You can have your driver’s licence on your phone from May onwards, here’s how

Throughout April, consultation will ramp up with organisations that rely on photo identification including bars, restaurants, retailers, Victoria Police, and Australia Post to ensure they’re prepared for the rollout.

In May, more than 4.5 million Victorians who are fully licenced drivers, motorcyclists, or heavy vehicle operators will be the first eligible to download digital driver’s licences as part of the state-wide launch.

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

 

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This follows a successful trial in Ballarat last year, where more than 15,000 Victorians accessed their digital licences via the myVicRoads and Service Victoria apps. Digital licences have undergone rigorous privacy and security testing, boasting features like a dynamic hologram and a timed QR code that businesses and authorities can scan to verify authenticity and prevent fraudulent use.

The licences can also be updated in real-time if there are changes to licence conditions or personal information like home addresses.

Victorians who have downloaded either the VicRoads or Services Victoria app will automatically receive their digital licence through their app once it has been processed in May and will be alerted either by push notification or email.

“Victorians have been asking us for a digital driver licence – and from next month millions of Victorians can access them on their phones alongside other government-issued cards like a Working with Children Check, seniors card or fishing licence,” Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams said.

Learners and probationary licence holders will be able to access their digital licence by 2025. Visit the VicRoads or Service Victoria websites to find out more about digital driver licences.

We passed the mic to regional musicians Martin Frawley and Watty Thompson to interview each other ahead of their appearance at Sound Tracks Vol. 2.

All aboard – Sound Tracks Vol 2. takes over the towns of Echuca and Rochester for a weekend of unmissable live music. 

In Rochy, Martin Frawley is playing the Criterion and across the road at the Shire Hall Watty Thompson and His Total Fire Band will be welcoming in the crowds. Ahead of the rock ‘n’ rail festival from Friday 19 April until Sunday 21 April, we passed the mic over to the regional music-makers to interview each other about their careers, growing up regional and fish and chips. 

Sound Tracks Vol 2 Details

• Friday 19 April 2024 – Sunday 21 April
• Magic Dirt | Milo Eastwood | Watty Thompson & His Total Fire Band | The Slingers | Delivery | Martin Frawley | Bad Bangs | Sam Boon Trio | Yordja

 

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Watty to Martin

You have connections with Rochester and spent a bit of time in the area growing up. What are some fond memories from the area in those days? 

I guess all my most fond memories are from the family farm in Elmore which is 15 minutes south of Rochester. Yabbying, doing burnouts in old bombs, riding four wheelers and being annoying little twerp; watching footy on the floor of the farmhouse in front of the fire in my pyjamas. I remember the Rochester video store being my safe haven when spending summers up there in the heat and cold winter nights. My old man let me hire anything I wanted. So I remember watching pulp Fiction at about 11 and thinking “fuck me, this is bad ass”.

I remember my old man lost his license and used to cruise around in my pops ride on scooter drinking beers. He thought it was a real laugh, like he had stumbled onto a brilliant loophole.

Where were your formative years playing and writing music spent, and do you think these regional ties had an impact on your musical journey? 

I guess most of my formative years were in inner city Melbourne then interstate, then pretty quickly overseas. I liked always trying the next challenge of touring. To be honest, there weren’t many regional shows back then when I was in my early twenties. To watch it grow has been awesome and to see the different acts coming out of different pockets of Victoria has been awesome and interesting. Just the difference in genre to geography has been cool to see. I’ve never played in Rochester but im fucking pumped! My old man did it a bunch and it feels fitting to play with this band and these songs in Rochester. I need to play more regional shows, I need to play more so if you’re keen, let’s go!!

A resurgence of live original music in regional areas has been brewing over the past several years. We certainly can’t quite hit the road and play anywhere without copping the occasional request for AC/DC or ‘Khe Sanh’ just yet, but more venues around the traps are catering for original music. Events such as this also help to spread the love. It’d be a dream to one day pack up a wagon and trailer to play a year’s worth of shows over a lap of the whole country like some artists managed to do in the yesteryear.  What are your hopes for the future of live original music in regional areas? 

Yeah, I mean, that was a big thing for Australian music for a long time. I’m really trying to champion and bring that vibe to my band. I want to be able to play covers as well as originals. That’s old school. Band used to play twice a night across different suburbs and work the crowd. That’s lost a bit now and I really want to bring that back. We play a lot of my own songs but I’ll always chuck a few songs in the mix depending on where I am. I love playing songs from certain cities or towns and paying respect to the place you are. I learnt that was a good trick when you’re playing internationally. It’s a cheat to drag the audience in a bit closer, then you can play ‘em a bunch of your songs and hopefully they have a connection. Man like Garth says in Wayne’s World “I like to play”.

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

What are you most looking forward to about performing some of your music in a place that holds family ties for you?

Hmmm I guess I’m really excited to play some of my old man’s songs and play them with people who have played with him and perform to family and hopefully make people feel farm. I’m Irish and we like to drink and sing. That’s how I grew up. Watching the Frawley’s singing songs and drinking all night. I’m excited to play and hopefully warm ‘em up for your big rock show. Place and family mean a lot to me so we’ll try to get a few tears and smiles in the audience.

We’ve been on a few of the same line-ups over the past couple of years but still haven’t managed to cross paths and meet. Perhaps we even drank a pot of raspberry in the same pub as kids. Let’s change this in Rochester. Perhaps grab a beer or a pot of raspberry together?

Mate, I’d be well keen for that. I think there is enough sugar in the beer for me, my raspberry days are over. But actually a few weeks back I was at The Criterion (where I’m playing) there was a family wedding across the road (where you’re playing) anyhow, me, the wife and the cousin snuck over to The Criterion and slapped a cheeky Bundy. It was fucked. Then some bloke at the bar told me my old man owed him money so we took off. Anyhow. Fucking oath we can have a few froths.

The country town fish ‘n’ chip shop minimum of chips has always been, and in some places still seems to still be, a massive amount of chips for a very reasonable price. While the cost of everything else steadily rises, the minimum of chips still seems to float at a similar price to what we would have paid in Locky and Rochy or Elmore as kids. Are you a chicken salt, extra chicken salt or no chicken salt kinda guy?

Oohhhfff I didn’t know you could get extra chicken salt. That sounds lit. Well I’m the type of bloke that just wants to make sure they’re hot, salty and you have a real cold pot of Carlton to eat ‘em with. Then maybe a Nexium to help the heart burn. Actually, weirdly, you just reminded me that the first time I ever had a deep fried mars bar was in Elmore haha not Paris, New York or Melbourne lol. Fucking Elmore. I try to stay away from the fried food these days. Just on special occasions. Maybe meeting you Watty will be one of those special occasions. 

 

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Martin to Watty

First of all, hi my name is Martin.. who are you and where did you grow up?

G’day Martin! Lovely to meet you. My name is Watty. I grew up around Lockington and Echuca. Both about 15 minutes from Rochester. 

What’s the best gig you have seen in a regional town?

It’s very difficult to narrow it down to one that takes the cake but a favourite that immediately springs to mind was a cold April evening almost bang on ten years ago when Brisbane’s HITS and Melbourne’s Bitter Sweet Kicks gave the stage absolutely everything on a Wednesday night at Karova Lounge in Ballarat. I was living in the big smoke back then, playing rock and roll, and my band at the time had played a set at the launch for the latest Kicks album at the Prince Of Wales the weekend prior. I was cooking and selling popcorn in the band room that night too for some reason. It was my first time seeing HITS and they blew me away. A few days later HITS and Kicks were embarking on an East Coast tour together so I hitched a last minute one way ride to Ballarat in the back of their tour van. The temptation to witness the danger they’d bring to Ballarat on a Wednesday evening was too great. 

It was a quiet night from memory and there couldn’t have been more than 15 or 20 people in the audience. Both bands played as if thousands were watching. The audience didn’t know what hit them. Johnny Kicks was nude behind his bass guitar by the second song of the night which one of the locals wasn’t happy about. Concerns being raised by the gentleman at the front of the stage did nothing but escalate the situation. They may not have won over that guy but the rest of the audience were in a state of pure bliss witnessing the storm of rock and roll that both bands rolled in that Wednesday night and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one of them still talking about it a decade later. I slept somewhere cold and got the V Line back to town the next morning. 

