There are those who may accuse me, on occasion, of being an old man yelling at clouds.
To be fair, I was once a young dude yelling at clouds. And when I say yelling at clouds, I don’t mean going on a long-winded rant about something of little or no significance. Although a good whinge can be therapeutic. Plus, there is something about that chasm of despair that washes over one’s eyes when you’re mid-rant that is quite the delectable meal. I mean yelling as in, ‘be more fluffy, cloud’, ‘you look like an elephant’ and ‘why don’t you come to me when I summon you?’ Sure, when I was a kid it was cute.
Sadly, somewhere along the way the magic dust we sprinkle on everything falls out of our pockets and the little things we once did and the wonderful worlds we created cannot always be replicated without furrowed brows and a firmer eye of judgement.
As Easter approaches and Easter egg hunts fill parks with the chaos of children zooming like Autobahn traffic in search of hidden chocolate delights, there is a part of me that is in envy. A scavenger hunt with a satisfying reward? Sign me up. I am also a better chocolate hunter than at least 50 per cent of children. Look in the tree nook. Why are none of you looking in the tree nook? Don’t chase the birds. They don’t have chocolate. Then again, I am an adult and can buy chocolate eggs whenever I want. And that is going to be post-Easter because it just makes sense financially.
I hope you enjoy April’s festivals and events…
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne – until April 20
Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone, a comedy tonight
What’s ET short for? It’s because he has little legs. If you laughed at that, you’ll laugh at these folks. And if you didn’t, you’ll laugh at these folks. International acts include Ruby Wax, Amy Gledhill, Jin Hao Li, Ahir Shah, Melanie Bracewell, Anirban Dasgupta and Schalk Bezuidenhout. Your local line-up includes Bron Lewis, Claire Hooper, Geraldine Hickey, Gillian Cosgriff, He Huang, Jenny Tian, John Safran, Lou Wall, Nazeem Hussain and Zoë Coombs Marr. You’ll also find all your favourites, including the Annual Great Debate, Upfront, Raw Comedy, Deadly Funny and Class Clowns.
More through https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival
Macedon – April 1-30
La-de-da, de-da-de-da, ’tis autumn
It’s a month-long autumn adventure at the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, where you may come for a day but end up spending the entire month. Enjoy autumn-inspired food and drink events across nine regional villages, as well as destination gardens, artisanal workshops, genuine farmers markets, gallery exhibitions and more.
More through https://www.visitmacedonranges.com/autumn-festival/
Reel Rock 19
The Astor Theatre, Melbourne – April 2; Friction Bouldering, Ballarat – April 5; Lido Cinemas, Melbourne – April 9; and Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave – April 10
If ya wanna hang loose, gotta get a grip
The heart will race and palms will be sweaty but at least you’ll be on firm ground as Reel Rock shares the biggest stories from the world of climbing. Marvel at the sights and celebrate the human side behind the sport’s greatest adventures and achievements.
Films include Death of Villains, which follows a former child climbing prodigy who emerges from an eating disorder to attempt a 5.15 first ascent, The Cobra & The Heart, a twenty-year saga that takes in romance, climbing and betrayal as it explores a second chance and Riders on the Storm, which follows Siebe Vanhee and friends in an attempt to free ascent the elusive Riders on the Storm route on the East Face of Patagonia’s Torre Central.
More through https://reelrocktour.com
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CresFest
Creswick – April 4-6
I love small towns and I love big crowds, I guess that’s just how I roll
Dress your best for CresFest as Creswick delivers the joy of all things music. Your line-up is Neil Murray, The Maes, Joe Geia, Chris Stout & Catriona McKay, Grassy Strings, Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Apolline, Canisha, Geoffrey Williams, Grace Barbé, Kerryn Fields, Khristian Mizzi, Kofi Kunkpe, Madi Colville-Walker and Stuart Joel Nuggett.
