Hilltop Hoods, Tove Lo and more headline Adelaide’s Spin Off Festival 2023
Spin Off, a one-day music festival made up of acts visiting Australia for Splendour in the Grass, is back for 2023 and is bringing the crème de la crème of Splendour’s lineup to Adelaide Showgrounds this July.
Giving punters the chance to immerse themselves in a one-day Splendour experience, the lineup this year is helmed by hip-hop royalty, dance floor ignitors, indie rock legends, and international pop superstars, alongside a bunch of the homegrown talent that you know and love. We’re talking Hilltop Hoods, Pnau, Tove Lo, Benee, Iann Dior, Hockey Dad, Thelma Plum, Noah Cyrus, Sly Withers and The Rions.
Delicious!
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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This year, Spin Off are teaming up with FEAT. Live founded by Heidi Lenffer from Cloud Control. FEAT are spearheading a new climate action strategy to reduce the emissions of live entertainment by unlocking sustainability funding through ticket sales. That means that $1 from every ticket sold for Spin Off will go directly towards funding action on climate.
Meanwhile Splendour In The Grass is gearing up for one huge 21st birthday party, with an enormous lineup locked in to perform at the three-day festival at North Byron Parklands in July from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July. You can check out the full lineup here.
Spin Off 2022 will take place at Adelaide Showground on Friday, 21 July. It’s a licensed all-ages event
Spin Off 2023 Lineup
Hilltop Hoods
Pnau
Tove Lo
Benee
Iann Dior
Hockey Dad
Thelma Plum
Noah Cyrus
Sly Withers
The Rions
Don’t miss the hottest names to play in Adelaide this July. Rally the troops and get planning! Spin Off 2023 tickets go on sale from 9am local Tuesday 2 May.
New Bendigo exhibition calls for photo submissions of The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cakes
43 years ago, one of the greatest books ever to be published landed in the hands of parents across the country, becoming a stalwart in households, frustrating parents and revolutionising the childhood party culture.
With its retro cover featuring the iconic red and blue ‘choo-choo’ train cake, The Australian Women’s Weekly’s Children’s Birthday Cake Book became ingrained in the upbringing of Aussie children, encompassing the pictures and instructions for dozens of birthday cakes that required just boxed cake mix, pre-made icing and a packet or two of lollies.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
From the figure-8 shaped racetrack, the piano, Dolly Varden, and the cricket bat, to the meringue castle, duck featuring chips, Miss Piggy and of course the swimming pool, featuring green jelly, typically Aeroplane Jelly, this glorious creation featured more than 100 cakes modelled after everything us kids could ever dream of. Flicking through those pages and picking out a cake for your birthday each and every year was a rite of passage for most 80s and 90s kids (sorry Mum).
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If you were lucky enough to have one of these cakes in your lifetime, you could become part of Bendigo Art Gallery’s new exhibition, ‘The Australian Women’s Weekly: 90 Years of an Australian icon’. Opening May 27, this exhibition marks the 90th anniversary of The Australian Women’s Weekly through a look back at some of the inspiring women who have been part of the magazine’s history, the changing eras of fashion and style brought to life on its pages, and the creativity it has inspired in the domestic sphere.
With the opening merely a month away, the Bendigo Art Gallery is calling on the public to submit photos of their cakes that have been guided by The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book. They’re hoping to collect photos of smiling faces enjoying the cakes – rather than cakes alone on a plate!
For a chance to be selected, send your photo to [email protected] by Friday 28 April 2023.
Selected photos will become part of the ‘The Australian Women’s Weekly: 90 Years of an Australian icon’, opening on Saturday 27 May 2023.
This exhibition honours the contributions of some of the trailblazing women who have made the Weekly a magazine for women, by women, from its very beginnings, such as courageous wartime reporter Dorothy Drain, who filed stories from the field during WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, writing for the mothers and sisters of the soldiers she met.
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The Australian Women’s Weekly has always offered a window onto the global fashion stage, and this exhibition presents a selection of garments by leading Australian designers, worn by notable and inspiring Australian women on recent covers – including Toni Maticevski worn by legendary culinary entrepreneur Maggie Beer, Sonia Cappallazzo for actress and writer Miranda Tapsell, and an Aurelio Costarella gown worn by Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
The resourceful creativity of Australian women dedicated to creating special memories for their children, and filling their homes with colour and inspiration, is honoured with a fond look back at dressmaking, interior design, craft and cooking projects inspired by the Weekly; including – of course – the ingenious designs of the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, still going strong 43 years after its first publication.
Head here for more information.
The Dreggs are heading to Torquay on their biggest tour yet
After an absolutely mammoth 2022, filled with new singles, festival appearances and a bunch of huge live shows, charming indie-folk duo The Dreggs are gearing up for an even bigger 2023, announcing a huge national tour for May, June and July.
The duo will kick off the tour in Kingscliff, NSW on 6 May, before heading to Sydney, Newcastle, Gerringong, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Bunbury, Margaret River and Melbourne before finishing up locally at Torquay on 7 July.
