SAFIA, Holy Holy, Thelma Plum headline Queenscliff music festival By The Pier 2023
From the team behind Queenscliff Music Festival – the music jewel of the Bellarine – multi-day music festival By The Pier has announced its return for its second ever edition in 2023, announcing a lineup packed full of Aussie musical goodness.
Running across the last weekend of March 2022, the Queenscliff foreshore on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula will host artists such as Thelma Plum, SAFIA, Holy Holy, King Stingray, Slowly Slowly, Alice Ivy, Big Twisty & The Funk Nasty, and many more incredible aussie music acts ensuring it’ll be a party all weekend.
By The Pier 2023
- By The Pier returns to Queenscliff in 2023
- It takes place from March 24-25 2023 at the same location as Queenscliff music festival
- General public tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 30
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Offering a more intimate festival experience than its elder sister Queenscliff Music Festival, By The Pier is a single outdoor stage festival giving punters the chance to pick their spot and kick back to enjoy a vibrant two days of sensational sounds, gourmet food trucks, bars, a DJ Tent, and a beach just next door!
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Taking place early in the year, the festival is designed to co-exist with the iconic Queenscliff Music Festival in November, gifting music lovers two brilliantly curated festival experiences each year.
The inaugural By The Pier event proved to be a major success for the QMF family, bringing along the likes of Vera Blue, Boy and Bear, Julia Stone, Electric Fields, Jarryd James, Thandi Phoenix, Kim Churchill, Pierce Brothers, Bones & Jones, Cry Baby, Isabella Khalife, Hassall and many more. The music was magical, the weather was golden and there were only good vibes amongst the crowd over the three days.
The 2023 edition of the festival will run over two days, as opposed to three days.
By The Pier 2023
Friday March 24
Thelma Plum
King Stingray
Slowly Slowly
Felipe Baldomir
Good Sniff
Chook & Moluck DJs
Saturday March 25
SAFIA
HOLY HOLY
Big Twisty & The Funknasty
Alice Ivy
Jacotene
Full Flower Moon Band
Maz Green
Chook & Moluck DJs
By The Pier goes down in Queenscliff on Friday 24 + Saturday 25 March 2023.
Limited early bird release tickets go on sale Friday November 25th – Tuesday November 29th. General public tickets on sale Wednesday November 30th. Find out more here.
Delta Goodrem adds new shows to her 2023 Innocent Eyes 20th anniversary tour
Superstar singer-songwriter De
New shows have been added for Sydney, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Sydney Opera House; Melbourne on Friday, September 29, 2023, Hamer Hall; and Brisbane, on Wednesday, October 4 2023, Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
The tour will commence at Sydney Opera House on September 25 and 26, 2023, followed by Hamer Hall, Melbourne on September 28 and 29, Festival Theatre, Adelaide on October 1, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane on October 3 and 4, concluding with Perth’s Riverside Theatre on October 7.
Delta Goodrem Innocent Eyes 20th Anniversary Tour
- Sept 25 – Sydney, Sydney Opera House – SOLD OUT
- Sept 26 – Sydney, Sydney Opera House – NEW SHOW
- Sept 28 – Melbourne, Hamer Hall – SOLD OUT
- Sept 29 – Melbourne, Hamer Hall – NEW SHOW
- Oct 1 – Adelaide, Festival Theatre
- Oct 3 – Brisbane, Queensland Performing Arts – SOLD OUT
- Oct 4 – Brisbane, Queensland Performing Arts – NEW SHOW
- Oct 7 – Perth, Riverside Theatre
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Delta was the first-ever artist to have five no.1 singles on the Australian charts from a debut album, which also won the Highest Selling Album award at the ARIA Awards two years running and was among a record seven awards that Delta took home in 2003.
Fans can expect a memorable night of music and reminiscence. Classic tracks including Born to Try, Lost Without You, Predictable, and all the others will echo throughout the halls, and Delta will recount stories about the album that forged her career and propelled her to the top.
“I feel so grateful to have had all the opportunities this album has brought in my life and all the incredible people that took me into their homes with this album and who have been on this journey with me,” she says.
After signing to Sony when she was only 15, Delta put out Innocent Eyes a few years later as her first full-length release. The album was met with unparalleled success, going platinum 23 times and spending a previously unheard-of 29 weeks atop the ARIA Albums Chart. With countless accolades and high acclaim, it’s likely fans will be singing all the words at the upcoming shows.
“This is going to be a wonderful night together of music and storytelling celebrating the album that changed my life,” says Delta.
To buy your tickets and keep track of all of Delta’s upcoming events head here.
Geelong’s plant-based cafe FacePlant closes its doors
A cult classic in the Geelong region, chances are if you’re vegan or you’ve got a few vegan/vego mates you’ve either heard of or been to FacePlant.
Opening its doors on Pakington Street in 2017, FacePlant has since become renowned for its entirely plant-based food and drink menu, serving up delicious vegan and vego eats that aim to show everyone (vegan or not) just how delicious plant-based food can be.
Keep up with the latest local food and booze news here.
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Originally located at 129 Pakington Street, Geelong West, in more recent years FacePlant moved to a brighter, bigger location at 95 Autumn St, Geelong West, offering a refreshed space to compliment its plant-based cuisine. Boasting exposed brick, high ceilings, greenery galore, fun textures, feature lighting and an abundance of natural light, the cafe quickly became the go-to spot for a wholesome Sunday brunch.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, the cafe this week announced it would not be reopening its doors, arguing economic impacts of the pandemic as being behind the closure.
“Exactly five years to the day we first opened our doors, we are completely devastated to announce that the FacePlant doors will not re-open,” the post said.
“The last two years have finally taken their toll on our business and we are unfortunately left with no other option.
“It’s certainly been such a crazy, weird and wonderful ride for us to say the least and we are ever so grateful for everyone’s friendship and support along the way. We wish each and every one of you nothing but love happiness and great health. We will miss you all.”
Since announcing the closure, the cafe have added ‘Permanently Closed’ to their Instagram bio and removed all previous posts.
Despite the post, angered former staff members have come forward with claims the business hadn’t paid superannuation since before the pandemic with staff members currently working through a claim with the ATO for missed payments.
An ex-employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said staff had ‘experienced significant wage theft going back years’, also detailing mental anguish suffered as a result. The former employee also revealed staff had not been made aware of the permanent closure prior to the post to social media.
By law, employers must pay superannuation for all casual, part-time and full-time employees who are 18 or over. Up until 1 July 2022, you needed to be paid $450 or more (before tax) in a calendar month to be paid super.
