The Beautiful Monument experience is set to be something truly unforgettable.
Lucy Wise announces east coast ‘Into The Blue’ album tour
Off the back of releasing her album Into The Blue last year, singer-songwriter Lucy Wise has announced an east coast album tour, heading to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria across May and June.
Locally, she’ll perform three Victorian dates at Valencia Creek, Malmsbury and Melbourne.
Lucy Wise Album Tour: Into The Blue Victorian Dates
27th May – Valencia Creek / Valencia Creek Hall
3rd June – Malmsbury Town Hall
4th – June Melbourne – Northcote Social Club – w/full band & Special Guest Ailsa Mitchell!
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Lucy openly tells her stories through music, creating a space to reflect on the experiences that matter the most to us. Touring nationally and internationally with many different line-ups over the past twelve years, including five-piece bands, trios, duos and solo, Lucy has continued to develop a presence with her music that is true and powerful.
Lucy’s music might best be described as “Folk with feeling”. Her sound is grounded in folk tradition, and at the same time, she describes in rich detail what it’s like to live in the world at this particular time. She tells stories about growing up, love of all kinds, city life, country towns, beaches and bushlands, weaving a strong sense of place into her music.
Lucy’s new album, “Into the Blue” and its B-side EP, “Yearning” reflect the freedom she has always felt with music. This recording project comprises songs she has written over the past five years, and much like being at a folk festival, this body of work is like walking past crowded marquees and hearing a colourful unfurling of so many different sounds.
Fifteen guest musicians played across the album and EP, and the backing vocals on some tracks such by her mother and sisters is a tender, reverent acknowledgement of her musical upbringing.
The songs on Lucy’s new album and EP touch on aspects of life Lucy hasn’t written about before. In “Broken and Beautiful” she sings about self-image and impossible standards set by the patriarchy. In her song “To Be Steady”, ocean swimming is a metaphor for the challenges life throws us – how sometimes we have to swim as hard as we can, at other times we just have to float. In her song “Cold Winds”, Lucy sings about her experiences of mental illness and recovery, an ongoing journey. Having continued to hone her craft through the pandemic, she has re-remerged into performing and music-making with a stronger sense of connection, identity and purpose.
The album and EP were mixed by Lucy’s partner and long-time collaborator, sound engineer and musician Mischa Herman, who helped amplify the magic of the songs and their instrumentation. Although the sounds are diverse across the album and EP, there is a thread connecting all the songs: they all speak the one language of human feeling, with layers of light and shade. With every new listen, there’s more to be discovered.
Lucy released her new album “Into the Blue” on 28th March, and her B-side EP, “Yearning” this September.
The much-loved Pinot Affair returns to Geelong wineries for three huge wine-filled days this May
Wine lovers from across the state are set to descend on the greater Geelong region as Wine Geelong proudly showcases the world-class, cool-climate Pinot Noir of the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Moorabool Valley.
Slated for the 19-21 May, Pinot Affair will be hosted at 13 individual wineries for just the second year with highlights to include Austin’s Wines ‘Pinot Piazza’ and Oneday Estate’s celebration with live Blues music and Pinot Noir back vintages.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
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While previous Pinot Affairs have been held as a central tasting event, this year follows on from last year’s event and will see several events happening at participating wineries to encourage you to reconnect, explore, taste and discover Geelong Pinot like never before.
Running across three days, the likes of Austin’s Wines, Oneday Estate, Oakdene, Terindah Estate, Scotchmans Hill, Del Rios and more will host an array of Pinot-focused events, including masterclasses, tasting experiences, special lunches, and degustation dinners. With over 12 wineries to choose from, you’re sure to find something that will truly delight.
