ARIA and AIR Award-winning duo, Teeny Tiny Stevies to release new record on Earth Day Monday 22 April

Teeny Tiny Stevies, Byll and Beth Stephen, have been educating the younger generations on environmental factors and social and behavioural issues since 2015 with their catchy children’s music including tunes ‘Boss of My Own Body‘ and ‘Ate A Rainbow‘.

With four albums under their belt, How To Be Creative (2022), Thoughtful Songs for Little People (2020), Helpful Songs for Little People (2018) and their debut Useful Songs for Little People (2015), and a sea of anklebiter fans – and parents – the Teeny Tiny Stevies have shot to enormous heights in the Australian entertainment and music industry, and they’re about to again with their new release.

Twice The Love Tour – Victorian Dates

• Saturday 24 August | Live at the Bundy, Bundalaguah VIC
• Saturday 7 September | The Memo, Healesville VIC
• Sunday 8 September | Mechanics, Ballarat VIC
• Saturday 21 September | Wonder Children’s Festival (Geelong Arts Centre), Geelong VIC
• Sunday 22 September | Northcote Theatre, Northcote VIC
• Friday 4 October, 2024 | Berninneit, Cowes VIC
• Saturday 12 October | Yackandandah Public Hall, Yackandandah VIC
• Sunday 13 October | Bright Courthouse, Bright VIC

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

The Green Album is an exciting collaboration of music and environmental action, focusing on subjects close their own hearts and concerns of the parents of their young fans, topics of climate change and the environment. Out via ABC Music, The Green Album will be released on Earth Day on Monday 22 April with the duo partnering with National Landcare Network (NLN) to plant one tree for every pre-sold album or activity pack in the lead up to the release.

The Recyclable Activity Packs includes a full album digital download, a 16 page activity book, coloured pencils, Byll and Beth toy figurines, a lyric book to encourage kids to sing-along to the 11 tracks word for word, a band poster and a National Landcare Network invitation to join in your local area.

The sisters will be debuting their new songs, including the already released single ‘Energy’ at their upcoming Twice The Love Tour, which sees them head to Bundalaguah, Healesville, Ballarat, Geelong (as part of Wonder Children’s Festival for Geelong Arts Centre), Northcote, Cowes, Yackandandah and Bright on the Victorian leg.

Tickets to the Twice The Love Tour can be purchased here. To pre-save The Green Album head here, and pre-order the Recyclable Activity Pack head here. Every tree counts!

Vika & Linda add more shows to their fast-selling national tour, An Evening with Vika and Linda

Australia’s biggest voices, Vika & Linda have added another six dates to their national An Evening with Vika & Linda tour, tallying 26 shows from May through to November.

Adding major capital cities, Melbourne, Perth (as part of Perth International Cabaret Festival), Canberra and Adelaide to the list along with two back-to-back shows at Berninneit Cultural Centre in Cowes on Phillip Island, the tour is going to be groundbreaking, quite literally as their magical pipes vibrate through theatres accompanied only by a grand piano.

An Evening with Vika & Linda Victorian Tour Dates

• Thurs 9 May – The Wedge, Sale
• Fri 10 May – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon
• Sat 11 May – Civic Hall, Ballarat
• Sun 9 June – Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong
• Thu 13 June – Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston
• Fri 14 June – The Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
• Fri 28 June – WPACC, Wangaratta
• Sat 29 June – The Capital, Bendigo
• Sat 13 July – Berninneit Cultural Centre, Cowes
• Sun 14 July – Berninneit Cultural Centre, Cowes (2pm matinee)

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Having already played a handful of shows in Victoria and New South Wales, the reception for their intimate performances has been heartening, yet unsurprising given their tremendous track record with the sisters putting on a show-stopping performance at A Day On The Green earlier in the month, and bringing the Christmas spirit at their all-star sold out Christmas show at the end of 2023 alongside their dedicated band The Bullettes.

Whilst the Bullettes will not be rocking with them on the stripped back An Evening with Vika & Linda tour, the Medal of the Order of Australia recipients will be joined by long-time collaborator, producer and musical director Cameron Bruce.

Showcasing a career-spanning set of their songs, as highlighted in their Akilotoa collection released in 2020, the performances are a must see, transformative experience that will leave audiences reeling for more.

Full tour dates and tickets can be purchased directly by each venue, or through the songstresses website here.

Grammy-winning rockers Greta Van Fleet are touring Australia in August

The tour, produced by Live Nation, saw the band hit the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, The Forum in Los Angeles as well as London’s OVO Arena Wembley. The tour has seen them roll through the U.S., Europe and U.K. before heading back to the U.S. then on to the festival scene in Europe and Japan before landing in Australia.