What’s the most noticeable difference between regional and city gigs?

Regional crowds are often more fired up than city crowds. This doesn’t mean that one is more appreciative than the other. Both hold a strong love for music but perhaps because the city crowd has an array of incredible gigs accessible from their doorstep any night of the week and a regional crowd only has something come through every so often, the country audience can show their appreciation in a more lively manner. Absolutely nothing against the big smoke crowds though. They live in the heart of live music and they help keep that heart pumping. They might be full of less beans sometimes but a subdued audience can also be an attentive and contemplative one. 

I remember watching my old man play two sets in Colbinabbin Pub growing up, it was quite inspiring. What inspired you to play and write music?

I had an urge to play from quite a young age after coming across an old dusty piano in our back shed. I’d head down the shed for a play after school each day so Dad moved it inside. It was pretty out of tune but I kept playing and here we are today. The first song I ever wrote had a verse on each of our family pets from memory. You’re spot on about being inspired by gigs as a kid though. 

Seeing live music for the first time is where the inspiration really fired up. When I was about 12, a bunch of bands including Nokturnl, a metal band from the NT came to town and played at Vic Park in Echuca. It was my first time seeing rock bands live and it blew my socks off. I got my ticket stub signed by band members from across the fence on the boundary line. 

The band and I performed at River Boats in Echuca early last year and that time around it was held on the same oval. When signing a kids Watty t-shirt on the boundary line after the show, I had a flashback of getting that ticket stub signed on the very same fence line all those years earlier. It was a spin out and a very heart-warming realisation. Perhaps we’ll inspire some of the local kids with our sets in Rochy mate. Gotta keep the cycle going! Side Colbinabbin story: I remember hearing ‘Pissing Down In Colbo’ at some stage as a kid. A tune written by your clan I believe!

What would you like to see more of at regional gigs?

The acceptance of original music in areas that aren’t that familiar with it. I agree with what you said earlier about being able to enjoy putting a few covers in a set and that it’s a tried and tested way to win over crowds in places you haven’t played at yet. I enjoy a good heckle and throw the occasional cover in at the end of a set in some towns. I road tested the songs I play these days solo for a year or two before getting the band together and some of the places I booked knowing they’d be tough crowds. 

My hope for the future of shows in regional areas though, is a broader excitement from a crowd to go see music that they aren’t aren’t familiar with. Where songs are given a chance even if they haven’t been heard before. Where people are excited not only go watch the bands who have already made a name for themselves, but the bands who are out there doing the hard yards traveling around trying to make a name for themselves.

The more we push original music in places that aren’t necessarily accustomed to it, the more it’ll be accepted and the more towns touring musicians will have to play in. That’s not to say we’ll get rid of the hecklers and tough audiences all together. Playing to those audiences builds character and is all part of the journey as an emerging artist. More balance will come with time though and we’ll see more of these original live music loving regional pockets emerging. 

 

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If you were given the keys to the state, where would you want to put on a festival and who would you have headline? 

Ooooh that’s a big one. So many beautiful parts of the state. So much music to choose from! Would love to see something happen down here in the Otways. Those keys are going to include some government funding for a very healthy budget to spend on the bands. Someone will give us the perfect property with beautiful campgrounds and there’ll be a friendly team to get through the planning red tape and to help run things safely and smoothly. There’ll be lush green grass to sit back on, plenty of shade if it’s hot and a few fire barrels if it’s cold. It’s day two, the sun is setting, we’re sitting in front of a gorgeous stage with an incredible PA, I pass you an ice cold tin of your favourite brew and a reformed Cold Chisel take to the stage to absolutely send it. 

Who’s your favourite regional band atm?

JB Patterson from the sticks up in QLD has been a regular go to for me over the past year. Give a listen to his latest album Springtime Is Coming.

There are so many gems out there. Often I ponder on how much incredible music exists but hasn’t been heard due to self doubt or artists not having the support network or community around them to help fan their flames of belief. Particularly in regional areas. I guess that’s why a lot of young country musos head to the city for their formative musical years. There’s lots going on and lots to learn from people. As you know, often it’s only 10% of our time spent creating and performing and the other 90% is the hard work of pushing to get the music heard. Everyone has gotta keep pushing. It makes the world a better place!

Has been a pleasure Martin. See you for some tunes and some chips over a couple of cold ones in Rochy!

Frawley and Thompson will be joining a stellar line-up of Magic Dirt, Milo Eastwood, The Slingers, Delivery, Cong Josie & The Hell Racers, Bad Bangs and Sam Boon Trio.

Tickets to the rocking railway festival in Rochester are on sale now through OK Motels. Pick them up here

Party In The Paddock has locked in its 2025 festival after an epic edition this year

In the wake of ongoing uncertainty surrounding music and arts festivals in Australia amidst the ‘cost of living crisis’, Vibestown Productions announce that its iconic event, Party In The Paddock, will be going full steam ahead, held as scheduled on February 6-9, 2025.

With a commitment to providing Tasmania and the rest of Australia the magic of an immersive, multi-day camping music and arts festival – when few in the country remain.

Party In The Paddock

• 6th – 9th 2025 February
• Quercus Park, 15 minutes from Launceston, Tasmania
• Find out more here

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

 

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The four day and night experience for festival-goers is an integral part of festival culture and the team behind Party In the Paddock are working hard to ensure the event’s continuity despite the obstacles faced by the entertainment industry.

The decision to proceed with Party In The Paddock in 2025 underscores the dedication to fostering a vibrant festival culture in Tasmania, Australia. “We recognise the importance of these events as not only avenues for entertainment but also vital platforms for community engagement, artistic expression, and economic support for local businesses and artists.” Festival Director Jesse Higgs continues, “It’s the most important time in our history, after running this event as a locally owned and operated business for the last twelve years, that we receive more support from the state government. We’re currently working towards more funding for PITP and this will be vital for our future as Tasmania’s leading Music & Arts festival.

It’s additionally important for us to say that we have so much gratitude towards our ‘Paddock’ people that return most years – this year especially, it’s really important that everyone makes the effort to support local events.

In this next chapter, we’re here to make PITP as synonymous with Tassie as ‘The Jack Jumpers’ or the coming ‘Tassie Devils’ AFL team. We believe that Music and Art are and should be valued just as much as sports. Tassie, this event is for you, let’s lock in another decade.”

This year, the festival is opening up a limited amount of Early Bird Tickets to coincide with current events, giving patrons the opportunity to support, lock in early and get their PITP 2025 tickets at the lowest cost. With additional incentives on offer, such as an application process for Hardship Tickets and Zipay instalments where costs can be spread out starting at a minimum of $10 per week.

Keep up to date by signing up here.

Illuminate Adelaide returns in spellbinding fashion with Fire Gardens from French alchemists, Compagnie Carabosse

Illuminate Adelaide, winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Award for Major Festivals or Events at the South Australian Tourism Awards, today announced its first event for 2024, a newly commissioned iteration of spellbinding work, Fire Gardens from French fire alchemists, Compagnie Carabosse.

From 04 to 21 July 2024, Adelaide Botanic Garden will be transformed into a bewitching night-time wonderland, flickering with the flames of more than 7,000 giant handcrafted fire pots, enchanting candlelit archways, captivating kinetic sculptures and live music performances.

Fire Gardens for Illuminate Adelaide

• Location: Adelaide Botanic Garden, entry via Main Gate, North Terrace
• Dates: 04 to 21 July 2024
• Times: Thursday to Sunday (sessions every 15 minutes, 5:45pm to 8:15pm)
• Duration: Allow up to 60 minutes to enjoy the full Fire Gardens experience

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

 

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After captivating audiences all over the world, Fire Gardens will delight Illuminate Adelaide audiences over 12 nights from Thursday to Sunday for three weeks. Tickets are on sale from 8.00am today at www.illuminateadelaide.com with $35 discount early bird tickets available until midnight Sunday 14 April (or until allocation exhausted).