The Dreggs For Your Love Australian Tour
MAY 6 SAT
Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff
JUN 9 FRI
Metro Theatre, Sydney
JUN 10 SAT
Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
JUN 23 FRI
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
JUN 24 SAT
Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
JUN 30 FRI
The Astor Theatre, Perth
JUL 1 SAT
Froth Craft Bunbrewery, Bunbury
JUL 2 SUN
The River, Margaret River
JUL 6 THU
Forum Theatre, Melbourne
JUL 7 FRI
Torquay Hotel, Torquay
Stay up to date with all the epic festivals and events happening in and around the region here.
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Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, The Dreggs are Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris. Starting out as a cover act performing at various pubs, clubs, and cafes, The Dreggs began their career constantly grinding and working towards playing originals.
Inspired by their coastline upbringing and love for the big blue, the pair continue winning the hearts of industry and fans alike with their infectious folk stylings, playing their own sold out headline shows in their home country and abroad.
The Dreggs embarked on their debut UK/ Europe with success and have returned with a stronger demographic in the international scene. The Dreggs are eager to showcase their new and improved sound and enter into a bigger and better 2023.
Tickets go on sale 10am Friday, 28 April. Purchase tickets to the Torquay show here.
Iconic EDM duo Set Mo announce special headline Australian tour for June
Off the back of releasing their new album Flux last week, Australian electronic duo Set Mo have just announced a national tour for June, performing headline shows across four cities in Australia.
With special guests joining them along the way, Sydney-based producers Nick Turner and Stu Drabble will kick off their tour in Brisbane before heading to Perth and Melbourne and finishing up in their hometown of Sydney. Locally the duo will hit up Bourke Street Courtyard in Melbourne on June 23.
Set Mo Australian Tour 2023
Jun 2: The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
Jun 16: Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth, WA
Jun 23: Bourke Street Courtyard, Melbourne, VIC
Jun 30: Liberty Hall, Sydney, NSW
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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The tour comes in support of the duo’s sophomore album Flux, which not only explores the concept of change and its effect on the human condition, but also stands to be an important career and creative milestone for Set Mo.
Featuring hit singles like “Second Line (ft. Sumner)”, “Out My Mind (ft. Jess Kent)”, and “Something To Dream Of”, Flux takes listeners on an immersive journey through moments of euphoria, catharsis, and poignancy.
“This album first started taking shape at the end of 2019, after 2 years of monumental shifts in the world of Set Mo and also Stu and Nick personally… In a nutshell this album is about change; how it affects us, how often we have no control or say in shifts in our lives but how we do have control over how we respond to it. Each track explores a more specific aspect of this.”
Since forming in Sydney’s Kings Cross district ten years ago, Set Mo has become one of Australia’s signature electronic acts. With over 150 million plays on streaming services and several gold and platinum records, the duo’s forward-thinking approach to songwriting and production has earned them a dedicated following.
“We’re excited to embark on our boldest musical chapter to date with the release of Flux and the upcoming tour,” said Stu Turner and Nick Drabble of Set Mo. “We can’t wait to share our new music with our fans and connect with them in person after such a long time.”
Bring on the rattling bass and the addictive hazy strobes of a club. Tickets for the Flux Tour go on sale Thursday 27th April at 12pm AEST.
Geelong’s Next Level Skirmish has closed down
Loaded up with all the best gear to get the adrenaline pumping as you head into a laser tag mission of epic proportions, Next Level Skirmish has been the ultimate destination for Geelong locals and visitors alike to embrace the competitive spirit and adrenaline boost of paintball – minus the welts and bruises.
Located out in North Geelong, Next Level Skirmish was Geelong premiere location for high-paced action. Now, in a blow to the region, Next Level Skirmish has announced its closure.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
The business posted the news to social media earlier this week.
“Due to circumstances out of our control Next Level Skirmish is now out of business,” the post read.
“We are sincerely sorry about the inconvenience.”
No further details have been formally shared about the closure (aside from a comment about developers wanting land in the post comments), but the business also revealed it is up for sale if anyone wishes to purchase it for use at a different location.
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Formally known as Laser Strike Geelong, Next Level Skirmish was the region’s only large-scale Laser Skirmish, providing the perfect experience for anyone looking to break the standard weekend mould.
If you missed out on the mandatory local experience, essentially the laser skirmish guns shoot harmless beams of infra-red light, with sophisticated player statistics tracking systems that are displayed during play. Played across a sprawling urban-style battlefield with eight to 60 players, Laser Skirmish was truly the immersive first-person shooter experience gamers have been training for.
WIN! We’re giving away a Drinkmate OmniFizz, the soda maker than can carbonate almost anything
After nearly six years of bubbly success in the United States and several years of success in the United Kingdom and Canada, the beloved Drinkmate™ carbonated drink makers have arrived down under and to celebrate, we’ve got our hands on one to give away!