The Frankenmuth, Michigan natives formed in 2012, consisting of brothers – vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka and bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka – who were then joined by drummer Danny Wagner.  The band announced their arrival on the scene in a massive way in 2017 with their EP From The Fires, which won Best Rock Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Greta Van Fleet Australian tour

• Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – Wednesday August 21
• Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – Saturday August 24
• Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – Tuesday August 27
• Spark Arena, Auckland – Friday August 30

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Starcatcher was written and recorded by the band – alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.

Throughout the ten-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,” says Danny Wagner. “We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”

The band took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed sophomore album The Battle at Garden’s Gate and brought them into Starcatcher, although Sam Kiszka’s take on the new record’s big ideas hint instead at new beginnings. “When I imagine the world of Starcatcher, I think of the cosmos,” he says. “It makes me ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where did we come from?’ or ‘What are we doing here?’ But it’s also questions like, ‘What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?’”

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: gretavanfleet.com.

Art rockers The Last Dinner Party are touring Australia in July

From serenading the dimly-lit corners of East London pubs to one of the most talked-about new acts in years, The Last Dinner Party has burst forth gloriously into the guitar music renaissance.

Conceived during a wine-stained evening in Brixton, the name embodies a musical and aesthetic ethos of decadence, mystery, spectacle and charm. Singer Abigaille, guitarists Emily and Lizzie, keyboardist Aurora and bassist Georgia find artistry in the intersection between the beautiful, sublime and grotesque, the band are guided by their favourite romantic poets and gothic novelists.

The Last Dinner Party Australian tour

The preceding years of isolation and anxiety have only served to heighten The Last Dinner Party’s creative appeal as they usher in a new era of unashamed maximalism and untethered euphoria. They cast their net of inspiration across artists and genres, from Kate Bush and David Bowie, glam rock and new wave, to unexpected moments of twelve-bar blues, classical overture and heavy synth breakdowns.

After spending much of 2022 writing songs for their album, road-testing them and then taking them into the studio, the band released the instantly moreish, dark guitar-pop track “Nothing Matters” in April 2023. It was an introduction that took the online world by storm, even landing at #89 on triple j’s Hottest 100 of that year. Yet, behind all the excitement and narrative, was a fantastically confident indie-rock song by a band doing it the old-fashioned way, out on the road.

Following a heady opening performance to a packed crowd at Glastonbury, The Last Dinner Party released “Sinner”. The gloriously infectious, leftfield pop song set the band up for a summer that replicated the success of Glastonbury with uncomfortably packed tents at the likes of Green Man, Reading & Leeds, Latitude and End of the Road festivals, as well as support slots for Florence & The Machine, Lana Del Rey and First Aid Kit. This breakthrough summer was followed by the band selling out headline shows across the US and UK while upgrading venues along the way.

Earlier this year, the band released their debut album Prelude to Ecstasy, which was followed by their first BRIT nomination, where they took home the Rising Star Award. The album also saw the band pick up BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2024 and landed triple j’s feature album on its week of release.

Prelude to Ecstasy is both the closing of that introductory chapter and the opening of the next. Brisbane locals will be treated to a special co-headline performance with adored hypnotic pop act TV Girl, while Tia Gostelow supports the band in Melbourne and Sydney – bringing her vibrant and soul-soothing pop to life.

Presale for all shows starts at 9am local time Thursday 18 April with tickets available to the general public from 9am local time Friday 19 April.

TV Girl are bringing their hypnotic pop to Australia in July

On the surface, TV Girl is a sunny, throwback splash of ‘60s French pop and southern California soul. Yet, under that shiny veneer lays a dark heart, beating with sharp wit and cynical alienation.

TV Girl, composed of Brad Petering, Jason Wyman and Wyatt Harmon, was formed in 2010 by Petering as an outlet to blend the love of Spector-esque girl-group pop with an emerging interest in hip-hop. Featuring shimmering vocals and sampled beats, the self-titled debut EP of the same year turned heads online immediately.

TV Girl – Australian Tour Dates

TV Girl unveiled their first full-length album in 2014, the critically acclaimed French Exit. The album kept true to the TV Girl charm with a bevy of electronic samplings infused throughout light and airy guitars, whirring organs and ethereal vocals that tell the tale of moody characters fuelled by revenge as often as love, underpinned by a desperation and deep yearning to connect.

Their second album Who Really Cares followed in 2016, finding the band double down on their heavy use of samples. The record saw TV Girl combine the aesthetic of 90’s hip hop with modern psychedelic pop, offering a glimpse into the psyche of a love scorned twenty- something.