Visitors can enhance their experience within the reimagined surroundings of the Adelaide Botanic Garden by booking a dinner before or after at the Restaurant Botanic Rose Garden pop-up, curated and created by lauded executive chef Justin James. Restaurant Botanic was recently added to the World’s 50 Best Discovery list of exceptional restaurants. Fire Gardens visitors can also grab a drink with friends from the bar at the Schomburgk Pavilion on the way in or out.

Illuminate Adelaide Co-founders and Creative Directors, Lee Cumberlidge and Rachael Azzopardi said: “The Illuminate Adelaide Fire Gardens experience is being designed specifically for our Botanic Garden, with Compagnie Carabosse already plotting and mapping out their largest ever installation designed exclusively for Adelaide and the first time ever during an Australian winter.

Compagnie Carabosse have created extraordinary installations in public sites all over the world including Kremlin Square in Moscow, England’s eerie Stonehenge, Hue Bridge in Vietnam, Pont du Gard in France and an abandoned Moroccan prison. The company paints with the palette of fire – its colours, warmth, sound and scent.

South Australian Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said: “Illuminate Adelaide is now etched into the calendars of many Australians. The epic scope and scale of Fire Gardens will undoubtedly draw hundreds of thousands of locals and interstate visitors to what is a truly city-wide celebration of light, art, music and cutting-edge technology.

“Alongside the experience of each incredible event, is the valuable economic injection Illuminate Adelaide generates each year, with visitors from near and far supporting our local shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and hotels in what is a traditionally quieter time of the year for many businesses.”

2024 will be the fourth time Illuminate Adelaide has lit up the city’s streets and natural scapes with its transformative mix of installations, events and experiences that see art and technology converge in a myriad of imaginative ways.

The full Illuminate Adelaide 2024 program will be announced on 01 May 2024. Track them here.

This Way North are in a ‘Hell of a Mess’ with new single from their debut album ‘Punching Underwater’

Two-piece indie pop-rock band This Way North find themselves in one hell of a mess navigating the disarray of life and the even more shambolic scenario of love. They unpack it in their latest single ‘Hell of a Mess‘ from their forthcoming debut record Punching Underwater.

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

Built for dance floors, golden hour drives and longingly lounging on the bedroom floor, ‘Hell of a Mess’ hits listeners right in the feels but gives you the chance to dance your way through it. Nodding to Haim, LCD Soundsystem and The Beaches, ‘Hell of a Mess’ builds grooves through crunchy 80’s guitar lines from Cat and mesmerising bass heartbeats from Leisha.

The single announcement is paired with the announcement of a tour across the East Coast of Australia.

This Way North Tour Dates

• 28 APR – The Star – Yackandandah supporting Ash Grunwald
• 3-5 MAY – Wintermoon Festival – Mount Charlton, QLD
• 15 JUN – Stay Gold – Brunswick, VIC w/ Eastbound Buzz + Liv Cartledge
• 21 JUN – The Cave Inn – Brisbane, QLD w/ Andrea Kirwin
• 22 JUN – Full Moon Dance – Verriedale, QLD
• 3 AUG – Stone Pony – Willunga, SA with Parvyn
• 4 AUG – Trinity Sessions – Adelaide, SA w/ Parvyn
• 24 AUG – Great Club – Marrickville, NSW w/ Juanita Tippins + Monstress
• 25 AUG – The Fun Haus – Gosford, NSW w/ Bek Jensen

The dates in Australia will be followed by trips to New Zealand, Canada, Europe and UK across 2024, which sees the Yackandandah duo celebrate Punching Underwater.

The last couple of years has seen This Way North long-jump across stages throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada, joining festivals such as Queenscliff Music Festival, Mullumbimby, Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blues on Broadbeach and Wanderer. They’re winning over audiences quickly and it’s evident why.

To get into the groove this hump day, give ‘Hell of a Mess’ a listen and simmer into This Way North’s nectar. Stream here. Don’t miss seeing them live. Ticket information can be found at https://www.thiswaynorth.com/ 

Marlon Williams announces three more shows for his rapidly-selling Australian tour

The show was a huge success when it toured in NZ in 2021, with critics calling it “performance as art” and saying “performances such as these only come around once in a blue moon”.

Marlon Williams’ Australian tour

• Thur 6 June – City Recital Hall, Sydney – New Show
• Fri 7 June – City Recital Hall, Sydney Nsw – Sold Out
• Sat 8 June – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul Nsw
• Wed 12 June – Open Season At The Tivoli, Brisbane Qld
• Thurs 13 June – Open Season At The Tivoli, Brisbane Qld
• Sat 16 June – Odeon Theatre, Hobart Tas
• Tues 18 June – Melbourne Recital Centre Vic – New Show
• Thurs 20 June – Melbourne Recital Centre Vic – Sold Out
• Fri 21 June – Melbourne Recital Centre Vic – Sold Out
• Sat 22 June – The Sound Doctor, Anglesea Vic – Sold Out
• Sun 23 June – The Sound Doctor, Anglesea Vic – Sold Out
• Tues 25 June – The Astor Theatre, Perth Wa
• Thurs 27 June – The Gov, Adelaide Sa – Sold Out
• Fri 28 June – The Gov, Adelaide Sa – New Show

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

An Evening With Marlon Williams sees the singer presenting a very different kind of show – a full solo performance unearthing some early material, beloved album songs and an introduction to some sparkling new works. This will be Marlon’s first solo tour in nearly 10 years.

Marlon Williams was last in Australia in support of his third solo album, My Boy. That tour saw he and his band playing three sold out shows here and appearing at Splendour In The Grass and Riverboats festival.

Don’t miss this opportunity to catch such a singular talent in a solo performance, in a run of intimate theatre shows. Tickets here.

Naarm-based Elsie Lange drops single ‘Sally’, finding her love of music again

Elsie Lange had a point to prove to herself.

In 2020, mid-pandemic Lange jumped into the creative wagon with debut EP Talk To Me, with the project timing ultimately leading her to lose her love of music. After pivoting to study, becoming a journalist during the lockdown periods, Lange reached back into her music pocket. Her new single, ‘Sally‘, was an attempt at learning how to love making music again – and it worked.

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

Adopting the Jeff Tweedy approach to song creating from the songwriting bible How To Write One Song, Lange challenged herself to write one song per day building inspiration from Wilco. ‘Sally’ is the outcome.

Lange explains: “I can’t say how much Wilco, and Tweedy’s book, has inspired my current production inspiration and songwriting – I needed someone and something to remind me how important music is to me, and how accessible it is.”

Recorded and produced by Liam Snowy Halliwell (Snowy Band, The Ocean Party), who also plays bass and guitar on the recording, ‘sally’ is the first taste of a forthcoming album. ‘Sally’ is one of a suite of songs Lange has written and performed with her band Local Derby since 2021 alongside EP titular track ‘Talk To Me‘, ‘Adelaide‘ and ‘Tulips‘.

The folk-pop singer is truly back in her element on this track. Give it a listen here.

The Dreggs debut LP is incoming with single ‘Peeps With The Goods’ circling the airwaves

With a solid start to 2024 as triple j Unearthed’s first feature artist of the year, The Dreggs have been levelling up throughout the months and this month is huge for the Sunshine Coast duo who are releasing their debut album.

The Dreggs Album Australian Tour Dates

• FRI 14 JUN | Hindley Street Music Hall, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
• SAT 15 JUN | Metro City, PERTH WA | 18+
• FRI 21 JUN | Fortitude Music Hall, BRISBANE | ALL AGES
• FRI 28 JUN | Enmore Theatre, SYDNEY | ALL AGES
• SAT 29 JUN | Forum, MELBOURNE | 18+

To signal their new album era, The Dreggs dropped single ‘Peeps with the Goods‘ on Friday 22 March which sees them dip into new territory. Taking cues from fellow Aussie indie darling, Matt Corby, Paddy Macrae ad Zane Harris explore elements of airy soul and gospel mixed into their warm sonic palette.

