Kate Miller-Heidke, Young Franco and Ross Wilson are just some of the best gigs happening this May.
Anna Jarvis held a small memorial service for her mother in 1907 at St. Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia, where Anna’s mother had been teaching Sunday school. The following year, on May 10, the first official Mother’s Day was celebrated at the same church. Interesting, Anna would end up fighting the holiday’s commercial and political exploitation.
It would be a disservice, however, to not mention Laurence Tureaud, better known as Mr T. For in 1984, appreciation for mothers received a red-hot boost when Mr T tut-tutted ‘Your Mama’ jokes with the song ‘Treat Your Mother Right’. One did not dare be the fool pitied for motherly insensitivities, less they had a cruisin’ for a mo-hawked bruisin’. Not that he would beat down. Heart as gold as his chains that man, chains he gave up following Hurricane Katrina. Indeed his mama did raise him right.
Don’t forget about Mother’s Day. And enjoy these May gigs…
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Hussy Hicks
The Bridge, Castlemaine- Thurs 2 May
Get your kicks with Hussy Hicks, the duo of Leesa Gentz and Julz Parker and their blend of folk, blues, country and roots.
Kate Miller-Heidke
Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff – 2 & 3 May
From her most loved songs through to her musical numbers and even the odd cover or two, it’s going to be a little of everything at these Kate Miller-Heidke shows.
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The Go Set
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong- Fri 3 May
It’s time to raise a glass to The Go Set as they celebrate 20 years as a band with the release of new live album and doco, Drink to the Night.
Bachelor Girl
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 3 May
Formed in 1992, pop duo Bachelor Girl would become one of the hottest tickets in town in the ’90s and early 2000s. They’ll be joined here by Anna Smyrk.
Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits
The Eastern, Ballarat – Fri 3 May
Hana and Jessie-Lee just want you to cut to the chase with their new album, Say What You Mean. Supports include Skyscraper Stan and Al Matcott Band.
Suzie So Blue
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 3 May
Suzie makes her Hepburn debut with an evening of soul-stirring music and tales of life and love that will resonate with lovers of Americana and dark folk.
Arj Barker
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Fri 3 May
Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat – Sat 4 May
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.
Young Franco
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Sat 4 May
With more than 180 million streams and over one million monthly Spotify listeners, Brisbane’s Joseph Da Rin de Barbera, aka Young Franco, is one of the hottest DJs and producers going around.
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Anthony Street
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sat 4 May
Your mind will be blown as star and producer of Celtic Illusion, Anthony Street, will serve up a night of levitations, impossible vanishes, mentalism and a death-defying escape.
Amplified 3.0
Boomtown, Castlemaine – Sat 4 May
Enjoy an eclectic night of sounds and visuals with Jess Parker, Software-Entwicklungskit, Earworm, Elevated Plains, The Artificial Limb (X) The Rev Al and DJ LJoy.
Reg Cole Quartet
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Sat 4 May
Formed in the mid-’90s while its members were at university, the Reg Cole Quartet is an original jazz/soul/Latin outfit. The band is currently working on a new album.
Greg Arnold
Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay – Sat 4 May
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.
Creek
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 4 May
Bonding over a shared love of The Allman Brothers Band among others, Melbourne outfit Creek is a blend of heavy blues, psych and alt-rock.
Ross Wilson
WCPA, Wendouree Sat 4 May
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Fri 24 May
You’ll be getting your Daddy Cool. You’ll be getting your Mondo Rock. You’ll be getting decades of sing-alongs as Ross Wilson & the Peaceniks present their 50 Years of Hits tour.
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Family Affair
The Taproom (Shedshaker Brewing), Castlemaine – Sun 5 May
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree here as father and son combo Family Affair (Charlie and Louis Marshall) share their love of post-punk.
Andrea Robertson & Band
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sun 5 May
Ambitions and creative forces were at a high last year as Andrea Robertson released four EPs with the changing seasons. Now it’s time for the songwoman to take Seasons on the road.
The Whitlams Black Stump
Piano Bar, Bendigo – Tues 7 May
Piano Bar, Ballarat – Wed 8 May
Piano Bar, Geelong – Thurs 9 May
The Whitlams Black Stump duo is taking a break from sitting in the old gum tree as they breathe new life into Whitlams classics on new album, Kookaburra.
Jet
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – 9 & 10 May
A little over twenty years ago, Jet created an earworm with ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ and their debut album Get Born. Come along to hear the album in full.
Charlie Bedford
Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat – Fri 10 May
Having first performed in clubs and pubs at the tender age of twelve, Charlie Bedford knows a thing or two about working a crowd. His music is rooted in southern rock, blues, and classic rock.
Jimeoin
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 10 May
Some questions can just nag away at you. Like, what do you do when you forget someone’s name? Fortunately Jimeoin is here to answer life’s little questions in new show, Who’s Your Man!?
