When it comes to musicians coming out of Victoria, we’re spoilt for choice.
Almost every music fan has rocked up to a gig before, bumped into a bloke they haven’t seen in a decade, and being told by that bloke that “the gig scene just isn’t what it used to be.”
Maybe it’s not, or maybe that guy is just out of touch.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
This is why we thought it might be handy to provide a guide to some of the locals who have been killing it at the moment. If you’re one of the few who tuned into triple j’s most recent Hottest 100 Countdown and questioned whether you still know what ‘hip’ music is, this one is for you.
Here’s our take on the 20 local acts we think would be worth checking out this year.
Good Sniff
Having made the difficult decision to continue as a two-piece following the death of the group’s frontman and best mate Louie Shearman in 2020, the Bellarine-based garage-rockers have hustled over the last two years, earning themselves a slew of impressive support slots that have seen the group sharing stages with everyone from WAVVES to Skegss. Channelling a dynamic sound that now sees both Lachie Brown and Elias Hodson double up on vocal duties, as well as plans for their debut album, first-ever national tour and their inaugural festival ‘Sniff Fest’ all to be unveiled over the coming months, it seems 2023 is going to be the year for Good Sniff.
Watty Thompson
There are few acts that you could put on while you’re drinking beers with your Dad and Grandad and have all three of you enjoy it: Watty Thompson is that exception. Marking a significant change up from his work with Sheriff and The Neptune Power Federation, Thompson’s newly released solo material is an absolute masterclass in poetic songwriting. Possessing a masterful ability in songwriting, poignantly curated instrumentals and a matured country-tinged style that rivals Tex Perkins, Thompson is one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets.
Meet Watty Thompson, the winner of Meadow festival’s local band competition
Juiceboxx
When people speak about local acts that are excelling, Juiceboxx isn’t mentioned enough. As one of the artists at the forefront of The Bay Collective (a group of local creatives pushing the niche sides of our local scene to the masses), the Geelong-based rapper has spent the past few years earning his stripes supporting some of the biggest hip-hop acts in the country. With ‘Geelong Shit’ currently sitting on over 150 thousand streams, as well as earning endorsements from the likes of Chillinit and Nerve, Juiceboxx isn’t just on the way up, he’s about to blow up.
Operation Karma
As a group only freshly out of high school, Operation Karma have been turning heads over the last few months. Comprised of the Hobbs sisters and Ivy Brand, the all-female outfit have been winning over crowds left, right and centre with their original take on psychedelic alt-rock. Having mastered their craft during their tenure in The Sweethearts, Operation Karma’s output finds itself more expansive than their contemporaries, with Laura Brand’s jazz-influenced percussion and Rachel Brand’s dual abilities as both a keyboardist and a sax player adding layers of complexity to the group’s rawer, psych-rock tones.
The Prize
When Forte Mag first covered The Prize, their debut single ‘Wrong Side Of Town’ had just been released and was sitting on less than 1,000 streams. It’s now four months later and it is sitting comfortably on 20,000 plays. This is a pretty fair indication that The Prize are an act worth checking out. Channelling a 70’s punk-rock style that will appeal to fans of any age, The Prize have quickly earned a name for themselves through support slots for CIVIC and Sunnyboys, and with appearances locked in for both Boogie and Tent Pole festival, it doesn’t seem like the group’s looking to slow down anytime soon.
‘Wrong Side of Town’: A joyous punk-rock affair from Anti Fade’s new sensations The Prize
Paraquay
Part of my role at Forte is compiling the regional Victorian gig guide every month, and the one name popping up more than any other is Paraquay. Having only released their debut EP in the latter half of 2022, Paraquay are still in their infancy as a band, but considering how hard they’ve hit the ground running, it’s almost a guarantee that they are a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of in future.
Rory jame$
Similarly to Juiceboxx, Rory Jame$ marks himself as a frontrunner in the local rap scene. With a nonchalant flow, jazzy J Dilla-inspired instrumentals and a collaborative nature that has seen the Torquay-based artist work alongside local legends from Vanilla Neptune to Juiceboxx and Kaviitá, it’s only a matter of time until jame$ finds himself played on radio stations around the country.