Macrae explains, “Matt Corby was a huge influence for this track. We were given the opportunity to write and record with Corby and this song is the result of that collaboration. The song is about the push and pull a lot of independent artists have to confront within the music industry. It’s an anthem to those who have experienced equal parts joy and frustration with their career, but also a reminder that persevering is the only way to push through and find that ‘happy place’, whatever that might mean for them.”

Building the track with both Corby and Alex Henriksson in the studio with mastering from Paul Blakey, ‘Peeps with the Goods’ joins ‘Take A Little Time‘ and ‘Places‘ as the leads for Caught In A Reverie with ‘Peeps with the Goods’ in album poll position.

They will be launching the album in style with a bunch of sold out Launch Parties including a step into Torquay Hotel on Wednesday 1 May, then jumping on the road for an Australian and New Zealand tour hitting up Melbourne’s Forum on Saturday 29 June. Sadly, their stop into Splendour in the Grass will no longer be happening due to the festival cancellation but there is ample opportunity to see the dynamic duo of The Dreggs live.

Secure your spot to see them on the road here. Presave Caught In A Reverie now.

The Fabulous Caprettos, the GOAT’s of Australian rock, unite for upcoming tour

Dave Gleeson of The Screaming Jets and The Angels, ARIA Hall of Famer, Russell Morris, Southern Sons‘ Jack Jones, and Rai Thistlethwayte of Thirsty Merc/Joe Satriana/Sammy Hagar fame collide as The Caprettos.

Adding a ‘Fabulous’ to their name, the Australian rock music supergroup will unite to play the biggest songs in Australian rock music history, including their own individual hits for the Encore Tour.

The Fabulous Caprettos Encore Tour Dates

• Thurs 3 October Event Centre Caloundra
• Fri 4 October Twin Towns Tweed Heads
• Thurs 10 October Norwood Town Hall Adelaide
• Fri 11 October Anitas Thirroul
• Sun 13 October Toronto Hotel, Newcastle
• Wed 16 October West Gippsland Arts Warragul
• Thurs 17 October Palms Crown Melbourne
• Fri 18 October Crown Theatre Perth (with guest Joe Camilleri)
• Sat 19 October Ravenswood Hotel Outdoors, Mandurah (with Joe Camilleri)

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

As some of the most recognised names in the Australian rock music scene, the four talents will pull out all of the stops celebrating the best in Australian rock music from the 60’s until modern day as they head from Caloundra through to Mandurah on their nine-date tour. On the Victorian front, the foursome will be dropping into Gippsland for a show at West Gippsland Arts in Warragul on Wednesday 16 October and to Melbourne’s Palms Crown on Thursday 17 October.

Their own anthems will make up a portion of the setlist including Russell Morris’ belter ‘The Real Thing‘ and ‘Sweet Sweet Love’ and Southern Sons hits ‘Hold Me in Your Arms‘ ‘Always and Ever’ and ‘Heart of Danger‘.

Thirsty Mercs’ Bondi Rescue theme ‘In The Summertime‘, along with anthems ‘20 Good Reasons‘, ‘Mousetrap Heart’ and the bittersweet ballad ‘Someday, Someday’ with make the cut, and the Screaming Jets hits ‘Better’, C’Mon’ and ‘Shivers’ are sure to be highlights.

“The group’s name comes from a band in-joke,” explains Russell. “Someone jokingly referred to us as the “greatest of all time” or GOAT, but we didn’t want to appear egotistical. So, we replaced the acronym with the Italian word for goat—capretto.”

“The boys and I absolutely love playing together as The Fabulous Caprettos,” says Russell. “It breathes new life into all our hit songs when we play them together.”

Fellow rock royalty Joe Camilleri of The Black Sorrows will be jumping on the Western Australia leg for Perth and Mandurah shows on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October, respectively.

Tickets for The Fabulous Caprettos upcoming shows can be found here.

Vibrant First Nations art wraps Geelong NBN boxes as a present for the community

The First Nations NBN Box Art Trail is a collaborative project between various stakeholders, including the City of Greater Geelong, nbn®, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative and local First Nations artists.

To find out more about each artwork and the locations head to the City of Greater Geelong website.

Northlane’s ‘Mirror’s Edge’ is a raw and resilient return to form

While it marked their most commercially successful release, 2022’s Obsidian nearly brought Northlane to the brink of collapse. Tensions surged, communication completely broke down, and it seemed like the longtime frontrunners of Aus djent metal were all set to self-implode at any moment. 

Enter Mirror’s Edge, an EP that is somewhat of a miracle for the group, who seem to have re-found themselves and their appreciation for music through this release

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

Mirror’s Edge is a raw and unflinching body of work that brings the group back to basics. Sure, with the level of technicality that Northlane showcase on each release, their sound will never be described as ‘basic’ by definition. Yet there’s just something so perfectly rough and unfinished about this EP that feels so much like a group in its infancy during the Myspace era. 

‘Afterimage’ packs equal parts grunt and groove through its jagged riffs and sludgy basstones, ‘Miasma’ utilises off-kilter vocal cadences, drilling chugs and a powerhouse guest spot from Winston McCall, while ‘Let Me Disappear’ ties in tech-heavy synth breakdowns reminiscent of ‘HTML Rulez d00d’ era of The Devil Wears Prada.

For the first time in years, Northlane isn’t trying to fit a mould. They’re doing what works for them, and as a result, they’ve rediscovered the authenticity and individualism that their earlier material was heralded for.

Mirror’s Edge promises to translate in their live sets and evoke nostalgia for their earlier, intimate club shows. 

Northlane’s EP is out on April 12.

triple j’s One Night Stand returns and is looking for a regional town to host

From Alice Springs to Port Pirie, Dubbo to Geraldton, Mount Isa to St Helens, triple j has travelled far and wide to provide remote communities and regional towns with the best in Australian live music through one-day all-ages festival, One Night Stand.

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

The festival took The Rubens, Ball Park Music, Seth Sentry and the now bigger than Ben Hur electronic wizard, Flume to Dubbo in 2013 where a set of onesie-wearing dancers invaded the stage in the final drop.

They jetted to the banks of our Murray River for a star-studded night of guest appearances under the Mildura starry sky, including Vance Joy joining Illy for ‘Riptide’, Dan Sultan jumping up with Kingswood for a memorable ‘The Same Man’ soarer, Raúl Sánchez of Magic Dirt fame joining Violent Soho for a rock ramble and RÜFÜS bringing out Nicole Millar.

In 2007, Silverchair were running high with ‘Straight Lines’, and triple j managed to nab them for One Night Stand in Cowra in one of their first shows since the release of what would become their final album, Young Modern Station.

Taking a break for five years, One Night Stand is now making a return for 2024 and on the hunt for the next host town.

ABC Managing Director, David Anderson announced the festivals 2024 return saying, “The ABC is one of the biggest supporters of Australian music and live performance. At a time when the local music industry needs support, the ABC is thrilled to come to the party with the return of triple j’s One Night Stand. We recognise the festival landscape in Australia has changed since we last put on a One Night Stand. ”

“triple j and the ABC is working with Support Act and Music Australia on how best we can use this event to increase much needed investment in the Australian music industry, while staying true to One Night Stand’s core mission of delivering a one-of-a-kind event, accessible to the public, based in regional Australia.”

In partnership with Music Australia and raising critical funds for Australian music industry charity Support Act, the news comes at a time when Australian live music is struggling with major festivals Groovin’ The Moo, Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival and Coastal Jam all being cancelled in the last 12 months.

It’s a great chance to spotlight live music and bring it to the most needed communities in Australia.

Submissions to nominate a host town are now open. If you think your town deserves the epic festival, put it forward by telling triple j about your town and why hosting the One Night Stand will make a difference to people in your community.

Submissions can be put forward here. For more information head to the triple j website, or to relive some of the festivals best moments head here

​

‘Our festival is moving forward’: Pandemonium reveals new lineup and pricing options

“We have been hard at work ensuring we deliver events that provide fans with the best possible experience and we extend our thanks to those who have patiently waited for our good news,” the festival outlined in a statement.