The band released their latest record Grapes Upon the Vine in 2023. Their most mature effort yet, the album features extensive use of gospel samples as it explores themes of commitment, God, and the afterlife; not, of course, without TV Girl’s cynicism and biting wit. The band performed the record live across America in 2023, including an acclaimed set at Coachella.

TV Girl will limber up for their anticipated Australian shows at Governors Ball and Bonnaroo, before bringing their lush vintage rhythms our way in July 2024.

Em Rusciano takes Outgrown Tour around country from July through August

Performer, podcaster, writer, comedian, singer, stand-up comedian; that’s a solid resume for one person but not for go-getter Em Rusciano who is filtering all of her talents into upcoming tour Outgrown.

Rusciano will be heading out on the road, playing fifteen shows across the country starting in Toowoomba and working through Brisbane, Gold Coast, Wollongong, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Bunbury, Ballarat, Newcastle, Canberra, Albury, Launceston, Hobart and finishing up in Melbourne.

Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.

Em Rusciano Outgrown Tour Dates

• Thu 11 July – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba QLD
• Fri 12 July – Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Concert Hall, Brisbane QLD
• Sat 13 July – The Star, Gold Coast QLD
• Fri 19 July – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong NSW
• Sat 20 July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
• Thu 25 July – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide SA
• Fri 26 July – Perth Concert Hall, Perth WA
• Sun 28 July – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC), Bunbury WA
• Sat 3 August – Civic Hall, Ballarat VIC
• Fri 16 August – Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle NSW
• Sat 17 August – Canberra Theatre, Canberra ACT
• Sun 18 August – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury NSW
• Fri 23 August – Princess Theatre, Launceston TAS
• Sat 24 August – Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart TAS
• Friday 30 August – Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC

Outgrown is a hysterical, intense and multisensory inspection of the phoenix recovery after everything has been burned to the ground. Rusciano draws from her recent surprise diagnostic trifecta of ADHD, Autism and early menopause to build the Outgrown narrative. These diagnoses would have been enough to shock anyone to their core but after Rusciano picked herself up after one to two business days, she set about exploring the ins and outs of each, along the way delivering a powerful speech about her neuro-divergent journey at the National Press Club of Australia.

 

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Rusciano has been transparent with her 280,000 Facebook followers and 240,000 Instagram followers, as well as her Emsolation podcast listeners. The podcast produced by Rusciano’s production company Down The Hill Studio was picked up as Australia’s first ever Spotify exclusive and earned second place in the Australian Podcast awards in the People’s Choice category. The podcast also debuted at number one on the Apple Podcast comedy charts during their first week of independence, and has seen staggering success with their premium subscription offering, Emsolation Extra.

Her 2019 one-hour televised comedy special Rage and Rainbows, which included original music cowritten with Kate Miller-Heidke, smashed ratings records on Network Ten. As one of Australia’s highest selling comics having spent the last seven years touring her stand-up comedy show the country to sell-out audiences on an annual basis, Rusciano is a must-see artist.

Promising “elaborate costumes, novelty sized props and [Rusciano] workshopping [her] trauma via an over the top all out musical comedy extravaganza”, Outgrown is set to be a showstopper.

Frontier Member presale commences Friday 19 April from 12 noon local time before tickets go on general sale Tuesday 23 April from 10am local time. Tickets and tour information can be found here.

Wheatus cancel Record Store Day recovery performance at Popcultcha Records

Billed to headline an intimate headline show at Popcultcha Records in Geelong, Wheatus has informed the store that they will no longer be making an appearance at the Geelong Record Store Day recovery event.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Representatives from Popcultcha Records address the news, saying:

“We regret to inform you that Brendan from Wheatus will no longer be able to perform his in-store performance scheduled for Sunday. We understand this news may come as a disappointment, as it does to us as well. Brendan was looking forward to sharing his music with you, and we were excited to host the event. However, we appreciate your understanding of the situation.”

They continue, “Please know that we are working diligently to bring you other engaging experiences and events in the near future. We value your support and look forward to seeing you at upcoming performances.”

Wheatus also confirm the news posting the following statement to their Instagram story:

“Brendan B Brown & Wheatus are so sorry to have to miss their recently announced in-store performance at Popcultcha Records. Brendan was very excited to do it, but due to an unexpected scheduling conflict during our very short time in the country, we couldn’t pull it off this time. We know this was set to take place during Record Store Day weekend; Wheatus have multiple members who have helped run independent record shorts over the years, which only makes this all the more disappointing.”

“Please make sure to go to Popcultcha this weekend to give them your love and support and the next time we’r ein town, Brendan and the rest of Wheatus will do everything in our power to make it up to Popcultcha and to the people of Geelong. Also please support the other acts on the bill that weekend who are all rad!”

