Australian phenomenon Pub Choir is heading to Ballarat this year

Having received the tick of approval from Kate Bush herself, Australia’s Pub Choir has become a nationwide phenomenon in recent years, bringing strangers together for a night of singing, smiling, dancing, and drinking.

The brainchild of music teacher and event director Astrid Jorgensen and close friend Meg Bartholomew, Pub Choir began in Brisbane in 2017 as a means of finding a way to get her old friends together for a singalong.

Stay up to date with all the epic events happening in and around the region here.

Going from pop-ups in pubs to huge capital city venues (like Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall), Pub Choir has grown exponentially over the past five years, attracting hundreds of strangers to come together and learn low, medium and high harmonies to record a popular song. There are also talented professionals on hand each time to show everyone the ropes and lead the way.

The result is a big boozy singing session that Kate Bush described as “utterly, utterly wonderful”, with the event now making its way across the nation.

Led by song witch (the good kind), Astrid Jorgensen, Pub Choir is heading across Australia once again this year to ask the question, ‘Can You Relax?!’ Come and unclench your jaw for an evening as we unite thousands of people across the nation with one mega singalong. 15 cities sharing one epic tune? There will be chaos, there will be laughs, and you WILL feel better.

Locally, Pub Choir will head to the Civic Hall in Ballarat on 18 July 2023 where attendees will be transformed from a regular punter into a musical legend, just by turning up and participating in the show. Grab a ticket, bring your most solid (or liquid) mates, and they’ll take care of the rest.

The best part is you will never be kicked out of Pub Choir for singing terribly, it’s not that sort of choir! Instead, you’ll laugh, joke, and possibly drink your way to choral glory as you learn one song in three-part harmony with hundreds of happy strangers.

Come with your mates or come alone. Everyone is welcome and together we will create wonderful memories and melodies, with a glass of wine or a cold beer in hand.

Pub Choir takes to the Civic Hall in Ballarat on 18 July 2023. Purchase tickets here. 

Avatar announce long-awaited Australian Tour for August 2023

It has taken well over a decade, nine albums, multiple fan petitions and even a support group for Australian fans upset at not having a tour, to finally get one of the greatest live bands in the history of heavy music to Australia. Renowned for legendary performances, ludicrous levels of skill as musicians and a seemingly endless catalog of killer songs, AVATAR are finally making their way to Australia.

They’ll kick off their very special three-date tour in Melbourne and then take to Sydney and Brisbane this August.

AVATAR TOUR DATES

Friday, August 25: 170 Russell, Melbourne
Saturday, August 26: The Metro, Sydney
Sunday, August 27: The Triffid, Brisbane

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

AVATAR have long been your favourite metal band’s favourite metal band. From Iron Maiden inviting them on tour; to Vinnie Paul claiming Dimebag would have been jealous of their riffs; to mega star cameos on their albums, including Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale on the new one, Avatar have never lacked for adoration from their peers.

When Matt Heafy of Trivium had to skip a few shows on their tour for the birth of his twins his choice to fill in for him was Avatar’s Johannes Eckstrom. The side of stage at every one of their US and Euro festival appearances always features a packed gallery of the who is who of rock luminaries riveted by and gaping the pure joy and spectacle.

Avatar have amassed over 100 million plays on Spotify and an incredible 163 million views on their YouTube channel with the songs Bloody Angel, Hail The Apocalypse, Torn Apart, The Eagle Has Landed and many more. Recent single The Dirt I’m Buried In, currently on 3.2M views, reached 1M views in only 2 days.

With their stunning new album, Dance Devil Dance debuting on The Australian iTunes Charts at #1 in Metal, #1 in Rock and #6 for All Albums, Australia will no longer be denied!

Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 27 at 9am via thephoenix.au

There’s a massive beard and stache competition coming to regional Victoria this May

Each year, the Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition is an opportunity for facial hair aficionados around regional Victoria to gather together and get creative with their grooming – whether it’s the full ‘300’ Spartan growth or The Zappa.