“Four festival dates with a couple of location tweaks and a formatting alteration, and one killer Newcastle side show will proceed later this month. We acknowledge the current state of the Australian economy and the cost of living crisis, of which we’re constantly reminded of by the media. This cost of living crisis has impacted the live music touring industry significantly and forced many other festivals and tours sadly, to cancel. Pandemonium is not one of those and despite aforementioned national issues our festival is moving forward.”

Pandemonium’s new single-stage lineup

• Alice Cooper
• Blondie
• Psychedelic Furs
• Wheatus
• Wolfmother
• Palaye Royale
• Cosmic Psychos

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

Pandemonium’s new venues and dates

• Saturday, April 20: Caribbean Gardens, Melbourne
• Tuesday, April 23: Alice Cooper, Blondie, Psychedelic Furs, Wolfmother at Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
• Thursday, April 25 (Anzac Day): Cathy Freeman Park – Sydney Olympic Park Precinct, Sydney
• Saturday, April 27: Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast (new venue)
• Sunday, April 28: Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane (new venue) with Blondie not appearing

Pandemonium is now a one stage festival, with multiple venue changes confirmed. The Gold Coast show will be moving from Doug Jennings Park to Broadwater Parklands, while the Brisbane event will be moving from Sandstone Point Hotel to the more city centric Eatons Hill.

Withdrawing acts from the lineup

Blondie will now share the stage with Alice Cooper, the Psychedelic Furs and Wolfmother in Newcastle on Tuesday April 23 from 6pm.

New tickets will be allocated for Blondie’s Newcastle show (previously Monday, April 22) and sent by Ticketek for Tuesday April 23.

Deep Purple, Placebo, Dead Kennedys and Gang of Four will no longer be performing at Pandemonium, with new general admission ticket pricing of $190 per ticket. (Eatons Hill Hotel now at $165, plus fees).

The organisers say existing full price general admission ticket holders will have the choice of one complimentary ticket per full price ticket purchased, a partial refund of $70 or a Pandemonium hoodie valued at $100, not available at merchandise stands.

All patrons, including VIP ticket holders will soon receive updated ticket information via Oztix with the above details and more. The festival’s commitment to Wounded Heroes for Veterans Welfare in Sydney and Top Blokes Foundation in aid of Logan’s Legacy and Prevention of Juvenile Your Suicide Prevention remain in place.

Tickets and information for all events can be found at www.pandemonium.rocks.

April Festival Guide: From Stars and Bars to the Red Hot Summer Tour

If we are to follow the advice of those fine folk in the dentistry profession of brushing our teeth twice daily for two minutes, on average we spend 1460 minutes a year keeping our chompers in tip-top shape. That is roundabout 24 hours. Or, to put it another way, a little over 14 viewings of the 1992 film Sidekicks where Jonathan Brandis stars as a bullied teen who escapes his troubled world by daydreaming of being Chuck Norris’ sidekick.  

According to research commissioned by Brighter (2019), the average Australian spends seven minutes in the shower. This works out to be 2555 minutes a year, or approximately 42.5 hours. Or, to put it another way, a tick over 25 viewings of the 1992 film Sidekicks where Jonathan Brandis stars as a bullied teen who escapes his troubled world by daydreaming of being Chuck Norris’ sidekick and later begins to take unconventional self-defence lessons from the owner of a local Chinese restaurant.    

In a survey conducted by Bathstore, they found men spend an average of 145 minutes per week in the bathroom. This works out to be 7540 minutes a year, or edging towards 126 hours. Or, to put it another way, a little shy of 75 viewings of the 1992 film Sidekicks where Jonathan Brandis stars as a bullied teen who escapes his troubled world by daydreaming of being Chuck Norris’ sidekick and later begins to take unconventional self-defence lessons from the owner of a local Chinese restaurant, ultimately facing his bully in a local karate tournament where he also comes face to face with his hero, and surprise teammate, Chuck Norris.    

Kick your way into these April festivals… 

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

So far this month we’ve already celebrated three major festivals. CresFest is the small town folk and roots fest that is full of zest. It went off with a line-up including AJ & Jenny, Alwan, Anousha Victoire, Archer, The Big Blue Pole Show, Big Tops & Tiny Tots, Bill Gammage, Cath Jamison, The Cherry Pickers, Chutney, Doc Andrew, and The Footscray Gypsy Orchestra.

In Mt Duneed, plenty were in swoon over crooner, and occasional actor, Chris Isaak for A Day On The Green. The line-up was completed with special guests The Mojo Corner, Boy & Bear, Vika & Linda and Ella Hooper. In Ballarat there was an infestation of critters for Rat Fest at The Eastern. Saturday saw Exek, Screensaver, Premium Fantasy and more rock out, and Sunday included Gut Health, Druid Fluids and the Sandy Dish.

Looking forward we have the following fests.

Starrcast Downunder

Ballarat – April 11-14 

He drops the leg, we jump to our feet. Ninety-thousand people count to three 

Merchandise, memorabilia, autographs and photo-ops are all up for grabs at this high-flying, spine-busting, choke-slamming, power-bombing wrestling convention. Your line-up is Bret Hart, Mickie James, Eric Bischoff, Powerhouse Hobbs, Shelton Benjamin, Dalip Singh, Vix Crow, Chris Masters, Tenille Dashwood, Gangrel, Lisa Marie Varon, Mike Rallis, Steph De Lander, Mance Warner, Conrad Thompson and SoCal Val.  

More through https://www.oceaniaprowrestling.com/starrcast 

Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival

Rosalind Park, Bendigo – April 13

Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around 

Legend has it that Dionysus gifted mere mortals the art of winemaking, making it so that the humble grape could be transformed into the heavenly elixir. So raise a glass as the Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival returns with its celebration of local wines. More than 100 wines will be available to sample, as well as the usual goodies of great food, entertainment and competitions. 

More through https://www.bendigowine.org.au 

Ultra

Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne – April 13

Ultra-mega supersonic, ultra-mega for your head 

If electronic is your tonic, Ultra is here for you. Your line-up is Armin van Buuren, Brennan Heart, Carl Cox, Darren Styles, Steve Aoki, Zedd, Anna Tur, Christopher Coe, Jeffrey Sutorius, Juliet Fox, Topic, Will Atkinson, Will Sparks, Achilles, Brent Sparks, Buttons, Darley, Dimatik, Erica Dal, FOVOS, High Up, Jayden Eddy, Kaos, Lance, Macon, MC Naps, Restricted, Rory Marshall, Sammy La Marca, SCNDL, Scott Alert, Short Round, Tay-G, Teddy Cream and William Kiss.  

More through https://ultraaustralia.com/ 

Geelong Pride Film Festival

Pivotonian Theatre & Platform Arts, Geelong – April 18-28

I’ve got a heart full of pride

For the seventh year, the Geelong Pride Film Festival rolls out the rainbow carpet to features and shorts from local shores and abroad. The festival kicks off with Rainbow Shorts, featuring bite-sized films How to Dress Like Me, Joy, Straight on ’til Morning, A Fuckboi Story, A Letter to Her, The Whole World, Good Times and That’s Okay and Seahorse Parents. Other screenings include Polarized, Housekeeping for Beginners, Masquerades of Research, Equal the Contest and Isla’s Way. 

More through https://gpff.ferve.tickets/ 

 

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Metal United Down Under 

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – April 20

Here in Metal Metal Land, nothing ever dies

On the same night, under the same banner, the earth opens up and unleashes the beast that is Metal United Down Under. Your line-up is Suspended Animation, Bentham’s Head, Diminished Reason, Distorta, Van Diemen, Ana and Spacegoat. 

More through https://metal-united-down-under.com.au/ 

Do the Pop

Port Campbell Hotel, Port Campbell – April 20 & 21

Pop, rock, drop and roll 

To borrow from a once tasty but now not quite as tasty snack, once you pop, you can’t stop. And there is a whole lot of popping to do at Do the Pop. Your line-up is Bob Log III, The Meanies, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, Willie J & the Bad Books, The Unknowns, Grindhouse, The Monaros, The Maggie Pills, Troubled Minds, My Left Boot, Stepmother, The Miffs, Rockatella, Hot Machine, Street Sweeper, Sargent Baker, Melt, Billiam & the Split Bills, The Refuge and more.  