The original event has now been removed from the stores social media accounts and updated to include the event without the Wheatus headliner, with local acts Cooldad, De Porsal, Left At The Avenue and Hassall still ready to rock out.

More event information can be found at the Popcultcha Records Instagram page. 

From heavy metal choirs to leopards on sugar, these are the biggest gigs happening for Record Store Day

Now, RSD can officially unveil some of the exciting activities happening across the country. On Saturday 20 April, independent record stores Australia-wide will be pumping with special events and in-store activities covering a whole spread of genres.

Highlights include:

• An exclusive signing / meet and greet with multi-award winner Montaigne at Hum Records in Sydney at 3pm
• A colossal day of live in-store appearances, with Emma Donovan and Lord Knows playing at Victoria’s Northside Records while the likes of Big Wett, Ausecuma Beats, Bel Air Lip Bombs and Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice play around the corner at Soundmerch
• The official launch of Impressed Records’ physical store in Woolloomooloo with an exclusive after-party performance from Babitha instore, as L-Fresh the Lionplays at Daddy Rich Records in Sydney
• Sugar-Fed Leopards playing live at Rocksteady Records in Victoria along with hip-hop heroes So.Crates, who will also appear Plug 7, Old Plates and Skydiver
• Little Lord Street Band performing live at Midland Records in WA
• A heavy metal choir at ALT CVLT in Victoria
• Live music from acoustic-gem EWAH at Tasmania’s femme-led Suffragette Records
• Popcultcha Records offer a recovery day with local bands Cooldad, Left At The Avenue, De Porsal and Hassall the following day on Sunday 21 April. Find out more about the show here.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Further information about RSD events and offers can be found at recordstoreday.com.au

Booking are now officially open for Club Chin Chin Geelong ahead of its grand opening next month

The buzz about Chris Lucas’ renowned South-East Asian restaurant Chin Chin popping up in regional Victoria has been mega. So much so that the Club Chin Chin one-year pop-up location in GMHBA Stadium has a waitlist of almost 5000 people seeking the hottest reservation in town.

As of today, the books are officially open, with the restaurant taking reservations from the Saturday 4 May grand opening date onwards.

Club Chin Chin Details

• Where: GMHBA Stadium, Joel Selwood Stand | 370 Moorabool Street, Geelong
• When: Open Saturday 4 May, reservations open now
• Menu: View here

“Since we first announced that we’d be opening Club Chin Chin at the home of my beloved AFL team, the Geelong Cats, the response has been incredible. Now the wait is almost over and we can’t wait to welcome those first diners from May,” said restaurateur Chris Lucas.

 

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From its Geelong Cat’s football ground home, Club Chin Chin will serve up Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper’s famous Feed Me menus as well as an à la carte menu featuring some of his beloved signature dishes alongside exclusive local must-try’s.

For those across the Chin Chin menu, expect fan favourites kingfish sashimi with lime, chilli, coconut and Thai basil; and rendang beef curry with cumin coriander and toasted coconut; and green curry fried rice with spanner crab, snake beans and Thai basil.

Club Chin Chin is not a carbon copy of the Melbourne flagship restaurant. They will be offering up exclusive unique dishes to the Geelong crowds including a salad of spiced tiger prawns, glass noodles, Asian celery and chilli lime dressing; twice cooked beef short ribs with coconut salad and prik nahm pla; and on the dessert menu, Chin Chin ice cream sundae and fried custard pie with star anise sugar, apple and cinnamon ice cream.

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

The restaurant also boasts their infamous cocktail selections including house options, a jasmine martini, salted banana old fashioned or a spicy mandarin margarita. On tap the pop-up will service the local crowd with local brew from Blackman’s Brewery alongside Great Northern, GOAT and Carlton Dry. More locals pop up on the wine list including Jack Rabbit, Yes Said The Seal, Leura Park, Mulline, Bannockburn and Oakdene.

With a mouth-watering menu, there is no wonder that the waitlist is 5000 people long. Reservations for the month of May are now live on the Club Chin Chin website. You can book here.

Wheatus play free intimate show at Popcultcha Records Geelong this Sunday

Following what is set to be a mammoth Record Store Day (RSD) across the globe on Saturday 20 April, Geelong record store Popcultcha Records will be hosting a special RSD recovery gig with a line-up of local artists supporting nostalgic cult classic band Wheatus on Sunday 21 April.