While we’re blessed with a number of fabulous wineries championing pinot noir, true highlights of the weekend include Austin’s Pinot Piazza which will be serving gnocchi with Pinot ragu, meatball sliders and cannoli; Pinot and Paella at del Rios; a pinot noir masterclass with Scotchmans Hill’s Chief winemaker Robin Brockett; BBQ, blues and pinot noir evening at Bellarine Estate and pinot noir International Benchmark tasting at Lethbridge @ Hat Rock Vineyard.
“The Pinot Affair weekend is a sensational event that provides a great opportunity to celebrate both Geelong wineries and our favourite variety of wine,” says Belinda Austin, Austin’s Wine co-owner and head of marketing.
“Austin’s Wines relished in showcasing our hero wine through a weekend of fun with an Italian twist. We are thrilled to offer an experience that will suit everyone including child friendly day sessions across the weekend to an adults-only sunset session on Sunday complete with pasta, music and Pinot. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy Pinot Noir with style and entertainment.”
Wine Geelong Vice President Sam Vogel, said that the Pinot Affair event was one of the most fun and exciting events on the Wine Geelong calendar.
“Pinot Affair is a wonderful celebration of one of the great wine varieties of the world. The Geelong region produces some of the best Pinot in the country and the Pinot Affair weekend is an opportunity for everyone to revel in this greatness,” he said.
“With an impressive variety of wine-centered events being held at some of our best producers around the region, it really is a must-not-miss weekend.”
This two-day event just an hour out of Melbourne offers guests a unique and exclusive opportunity to taste their way across a diverse selection of award-winning Geelong wineries.
The event will be held on May 19-21. Head here for participating wineries and activities.
A candlelight tribute to Queen is coming to Geelong, bringing the hits of Queen to life at town hall
Five decades years ago in West London, Brian May and Roger Taylor met Freddie Mercury. 14 albums, six number one hits and an estimated 170 million to 300 million record sales later, Queen have cemented themselves into the fabric of music culture.
Honouring one of history’s greatest rock bands of all time, entertainment discovery platform Fever is bringing a beautiful candlelight tribute concert to Geelong this year with Candlelight Geelong: A Tribute To Queen.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
After delighting more than 90 cities worldwide with performances in various spectacular locations, the Candlelight Concert series is renowned for bringing the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before.
Offering a unique experience to discover the music of Queen, the concert will arrive at Geelong West Town Hall on Saturday, 1 July 2023 under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Running for 65 minutes, the impressive Quartet Eclective Strings will perform the likes of ‘You’re My Best Friend’, ‘Love Of My Life’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, among many more of the music powerhouse’s hits.
While these songs are iconic, it’s with this concert’s sublime performance and stunning atmosphere that you’ll feel as if you’re listening to them for the first time.
The evening will kick off at 6:30pm. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show and no late entry is permitted.
It all goes down at the Geelong West Town Hall on Saturday, 1 July 2023. Find out more here.
New podcast ‘Remembering Chrissy Amphlett’ commemorates 10th anniversary of rock legend’s death
Chrissy Amphlett was a genuine musical pioneer. As the attention-grabbing singer in Australian band Divinyls, she topped charts around the world, and in doing so – Chrissy fiercely kicked down doors for women as she took on the male-dominated rock industry of the 1980s.
Over the last decade, since the singer sadly passed away from breast cancer in 2013, Chrissy’s legacy has been firmly established and her songs continue to be discovered by new generations.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Created by LiSRNR, Behind The Hits is a special podcast series that dives into music stories from behind the scenes with the iconic artists and those who lived it, this month creating a special Behind The Hits episode to commemorate the 10-year anniversary since the passing of rock legend, Chrissy Amphlett.
Featuring the thoughts and reflections of leading music voices including Ella Hooper, Missy Higgins, Lisa Veronica and Pink, as well has previous interviews with Chrissy, her music and influence on the Australian music industry is celebrated in this special Behind The Hits episode.
