The annual Veeped Xmas party returns to the Barwon Club for one day of absolute mayhem
One of the parties of the year that leads into the holiday season is the Veeped Xmas party.
Every year on the weekend before Christmas, the Barwon Club Hotel host this esteemed event ran by the Veeped Bored Co team (who know a thing or two about throwing a party) and this year it returns for its 11th edition.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Taking over the entire venue on Saturday, December 17, Geelong’s best and longest-running Christmas rock n roll extravaganza will feature a day and night of epic bands, DJs, festival beverages and hangs with all the best humans on the planet.
With three stages of local bands, this year you’ll be entertained by Tommy Dynamite and the Explosions, The Skips, Final Final, Social Haunts, Something Krook, The Roswell Greys, Grytt, Grimwoods, Biff, The Astroturfs, Blacktides, Lay Low, and more to be announced.
As for the DJs, the party will feature local legends Eddie Example VS Blackwave, Chook & Moluck, Lonstar, Bugg, Flaming Moe, Shorty VS Shorty and Just James.
With a huge day of epic bands, Veeped is all about providing a great chance to catch up with mates before Christmas whilst supporting local musicians and the venue in the process. It’s a win, win, win!
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Ticket sales and set times are still to come so keep an eye on their socials, but judging from their previous soirées you’re going to want to jump on tickets stat.
Consider this your save the date – Saturday, December 17 2022. Keep up with the latest via the Barwon Club Hotel website.
Ausmusic T-Shirt Day returns with huge lineup, celebrating and supporting great Aussie music
It’s back: The annual Aussie music fundraiser and celebration Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is returning next week encouraging Australians to get behind their favourite local artists by sporting their threads.
Taking place on Friday, November 18, the annual day of fun and awareness is all about celebrating Aussie music and raising urgently-needed funds for music workers in crisis.
The best bits
- Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is back this November
- Returning on Friday, November 18, music lovers around Australia are being asked to buy an Ausmusic T-Shirt, fundraise in a team or donate individually to Support Act
- The day aims to raise the funds needed to continue providing support services to music workers in crisis
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Spearheaded by Support Act – the music industry’s charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, artist managers, crew and music workers across all genres who are unable to work due to ill health, injury, a mental health problem or some other crisis – with support from ARIA, triple j, Double J and the ABC, music lovers around Australia are being asked to buy an Ausmusic T-Shirt, fundraise in a team or donate individually to Support Act. And if you’re not in a position to buy a new tee, you can still show your support by reppin’ some old merch.
Participants are asked to share content of themselves participating in Ausmusic T-Shirt Day across their favourite social media platforms using the #ausmusictshirtday and tagging Support Act, triple j and ARIA, essentially giving a shout-out to your favourite musicians.
Funds raised from the campaign go towards helping music charity Support Act continue its crucial work supporting musicians, managers, crew and music workers through crisis relief, mental health and wellbeing programs, and the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, a 24/7 free phone counselling service.
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As part of the celebrated day, Support Act have announced a stellar lineup of ambassadors for its annual fundraiser, including the recently announced Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Mauboy who are music-lovers to put their hands up for Ausmusic and support the cause by wearing an Ausmusic T-Shirt and making a donation to Support Act.
“Chris Hemsworth has always been a big supporter of Australian Music, wearing a Teskey Brothers t-shirt in this year’s campaign, so to have someone of his standing alongside such an incredible artist as Jess Mauboy, really takes our fundraiser and awareness of music workers in need to the next level,” says Clive MIller, CEO of Support Act.
The pair will join the 30 faces of Australian music, screen and stage who have already put their weight behind the day, including Darren Hayes, Casey Donovan, Kylie Minogue, The 046, Andrea Lam, Ball Park Music, Beccy Cole, Bodyjar, Cat Hope, Catherine Alcorn, Charm of Finches, Claire Edwardes, Clint Stanaway, Cub Sport, Dave Gleeson, Devy, Ella Hooper, James Reyne, Jane Gazzo, John Coutis, John Williamson, Ladybeard, Kristal West, Mitch Tambo, Ocean Grove, Rob Mills, Siobhan Stagg, Tania Doko, Teeny Tiny Stevies and Urthboy.
Last year’s event raised over $600,000, showing that merch sales are still a crucial part to the sustainability of any band or artist. And hey, it’s the perfect excuse to expand your wardrobe with a fresh top.
Support local artists, grab a tee, and let’s celebrate #AusmusicTShirtDay! You can get more info, and get involved further in this year’s campaign, at the Ausmusic T Shirt Day website.
Geelong’s first Ceramics Market is happening in December with 19 independent artisans
Dedicated to local ceramic makers, you can shop one-off ceramic coffee cups, bowls, spoons, pots, vases and more from more than 20 independent artisans this December with Geelong’s very first ceramics market.
The market, which will take over the beautiful space at Boom Gallery’s ‘Big Boom’, is curated by two local makers Elizabeth Bell Ceramics and Pour and Plate, who are volunteering their time and resources after recognising that there was nothing of this nature in the area for local artists and lovers of pottery.
Stay up to date with all the arts and creative events happening in and around the region here.
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Taking place on Saturday, December 3 from 10am to 4pm, the market is an opportunity to support local artists and small business owners from Geelong, Bellarine and Surfcoast region. Featuring both experienced and rising talents, the makers will showcase their individual styles and handmade functional creations. You’ll find the likes of Claire Gorst Studio, Takeawei, Mafia Thing, Lauren Reynolds Ceramics, Alchemy of Clay, Elizabeth Bell Ceramics and so much more.
And while supporting local businesses is top of mind, this will be the perfect opportunity to shop for Christmas presents ahead of the holidays.
On top of browsing through the selection of ceramics, you can also hit up the surrounding local businesses. Brother Lawrence is a must for delicious bagels and coffee.
Entry is just a gold coin donation which will be donated to Geelong Mums.
The Geelong Ceramic Market is on at Boom Gallery’s “Big Boom” space (5 Rutland Street, Newtown) on Saturday, December 3 from 10am-4pm.
Henry Wagons & The Only Children announce National Album Tour for 2023
Henry Wagons has never been accused of underdoing things. In that spirit, this Godfather of Oz Indie Country has just announced a new single, a new album (his first solo record in six years) and a national album launch tour.
Wagons and his band of gunslingers The Only Children will be bringing an all-new show, full of new tunes and ol’ favs to capital cities across Australia. This will be Henry’s first club show tour since the pandemic, and as a result, there will be much pent-up energy to power the shows. Those who know, know that Henry owns a stage like no other in the business.