The ‘Teenage Dirtbag‘ anthem famed band are in the country set to play at Pandemonium Festival alongside Alice Cooper, Blondie and Wolfmother this weekend, jumping up on the Melbourne stage on Saturday 20 April.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

RSD Recovery Details

• What: RSD Recovery
• Who: Wheatus are playing alongside Cooldad, De Porsal, Left At The Avenue and Hassell
• Where: Popcultcha Records, Level 1, 96/98 Ryrie Street Geelong
• When: Sunday 21 April 2024 from 12pm
• Tickets: You don’t need them – it’s free and first in best served

Since their self-titled album debut in 1999 which included the hit sing-along and feature song of film Loser, Wheatus have been consistently been releasing music and touring, including remastering the influential debut. It’s a hot pick for RSD this year.

 

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Rolling into that 1999 nostalgia with a nod to the beloved former Australia television program Recovery, Popcultcha Records are helping the RSD hangover by enlisting local bands and artists Cooldad, De Porsal, Left At The Avenue and Hassall to assist the day after crate digging. With music kicking off from 12pm, the store is also throwing 20% off all vinyls excluding RSD2024 exclusives for in-store purchases only.

You won’t need two tickets for this special event – it’s free and all happening at their upstairs Ryrie Street location. Get down to the store location early because it is first in best dressed. Set times are to be announced closer to the date.

Across the country RSD day antics will be in full flight. With RSD in it’s 17th year of celebrating the humble independent record store, the special events, in-store activities and exclusive offers are plenty across the state. Check out recordstoreday.com.au for participating store.

But teenage dirtbags, make sure you get down to Popcultcha Records on Saturday 20 April for crate digging deals, and Sunday 21 April for the Wheatus-led recovery session.

Do What Makes You Happy: Sound advice and the album title of Alice Ivy’s third studio release out 21 June

Due out on 21 June via Helix Records, Do What Makes You Happy is announced as the third studio album for producer and electronic musician, Alice Ivy, welcoming it in with new single ‘Criminal‘ featuring Kah-Lo and BJ The Chicago Kid, and plotting a national tour.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Do What Makes You Happy Tour Dates

• Fri 21 Jun – Lion Arts Factory – Tarntanya / Adelaide
• Sat 22 Jun – The Night Cat – Naarm / Melbourne
• Fri 28 Jun – Mojo’s Bar – Walyalup / Fremantle
• Fri 5 Jul – The Zoo – Meanjin / Brisbane
• Fri 12 Jul – Oxford Art Factory – Eora / Sydney
• Sat 13 Jul – Altar – nipaluna / Hobart

Arriving four years after her ARIA-nominated sophomore album Don’t Sleep, which spat out single ‘In My Mind‘, Do What Makes You Happy sees Ivy nestle into her collaborative and creative cocoon alongside the aforementioned Kah-Lo and BJ the Chicago Kid, along with Sam Austins, Josh Teskey, chlothegod, Elohim, Sam Sparro and Gangs of Kin. Already released singles saw further collaborations with Låpsley on ‘Popstar’, Mallrat and Jelani Blackman for ‘Broke My Heart’ and Mayer Hawthorne on ‘Howlin’ At The New Moon’.

Spawning from back to back writing session in the US at a time of universal isolation, the album reflects the catharsis of rediscovering art in all its forms.

“Do What Makes You Happy was written at a time where so many people were finally experiencing the freedom to do what gives them the most joy in life again, it was felt in the production, every vocal line and the photography and art. I like to think of every layer of this record as art at its purest and most natural form,” Alice Ivy explains.

“Everyone I worked with was so enthusiastic and grateful to be able to create in studios again, and to just simply connect with people on that level. I feel like I captured most of the collaborators on this record at their rawest, you can hear it in the vocal recordings.”

For single ‘Criminal’, the Nigerian American sing-songwriter Kah-Lo feature with incorporated vocals from BJ The Chicago Kid takes on a blend of all artists repertoires for a dancefloor ready club anthem. The meet-cute with Kah-Lo happened backstage at Splendour In The Grass.

On the live front, Alice Ivy is gearing up to head on the road announcing a Do What Makes You Happy headline tour across Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart. The tour commences shortly after Ivy returns from a supporting tour with San Cisco through May.

Tickets for the upcoming shows are on sale now. For dates and details visit here. Do What Makes You Happy is out 21 June. Listen to ‘Criminal’ ft Kah-Lo and BJ The Chicago Kid here.

The Arborist is a sleek rooftop retreat in the heart of Geelong

For the last few years, the Arborist has been a go-to spot for drinks and dining.

With a sleek contemporary design, attentive service, and now a rooftop bar serving up sophisticated cocktails and seasonal snacks, what more could you ask for?

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

 

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Step into The Arborist and be transported to another world. The venue’s design is a masterpiece, blending materials, textures, and an arboretum-inspired palette to create an urban oasis. Muted greens, blacks, and earthy tones harmonise with the European Ash trees framing the building. The showstopper? A stunning green marble bar, while bespoke wall lamps cast a soft glow over the sleek brick dining walls, mirroring the curved external fence.