More to come.
Spacey Jane, The Presets, Guy Sebastian lead Darwin’s Bassinthegrass Festival 2023
BASSINTHEGRASS, the NT’s biggest and longest running all-ages music festival, is back for 2023 and has announced a massive lineup for its 20th year, taking place on May 20 2023.
A Darwin rite of passage, the festival has seen some of the country’s biggest acts perform to sold out crowds and its upcoming edition looks to be no different, featuring a swathe of Australia’s best acts, including Tones and I, Baker Boy, The Presets, Spacey Jane and Guy Sebastian.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Returning to the seaside location at Mindil Beach (famous for its stellar sunsets) on Larrakia country, the single day event will also feature esteemed acts like Ocean Alley, Amy Shark, Hooligan Hefs, Angus & Julia Stone, San Cisco, Jack Botts and more.
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The sold out 2022 event welcomed close to 16,000 people to Darwin’s Mindil Beach on Larrakia country for 12 hours of non-stop music from the nation’s hottest acts, including Vera Blue, Xavier Rudd, Hilltop Hoods and The Teskey Brothers.
Heading into its 20th year, BASSINTHEGRASS 2022 is shaping up to be another unforgettable event with a slew of acts set to light up two stages in what is arguably one of the Top End’s most stunning locations.
Festival organisers, the N.T. Major Events Company, are encouraging festival-goers to make the most of their time in Darwin by including a $50 Travello voucher with every ticket purchase which can then be redeemed for a Territory tourist experience. From walking through a 440-million-year-old canyon to eating dinner under the outback stars or hugging a croc, there’s something for everyone.
Bassinthegrass 2023 Lineup
Amy Shark
Angus & Julia Stone
Babe Rainbow
Baker Boy
Guy Sebastian
Hooligan Hefs
Jack Botts
L D R U
MAY-A
Ocean Alley
Peach PRC
The Presets
San Cisco
Spacey Jane
Steph Strings
Tones and I
Bassinthegrass takes place on Saturday, 20th May at Mindil Beach, Darwin, NT. Purchase tickets and find out more here.
Nothing but laughs and comedy superstars at this year’s very special Just For Laughs Sydney
The side-splitting Just For Laughs Sydney will again be hosted on Gadigal land and stretched out across the many famous and beautiful Sydney landmark venues, including Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, Comedy Store, Enmore Theatre and Factory Theatre.
The festival runs from November 28 to December 4 so now’s the time to get to Sydney and book shows before you miss out. To help with some tricky decisions, we’ve compiled some of the highlights of the festival below.
FIRST NATIONS FUNNIES HOSTED BY STEPH TISDELL
Wednesday 30 November – Sydney Opera House, Studio
In a premier show for the festival, Steph Tisdell has curated a potent lineup of Indigenous comedians for a night of utter hilarity. Entitled First Nations Funnies, Steph will also host the evenings proceedings, seeing the likes of comedic virtuosos Dane Simpson, Janty Blair, Andy Saunders, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra hurtling jokes in the direction of the audience.
Having recently launched First Nations Talent Agency, Tisdell has embarked upon a collaborative partnership with the festival to ensure this show runs year in year out. In a collision of ancient culture and observations of modern societal life, the show will be brimming with provocative and politically-fueled satire and clusters of impertinent gags – boundless and bold this show will appeal to all.
SAY NO MORE! ERIC IDLE WITH HOST SHAUN MICALLEF
Thursday 1 December, State Theatre
Founding member of 1970’s comedic group Monty Python and integral bandmate of the parody group The Rutles, Eric Idle has done it all, at least comedically. Also, a cancer survivor and having withstood the sheer agony of crucifixion – at least he claims – the comedian is teaming up with Shaun Micallef, and a guitar for one night only.
A discussion that will feature musical interludes, tangents a plenty, tales of British stardom amidst the height of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the state of his liver, his loves and all else in between. Expect candidness fused with the bizarre in an entertaining dose of the not-so-ordinary human condition.
JUST FOR LAUGHS AUSTRALIA LIVE HOSTED BY NATH VALVO
Thursday 1- Saturday 3 December – Sydney Opera House, Studio
Spanned out across three nights, with two shows set to be shared each evening, the crowd favourite Just For Laughs Australia: Live shows return this year to be hosted by Nath Valvo.
Being such an in-demand comedian in Australia isn’t easy, especially when your repertoire of comedic skills ranges from a high-octane energy to a fast wit that stems from an observational critique. Showcasing the prowess of over 30 Australian and International comedians each show will feature a unique lineup.
- Thursday 7:15pm: Nikki Britton, Randy Feltface, Jay Wymarra, Amos Gill, Tom Walker, Georgie Carroll
- Thursday 9:30pm: Steph Tisdell, Matt Okine, Brodi Snook, Nish Kumar, Rob Beckett
- Friday 7:15pm: Mel Buttle, Al Del Bene, Rhys Nicholson, Alice Fraser, Jay Pharoah
- Friday 9:30pm: Claire Hooper, Blake Freeman, Two Hearts, Nikki Osborne, Alan Carr
- Saturday 7:15pm: Peter Helliar, Anne Edmonds, Rhys James, Frankie McNair, Rove McManus, Aunty Donna
- Saturday 9:30pm: Urzila Carlson, Pax Assadi, Rudy-Lee Taurna, Tom Ballard, Demi Lardner
JUST FOR LAUGHS ALL-STAR GALA HOSTED BY TOMMY LITTLE
Heralded as the precious stone of the festival, these shows will have you in stitches upon conclusion, but they sell out quick. Grab your tickets and prepare to be satiated, at least if that’s how you would describe a face and torso sore from laughter (exertion).
- Friday 2 Dec Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall: Huge line-up with Rob Beckett, Nish Kumar, Steph Tisdell, Tom Ballard, Melanie Bracewell and Rhys Nicholson
- Saturday 3 Dec at Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall: Huge line-up with Rob Beckett, Nish Kumar, Steph Tisdell, Melanie Bracewell, Rhys Nicholson and Urzila Carlson
WILOSOPHY LIVE WITH WIL ANDERSON
Friday 2 December & Saturday 3 December – Sydney Opera House
Wil Anderson is bringing his podcast series out of dormancy for two nights. Expect discussion with smart people about stupid subject matter in pursuit of determining the meaning of life, supported by special guests aplenty.