A major part of the award-winning Ballarat Heritage Weekend each year – an event that has been delivering an immersive, engaging and fascinating experience to take visitors beyond the surface and showcase the true uniqueness of the regional town for more than a decade – the esteemed competition is back at Hop Temple on Saturday, May 27, giving people that chance to enjoy some spectacular staches and beards, celebrating all kinds of facial hair.

Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition

• The annual Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition returns
• The comp is being held at Hop Temple in Ballarat on Saturday, May 27
• Registrations are now open

Keep up with the latest in entertainment via our website.

 

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Registrations are now open for free and you can enter your stach-tacular beards in any applicable category. These include the full beard category (20cm to infinity and 10cm-20cm) which will showcase full facial hairiness in all its glory; the Verdi which is for the impeccably groomed beard style (moustache styling encouraged); the partial beard (think goatees, flavour savers, chops, sideburns), and of course the moustache category, which requires top lip coverage only. Styling is highly encouraged with this one.

There is also a “just for fun category” where you can play around with fake beards or freestylers, and even the ladies and kids can get involved. With giveaways and more than $1000 in prizes up for grabs, you’d be mad not to get around it.

If you’re keen on getting involved, you better start working on your masterpiece.

It all goes down on Saturday, May 27 from 11am at Hop Temple Ballarat with good food, good beer and good beards.

Register your beard here.

The Waifs announce ‘Up All Night’ 20th anniversary Australian tour

The Waifs are delighted to announce an extensive Australian tour spanning from June to September, to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their seminal album ‘Up All Night’,  where they’ll be performing the album in full and a sprinkling of fan favourites.

Locally, the band will travel across Victoria in June, taking to Queenscliff, Ballarat, Melbourne, Shepparton, Meeniyan, Traralgon, Upwey, Bendigo and Warrnambool.

The tour is set to be a celebration of the band’s history, with special guests joining them along the way. The line-up includes Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang, Liz Stringer, Felicity Urquhart, and more to be announced. There will also be a special Melbourne appearance by multiple ARIA Award winner Missy Higgins, who supported the original Up All Night album tour in 2003.

The Waifs Victorian Dates 2023

Thu 1 June – Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff

Fri 2 June – Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat
With special guest Jeff Lang

Sat 3 June – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
With special guests Jeff Lang & Missy Higgins

Sun 4 June – Riverlinks Westside Theatre, Shepparton
With special guest Jeff Lang

Wed 7 June – Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan

Fri 9 June – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon

Sat 10 June – Burrinja Cultural Centre,  Upwey

Sun 11 June – Capitol Theatre, Bendigo

Tue 13 June – Lighthouse, Warrnambool

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

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.

2003 was an unforgettable year for the band, comprising sold-out international headline tours, being the first Australian band to play New Orleans Jazz Festival, touring with Bob Dylan in Australia and the USA, and being named in Rolling Stone’s ‘Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll’ story, that cited their independence and mainstream success as a game-changer for musicians in the future.

Now, 20 years after the release of Up All Night, The Waifs are continuing to forge a proudly independent path. They show no sign of slowing down and are excited to welcome fans back into the world of Waif as they take to the road for their Australian tour.

General tickets go on sale on April 21, grab them by heading here. 

Geelong’s three-day dark beer and blues music festival returns to Valhalla in June

Malty, musty, rich or creamy, dark beers fill the void caused by winter’s chills and this June, our favourite local taproom is hosting an event that’s sure to appeal to those that love a decadent dark beer with a side of blues music.

Valhalla Brewing and Taproom – a carefully crafted space to showcase their seriously delicious and addictive range of beers that are some of the best local brews we’ve tasted – is hosting a three-day dark beer and blues music festival in June (9-11) where they will showcase Australian Independent dark beers as well as local, live blues and roots music.

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

Taking over the space in the heart of the Geelong CBD, the Black & Blues Festival is a celebration of independent dark beers and live blues music where all 10 of Valhalla’s taps pour deliciously dark brews accompanied by 10 soul-filling blues musicians: it’s a match made in Valhalla. 