While soda makers are certainly nothing new, the hook with the Drinkmate is that it is actually the first and most versatile carbonator that adds sparkle to any beverage with a press of a button. And we mean ANY! Tea, juice, coffee, cocktails and even wine, this fizzy friend can bring the bubbles to absolutely any occasion.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
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Catering to the popular trends in health and wellness by enabling consumers to add fizz to bottled water, tea, juice, energy drinks, and other healthful drinks, this product accomplishes the consumer demand for more wholesome beverages by empowering users to control what goes into their drinks. That way, they can avoid the excessive sugar and harmful chemicals that are frequently found in traditional soft drinks. Tick, tick, tick!
Drinkmate OmniFizz carbonated drink makers also allow for the creation of sparkling adult soft and hard drinks flavoured with popular essences like elderflower, lavender, rose, hibiscus, ginger, cinnamon and chili. And because Drinkmate is the only at-home and portable device that can carbonate any beverage, including wine, beer, coffee, tea, juices and cocktails, it offers the ultimate in carbonation convenience.
Cocktail night at home never looked so good!
Valued at $109.99, the Drinkmate OmniFizz is available in four stylish colors including red, black, white, and arctic blue, adding the perfect touch – and drinking versatility – to any home!
To celebrate the arrival of Drinkmate OmniFizz in Australia, we’re giving away one soda maker in Classic White to one lucky Forte reader.
To be in the running, all you have to do is enter your name and email address.
The competition closes Monday, May 8 at 6pm and winners will be notified by email. By entering, you agree to receive marketing collateral from Forte and competition partners. For more info, check out our privacy policy.
Head here to find out more.
The World Is A Vampire festival brought guitar wizardry and the magic of Smashing Pumpkins to Ballarat
By day Kryal Castle is a family amusement park; a time machine transporting visitors to medieval times to witness thrilling jousting tournaments and daring sword fights from knights in shining armor, to get lost in the hedged maze labyrinth and to watch Princess Merida-level archery.
Sitting atop of Leigh Creek overlooking the gold-mining town of Ballarat, Kryal Castle’s magic by day becomes a haunting setting of Dracula proportions by night; fit for the synonymous offering of The World is a Vampire Tour, led by Count Corgan.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
As we ascended the winding road to the castle gates, we were slightly disappointed that the lair was not open, but instead, the castle foreground was transformed into the festival site. Alas, a striking setting for a rockshow.
Very on-brand to the festival setting, Sydney septet Battlesnake serpentined their way through a piercing-prog set as the first command. Fellow Sydney-siders, RedHook as led by the ferocious Emmy Mack, joined the frontline merely days after the release of debut album Postcard From A Living Hell. They slaughtered the crowd with tracks ‘Bad Decisions’ ‘Cure 4 Psycho’ and ‘Imposter’, donning nurse outfits and straitjackets. Females continued to the front with the animalistic energy of Amyl and the Sniffers, delivering all of their hard-hitting tracks including ‘Security’, ‘Guided By Angels’, ‘Knifey’ and ‘Hertz’.
Three stellar sets from local musicians all waving the flag for rock and metal in our country with two veteran international bands to come; what more could you want? Definitely not pro-wrestling. With Billy Corgan shifting his gaze to the pro-wrestling promotion game, The World Is A Vampire show became a hybrid music platform and pro-wrestling ring. Let’s not sugar-coat; it was weird, awkwardly received and off-putting.
Credit: Joshua Braybrook
Ignore the tumbling, back to the tunes for alt-rock relics, Jane’s Addiction. Leading in with ‘Trip Away’, they delivered eleven high-octane hits, backed by three dancers in red body-suits and 12 inch heels. This felt like a nod to the hair-metal era, where seduction was key and not cringe.
The LA rockers sans Dave Navarro (who is still recovering from the effects of long COVID with fellow ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer subbing in) were living the rock n roll life, as lead Perry Farrell clutched a bottle of red in his motor-cycle gloved hand. His charisma is unparalleled and his commentary quick; “They told us we would be playing in a castle. I was looking forward to the crocodiles and moat and I get here and there’s a fucking inflatable chicken. It’s okay we don’t need fucking castles,” he quipped before playing ‘Jane Says’.
Credit: Joshua Braybrook
The castle was a constant cause of commentary, continued by Corgan and co during their epic set; “Who lives at Castle Kryal? Does anyone live there?”. Not quite but the audience there to witness their coronation were living their best life. Loading with ‘Empires’ and set with tour namesake ‘Bullet with Butterfly Wings’, the 90’s heroes held their throne as grunge champions. Momentarily pivoting from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness to Siamese Dream, for the euphonious singalong ‘Today’, they returned to the vampiric ‘We Only Come Out At Night’. Corgan, Iha, Chamberlin, Schroeder, along with touring bassist Jack Bates and vocalist Katie Coles sink into each other effortless on stage with their songs continually elevated, ringing out across the foreground.
“Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the rockshow,” Corgan announced amidst the swirls of ‘Eye’ before kicking into ‘Ava Adore’. The pièce de résistance came from the marrying of acoustic arrangements The Churches ‘Under The Milky Way’ and a choral offering to the Kryal court which held the following introduction, “To the lovers, to the stoners, to the knights in the crowd, to the queens, to the princesses, and to the non binary, we dedicate this song to you. It’s a song called ‘Tonight Tonight’”.
The Smashing Pumpkins. Credit: Joshua Braybrook
Staying at angelic heavenly height, ‘Cherub Rock’ soared, ‘Zero’ shattered and personal favourite, ‘1979’ surged as we harmonized, ‘Lamented and assured / To the lights and towns below / Faster than the speed of sound / Faster than we thought we’d go / Beneath the sound of hope,’ overlooking the sleepy Sunday town of Ballarat.
The smoke haze of the forgotten WWE component lifted during the conveniently titled ‘Beguiled’ with the ring-routine returning to the stage, thankfully not too distracting given the explosion of sound. To wrap a monstrous event was the eight and a half minute Siamese Dream anthem, ‘Silverfuck’, Corgan, Iha and Schroeder reminding us of their guitar wizardry and the magic of Smashing Pumpkins.
Schitt’s Creek star Noah Reid is heading to Australia for his debut national concert tour
After finding a place in Australian homes through the multi-award-winning TV hit Schitt’s Creek, acclaimed Canadian actor and musician Noah Reid will soon find a place on Australian stages, as he announces his debut tour down under.
Best known for winning the world over with his loveable portrayal of Patrick Brewer on Schitt’s Creek for over half a decade, Noah Reid will soon show Australian’s in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne another more intimate side of himself with his debut Australian tour, in support of his third record ‘Adjustments’.
Noah Reid Everything Is Fine Australian Tour
Friday 29 September – Enmore – Sydney
Saturday 30 September – Eatons Hill – Brisbane
Monday 02 October – Forum – Melbourne
Tuesday 03 October – Astor – Perth
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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While audiences around the world got a small taste of Reid’s musical ability during the series, with a tender rendition of Tina Turner’s ‘The Best’ during season 4, fans will now have the opportunity to experience a full blissful performance from the Canadian artist who will be pulling tracks from his three highly acclaimed records.
“Music has always been a space where I get to control my creative output in a way that I don’t in my acting career,” said Reid, “Acting is really creative and there’s definitely artistry to it but I don’t thank that just because you’re an actor, you’re automatically an artist. I’ve worked really hard for years to create these records.”
“People might know me more widely as an actor, but music is a space where I’ve loved working for years, and I’m really excited to finally be able to share my music with people in Australia. It feels like a long time coming!”
Noah Reid has earned a permanent place in the music industry as a result of his powerful vocals and honest delivery. Evident on his debut album Songs from a Broken Chair (2016), sophomore album Gemini (2020) and his highly-anticipated third album Adjustments (2022), which collectively have garnered over 180 million streams, two nominations at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards in the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘New/Emerging Artist of the Year’ categories and landed Noah on four Billboard charts. Reid’s songwriting style is reminiscent of singer-songwriters of the seventies but with a contemporary twist, resulting in a signature polished, albeit slightly rusted over, tone.
As an actor, Reid is best known for playing ‘Patrick’ in the Emmy-winning comedy series Schitt’s Creek, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with the cast, for ‘Best Ensemble.’ In 2022 he was seen in Brian Watkins’ Amazon series Outer Range opposite Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots and Lewis Pullman and wrapped up his Broadway debut as the lead of Tracy Letts’ Tony-nominated play The Minutes, which received rave reviews.
Tickets for Noah Reid’s debut Australian tour go on sale Monday 1 May at 10am from here.
RocKwiz announce special national tour to celebrate 50 years of Mushroom music
It’s time to put your trivia hats on, freshen up your rock music knowledge, and practice your go-to karaoke jam – Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis, Dugald McAndrew, and the RocKwiz OrKestra are hitting the road this year with a special series of live shows to celebrate fifty years of Mushroom Group and some of the greatest Australian artists of all time.
In collaboration with the Mushroom Group – Australia’s largest independent entertainment group covering touring, record labels, publishing, merchandising, booking agencies, film and television production and creative services from Australian music legend Michael Gudinski, AM – the Australian music institution will be bringing RocKwiz Salutes Mushroom 50 to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, honouring the massive songs of Australia’s greatest independent music company.
RocKwiz Salutes Mushroom 50
Wednesday 21 June Astor Theatre Perth
Friday, 30 June Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane
Friday, 7 July Enmore Theatre Sydney
Wednesday, 2 August Palais Theatre Melbourne
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Expect a delightful journey through the best of Australian music history, filled with backroom tales, special guest appearances and the unique combination of music, humour and quiz brilliance that RocKwiz is famous for. What’s more, it’ll depart the traditional pub setting for some of the finest theatres Australia has to offer.