Kaviitá
Having first popped up on the gig scene through her work in Bonsoi and The White Flower Society, Kaviitá is finally gearing up to release her debut solo album and if the first two singles are anything to go by, it’s guaranteed to be a hit. Tying together nü jazz/neo-soul with elements of hip-hop and RNB, the once Geelong-based songstress is one of our local scene’s best-undiscovered talents.
Laura King
In all honesty, Laura King has probably never received the media coverage that she has so long deserved. At this point in time, King is prolific amongst the modern day electronic scene, with her name popping up on almost every festival lineup around the country. Having earnt praise from revered electronic producers such Richie Hawtin; whilst also commonly sharing the stage with everyone from Carl Cox to Calvin Harris, it seems like the once Anglesea-based artist is destined to be the next act spearheading the Australian techno scene.
View this post on Instagram
Glass Beams
Since releasing the incredibly well-received four track EP Mirage in 2021, Naarm-based Glass Beams have won over audiences all over Victoria, with their Khruangbin-esque psych-jazz style adorning the scarce festival punters lucky enough to see them. With the group wearing masks over their face and only popping up to play shows more sporadically than some other acts on this list, there is certainly a level of mystery behind the trio. Although, that only adds to the allure, with the mysterious imagery of the band pairing alongside enigmatic musical arrangements and mesmerising instrumentals to provide for an absolutely mystifying live set. This normally goes for 90 minutes, which is quite long considering the group have only released four songs to date. Making it almost inevitable that Glass Beams are gearing up to drop their debut album; and if Mirage is anything to go off, it’s going to be phenomenal.
Delivery
We were absolutely blown away by Delivery’s debut album Forever Giving Handshakes. With a sound that transcends the rudimentary confines of traditional punk, pulling influence from a vast array of beloved acts both old and new, Delivery mark themselves as one of Melbourne’s most exciting punk outfits. With twangy guitar lines; art-punk complexities and a healthy dose of wit in tow, it makes sense that the Melbourne gig scene has opened the group with open arms. And with their debut set at the upcoming Golden Plains Festival only weeks off, it’s almost guaranteed that Delivery will attract an even greater audience, hopefully pulling them out of the hidden alcoves of the punk scene to showcase them to a more widespread audience.
Pookie
From an outside perspective, it seems like things slowed down a little bit for Pookie over the last year or so. Having made a quick name for herself after the release of FLick, Aćol Agaar Apollo, also known as Pookie, seemed to step on the brakes a bit. Thankfully, she’s come back swinging, scoring sets at last year’s comeback of Meredith Music Festival as well as recently being booked for DJ/MC sets at this year’s Groovin’ The Moo. Being a couple of years since FLick dropped, the time seems ripe for Pookie’s mainstream emergence in the hip-hop scene.
Mundane Jane
Firstly, props on the band name. Secondly, like Paraquay and Operation Karma, Mundane Jane have been really earning their stripes in the local gig scene as of late. Delivering an alt-rock sound that’s perfectly apt for triple j radio play, Mundane Jane have quickly established a following amongst the younger crop of Geelong punters. The group’s lead single ‘Need You Now’ is currently sitting on upwards of 7,000 Spotify streams, with ‘Atom Bomb’ quickly on the rise alongside it, quite an impressive amount of attention for a local act only a year into performing.
Elliott Creed
There are a lot of local DJs/producers who could have been included in this list, but Elliott Creed easily feels like the most deserving. Having cut his teeth amongst the local club scene for the better part of a decade, Creed took a step back to focus on his tertiary studies, only occasionally playing club shows here and there. Although since his reemergence, Creed’s live sets have truly become something special, with the artist utilising the skills he learnt during his studies to present an out of this world audio visual live set. They are sets that may not pop up as much as when Creed was just a standard DJ, but boy when they do, they are truly something special amongst the local club scene.
Big Wett
Unsurprisingly, Big Wett is one of the most unique acts on this list. Having Initially caught my attention after getting on stage at Meredith Music Festival and confidently announcing, “This song is called Eat My Ass”, then the Melbourne-based popstar, who “makes songs for sluts”, has since gone on to earn acclaim from the likes of triple j, and international bookers, with the up and comer recently being announced for a slew of festivals over in the UK. It’s a level of attention that seems impossible considering as an artist Big Wett has only formally released two songs, although, with an output and lyrical style derivative of Peaches; a vocal delivery akin to Die Antwoord’s Yolandi Visser and an infectious live show, it makes sense why punters around the world are quickly falling in love with Big Wett.