This year’s lineup is especially indulgent, featuring 2023/2022 Byron Bay Bluesfest artists Bud Rokesky and Fiona Boyes.

Fresh from his 2023 Bluesfest shows and tour with Matt Corby in late May, the one and only Bud Rokesky is bringing his heart-on-sleeve stories to the Taproom on Sunday, June 11. while Fiona Boyes, internationally recognised for her deep blues fingerpicking and slide guitar and the only Australian to have been nominated for the USA Blues Music Awards in Memphis and is playing at the Taproom on June 10. 

Joining these two powerhouse musicians is the likes of Willie J, Jungle Jim Smith, Maggie Alley & Jack Meredith (duo), The Ironbark Brothers, TK Reeves, Trinity Jayne, Kaliopi and Xyla.

 

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Whether or not you’re a fan of dark beer, the lineup of outstanding talent and unforgettable acts is reason enough to go check it out.

Limited weekend pass tickets are available at $79 which includes access to all 10 live blues acts across the weekend, 10 x 200mL glasses of dark beers and one pizza. 

Black & Blues Festival will be held at Valhalla Taproom on the King’s Birthday long weekend, 9-11th June 2023. Purchase weekend tickets here.  

Upstate Studios is opening in Ocean Grove this month – and is running free classes all opening weekend

Alright Ocean Grove, are you ready to feel stronger, happier and a part of the best community ever?

Well good news: Upstate Studios is continuing to take the yoga world by storm and expanding yet again, opening a new studio in Ocean Grove this April.

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

Launching on Saturday, April 29, the studio is centrally located at 13/73 The Terrace Ocean Grove on level one.

Bursting with good vibes and energetic offerings, Upstate Studios is the perfect place to go whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking to mix up your workout routine.

 

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The dedicated, bright yellow Reformer Pilates studio in Ocean Grove is the perfect addition to a string of successful studios across the state (Geelong, Torquay, Fitzroy, Balaclava and Newtown). This is your happy hub – a place to find strength, sweat-dripping workouts and your happy state!

The new OG studio also offers changing facilities, limited showers and convenient car parking.

To celebrate the launch of the new studio, Upstate are offering free classes all opening weekend, alongside a pretty sweet launch offer:

LAUNCH OFFER:
Unlimited Weekly Reformer $49
First Week FREE + 50% OFF next 3 weeks,
only $24.50 per week
Save over $120!
Unlimited access to all studios: Boxing, Reformer + Mat classes. Head to the website to book yours.

If you’re new to Upstate there’s also a 30 day unlimited class offer for just $49.

Find your positive state of mind with, one sweaty workout at a time.

Find out more here. 

Interested in a career in screen? There’s a new training program coming to Geelong

A new training program bound for Geelong will invite hundreds of locals to kick-start a career in screen, thanks to a new initiative aiming to supply crucial workers for Victoria’s booming screen industry.

Set Educated is a brand new program to help aspiring screen workers break into the industry while also showing professionals from a range of industries – including accountants, electricians and designers – how they can transfer their skills to the sector.

Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here. 

Through VicScreen, the Labor Government has partnered with mentoring organisation Media Mentors Australia and Victorian crewing agency Freelancer Promotions for the program which was created to meet the growing demand for skilled workers across the screen industry.

Kicking off with sessions in Geelong and Melbourne, the program will provide comprehensive introductions to the screen industry before launching into skills development sessions and talks from industry experts.

Based on their skills and areas of interest, participants will undertake sessions to learn how screen content is made before launching into workshops in areas such as camera operating, lighting and sound.

“We recognise that there’s a huge pool of people who would love to work in screen but may not know about jobs beyond producers, directors and writers,” says Media Mentors Australia co-founder Denise Eriksen.

“There are jobs are out there for people currently working in allied industries and we’ll be introducing participants to a world of possibilities and providing them the knowledge they need to take their places on productions.”