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‘It is an honour to be part of Mushroom’s 50th birthday celebrations. The stories of a 21-year-old Michael Gudinski starting this company are wonderful and have always held me in their thrall. Rockwiz salutes Mushroom will take you on that journey with stories, tributes, and the power of some of the best music our country has produced,” said Julia.
Fans can expect a joyous celebration of all things Mushroom from the Sunbury years through to Skyhooks, Split Enz, Paul Kelly, Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes and Vance Joy.
“Mushroom acts have been a constant source of inspiration for RocKwiz since we began … in terms of the questions we ask, or the artists that we feature … so to celebrate this iconic organisation is a thrill and an honour,” said Brian.
“My overflowing music collection, on singles, albums or CDs, is dominated by Mushroom acts who’ve been given the encouragement and support essential to continue lighting our lives and keeping us dancing. RocKwiz and Mushroom… rock and roll nirvana,” he continued.
Tickets are on sale Monday 1 May (12pm AEST) via Ticketmaster and Ticketek. RocKwiz members pre-sale starts Thursday 27 April (1pm AEST), while the venue and ticketing pre-sale kicks off Friday 28 April (1pm AEST). For more information visit rockwizlive.com.au.
Hecho en Mexico opens its 15th restaurant in Victoria, bringing street-style Mexican food to Mornington
Good news for those in Mornington: Victoria’s favourite Mexican haunt Hecho en Mexico is bringing its authentic, freshly made, lip-smacking street-style Mexican food (and tequila) to the peninsula this month, taking over the space at 1A Main Street, Mornington from 24 April.
Continuing its rapid expansion across the Southern state, this marks the opening of its first restaurant in Mornington celebrating 15 sites in 10 years, following the opening of recent restaurants in Ballarat and Geelong.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
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Boasting the mantra “fresh is best” practised throughout their restaurants, Hecho en Mexico will be bringing Mornington fresh Mexican food and cocktails every day, with a menu that mirrors their youthful and fun energy. The seriously extensive menu is packed to the brim with entrees, tacos, burritos, mains, burgers, salads and desserts. The menu is kid friendly and designed to offer gluten-free options.
The cantina has been serving these Mexican street food favourites, as well as other tasty offerings on its extensive menu, since its Fitzroy debut in 2013.
And if the recent slew of site openings is anything to go by, Victorians can’t seem to get enough of Hecho en Mexico and its fresh, quality food! Diners can enjoy a fun, family-friendly experience, with special dining options for children as well as vegan and gluten-free choices.
Consistent with their other sites, the Mornington restaurant caters for small or large groups and offers a large food menu as well as a comprehensive bar list featuring a generous selection of margaritas, cocktails, wine, sangria, beer, mocktails and tequila.
To celebrate the opening, Mornington customers can enjoy $12 Patron classic margaritas and $5 tacos for the first two weeks from April 24.
Find out more via the website here.
Windwaker announce Love In The Dark Australian Tour
Blending energetic sounds with fuzzy electronic tones, heavily distorted guitars and heavenly beats, Melbourne metalcore outfit Windwaker are bringing their unique heavy sound to Australia this July on the Love In The Dark Tour. They’ll be bringing along Caskets all the way from the UK for their first-ever visit to Australian shores alongside friends in alt.
The Love In The Dark Tour, presented by Destroy All Lines and Open Door Management, will kick off in Perth on Thursday July 20 before travelling through Adelaide, Melbourne,
Windwaker Australian Tour 2023
THURSDAY JULY 20 – LYNOTTS LOUNGE, PERTH 18+
FRIDAY JULY 21 – JIVE BAR, ADELAIDE 18+
SATURDAY JULY 22 – FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY LIC AA
THURSDAY JULY 27 – THE BRIGHTSIDE, BRISBANE 18+
FRIDAY JULY 28 – CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE 18+
SATURDAY JULY 29 – CROWBAR, SYDNEY
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“We’re very excited to be bringing out Caskets for their Australian live debut and hitting the road again with our friends in alt.” says the band.
“We’ll be playing songs from Love Language that we haven’t performed yet (yes, that means “Trenches”), some old favourites (“Empire” never dies) and maybe even a cheeky newbie… We’re giving fans an opportunity to experience our songs in their phattest forms yet with our largest live production to date. This will be Windwaker at our absolute best.”
The tour will see Windwaker headline Sydney, Adelaide and Newcastle for the first time in close to four years and will mark their first ever headline show in Perth. Love In The Dark celebrates the release of the bands acclaimed debut album ‘Love Language‘ as well as latest single “Left In The Dark”, featuring returned member and new vocalist Liam Guinane as well as new synth and sample master Connor Robins.
