Lewis Capaldi announces second Melbourne show due to overwhelming demand
The one and only Lewis Capaldi – the singer-songwriter who has brought us instant hits like ‘Bruises’ and ‘Rush’ – has catapulted into the spotlight so fast you’d think he’d forgotten how to breathe. He’s so well-loved by all, that he’s instantly sold out the Melbourne date on his anticipated Australian tour in July 2023 which went on sale this morning, with all other shows selling fast!
In response to this huge demand, Capaldi has just announced a second Melbourne date which will see the Scottish singer-songwriter perform at Rod Laver Arena on Friday 14 July, a day prior to the now-sold out show at Rod Laver on July 15.
Lewis Capaldi 2023 Australian Tour
- July 8 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
- July 11 – RAC Arena, Perth
- July 13 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
- July 14 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne NEW SHOW
- July 15 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne SOLD OUT
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
The news comes as Capaldi announces that his new album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent will be released in 19 May 2023 on EMI Records. His 2023 tour will see him arrive with a host of new songs to perform from the new album, alongside crowd favourites.
Capaldi made his eagerly awaited return in September with new single Forget Me, marking his third consecutive UK No. 1 hit and giving fans a taste of new music to come.
The new record will follow his 2019 full-length debut, Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent — which peaked at #3 on the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albums and featured the hit singles Someone You Loved and Before You Go.
Tickets on sale now.
‘Clothed In Memory’: The nostalgic book from a Bendigo creative combining celebrities with clothing and memories
Filled with fond fashion memories, Clothed In Memory is full of moments where familiarity meets the unexpected.
Providing a window into an out-of-reach world, Clothed In Memory is the new coffee table book from Bendigo artist and writer Garry Taylor, filled with a collection of short biographies of famous Australians illustrated with items of clothing, or costumes, by which they are identified.
Keep up with the latest in local good news via our website.
Released independently and marking Taylor’s first step into the publishing world, this entrancing, carefully curated paperback book is a glimpse into the lives of some of Australia’s most famous faces, with a few international guests included for good measure.
In a sheer example of dedication and passion, the project has been a decade-long affair for Taylor, having spent years contacting, interviewing and writing stories about the iconic outfits and sentimental pieces of the country’s loved celebrities.
From swimmer and actor Murray Rose, athlete Cathy Freeman, artist John Coburn, and actor Tony Bonner, to renowned musicians Kate Ceberano, Kim Wilde, Petula Clark, Jackie Trent and fashion designers Christian Lacroix, Zandra Rhodes and British designer Bruce Oldfield, Clothed In Memory sees up to 80 celebrities share an item of clothing that signifies a special moment in their life. Each individual, all worthy of inclusion by their own merit, relate tales about all kinds of garments, including overalls, hats, sports outfits and swimsuits.
Filled with both photographs and musings from the featured faces and illustrations from Taylor, the book provides a healthy dose of pop-culture nostalgia, with the ability to serve as an inspiration and double as decoration.
You can find Clothed In Memory at various Victorian bookstores, including Collins Booksellers, or purchase direct from Taylor via [email protected].
SAFIA announce intimate headline show in Melbourne in December
Much-adored Canberra trio SAFIA return today with their uplifting bittersweet new track ‘Falling Down‘ and announce two intimate headline shows for Sydney and Melbourne in December.
For their first headline shows in three years, the band wanted to take it back to where it all began, in intimate clubs. They’ll be giving fans a rare chance to preview new material on 13 December at The Espy Gershwin Room in Melbourne, and 14 December at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney.
SAFIA Headline Shows 2022
Tuesday 13 December – The Espy Gershwin Room, St Kilda VIC
Wednesday 14 December – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The first piece of new music from the band since their second album Story’s Start or End was released in 2019, ‘Falling Down’ is pure SAFIA at heart; bouncy beats, intricate production and astute lyrics.
“’Falling Down’ is about constantly pouring your heart and soul into something and feeling like you’re getting nowhere, yet you push on anyway. Sonically it’s a song that dances delicately between being both expansive and intimate,” the band explain of the new single.
Over the past few years the band have continued to live up to their reputation as a must-see live act, selling out theatres across Australia and playing festivals including Wildlands, Golden Shores, and Now and Again.
Both Story’s Start or End and the band’s debut album Internal (2016) showcased the Australian three-piece’s bold vision and fine attention to detail, with intricate production and adventurous arrangements underpinning thoughtful musings on identity, growth, and understanding.
Achievements across both albums were numerous with two Platinum certified singles ‘Make Them Wheels Roll’ and ‘Embracing Me’, and multiple Gold certified singles ‘Starlight’, ‘My Love Is Gone’, ‘Together, Locked Safely and ‘Over You’. They also drew in a Gold certified album plaque, and ARIA and triple j J Award nominations.
They have accumulated over 200 million streams, plus an incredible 700 million streams in China with their viral hit ‘Counting Sheep’. They’ve also collaborated with festival favourites Peking Duk (‘Take Me Over’) and Alison Wonderland (‘Take It To Reality’). They have placed in triple j’s Hottest 100 over four consecutive years, sold out numerous headline shows locally as well as toured US, UK, Europe and China and played lauded festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Groovin the Moo and Beyond the Valley.
Purchase tickets to SAFIA headline shows here.
Bridget Sharp’s intimate ‘Laundry Day’ is an ethereal dream pop upheaval
Despite having only released her second solo single, Bridget Sharp has one of the most authentically beautiful voices in the industry. Her mixture of soulful, raw lyricism and soothing pop vocals complement the synth-y dream pop rhythms and melodies of her music beautifully.
Fresh from making her solo debut with her euphoric pop-empowerment anthem ‘Overgrown’ last year, the Geelong indie-pop songstress and frontwoman of art-rock fusion band Dandecat has come back in full force, showcasing growth and an openness with her storytelling with her sophomore release, ‘Laundry Day’.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Having officially ushered in her arrival as a soft pop phenomenon with ‘Overgrown’, garnering much deserved praise and attention from fans and local critics alive, ‘Laundry Day’ arrives to bolster her name even further, building upon the resume of intricate, homely and heartfelt songwriting that Sharp is capable of.