This is an extra special listen for music lovers in the region. Recognised as one of the most formidable singers the Australian music industry has ever seen for her chart-conquering contributions to Divinyls, the late, great Chrissy Amphlett is considered one of the most prominent musicians to have ever come from Geelong. Born in the regional city on October 21 1959, Amphlett attended Belmont High School before moving to Sydney to form Divinyls with Mark McEntee in 1980, where her inimitable stage presence and vocal range asserted her as one of the best singers of her era.
Listen to the podcast here
One-day wine and food festival ‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ returns to Melbourne
Celebrating everything there is to love about the renowned wine-producing region northeast of Adelaide, the one-day festival ‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ is returning to Melbourne after sell-out events in 2017, ’18 and ’19 to showcase the best of the region at The Timber Yard.
Heading to Melbourne on June 10, the popular touring festival is presented by Barossa Australia, supported by Revel, and is where people get to interact with famous Barossa names as well as experience the food, wine and gin from the young guns of the region. So essentially it’s the one-day festival of your dreams.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Stopping off at Brisbane (May 27) for the very first time before heading to Melbourne (June 10) for epic all-day events following sell-out seasons in 2017, 2018, and 2019, ‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ is more than a wine-tasting show. Instead, it’s where guests get to experience the best of Barossa’s culture, history and, most of all, the people that make up this incredible part of the world.
Expect to see the likes of globally-familiar names like Henschke, Seppeltsfield and Torbreck, alongside artisan producers such as Purple Hands, Brothers at War and Lienert Vineyards.
“‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ has an incredible atmosphere,” says Susan Papps, Yelland and Papps. “It is so fun to talk to people who want to know about our wines, and our incredible little piece of paradise in Barossa. There are always lots of laughs and stories to be shared.”
A $55 ticket includes: entry, a take-home wine glass (RRP $20) and the opportunity to taste more than 220 wines poured by the winemakers themselves. All wines for taste are also available to purchase and take home on the day.
‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ is presented by Barossa Australia with support from Revel, the team behind the wildly successful Mould: A Cheese Festival and Pinot Palooza.
‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ MELBOURNE takes place on Saturday 10 June at The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne. Tickets can be purchased here.
Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows announce special show at Eltham’s Missing Gorilla
Australian blues rock band The Black Sorrows with Joe Camilleri are heading to Eltham this June with an intimate show at Eltham’s Premier Yarra Valley Wine Bar and Beer Garden Missing Gorilla.
Taking place on Thursday, 8 June from 8:30pm, the legendary outfit will take to the stage at Missing Gorilla providing the most epic soundtrack to kickstart your long weekend.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Joe Camilleri has been at the forefront of the Australian music scene for decades as the leader of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, and as writer of radio anthems Hit & Run, Shape I’m In, Chained To The Wheel, Harley & Rose and Never Let Me Go. He is the consummate entertainer constantly honing his craft, an ARIA Hall of Famer and a rock’n’roll lifer.
Joe fronts The Black Sorrows, one of Australia’s most prolific and enduringly popular bands, renowned for their high-energy live shows, musicianship and infectious, roots-soaked blues rock. They’ve sold more than two million albums to date and won an ARIA Award for Best Group.
The Black Sorrows are celebrating The Black Sorrows’ Live from The Shangri-La, an incredible live recording that captures that spark that defines The Black Sorrows.
In Joe’s words: “Live from The Shangri-La gives you a sense of how far the Sorrows have come, of how we’re always moving forward as a band. It’s never about the past. Although we are aways celebrating where we been, we are constantly finding a new and fresh pathway… for the beyond.”
The joy of live music, the excitement of watching great performers playing off each other and feeding off the room, and the thrill of never knowing what is coming next but knowing it will be incredible is what The Black Sorrows are all about.
As for the venue hosting this incredible band, Missing Gorilla showcases the finest produce and wine in the local region. Located just 30 minutes outside Melbourne’s CBD, this café, wine bar, and beer garden boasts a welcoming and family-friendly environment, supported by great service and excellent food.