Henry Wagons & The Only Children National Tour
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY – BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, MELBOURNE
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY – THE GREAT CLUB, SYDNEY
SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY – LEFTY’S, BRISBANE
FRIDAY 03 MARCH – GRACE EMILY, ADELAIDE (Duo)
SATURDAY 04 MARCH – MILK BAR, PERTH (Duo)
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
For his third solo album, South of Everywhere ( (set for release February 3, 2023) sees legendary cosmic country astronaut Wagons crash-land firmly back on Earth and get gritty, firmly intertwining with his Australian country-music roots once again. Inspired by the outlaw country greats, you can expect a record jam-packed with twisted tales of the people and places Henry has met on the road in Australia, as well as uniquely candid and direct revelations about himself too, all with an undeniable foot stompin’, retro-country swing that is bound to see the dance-hall heave.
Coinciding with the album and tour news, Wagons has released Felix Granger the Finger Pickin’ Boy, the second single taken from Henry Wagons’ upcoming album South of Everywhere.
Following the release of his much-loved recent single (Don’t Be) Down and Out, which received high rotation across Double J, ABC Country and plenty of airplay on community radio around the country, this new twangin’ tale is inspired by the lost tales of the outlaw country greats, telling the story of Felix Granger, a child prodigy guitar player, who was discovered half a century ago, tearing the roof off with his nimble fingers, playing in the corner of his mum’s restaurant in Dover, Tasmania. Henry has never met the actual Felix because he is the culmination of hundreds of players he has met on the open road. The song is a dedication to a boy devoted to the pursuit of playing the guitar just like his heroes… a story of passion and compulsion for music, over all else, with fame and glory as the unintended consequence. Felix’s tale is anchored by a love of family and, perhaps even more so, a love of a good slice of homemade pie.
When Henry asked Chris Cheney of the iconic Australian rock band The Living End, who also happens to be one of Australia’s best chicken pickin’ guitarists, to play the lead breaks for the song he didn’t hesitate and said, “I am Felix…this song is my story.”
Tickets on sale now via https://www.wagonsmusic.com/tour
Nathan Seeckts and Rhianna Fibbins are playing an unforgettable show at Pistol Pete’s this weekend
The wildly talented Geelong local Nathan Seeckts is gearing up to take the stage this weekend for an intimate and unforgettable gig at one of Geelong’s favourite music destinations.
Taking to the intimate stage at the iconic Pistol Pete’s Food N Blues, Seeckts’ musicianship and sheer joy of playing will be instantly apparent as he heads up an exciting night on Saturday, November 12.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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A powerful singer-songwriter who effortlessly fuses the sounds of Americana, folk, country and blues delivered with a commanding voice that is equal parts gravel and passion, Seeckts has earned himself a solid reputation over the years, sharing the stage with some amazing artists including The Teskey Brothers, Archie Roach, Cash Savage, Tex Perkins, Raised By Eagles, Joe Pug, Austin Lucas and Cory Branan, to name a few.
Having spent a decade touring much of Australia and parts of North America, Nathan Seeckts’ acclaimed debut album The Heart Of The City in 2019 cemented him as one of the most exciting new voices on the Australian Americana landscape. The album received a nomination for Country Album of The Year at the 2019 Music Victoria Awards, earned Seeckts an opportunity to showcase his talent at AmericanaFest in Nashville, and opened the door for him to be selected as the Queenscliff Music Festival Emerging Artist of The Year.
Last month heralded the first new music from Seeckts released in three years with ‘I Get To See My Baby’, a joyous celebration of love and recent arrivals. With a brand-new album to follow in early 2023, his performance at Pistol Pete’s promises to be a must-see, especially considering he’ll be joined on stage for the night by Marc Dunn on banjo, reworking some of his songs to get your backside shaking and your toes tapping!
“Rhianna and I have been cooking up some awesome sounds for this Saturday nights show. We’d love to see a bunch of your happy faces there, shaking loose from the week that’s been and giving you something to smile about for the week to come,” Seeckts says.
“If you were thinking of coming, call up all your friends, grab a ticket and dust off your dancing shoes.”
Joining Seeckts on Saturday night will be the ever-talented Rhianna Fibbins, who will perform on stage in a trio style with Heath Joyce and Zac Watson.
Having spent many years with her sister in country band ‘The Sideshow Brides’ performing anywhere from pubs and festivals to singing backing vocals for Australian rock legends Dallas Crane supporting fellow Australian mega stars Cold Chisel and American southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rhianna has started a little solo project, creating her unique brand of country music that weaves the nitty gritty with a touch of homespun longing.
Born and raised in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, the now locally-based singer-songwriter is gearing up to release her debut EP ‘From The Valley Looking Out’, recorded at Point Lonsdale Studio ‘Resting Bell’ with renowned producer Nick Huggins at the wheel and features Chance McCoy (Old Crow Medicine Show). Spanning a warm and emotive collection of songs close to her heart, Rhianna weaves themes of true heartbreak and grit with optimistic charm. Each song a little emotional landmark in her life of raw heartstring pullers with a touch of homespun longing.
‘Charango Unchained’: Abraham Dunovits’ new album reminds us of how art can move
Just like its creator, Abe Dunovits’ new album Charango Unchained contains multitudes, released independently on November 10, marking his fourth solo album.
Approaching music with feeling and spontaneity, Dunovits blends deep substance with deeper sound as he creates an immersive, multi-dimensional experience. The follow-up to April’s Saved by the Taco Belle, Charango Unchained features 14 songs (most in Spanish). It’s a play on Django Unchained, making reference to the nature of the music presented: a mix of different musical textures and styles, featuring charango, a ten-string ukulele-like instrument from Latin America, tan-tan drum from Brazil, shakers, small nylon acoustic guitars, some songs mini- electric guitar for the most part and vocals.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“I have always had an eclectic taste in music, as I research and learn new styles instrumentally they tend to filter through in my compositional process,” says Dunovits.
“I have been getting into Brazilian and Mexican folk styles in the last few years, so those mixed with Afro-Caribbean music styles make a great fusion, but ultimately it’s my own imagination, improvising and adventurous musicianship that leads me to create new grooves.”
“I have been performing and recording experimental improvised music for as long as I have been playing music, so it comes very naturally, like writing lyrics and poems,” he adds.
“I have mastered my own way of creating pieces with a beginning, a middle and an end, in a similar way that someone would bake a cake or build a house, only that I am using different building materials. It’s a space and time divine construct that works perfectly when certain energies and vibrations come to you as a composer and then come together physically as a song or a poem. Still, art is ethereal and transient in our conscious minds: it happens when you listen to a song, play an instrument, read a book or look at a piece of art.”
Positively percussive, melodically relevant and decidedly inspired, the album opens with ‘Regreso’ and instantly the listener is transported to a Spanish paradise with the recording capturing the ecstasy of the music that runs through the entire record. ‘Teorema’ takes a more subdued approach but is no less energizing, while ‘Resiste’ features a beautiful blend of sounds and a very catchy chorus with an overarching theme of social empowerment and modern resistance.
While flexing is powerhouse vocals throughout the album, tracks like ‘Espejo’, ‘When’ and closing track ‘Unchained’ are driven almost entirely by the instrumentals, with the focus on the sonically expansive and culturally rich experience from the music alone.