The program will also offer tailored workshops on specific roles which are currently in high demand, including crew roles such as production office, location managers, grips and gaffers, production accountants, electricians, carpenters, hospitality workers and designers.

Set Educated sessions will be held in Geelong on 14 May and in Melbourne on 20 May. Registrations are $25. For more information visit mediamentors.com.au.

The new world-class Queenscliff ferry terminal officially opens

A stunning addition to the Bellarine, the new Queenscliff Ferry Terminal building is officially opening its doors this week, celebrating with a wondrous open day event on Saturday 22 April.

Running from 10am to 2pm, there will be a range of activities on offer to welcome the public to this stunning new facility, gifting adoring locals the chance to explore the impressive new building and celebrate as Searoad Ferries embarks on a new era of ferry travel.

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

In the forecourt, there will be live music, roving entertainers and activities for the kids including a puppet show, balloon artist and face painting. Attendees can grab a cup of coffee and a sweet treat from the coffee station and immerse themselves in the festivities at the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal Community Open Day.

Inside the building, the soaring ceilings are dominated by jellyfish-like lights and two-story glass windows with full bay views. On the ground floor, there is the casual dining café and gift store. Upstairs is the passenger lounge and café. Local gin, beer and wine producers will be on hand to make sure the top floor really comes to life! Plus, Captain Jack’s Pirate Show is sure to keep everyone entertained as ferry passengers use the new gangway to access the ferry.

From 11.30am – 12.15pm enjoy ‘Savor the Flavors’, an exclusive cooking demonstration with Executive Chef Michael Demagistris in the beautiful function space offering a taste of the exciting new restaurant offering, due to open this winter. Here you’ll see Chef Michael Demagistris in action as he expertly showcases a tantalising sneak peek of the new food offering he’ll be launching at TARRA. This is your chance to discover the inspiration behind his exquisite dishes and be among the first to taste his innovative creations.

This unique event offers a rare opportunity to meet Chef Michael Demagistris in person, listen to captivating stories from his illustrious career, and learn about his culinary philosophy. Known for his passion for seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, Chef Michael’s commitment to sustainability and exceptional quality is evident in every dish he creates.

 

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Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the celebrations. Come down to the new Queenscliff Ferry Terminal this Saturday from 10am – 2pm and join in the fun with the whole community.

For more information about the new Queenscliff Terminal, or to purchase tickets visit – searoad.com.au

Australia’s most stunning running event Great Ocean Road Running Festival returns this May

Lace up your runners, the 2023 RACV Solar Great Ocean Road Running Festival returns to Victoria’s idyllic southwest coast, taking place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May and attracting runners and walkers of all ages and experience levels. 

From 1.5km to 60km, punters from across the globe will tackle nine distances, including two trail runs for adventure-seekers, and soak up panoramic seaside views on one of the world’s most scenic stretches of road. 

2023 RACV Solar Great Ocean Road Running Festival

• The two-day Great Ocean Road Running Festival returns May 20 & 21 2023
• There are nine different distances to choose from, ranging from 60km to 1.5km, and panoramic sea-side views
• There’s also glamping, yoga, live music, kite flying, and much more to experience.
• Registrations are now open

For more things to do along the Great Ocean Road, visit our travel section.

Kicking off in Apollo Bay on Saturday, eager athletes can take part in the Cocobella 14km Paradise Run, Sri Lankan Airlines 6km Run and 1.5km Great Ocean Road Real Estate Holiday Kids Gallop. Distances on Sunday include the Ultra Marathon (60km), RACV Solar Marathon (44km), 12km & 6.5km Trail Runs and the 5-10km Great Ocean Road Walk, commencing in Lorne. Those taking part in the Brooks Half Marathon (23km) will get their start from Kennett River on Sunday.

Alongside an inspirational two-days of running, festival goers will be able to lap up dulcet tones from local musicians, immerse themselves in a ticketed ‘glamping’ experience, and witness local wait staff battle it out in the hilarious Pub to Pub Waiter’s Race on Saturday. Whether participants are running their first marathon, warming up with a CorePlus beach yoga session, or get creative at the Kite Festival post-race – the RACV  Solar Great Ocean Road Running Festival has it all.