Tinged with pastel-coloured chords, dreamy vocals and visceral emotion, Sharp has outdone herself on an ambient song that showcases her breathtakingly soft, delicate vocals against a subtle and nuanced whirlwind of ethereal instrumentation and production.
With a natural storytelling ability at the forefront, supported by lush soundscapes, raw lyrics, sunkissed beats, homely melodies, and entracing vocals, ‘Laundry Day’ has an easily listenable and carefully crafted pop ambience that fits perfectly into the contemporary mainstream, but it’s also distinctive, natural vibrant and a platform for Sharp, as a singer/songwriter, to leave a mark of her own.
With tender nods to the likes of Maggie Rogers, King Princess and Asha Jefferies, Sharp draws inspiration from a melting pot of songwriter influences like Allysha Joy, Matt Corby and Holly Humberstone, artists renowned for using songwriting as the medium to make sense of the world around them.
An overwhelming surrender unlike any we’ve heard all year, ‘Laundry Day’ is a track spawned by the emotional turmoil of reflecting a past lover, with Sharp suggesting the need to break the cycle by starting with something as simple as the songs’ title.
As she describes, “‘Laundry Day’ came from a place of emotional recalibration. I was desperately wanting to move on from this relationship, yet it seemed to continuously haunt my thoughts, both good and bad. I sought closure, tried catching up a few times to be friends, which only made it hurt more as it seemed so easy for them to move on.
“I knew in order to cleanse my mind that the change had to come from me – as no amount of time was healing the wound. So, I started trying to accept the weight of how I was feeling, telling myself that it was powerful to be vulnerable and ok to feel a bit behind in life.”
View this post on Instagram
Beginning in 2019, as Sharp reflected on the end of a long term relationship, the track evolved into the pulsing anthem that it is today, filled with a vulnerability and strength not heard from her before.
“The title came first – as I liked the idea of writing a song to do with the accomplishment that sometimes is doing your laundry. This was closely followed by the chorus – and honestly seemed to just write itself – all of those words just flowed together once I pictured what laundry could mean in the context of the song. Undressing, stripping back to nothing, changing clothes – connecting me to how I was feeling about the breakup. I wanted a clean, new start.
“It’s taken me this long to release it as it was a song that felt deeply personal. Admitting that you’re not doing well after a breakup can take a lot of power – because it feels like it meant more to you than it did to them.”
She sings, Laundry Day, got to start again. I’ve grown tired, my mind resides in grey water.
Spin me round, I don’t need you to put me down, I’m already on the ground.
It’s for the best that I’m completely undressed. But it’s still you I see, start again, throw in the towel and wash my body.
Bridget Sharp makes her debut with euphoric pop-empowerment anthem, ‘Overgrown’
Blending weightless melodies with meaningful, arresting emotion, Sharp proves there is strength in vulnerability, power in making your feelings known.
A breath of fresh air, demanding reflection of a grateful kind, Sharp once again turned to the creative team from her debut to truly bring the song to life. With Melbourne (Naarm) magician Sam Phay (Eliott, Tia Gostelow, Tyne-James Organ) taking care of producing and powerhouse Peter Holz (Gang of Youths, Vance Joy, Samantha Jade) doing the mixing and mastering, Sharp was able to morph her already well-crafted song into a satisfying union between music and lyrics, marking it out as a cut above the average viral pop hit.
“Both Sam and Pete were able to perfectly encapsulate the world which ‘Laundry Day’ represents. I went to Sam initially with the brief of creating a “washy” world to represent all the themes which I’d written into the piano and lyrics. He managed to add elements to the song that not only supported the original song, but elevated it,” Sharp explains.
“Handing it onto Pete, he just levelled everything fabulously – drawing the most emotion out of the track.”
Ethereal and atmospheric and a triumphant return that is full of heart and passion, Sharp’s latest output of dream pop music is as intimate, spiritually energizing and unapologetically vulnerable as it gets.
Listen to ‘Laundry Day’ – the song we didn’t know we needed – here and keep up with the latest from Bridget Sharp here.
This article was made in partnership with Bridget Sharp.
Lorde, Arctic Monkey and more lead Live At The Bowl’s blockbuster 2023 summer lineup
Spanning four huge months, the much-beloved Live at the Bowl returns for their third summer season at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. With something huge happening multiple days and nights of the week – and right in the middle of the city to boot – Live at the Bowl is the festival that’s set to take over your summer.
Live at the Bowl calendar of events
- January 4 and 5 – Arctic Monkeys
- January 21 – Midsumma Extravaganza
- January 27 – Kehlani
- January 29 – Boris Brejcha
- February 4 – Darren Hayes
- February 8 – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, A Tchaikovsky Spectacular
- February 12 – Teeny Tiny Stevies
- Febuary 15 – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Mosaics
- February 17 – SYNTHONY 3.0
- February 18 – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Carmina Burana
- March 4 and 5 – Bon Iver
- March 10 and 11 – Lorde
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
With international superstars Arctic Monkeys, Bon Iver, Boris Brejcha, Darren Hayes, Kehlani and Lorde set to take over the stage for huge shows at Victoria’s most iconic venue, it marks Live at the Bowl’s most blockbuster season to date.
There’s also some pretty incredible performances from homegrown Australian talent in the mix there too: the MSO return with their ever popular free concerts for three spectacular nights of classical music under the stars. Additionally, the much-beloved, ARIA Award-winning children’s band Teeny Tiny Stevies are taking to the stage for a special outdoor family friendly concert.
With the Midsumma Extravaganza set to kick off Australia’s largest pride season with comedy royalty Joel Creasy and Kween Kong hosting comedians Nina Oyama, Rhys Nicholson and Scout Boxall and performances from Courtney Act, Kira Puru, Mama Alto, Dolly Diamond, Tash York, Tina Del Twist and the hilarious Steven Oliver – all on the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage.