On the menu, you’ll find wood fired pizzas, salads, starters, share plates, as well as classics like burgers and steak. You can pair your meal with a craft beer, a local wine, or a creative cocktail. There are options for children too, with a popular kids menu available.
Missing Gorilla is located at Shop 1, 70 Commercial Place, Eltham. Purchase tickets to the gig here.
WIN! We’re giving away tickets to Joel Bray’s Pub Trivia with a modern dance twist at Little Creatures Brewery
From the mind of proud Wiradjuri dancer and performance-maker Joel Bray (MTC 2023 MinterEllison Future Directors Initiative recipient, 3-time 2016 Melbourne Fringe Award recipient, inaugural Chunky Move Choreographer In Residence), I Liked It, BUT… ventures where very few experimental and immersive performance works dare to tread.
The cabaret-dance-trivia amalgam show will head to the Furphy Hall at Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong from Thursday May 11 to Saturday 13 May for multiple performances.
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
Migrating contemporary movement out of the theatre and into the local pub scene, Joel Bray embraces this unorthodox space to define what truly passes the “pub test”.
Served with tongue firmly in cheek, the show provides an opportunity for audience members from all walks of life to understand the ‘very artistic and very serious’ inner workings of the contemporary dance world. Leaning on his trademark humour, this show lightly nudges Joel’s lived experiences as a contemporary artist with unique intersectionality between the Songlines of his Indigenous heritage, skin colour and queer sexuality.
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Grab a drink, enjoy a bite and take in tunes provided by a local musician; all while embarking on a trivial pursuit to decoding the wide world of performing arts.
Performances take place at 7:30pm each night from Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 May. Punters can also take part in the ultimate “Saturday session” with an additional 1pm performance on Saturday 13 May.
To celebrate the show’s arrival in the Geelong region, we’re giving away six double passes to the first show at 7:30pm on Thursday 11 May 2023. To be in the running, all you have to do is enter your name and email address.
The competition closes 28 April at 4pm and winners will be notified by email. By entering, you agree to receive marketing collateral from Forte and competition partners. For more info, check out our privacy policy.
Tickets are on sale now here.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne announces rescheduled Melbourne & Sydney shows
Jackson Browne has announced he will return to Australia this November/December 2023, to perform in Melbourne and Sydney, following postponing his shows in both cities last week.
After initially postponing Thursday night’s Melbourne show due to illness last week, the American singer-songwriter went on to postpone scheduled performances at Aware Super Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday 14 April and Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, on Sunday 16 April.
The shows will now take place on Wednesday 29 November (previously Thursday 13 April) at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, VIC and Friday 1 December (previously Saturday 15 April) at Aware Super Theatre, Sydney, NSW.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
American rocker Jackson Browne cancels Sydney and Melbourne concerts over the weekend
Jackson recovered from the illness and continued his tour with shows in Auckland and Wellington, NZ. The final show of the tour is in Christchurch on April 21st.
All existing tickets remain valid for the new dates. If you purchased tickets to Browne’s original show at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on Thursday 13 April, your new show date is Wednesday 29 November 2023. If you purchased a ticket to his Sydney performance at Aware Super Theatre show on Saturday 15 April, your new date is Friday 1 December 2023.
All ticketholders will receive direct communication from Ticketek, outlining new show details – no action needed. Patrons unable to attend the Nov/Dec dates are able to obtain a full refund.
For any further questions, please contact Ticketek via the link here.
Local Geelong band CoolChange are calling it quits with a final gig in May
Having performed non-stop for more than 30 years in and around Geelong, local band CoolChange have announced they’ll be permanently hanging up the instruments this May.
The band will perform their final gig at the Elephant & Castle Hotel in Geelong on Friday, May 12.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
A regular at the Geelong institution, the band will bring their serious anti-folk music to the Main Bar’s stage for one last Friday, delivering a huge performance with free entry.