 

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This year, the festival has joined forces with RACV Solar – one of Australia’s leading solar installers. Making this year’s event one of the most sustainable in the event’s 18-year history, elements of the festival will be powered by  RACV Solar, elevating the festival’s existing environmental road map produced in collaboration with local waste management groups. 

“The RACV Solar Great Ocean Road Running Festival is one of the most unique and special running events in  the country. For almost two decades, hundreds of thousands of people have travelled from around the world  to take part in the festival and experience some of Victoria’s greatest natural wonders,” says event director Brad King.

“This year, we are  incredibly proud to partner with RACV Solar and amplify our commitment to protect cherished local  landscapes and communities by implementing cleaner energy solutions. We’re looking forward to welcoming  thousands of new and familiar faces to the running event of the season this May and leading the way for more  sustainable sporting experiences in future.”  

Providing vital care for communities located along the race route, the event encourages participants to raise  funds for the Apollo Bay and District Health Foundation. Since becoming the festival’s official charity partner in 2015, more than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised by entrants to support important local health services. 

For registrations and more info, head to their website here. 

Lime Cordiale just announced a third headline show in Torquay this month

Having just announced two huge local dates as part of their Fantastical Country Club Experience, Lime Cordiale has gone ahead and added a third show in Torquay after the first two shows sold out due to overwhelming demand!

They’ll now perform on Monday, 24 April (public holiday eve) at Torquay Hotel in Torquay alongside Sunday 23 April and Saturday 22 April (both sold-out), in what is one of the few chances for you to see them in a headline appearance in Australia in 2023, and perhaps the only chance you will ever see them in such an intimate venue.

Tickets to the new show are on sale now here.

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

Lime Cordiale announce second headline show in Torquay due to overwhelming demand

The show will feature all their hits, new songs, and a few surprises and coming along for the ride are a rotation of the finest new talent that the Country Club officials could muster in Bella Amor, Aleksiah plus special guests New Zealand’s Coterie.

The band had a stacked 2022 with an ARIA nomination for Best Video for their single ‘Apple Crumble’, headline Australian tours which saw them perform to 34,000 Australian fans on the 14 Steps to A Better You and Facts of Life tours, alongside festival sets at Groovin’ The Moo, NYE in the Park and more.

2022 also saw the release of a trio of singles ‘Colin’, ‘Country Club’ and ‘Facts Of Life’ which will all feature on the bands upcoming third studio album.

In January 2022 Lime Cordiale released Cordi Elba, their acclaimed collaboration with actor/musician/DJ and record label boss Idris Elba. The mini album debuted at #9 on the ARIA album chart and spawned the hit singles Apple Crumble and What’s Not To Like, which landed at #14 and #41 on the triple j hottest 100 respectively.  The track ‘Holiday’ on this album was later remixed by the legendary Fatboy Slim.

Lime Cordiale has amassed over 350 million streams on Spotify, 29 million Apple Music streams, with YouTube views exceeding 20 million.  Their infectious performances and genuine, generous interactions with their fans have made them one of Australia’s most in demand acts, playing to wildly enthusiastic crowds across Australia and overseas.

Tickets can be purchased here. 

The Smith Street Band are heading on an Australian East Coast tour

Off the back of wrapping up their Life After Football Australian album tour earlier this month, selling out shows in capital cities all across the country, The Smith Street Band have announced another run of shows for June and July.

Kicking off with three shows in North Queensland the run of dates will take The Smith Street Band down the east coast playing smaller regional cities across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, with local shows on Friday July 28 at All Seasons, Bendigo and on Saturday July 29 at Barwon Club, Geelong.