More through https://cresfest.com.au/
When Pigs Fly
Theatre Royal & Love Shack Brewing Co., Castlemaine – April 5
I may tell you a tale, a tale of three little pigs
Oink, oink, it’s feeding time. It’s a hog haven festival that’s going to make you as happy as a pig in, well, you know. Your line-up is Marcellus Pittman, JNETT, Cool Sounds, Wrong Way Up, Panda Lilly, Sinj Clarke, Music is the Massage, Groove Alliance, Poli-Pearl, Norachi & Windtunnel, Luqman, 6AM ATG, Jen Moore, Ingrid, Ella Stoeckli and Mondo Ritmo.
More through https://whenpigsfly.com.au/
Goomfest
Wangoom (near Warrnambool) – April 5 (*rescheduled date)
My heart going goom-goom-goom
There’s no gloom here. No doom, either. It’s all about Goom. So come join this little festival as it sets out to strike a big chord. Your line-up is Rinse, Toni Yotzi, Kuzco, Winten, Coldwave, Alex Albrecht, Birdsnake, Dragnet, Charlotte Rooney, Kosmetika, Portal Gun, Annie Kez, Dez, Ryan Stow, Smizzart, Corey Ryan, Lewsciou and Chela. Goomfest is BYO drinks, but no glass. You’ll also find plenty of food vendors, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
More through https://www.goomfest.com/
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Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival
Rosalind Park & Pall Mall, Bendigo – April 5
Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around
There are wines for fish, wines for cheese, wines for poultry and wines for beef. You’ll probably even find a wine for Cheetos. With more than 80 wines available for tasting, Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival is a celebration of the region’s exceptional wines, the people who make them and another successful vintage. You can pack a picnic, or pick and choose from the many food vans. And if you don’t mind getting a little dirty, join the grape stomp challenge.
More through https://www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/whatson/strategem-bendigo-winemakers-festival
All Ford Day
Blue Oval, Geelong – April 6
Nothin’ will outrun my V8 Ford
Put the pedal to the metal as you enjoy the rich history of the Ford Motor Company. You’ll feel the love in the air as more than 1500 vehicles roll out, including vintage pre-war automobiles, modern performance vehicles, classic muscle cars, hot rods, trucks and just about everything else that makes you go vroom. It’s enough to bring a tear to your eye.
More through https://allfordday.org.au/
Alliance Français French Film Festival
Star Cinema, Eaglehawk – April 11-13
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, bonjour
If I learnt one thing about French in school, it is that I should have paid more attention to French in school. Still, you don’t have to be a Francophile to appreciate the beauty of its cinema.
Films include All Stirred Up!, Army of Shadows, At the End of the Day, Beating Hearts, Before What Comes After, Being Maria, Bolero, Elyas, Emmanuelle, Family Therapy, Holy Cow, How to Make a Killing, In the Sub for Love, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, Juliette in Spring, Like a Prince, Love Boat, Lucky Winners, Meet the Leroys, Miss Violet, Monsieur Aznavour, My Brother’s Band, My Everything, Niki, No Chains No Masters, Prodigies, Riviera Revenge, Saint-Ex, Souleymane’s Story, Speak Out, The Count of Monte Christo, The Deluge, The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, The Good Teacher, The Kingdom, The Scammers, The Stolen Painting, The Thread, The Ties That Bind Us, This Life of Mine, Three Friends and When Fall is Coming.
More through https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/
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Ultra
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne – April 12
Ultra-mega super sonic
Rave, rest and repeat as you enjoy wall to wall EDM. Your line-up is Martin Garrix, Carl Cox, Knock2, Deborah De Luca, Axwell, Sub Zero Project and Da Tweekaz.
More through https://ultraaustralia.com/
Rock the Vine
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – April 12
Do ya wanna get rocked?
Rock and roll is coming to town, all hail rock and roll. Ten bands from across the state are coming your way, kicking off early afternoon with Featherhead. From there, you have Random Nancy, Gamma Sloth, This Sweet Sickness, Tomorrow Calling, Trip Hazard, Death of Art, Forklift Assassins (album release), The Dreadful Tides (EP release) and Intrepid.