MUSICAL COMEDY GALA – MUSICAL COMEDY IS COOL HOSTED BY AUNTY DONNA
Sunday 4 December – Enmore Theatre
Featuring Matt Okine, Michelle Brasier, Two Hearts, Jude Perl and Donny Benet
It’s new and it’s hosted by Aunty Donna, what could go wrong? Entitled Musical Comedy IS Cool, it’s a first in Australia. That’s right, there isn’t another single musical comedy gala in this country. Undeniably experimental, its rumoured there will be disco balls, sing-alongs, maybe even fireworks. What could go wrong?
THE ALTERNATIVE SHOW HOSTED BY RANDY FELTFACE
Sunday 4 December – Factory Theatre
Non-human comedian Randy Feltface, the people’s favourite, brings its zany and controversial humour and a flock of comedians including Anne Edmonds, Dam Rath, Frankie McNair and Scout Boxall to the festival. Dubbed a potential new hit show, if the Muppets were left uncensored and they originated in Australia.
Just For Laughs Sydney runs between November 28 and March 4. For more information and to see the full program, head to the Just For Laughs Sydney website here.
This article was made in partnership with Just For Laughs Sydney.
Expect towering burgers, succulent fried chicken and plenty of Southern sides at Pistol Pete’s Food N Blues
It’s the only place in the Geelong region where you can taste, smell, hear and actually feel like you are right in the middle of the Southern States – minus the travel fare.
Drawing from passions of both blues music and the cuisine of the Southern States, owner, Geelong chef and Blues lover Pete Raimondo has aimed to create a true American experience since opening back in 2014, now creating a place you can go late at night for a full dining experience with a side of amazing live music, or for quality food takeaway while experiencing the true flavours of southern Louisiana.
Keep up with the latest local food and booze news here.
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If you are craving a burger from the Southern States, Pistol Pete’s has you covered with more than a dozen burgers, Po Boys and Rolls on the menu.
Spoil yourself with the Mojo Burger, our top pick for Pistol Pete’s. Complete with a mouthwatering 125g beef patty, smokey bacon, baloney, pulled pork, double cheese, cajun onions and BBQ & Creolaise sauces, crowned with a whole pickle.
While the Mojo is our go-to, also try the Cajun Burger (Cajun seasoned 125g beef patty, andouille sausage, cajun onions, cheese, creolaise and Louisiana hot sauce), or treat yourself with a Cheese & Bacon BBQ Burger, Tofu Burger or your classic Cheese Burger. There’s also a Southern Chicken BLT, jammed with crispy tender fried breast, smokey bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo.
It’s the triple cheeseburger though that has earned Pistol Pete’s its stripes as a cult figure in Geelong’s burger world. This beast is stacked high with three 125g beef patties, triple cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and BBQ sauce, which packs just the right amount of punch.
All burgers are made using 100% Angus Beef with La Madre Buttermilk Bun’s holding the goods together. Gluten-Free rolls are available though if you need them.
If you’re not feeling burgers, there’s also Southern Style fried chicken, chicken and waffles, pulled pork on fires, Jambalaya balls, chicken ribs, Gumbo, corn bread, Okra, Cajun fries, Mustard Greens and so much more.
Flippin’ patties for almost a decade, Pistol Pete’s was a classic when they opened, and remains a classic into 2022 and beyond.
Where: 93A Little Malop Street, Geelong. Head here to make a booking.
Meet Savage Honey, the Jan Juc-based indie-rockers riding a wave of success
Having gained a tonne of attention from their opening slot for Melbourne/Naarm based nü jazz outfit Glass Beams, the Jan Juc-based indie-rockers have wasted no time carving a name for themselves in the local gig scene, with Savage Honey appearing on gig lineups all around the city.
For the group, it still feels like a fever dream, with lead vocalist Jake Hunniford admitting that even he has been blown away by the immediate warm reception the band has received. Although, for him, it’s a sign that they are on a pretty good trajectory.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“At this point, it feels like the sky’s the limit,” he laughs, “Truthfully, when we were first starting I thought a lot about what I wanted to achieve with this band. My biggest goal was to play in a room full of people who like our music. Quite honestly, we are lucky enough to have achieved that already.
“If we never moved further than where we are right now, I don’t think I’d mind. We are still so early on in our career and I am already incredibly proud of what we have done, I feel very privileged in that regard. But with that said, we just want to enjoy the ride and push it as far as we can, and if that gets us amazing support slots; headliner tours, or regular radio play, that would be amazing. They are definitely things we want to reach for, but I’m enjoying the process rather than the destination.”
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A statement quickly affirmed by the group’s keyboardist Alex Mathieson.
“I think more than having any specific goals that we want to achieve, we just want to make sure that our music is good; something that we are proud of and of a high standard.”
With the band featuring members from a wealth of different musical backgrounds and levels of experience – including Dom Paver, Savannah Higgs and Jack Wilby, alongside Hunniford and Mathieson, Savage Honey spoke about how their overall mentality and demeanour have shifted this time around, with the group now finding solace in the comradery of their bandmates, as opposed to the glorified rockstar lifestyle.
“It’s been therapeutic for me,” states Hunniford, “having spent so many years on the open mic circuit, I’ve played enough gigs hungover or intoxicated and I know that it’s not the way to go.”
“It’s a mindset that we all share. We like having fun, being social and having a party, but we know that partying and making music isn’t necessarily conducive to each other, and we take that seriously. It’s really important for us to be coming in fresh so we can deliver a good performance because that is the most important thing to us.”
“I think the trajectory we have been on has definitely been aided by us having that mindset, you know, music first, fun after,” agrees Mathieson.
Having spent the last few months cutting their teeth on the gig scene, the group discussed their plans for recording, with many fans beginning to ask, ‘where can I find your music?’
“We are looking at recording in January,” states Mathieson, “I think Dom is getting keen on the idea of recording, which is pretty evident every time someone comes up after a show to ask where they can find our stuff,” he laughs. “But, it’s something we are looking into.”
With the band having “almost an album’s worth of material” ready to be tracked, Hunniford spoke about the group’s writing process, which sees the majority of the lyrical writing done by Hunniford and rhythm guitarist Dom Paver. Having spent so long crafting himself as a solo artist, Hunniford remarked that he found it relieving to share songwriting responsibilities.
“I find it refreshing,” he candidly remarks, “that’s the God’s honest truth.”
“I don’t like someone buttering me up or pretending to like something, I really want people’s input when it comes to creative stuff. I mean, if I wanted to still be a solo artist, I would still be a solo artist. I wanted this project to be collaborative, so straight away sharing songwriting duties with Dom and having Jack (Wilby, lead guitar) who is very unapologetic and straightforward has been refreshing. There are certainly times when your ego gets in the way, but you just have to relinquish that control and make sure everyone is heard.”