“It’s a joy to see the return of Live at the Bowl for a third year,” said Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan AM. “To me, the breadth of the upcoming program shows exactly why this city thrives and how much it contributes to the live performance sector.”
“It’s such a wonderful way to gather with your favourite people to see some world-class artists. I can’t wait to be sitting up on the hill with you all enjoying some great live music.”
For more information and to grab your tickets, head here.
Festival X expands its 2022 lineup with additional international and homegrown talent
Already boasting a stellar line up of local and international heavyweights including the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Calvin Harris, Don Toliver, MaRLo, Luude, and more, Festival X have revealed the addition of Shanghai’s breakout talent Chace and producer duo Beauz, consisting of brothers Bernie and Johan Yang, to join the national touring lineup.
Bolstering the lineup even more ahead of the festival’s run, an immense selection of homegrown Aussie artists ready to take the reins across each capital city and showcase the extraordinary talent this country has to offer.
Festival X 2022 dates and locations
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Saturday November 26
Alabaster Sports Fields, Gold Coast
Sunday November 27
Bonython Park, Adelaide
Friday December 2
Sydney Showground, Sydney
Saturday December 3
Burswood Park, Perth
Sunday December 4
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
Kicking off weekend one in Melbourne on 26th November, festival goers will be graced with the unique stylings of Paris Lawrence, Minx, triple j’s Jade Zoe, and Tom Santa. Playing Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium, Dena Amy, and Taleena take the mainstage, alongside a long list of talent including Lowdown, and Paluma.
Weekend two sees Polly Pocket, and Oli Snoad, take lead at Adelaide’s Bonython Park on 2nd Dec, with additional support from CMMONPPL, and HI I’M JACK. Sydney fans will be delighted with peak performances from triple j’s Ebony Boadu, Alex Hayes, and Loose Grind on the mainstage, with BOM, Gemunji, and Dimatik amongst the varied talent the city has to offer. Whilst rounding out the festival in Perth on 4th December, Shann, Tina Says, and sammythesinner are set to impress with their high energy sets and electric on-stage charisma.
With an abundance of phenomenal talent being further featured across the tech, trance and local stages, there will be a myriad of artists for music lovers to explore and discover alongside their festival favourites.
Once again, Festival X will represent the very best in Hip Hop, Dance, EDM and Electronic music across multiple stages with a line-up featuring global superstars alongside the hottest local talent.
Headlining is festival favourite and multiple Grammy, Billboard and Brit Award winner, Calvin Harris in his second appearance at Festival X; hot off the heels of his fifth studio album announcement. Alongside, multiple Grammy award winner Megan Thee Stallion is headed down under for her first-ever performances. Chicago based, Trap-N-B rising star Don Toliver is headed to our shores for the first time, following multiple successful releases through Travis Scott’s iconic Cactus Jack records and trance aficionado and local hero MaRLo will also top off a bill.
Second release GA tickets and limited VIP tickets are available now across Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth, alongside a limited number of 16+ tickets (Gold Coast only).
Tickets available via www.festivalx.com.au.
Vengaboys are coming to Australia with their 25th Anniversary Tour in 2023
Dutch Eurodance idols Vengaboys have announced a return to Australia and New Zealand with their 25th Anniversary Tour in 2023, presented by Frontier Touring, Arena Touring and So Pop. If you like to party, get ready to jump on the Vengabus this coming February, with Vengaboys friends, Whigfield, Alice DJ, N-Trance, Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman and resident DJ Nick Skitz for the ultimate throwback pop experience!
Kicking off in New Zealand at Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 4 February, Vengaboys and friends head to Australia playing three Queensland shows at Gilligan’s, Cairns on Wednesday 8 February, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane on Thursday 9 February before Night Quarter, Sunshine Coast on Saturday 11 February. The Vengabus then heads south to the Forum, Melbourne on Sunday 12 February, back north for Big Top, Sydney on Thursday 16 February, across to Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide on Saturday 18 February before a final stop on the west coast at Metro City, Perth on Sunday 19 February.
Bringing a line-up of ‘90s pop royalty down under, this will be an epic night of everlasting classic party tunes of our time performed live on the one stage during a three-hour extravaganza.
Vengaboys 25th Anniversary Tour 2023
Saturday 4 February
Auckland Town Hall | Auckland, NZ
Wednesday 8 February
Gilligan’s | Cairns, QLD
Thursday 9 February
The Fortitude Music Hall | Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 11 February
Night Quarter | Sunshine Coast, QLD
Sunday 12 February
Forum Melbourne | Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 16 February
Big Top | Sydney, NSW
Saturday 18 February
Hindley Street Music Hall | Adelaide, SA
Sunday 19 February
Metro City | Perth, WA
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Cowboy Donny, Captain Kim, PartyGirl D’Nice and SailorBoy Robin are the Vengaboys and will bring their undeniable multiplatinum classics to celebrate their 25th anniversary! With over 700 million Vengaboys YouTube views, 1.5 million subscribers and more than 4.3 million Spotify monthly listeners, the lean and mean party-machine promises a blow-the-roof-off electrifying show!
The Vengaboys live experience showcases their smash hits, ‘Up & Down’, ‘Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine)’, ‘We Like To Party!’, ‘Uncle John from Jamaica’, ‘Boom Boom Boom Boom!!’, ‘We’re Going to Ibiza!’ and ‘Shalala lala’, along with current top-40 party anthems for a night of FULL. ON. FUN!
So for their guests, Danish artist and producer Whigfield will transport crowds to the Eurodance generation with her global smash singles ‘Sexy Eyes’ (#1 ARIA Platinum), ‘Think Of You’, ‘Another Day’, ‘Gimme Gimme’ and ‘Saturday Night’. With five studio albums and countless global hit singles, Whigfield continues with new music, 2020’s ‘Suga’ and subsequent ‘Suga – The Remixes’.