The Smith Street Band East Coast Tour

Thursday June 15 – Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns, QLD
Friday June 16 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville, QLD
Saturday June 17 – Magnums, Airlie Beach, QLD
Friday June 23 – Label, Brookvale, NSW
Saturday June 24 – Drifters Wharf, Central Coast, NSW
Sunday June 25 – Cambridge Hotel Farewell Festival, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday June 29 – Miranda Hotel, Miranda, NSW
Friday June 30 – Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Saturday July 1 – Marlin Hotel, Ulladulla, NSW
Friday July 7 – Sooki, Belgrave, VIC
Saturday July 8 – Westernport, San Remo, VIC
Sunday July 23 – Splendour In The Grass, North Byron Parklands, NSW
Friday July 28 – All Seasons, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday July 29 – Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC

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

The Smith Street Band at their finest, ‘Life After Football’ highlights a renewal of the group’s pub rock roots

Having also just been announced for this year’s Splendour in the Grass, which will be the band’s third time at the festival, the upcoming run also includes an appearance at the now sold out Cambridge Farewell Festival in Newcastle.

Their sixth studio album, Life After Football, was well received, landing Album of the Week at triple j and seeing the band return to the Like A Version studio to take on Alanis Morissette’s ‘Hand in my Pocket’.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday April 19th via www.thesmithstreetband.com

Teddy Swims announces return to Australia for a national tour in August

The Atlanta-born musician gained immense popularity after his YouTube covers amassed millions of views, leading to a record deal with Warner Records in 2019. Swims’ live shows are known for their electric energy, where he is backed by his band, Freak Freely.

Teddy Swims Australia and New Zealand tour

• August 18 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
• August 19 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
• August 22 – Astor Theatre, Perth
• August 24 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
• August 25 – The Forum, Melbourne
• August 28 – Town Hall, Auckland

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

The Forum show is part of Swims’ Summer 2023 International Tour, which will take him across the globe to the UK, Ireland, Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Swims will perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne before wrapping up his tour in Auckland.

Known for his captivating voice, Swims’ music spans across several genres, including soul, funk, gospel, country, R&B, and pop. He writes most of his songs about love and heartbreak, which have struck a chord with audiences worldwide. With over 800 million global streams and a social media following exceeding 10 million, Swims has become a sensation in the music industry.

In the US, Swims has appeared on several popular shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show, Today, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Ellen, The Late Late Show With James Corden, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He has also collaborated with renowned artists such as Meghan Trainor, ILLENIUM, MK, and BURNS.

In 2022, Swims’ cover of Journey’s classic “Don’t Stop Believin’” went viral, earning him over 80 million views and an appearance with Journey founder Neal Schon on America’s Got Talent.

For Swims, performing live is an opportunity to connect with his fans on a personal level, and he’s excited to meet new people and share his music with them. With his unique voice and energetic performances, the Melbourne show is sure to be an unforgettable experience for all music lovers.

Tickets for Teddy Swims’ Melbourne show go on sale Monday, and fans are advised to book early as his shows are a must-see.

It all goes down on August 25 at Melbourne’s own Forum, grab tickets by heading here.

Melbourne population overtakes Sydney to become Australia’s biggest city

Melbourne might have just scored a few more points up on the board in the longstanding competition against Sydney.

A subtle change in zoning has made it so Melbourne is technically now the biggest city in Australia, with Melbourne’s population officially overtaking Sydney.

Melbourne population overtakes Sydney

• Melbourne has been pronounced as the biggest city in Australia after rezoning includes Melton in parameters
• Sydney has been the country’s biggest city for over a century
• Aside from the redrawing of borders, the population of Melbourne is also growing faster than Sydney

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

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has made an update so the district of Melton, to the northwest of Melbourne, is now included in the city’s Significant Urban Area. The change reflects rapidly growing populations in the area – the population of the City of Melton grew 4.61 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

This bumps the population up by roughly 181,223, bringing our population up to 4,875,400 in June 2021, while Sydney hangs out at a cool 4,856,700. Thanks Melton!

Our New South Wales neighbour has held the top spot in the country for over 100 years, so it’s likely they won’t be too happy about losing the title. However they still have one up on us: the size of Greater Sydney is still larger than Greater Melbourne – although this too is predicted to change in the coming years as Melbourne’s population is growing more rapidly.