The Valentines
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 10 May
Inspired by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, Chrissy Schuler and Sarah Barlow are behind the new smoky jazz duo, The Valentines.
The Clouds
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 10 May
Formed in late 1989, indie rock outfit The Clouds was an integral part of the Australian music scene in the ’90s. Here they look back at their four albums.
Brooke Taylor
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 10 May
We can learn a great deal from our mistakes, they say. And so it is that Brooke Taylor unveils a collection of tracks about life’s lessons on There’s Magic in Mistakes.
Hungry Ghosts (duo) & D.C Cross
Red Hill Hotel, Chewton – Fri 10 May
As well as his contribution to some of the country’s finest, J.P. Shilo is also known for Hungry Ghosts. D.C Cross, meanwhile, is a guitarist and storyteller who has been creating music for 25 years.
Dear Seattle
Volta, Ballarat – Fri 10 May
Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, Geelong Sun 11 May
Flannelettes and long, greasy hair is the name of the game as Dear Seattle release their modern-day grunge single, ‘idc’. They’ll be joined by The Tullamarines and Jet City Sports Club.
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Pierce Brothers
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Sat 11 May
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.
Craig Atkins
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 11 May
With an assortment of acoustic guitars, lap slide, cigar box guitars, didgeridoos, harmonica and foot percussion, Craig Atkins is a blues and folk one-man band.
Middle Kids
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Sat 11 May
With the release of their third album Faith Crisis Part 1 earlier in the year, it’s become a busy time for Middle Kids. They’re off to the US shortly, but not before they tend to local business.
Vika & Linda
Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat – Sat 11 May
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.
Mark Wilkinson
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Sat 11 May
Songman Mark Wilkinson has drawn comparisons to the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray as he takes you away to a world of soulful indie-folk.
Reputation: Taylor Swift Tribute
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sat 11 May
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Sun 12 May
Is there such a thing as too much Taylor Swift? Nearly 300,000 Melburnians can’t be wrong. Enjoy a 34-song set as Ella & Sienna and a six-piece band traverse the eras of Ms Swift.
Meta4
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sun 12 May
Up-and-coming Geelong quartet Meta4 are ready to unleash their jazz-fusion. Joining them will be Chrome Gypsy and Software Update.
Gretta Ziller
Ararat Town Hall, Ararat – Wed 15 May
A musician in a family of farmers, Gretta Ziller jokes she could whistle before she could talk. Enjoy her brand of classically trained rock, pop and blues-influenced Americana.
Prinnie Stevens
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Thurs 16 May
RnB soul songstress Prinnie Stevens is back with Lady Sings the Blues, Volume 2, a tribute to women in song – their hurt, struggles and pain, while their beauty remains the same.
Black Rheno
The Eastern, Ballarat – Thurs 16 May
Once upon a time there was ‘Who the frack is Alice’. Now we have ‘Who the F is Black Rheno?’, a tour that will answer that burning question. Expect an album in the second half of 2024.
Regurgitator
The Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Thurs 16 May
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 17 May
Three decades since their formation, Regurgitator have coughed up their tenth album. Titled Invader, it features appearances from Peaches, Tyson Yunkaporta and JK47.
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Isaac Butterfield
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Thurs 16 May
The Capital, Bendigo – Fri 17 May
Never one to shy away from jokes that make you go hmm, Isaac Butterfield is here to tackle the realities of modern day life.
Szara Fox & Andrew Darling
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 17 May
Szara is a Dutch singer-songwriter with a love for indie-gypsy folk, Balkan gypsy and flamenco. Andrew is her musical soulmate and trumpet player. Enjoy a night of fiery music.
Elly McK & the Unbelievers
Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick – Fri 17 May
Having formed in 2023, Elly McK & the Unbelievers may be new kids on the block but they’re already turning heads with their alt-county and Americana.
Missy Higgins
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 17 May
Two decades on from the release of her debut album The Sound of White, Missy Higgins is heading out for an anniversary tour with a difference.
Seth Sentry
Lamby’s Tavern, Geelong – Fri 17 May
It has been a tick more than fifteen years since Seth Sentry set the hip hop world on fire with his debut EP The Waiter Minute. In 2024 he is celebrating 15 years of breakfast in the afternoon.
Vilify
Volta, Ballarat – Fri 17 May
Formed by a close-knit group of friends with an appreciation for the heavier sounds in life, Vilify are heading out for their first headline tour in support of new EP, Fever Dream.
The McCredie Brothers
Bird Rock Café, Jan Juc – Fri 17 May
Another sibling duo is out to conquer the music world. Meet David and Pete McCredie, a couple of folk-pop loving musos who recently released their debut single ‘Lost without You’.
Age of Emergence
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Sat 18 May
Get a red-hot shot of riff-driven prog as Age of Emergence hit the road in support of their brand new album, The All Seeing Eye: Part 1. Guests on the night include Spacegoat and Get Rekt.