Dutch trance-pop project Alice DJ will bring contagious dance beats to the stage, mixing their biggest hits ‘Back In My Life’, ‘Will I Ever’ and ‘Better Off Alone’ (#4 ARIA Gold) from their million plus selling album Who Needs Guitars Anyway? through to celebrating the best dance anthems of the 90s and 00s.
One of the biggest selling UK dance acts of the 1990’s, N-Trance still reigns supreme on the dance floor whenever the thunder rolls! International classics include, ‘Set You Free’, ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy’, ‘Forever’ and ‘Electronic Pleasure’.
American electro-reggae duo Reel 2 Real will be joined by The Mad Stuntman live on stage with their boisterous energy, commanding crowds and making bodies bounce to their classics ‘I Like To Move It’ and ‘Go On Move’!
Australian pioneer of dance music Nick Skitz, has been filling party dance floors for years with his Hi NRG, techno and dance music mixes – and will be your resident DJ! In 2021, Skitz released Skitmix 59 (DJ Mix) (yes 59!) and is credited for starting the megamix craze Down Under. He’s released a whopping 43 Top 10 albums on the ARIA Dance Chart and hits including ‘Excalibur’, ‘The Ultimate’, and ‘You Got The Love’.
Frontier Members pre-sale kicks off Monday 31 October 12noon local time before the General Public on sale on Wednesday 2 November 12noon local time. More info here.
Geelong Business Excellence Awards unveils winners for 2022, celebrating clever, creative and connected local businesses
The winners of the 2022 Geelong Business Excellence Awards were announced on Thursday, October 27, with 20 awards given to some of the businesses, Young Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the Geelong region. The awards program celebrated the clever, creative and connected business community with a glamorous event held face-to-face for the first time in three years.
Each year the Geelong Business Excellence Awards (presented by the Geelong Chamber of Commerce) brings together some of the most creative, innovative and thriving businesses that have achieved business excellence in the Geelong region, along with a great number of dedicated local heroes who support Geelong and it’s tight-knit and loyal community – and what a community it is! These Awards (sponsored by LBW Business + Wealth Advisors) are the oldest continuously running business awards programs in Australia, and, as such, provide a significant recognition and celebration of business achievement and performance – especially now, in one of the most challenging times for our local businesses.
Keep up with the latest in local good news via our website.
Here are the local legends nominated for the 2022 Geelong Business Excellence Awards
Walking along the red carpet into GMHBA Stadium, award guests were dazzled by a magnificently set up President’s Room. Renowned television personality Nicky Buckley hosted the awards night with 20 category winners announced across three stages and entertainment provided throughout the evening by local band Good Faces for Radio.
With 800 people attending the event, this year’s awards were the largest in-person awards celebration the Geelong Chamber of Commerce has ever put on while also streaming the awards live across Facebook.
“It’s so important to recognise those businesses and leaders who have stared down the challenge, embraced the opportunity and taken everyone around them on a very special journey,” Chamber president John Stekelenburg said.
Congratulations to all the all the winners listed below – though we’d like to give a special shout out to all those who have taken the jump into owning or operating a business in the region.
GBEA category winners and sponsors 2022
Business of the Year
LBW Business + Wealth Advisors
Custom Neon
Business Leader of the Year
Sponsored by bay 93.9
Maree Herath
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Deakin University
Lee-Anne Campigli
Sustainable Business
Sponsored by Telstra Business Technology Centre- Victoria West
Scubabo Dive Victoria
Medium to Large Business or Division/Department of a business – 21+ Employees/FTE
Sponsored by EML
Custom Neon
Advanced Manufacturing & Industry
Sponsored by Southern Star Group of Companies
HPS Tech
Corporate Social Responsibility
Sponsored by genU
CentreStage Pty Ltd
Emerging Business – Under 3 years
Sponsored by The Gordon
Provenir
Inclusive & Accessible Business
Sponsored by Transport Accident Commission (TAC)
Accessible Accommodation
Safe & Healthy Business
Sponsored by WorkSafe Victoria
Corio Village
Small Business or Division/Department of a business – 4 to 20 Employees/ FTE 4-20
Sponsored by Bendigo Bank
The 18th Amendment Bar
Tourism & Hospitality
Sponsored by Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine
Higher Mark – Geelong Cats
Innovation, Research & Development
Sponsored by Viva Energy
Cabinets By Computer
Regional Business
Sponsored by Gartland
del Rios Winery & Restaurant
Digital Engagement
Sponsored by Web Force 5
Adventure Park Geelong
Retail Business
Sponsored by Roderick Insurance Brokers
Zacale Pty Ltd
Best First Year Entry
Sponsored by Harwood Andrews
13th Beach Health Services
Home-based & Micro Business
Sponsored by City of Greater Geelong
Crew Faced Makeup Artistry
Health & Wellbeing Promoting Workplace
Sponsored by Barwon Health
Coastyle Building Solutions
Customer Service
Sponsored by Hardings Hardware
MultiSkills Training
Congratulations to all!
Rone’s epic takeover of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station opens tomorrow
Following weeks of finishing touches, Melbourne artist Rone reveals his most ambitious building takeover to date with the unveiling of Time, an extraordinary and transportive immersive installation comprising eleven transformed rooms across the hidden upper level and ballroom of Flinders Street Station. All set within a mid-century time capsule, the art experience like no other opens its doors for the first time tomorrow, Friday 28 October.
Due to unprecedented demand from the opening through to the end of the year with almost all weekend sessions now sold out, the exhibition has already been extended by three more months, now running until Sunday 23 April 2023.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
“I can’t wait to finally show people what we’ve been up to for the last few years,” says Rone.
“It’s been such a long time coming. We’re used to having a finite time with a space, so to have a whole six months to share with audiences will be really rewarding. I’m proud of what we’ve managed to create and I’m looking forward to hearing people’s own stories and connections once they come through the doors.”