Windwaker first landed on the scene in 2017 and built a growing fan base with independent EPs ‘Fade’ (2017) and ‘Empire’ (2019). ‘Love Language’ made its entrance last year, releasing via Fearless Records, and immediately caught the attention of tastemakers across the globe. Amassing millions of digital streams, Windwaker translate their energy on record to the live stage, where they’ve played alongside Beartooth, I Prevail, Motionless In White and more, most recently finishing up a month-long regional tour with Northlane.
Tickets on sale Thursday 10am local time via Destroy All Lines.
Cabaret superstar Hans is bringing his Disco Spektakulär Tour to Australia
Berlin’s most beloved cabaret superstar Hans (America’s Got Talent) is heading down under in August with his Hans: Disco Spektakulär 2023 Tour. Featuring a unique blend of comedy, music, and dazzling disco dance moves Hans: Disco Spektakulär Tour 2023 will see Hans and his Lucky Bitches perform some of the greatest disco hits of all time!
Kicking off in Adelaide on August 11, Hans’ tour will see him visit major cities and regional towns around Australia, including Mildura, Canberra, Gladstone, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Sydney and so many more!
Hans: Disco Spektakulär Tour Victorian Dates 2023
Sunday August 20 Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, VIC
Thursday August 31 The Cube, Wodonga, VIC
Friday September 1 Riverlinks – Westside, Shepparton, VIC
Saturday September 2 – Horsham Town Hall, Horsham, VIC
Sunday September 3 – West Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, VIC
Wednesday September 27 – Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC
Thursday 28 September – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool, VIC
Friday 29 September – Palais Theatre, Geelong, VIC
Saturday 30 September – Wendouree Performing Arts Centre, Wendouree, VIC
Friday October 20 – Palms at Crown, VIC
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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This will be Hans’ first tour since an unfortunate injury last year in Turkey, which kept him off the stage for several months. But as we all know, you can’t keep a good German down and Hans promises to rise like a purple feathered phoenix from the ashes!
“Disco Spektakulär is going to be a night to remember,” said Hans. “I can’t wait to hit the stage with The Lucky Bitches and give my fans the high-energy, disco-themed show they deserve. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on tour, and I’m thrilled to be back … and honeys – I’m better than ever!”
Tickets on sale here.
Driftwood The Musical returns to Melbourne: ‘One of the most successful new Australian works we have ever seen’
The epic lives of two Holocaust survivors and their groundbreaking accomplishments will return to Melbourne theatres in May, after drawing wide acclaim and breaking records during its sellout first run.
Driftwood The Musical tells the inspirational story of renowned Austrian/Australian sculptor Karl Duldig, and his artist-inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig – the inventor of the modern umbrella. Their daughter Slawa became an Australian tennis star, while the family’s Melbourne legacy remains clear to this day through an annual lecture at the NGV, and the Duldig Studio in East Malvern.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art and stage scene here.
The entrancing musical follows their lives in pre-war Vienna, the family’s narrow escape from Nazi Austria, Slawa’s ingenious invention, and the incredible chain of events that took place after miraculously escaping the Holocaust and rebuilding their careers as artists in Melbourne.
This epic story, which covers three continents and three generations, has been adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Jane Bodie, based on the original memoir by Eva de Jong-Duldig. It features original music, lyrics and arrangements by Anthony Barnhill with lyrics by Tania de Jong AM and Jane Bodie. It will be directed by Gary Abrahams.
Driftwood The Musical had an extraordinary season in Melbourne earlier this year at Chapel Off Chapel with venue manager, Cate Crowley saying “Driftwood The Musical was one of the most successful new Australian works we have ever seen here at Chapel in our 27-year history. Houses were full and audiences were absolutely thrilled and heartened to see an original story so beautifully portrayed.”
Driftwood The Musical will be returning to Chapel Off Chapel from 3 – 20 May (by popular demand after last year’s sell-out season) and then touring to Sydney’s Glen Street Theatre from 24 – 28 May and Riverside Theatres, Parramatta from 31 May – 4 June and then at Eternity Theatre in Sydney from 5-17 June.
Visit the website here for more information, with tickets available at https://driftwoodthemusical.com.au.
The East Gippsland Winter Festival returns bigger and brighter, expanding to a month-long event in 2023
The East Gippsland Winter Festival is set to light up Victoria’s east with more than 100 spectacular events. Running from 9 June to 9 July, the festival returns for its third outing, and this year, has been extended to a month-long celebration of regional art, food, culture and nature.
The feature-packed program of events will kick off on the King’s Birthday Long Weekend, incorporate the Winter Solstice and run right through the Victorian School Holidays.
East Gippsland Winter Festival
- There’s a massive month-long festival happening in East Gippsland this winter
- Discover the treasures of East Gippsland through art, wine, craft beer, local produce and live music
- It takes place from June 9 until July 9 – coinciding with the Victorian school holidays and the winter solstice
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
A plethora of free activities and family-friendly events offers an affordable, yet magical winter getaway in a region that boasts mild winters by the coast and a diverse natural landscape of stunning mountains, mighty rivers, Ramsar-listed lakes, 90-mile beaches, tall forests and picturesque valleys.