Threading his essence through the needle of every track, lyrically the songs are fuelled with messages of social justice or just plain tenderness, and while in Spanish, Dunovits uses the power of language and its intention behind it.
“In ‘Desigualdad’ [translating to inequality], the chorus says “let’s fight it, let’s denounce it, everyone together against inequality”, I donated an instrumental track of this song (with different lyrics) to promote this years’ 3Cr radio’s Radiothon,” Dunovits explains.
“My good mate Anai “Chili” Wiche improvised a funny spoken rap about what’s happening in the world, billionaires spending in space travel when we have so much to do here on earth, and a bit about how one can came to this country and find themselves confronted with a frightening political situation (Morrison and Dutton). As a member of the LGBTQI community, Chili knows all about inequality and more. I love her.”
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While you might not understand what Dunovits is singing, the album as a whole however can still be understood by the emotion that it evokes: Charango Unchained draws us in by the entrancing pronunciations of deep Spanish words, but more than trying to understand or translate the songs from this album, Dunovits allows the listener to just be in the moment and feel.
“I hope it provides joy and inspiration,” he says of the album. “I hope people can use it to relax, to reflect, to love and to share with others, that they can use it when they’re feeling down and when they want to be uplifted.”
With vocal prowess extraordinary in any language, tracks ‘Him They’, ‘Shine’ sees Dunovits return to English lyrics, with ‘Shine’ providing a motivational hit with the gentle music providing a body-moving foundation while Dunovits sings, ‘it’s your time to shine’.
“‘Shine’, that’s how I feel at the moment, bouncy! I have much hope and lust for life, in a beautiful loving relationship, doing really well in my professional life and have much creative freedom to go wherever,” Dunovits says of one of his favourites tracks from the album.
“Problems can be resolved. I love the fact that is bilingual, like me. I guess I am singing that to myself ‘it’s your time to shine’, it’s self motivational.”
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dunovits himself, the uplifting album earns its place as a dynamic deliverance of artistry that sees the songwriter stripping it back compared to previous releases and entirely embracing his first language, while turning to his own back catalogue for inspiration.
“I think as a musician I try to hone into the adventurous aspect of music, always working towards having no fear of creating. [With the new album], I have tried to have fewer instruments in each track. Sometimes it’s hard because something tells you that a particular tracks needs, for example, another lead solo or minor percussion, but that’s all up to the producer and arranger (me!) to decide for each song, it’s a craft that i’ve been learning over the years working with different producers in different bands and settings.
“In many ways, I wanted the music to become simpler, more concise, rawer and essential. Initially, the album was going to be just charango and voice.”
Listening to Dunovits’ new album is to be taken on a journey. With the artist refusing to be anything but himself, Charango Unchained provides an enlightening look at instrumentation, genres past and present, cultures and language and the way they can all unite for the primary purpose of enjoyment.
With such clear ambition and spontaneity, Abe Dunovits continues to be one to keep a close eye on.
Charango Unchained is out now. Find out more at abrahamdunovits.com
Alexisonfire announce Australian tour in February 2023
Canadian hardcore five-piece Alexisonfire today reveal they will return to Australia in February 2023, playing their first Antipodean headline dates since their 2017 tour.
This summer, the band will bring their powerful on-stage energy to Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on Friday 17 February, followed by stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Local heroes Luca Brasi will open for Alexisonfire on all dates, warming audiences with their dynamic live set.
Alexisonfire Australian Tour 2023
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY
The Fortitude Music Hall | Brisbane, QLD
MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY
Forum Melbourne | Melbourne, VIC
MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY
Hindley Street Music Hall | Adelaide, SA
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Admired by Australian audiences, on their eighth visit down under Alexisonfire will perform songs from their celebrated catalogue, along with tunes from their new record Otherness – never before heard live by local audiences.
Otherness is the first full length studio album in over thirteen years from the group Rolling Stone declared “put Canadian post-hardcore on the map”. Their most cohesive and self-actualized record to date, across the ten tracks of Otherness the band builds a “deliciously gritty record” (Line Of Best Fit).
“As much as we love playing the old songs, we don’t want to be a nostalgia act. The only reason to come back is if we feel we still have something to say,” frontman George Pettit insists. “We spent so much time on the road thinking that if we stopped, people would lose interest. But when we went away, it only got bigger. We all carved new paths for ourselves, so coming back to Alexisonfire is a purely enjoyable creative venture. Something special happens when we get in a room together.”
Between 2002 and 2009, Alexisonfire released four hugely successful studio albums, all platinum-certified in their native Canada; Alexisonfire (2002), Watch Out (2004), Canadian No.1 Crisis (2006), and Old Crows / Young Cardinals (2009).
The band’s legacy across Canada and the world cannot be overstated; from their 2001 inception in Ontario, five guys playing aggressive rock (with no less than three of them singing and screaming) grew to a hockey-arena headlining phenomenon while pushing and pulling between spirited guitar leads, melodic might, and emotional weight.
Dallas Green’s engaging croon; the urgent attitude of Wade MacNeil; the heavy bellow of George Pettit; all anchored by a mix of vulnerability, confidence, iconoclasm, and celebratory recklessness. As every Alexisonfire song persistently expands and contracts, bassist Chris Steele and drummer Jordan Hastings remain impossibly tight, locked into unrelenting swinging grooves.
Alexisonfire has blown audiences away at major international festival appearances over Northern Hemisphere summer, including Lollapalooza across South America, Canada’s Born & Raised Festival and a “flawless” Rage Against The Machine North American support.
This February, experience music at its best when Alexisonfire take the stage with special guests Luca Brasi for four mind-blowing live shows.
Tickets go on sale Thursday 17 November (10am local time).
GSODA are bringing the classic production The Wizard Of Oz to Geelong
One of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz, can now be seen and heard in a magical new production coming to Geelong this December.
The GSODA Junior Players, who have been performing for the Geelong public since 1965 and are one of Australia’s longest-operating youth theatre companies, will bring this classic story to the stage on the 16th-17th of December.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Directed by James Edwards, with vocal direction from Kate Daley and choreography from Jana Kolacz, The Wizard Of Oz follows the story of young Dorothy Gale who is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz.
There, she encounters a host of whimsical characters: good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk, and things magical to behold. To find her way home, she must journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the mysterious and powerful Wizard.
Along the way, she makes new friends, but must also brave many dangers. Dorothy must learn an important lesson: there’s no place like home.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s fantasy novel for children called “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, the production will feature all the characters we know and love and the music and lyrics from the 1939 American musical fantasy by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y Harburg, with background music from Herbert Stothart.
GSODA Junior’s production of The Wizard Of Oz will take place from 16-17th December 2022 at David Darling Playhouse at Geelong Grammar. Purchase tickets here.
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are coming to Geelong for A Day on the Green in 2023
The epic run of shows from A Day On The Green continues with the great Sir Rod Stewart has announced he will hit the road in 2023 for a massive Australian tour, with very special guest Cyndi Lauper.