While COVID-19 disruptions saw many moving out of large city centres, Melbourne’s population has continued to grow as it has become the most popular destination for local and international migrants who seek job opportunities and more affordable housing, as reported by the Guardian.

To take a look at the Australian Bureau of Statistics population data, head here. 

You Am I are bringing The Who’s ‘Tommy’ to Geelong with special guests Hayley Mary and Sarah McLeod

The Live Nation Pre-sale commences Wednesday April 19 at 10am, running for 24 hours. General public tickets go on sale on Thursday April 20, from 11am. All times are local.

Borealis In The Vines: The Northern Lights will illuminate Bowral’s night sky this winter

Following a larger-than-life run in Daylesford with ‘Borealis on the Lake’ last year, the incredible immersive outdoor art installation will continue its tour of the country, this time beaming lasers over Centennial Vineyards in Bowral to recreate the natural phenomenon of the northern lights this winter in a truly unmissable experience.

Created by internationally renowned Switzerland-based artist Dan Archer, the captivating display is set to transport NSW residents and tourists alike to the Arctic Circle in an experience that will be entirely unique to Bowral.

Stay up to date with all the epic events happening in and around the region here. 

 

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‘Borealis In The Vines’ combines technology and art to create unique auroras over the vines. Colour, movement, the density of light beams and changing weather conditions work together to give infinite variations. “Surreal” is the only way to describe how it feels, to watch as the lights dance across the vineyard. The perfect blend of technology and art. Set to a tranquil soundtrack, become truly immersed in the wonder and magic of Borealis.

From Switzerland to Japan and many successful presentations across Australia, Borealis has toured the world. Premiering in 2018 at Adelaide Fringe, people have fallen in love with the breathtaking illusion of Aurora Borealis. Ever since, Borealis has since become an Adelaide Fringe institution, coming back year after year, sharing the magic with thousands.

‘Borealis in the Vines’ arrives as part of Bowral Winterfest. Here guests can wander through charming wooden stalls that transport themselves to a cozy alpine ski hut, offering up delectable winter warmers and mulled wine to keep them toasty.

If you missed the magic of Borealis in Daylesford last year, a trip to Bowral is your best bet on catching the captivating auroras of Borealis, minus the super expensive travel fare.

‘Borealis In The Vines’ runs exclusively from Thu 25 May 2023 to Fri 30 Jun 2023. General public tickets can be purchased via the website.

The free Eynesbury Winter Festival is making its return with ice skating, night markets and a Winter Solstice

Off the back of two wildly successful years, the free Eynesbury Winter Festival is making its glorious return to the region for the winter months.

Perfect for those looking for something fun and outdoorsy to do with the kids or your pals this winter, the winter festival is a two-week winter celebration located just an hour’s drive away from Geelong.

Eynesbury Winter Festival 2023

Opening Day: Friday 23 June
Winter Market: Sunday 25 June
Winter Solstice: Saturday 1 July
Night Market: Friday 7 July

Ice rink hours:
Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am – 9pm

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

Running from Friday 23 June to Sunday 9 July, the festival is just the ticket to fight off those winter blues.

Coined a winter wonderland, the event is bringing back all the crowd favourites, with the site being jam-packed with an ice rink, hot cocoa, a winter village square, fire pits, winter markets and winter-themed trivia nights, free kids’ activities like cookie decorating, reptile encounters, and circus entertainers.

You’ll also find delicious winter-warming food and drink specials will be offer at Ms Peacock, Birdy & Co and of course the food trucks. There will also be live music and performers, magic shows, roaming Disney characters, an ice hockey exhibition match, pony rides, and more, in case you needed more convincing.

 

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A festival highlight will be the Winter Solstice event on Saturday, July 1 from 5pm which will see the entire precinct come alive and the sky lit up with a fireworks display. There will be something for the whole family from African drummers, a bonfire, food trucks, roving fire performers and a marshmallow toasting pit.