Between now and then, the band will also be performing a handful of gigs across town, with an afternoon gig on Sunday, April 23 at the Elephant, and another at St Leonards Hotel on Sunday, April 30.
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Comprising six Geelong-based musicians brought together by their love of music, CoolChange has earned themselves a solid reputation for being slightly left of centre when it comes to function bands. Throughout their gigs, you’ll hear all the songs you know and love – played in “Cool Change” style. A little bit of jazz, a few bluesy numbers, a heap of classic rock standards and a couple of country songs, you will get the lot and be thoroughly entertained with this amusing bunch of musos.
Featuring Glenn Braithwaite on vocals, flute and harmonica, Gary Stevenson on vocals and keyboards, Shaun Keet on vocals and guitar, Steve Maguire on guitar, Peter Griffiths on bass and Rod Hoe on drums, let’s give these local legends a proper farewell!
You can find out more via the Facebook event here.
Illuminate Adelaide unveils massive 2023 lineup of art, light, music and technology
From June 28 to July 30, the South Australian city will come alight with a vibrant celebration of art, music and technology.
Illuminate Adelaide is coming in hot with its third year of programming and has announced a meticulously crafted lineup of performers, experiences and installations to help us party people shake those winter blues.
Illuminate Adelaide 2023
- Running from June 28 to July 30, the massive festival will transform Adelaide’s chilly season with light and sound
- The program features free and ticketed events including experimental music performances, immersive multimedia installations, public art displays, dance and so much more
- Tickets are on sale now
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
To start, the music: the impressive roster is centered on the cutting-edge. Catch performances by underground legend Oneohtrix Point Never, ARIA Award winners Yothu Yindi, UK-based electronic artist Tourist, and DOBBY, whose unique style of drumming and rapping (“drapping”) has gained him much attention in recent years.
Tahlia Petrosian’s internationally renowned concert series KLASSIK Underground will also make a return, offering two Australian-exclusive experiences: Reverberating Rhythms and Shifting Sounds. The contemporary classical music performances will be elevated with live visuals made by some of Australia’s most exciting digital artists.
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Illuminate has also joined forces with Krakow’s cult-favourite Unsound Festival to shed some light on genre-bending experimental and electronic music. Unsound Adelaide will run from July 14 and 15 and is promising a stacked lineup featuring international imports bbymutha, Space Afrika, Kode9, Sofie Birch and Antonia Nowacka.
The city will also play host to dozens of other free and ticketed events, including two huge art installations by the multimedia company Moment Factory. After selling out last year’s Light Cycles shows, the festival has decided to expand.
Resonate, taking place in Adelaide’s Botanical Gardens, will be a 1.7km evening walk featuring six glowing immersive pieces. In Victoria Square, Mirror Mirror takes visitors on a dreamlike journey through surreal interactive works. Arborailis, created by Architechs of Air, will be yet another immersive experience: a blow-up bubble maze inspired by nature’s great forests.
To top it off, Illuminate Adelaide will also be installing 40 free public artworks across the city, running a nighttime experience at the zoo, showcasing augmented reality and so much more.
To check out the full Illuminate Adelaide program and get your hands on tickets, head here.
Wanderer Festival announce first lineup featuring Jungle Giants, Spiderbait and more
After the success of the inaugural event last year, the folks at Wanderer Festival are gearing up for another epic festival experience that will take place in Pambula Beach from September 29 to October 1.
Wanderer Festival
- Wanderer Festival has revealed its first lineup announcement, with Jungle Giants, Spiderbait, Kevin Morby, Lisa Mitchell and Melbourne Ska Orchestra set to perform
- The full lineup, yet to be announced, will host over 70 artists
- It takes place from September to 29 to October 1, presale tickets are now on sale
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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The Jungle Giants, beloved Aussie indie-rock band with an irresistible sound and ARIA chart-topping tunes, will be headlining the festival. Joining them will be the legendary Spiderbait, adored for their unique blend of idiosyncratic thrash-pop tunes.