The legendary singer will make a welcome return to a day on the green, performing at Geelong’s Mt Duneed Estate, VIC on Saturday 18 March; Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD on Saturday 25 March (and now Sunday 26 March); and Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, NSW on Sunday 2 April – as well as a string of headline shows around the country.
Rod Stewart Australian Tour 2023
A DAY ON THE GREEN
Sat 18 March 2023 – Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong, VIC
Sat 25 March 2023 – Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Sun 26 March 2023 – Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD (New show)
Sun 2 April 2023 – Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, NSW
HEADLINE DATES
Sat 11 March 2023 – RAC Arena, Perth
Tues 14 March 2023 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Tues 21 March 2023 – AEC Arena, Adelaide
Wed 29 March 2023 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Sat 1 April 2023 – Roche Estate, Hunter Valley
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Sir Rod Stewart will perform a massive 2-hour set from his vast catalogue of hits, while Cyndi Lauper will take the stage for an hour, playing all of her most-loved songs.
Rock legend Jon Stevens will join the line-up at all shows on this national tour including the a day on the green events.
Following the extraordinary success of his previous tours, Sir Rod’s 2023 dates promise show-stopping classics and new hits in his unmissable, captivating style.
Hailed one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music, with more than 250 million albums and singles sold worldwide during a stellar career that includes an incredible 27 Top 40 hits in Australia, Sir Rod’s performances will include fan favourites from across his impressive career, as well as tracks from his 2021 album The Tears Of Hercules, his 31st studio album.
In the album’s sleeve note, Stewart says he’s very proud of the album. “I’ve never said this before about any previous efforts, but I believe this is by far my best album in many a year,” he writes.
Sir Rod’s incomparable catalogue includes classics like You Wear It Well, You’re In My Heart, Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright), Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells A Story, Mandolin Wind, Sailing, The Killing of Georgie, Young Turks, Forever Young, Hot Legs, Infatuation, I Don’t Wanna Talk About It, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, Rhythm Of My Heart, Some Guys Have All The Luck and Maggie May.
Sir Rod will be joined on his 2023 Australian tour by revered artist Cyndi Lauper.
Lauper is a ground-breaking Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performing artist with global record sales of more than 50 million. Icon, global superstar, singer, songwriter, actress, activist and Broadway musical writer, her iconic voice, influential punk glamour and infectious live shows catapulted her to stardom in the early ’80s.
Lauper won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her first album, She’s So Unusual, and became the first woman in history to have four top five singles from a debut album, including 11 Top 50 hits in Australia in the ’80s. Lauper has released 11 studio albums, yielding timeless classics like Time After Time, True Colors, and the anthemic Girls Just Want To Have Fun. She has been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, seven American Video Awards, 18 MTV Awards, as well as being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for the critically acclaimed musical Kinky Boots and in 2013 became the first solo woman to win a Tony Award for Best Original Score (music and lyrics).
Acclaimed rock singer Jon Stevens is a member of that exclusive club: the Kiwis who are so successful and talented, we claim them as our own! Jon was already a star in New Zealand when he relocated to Australia in 1981. In Australia, he found fame fronting Noiseworks, who had four Top 10 albums and 12 Top 50 singles, including the classics No Lies, Take Me Back, Touch and Hot Chilli Woman.
Jon then fronted INXS for more than three years, which included a gig at the Sydney Olympics’ closing ceremony, and has had huge success as a solo artist with his powerhouse vocals and electrifying live shows. Jon grew up listening to Rod Stewart, and his 2011 album Testify! included a cover of Open To Ideas, co-written by Rod Stewart and one of the last songs the Faces recorded.
The announcement follows Sir Rod’s previously cancelled Australian tour, which was originally an eight-date tour across the country in October and November 2020, playing both arenas and a day on the green winery dates, before been postponed to March and April 2022 and then cancelled.
Three remarkable singers. One incredible tour. Don’t miss it!
Tickets go on sale on Thursday 17 November at 1.00pm local time from Ticketmaster with the a day on the green and AAMI members’ pre-sale beginning Tuesday 15 November at 11.00am local time.
Yakiniku Hachibeh is Torquay’s new Japanese ‘Yakiniku’ (grilled meat) restaurant
From the team behind revered local restaurants Shinya Ramen and Toki, Yakiniku Hachibeh is the latest addition to Torquay’s Gilbert Street Japanese precinct.
Opening in September, Yakiniku Hachibeh draws on the atmosphere established at the two previous restaurants but levels up the offering, gifting Torquay and the region a premium Japanese dining and traditional Yakiniku experience unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Located at Shop 7, 4-6, Yakiniku Hachibeh is all about authentic Japanese BBQ.
In Japan, Yakiniku is the name for barbecue, and focuses on drawing out the natural flavour of the meat. Because of the focus on the flavour of the beef (most often not marinated or seasoned), yakiniku requires high-quality ingredients as well as extra care to bring out the beef’s intricate flavour and texture.
At Yakiniku Hachibeh, the specialty is high-quality Australian wagyu beef, with choices of sirloin, scotch and short ribs. Here the chef uses Stone Axe full blood Wagyu. Revered on menus around the globe, multi-award-winning Stone Axe Wagyu features an incredibly delicate texture and intense flavour, found uniquely in Australian Full Blood Japanese Black Wagyu. and represents some of Australia’s finest beef. The Stone Axe brand is an ultra-premium, luxury Wagyu product, without exception.
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Available as platters or individual cuts, diners can grill Japanese A5 and Australian M9 Wagyu beef, M9 Oyster Blade, pork belly, and seafood such as King prawns, squid, scallops and Abalone.
For a meal of epic proportions, the Hachibeh AU Zen Platter features three selections of Australian top-range Wagyu, M9 pork belly, seafood (two Large King prawns, four squid, two scallops) and Veggies (a mix of mushrooms, pumpkin, zucchini and eggplants).
Round your meal out with tantalising sides like Kimchi, Seaweed salad, Edamame, rice, Tofu Salad, and Kaarage, or opt for the sashimi if you’re looking for something fresh. Check out the full menu here.
There’s also Japanese beers, Japanese whisky, Sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails to choose from, plus wine, mocktails, non-alcoholic drinks and Japanese roasted green tea.
Sitting somewhere between the elegance of Toki and the casual charm of Shinya Ramen, Yakiniku Hachibeh is bold, contemporary and playful. The interior exudes warmth, boasting several textures and nut-brown shades, with polished floors, and wooden tables with circular Yakiniku grills taking the centre. A modest bar gives diners a view of the brightly lit selection of Japanese spirits and sake. A private dining room also features, ideal for groups of six people.
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If you love awesome BBQ, you’ve gotta eat here.
Find it at Shop 7 4-6 Gilbert Street, Torquay. Book a table here.
Treat yourself, adored cupcakery Baked By Us is now delivering cupcakes across Geelong
Everyone loves a good cupcake. Whether you’re a loyal chocolate fan, or you’ve converted to the red velvet, Nutella, or salted caramel camps, you are probably — like us — always on the hunt for that perfect cupcake.