Bad//Dreems
Trash Cult, Bendigo – Sat 18 May
When Bad//Dreems released Hoo Ha! last year, they scored themselves their first Top 10 album. The band describes it as pub rock meets art rock.
Dave Graney & Clare Moore
Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Sat 18 May
The world is in a sensitive area in 2024. And it is with this in mind why Dave Graney and Clare Moore named their latest album (strangely) (emotional).
Martha Wainwright
The Capital, Bendigo – Sat 18 May
Martha Wainwright has always been one to embrace her wildness. Created during the pandemic, Love Will Be Reborn is her most recent release.
Baby Blue
The Bridge, Castlemaine – Sun 19 May
Beginning as the solo project of Rhea Caldwell, Baby Blue now happily hosts five individuals. They recently released their debut album, Of My Window.
Ella Hooper
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Wed 22 May
Written in her hometown of Violet Town, Ella Hooper released her second solo album, Small Town Temple, at the beginning of 2023.
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Good as Gold 5
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Thurs 23 May
Stand-up comedy and roast battles combine with Lilly Geddes, Fredricka Arthur, Drago Ivan, Tej Munuganti and many more at Laugh in the Ghettos’ Good as Gold.
Heritage Legends
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Thurs 23 May
The Capital, Bendigo – Thurs 30 May
Blues, country rock and folk collide in this night of nights featuring three Australian bands. Come along for tunes from Chain, Stars and The Bushwackers.
Smoke Stack Rhino
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Smoke Stack Rhino enter the world of bands with an animal in the name with a healthy dose of blues rock from the Yarra Valley. Their new album is The Mojo Funk.
Lucy Wise
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 24 May
What is it to yearn? When does it find its way to us? All that it is to yearn is explored on the new EP from songbird Lucy Wise, Yearning.
Ben Lee
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 24 May
Songman Ben Lee has already been in the game for a long time, but if he has it his way he is not nearly done yet. This One’s for the Old Headz is his upcoming new album.
Blake Pavey
The Capital, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Sometimes things don’t go to plan. Following a sold-out tour in 2023, funnyman Blake Pavey had a plan on dying. He didn’t. He is alive and maybe well. His new show is Still Kickin’.
Sally Ford & the Idiomatics
Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Fri 24 May
Playing songs of life, love and lived experience, Sally Ford & the Idiomatics fuse the musical provenance of its members, including Latin, electronica, ska, jazz, funk and film music.
Wild Wild West
Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – Fri 24 May
Well, howdy partner. The Wild Wild West show is a Western-themed night out featuring Left at the Avenue, Fifth Quarter, Carly Jorja and Jasmin Adria.
Forever Young: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – Fri 24 May
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sun 26 May
Ross Wilson, Adalita, Rebecca Barnard, Mick Thomas, Lisa Miller, Charles Jenkins, Rob Snarski and more will come together to honour the music of the one and only Bob Dylan.
The Lost Girls
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Sat 25 May
Forget about The Lost Boys and instead turn your attention to The Lost Girls, your go-to hit machine for the songs we love from the ’80s and ’90s.
Stefan Hauk
Pistol Pete’s, Geelong – Sat 25 May
The growing star power of blues-rocker Stefan Hauk is evident on his single ‘Truth’ where he collaborated with Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice. This show features his power trio.
Troy Kinne
Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – Sat 25 May
Comedian Troy Kinne isn’t afraid to reveal too much information in his new show Made Wrong. If he makes you laugh and feel better about your own life, it’s mission accomplished.
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Kris Mizzi & Mandy Connell
Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – Sat 25 May
2021 Australian Folk Alliance ‘Solo Artist of the Year’ Kris Mizzi and folk singer-songwriter Mandy Connell are teaming up to put you in a good mood.
Trash Cult Party
Trash Cult, Eaglehawk – Mon 27 May
There ain’t no party like a Trash Cult party. Here your guests of honour are Moody Beaches and Affordable Repayments supporting their new releases and K5.
RVG
Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Fri 31 May
Private obsessions being aired out in the infinite is what you will find on 2023’s Brain Worms, album number three from RVG.
Eric Bibb
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Fri 31 May
Widely regarded as one of the leading bluesmen of our time, Eric Bibb is no stranger to Australia having first toured in 2001. His most recent album is Ridin’.
Emily/Grant
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs – Fri 31 May
It’s dark. It’s emotive. It’s a crossover of classical and pop music. Emily/Grant is the duo of rock loving guitarist Grant Staines and conservatorium-trained pianist Emily Coyle.
Travis Collins
Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo – Fri 31 May
In 2023, Travis Collins had the highest-charting Australian country album of the year and the longest-running #1 Australian country single of the year. What does 2024 have in store?
For more gigs in regional Victoria check out our evolving gig guide here.