This year’s theme ‘How We Winter’ will guide the event, as the region comes alive in a festival of light, food, music, art and culture. From beautiful handmade lanterns, projection art that augments reality, and live music in unexpected places, to wellness experiences overlooking lakes, long lunches and winter feasts in spectacular locations, there’s something for everyone at this glorious winter fest.
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Highlights of this year’s Festival Program include:
- 10 June: Deep In The Weeds at Sailors Grave Brewing, Orbost – C.W. Stoneking and His Primitive Horn Orchestra will headline Sailors Grave’s infamous ‘Deep in the Weeds Festival’, held in a 130-year old butter factory on the banks of the Snowy River. Dinner catered by Meatsmiths Melbourne with dessert from The Lindenow Long Paddock.
- 10 June: Fire & Ice, Metung – Live ice sculpting and a spectacular fire show on the Metung Village Green overlooking the tranquil waters of Bancroft Bay.
- 24 June: Bruthen Medieval Winter Fire Festival, Bruthen – featuring sword fights, bonfires, music, roving performers, costumes and feasting – this event is not to be missed.
- 1 July: Lakes Lights, Lakes Entrance – a community lantern parade across the Lakes Entrance Footbridge leading to a magical curated display of artist-made lanterns, installations and projection art on the small stretch of land between the Gippsland Lakes and the 90 Mile Beach.
- 8 July: Winter in Laneway3875, Bairnsdale – a laneway party in the heart of Bairnsdale’s CBD featuring projection art, live music, street food from Bairnsdale’s best eateries, local craft beer and wine, and the foundry artist collective.
The full program of events for this year’s East Gippsland Winter Festival will be announced at a launch event on April 29 at Rivendell Farm Estate.
The 2023 East Gippsland Winter Festival will run from 9 June – 9 July. For more information, head here.
The Waifs announce second Queenscliff ‘Up All Night’ 20th anniversary show
Demand has soared for The Waifs 20th Anniversary Up All Night Australian tour, with tickets to many shows selling out in record time. Shows in Queenscliff, Melbourne, Meeniyan, Upwey, Warrnambool and Perth sold-out in just one day, with the regional show sell-outs reflecting the band’s long history and love of touring smaller towns across the country.
Now The Waifs have announced new shows at the Queenscliff Town Hall for the locals, with the band now performing on Wednesday 31 May prior to the sold-out show on Thursday 1 June.
The Waifs have also announced second shows at The Northcote Theatre (with a very special guest still to be announced), The Gov, with Jordie Lane and the Albany Entertainment Centre with Liz Stringer, to accommodate the unprecedented demand for tickets.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The Waifs announce ‘Up All Night’ 20th anniversary Australian tour
The Adelaide and Queenscliff shows are on sale now, whilst the new Albany show will be on sale this Wednesday. The new Melbourne show will be on sale from this Thursday.
New shows will be announced for Perth in the coming weeks, keep your eye out for details.
Up All Night debuted at #3 on the ARIA charts and won four ARIA Awards for Best Blues and Roots Album, Best Independent Album, Engineer of The Year, and Producer of the Year for Chris Thompson. The album features some of the band’s most beloved tracks, including London Still, which was voted in at number three on the triple J Hottest 100.
To purchase tickets, head here.
Groovin the Moo Bendigo set times are here for 2023
Music lovers, mark your calendars for April 29 – GTM is all set to open the gates at Bendigo’s Prince of Wales Showgrounds this weekend!
Whether you’re a first timer or a festival fanatic, you’re in for a full day of country hospitality, incredible tunes and seriously good times at GTM.
Heading up the lineup includes Denzel Curry, lord of the bangers Fatboy Slim, and Eliza Rose, who just took out the number 2 spot on the hottest 100 countdown with ‘B.O.T.A (Baddest Of Them All)’. Further hottest 100 rankers fill out the GTM lineup including Ball Park Music (#8 ‘Stars In My Eyes’), Skegss (#19 ‘Stranger Days’), LUUDE (#28 ‘Big City Life’), Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers (#55 ‘Girl Sports’) with Teenage Dads, while GTM alumni Ocean Alley and Amy Shark will return once more.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
With the festival just days away, the set times are also here to help plan your day out.
Bendigo Groovin The Moo Set Times 2023
This year’s Fresh Produce program is set to blow your mind. With nearly 100 new artists added to the lineup, the energy and talent on display is going to be off the charts. Each of these artists is pumped to hit their local GTM stage across the country and showcase their skills to the world.
Interestingly, the Fresh Produce program has been the launchpad for many artists who have gone on to achieve global recognition. Names like Alex Lahey, Haiku Hands, Hockey Dad, Lime Cordiale, and Montaigne, who all started in the Fresh Produce program, have since graduated to the national touring lineup. And, of course, we cannot forget to mention the 2023 touring artists who are already making waves in the music scene, such as Confidence Man, Genesis Owusu, Ocean Alley, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
With a lineup this impressive, it’s no wonder that the Groovin the Moo festival has become a must-attend event for music lovers all over Australia. So, if you’re ready to experience the best of Australian music, mark April 29 on your calendar and get ready to dance the day away at GTM.