Indulge in a modern Australian menu with Mediterranean influences. From Raw Tuna with Finger Lime to Gribiche Haloumi with Sultanas, Saffron, Honey, and Almonds, each dish is a culinary treat. Don’t miss out on the Quark Donut with Muhammara and Anchovy or the flavour-packed Baharat Lamb Shoulder. With a heavy focus on shared plates, Executive Chef Anthony Hammel and Head Chef Chantal Chenery recommend their ‘Feed Me’ option, offering a taste of their best small, large, and side dishes.

The Arborist’s beverage selection is equally impressive. Whether you’re into wines or cocktails, the menu is designed for you to curate your own experience. Design cues from the Ash trees continue indoors, with touches of mauve, burgundy, and shell-pink marble adding a touch of elegance to the furnishings and tableware.

A visit to The Arborist can be many things – a leisurely lunch with wine pairings or a lively night of cocktails and grazing with friends. So, when someone asks, “Where shall we go?” There’s only one answer – The Arborist.

The Arborist is located at 75 Little Malop Street, Geelong CBD. It’s open Wednesday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, & Wednesday – Sunday 5:00 pm – till late. The Rooftop Bar is open from 3:00 pm – Late, Wednesday to Sunday. 

Find out more here. 

Gomez musicians Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball celebrate 25 years of Bring It On and Liquid Skin with tour

Once upon a time, not too long ago English lads Gomez were making their way through the Australian airwaves with their albums Bring It On and Liquid Skin, and their hit singles ‘Whippin’ Piccadilly’, ‘Tijuana Lady’ and ‘Get Myself Arrested’. Well, that period of ‘not so long ago’ was 1998 and 1999.

To celebrate 25 years of their breakout album and follow-up, Gomez vocalist and guitarists Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball are heading to Australia for an eleven-date national tour.

Ben Ottewell & Ian Ball Tour Dates

• Thu 31 October – Freo Social Club, Perth, WA
• Sat 2 November – Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan, VIC
• Sun 3 November – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
• Mon 4 November – Lorne Theatre, Lorne, VIC  
• Thu 7 November – The Croxton, Melbourne, VIC
• Sat 9 November – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns, QLD
• Sun 10 November – Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD
• Tues 12 November – Eltham Hotel, Eltham, NSW
• Wed 13 November – M|Arts Precinct, Murwillumbah, NSW
• Thu 14 November – Adelaide Unibar, Adelaide, SA
• Fri 15 November – Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Bring It On and Liquid Skin were monumental albums for Gomez. The debut Bring It On scored Gomez early brownie points in the music scene, garnering multi-platinum sales, chart topping success and the very distinguished Mercury Prize.

The Parr Street Studios and Abbey Road Studios recorded, Liquid Skin closely followed building on from their production with all three lead singles, ‘Bring It On’, ‘Rhythm & Blues Alibi’ and ‘We Haven’t Turned Around’ racing into the UK top 40 charts. The album as a whole stood up in the ARIA Charts, debuting at number nine in the overall charts.

 

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Gomez continued to have a lively career post debut and sophomore, racking up 10 albums across nearly three decades.

The two albums will be highlighted across Ottewell and Ball’s national Australian tour which will see them hit up Perth, Meeniyan, Castlemaine, Lorne, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Eltham, Murwillumbah, Adelaide and Sydney throughout October and November. Presented by Love Police, their Victorian stops will be into Meeniyan Town Hall of Saturday 2 November, Theatre Royal on Sunday 3 November, Lorne Theatre Monday 4 November and off to The Croxton on Thursday 7 November.

Along for the Australian voyage is Gomez-inspired troubadour, Buddy.

Tickets see the two musicians in full swing will go on pre sale tomorrow Wednesday 17 April from 9am local time, with general sale on Friday 19 April at 9am local time. Further ticketing information can be found here.

Geelong Mums annual Mother’s Day lunch returns, raising funds for children in need

A major event in the social calendar, Geelong Mums host Mother’s Day Lunch on Friday 10 May at Mt Duneed Estate, raising vital funds for vulnerable babies and children across Victoria.

Event Details

• What: Geelong Mums Mother’s Day Lunch hosted by Brihony Dawson
• When: Friday 10 May 2024, 12 – 4pm
• Where: Mt Duneed Estate
• Ticket Details: $250 per head, tickets here

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

Hosted by the fabulous Brihony Dawson, the luncheon includes a three-course meal and entertainment from Midnight Mix in what is set to be an afternoon exploding with laughter, music and heartfelt connection, only amplifying the dedicated work that the not-for-profit organisation does.