More through https://events.humanitix.com/rock-the-vine-part-1-bendigo
Good Friday Appeal
Victoria-wide – April 18
Just wanna see my darling children smile
Few things pull at the heartstrings quite like the stories behind the Good Friday Appeal. 2025 welcomes the 94th appeal, a giant fundraiser that provides funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital to keep doing their fantastic thing. This includes supporting research, equipment, patient care and education. The Channel 7 telethon plays a huge part, but there are plenty of ways to play your part outside of that. Mimi and Jack are your faces of this year’s appeal.
More through https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/
Sonder Festival
Our Friends Farm, Tallarook – April 18-21
Sonder seems to fill my mind
Embracing the philosophy that each passer-by is living a life as complex as your own, Sonder Festival is a small festival that seeks to unlock the mind.
Your line-up is 1300, Bertie, Birdsnake, Caucasian Opportunities, Clint, Dem Mob, Detroit in Effect, Dina x Hasvat Informant, DJ Belle, DJ Earl Grey, DJ Spit, Gigi, Haus of Ralph, INQ, Meg10, Morphena, Narciss, Nikki Nair, No News, Prizefight, Radio Free Alice, Scalymoth, Soju Gang, The Trip, Wolters, WVCHWY and Yung Singh.
More through https://sonderfestival.com.au/
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Bendigo Easter Festival
Bendigo – April 18-21
Hippity hoppin’, Easter’s on its way
Rosalind Park and surrounding streets will be full of eager Easter feasters across the long weekend with activities and attractions for all. Whether you’re in the hunt for 80,000 Easter eggs on Good Friday, soaking up the sounds of the Bull Street Festival or you’re loading up on Dagwood Dogs and seeking thrills at Carnival Central, fun is coming to town. A highlight is always the Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday, featuring the world’s longest imperial dragon in Dai Gum Loong. And don’t forget Saturday night’s Torchlight Procession!
More through https://www.bendigoeasterfestival.org.au
Red Hot Summer Tour
Bendigo Racecourse, Bendigo – April 26 & Mornington Racecourse, Melbourne – April 27
Baby you’re red hot, red hot
It’s the tour full of sharp dressed men. It’s the tour that’s bad to the bone. Do you want a red hot introduction to rock and roll? We don’t want to rush you, but you’re gonna want to grab your tickets if your answer is yes because this show can’t be beaten. Your line-up is ZZ Top, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, The Living End, Baby Animals, Rose Tattoo and Dallas Frasca.
More through https://www.redhotsummertour.com.au/
Stars & Bars Festival
Heathcote – April 25 & 26
You were like starlight, just like star-shine
The stars may shine big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, but they do okay in Heathcote as well. Book your ticket and hitch a ride on a magical mystery tour of Central Victoria’s heartland.
Your line-up is The Drunken Poachers, Mightiest of Guns, Bob Log III, Karl S. Williams & Sally Wiggins, Ezra Lee & His Boogie Woogie Band, Annie-Rose Maloney, Paper Jane and Ally Row, along with DJ Chunky Love.
More through https://www.starsandbars.com.au/
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Koroit Irish Festival
Koroit – April 25-27
It’s a great day for the Irish, it’s a great day for fair
It’s super easy being green at the Koroit Irish Festival. It’s super fun as well. Following Friday night’s opening concert, Saturday’s bumper day serves up Spud Trilogy (picking, peeling and eating), the Flaming Folk Parade, the Koroit Bakehouse Australian Danny Boy Championship, the Gathering of Green Eyes, the search for Australia’s most Irish name and more. Sunday, meanwhile, hosts a Gaelic games exhibition, an open day hosted by Koroit Historical Society and more.
More through https://www.koroitirishfestival.com.au/
Bantu African Festival
Johnstone Park, Geelong – April 26
African sunrise, shine on a brand new day
The first thing that will happen is you’ll feel the vibes. From traditional African rhythms to the hottest Afro beats, they have the grooves to make you move. Next, you’ll embrace the culture and cuisine. The smells will lure you in before you’re choosing between spicy stews and sweet treats. As you do this you’ll wander the stalls full of unique homewares, handmade fashion and artisan goods. There is a whole lot for the kids as well, including face-painting, cultural arts and crafts and interactive workshops.
More through https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/musicgb/calendar/item/8db815d5ec46de9.aspx