Of all of the locations that Rone has painted, Flinders Street Station is undoubtedly the most iconic. But instead of filling its halls with the glamour and excess similar to his previous work, Empire, Time honours the blue-collar workers of industrial post-WWII-era Melbourne, the regular people – many of them migrants – who passed through the station each day to work in nearby factories, offices and shops throughout the city. Rone’s grandmother herself even worked as a seamstress on Flinders Lane in the 1940s.
Using photo references from across the decades, Rone pieced together a vision for each of the rooms, which offer both a nod to the building’s actual history as well as to the industry of Melbourne’s downtown in the mid-1900s. A typing pool, a library, an art room, classroom, and more; each one referencing the toil of the working class and the tools and machinery of a forgotten era left behind.
The Work Room. Rone
In the Work Room, vintage Consew and Brother brand industrial sewing machines and benches appear alongside a custom-built cutting table. And down the hall in the Typing Pool, fourteen matching mid-century typewriters appear on metal tables alongside weathered chairs that lead the eye into the main office room.
“There is so much detail in each room you could never see it all in one visit,” says Rone.
“The aim is for audiences to be unsure where the artwork ends and where the original building starts. I like the idea that someone could walk in here and think, ‘He’s just done a painting on a wall,’ and that everything else they see is a legitimate, original part of the building. And perhaps they’ll think it’s kind of disrespectful that I’ve done that, that I’ve disturbed this space,” he continues.
“For me, that’s the ultimate end-goal – it means it has worked.”
Glasshouse. Rone
Set to be the star of the show, the fabled cavernous ballroom known to all Melburnians but until recently seen by none, will greet visitors with a once-resplendent glasshouse more than twelve metres long, now rusted over and draped in entangled vines.
Appearing as his ghostly muse for Time, model Teresa Oman has worked and collaborated with the artist for close to a decade, appearing in dozens of his murals all over the world. Oman’s portrait will continue Rone’s distinctive and hauntingly atmospheric style of large-scale portaiture work, taking over vast spaces of the ballroom space and throughout the third floor.
Time also features collaborative works by sound composer Nick Batterham, set builder director Callum Preston, set decorator Carly Spooner, as well as a team of more than 120 Victorian creatives and professionals to help realise every element of the exhibition’s vision.
Beyond the third floor of Flinders Street Station, Time continues. Part exhibition space, part retail and completely free to visit during exhibition hours, from tomorrow, Melbourne city visitors, residents and locals alike will have the opportunity to enjoy the Newsagency installation and adjoining Mixed Business Store as it opens just a few doors down from the exhibition on Flinders St. A special glimpse of the Time experience set within the walls above it, Rone will occupy an empty storefront over the coming months where visitors can discover Melbourne’s underground creative network in a specially curated store.
Focussing on contemporary art, product and makers, plus new merchandise from much-loved Melbourne-based artists such as Callum Preston, Carla McRae, David Booth (Ghost Patrol), Lucy Lucy, Mysterious Al, Stephen Baker and local makers, Ruskin Black, Kate Bowman, Nate Gamble and more, this exciting addition to Time celebrates the breadth of local talent in the city’s artistic community, all in one location for the public to explore.
For Rone, perhaps the most satisfying outcome of Time is the prospect of audiences discovering the fascinating history of these long-forgotten spaces and seeing the potential for what might come next.
“To really understand Flinders Street Station is to appreciate the important social role it played in Melbourne’s past, especially those who had traveled from other parts of the world to make their lives here,” he says.
“The station is such an Australian icon, yet the wonderful stories of its heyday are largely unknown to people today. I hope this project stirs people to imagine a new future for these spaces; it would be incredible to see that same spirit of creativity, connection, and learning return someday.”
Time opens Friday 28 October for a limited season running until Sunday 23 April 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
Reggae Fest: The Geelong festival dedicated to Caribbean culture happening this weekend
Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, Reggae Fest is the brand new event heading to Geelong this weekend, dedicated to celebrating the ‘vybz of the Caribbean’.
Created by Damian Rosevelt, the brains behind beloved Jamaican venue Taste Jamaica, Reggae Fest builds upon what he’s created at his restaurant, bringing the Caribbean to Geelong, with flavours transporting you to the lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches of Jamaica. Joining forces with a group of like-minded mates (three of who are Caribbean nationals), Rosevelt has curated a huge one-day event offering an immersive escape to the island of Jamaica right in the heart of Geelong.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Taking place this Saturday, October 29 from 12pm until 8:30pm, Jamaican music and food fans will come together to experience one glorious springtime day of reggae music, dance, food trucks, market stalls, visual arts and more with Reggae Fest.
“Reggae Fest came about by a conversation with some talented friends over some Jamaican Food and some Bob Marley Shots,” the festival statement reads.
“All coming from different professions having a huge involvement in Caribbean Culture, we felt Geelong needed more events for people to have an unforgettable experience and simply just escape to the islands for a day.
“Reggae Fest aims to promote and share Caribbean Culture in Australia through events that promote love, peace, hope and happiness.”
View this post on Instagram
Bringing the Caribbean Culture to Geelong through music, food and good vybz, this is a family-friendly ticketed event that will be held in the heart of Geelong, in Johnstone Park featuring both local and international Reggae artists, hosted by Jermaine Clarke.
On the music front, heading up the festival is Melbourne reggae outfit Crown Heights, a seven-piece outfit comprising members from Jamaica/London, New Zealand, Mauritius, Brazil, Samoa and Sri Lanka, each bringing their own sonic flavour to the mix, including Marvin Priest, independent artist of over 10 years and son of legendary reggae artist Maxi Priest.