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With plans to record over the summer, a recent support slot for surf-rockers Majak Door and an upcoming performance at Tasmanian festival Party In The Paddock alongside Gang of Youths, Benee, The Presets, Vera Blue and more, Savage Honey are gearing up for a pretty flat-out couple of months, but according to Hunniford, it’s a level of acceleration the band hopes to maintain.
“There’s no faltering anyone’s commitment. We are all passionate, committed and hungry for opportunities, as long as we keep that up, I feel we will continue on this trajectory. “
Keep up with the latest news and gigs on Instagram @savage_honey_
An exclusive major survey exhibition of beloved Australian artist Clarice Beckett is coming to Geelong
Arriving on April 1 2023, Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere is the much anticipated thematic survey of the work of beloved Australian artist Clarice Beckett (1887–1935) which has been curated by Geelong Gallery and presents over sixty exceptional paintings dating from 1919 to the early 1930s. Beckett is now considered one of Australia’s leading female artists of the early twentieth century.
The exhibition will provide a critically focussed representation of this enduringly enigmatic modernist artist’s atmospheric depictions of light, climate, and bayside Melbourne. Beckett’s mesmerising paintings are revered for the ways in which they captured the essence of her local Beaumaris foreshore and streetscapes, and Melbourne city, Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay views in varying light and weather.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
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Beckett also worked in the Geelong region—on the Surf Coast and in the Western District—and the resulting works provide an important local context for Geelong Gallery’s exhibition.
For a period of six months in 1926, Beckett left the familiar environment of her Beaumaris home to stay with the brother of her good friend Maud Rowe on his Western District sheep station, ‘Naringal’. It was in this new environment that she produced some of her most experimental landscapes, capturing the radiating heat of the afternoon sun, or the muted light of dusk, across wide panoramic farming country. In addition, Beckett also frequented the beaches of Anglesea and Lorne.
This Geelong Gallery exhibition will offer new perspectives on the imagery of this intriguing and increasingly popular artist through major works borrowed from Australian public galleries including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of South Australia, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, State Library of Victoria, McClelland Gallery, and regional gallery collections including Ballarat, Benalla, Bendigo, and Castlemaine, alongside rarely seen private collection works.
“Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere will extend our presentation of Geelong curated scholarly and highly successful exhibitions that have striking local specificity: Land of the Golden Fleece— Arthur Streeton in the Western District (2016); Fred Williams in the You Yangs (2017); and Frederick McCubbin— Whisperings in Wattle Boughs (2021). It will also place into a wider context one of the Gallery’s most popular works: Beckett’s 1930 painting Rainy day,” says Geelong Gallery Director & CEO and co-Exhibition Curator Jason Smith.
The exhibition will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.
Clarice Beckett had a relatively short life but was a singularly minded and prolific artist. She studied at the National Gallery School under Frederick McCubbin before becoming a pupil at Max Meldrum’s art school where tonal principles were championed. Beckett preferred to work en plein air—wheeling a cart packed with paints and easel about the streets of her bayside home in Beaumaris—to capture the modern world. She developed a distinctly atmospheric style, rendering seemingly everyday scenes in a loose painterly style and reduced tonal palette.
Her commitment to her painting practice sadly had a significant impact on her health. While painting outdoors in Beaumaris in a storm in 1935, she developed pneumonia and passed away four days later, aged only 48.
Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere will run at Geelong Gallery from Saturday, April 1 2023 – Sunday, July 9 2023. Tickets on sale now here.
Christmas projections are lighting up Geelong’s City Hall for the festive season
Stunning Christmas-themed projections are once again lighting up City Hall this festive season as part of Christmas In Geelong.
Officially launching on November 12 as part of the Christmas In Geelong opening night, the 2022 Christmas projections on Geelong’s City Hall this year will feature a specially commissioned contemporary festive celebration of visual splendour.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Taking inspiration from the tradition Christmas giving and the gesture of wrapping and unwrapping, the projections will feature designs and musical compositions inspired by our region’s rich and diverse community.
Experienced multimedia artist Georgie Pinn is behind this year’s exciting projections, with contributions from Ian de Gruchy and Olaf Meyer. The City selected Multimedia Events to produce its first Christmas display, which utilises City Hall’s professional sound and light projection system.
The 12-minute display will run nightly from 8:30pm until 11:30pm until 8 January 2023. As the summer days lengthen in December, the show is best experienced from 9pm.
In addition to seeing the projections live in-person, community members will also have the opportunity to watch the full show on the Christmas in Geelong page.
“The festive projections will see City Hall come alive with playful designs and a sense of wonder for Christmas this year,” says Mayor Peter Murrihy.
“The animations on Gheringhap Street always create an electric atmosphere in Central Geelong and put the community in the festive spirit.
“Off the back of captivating projections for White Night, NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week and ANZAC Day, this special commission will cement our region’s reputation of curating and presenting exceptional public art experiences.”
Head here to find out more about Christmas In Geelong.
FIDLAR announce 2023 Australian headline tour
Surf rock legends FIDLAR have confirmed their long-awaited return to Australia in March 2023.
The SoCal rockers will headline Super Fun Day Festival in Brisbane, plus sideshows in six capital cities “Deyown Ondah”. The tour will kick off in Auckland on March 15 and take to Sydney, Brisbane (festival), Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide before finishing up in Fremantle on March 25.
FIDLAR 2023 Australian/NZ Tour
Wednesday 15 March 2023 – Studio, Auckland
Friday 17 March 2023 – Roundhouse, Sydney
Saturday 18 March 2023 – Super Fun Day Festival: Eatons Hill Outdoors & Ballroom, Brisbane
Monday 20 March 2023 – The Basement, Canberra
Wednesday 22 March 2023 – Forum, Melbourne
Thursday 23 March 2023 – The Gov, Adelaide
Saturday 25 March 2023 – Metropolis, Fremantle
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Beginning their career as young punks playing house shows, FIDLAR exploded onto Los Angeles’ indie rock scene in the early 2010s with ferocious debut single DIYDUI. Since then, the band has been expanding their presence worldwide, connecting with fans around the globe who resonate with their raucous skate-punk tunes and the band’s mantra of ‘F*ck It Dog, Life’s A Risk”.
FIDLAR’s most recent single Taste The Money, is the third offering from the band’s forthcoming EP set to be released early next year. It follows the trio’s fierce comeback song FSU, which thrust them back on playlists worldwide after a three year hiatus.