While we’ll never complain about eating a cupcake, only a select few cupcakes can be classified as superior, crème de la crème and worth dreaming about – and Geelong’s Baked By Us is where you’ll find some good, sorry, no, absolutely amazing ones.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
The cupcakery (which supports young people who have a disability to gain workplace skills and experience) has become a real favourite for those seeking a sugar hit or delicious gift since opening its doors three years ago, with the cupcakery’s main goal being to bring the people they support a greater sense of purpose, belonging and sense of community that they may not find elsewhere.
It’s an amazing business, and the best part is the cupcakes are world-class. Colourful, sweet and beautifully decorated, this is a place you can rely on for a range of delicious, ever-changing flavours offered at a low price point. A quick glance at the menu and you’ll find flavours like lemon curd, rainbow, triple chocolate, ice cream sundae, unicorn fairy bread, caramel and so much more.
Licking your lips yet? Well good news: Baked By Us is now delivering its oh-so-sweet cupcakes across Geelong.
For the moment, orders must be placed over the phone at least one day prior to the delivery date. Orders will be available Monday to Saturday up until Christmas Eve. Deliveries will be limited, however (this cupcakery often sells out its stock every day – it’s that good!!), so get those orders in early to avoid missing out. Free gift wrapping with a gift tag is included if you need it!
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To browse the selection, head here and to order delivery, call 5260 1817. Baked By Us is located at 78 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
‘We are charged’: Melbourne trio MOD CON bring their frenetic, resonant and powerful live show to Backyard Fest
It’s been a red hot minute since we last heard from MON CON.
Based in Melbourne, the three-piece post-punk trio made up of Erica Dunn (guitar, vox), Sara Retallick (bass, vox), and Raquel Solier (drums), have been making waves since their inception back in 2017. Originally playing together under the moniker Palm Springs, the trio released their debut album Modern Convenience to critical acclaim back in 2018.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Emerging from Victoria’s length lockdowns, the band began drip-feeding us singles ‘Ammo’, ‘Learner in an Alpha’ and ‘X-Ray’ before dropping their highly-anticipated second album, Modern Condition, in October last year. Full of anxiety, gutsy riffs, screeches and tempered rhythms, the record was a fresh slice of poignant, political punk that showcased the three-piece’s growth since 2018’s Modern Convenience.
With the wiry post-punk trio’s highly anticipated second studio release out in the world, the last 12 months have been some of the busiest yet for the band members, who all keep themselves busy with various solo and collaborative projects.
Dunn splits her time with art-punk outfit Tropical Fuck Storm, the solo project Palm Springs and the Tom Lyngcoln-fronted Harmony. Retallick has the solo project Golden Syrup and lectures at Melbourne Polytechnic, while Solier creates music under Various Asses and is also a facilitator in a youth music program and mother to a young daughter.
“We come out lockdown in a mad whirlwind with a lot of stuff, not MOD CON related,” Erica Dunn explains.
“Raq has been playing a lot in her solo mode as Various Asses, released a new incredible album and has been nominated best producer in the Music Victoria Awards, Sara has taken up a master’s at UNSW and is always working on music, currently doing a residency as MESS, lots of amazing shit, I’m allowed to gush over those two, they amaze me. I’ve pretty much been on tour in EU and US with Tropical Fuck Storm since May. So any time we get to do MOD CON stuff it’s precious and exciting!”
Arriving back in Melbourne this week, Dunn will reunite with her MOD CON bandmates for a special festival slot at Backyard Fest, the newest music and arts festival heading to regional Victoria this weekend. Becoming one of the most anticipated festivals on the regional Victorian circuit, music festival Backyard Fest (BYF) will be making its debut in Castlemaine this November, channelling some serious house party energy into a weekend of fun, camaraderie and ease.
New music and arts festival Backyard Fest brings Babe Rainbow, Alice Skye and more to Castlemaine
Taking over Lot 19, Castlemaine’s most loved outdoor arts precinct, from Friday, November 11 until Saturday, November 12, MOD CON joins an impressive festival debut lineup including the likes of Byron Bay’s psychedelic rockers Babe Rainbow and Melbourne indie rockers Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, plus The Stroppies, Andras, WHARVES, The Maes, Ausecuma Beats and Bones and Jones, among others. For Dunn, this gig has been a long time coming, with the festival originally scheduled to go ahead in November 2021.
“I will be bringing jetlag, I think I get off the plane the day before,” she laughs. “No, really we are charged! We’ve been talking and thinking about this gig for a long time, it’s overcome a lot of covid related cancellations and setbacks so I think everyone involved is really ready to celebrate!”
Backyard Fest originally began in suburban backyards in 2017 in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne by three Camberwell housemates, with a vision to bring in bands and DJs for house parties worth remembering. Now wanting to bring the good times to more friends and new faces, the little backyard festival is coming to life with its first large-scale public event.
With a limited capacity and the best bits of backyard shenanigans, Dunn reflects on the significance of earning a spot on the intimate festival lineup.
“It’s special to be a part of someone’s vision for how an event can flow,” she says. “Everyone brings a different energy to these things and it’s fun to play for people who are settling in for a few days of listening to music and having positive experiences.”
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With the band embracing their onward trajectory thanks to the impressive bond between bandmates and friends, Dunn confirms that a third MOD CON album is already in the works.
“When it gets down to it, we love each other’s company! There’s nothing else in our mad lives that ticks the special boxes that hanging out and playing music together does!
“The rumours are true but we’re not in a rush,” she adds, regarding a third album. “We’ve had some studio time n been sharing some demos but it’s very early days.
“[The album] will always be something new but the sounds we make together have always been based on challenging each other musically, finding new ways to make each other tick. That same premise is always going to be the foundation of what we do.”
Stay tuned. In the meantime Dunn has one last piece of advice for those heading to Backyard Fest this weekend: “La Niña! Chuck your gumboots in the car baby!”
Backyard Fest hits Lot 19 at McShanag Rd in Castlemaine from Friday, November 11 until Saturday, November 12. More info here. Keep up to date with the Facebook event here.
Ramona Sky leads Cherry Jam, the new one-night mini-festival coming to Richmond
Cherry Jam is the new one-night-only mini-festival taking to The Leadbeater Hotel, Richmond on Thursday, November 24 featuring performances from four epic bands and four incredible DJ’s.
With two rooms, the hotel is imitating the experience of a multi-stage festival, bringing together a fun and fierce lineup of female and gender-diverse musicians rocking out in support of Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD). The 18+ fundraising event will feature some of the best upcoming bands in Melbourne including Ramona Sky, Blue Nude, Maddy Petch and Hard No and DJs Mabel, Baby Monet, Noom and Blinker Fluid
Cherry Jam mini-festival at the Leadbeater
- Two level multi staged show
- Taking place at The Leadbeater Hotel
- Different bars for each level
- All profits go towards charity
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
There will be bars available on each level, giving patrons the ability to choose their own experience at Cherry Jam. Patrons will be able to explore the upstairs and downstairs areas of the iconic Leadbeater hotel to find a variety of artists and DJs during the night.