Joining Crown Heights, Jamaican artist ProVydah will also take to the stage with his raw and authentic sounds, as well as local Reggae band Ras Jahknow. The Cape Verdean Reggae singer, songwriter and founder of iconic Melbourne reggae ensemble Ras Jahknow Band will be bringing dynamic, high-energy, positive music to the people with a stage show guaranteed to uplift and inspire with powerful messages. Blazing new soul and fresh rhythms into what is described best as culturally rich, roots reggae music, Ras Jahknow sings with passionate vocals in English and Creole, weaving through the diverse native sounds from the African island nation of Cape Verde, Brazil, Tanzania and Mauritius to Australia. The band embodies a vision of unity, respect and peace, built on the foundation of irresistible, reggae rhythms.
Further rounding out the music lineup, the festival will also see the likes of Nicky Bomba and Bustamento Band – a tropical shaking six piece that pays homage to the upbeat rhythms of the Caribbean, covering the Calypso, Mento, Early Reggae and Ska styles; Jamaican artist Flames Eye, and local artists Mpress Kandace, Juiceboxx and Star Drumming.
Alongside the music, the family-friendly festival will feature a variety of food trucks, drinks, market stalls and hours of entertainment including music, dance and games. Other activities include chilli and crackers eating competitions, a beer drinking competition, African drumming and Jamaican dancing, including a free dancehall workshop.
Pack a picnic rug or a deck chair, and head on down to Johnstone Park in Geelong on Saturday, October 29.
Tickets can be purchased here. Kids under 12 are free.
The Deck is hosting a bottomless Pornstar Martini night in Geelong
They look good, they taste good, and they’re always going to get you plenty of likes on the ‘gram… everyone loves a Pornstar Martini.
The pornstar martini cocktail has seen a rise in popularity over recent years, becoming one of the most loved (and most photographed) cocktails ever. They’re stylish, smooth as velvet and look fabulous, each time, every time.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
If you’re a fan of this classic cocktail, we’d recommend making a beeline for The Deck in Geelong next weekend as they’re hosting a bottomless night, completely dedicated to the pornstar martini.
Running on Saturday, November 5 from 8pm, keen cocktail lovers can get their glasses filled with unlimited passion fruity, vanilla-ey, vodka-ey, and prosecco-ey goodness. Yes, unlimited, all for just $69 per person. And we all know cocktails aren’t cheap, so you’ve made your money back after at least three of these bad boys.
At this stage, it looks like the event is one day only, however fingers crossed this is something they extend further into the summer months.
View this post on Instagram
The Deck is proof that not all heroes wear capes. Bookings are essential so call 52295504 to avoid some serious disappointment.
Melbourne artist Danielle Weber continues to captivate the world with The Rock’s Black Adam portrait
Melbourne artist Danielle Weber, renowned for being loved by Hollywood’s elite, continues to go from strength to strength with her most recent journey in New York.
Danielle, the queen of the canvas, has just painted an incredible, original piece for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (who she has known for eight years) which was unveiled at the global premiere in Times Square, NYC, of his HIT movie Black Adam.
Brighten your day with all the latest art news here.
The artist was approached by The Rock, who has previously commissioned artwork from Danielle, earlier this year.
“At the beginning of 2022 I was approached by The Rock to paint a piece for his upcoming movie ‘Black Adam.’ Leading very busy lives, we both left this grand idea until the very last minute, however, we were determined to make it happen,” Danielle explains.
“DJ (Dwayne Johnson) had a very clear idea about what he envisioned for this piece, endeavouring to highlight the meaning of ‘Black Adam’ and capture the strong symbolism throughout the armour and film. We worked together on designing many powerful references, to ensure it represented DJ’s vision perfectly.”
‘The Rock’ decided it would be incredible for Danielle to present this special painting to him, at the New York, World Premiere, on the Black Carpet. With only a short timeframe available, Danielle knew she had to accomplish one of her most detailed paintings to date.
Usually, a piece of this size and detail would take months to complete. But Danielle, who wields skills in an abundance of art forms and styles, painted this piece in just over 100 hours and completed it in six days. She then travelled over 50 hours, within five days, to make it to the NYC Premiere.
“There were thousands of people in Time Square that night and the energy on the Black Carpet was equally electric, inspiring and unforgettable,” she explains.
“To witness DJ’s reaction, gratitude and excitement when seeing the piece for the first time, was truly an incredible experience and one, I will never forget. I really am honoured to have been trusted with this painting and helping to celebrate DJ’s biggest accomplishment to date.”
View this post on Instagram
Danielle reflects that she’s a girl from Melbourne with a passion for art and as Black Adam demonstrates, this powerful piece and special moment is a reminder that anything is possible. She wishes to inspire as many people as possible along the way. The ‘Black Adam’ painting will be displayed in Dwayne Johnson’s home.
Alongside Dwayne, Danielle’s work has led her to interact with a variety of clients all over the world: from Hollywood actors to sports stars from Australia to the Middle East. Alongside individual clients, Danielle engages with companies too: Converse, Uncle Jack Watches and Taubmans Australia are just some of the brands she has worked with.
Her artworks themselves are just as varied. Although many of her pieces are realist, she does engage in abstract pieces every now and then, and they exist in many different locations. From Burwood to America, her murals bring beauty and life to dozens of areas, including walls, gyms, dance studios, cafes and shop fronts.
A bold artist, Danielle’s passion and extensive experience on the world stage has fostered an incredible breadth and beautiful spirit in her vision, one which is clearly capturing the world’s attention.
Find out more about the Melbourne artist here.
Perk up, this Bellarine cafe is celebrating two years in business with $2 coffees on Friday
If you’re looking for an excuse to hit the road and explore Ocean Grove, The Grove Coffee Co has you covered with its second birthday celebrations this Friday, October 28.
Renowned for its great quality coffee, simple but quality-driven food, and an ethos of friendly, light-hearted service driven by a want to please, this little gem is slinging $2 coffees and birthday cake all day on Friday to commemorate two special years. We recommend heading in early though if you’re after the cake as this down to earth coffee shop is a clear favourite for locals and travellers alike.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
View this post on Instagram
If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting The Grove Coffee Co before, now might be the time.