More through https://www.dothepop.com.au/

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Melbourne – until April 21

Oh, let your laughter fill the room 

How do you work out the mass of a Red Hot Chili Pepper? Give it a weigh, give it a weigh, give it a weigh now. It is jokes like that that thankfully won’t be heard at the MICF, the comedy festival with the lot. International performers include David O’Doherty, Adam Kay, Ed Byrne, Helen Bauer, Des Bishop, Gabby Anderson, Abby Howells, John Kearns, Alan McElroy, Bec Sandys, Jodie Sloan, Kanan Gill, Ting Lim, Viggo Venn and Urooj Ashfaq. Local performers include Sam Simmons, Aaron Chen, Dane Simpson, Claire Hooper, Anna Dooley, Josh Thomas, Aaron Gocs, Felicity Ward, Akmal, Grace Jarvis, Grace Zhang, Sam Bowden, The Umbilical Brothers, Tom Gleeson and Uma Dobia.     

More through https://www.comedyfestival.com.au 

Stars & Bars Festival

Palling Brothers Brewery, Heathcote – April 26 & 27

Let’s go stargazing, got my heart racing 

It’s the trail blazin’, stargazin’ and hell raisin’ countrified music festival that put Ogdenville on the map. Part mystery bus tour, part winery/brewery tour and part musical concept, it’s a bona fide blast. Your line-up is The Seven Ups, Nathan Seeckts, Riley Catherall, Luke Sinclair, The Drunken Poachers and Grim Fawkner, along with DJ Chunky Love.  

More through https://www.starsandbars.com.au/ 

 

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Koroit Irish Festival

Koroit – April 26-28

We Irish like to party, whener’ we get the chance 

At the Koroit Irish Festival, you don’t have to be Irish but you do have to enjoy a craic. Enjoy the Spud Trilogy (spud picking, peeling and eating competitions), The Koroit Lions Club Op Shop Street Procession, performances from the Christine Ayres School of Irish Dancing and the O’Shea-Ryan Academy of Irish Dance and the always popular Koroit Bakehouse Danny Boy Championship. Your music line-up, meanwhile, is Kellys Wayke, Double Shot Maggie, Madigan’s Wake, The Ferriters, The Seisiun, Maria Forde, Lim Family, Claddagh, Trev, Mel & Mick and Johnny Anscombe & the Rubber Band.  

More through https://www.koroitirishfestival.com.au/ 

B’Rat Festival

The Eastern, Ballarat – April 27

Life is nothing but a fat rat race

It’s the festival that turns the amps up to eleven. So if short-term ear ringing isn’t a problem, brand-new heavy metal festival B’Rat should be right up your alley. Your line-up is Fall and Resist, Distorta, Cosmonaut, Order of Torment, Bush Wizard, Yeah, Sick! and Dhert. 

More through https://theeasternballarat.com.au 

Red Hot Summer Tour

Bendigo Racecourse, Bendigo – April 27

Oh, to the top, we are red hot

Summer may have passed us by, but the Red Hot Summer Tour keeps kicking along in style. Your line-up is Jimmy Barnes, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers, Mahalia Barnes & the Soulmates and Sam + Sam. 

More through https://www.redhotsummertour.com.au/ 

With so much happening across the month, there’s no excuse to not explore our regions vibrant entertainment offering. For more gig news head to our gig guide

April Gig Guide: The best shows happening across Victoria this month

Look back 30 years to 1994, if you please. ’Twas a fine year for music. Beastie Boys released Ill Communication, featuring the massive ‘Sabotage’. Alice in Chains released Jar of Flies, the first EP to debut at the #1 spot on the US Charts. Soundgarden released the #1 Superunknown. Stone Temple Pilots released Purple, which went on to sell more than six million copies. Jeff Buckley released his only studio album, Grace. And then there was Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York.

But there is more.

Enigma returned to innocence and everyone tried their best at the chant. Boyz II Men announced they would make love to you, but only like you want them to, which is nice. Hootie, as well as his Blowfish cohort, offered the holding of his prehensile, multi-fingered appendage. Gloria Estefan championed the turning around of beats, as she most enjoyed hearing percussion. Scatman was like ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub, and we were all like, cool.

Elton John asked if we could feel the love tonight and single people replied, no, thanks for the reminder, Reginald. Lisa Loeb said we kept accusing her that she only hears what she wants to and we somewhat agreed and said we would work on our communicative skills. And Tori Amos let us know her cereal of choice was not cornflakes, and the best we could ascertain was that she may be a raisin girl.

Let’s now look into the future with these upcoming live music moments. Enjoy these April gigs…

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

An Evening with Vika & Linda

Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool on April 4

Following three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, the Bull sisters, Vika & Linda, left to start a career as a duo. In 2022 they released their eighth album, Gee Whiz, it’s Christmas.

Death by Carrot

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo on April 4 & Bazz Music, Ararat on April 5

In 1974, Basil Brown died from consuming almost forty litres of carrot juice in ten days. Stoner rock outfit Death by Carrot won’t kill you, but they will provide a good time.

John Taratsas

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs on April 5

With a reputation for big choruses and memorable hooks, songman John Taratsas has roots in Britpop, folk and indie-rock.

Hamapple & One Square Mile

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 5

Get ready for a double dose of Long Beach old-school punk as Hamapple and One Square Mile get busy. The Half Pints, Westall 66 and The Louds will be there as well.

Baroque Festival

Civic Hall, Ballarat on April 5
Baroque star Erin Helyard kicks off the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Baroque Festival with a selection of Bach and Vivaldi concertos.

The Duck Downpickers

Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine on April 5

Are you looking for some tunes with a little tongue in beak? Then waddle on down for a night of acoustic-Zyda-jug-holy-billy-blues with The Duck Downpickers.

Adalita

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 5 & Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 6

It’s last drinks for Adalita as she announces her final run of shows celebrating her 2022 release, Inland. She’ll be joined by Amaya Laucirica and Daisy Kilbourne.

 

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Sin City

Red Hill Hotel, Chewton on April 5 & The Eastern, Ballarat on April 12

Sinners are grinners as country, soul and rock and rollers Sin City head out in support of their second album. Another Round is the name, and your shout is the game.

Bang On Live

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo on April 6

Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe are taking their Double J podcast Bang On to the stage. Join in on a conversation about a little of this and a little of that.

Opelousas

Pistol Pete’s, Geelong on April 6

It’s a greasy and crispy serving of swamp-blues as Opelousas serve up their second album, Opelousafried. See what Kerri Simpson, Anthony Shortte and Alison Ferrier have been cooking.

Maple Glider

The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on April 6

Music can be an escape for the artist, as it can be for the listener. For Maple Glider, the moniker of Tori Zietsch, it’s been an escape from religion, ending relationships and her own brain.

Michael Jackson History

The Capital, Bendigo on April 6

Gareth Field steps into the moonwalking shoes of Michael Jackson in this full-scale stage production featuring songs ‘Thriller’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Bad’ and many more.

The Exploding Universe of Ed Kuepper

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs on April 6

With drummer Mark Dawson, bassist Peter Oxley, pianist Alister Spence and brass arranger Eamon Dilworth by his side, Ed Kuepper’s Exploding Universe returns to the stage.

The Barren Spinsters

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo on April 6

Like wet socks or getting a wrong order, The Barren Spinsters are known for ruining a day or two. The duo’s latest album is Let the Music Ruin Your Life.

Battlesnake

Volta, Ballarat on April 6

It’s time for the Battlesnake shake as the mighty metal band sets out to not only put a little iron in your music diet, but raise some extra coin for their upcoming European tour.

Morgan Evans

Costa Hall, Geelong on April 6 & Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo on April 7

He may be based in Nashville, but country songman Morgan Evans is still an Aussie boy at heart. He released the EP Life Upside Down last year.

Mighty Horse

The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on April 7

Like a ball in a pinball machine, Castlemaine’s Mighty Horse will have you pinging from grooving psychedelia through to rock, alt-folk, post-punk, ska and dub.