Ramona Sky are bringing their funk influence to the table, the Melbourne band being the highly anticipated headliner of the night. Colourful, bright clean guitar strumming sits in tangent with soulful vocals that search endlessly. Truly taking the funk influence to heart, the bass is also a standout. It sneaks around the background and elongates the fretboard of the band, wiring more space for the regimented guitar and vocals.
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Another fantastic addition to the lineup is the angelic sound of singer-songwriter Maddy Petch. Her indie folk-styled sound is encompassed by the surfy twang of a space-inducing guitar, and her strumming on an acoustic to keep the heart beating on her tracks. Delving into honest and storytelling-based lyrics, she’s more proof that this mini-festival has it all.
The festival will also feature DJ Madel whose work is “a foray into the interests and experiences of her being; both intrinsically and extrinsically”; genre-expansive and genre-bending BABY MONET; Naarm producer/DJ Noom; and Blue Nude, who play with influences from indie rock to folk to neo-soul to create a distinctive pop sound.
Straight off of their concert tour with Your Shot AU, DJ duo BlinkerFluid and Naarm/Melbourne based band Hard No round out the lineup.
With a wide variety of genres from house to punk to indie, there is something for everyone at Cherry Jam Mini Fest.
Cherry Jam Mini Fest kicks off from 6pm and is expecting a massive turnout, so if you were interested please find more information and ticketing here.
Dayseeker Discuss ‘Dark Sun’ and Departure of Metal Hardcore Scene
Orange County is celebrated for their sun-soaked surroundings, as represented by every pop culture reference related to California. But the sun has been blackened for the post-hardcore band, Dayseeker.
As rising stars of the genre since their 2013 debut What It Means To Be Defeated, Dayseeker have been storming the post-hardcore scene with their impressive live shows and sober songbooks. That solemn tone continues to be present in their juxtaposing latest album Dark Sun and coinciding single and music video release for the track ‘Crying While You’re Dancing’.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
In a melancholic prom-style setting, the music video had a Euphoria-inspired direction envisioned by both the team merchandising coordinator and their band manager.
“What’s interesting was we did our headliner in April this year and we got our merch girl, her name is Armani, who loved the song, she picked it as our lead single and she said she saw a Euphoria vibe to it. It was really weird because we hung out with our manager a few days later in Ohio, his name is Corey and then we started talking about it and then he hadn’t talked to Amani at all, but he was also like, “yeah, I just see kind of like a Euphoria vibe”. And it was just weird because they both had this same idea,” explains frontman Rory Rodriguez.
“And so we just brought that kind of idea to the videographer. And we set up like an open kind of casting call to a bunch of our fans via Instagram and we ended up with like 40 or 50 extras. We were just like “just show up in like prom attire and you just have to kind of awkwardly dance around while we would sing”, so I’m really happy with how it came out though.”
The track deciphers the struggles Rodriguez has seen friends go through with suffocating their mental health issues in favour of a relationship with alcohol while the album centres predominantly around Rodriguez’s grief journey. Rodriguez’s father sadly passed away shortly after the birth of the vocalist’s daughter.
“I definitely feel like most of the Dark Sun I ended up writing about my father’s passing, ‘Crying While You’re Dancing’ wasn’t really targeted around that because I didn’t wanna write that many songs just about death. Like I mean we are like a sadder style band. But it’s nice to give a variety of topics,” he says.
“‘Crying While You’re Dancing’ was just more generalized. It’s about people who act like they’re having the time of their lives but it’s so clear to a lot of people that they’re spiralling or just going through a really tough time.”
The heavier subject of his father’s passing is evident in tracks ‘Neon Grave’, ‘Midnight Eternal’, the titular track ‘Dark Sun’ and ‘Parallel’, a track that explores the concept of parallel universes, which is further echoed in their album artwork.
“With ‘Parallel’ the verses are very graphic and explicit in detailing what my experience was like with like watching my dad pass away in hospice for a few days when he was unconscious, and then the choruses are more like – because I had dated this girl was a scientist, very, very briefly, like a year ago, she told me she found some findings from a couple of very smart people who discovered some theory or some equation that basically proved that parallel universes and dimensions were like a real thing. I don’t know how true that is, but I just thought it would be really interesting – so the choruses are about the idea of my dad being like alive and well in a different universe where like, he’s not suffering and he doesn’t have cancer or Parkinson’s,” explains Rodriguez.
It’s not the first time that Rodriguez has referenced his father in his lyrics, but Dark Sun is both a way for Rodriguez to celebrate his father and channel his grief.
“Grief isn’t linear, you know. I mean it was very, very sad, like right when it happened, but there are days where like I feel like it’s horrible but I have acceptance of it and then there are other days that are like a lot harder than others so but I feel like having the chance to write so much about him was really nice and I feel like if he exists in like any other sort of realm of the afterlife, I think he would be like really excited or just happy that we are like highlighting something about him for pretty much like half of the album.I wrote songs about him when he was alive and I know he was always like very happy or excited when we got to do that. So I think he’d be psyched if he knew we ended up writing most of this new album about him.”
Initially meant as a one track life, the topic of Rodriguez’s father was too full to fit in four minutes.
“We wrote ‘Neon Grave’, it was like the first song on the album that we wrote. I thought that we would just squeeze everything in that song about my dad, and then I realized there was just so much more to talk about. Sometimes it’s hard to even finish just one song about one topic but this ended up spanning into like five different songs in the album.”
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Whilst Dark Sun represents the end of a life, it further represents the departure of Dayseeker from the post-hardcore scene as evident in both their new sonic palette and visual direction, particularly with ‘Crying While You’re Dancing’.
“Using dark buildings and clouds and rain and stuff like with the prom scene is probably another reason is that we’re trying to jump a little bit out of the metal hardcore scene, you know? But I think that’s pretty obvious with a lot of the new music. Our brand is just really depressing content so I think it’s reflective of the music.”
Check out Dayseeker’s new direction yourself. Dark Sun is out now via Spinefarm Records.
This article was made in partnership with Bigmouth PR
Baker Boy, Kerryn Fields lead Music Victoria Awards 2022 Nominees, public voting now open
After two rough years for music across the state, Victorian acts, festivals and venues now have twelve more trophy-shaped reasons to celebrate. The Music Victoria Awards have officially announced nominees for all ‘Public Voting Categories’ in 2022, and punters across Australia’s home of live music can weigh in on who the most deserving acts and music locations are.
Voting for all twelve public categories officially opens today, with Victorians strongly encouraged to cast their votes and support the diverse and talented pool of artists that live and create in Victoria, before voting closes at 5pm, Monday 21 November. The well-deserving nominees have been selected by more than 200 acclaimed music judges, who cover a wide spectrum of the Victorian music scene, including radio, plus music industry experts from key stakeholders, peak bodies, print and online media, music podcasts, leading cultural organisations and music festivals. The 2022 nominees represent one of the strongest years on record!