If there’s any major take away from recent singles, it’s that FIDLAR are back in full force. The band’s latest work has been self-described as “leaning into the extremes”, and the acclaim garnered for comeback single FSU is a surefire sign of what’s to come.
FIDLAR are no strangers to touring Australia, having made regular appearances at Splendour in the Grass, giving rise to what frontman Zac Carper describes as “some of the craziest experiences [he’s] ever had.” Now, for the first time since 2019, FIDLAR are gearing up for their grand return Down Under next March to give Australian and Kiwi fans the live experience they have been pining for.
Early Bird Presale on Friday 25th November 2022 at 9am Local Time while General Public tickets on sale Tuesday 29th November 2022 at 9am Local Time
Sign up for early bird pre sale tickets here. Tickets from destroyalllines.com.
Marlon Williams, Spiderbait lead Riverboats Music Festival 2023 lineup
Multi-award winning sun-soaked Riverboats Music Festival has announced the lineup for its 2023 event, scheduled to take place at a new temporary location at Echuca’s Victoria Park Reserve from February 17-19, 2023.
Spread across three days in mid-February and staged on Yorta Yorta country, Riverboats 2023 will present performances by the likes of Marlon Williams (NZ), Spiderbait, C.W. Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, The Rolling Stones Revue featuring Adalita, Phil Jamieson & Tex Perkins, The Whitlams, Felix Riebl, Alice Skye, Tami Neilson (NZ), Thornbird, Katy Steele, Andy Golledge Band, WILSN, Bones & Jones, Watty Thompson, and Bud Rokesky with Rockwiz’s Brian Nankervis returning as Festival MC for yet another year, no doubt armed with his quick wit, musical trivia, and Frisbee.
Keep up with the latest music, tour and festival news here.
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The new venue for 2023 is a notable modification to this year’s program. The festival’s traditional home at Aquatic Reserve on the banks of the Murray River has transformed into a natural wetland as a result of region’s recent flooding, resulting in a temporary relocation for Riverboats’ 11th instalment.
“Echuca-Moama has gone through an incredibly challenging period over the last few weeks, and our hearts go out to all those affected by the recent floods,” says Festival Director Dave Frazer.
“Riverboats has been part of the Echuca-Moama community for over 10 years now, and whilst we’re sad to be leaving Aquatic Reserve next year, we can’t wait to put on a spectacular show at Victoria Park in a few months time.”
In partnership with Murray River Paddlesteamers, Riverboats 2023 will once again offer a limited series of intimate sideshows aboard the historic PS Pevensey paddlesteamer. The only festival in Australia to offer this experience, music fans will be given the opportunity to cruise down the river to the soundtrack of Alice Skye, Felix Riebl, Andy Golledge, WILSN, Bones & Jones and Watty Thompson.
“Riverboats will once again deliver a remarkable lineup of Australian artists in 2023, with some award-winning Kiwi’s thrown in for good measure,” Frazer adds.
“To be able to present international acts of the calibre of Marlon Williams alongside homegrown legends including Spiderbait, The Whitlams and C.W. Stoneking is a truly exciting thing, and we can’t wait to get back to Echuca-Moama in a few months’ time”
Having sold out in just six days last year, tickets to Riverboats 2023 are likely to be in high demand. Access to the family-friendly event start from just $75 and traditionally move very quickly following the program announcement.
2023 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP
Marlon Williams (NZ)
Spiderbait
C.W. Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra
The Rolling Stones Revue featuring Adalita, Phil Jamieson & Tex Perkins
The Whitlams
Felix Riebl
Alice Skye
Tami Neilson (NZ)
Thornbird
Katy Steele
Andy Golledge Band
WILSN
Bones & Jones
Bud Rokesky
Watty Thompson
MC Brian Nankervis (Rockwiz)
Riverboats Music Festival takes place 17-19, 2023 in Echuca-Moama. Tickets on sale now at riverboatsmusic.com.au
A Christmas-themed Beer Run is happening in Melbourne in December
If a five-kilometre fun run that doubles as a brewery crawl sounds like something you’d like to get around, then this much-loved event is just for you.
Returning once again, the ever-popular Beer Run is back this December for a special Ugly Christmas Sweater Edition, taking thirsty runners to five different breweries in the city to celebrate the festival season.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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The run will kick off on Sunday, December 11 at at Bodriggy Brewing Co. with runners making their way to Stomping Ground, Moon Dog Brewery, Mountain Goat and stumbling across the finish line at Burnley Brewing.
Running leaders will guide you along the running route, and the run will last for around 2-3 hours depending on how long you want to stop at each brewery. Everyone can meet at the last brewery for a fun-filled after party (Christmas themed, of course!) where you will celebrate your 5K achievement with more beer!
Baubles, tinsel and fairy lights are all encouraged and the best dressed will win an amazing prize. Run along to the sound of Jingle Bells and Mariah Carey’s most loved ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ as your running leader guides you around Melbourne’s most popular watering holes!
Grab your mates and dig out your ugliest Christmas jumper because pounding the pavements with The Beer Run is a real Sunday afternoon treat! The event has sold out all previous years and this year looks no different.
Tickets includes one beer in each brewery (5 beers in total included per person), a Beer Run bib number, and a novelty Beer Run bottle opener medal when you beat the Grinch to the finish line and save Christmas! Tickets cost $60 per person so book now as tickets will sell out faster than you can shake a cracker!
La Vètta is Marnong Estate’s new Italian restaurant led by an ex-Scopri and Bar Bambi chef
If you’re looking for refined Italian dining in a picturesque setting, look no further.
Translating to ‘The Summit’ in Italian, La Vetta is set against rolling hills and the scenic backdrop of the Macedon Ranges in the Sunbury wine region at Melbourne’s doorstep. Chef Giorgio (+39, A25, Scopri, Bar Bambi) presents an inventive take on old-world Italian cuisine at La Vetta, bringing to life traditional cooking techniques alongside modern flavours.
Keep up with the latest local food and booze news here.
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Recently returned from a sojourn in Italy spent travelling through small villages in the south and deepening his love for provenance and regional cuisine, Giorgio’s La Vetta menu is inspired by newfound knowledge of lesser known dishes and the stories behind them, passed down through generations like a prized heirloom.