Two years ago, Dominic Rushton, originally from Hobart, pieced together a space and hub for locals and passing travellers to slow down and experience a slice of community in his newly born café just off of The Terrace in Ocean Grove.
After studying law for two years in Geelong, Dom says he was after a life change, and following his passion in quality coffee, decided to open his own space, where he could offer what he loves, to the community he loves.
“For a long time, coffee has been a passion of mine….and we are so privileged here in Victoria, to be surrounded by such an amazing café culture, that it seemed like a natural step to take.
“Being born and raised in Hobart, I’ve always felt most comfortable in small tight-knit communities, and with my love for the ocean, Ocean Grove seemed like the ideal fit for me.”
The Grove Coffee Co: The new local spot for great coffee in Ocean Grove
Brought together by DIY hard work and passion for the little things, Dom has cemented The Grove Coffee Co as a staple within the community, offering fast, delicious coffee and gourmet toasties in the heart of Ocean Grove. The coffee and food that Dom supplies is largely locally sourced, a product of being in an area with such a vibrant food culture.
What’s better, all your four-legged friends are more than welcome here, with hooks in the ground for leashes, bowls and house-made dog treats at the ready.
Swing by and wish Dom and his charming cafe Happy Birthday on Friday. With Mikro Coffee on pour, you won’t regret it.
The cafe is located at 2/85 The Terrace, Ocean Grove and is open from 6:30am Friday to Tuesday.
‘The Bleeding Tree’: The award-winning fierce revenge gothic tale coming to the region’s stage
Shining a light on powerful social issues, Anglesea Performing Arts is bringing the staging of Angus Cerini’s Gothic Australian masterpiece The Bleeding Tree to the region for a limited run at the Anglesea Memorial Hall this November.
A theatrical experience that will draw you in, hold you captive and make you question your role in society as the bystander, The Bleeding Tree will show from Thursday, November 10 until Saturday, November 19 2022 with various shows at 8pm and 2:30pm.
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
The multi-award-winning play is a powerful roaring rampage of revenge in a dusty town in rural Australia that follows a mother and her two daughters after they shoot dead their abusive husband and father. The only issue now is disposing of the body.
Triggered into thrilling motion by an act of revenge, The Bleeding Tree unravels a complex, brutal and searing examination of abuse, power and control, resulting in a rude, rhythmical, heartbreaking and darkly funny performance. Imagine a murder ballad blown up for the stage, set against a deceptively deadly Aussie backdrop, with three fierce females fighting back.
Taking on Cerini’s poetic and dark script, the complex and daring production will come to life under the masterful direction of Iris Walshe-Howling and will see three talented and highly experienced actors, Lina Libroaperto, Julie Fryman and Stacey Carmichael, take on the roles as the three fierce and complex women. With an original and haunting score by Kirstin Honey, this piece is sure to have you captivated.
“I first saw this play in Sydney and fell in love with its powerful, raw beauty and brave reversal of gender violence. It attracted and repelled me simultaneously but the gut wrenching imagery created by Angus Cerini’s incisive poetic use of the Australian vernacular hit me straight in the guts,” Walshe-Howling says.
“It challenged all my values as this gruesome carnal act perpetrated by the three woman unfolded permeating all my senses scene by scene.This piece of theatre is a contrapuntal response to the actual horrific family violence scenarios we are accustomed to confront each day in our media still challenging the very survival of women all over the world.”
Bleeding Tree Promo.mov from Stacey Carmichael on Vimeo.
The Bleeding Tree is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most successful and awarded plays of the decade. Critics have hailed Angus Cerini’s morbidly hilarious fable as “powerful, visceral and deeply exhilarating” theatre “unhesitatingly recommended”. Winner of the Griffin Award, Helpmann for Best Play, and an AWGIE, this is vital, confronting and urgent theatre.
You’ll be able to see Angus Cerini’s roaring rampage of revenge brought to the stage at the Anglesea Memorial Hall from Thursday, November 10 until Saturday, November 19 2022.
Tickets can be purchased here. Find out more about the production and Anglesea Performing Arts here.
Castlemaine State Festival returns in 2023 with expansive 17-day music and arts event
Castlemaine State Festival, one of Australia’s most important regional arts festivals, has announced its return to the creative capital of central Victoria from 24 March to 9 April 2023, with an ever-expansive and uplifting program of performance, music, talks, visual arts and family-friendly events.
Entirely unique in its scope and diversity, the biennial event will draw thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas to the regional centre to experience a family-friendly, fun, and accessible seventeen-day event.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Experience the classics and the contemporary in the Festival’s vibrant music program with live events, from energetic “big-top” main stage events at Western Reserve to intimate Salon sessions at Buda Historic House and Garden and an exciting classical/delicate/world music program at the Town Hall.
The Festival will feature free and ticketed programs, with a new Festival Precinct bringing the town alive; contemporary music, performance, cabaret, circus, comedy and DJs will entertain while audiences enjoy the best food and beverages from the region.
Festival favourites will also return for 2023 with the beloved Dialogues program back at Goods Shed Arts, featuring Australia’s best thinkers and authors telling stories from the heart. The region’s artists are busy creating works to show and discuss with visitors when they welcome them into their practices through the Festivals Open Studios program.
“With the celebrations taking place over Easter, it’s a great way for families to come and explore our remarkable, creative town and region,” says Festival Director Glyn Roberts.
“This is a Festival for everyone, with a program filled with heart and soul that will stir imaginations and create memories.”
The 2023 Castlemaine State Festival program will be announced on Saturday, 28 January, 2023. Bookings are essential for most events. Castlemaine is in central Victoria, approximately 90 minutes from Melbourne, by train or car. The Festival events will take place in both Castlemaine and Bendigo in 2023. A range of accommodation options are available.
Castlemaine State Festival runs from 24 March to 9 April 2023 in Castlemaine, Victoria. Find out more here.