The Roy Orbison Story

The Capital, Bendigo on April 7

The music, voice and life of Roy Orbison is celebrated through songs including ‘Only the Lonely’, ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Running Scared’ and more. Mark Shelley is the Big O.

Heath Franklin’s Chopper

Minerva Ballarat, Ballarat on April 7 & Bendigo Bank Theatre, Bendigo on April 12

Heath Franklin’s Chopper is not here to fornicate arachnids. He is, however, here to chew the fat about this thing we call life.

Ballarat Film Society

Minerva Ballarat, Ballarat on April 11

The Ballarat Film Society presents a screening of The Wild Goose Lake, a film about a lawless area of Wuhan and small-time mob leader Zhou Zenong.

Confetti Western

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 11

The space cowboys that go by the name Confetti Western are taking their whip-crackin’ electro to the masses in support of new single, ‘Go Go Stop’.

Pierce Brothers

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 11 & Volta, Ballarat on April 12

In support of their brand-spanking new album Everything is Bigger than Me, indie-folk rockers Pierce Brothers are kicking it around the country on their biggest tour since 2019.

 

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Starrcast Downunder

Ballarat – April 11-14
Wrestling convention Starrcast Downunder is coming to Ballarat. Guests include Bret Hart, Mickie James, Eric Bischoff, Shelton Benjamin, Mike Rallis and more.

Emma Donovan

Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool on April 12

Aiming to shine a light on Indigenous music and culture, Emma Donovan will use her blend of soul and country to perform signature songs and those in the languages of Gumbaynggirr and Noongar.

The Big Fat Greek Show

Sphinx Hotel, Geelong on April 12

There’s comedy, there’s music and maybe even a little ouzo as George Kapiniaris, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Pantelis Krestas team up for this variety show full of Greek flavour.

Nat Bartsch

Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo on April 12

Taking place in the BAC’s historic Drury Court, this performance from pianist Nat Bartsch is inspired by ‘Music D’ameublement’, a term coined by pianist Eric Satie meaning furniture music.

Sammy White

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 12

If you’re looking for a night of “diamonds, dolly and real country-as-cow-shit music”, look towards Sammy White. Her new single is ‘Ain’t That the Way’.

Ian Moss

WCPA, Wendouree on April 12

Released last year and featuring a duet with Kasey Chambers, Rivers Run Dry is the eighth solo album from Ian Moss. Enjoy an evening of the old and new.

Paul McDermott + 1

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs on April 12

The Fall of Empire, the rise of women and wanking are the three themes explored on Blood Orange, the third collaboration between Paul McDermott and Glenn Moorhouse.

Hoss & Budd with friends

The Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove on April 13

You know what goes well with bombastic fuzz? That would be rock and roll goodness. Join Hoss & Budd, Smoke Witch and Clifford Parade for some bombastic good stuff.

Radio Free Alice

Major Tom’s, Kyneton on April 13

Since releasing their self-titled debut last year, Radio Free Alice has been a hot ticket in town. They’re off to the UK shortly, and new music is also to come in 2024.

Tropical Fuck Storm

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 13

The honeymoon period for Tropical Fuck Storm is not over as the band leads the mini-fest Cellophane Honeymoon. Joining them will be Mod Con and Cool Sounds.

 

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Jim E. Brown & Andy Burns

Trash Cult, Eaglehawk on April 13 and Red Hill Hotel, Chewton on April 14

Born in Manchester, poet and pop sensation Jim E. Brown touches down in Australia for the first time in April. He will be joined by Perth-based chamber pop muso, Andy Burns.

Anna Smyrk

Odessa @ Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick on April 14

Songs for word nerds and pop hook obsessives are the words that greet you upon searching for Anna Smyrk, and all that sounds quite lovely.

Baby Velvet

The Bridge, Castlemaine on April 14

Hannah Crofts is one quarter of indie-folk group All Our Exes Live in Texas. She is also Baby Velvet. Come along for a free Sunday afternoon show.

Wendy Matthews & Grace Knight’s Graceland

The Capital, Bendigo on April 14

Two of Australia’s great voices team up for the first time as they honour Paul Simon. Complete with an all-star band, settle in for a night of Simon’s most loved songs.

Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 14; Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine on April 16; and Ararat Town Hall, Ararat on April 18

You’re in for a bloody good time as Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson sets out to make you laugh with forty years’ worth of material, including his latest in ‘International DILLIGAF Day’.

Songs for Suzanne

Minerva Ballaarat, Ballarat on April 14 & Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff on April 26

Henry Wagons, Rebecca Barnard, Delsinki, Alma Zygier and Jacinta Caruana join forces for Songs for Suzanne, a night celebrating the life and work of Leonard Cohen.

Laura Hill

Ararat Town Hall, Ararat on April 17

Should we be lucky enough, there are those we encounter whose impact will be everlasting. Adelaide singer-songwriter Laura Hill encapsulates this on new single, ‘The First Time’.

Van Diemen

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 18

The true sounds of the cold and dark Tasmania come to life through black metal outfit Van Diemen. This will be their first run of interstate shows.

Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo on April 18 & Gateway Hotel, Corio on April 19

Brooke and Adam kicked off 2023 in most triumphant style, winning three Toyota Golden Guitar Awards. Let’s see what 2024 delivers.

The Smith Street Band

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 18 & Torquay Hotel, Torquay on April 20

In the fifteen years since The Smith Street Band have been doing their thing, they have performed more than 800 shows in 23 countries. Join them in adding to the show count.

 

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Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 19

Kid Congo Powers has been at this music caper for a long time. As part of the Pink Monkey Birds collective, he welcomes new album, That Delicious Vice.

Riflebirds

The Taproom (Shedshaker Brewing), Castlemaine on April 19

If there is one thing you should know about the high-soaring, electrifying Riflebirds is that they are not afraid to break out a random keytar solo.

Scattered Order

Trash Cult, Eaglehawk on April 19

With roots in the DIY/post punk/art noise of the late 1970s, journeyed outfit Scattered Order are launching their new double album, All Things Must Persist.

Kevin Welch & the Weeping Willows

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs on April 19

He has written songs for Waylon Jennings and Linda Ronstadt among others and has been performing for more than four decades. Here, Kevin Welch performs with the Weeping Willows.

Ash Grunwald

Volta, Ballarat on April 19 & Lamby’s Tavern, Geelong on April 21

Love can be tough. Fortunately Ash Grunwald is here with new single ‘Life without You’, a song about going the distance in your relationship and having gratitude for your loved ones.

Shannon Noll

Costa Hall, Geelong on April 19 & WPAC, Wendouree on April 20

Two decades ago, Shannon Noll went from being a farmhand to one of Australia’s biggest musical stars and a man affectionately known as Nollsie. He is using the milestone to tour.

Metal United Down Under

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo on April 20

Celebrating ten years of the heavy stuff, MUDU welcomes Suspended Animation, Bentham’s Head, Diminished Reason, Distorta, Van Diemen, Ana and Spacegoat in a mega showcase.

The History of British Rock

The Story House, Geelong on April 20
Featuring a live band comprised of some of the finest talent the country has to offer, The History of British Rock is a loving tribute to the British rock of the ’60s and ’70s.

The Umbilical Brothers

The Play House, Geelong on April 20

There will be no chastising for using screens here as The Umbilical Brothers combine stage performance and big screen antics in their latest show, The Distraction.

Luoda

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs on April 20

A ticket to Luoda is a ticket to a night of original funk, jazz, soul, blues and R&B. They’ll be performing songs from their debut album, Running out of Time.

Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 20

After spending time leading Gallows, Frank Carter left to explore greener pastures. In Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, he provides hard-hitting punk rock with a hard rock undercurrent.

Phil Coyne & the Wayward Aces

Pistol Pete’s, Geelong on April 20

Led by blues harp master and blaster Phil Coyne, the tone and fury of the Chicago blues of the 1950s is on full display when The Wayward Aces come to town.

Portal Gun

The Dart & Marlin, Warrnambool on April 20

Warrnambool-bred Portal Gun is set to serve up a healthy dose of their psych-rock meets funk-groove at their local. Lachie Smith and Milou Moon will be there, too.