 

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The event is not only a great way to champion the mums in your world, but to support the critical work the team at Geelong Mums do. With a mission to ensure every child has access to a safe and nurturing environmental, Geelong Mums has been an essential cog in the community care system for ten years. Across 2023, the organisation provided support to more than 21,000 babies and children.

Through a large network of Maternal and Child Health Nurses and social workers across Victoria, Geelong Mums provides essential items to families in need. The generous community donates pre-loved items like prams, car seats, cots, high chairs, linen, clothing, toys, and books with dedicated volunteers coming together to prepare the items to be redistributed to those in need.

Geelong Mums CEO Ruth Holdaway, MBE says “Geelong Mums is a community that finds joy in everything we do, and our Mother’s Day Lunches are no exception. This is a fantastic celebration that is all about having a great time with friends, colleagues and lots of wonderful mums and taking just one day to help the families in our state that are doing it tough.”

“The cost of living continues to bite hard and we can clearly see an increase in requests for our help. Even the basic everyday essentials – such as nappies, formula and clothing are constantly in demand. I urge everyone to consider buying a ticket to the Mother’s Day lunch because your support helps us achieve our vision to share more, waste less, and ensure that every child in Victoria thrives.”

The funds raised from the Mother’s Day Lunch event will be going to families in need during a turbulent economic time. There is no better time jump on board and support a wonderful cause.

Tickets to attend the Geelong Mums Mothers Day Lunch can be purchased here. If you can’t make it to the event and would like to donate to their cause, head here.

Soul powerhouse Macy Gray is coming to Melbourne in July

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of her landmark and critically acclaimed debut album, On How Life Is, Macy Gray returns to Melbourne.

Synonymous with incredible, sleek music, Macy Gray broke into the music scene in 1999 with an album that would come to speak to a generation. The triple-platinum album, On How Life Is turned Gray into a R&B and soul powerhouse, receiving the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 2000 for her iconic song “I Try” and receiving two BRIT Awards. Now a five-time Grammy nominee, Gray has amassed a devoted global fan base and sold over 25 million total albums around the world.

Macy Gray

• Hamer Hall
• 7 July 2024
• Tickets here

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Alongside her Hamer Hall performance, Gray will tour around Australia including performances in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and more. For more dates and information, go to macygraytour.com.

Gray said, “I’m over the moon to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of my debut album On How Life Is. First stop: Down Under! Me and the band will be live in Hobart, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Wyong, Canberra and Thirroul in July. Please join me for a big nite to remember!”

Promoter David M. Hawkins said, “Last July I was in Los Angeles and dropped into see Macy while she was rehearsing for her European tour. I couldn’t wait to put an idea to her and see if she was into it. I suggested we make our third Australian tour together a celebration of her multi-platinum album On How Life Is for its upcoming 25th Anniversary, and do the entire album, live in a new show. She immediately jumped at the idea and our creative jam started.

That album is now a classic and held many hit singles for a generation, including the massive worldwide number one ‘I Try’. We will celebrate her incredible breakthrough album whilst also featuring hits from the many follow up albums. I believe Macy is one of the greatest artists of our generation, she is so prolific with her writing and recording. This show is not to be missed, by anyone who knows the album and its star.”

Presale tickets to Macy Gray’s Hamer Hall performance are available on Tuesday, 16 April from 9am. General on-sale commences on Friday 19 April from 9am.

For more information visit artscentremelbourne.com.au

‘So desperately needed’: Victorian government announces $10 million in funding for festivals and live music venues

Victoria’s live music scene will get a $10 million boost over four years with the launch of two new funding programs: Live Music Festivals Fund and 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund, supporting music festivals and venues while providing more paid gigs for local musicians.

The programs, delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government, will create more paid opportunities for local artists, from those just starting out to established acts, and give Victorian music lovers the chance to see more great local live music. At least 25 per cent of funding in both programs will go to music festivals and live music venues in regional Victoria.

New funding programs for live music

• Two new funding programs providing $10 million over four years
• Grants of up to $50,000 to established festival organisers
• Live music venues can apply for up to $10,000 a year towards artist fees

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

“During a period of change for Australia’s live music industry, we are backing Victorian festivals and venues through these new programs – supporting the businesses that are the backbone of Australia’s live music heartland,” Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said.

“With pressure continuing to mount on all sides, these initiatives are so desperately needed,” Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel added. “Music Victoria is delighted to be the delivery partner, ensuring that even more dollars can make it directly into the industry and quickly, for the benefit of all Victorians.”

Live Music Festivals Fund

 

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The Live Music Festivals Fund will provide grants of up to $50,000 to established Victorian festival organisers to support them to stage new or existing events.