“We are so happy to be able to do a full tour across the country in 2023. We have missed you terribly and can’t wait to bring back the good times around the country. Whilst we are very sad not be returning to Townsville, we look forward to bringing GTM to the Sunshine Coast,” says GTM’s Steve Halpin.
For us, it all goes down in Bendigo on April 29 and tickets are available now. Head here for more info.
The southern hemisphere’s biggest music industry event BIGSOUND announces first speaker lineup
Returning for its 22nd year, the southern hemisphere’s biggest music industry gathering and Australia’s longest-running and most influential music market BIGSOUND has officially unveiled their first round of speakers and buyers with an absolute trove of heavy hitters and industry leaders set to land in Brisbane from 5 – 8 September.
Coming off the back of being named in Time Magazine’s ‘world’s greatest places’ list, the annual event will once again return to Brisbane’s one-of-a-kind Fortitude Valley music precinct, and will bring together the world’s music decision-makers for four days of music discovery and important discussions around the development of art and commerce in one of the world’s largest music markets.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Welcoming tastemakers from across the globe including media, A&R, agents, promoters, music supervisors, buyers and so much more, the first announcement is a sign of big things to come for the event, locking in the likes of Roc Nation, Netflix, Paramount, Soundcloud, Interscope and more, signifying a major win for the dedicated music showcase and conference.
This will see the likes of American music industry juggernaut Omar Grant (Co-President of JAY-Z’s ROC Nation and A&R genius behind Rhianna’s globally acclaimed eighth album ANTI); Michele Ronzon, A&R Coordinator for Interscope / Geffen / A&M Records; Hazel Savage, the Australian-born London-based visionary behind music AI company Musiio and now VP of Music Intelligence at Soundcloud; CEO of one of the biggest TikTok agencies in the world, Ash Stahl (Flighthouse) and royalties technology expert and co-founder of The Orchard, JKBX’s Scott Cohen all join the festival.
“Australia is at an exciting place right now musically and I can’t wait to head down under to discover some great new artists,” said ROC Nation Records co-president Omar Grant.
“Some of the most innovative artistry in the world comes from Australia and in an industry that’s often so caught up online these days, getting in a room with passionate music people and discovering real talent performing live is a true privilege.”
BIGSOUND will also feature the likes of Netflix’s Manager, Soundtracks, Strategy & Operations Andy Kalyvas; Paramount Television Studios’ vice president of music Vanessa Palmer; and Downtown Music Publishing’s director of sync and A&R, Cabrea Casey.
The initial announcement is just the first in what is expected to be over 100 international and national buyers, agents, music supervisors, bookers and industry decision makers.
Artist applications opened earlier this year and are closing on Tuesday, 2 May. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the biggest music event in the southern hemisphere.
Earlybird delegate passes are on sale Wednesday, 26 April. Head here for more.
Ghost announce first Australian headline tour for October
One of the world’s most exhilarating and esteemed creative forces, Grammy-winning Swedish theatrical rock band Ghost heading down under this October for their first Australian headline tour.
Frontman Tobias Forge (otherwise known as Papa Emeritus, the “demonic anti-pope”) will be joined by his gang of seven masked Nameless Ghouls for the headline dates, kicking off in Sydney on Tuesday, October 3 at the Hordern Pavilion, then heading to Melbourne on Wednesday, October 4 at Margaret Court Arena before making its way to Brisbane on Saturday, October 7 at the Riverstage.
Ghost 2023 Australian tour
- Oct 3 – Horder Pavillion, Sydney
- Oct 4 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
- Oct 7 – The Riverstage, Brisbane
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
While their music alone would qualify them for legend status, Ghost’s live shows are not to be missed. Elaborate costumes, transformative stage design and relentless energy combine to whip audiences into a manic frenzy.
“We wish to inform you that your patience and loyalty have paid off, Ghost will be haunting Australian lands in October 2023,” said the Clergy in a statement.
Founded in 2006, the Linköping-based band is an unstoppable force in the heavy scene. Fusing far-fetched influences including vintage satanic rock, prog rock, psychedelia, pop and a splash of musical theatre, their sound is distinctly their own.
Their accolades include a Grammy for Best Metal Performance, countless other awards and nominations, over a billion streams and the title of one of Kerrang’s “50 Most Evil Songs Ever” for their song Ritual.
Ghost’s latest release, their fifth studio album Impera, is based on the rise and fall of empires. It features the singles Call Me Little Sunshine, Twenties and Spillways. They’ll be dropping an EP called Phantomine on May 18.
Tickets for the Australian tour are set to be released on Friday April 28 at 9am, with a presale option starting on April 26.
To grab your tickets to see Ghost in Melbourne on October 4, head here.