Charm of Finches

The Bridge, Castlemaine on April 21

The dreamy indie-pop duo Charm of Finches will be playing a few shows in celebration of their upcoming fourth album, Marlinchen in the Snow (April 19). ‘Clean Cut’ is the latest single.

Fundraising Event: For Palestine

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 21

The Double Dole String Band, Eliza Hull, Baby Velvet, Charlie Needs Braces, Angie Hart, Nokomi Achkar and The Freedom Singers team up for a We Are Not Numbers (WANN) fundraiser.

Amigo the Devil

Volta, Ballarat on April 24
How does a man make dark folk and murderfolk out of a banjo? Find out for yourself as Danny Kiranos, otherwise known as Amigo the Devil, tours Australia for the first time.

The Poor

Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo on April 25

It has been thirty years since hard rockers The Poor released ‘More Wine, Waiter Please’, a top ten hit in Australia lifted from their debut album. Black Aces support.

The Vovos

The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on April 26

Once upon a time, at Girls Rock! camp, five young women from varied musical backgrounds bonded over a punk attitude and have not looked back since. Lilla Gubben is their new album.

Sugar Fed Leopards

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong on April 26

Somewhere in the world between disco, soul, doo-wop and rock and roll exists Sugar Fed Leopards. Take them by the heart as they welcome new album, Love. Be in It.

Jay Howie

Handle Bar, Bendigo on April 26

With a deep-rooted appreciation for blues, rock and folk music, songman Jay Howie sets out to create stories of love, pain and motivation. ‘Superstitious Mind’ is his new single.

Eskimo Joe

Civic Hall, Ballarat on April 27

More than twenty-five years later, Eskimo Joe remains Stuart MacLeod, Joel Quartermain and Kavyen Temperley. Here, they perform acoustically.

Arj Barker

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on April 27

Have you ever wondered that all of reality, as we can ever possibly know it, exists exclusively in our mind? Arj Barker tackles life’s big questions in his new show, The Mind Field.

Holy Holy

Torquay Hotel, Torquay on April 27

Shedding their inhibitions and voyaging towards new territory was the aim of Cellophane, album number five from Holy Holy. They’re touring it now.

 

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Pell

Volta, Ballarat on April 27

Born Jared Pellerin, rapper Pell began tinkering with beats after moving from New Orleans to Jackson following Hurricane Katrina. His new single is ‘Jagger’.

The Beatles: 50 Years On

The Story House, Geelong on April 28

Regarded as the premier Beatles tribute act, Beatle Boys will perform a two-hour concert featuring favourites including ‘Help’, ‘Hey Jude’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘Yesterday’, ‘Let it Be’ and more.

Emma Pask

Ararat Town Hall, Ararat on April 28

If you’re asked to play the Bridal Waltz for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at their wedding, you know you have something special. Enjoy one of Australia’s favourite jazz voices in Emma Pask.

Greg Arnold

The Royal Hotel Meredith, Meredith on April 28

As the frontman for Things of Stone and Wood, Greg Arnold has written his share of beloved songs. More than thirty years later, ‘Happy Birthday Helen’ arguably remains the most loved of all.

For more gig news head to our gig guide

Win: We’re giving away 4 x double passes to attend ‘Multiple Bad Things’ at Geelong Art Centre

Winners of the prestigious Venice Biennale 2024 Golden Lion Award, Back To Back Theatre are renowned for its groundbreaking approach to performance and its dedication to challenging societal norms, with Multiple Bad Things being no exception.

Directed by Back to Back Artistic Associates Tamara Searle and Ingrid Voorendt, the production boasts a stellar cast including Natasha Jynel, Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, and Scott Price who play co-workers in the performance. Multiple Bad Things builds a workplace narrative where the three employees navigate the complexities and issues of civility, identity, and power struggles amidst a backdrop of societal upheaval.

With the world premiere taking place at Geelong Arts Centre from Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 April, we’re giving away 4 x double passes to attend the 1pm matinee performance on this coming Saturday 13 April.

It’s a chance to see the thrilling theatre piece before it heads to Brussels’ Theater Nationale in May, concluding its run at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre from 29th May to 9th June 2024.

Winners will be drawn Thursday 11 April and informed via email.

To be in the running, all you have to do is enter below by filling out your name, email and phone number.

By entering, you agree to receive marketing collateral from Forte and competition partners. For more info, check out our privacy policy.

Budha Entertainment Present their first-ever boiler room in Frankston for ANZAC Day Eve

Budha Entertainment has your ANZAC Day Eve plans sorted in Frankston, with the public holiday posing as the perfect opportunity to skip back to the old-school club days for Flashback 2 Anzac Day Eve – Budha’s Boiler Room.

The Deck Frankston will transport you back to a time of animalistic club anthems and bouncing beats for a boiler room session. A first from the team at Budha Entertainment, the event promises to be seven hours of house anthems and classic bangers as served by a line-up of local legends.

For a smoking $15 at pre-sale rates, the line-up includes Benny Watt, Budha, Cinar, Craig Miller, Damang, Funky Col, Hurley, Jackson Marshall, Marky Mark, Oldshane, Paully, Rosiealishhh, Scotty G, Tom Grant, Trav Howe, Trenta J, Zac Masters and more.

 

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In addition to discounted tickets for presale, the early birds will get $25 cocktail jugs, 2-for-1 cocktails, cloak room options, phone charging facilities and disposable cameras to capture the club. April babies will also get a birthday present with a $100 drink voucher and free entry when you DM the bookers via Facebook.

To get you hyped for the throw-back party, Budha Entertainment have made a dedicated Spotify playlist, teasing the nights hits and also getting you club ready.

 Tickets can be purchased to Flashback 2 ANZAC DAY EVE via eventbrite.

‘Dance Monkey’ sensation Tones and I announces national tour

Three years after her last headline tour, Tones and I announce Australia and New Zealand tour for August and September 2024, starting in Sydney and heading to Newcastle, Auckland, Brisbane, Townsville, Fremantle and Melbourne.

Tones and I Australia & New Zealand Tour 2024

• Friday 23 August – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
• Saturday 24 August – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
• Wednesday 28 August – Town Hall, Auckland
• Friday 30 August – Riverstage, Brisbane
• Saturday 31 August – Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville
• Thursday 5 September – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
• Saturday 7 September – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne

The Live Nation announcement follows Tones successful, highly-praised 20-date stadium tour supporting P!nk across Australia and New Zealand.

 

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For this tour, the creative force will be covering singles from her sophomore album, including ‘Dreaming’ and ‘I Get High‘, plus fan favourites ‘Dance Monkey‘, ‘Fly Away’, ‘Cloudy Day’ and ‘Never See The Rain‘. The tracks have seen Tones smash records, becoming the first female artist to reach 3 billion streams on Spotify with one song, consistently holding the spot for the top 10 most-streamed songs of all-time on Spotify with ‘Dance Monkey’ boasting a 6 x platinum title. Additionally the artist has garnered multiple awards, sold-out tours, surpassed 10 billion streams, and earned 5 ARIA awards. Tones debut LP Welcome To The Madhouse zoomed to top spot on the Australian charts in 2021.

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

Of the upcoming tour, Tones And I says, “The support and love around Australia and NZ has been so incredible! My live show is something I hold very close to my heart and is the best representation of who I am. I’m so grateful to be embraced by people around Australia and NZ! I hope people leave feeling part of something, love Tones ❤️”

Tickets to see the once-in-a-lifetime artist go on sale to the public on Monday 15 April from 12pm local time. My Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the My Live Nation presale beginning 12pm local, Friday 12 April until 11am local, Monday 15 April.

Vodafone customers can secure tickets during a presale commencing Wednesday 10 April at 10am local. Visit vodafone.com.au/ticket to find out more.

Mastercard cardholders in Australia and New Zealand have special access to presale tickets from 10am local Wednesday 10 April. Preferred ticket access is available to Mastercard cardholders on Monday 15 April, 12pm.Visit priceless.com/music to find out more.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au or livenation.co.nz