The menu features dishes characterised by simple flavours, making the most of locally-sourced produce. Highlights include:
- Wagyu Bresaola, lemon, Parmigiano aged 36 months
- Burrata, Sicilian caponata
- Capretto, baby goat, new potato, peas, pecorino
- Spaghettini alla carbonara, guanciale, farmhouse yolk, pepper, parmigiano
- Arancino, coconut milk, nutella, raspberry, white chocolate
La Vetta hosts 120 in its dining room and 30 guests in its cocktail bar, in an earthen toned space walled by windows with vistas to the winery and nearby Macedon Ranges, allowing the views and the food to be the heroes of the dining experience. The accompanying wine list features Estate wines alongside a selection of Italian drinks and Italian varietals produced in Victoria.
La Vetta is now open Thursday – Sunday from 12-3pm for lunch and from 6pm till late for dinner. The restaurant is the newest edition to the food and wine focused offering at Marnong Estate which also includes Caffe Vista and Cucina 3064.
La Vetta is located at Marnong Estate, 2335 Mickleham Road, Mickleham. Bookings are now available here.
Don your best robes, a massive Harry Potter trivia night is happening in Geelong this week
Wizards, Halfbloods and Muggles, gather around because the time has come to put your knowledge to the test.
The good folk at The Deck Geelong are going to the dark side and are hosting an epic Harry Potter themed trivia night this week.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Taking place on Thursday, November 24, this will be an epic night of movie-based trivia with multiple rounds, so that even the most novice of 1st years stand a chance to win the major prize. The winner of the night will go home with two tickets to the broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, currently on show in Melbourne. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany.
Originally a two-part event, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has now been reimagined as one singular performance and tells the eighth story in the Harry Potter canon and the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play holds a record 60 major honours, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best New Play and has been seen by millions of people worldwide.
The Deck trivia usually sees a 7pm kick off so head in early to fuel up before the big event.
Dress ups are encouraged to win extra prizes for a night you won’t want to obliviate.
So grab your robes and start brushing up on your wizarding knowledge because this Triwizard Cup level tournament is going to test your skills in all things magical.
Bookings are essential so call 52295504 to avoid some serious disappointment. The Deck is located at 2 Gheringhap Street, Geelong.
Where to vote early in the Geelong region this state election
Good news: Early voting in Geelong is now open and you don’t even need a reason to vote early.
With early voting centres available in every district across Victoria, you can vote between Monday, November 14 and Friday, November 25. The full list of early voting centre locations and hours can be found here. No democracy sausages if you do this though, sadly.
Early voting Geelong
- Early voting is now open for the Victorian State Election, find a map of all of them here
- You can vote early in centres across the state – you don’t need to provide a reason to vote early
- The state election takes place on November 26
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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Below is a short list of some of the districts in the Geelong region and one of their early voting centres. If you don’t know what district you’re in, enter your address into the VEC site and they’ll let you know.
- Thomson EVC – 60 St Albans Road , Thomson VIC
- Newtown EVC – Unit 3, 7/21 Newcastle Street, Newtown VIC
- Lara – 365–455 Melbourne Road, Norlane VIC
- South Barwon – 19–21 Peter Street, Grovedale VIC
- Torquay EVC – 36 Wadawurrung Way, Torquay VIC
- Geelong – 38–40 Brougham Street, Geelong VIC
- Bellarine – 9 Smithton Grove, Ocean Grove VIC
Elsewhere in regional Victoria? This is not a full list of all the districts across regional Vic, if you don’t see your district in this list, head here to check where you can vote early.
- Polwarth – 16–20 Murray Street, Colac VIC
- South-West Coast – 86 Kepler Street, Warrnambool VIC
- Portland EVC – 60 Wellington Road, Portland VIC
- Hamilton EVC – 110 Brown Street, Hamilton VIC
- Ararat EVC – Level 2, 31–33 Lambert Street, The Great Hall, Gum San Heritage Centre – Accessibility Parking and Access via Mount Romnya Lane (next to No 35) Ararat VIC
- Castlemaine EVC – 57 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450
- Eaglehawk EVC – Corner High Street and Brazier Street, (access via High Street) Eaglehawk VIC
- Bendigo West – 53 Williamson Street, Bendigo VIC
- Bendigo East – Unit 13A, 172–176 McIvor Road, Strathdale VIC 3550
- Drouin EVC – Drouin Recreation Reserve – Social Club Room, Sinclair Street Drouin VIC
- Lowan – Anglican Parish of Horsham, 10 Andrew Street Horsham VIC
- Mildura – 69–71 Lime Avenue, Mildura VIC
- Swan Hill EVC – 159 Stradbroke Avenue, Swan Hill VIC
- Murray Plains – 200 Pakenham Street, Echuca VIC
- Mooroopna EVC – 92 McLennan Street, Mooroopna VIC
- Shepparton – 126–128 High Street, Shepparton VIC
- Ripon – 3 Neill Street, Maryborough VIC
- Macedon – Unit 4, 52 Saleyards Road, Kyneton VIC
- Wendouree EVC – Shop 117, Stockland Wendouree , 330 Gilles Street North Wendouree VIC
- Eureka – Warehouse 1, 328 Eureka Street, Ballarat East VIC 3350
- Wendouree – 81 Bridge Mall, Ballarat Central VIC
- Yarrawonga EVC – 26 McNally Street, Yarrawonga VIC
- Benambra – 82 High Street, Wodonga VIC
- Ovens Valley – 46 Murphy Street, Wangaratta VIC
- Mansfield EVC – 165 Mt Buller Road, Mansfield VIC
- Benalla EVC – 61 Fawckner Drive, Benalla VIC
If you’re actually away from the state for the election, you can vote from interstate in person at any State or Territory electoral commission across Australia. The locations and hours can be found here.
You can also vote by post – you must apply between Wednesday, November 2 and Wednesday, November 23, with the ballot packs sent out from Monday, November 14. Apply to vote by post by heading here and then enjoy the rest of your beach holiday.
If all of these elections, referendums, ballots, polls and stuff seem a bit overwhelming: the Victorian Electoral Commission has a service called VoterAlert, which is a free election reminder service that will let you know where and how to vote in any elections that you’re eligible to vote in. Sign up, and check your Victorian enrolment details, by heading here.
Don’t see your district in this list? Check out the full list of early voting locations by heading here.
The Screaming Jets announce The Rock Vault tour for 2023
Fresh from their recent 30th anniversary tour of their groundbreaking rock album, ‘All For One’, which saw the band play to sold out audiences across the country and receive rave reviews, Aussie rock favourites The Screaming Jets have announced ‘The Rock Vault’ tour for 2023.
The shows will kick off on February 24, visiting capital cities and regional centres in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, across to three shows in WA then wrapping up the tour on April 25 .