Also set to take the stage is Kevin Morby, a captivating songwriter from the United States known for his lush musical arrangements and incisive lyrics. Lisa Mitchell, with her stunning Celtic-infused soundtrack, will take festival-goers on a transformational journey with her gentle yet compelling invitation.
In addition, Melbourne Ska Orchestra will bring their fun-loving energy to the stage with their groove-inducing and unstoppable music. This is just a small taste of what’s to come as Wanderer has promised over 70 artists in their lineup that will encompass a world-class program of music, art, comedy, theatre, circus, and artisan workshops.
The festival is not just about the music, as the unique and creative spirit of the Sapphire Coast region will be integral to the festival’s arts program, epicurean feasts, and craft offerings. Wanderer Festival is a boutique music festival that offers a multi-generational experience, welcoming traditional festival-goers as well as families to the bucolic wonderland of Pambula Beach in southern New South Wales.
Wanderer Festival is curated by Falls Festival’s own Simon Daly. “We were amazed by Wanderer’s reach last year,” he said. “With so many people travelling to enjoy not only Wanderer, but this stunning part of the world. With the dates falling on a long weekend for most of our audience, we know people will want to secure their tickets and start planning ahead.”
It all goes down from September 29 to October 1. Sign up for the pre-sale by heading here.
Foo Fighters return with new album ‘But Here We Are’, debut new single ‘Rescued’
Following a year of staggering losses, personal introspection and bittersweet remembrances, Foo Fighters are making their triumphant return with But Here We Are, out June 2 on Roswell Records/Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured over the last year, But Here We Are is a testament to the healing powers of music, friendship and family, arriving just over a year after the tragic death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Hawkins died at age 50 while on tour with the band in Colombia with the band cancelling all remaining shows at the time.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Courageous, damaged and unflinchingly authentic, But Here We Are opens with newly released lead single ‘Rescued‘, the first of 10 songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between.
Produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, But Here We Are is in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life.
Sonically channelling the naiveté of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut, informed by decades of maturity and depth, But Here We Are is the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.
The album’s track list is as follows:
Rescued
Under You
Hearing Voices
But Here We Are
The Glass
Nothing At All
Show Me How
Beyond Me
The Teacher
Rest
But Here We Are is available pre-order now from JB HiFi – and from foofighters.com on White Vinyl, Black Vinyl and CD.
Eagles of Death Metal announce 2023 Australian tour
High-octane American rockers Eagles of Death Metal have announced an Australia and New Zealand tour in July/August 2023, with eight huge shows announced.
Long overdue for an Antipodean visit, these will be EODM’s first live dates on our shores since 2016. Known for their killer rock’n’roll and infectious feel-good vibes – make no mistake, EODM live are a sight to be seen – the shows are part of the band’s 24th Anniversary Tour celebrations. The tour will see EODM perform throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada.
Eagles of Death Metal Australia/NZ Tour 2023
Tuesday 25 July
Forum Melbourne | Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 27 July
Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW
Friday 28 July
Cambridge Hotel | Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 29 July
The Tivoli | Brisbane, QLD
Monday 31 July
The Gov | Adelaide, SA
Wednesday 2 August
Astor Theatre | Perth, WA
Saturday 5 August
Powerstation | Auckland, NZ
Sunday 6 August
San Fran | Wellington, NZ
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“Man, I have been itching to get back out there and play some live rock ‘n’ roll again to the best fans in the world. John Steinbeck once said, ‘People don’t take trips, trips take people’… This is an open invite to come take a trip with me and the band,” says Hughes.