Live Music Festivals Fund is an initiative of the Victoria Government, made possible by the Community Support Fund and Creative Victoria, delivered by Music Victoria.

The Victorian Gig Fund

The Victorian Gig Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to back 10,000 live music gigs across state in the next four years. Established Victorian live music venues can apply for up to $10,000 a year to go towards Victorian artists’ fees for gigs at their venues.

Music Victoria is delivering the Victorian Gig Fund as part of the Victorian Government’s 10,000 Gigs initiative. Applications for the Live Music Festivals Fund and The Victorian Gig Fund will open on Monday 22 April at 10am AEST and close on Friday 17 May at 2pm AEST.

Find more information and sign-up here.

Sugar Fed Leopards launch third studio album in time for Victorian and New South Wales tour

They say being in a band is like being in a marriage – there has to be love otherwise it won’t survive. This is where Melbourne disco, doowop, sequinned soul rockers, Sugar Fed Leopard find themselves, feeding off of that as the subject of their third studio album Love. Be In It.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Sugar Fed Leopard Upcoming Shows

• Saturday 20th April – Record Store Day Live Performance at Rocksteady Records, CBD
• Friday 26th April – Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong
• Friday 10th May – Servo Bar, Port Kembla, NSW
• Saturday 11th May – Red Rattler Theatre, Marrickville, NSW
• Friday 17th May – The Night Cat, Melbourne

Together for a decade of music making, the Melbourne seven-piece band offers Love. Be In It as a present to their audiences, the venues, the industry, and of course each other. Naturally, the love is brimming with upbeat grooves and feel-good moods.

A play on the 80’s fitness campaign Life Be In It, Love. Be In It is set to get bodies moving with a driving 80’s sound that threads through tracks ‘T.Y.O.T (Take You Out Tonight)’, ‘Old Hand’, ‘Warm Toddy’, ‘Beach Dreams’ and Bee Gee discotheque treat ‘Need You Now’. Enlisting Nick Herrera, Lachlan Carrick, and Paul Maybury on mixing duties, this love fest is Sugar Fed Leopards’ most polished piece yet.

 

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Lead singer Steph reflects, “Our gigs are cathartic and we are proud to have been going through a chunk of life together with our audience and with each other. Personally I can’t wait for the next 60 years. The album reflects that hope.”

The album is set to drop this Friday 19 April just ahead of their upcoming shows. Sugar Fed Leopard will be playing a special live performance at Rocksteady Records as part of Record Store Day this Saturday 20 April. They will also be playing an album launch show in Geelong next weekend on Friday 26 April at our home of rock and roll, The Barwon Club. They are joined by Ukelele Queen of the Bellarine, Sarah Carroll.

Love. Be In It is set for release Friday, 19 April. Pre-save it now for a dazzling bonus track. For tickets to the infectiously upbeat gig, head here.

Barwon Health Foundation team up with Geelong clothing brand Ceres Life to design limited edition LOVE t-shirts

Barwon Health Foundation is pivotal in the region’s health, care and lifestyle support, investing in the life-saving and life-changing work of Barwon Health through enhancing patient comfort and care, supporting healthcare workers, investing in cutting-edge research and advancement, and moving towards healthy futures.

Their latest investment sees them team up with Geelong clothing brand Cere’s Life to design and develop limited edition LOVE t-shirts.

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

100% of the t-shirt sale proceeds will support the integral world-class treatment and care provided by Barwon Health cancer services at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre and other sites in the region.

Jumping on board the initiative is Ex AFLW Geelong Cats captain, Renee Garing and her best friend Nicole Riddle as the official LOVE tee ambassadors. The start of 2024 hasn’t been the most welcoming for Riddle with an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis. She is now navigating the treatment with support from her friends, family, the community and the care of Barwon Health experts.

As a mother of three daughters, a wife and a much loved local teacher, the campaign comes at a time when women are to the front being celebrated for Mother’s Day on 12 May. The annual celebration also serendipitously shares the date with International Nurse’s Day.

 

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Doubling as a great present for the day, Riddle also hopes that the t-shirt provides encouragement and a reminder to women to get their breasts checked.

“Perhaps seeing someone wearing a t-shirt might be that sign for someone to do a check, or make that appointment, early detection is so important!”

The fundraiser aims to help locals like Riddle through their health care treatment and is already off to an overwhelming start. The support from the community has been striking with the string colourway now officially sold out. Limited numbers of the vanilla colourway remain.

It’s your final chance to get your hands on a t-shirt and support the fantastic Barwon Health Foundation cause. Give love to the campaign and purchase a T-shirt here.