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
So who’s leading our talented Victorian music community in 2022?
With four nominations this year, Victoria’s beloved Hip Hop extraordinaire Baker Boy is nominated for the prestigious ‘Best Album Award’ for his work on debut record ‘Gela’. Joining Baker Boy in the ‘Best Album Award’ category is multi-nominated artist Harvey Sutherland for his record ‘Boy’, beatnik-jazz outfit JAZZPARTY for their album ‘Nobody Gets Away’, award winning artist Kerryn Fields for her fearless new LP ‘Water’ and Zimbabwean-born, Melbourne based soul singer thndo (FKA Thando) for her incredible record ‘Life In Colour’.
Backing up his nomination for ‘Best Album Award’, Baker Boy has also scored himself a slot in the ‘Best Song Award’ category alongside fellow nominees Courtney Barnett, Black Cab, GUTHRIE and Julia Jacklin, as well as in the ever-important ‘Best Solo Artist’ category, marking Baker Boy’s third nomination. Julia Jacklin and Kerryn Fields join Baker Boy in this category for their second nods, alongside Melbourne producer, vocalist, and performer IJALE and ARIA Award-nominated artist Mo’Ju.
Camp Cope, Dorsal Fins, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Ramona Sky and Telenova will all be going head to head in the category for ‘Best Group’, as Alice Skye, DEAD, Bones and Jones, Jess Parker and three-time nominee Baker Boy duke it out in the ‘Best Regional Act’ category.
In 2022, the awards will cover a bigger footprint than ever before, with the award for ‘Best Festival’ now splitting out into ‘Best Metro Festival’ and ‘Best Regional Festival’, spreading even more of the festive spirit across the state and celebrating the important events happening in Victoria’s vibrant regions.
Brunswick Music Festival, Melbourne Music Week, Reunion Park, Peninsula Summer Music Festival and acclaimed arts & music festival RISING have been named as Victoria’s favourite metro events, while CresFest, Meadow in Bambra, OK Motels in Charlton, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca-Moama have all scored nominations for the best events taking place beyond the city limits, in the ‘Best Regional Festival’ category.
Despite Melbourne hosting countless world-class live music venues across the city, only five nominees could be selected for both ‘Best Small Venue (Metro)’ and ‘Best Large Venue (Metro)’; in 2022, beloved venues Brunswick Ballroom, Northcote Social Club, Shotkickers, The Gasometer Hotel and The Jazzlab will be in the running to pick up the award for ‘Best Small Venue (Metro)’, cementing themselves as the prime venue for seeing live music with less than 500 people.
Forum Melbourne, Melbourne Recital Centre, Palais Theatre, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and The Night Cat have all scored nominations for ‘Best Large Venue (Metro)’, with the public now encouraged to have their say on the premiere Melbourne destination for shows with more than 500 punters.
This year’s event also welcomes a brand new category for ‘Best DJ’, providing an even bigger platform for the electronic and dance music communities in Victoria and highlighting one of the state’s biggest music scenes. In the categories debut year, ‘Best DJ’ includes Toronto-born Australian-resident Jennifer Loveless, pop-electronic act Memphis LK, Melbourne-based DJ, event curator and radio broadcaster MzRizk, Melbourne producer Reptant and one third of both Wax’o Paradiso and ¿Club D’érange? Simon TK.
In 2022, the awards for ‘Best Regional Venue/Presenter’ are split into two separate and equally important categories; established venues and venues with less than 50 gigs a year.
Caravan Music Club in Archies Creek, Palais Hepburn, The Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong, The Taproom – Shedshaker Brewing in Castlemaine and Theatre Royal Castlemaine have all scored nominations for the ‘established’ category, as Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute – Minerva, Daylesford Hotel, A69, Golden Vine Hotel in Bendigo, Hotel Warrnambool and Music on the Hill (MOTH) – Mornington Peninsula will be vying for the award for venues with less than 50 shows per year.
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The long list of nominees for public voting now joins the previously announced list of ‘Industry Nominations’, which includes everyone from Confidence Man, Alice Ivy, Evelyn Ida Morris and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard to Carissa Nyalu, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Ajak Kwai.
“Public voting is certainly the most electrifying part of the Awards – where no-one knows who will win until all the votes are in. Make sure you have your say and VOTE FOR MUSIC!” said Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel.
“Massive congratulations to all the nominees – I really hope that this helps all of us to recognise their true value and contribution to the music ecology, that makes Victoria great. Many Victorian communities have been badly impacted by flooding of late, so it’s extra nice to find reasons like this one to celebrate, and ultimately help those impacted to rise again.”
Music fans across Victoria are encouraged to head to the official website and get their votes in before 5:00 pm AEDT on Monday 21 November, 2022.
To get your vote in and support Victorian music, head here.
Music Victoria Award Nominees for Public-Voted Categories 2022
Best Album:
Baker Boy – Gela
Harvey Sutherland – Boy
JAZZPARTY – Nobody Gets Away
Kerryn Fields – Water
thndo – Life In Colour
Best Song:
Baker Boy – Survive
Black Cab – Rotsler’s Rules
Courtney Barnett – Rae Street
GUTHRIE – Dickhead Song
Julia Jacklin – Lydia Wears A Cross
Best Group:
Camp Cope
Dorsal Fins
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Ramona Sky
Telenova
Best Solo Artist:
Baker Boy
IJALE
Julia Jacklin
Kerryn Fields
Mo’Ju
Best DJ:
Jennifer Loveless
Memphis LK
MzRizk
Reptant
Simon TK
Best Regional Act:
Alice Skye
Baker Boy
Bones and Jones
DEAD
Jess Parker
Best Metro Festival:
Brunswick Music Festival (Wurundjeri)
Melbourne Music Week (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
Peninsula Summer Music Festival (Boonwurrung)
Reunion Park (Wurundjeri)
RISING (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
Best Regional Festival:
CresFest in Creswick (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Meadow in Bambra (Gulidjan, Gadubanud and Wadawurrung)
OK Motels in Charlton (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Port Fairy Folk Festival (Gunditjmara)
Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca-Moama (Yorta Yorta)
Best Large Venue (Metro):
Forum Melbourne (Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung)
Melbourne Recital Centre (Wurundjeri)
Palais Theatre (Boonwurrung)
Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Wurundjeri)
The Night Cat (Wurundjeri)
Best Small (Metro):
Brunswick Ballroom (Wurundjeri)
Northcote Social Club (Wurundjeri)
Shotkickers – Thornbury (Wurundjeri)
The Gasometer Hotel – Collingwood (Wurundjeri)
The Jazzlab – Brunswick (Wurundjeri)
Best Regional Venue/Presenter (Established)
Caravan Music Club in Archies Creek (Boonwurrung)
Palais Hepburn (Dja Dja Wurrung)
The Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong (Wadawurrung)
The Taproom – Shedshaker Brewing in Castlemaine (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Theatre Royal Castlemaine (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Best Regional Venue / Presenter (Under 50 Gigs Per Year)
Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute – Minerva (Wadawurrung)
Daylesford Hotel (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Golden Vine Hotel – Bendigo (Dja Dja Wurrung)
Hotel Warrnambool (Peek Whurrong)
Music on the Hill (MOTH) – Mornington Peninsula (Boonwurrung)
Head here for more info.