The Screaming Jets 2023 Australian Tour
FRI 24 FEB – HAMILTON HOTEL, HAMILTON, QLD
SAT 25 FEB – RACEHORSE HOTEL, BOOVAL, QLD
FRI 3 MAR – HORNSBY RSL, HORNSBY, NSW
SAT 4 MAR – BLACKTOWN WORKERS, BLACKTOWN, NSW
SUN 12 MAR – BRIGHTER DAYS FESTIVAL, BRIGHT, VIC
FRI 17 MAR – SHOPPINGTOWN HOTEL, DONCASTER, VIC
SAT 18 MAR – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE, VIC
FRI 24 MAR – SUNKEN MONKEY, ERINA, NSW
SAT 25 MAR – LAURIETON UNITED, LAURIETON, NSW
FRI 31 MAR – RAILWAY HOTEL, MURCHISON EAST, VIC
SAT 1 APR – HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE, SA
THU 13 APR – PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY, WA
FRI 14 APR – RAVENSWOOD HOTEL, RAVENSWOOD, WA
SAT 15 APR – CHARLES HOTEL, NORTH PERTH, WA
FRI 21 APR – THE BRIDGE HOTEL, ROZELLE, NSW
SAT 22 APR – THE BRIDGE HOTEL, ROZELLE, NSW
SUN 23 APR – THE BRIDGE HOTEL, ROZELLE, NSW
TUE 25 APR – TORONTO HOTEL *ANZAC DAY*, TORONTO, NSW
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Lead singer Dave Gleeson said today, “So many songs, so little time! As we’ve spent the last 12 months solely focused on the 30th Anniversary of ‘All For One’, we thought it’s be great to get out on the road before we head into the studio to record new material and THRASH OUT the hits from all our past albums. The set list will be full of all the fan favourites that they know and love.
“We’re playing as tight as a fish’s arse at the moment from the constant touring of the last 6 months, so we can’t wait to smash out some of the songs that have been sitting in the background for a little while.
“We met a young band called Pricey recently, who are a top bunch of blokes pumping out new Oz rock – so we’re bringing them along for the ride with us too. Looks like we’ll need 2 bottles of jack a night for this tour!”
Originating from Newcastle, The Screaming Jets have been an enduring rock force in the Australian music scene for over three decades. With over 200 live shows nationally under their belts before they had even secured their first record deal, the release of their debut album ‘All For One’ in 1991 took us all by the scruff of our necks and gave our ears a red hot shake! It peaked at #2 on the ARIA charts and the second single from the album, ‘Better’ was the song that introduced the band to the world and saw them embark on their first world tour – to Europe, UK, USA and Canada.
In October 2021, the band released the 30th anniversary edition of ‘All For One’, with production of the record overseen by the album’s original producer, Steve James. This edition of the record made its presence felt once again as it landed straight back into the ARIA charts at #4, also topping the charts as #1 vinyl album!
Nine studio albums later and having released some of Australia’s most iconic rock songs, the band are affectionately known as ‘Australia’s Greatest Ever Pub rock band’ and never disappoint.
Tickets on sale now from www.
HED PE announce 2023 Australian tour
Over the course of their career, which commenced in 1997, genre bending punk, rasta, soul gangsta rockers, HED PE (AKA (Hed) P.E. or (hed) Planet Earth, have remained constant with relentless touring and a genuinely unifying live show bringing together fans of the multiple genres which they so effortlessly fuse.
The band returns to Australia for the first time since 2019, and for their third tour since 2018, much to the delight of a fiercely loyal fan base. They’ll kick off the tour in Perth on February 5 and take to Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney before finishing up on Melbourne on February 11 2023.
HED PE Australian Tour 2023
Sunday 5 February – Perth, Amplifier Bar
Tuesday 7 February – Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory
Thursday 9 February – Brisbane, The Brightside
Friday 10 February – Sydney, Crowbar
Saturday 11 February – Melbourne, Max Watts
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Huntington Beach, California’s (hed) p.e. (the “pe” stands for “Planet Earth”) were founded in 1994 by frontman Jahred (aka M.C.U.D. aka Jared Gomes), whose goal was to fuse the region’s long-standing punk rock heritage with G-funk-inflected hip-hop — a sound he labeled “G-punk.” The group found mainstream success in the early 2000s via their second and third albums, Broke and Blackout, both of which were released by Jive Records. A move to indie label Suburban Noize yielded the 9/11 Truth Movement concept LP New World Orphans, and in 2019 the eclectic rockers issued their tenth studio long-player, Stampede.
(hed) p.e. (also comprising lead guitarist Wesley “Wesstyle” Geer, rhythm guitarist Chad “Chizad” Benekos, bassist Mark “Mawk” Young, drummer Ben “B.C.” Vaught, and Doug “DJ Product @ 1969” Boyce on turntables and samples) released their eponymous debut through Jive Records, then hit the road with Ozzfest and bands like Korn, Static-X, and System of a Down.
A second album, Broke, followed in the year 2000, and a third, Blackout, arrived in 2003, after which (hed) p.e. switched labels from Jive to Koch and underwent something of an overhaul (welcoming new guitarist Jaxon Benge and drummer Mark “Moke” Bistany) prior to recording their fourth album, 2005’s Only in Amerika.
The all-new Back 2 Base X and the Best of (hed) Planet Earth compilation arrived in 2006, followed by Flat Bill Hat in the summer of 2007 and the politically charged concept LP New World Orphans in 2009. A second compilation, titled Major Pain 2 Indee Freedom: The Best of Hed P.E., was released in 2010, featuring a new track and a limited-edition concert film of the group performing live in Los Angeles. That same year they dropped Truth Rising, which broke into the Billboard Top 100. Yet another compilation was released in 2013, just as DJ Product parted ways with the band. More departures came the next year as Benge and Young left, replaced by Greg “Gregzilla” Harrison and Kurt “Kid Bass” Blankenship, respectively. Evolution (previously titled Ascension) was issued in the summer of 2014.
Forever!, their ninth effort and first with only one founding member, arrived in 2016. In 2019 the band returned with their tenth full-length effort, the versatile Stampede.
If you have not experienced HED PE live, expect pounding riffage, solid grooves and funk infused rhythms all laced by the flow, melody and cadence of frontman, Jahred Gomes.
The band is firing on all cylinders and is coming off a very heavy 2022 touring schedule across the USA and Europe.
Australian fans of the band are in for a real treat.
Get tickets here.