Music Victoria reveal industry-voted nominees for 2022 awards
Having announced its triumphant return for 2022 earlier in the year, Music Victoria have now officially lifted the veil on the list of industry-voted nominees that will vye for awards at this year’s ceremony, as Victoria once again comes together to celebrate another massive year of artistry.
Hand-selected over the past six months, the 2022 award entries have been whittled down by a team of more than 200 acclaimed music judges, from across Australian radio.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
In 2022, the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, plays an especially important role in this year’s award ceremony following the sad passing of the Victorian icon. Nominees include a standout list of emerging First Nations talent from across the state, with nominations for Bumpy, Carissa Nyalu, Jess Hitchcock, MpathSoul – Monica Jasmine Karo and Pirritu.
The nominees for 2022:
The Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent
- Bumpy
- Carissa Nyalu
- Jess Hitchcock
- MpathSoul – Monica Jasmine Karo
- Pirritu
Arts Access Amplify Award
- Batts
- Between Mirrors
- Evelyn Ida Morris
- Nat Bartsch
- Saint Ergo
MAV Diasporas Award
- Ajak Kwai
- Black Jesus eXperience
- Charles Maimarosia
- Hand to Earth
- Vanessa Estrada
Best Blues Work
- Checkerboard Lounge
- Damon Smith
- High Ace
- The Black Sorrows
- The McNamarr Project
Best Country Work
- Georgia State Line
- Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes
- Michael Waugh
- Sherry Rich
- The Weeping Willows
Best Electronic Work
- Harvey Sutherland
- OK EG
- Papaphilia
- Puscha
- Various Asses
Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Work
- Cat Hope
- Female Wizard
- Nina Buchanan
- Rama Parwata
- The Amplified Elephants
Best Folk Work
- Above The Bit
- Austral
- Charm of Finches
- Kerryn Fields
- Ruby Gill
Best Heavy Work
- Diploid
- ISUA
- Jalang
- Outright
- Rinuwat
Best Hip Hop Work
- Jaal
- Nomad
- MAMMOTH. & Silentjay
- SO.Crates
- Yung Shōgun
Best Jazz Work
- Barney McAll
- Claire Cross
- Johannes Luebbers Dectet
- Peter Knight
- Sam Anning
Best Pop Work
- Confidence Man
- June Jones
- Mug
- Telenova
- The Stroppies
Best Reggae and Dancehall Work
- Jah Tung
- JahWise
- Nicky Bomba
- Shottaz
Best Rock/Punk Work
- Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice
- Pinch Points
- Jaala
- King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Soul, Funk, RNB & Gospel Work
- Kutcha Edwards
- Lance Ferguson
- Mo’Ju
- Nikodimos
- Zretro
Best Producer
- Alice Ivy
- Gab Strum
- Oscar Dawson
- Stuart Mackenzie
- Tim Shiel
Find out more by heading here.
Australia’s first lady of comedy Julia Morris brings her ’75 Years in the Business’ tour to Geelong
Universally-adored, Lady JMo will be taking her new show around the country in 2023 – her first tour since 2018 – commencing at HOTA on the Gold Coast on June 1, before heading to Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Geelong, Sydney and Newcastle through to July 9.
Julia Morris 75 Years in the Business tour 2023
- June 1 – HOTA – Home of the Arts, Gold Coast
- June 3 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
- June 4 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
- June 10 – Astor Theatre, Perth
- June 17 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
- June 23 – Llewellyn Hall, Canberra
- June 30 – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
- July 1 – Costa Hall, Geelong
- July 8 – State Theatre, Sydney
- July 9 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.
Julia Morris is a household name thanks to her multi-faceted career as an award winning standup, actor, TV presenter, two-time reality show winner and author. As one of Australia’s most accomplished and celebrated performers, Morris has moved seamlessly between stage and screen since she started performing at 17.
View this post on Instagram
Julia has hosted Australia’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Dr Chris Brown since the show began in 2015, which remains a highlight of Ten’s annual TV calendar and won ‘Most Outstanding Reality TV Program’ at the TV WEEK Logie Awards in 2022, the same year Julia was nominated for the Gold Logie for ‘Most Popular Personality’ on Australian Television. She has twice been nominated for a Silver Logie, and received a ‘Most Popular Presenter’ nomination in 2019.
Tickets go on sale 10am, Monday, October 31. For complete tour and ticket information, head here.
City and Colour is coming to Australia in 2023
Acclaimed singer-songwriter City and Colour (Canadian musician Dallas Green) will return to Australia in February 2023 for a run of headline shows. Kicking off at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Wednesday 1 February, City and Colour will traverse the East Coast, stopping at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, Melbourne’s Forum and The Tivoli in Brisbane.
City and Colour Australia 2023 Tour
- February 1 – Emore Theatre, Sydney
- February 7 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
- February 9 – Forum, Melbourne
- February 13 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
City and Colour will also appear at SummerSalt across Australia through January and February. The festival will visit eight cities nationally and see City and Colour take the stage alongside the likes of Ben Harper, Angus & Julia Stone, The Rubens and more.
No stranger to Australian shores, City and Colour last performed live down under in 2019 at Brisbane Festival, an incredibly special one-off set that was delivered to critical praise.
View this post on Instagram
After regularly touring Australia for ten years, 2023’s visit will be City and Colour’s first full tour in seven years. On his last nationwide tour (2016), Green stunned audiences with his trademark vocals, raw honesty and dialogue, talents that have endeared him to music lovers around the world since City and Colour’s inception in 2005. 2023 will mark Green’s eighteenth tour of Australia, having previously visited ten times as City and Colour, and another seven times with the band Alexisonfire.
Over the course of six studio albums, City and Colour has compiled a canon ripe with songs born of adoration and devotion, amassing a legion of dedicated fans worldwide and garnering him three JUNOs, including two Songwriter of the Year awards, plus multiple triple, double, platinum and gold certifications in his native Canada.
Grab your tickets to his Melbourne show at the Forum by heading here.