Entry is free, however, tickets need to be booked for ice-skating. The ice-skating rink is being specially constructed for the event and will be a centrepiece for locals and visitors alike. You can bring your own skates or hire on the day and sessions start at $13, and up to $26 for adults with cheaper options for those with skates already.

With night markets, ice skating and fit pits, this festival makes for the perfect excuse to pack the car and hit the ice!

The Eynesbury Winter Festival runs from June 23 to July 9. Visit the website for more information.

Atlanta rapper J.I.D announces Australian headline tour

The Forever And A Day tour will kick off in Auckland, NZ on August 23, before heading to Australia for shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and concluding in Sydney on August 29.

Born and raised in East Atlanta, J.I.D grew up on his parents’ collection of classic funk/soul LPs, and broke onto the scene with his 2015 EP, DiCaprio.

J.I.D Australian tour 2023

• Shed 10, Auckland: Wednesday August 23
• The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane: Friday August 25
• Festival Hall, Melbourne: Saturday August 26
• Enmore Theatre, Sydney: Tuesday August 29

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

When J.I.D joined hip hop duo EARTHGANG on tour, he was spotted by J.Cole who promptly signed him to his Interscope Records venture, Dreamville Records. Soon after signing to Dreamville, he made his major-label debut with the widely celebrated The Never Story (2017), followed up quickly by the critically acclaimed album DiCaprio 2 (2018). The sophomore project received major looks from critics and helped induct the rapper to the year’s XXL’s Freshmen class.

In 2019, J.I.D continued his momentum with stellar contributions to Dreamville’s Platinum certified compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III which went on to debut #1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts and received multiple Grammy nominations including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance.

After a global hit heading into 2022 in Enemy with Imagine Dragons, came J.I.D’s third studio album The Forever Story, featuring a slew of guest artists including Lil Wayne, Yasiin Bey, James Blake, Lil Durk, and more.

Live Nation pre-sale: Thu April 20, 12pm – Fri April 21, 11am. For complete tour, ticket & VIP information, visit: livenation.com.au.

A one-of-a-kind Interactive ‘Jurassic Park’ Experience is heading to Melbourne this weekend

The highest-grossing film of all time when it debuted in 1993, the always epic Jurassic Park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

In honour of such a milestone, Jurassic Park fans will be able to experience a one-of-a-kind interactive T. Rex augmented reality experience exclusively at Supanova in Melbourne this weekend, April 22 & 23.

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

It’s only the second time in the world that fans will get to experience this first-of-its-kind technology bringing a dinosaur to life, following its debut at London’s Trafalgar Square last year around the release of Jurassic World Dominion, when a life-sized Giganotosaurus wowed audiences.

The experience will see attendees getting up close and personal as T. rex tracks your every move.

 

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If that wasn’t enough, Supanova are giving guests that chance to win 1 of 5 epic limited-edition collector prize packs, which include:

• Jurassic Park limited gold-plated baby Velociraptors (Toy Monster)
• Jurassic Park ’93 Classic – Electronic Real Feel Tyrannosaurus Rex figure (Mattel)
• Jurassic World Hammond Collection – Robert Muldoon figure (Mattel)
• Jurassic World Hammond Collection – Ray Arnold figure (Mattel)

All you have to do is snap and share your most creative photo on socials using #SupaJP30 #JurassicWorldAU for your chance to win.

Heading to Melbourne, Supanova Comic Con & Gaming is a celebration of pop culture created by the Supanova family, for your family, to “bring out the inner geek” in fans of all ages.

It began in Sydney in 2002 as a completely home-grown Australian production showcasing sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, anime, manga, games, cosplay and much more. The brainchild of Founder Daniel Zachariou, Supanova is run by a diverse and passionate team of independent professionals with backgrounds in private industry and the creative sector. Supanova takes place in six cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast), and is Australia’s leading and largest event of its kind.

Tickets to Supanova in Melbourne are on sale now via Moshtix.