Victorian Opera announces its 2023 season brimming with splendour and spectacle
In his last year at the helm, outgoing Artistic Director Richard Mills AM has curated a diverse and defiant line-up that includes a world premiere First Nations work set against the backdrop of the First Fleet’s arrival, a fresh take on Idomeneo that is sure to make a splash and a brand new production that examines the fortunes of one of the world’s greatest thinkers composed by Mills himself to close out the year.
Across eight shows, season 2023 will feature two world premiere works, a fully-realised new Mozart staging, visiting international guests, acclaimed homegrown talent in concert and a suite of emerging voices and storytellers.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
In a rather poetic final handover, Mills will compose and conduct 2023’s closing production, the world premiere Galileo, alongside Victorian Opera’s inbound Artistic Director, Stuart Maunder, who will direct.
Of his concluding season, and 11-year tenure, Artistic Director Richard Mills AM, said: “The alchemy of the marriage of words and music opens windows on the marvellous for our opera audiences in 2023. The program celebrates great singing, new work, a commitment to developing artists and young people, and a commitment to diversity, reaching out to new audiences as well as to our friends and patrons who love traditional opera.’
“In 2023 we are creating pathways for developing artists, first nations arts practitioners and young designers and theatre workers – as well as young singers. International guest artists also feature prominently in the season, old friends returning and great Australian talent such as Simon Young, Steve Davislim, Jessica Pratt and Deborah Humble returning to Melbourne as honoured guests.”
Two new operas will take the stage in 2023: The Visitors by First Nations creative team Christopher Sainsbury and Jane Harrison, and Mills’ own new opera with librettist Malcolm Angelucci’s Galileo, with a video text by Jamie Clennett, directed by Stuart Maunder.
“This premiere will see the passing of the baton as I depart my role as Artistic Director and Stuart steps into the position, opening the door on a new chapter for Victorian Opera,” Mills adds.
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Following its debut in Launceston last year, Gioachino Rossini’s La Cenerentola will transfer to Melbourne to open the 2023 Victorian Opera season at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday 10 March. Transforming the story of Cinderella into a heart-warming tale of love and forgiveness, this classic and enchanting opera is directed by Elizabeth Hill-Cooper with Victorian Opera’s own Richard Mills joining her as conductor (the pair previously collaborated on The Barber of Seville in 2019).
A Soviet-era Khrushchev-style apartment complex is transported to contemporary Melbourne in Melbourne, Cheremushki, a darkly comic story that remains as relevant as its debut in Moscow in 1959. Vladimir Mass and Mikhail Chervinsky’s sarcastically funny libretto – matched by visionary composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s score – grapples with topics all too familiar to Melbourne audiences of today, exploring income inequality, housing affordability and the pitfalls of progress. Showcasing the incredible new talents of the ‘VO Emerges’ cast, this fully-staged operetta will meet these perennial issues with fresh perspectives and voices alike at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from 22 – 25 March.
In an enriching tale for children, The Grumpiest Boy in the World follows young hero Zachary as he discovers an imaginary world of giants, hairy creatures and flying things and learns just what it means to stand out. Featuring a score from Joseph Twist, known for his stellar musical direction on hit children’s TV show, Bluey, alongside Sidney Myer Fellowship librettist and much-loved children’s author, Finegan Kruckemeyer, this family friendly favourite returns for a new generation of young theatre-goers to discover. The Grumpiest Boy in the World will be performed at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse on Saturday 24 June with a relaxed session on Friday 23 June.
Considered by Mozart to be his greatest work in the genre of opera, the epic Idomeneo will be revived in a landmark new production directed by Emma Muir-Smith and conducted by Benjamin Bayl with accompaniment from the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Death, politics and roaring crescendos unfold against the mythic tale of the King of Crete as he faces an impossible decision: to sacrifice his son in payment of a debt to Poseidon or exile him across the seas. Presented in the grand majesty of the Palais Theatre on 4, 6 and 8 July, this full staging of one of opera’s great jewels will sparkle on the St Kilda foreshore as if it were Poseidon’s Bay.
Victorian Opera continues its exploration of Richard Strauss in a one night only concert of the beautiful and deeply thoughtful ‘conversation piece for music’, Capriccio, conducted by the renowned Simone Young AM and featuring Lithuanian-born soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė. In a unique collaboration – staged at the Palais Theatre on 31 August – with the Australian National Academy of Music, this 1942 operatic masterpiece by Richard Strauss and Clemens Krauss ponders an age-old question of the artform: which is more important for opera – the words or the music?
From the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and Staatsoper Hamburg, world renowned opera star Jessica Pratt returns to Melbourne next September for a special one-night-only concert at the Palais Theatre on 2 September, in what is sure to be a highlight of the city’s musical calendar. Widely considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of Bel Canto’s most challenging roles, Pratt will delight opera lovers and new listeners alike with a showcase of the heroes and heroines from the canon. Returning to the Melbourne stage for the first time since her sold out 2019 Heroic Bel Canto concert with Victorian Opera, Pratt will be joined by Richard Mills as conductor and performance partner, Orchestra Victoria.
The first of Victorian Opera’s two world premiere productions for 2023 is The Visitors: a remarkable new commission directed by Queensland Theatre Associate Artist and Noongar man, Isaac Drandic, with Victorian Opera’s Head of Music, Phoebe Briggs, as conductor. Set in 1788 as strange ships approach the shores of Tumbalong (Darling Harbour) on January 26, The Visitors is imbued with Aboriginal customs, melody and humour. From First Nation’s composer Christopher Sainsbury and libretto by original playwright and Muruwari woman, Jane Harrison, it tells the story of the early days of colonialism and its impacts on the First Peoples. The Visitors will be staged at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from the 18 – 21 October.
Faith, knowledge and power collide in Victorian Opera’s final 2023 production, Galileo, staged at the Palais Theatre on the 20, 22 and 23 December. A world premiere work by outgoing Victorian Opera Artistic Director, Richard Mills, Galileo is a searching meditation on questions of faith in a violent, hostile and uncertain world. Told through a collaboration with filmmaker Jamie Clennett (The Who’s Tommy), the combined forces of La Compañia and Orchestra Victoria, and starring Victorian Opera favourite, baritone Samuel Dundas as Galileo – this project will celebrate the artistic legacy of Richard Mills while welcoming Victorian Opera’s new Artistic Director, Stuart Maunder as director.
Subscriptions to Victorian Opera’s Season 2023 are now on sale, with tickets available to the public from Monday 12 December.
For more information about the program, visit their website here.