Jack Botts announces ‘Dream On’ Australian summer tour
Brisbane-born, Byron Bay-based musician Jack Botts is a breath of fresh air in this industry, spending the last few years refining his singer-songwriter craft after cutting his teeth as a busker.
Now selling out headline shows, both here and internationally, and making festival appearances across the country, Jack Botts is becoming one of Australia’s fastest-rising songwriters under the radar thanks to his super chill guitar riffs, great melodies and honey-smooth vocals.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
With a sound perfect for bringing those coastal road trip vibes to life, Botts will be delivering the summer soundtrack we deserve in January with his Dream On Australian tour, taking to venues across the country.
Kicking off in Byron Bay in December, the singer-songwriter will make 14 more stops, finishing up at Rockhampton on February 4. Locally, Botts will perform at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on January 7 and the Torquay Hotel on January 8.
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After spending a large chunk of 2022 on the road overseas, Jack is stoked to be back on the road in Australia this summer to bring in the new year. With new music in tow, and an abundance of incredible supports from the local community, it’s set to be an epic summer along the eastern coastline.
“Heading down the east coast of Australia this January & February for my ‘Dream On’ summer tour! It’s been a while and I’m soooo bloody excited to get back in the van with the crew and hit the road. Something really special about regional touring, I love it,” Botts said.
“Heaps of good mates joining this tour, so remember to come down early if you’re coming to a show!”
Purchase tickets here.
Missy Higgins wins major Melbourne music prize
The ever-talented Missy Higgins has been named the winner of one of Australia’s most valuable and sought-after music awards, announced this week at Fed Square.
Valued at $60,000, the Melbourne Prize for Music 2022 recognises an outstanding contribution to Australian music and our cultural life and provides the recipient with career development opportunities. Supported by Major Patron The Vera Moore Foundation, and The Tallis Foundation.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Higgins, this year’s winner, joins impressive alumni, including Professor Deborah Cheetham AO (2019), Kutcha Edwards (2017), Brett Dean (2013), David Jones (2010), and Professor Paul Grabowsky AO (2007).
Melbourne Prize Trust Executive Director, Mr Simon Warrender said, “We are delighted with the response this year and the support we have had from the music sector. I would like to congratulate the finalists and winners and express my thanks to all entrants. This year’s activities would not have been possible without the generous support of our partners and patrons – thank you one and all.”
Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp said, “Music is intrinsically part of Melbourne, with live music filling our streets and music venues every single day. We’re a city that has launched global music careers for decades, and this year’s Melbourne Prize winners cement our legacy. Thank you to the Melbourne Prize Trust for supporting future stars, and recognising their incredible tenacity in the face of extraordinary pressures over the past two years.”
With a prize pool of over $90,000 providing valuable career development for three Victorian musicians, Jessica Hitchcock was named the winner of the $10,000 (plus $1,000 Qantas voucher) Professional Development Award 2022 to fund project/s to assist with her music career, while Annie Hui-Hsin Hseih was named the winner of the $20,000 Beleura Emerging Composers Award 2022 to develop her music career.
Musicians Liza Lim, Mindy Meng-Wang and Jim White were also finalists in the Melbourne Prize 2022 and receive $1,000 each, supported by Fed Square.
The 2022 judges include three esteemed music professionals – Professor Deborah Cheetham AO, soprano and composer, Helen Marcou AM, co-founder of Bakehouse Studios and SLAM, and Benjamin Northey, conductor.
Judge’s Statement: “The range and diversity of entries this year made the process of judging as overwhelming as it was exciting. The response to the 2022 prize and awards, each of which offer the recipient direct assistance with their music careers, is testament to the resilience of the Victorian music sector. Missy Higgins, Annie Hui-Hsin Hseih and Jessica Hitchcock are remarkable talents and inspirations of personal achievement and commitment to their music.
“Each has made a unique and substantial contribution to Australian music and in turn our cultural life. Congratulations to the three finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2022 and thank you to the many entrants this year across all three categories, as well as the local music sector for supporting this initiative. Music is an essential part of all our lives and well-being and enriches our community and we want to see the sector thrive in years to come.”
The winner of the $2,000 Civic Choice Award 2022 will be announced at www.melbourneprize.org on November 11.
Bluesfest is coming to Melbourne for the first time in 2023 with a huge lineup
It will take place on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 and will feature performances from some huge international and local talent, including Ash Grunwald, Buddy Guy, The Doobie Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, Henry Wagons, Kaleo, Kasey Chambers, Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, Paolo Nutini, Robert Glasper, Steve Earle and many more.
Bluesfest Melbourne 2023
- Bluesfest, Byron Bay’s favourite festival, is heading to Melbourne for two days next year
- It’s the first-ever iteration of Bluesfest in Melbourne
- It all goes down on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
There will be multiple indoor theatres and stages, an array of food and drink, family entertainment and much more, all culminating in the ultimate Bluesfest experience, transforming the banks of the Birrarung into a full weatherproof festival precinct. With a range of ticket options to suit everyone, tickets are bound to sell out fast.
It’s set to be the only Melbourne shows of both The Doobie Brothers and Paolo Nutini.
“I am so excited to be bringing Australia’s leading music festival, Bluesfest Byron Bay down south to present a first-of-its-kind two-day indoor music festival,” says Bluesfest chief Peter Noble. “We’ll be bringing some of the absolute premium international and local artists who perform at Bluesfest alongside the fantastic Melbourne artists to create an experience for music lovers that is unprecedented in this city.”
“Offering patrons the chance to see more than 30 performances over a two-day period in an environment that is weatherproofed, accessible and safe, right in the heart of the Melbourne and Docklands area. I see Bluesfest Melbourne becoming an absolute must-see on the annual events calendar.”
A taste of the artists to come …
(in alphabetical order)
- Ash Grunwald
- Backsliders
- Buddy Guy
- Chain
- Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
- C.W. Stoneking & His Primative Horn Orchestra
- The Doobie Brothers
- Eric Gales
- Eugene Hideaway Bridges
- Fools
- Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers
- Greensky Bluegrass
- Henry Wagons
- Kaleo
- Kasey Chambers
- Keb’ Mo’
- Lucinda Williams
- Melbourne Ska Orchestra
- Paolo Nutini
- Robert Glasper
- Shaun Kirk
- The Soul Rebels with Talib Kewli and GZA
- Soutehrn Avenue
- Steve Earle
- Xavier Rudd
Find out more by heading to their website. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 14 at 9am through ticketmaster.com.au