Formed in 1998 in Palm Desert, California, by best friends Jesse Hughes and Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Eagles of Death Metal made their recording debut when they appeared on Homme’s The Desert Sessions Volumes 3 & 4, released that same year. Famous for singles such as ‘I Want You So Hard’, ‘WannaBe In LA’, ‘Complexity’ and ‘Miss Alissa’, EODM has released four studio albums to date – Peace Love Death Metal (2004), Death by Sexy (2006), Heart On (2008), and Zipper Down (2015) – plus an album of covers, Eagles of Death Metal Presents Boots Electric Performing The Best Songs We Never Wrote (2019). The pair have a brand-new studio album set for a worldwide release in late 2023.
Fronted by Hughes, the EODM live band is filled out by Jennie Vee on bass, Jorma Vik on drums, and Joshua Jove on guitar.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday 26 April (11am local time) via frontiertouring.com/EODM.
‘A blues swamp-groove kinda thing’: Tex Perkins and Matt Walker bring their powerful live show to Geelong
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing blues experience this April, look no further than Tex Perkins and Matt Walker.
The incredible live duo will take to the Palais Geelong on Sunday, 23 April 2023 at 7:30pm, bringing along a powerful live show bolstered with songs spanning Tex’s vast catalogue, as well as brand new material they have written together for their Fat Rubber band album.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Tex Perkins has played a key role in Australian music and it’s understandably difficult to pull together a coherent picture of a man whose career has taken in everything from the groundbreaking experimental punktonica of Sydney mid-80s noiseniks Thug to the lilting, dark country of his recent material with the Dark Horses.
From the hard-edged pub rock of the Beasts Of Bourbon’s, a snarling slice of filthy pub rock to the evocative soundscapes of The Cruel Sea, whose extraordinary 1991 single ‘This Is Not The Way Home’ placed Perkins’ world-weary growl in a new musical context and heralded the emergence of an entirely original yet archetypically Australian sound.
Then there is the Tex, Don & Charlie albums, which saw Perkins joining forces with the legendary Don Walker, Cold Chisel’s pianist and master songwriter and son of the Clarence Valley, and Charlie Owen, previously Australia’s best-kept musical secret.
Building his reputation on a restless sense of adventure, an ability to evolve and adapt, a dark sense of humour and a knack for teaming up with some of the very best, Perkins is heading to Geelong an epic duo show this week.
“I used to head to Geelong a lot back in the day, it was always part of the tour circuit, the Barwon Club and various other great venues, but the last time I played down there was at a Spiegeltent down at Barwon Heads, just before COVID.
“But I’m coming back, it’s been too long. It’s time for my triumphant return to Geelong.”
Perkins will arrive at the Palais Geelong on 23 April with his incredible collaboration with Matt Walker – a much-respected singer, songwriter and sought-after guitarist across the country and guitarist in Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Band.
“Matt and I, we have an expanded version of our working relationship that is with The Fat Rubber Band, but Matt and I are a very effective duo,” Perkins explains.
“We took a couple of years break during COVID, but we first started playing together in 2017, although I’ve known Matt for the last 25 years.”
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But how did two of this country’s finest musicians begin working together?
“He invited me,” Perkins laughs. “It happened very organically and I’ve always highly respected Matt and seen him as the complete package, even from back in the 90s; he used to open for the Cruel Sea.
“So I’ve known him that long and I always respected him as the complete artist: he’s a singer, songwriter, great guitar player, he can pretty much play anything. He’s even a producer and a teacher as well. I couldn’t really see a place for me, I guess subconsciously I never saw him as a collaborator.
“But we’ve remained friends and worked together for The Man In Black: The Johnny Cash Story tribute show that we’ve done from time to time, so we worked together for that. But the turning point was I sent him a picture of a rare album that I had just bought, Beans and Fatback by Link Wray, it’s a record we had talked about, and then he replied with the immortal worlds, ‘awesome, we should make an album like that’.
“And so the door was open and I quickly rushed through.”
Becoming a writing-recording partnership was just the first step, with the two musicians quickly evolving into a live duo, performing gigs across the country together.