View this post on Instagram
Terminal Sleep
Terminal Sleep may seem like a bit of an anomaly on this list. Whilst their name is popping up on lineups all over the CBD, they’ve probably never been listed alongside the likes of Big Wett and Laura King. But, this is a list of great up and comers and in terms of the Melbourne hardcore scene, Terminal Sleep is absolutely one to watch. Having spent most of the past two years warming up the stage for metal/hardcore heavyweights such as Justice For The Damned, Comeback Kid and Kublai Khan, Terminal Sleep are one most practised hardcore outfits in Melbourne. But yet, somehow in between such an unrelenting tour schedule the group still managed to drop the blistering (and beloved) EP Chapter 1: No Solace late last year. Boasting Bec Thorwesten’s sinister shrieks; filthy breakdowns and the authentic aggression that hardcore was founded on, Terminal Sleep mark themselves as upstarts worth keeping an eye on.
Our Carlson
It’s a list of upcomers so naturally, everyone who is on it is pretty fairly hyped at the moment, although, none more so than Our Carlson. Having won over masses of punters the the most recent Meredith, the Blackwood-based musician, who makes ‘epileptic dance music,’ has gone on to be announced for a string of festival appearances; as well as appearing as the guest of honour at the most recent Corner Hotel NYE bash. Adopting a spoken word cadence that resembles an okka Mike Skinner, Our Carlson bears himself as one of Victoria’s most unique and bohemian musical offerings yet to be discovered.
View this post on Instagram
MID CITY
For me, Mid City were one of those bands that you discover through Spotify, listen to relentlessly and then find out two years later that they are from Melbourne. Shook.
With some of the best production you’ll encounter from a local act; a boisterous party-punk output and anthemic choruses all in their arsenal, Mid City now find themselves as one of the local acts that I’m absolutely dying to see (that is, after finding out that they are in fact a local band). Having released two new singles over the last couple of months, marking the groups first releases since 2020, it seems the four piece are finally gearing up to release a full length album. If the singles are anything to go off, it’ll be worth the wait.
Bumpy
Featuring electronically charged jazz elements and an adaptive vocal range that resembles the raw huskiness of Macy Gray, Naarm-based artist Bumpy is quickly on the rise. Popping up everywhere from Strawberry Fields to Sun Cycle, Bumpy has been taking Australia by storm. Whether it’s her dreamy neo soul vocals or the vibrant jazz based percussion behind her tracks that reels you in, Bumpy is one of the few acts that offers something for everyone.
Stiff Richards
And finally, Morngington’s finest Stiff Richards. Much like Mundane Jane, props on the band name fellas, it’s one that makes me chuckle everytime I see it on a lineup. But that’s not why I included the Rye-based punks in this list: it’s because in my eyes they are the one band within Victoria to genuinely attract a cult-like audience. So much so that they almost present themselves as the complete opposite to all the other punk outfits.
Whilst you’ll commonly see the group’s peers promoting shows and even attaining international acclaim (Amyl and The Sniffers, Civic, C.O.F.F.I.N), it’s quite rare that you’ll encounter promotional material from Stiff Richards. In fact, it almost seems like the band actively don’t promote their own shows, but yet, if you have ever seen them live, you’ll agree that the reception is undeniable. I’ve never seen anything like it; the crowd know every nuance and lyric; the mosh is always crazy, and the band, in particular their revered singer Wolfgang Buckley, play with an absolutely unmatchable energy. BUT YET YOU NEVER SEE THEM ADVERTISE OR PROMOTE SHOWS. It’s truly remarkable, to think that a band that receives no radio play; is based in the outskirts of Victoria and doesn’t promote their shows can attain such a prominent underground following.
But yet, it couldn’t be more deserving, with Stiff Richards being one of the greatest punk acts Victoria has to offer, whether recognised by the masses or not (yet).