“Matt quickly became the perfect person to do that with. He plays a variety of guitars, I play guitar. Matt brings the beauty, I bring the dirt and the vibe, but we also sing really nicely together too.”
Not long after the fruitful working relationship between Perkins and Walker began, space was made for an expanded version of the duo, to further bring their vision to life.
With a clear vision and a number of original songs ready to go, the two enlisted bassist Steve Hadley, drummer Roger Bergodaz and Evan Richards on percussion to complete the Fat Rubber Band lineup and record their debut album’s ten tracks at Walker’s Stovepipe Studios in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges.
The result was a self-titled album, Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Bands, which was mainly written and produced by Perkins and Walker.
Now two years on and a worldwide pandemic later, Perkins and Walker are celebrating their newest release, with Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Band’s sophomore album Other World.
Released in February this year and featuring singles ‘Brand New Man’, ‘The Devil Ain’t Buying’, ‘(I Wanna Be) Close To You’ and ‘Around The World’, Other World sees Tex and his Fat Rubber Band in top form, with Stack Magazine’s Jeff Jenkins commenting that Tex has “delivered some of his finest work”.
“We’ve had some really great feedback, but you just never know whether things are going to connect, and that’s what it’s all about, it’s about connecting with people.
“Luckily this whole album and the recordings of it happened so easily. During Covid there was an inability to be together so when we were able to be together everyone really took the opportunity and brought their best.”
Recorded and produced by Roger Berdogaz in his home studio, with input from Perkins and Walker, Perkins explains “I loved making this record so much…because fucking magic happened. Yes, that’s right, magic or how about alchemy? I witnessed ideas, thoughts, whims and imaginings transmute almost effortlessly into living breathing songs with a soul and a heartbeat and even their own private history every time we went into the studio for this recording. Actually, no, magic is better.”
Expanding even more, Perkins says, “This magic came about with the help of over 40 years of experience from each of the Fat Rubber band members. They’re all truly great players and they’re all really generous collaborators, so I guess what I’m saying is, it doesn’t matter what happens from here.”
Fresh from taking their Other World album tour around the country, Perkins and Walker’s Geelong show will be one of the rare opportunities to witness their powerful live performance before the band embark on a 24-date European tour.
Described as a ‘blues swamp-groove kinda thing’ that’s a little reminiscent of some of the things in Tex’s back catalogue, the duo will set the stage alight with co-written originals, well-chosen heart-felt cover versions and classics from Tex’s back catalogue (Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dark Horses etc).
Hailed as thrilling, occasionally deeply moving, and sometimes a lot of fun, but always very satisfying, this is one local show not to be missed.
The duo will bring their live show to the Palais Geelong on 23 April. Tickets are on sale now here.
Melbourne comedy sketch group Swag On The Beat announce live tour
Swag On The Beat are three Melbourne-based high-school friends that like to make funny, absurd, punchy, and also funny content, and now they shooting their shot and heading out on their first live tour.
The former high-school mates will embark on a national tour in July, taking their live show SWAG ON THE BEAT UN-PLUGGED around the country, opening in Melbourne on July 7 before heading to Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
Swag On The Beat Tour
THE CAPITOL, MELBOURNE FRI, JUL 7 – SAT, JUL 8
FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE FRI, JUL 14
THE STATE THEATRE, SYDNEY SUN, JUL 16
ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH THU, JUL 20
NORWOOD CONCERT HALL, ADELAIDE SAT, JUL 22
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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Sam Zito, Jack Say and Isaac Gibbons are Swag on the Beat, three longtime friends who are funny and explosively viral.
Their trademark laid-back relatable style, and dynamic online presence which exploded overnight from a lockdown Tik-Tok post, captivates young and old audiences alike. When they’re not being semi-creative and living to make each other laugh, you can find them surfing, playing music and on hold to MyGov.
Find out what the fever’s about this July.
For complete tour and ticket information, head here.