The beloved Mother’s Day Classic announces its return to Geelong this May
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year? Why not spend the day supporting thousands of Aussie mums struggling with breast cancer.
Australia’s biggest fun run and walk for breast cancer research, the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, has announced its return for 2023, taking place in more than 70 locations nationwide where participants can celebrate, honour and raise vital funds for those impacted by breast cancer.
In Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Western Sydney (Parramatta Park), Darwin, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Hobart, Geelong and Perth, the major Mother’s Day Classic events will return bigger and better than ever.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
View this post on Instagram
“We are excited to announce that in 2023, the 26th year of the Mother’s Day classic, there will be 73 locations in major cities, metro areas and regional towns for Australians to unite nationally in support of breast cancer research,” Mother’s Day Classic CEO, Zara Lawless, said.
“And we’re thrilled to reveal there are almost 20 locations that are either joining the Mother’s Day Classic nationwide community for the first time, or rejoining us after taking a break through the disruption of the last few years.”
So far there are seven new locations for 2023. In Victoria they include Seymour, Echuca and the Mornington Peninsula. In Western Australia, Point Samson and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. For New South Wales, Taree, plus Woodgate Beach in Queensland.
There will also be 12 popular venues returning after an absence of a few years including Edenhope, Ouyen and Lilydale in Victoria, Parramatta Park and Kyogle in New South Wales, as well as Chinchilla, Roma and Toowoomba in Queensland. And in Western Australia, Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland and Carnarvon make a return.
Major events, including Geelong, will have an event village, entertainment, live music and food stalls as well as activities for kids both on-course and in the event village.
If you prefer staying local there is an option to walk or run at one of the many Local events that will be held across Australia on Mother’s Day. These events will have strong community support and, depending on location, will include music and entertainment, food and market stalls, fundraising opportunities, and the option to walk or run with pets at select locations.
Another new element to this year’s event is the addition of some longer running distances. In Melbourne, entrants can sign up for the new 12km distance, and there will also be a 5km and a 10km run in Sydney and Western Sydney.
“Over 1.5 million people have participated in the Mother’s Day Classic for breast cancer research in the past 25 years, donating $41.5 million, and each year we are building on the success of the event. So this year we’re giving running enthusiasts more options, adding longer distances to some locations,” Ms Lawless said.
If you’re unable to join the tens of thousands of runners, joggers and walkers on the day you can still participate in your own way at any place with MDC Anywhere. Participants will receive a race bib and medallion in the mail so they can create their very own unique MDC experience and have access to the MDC online fundraising dashboard and fitness tracker.
“By signing up for the Mother’s Day Classic you are joining a passionate, pink, and purpose-driven community united in the fight against breast cancer,” Ms Lawless said.
“We cannot wait to see everyone suiting up, showing up and standing stronger together on Mother’s Day and as we bring communities back together across Australia.”
Mother’s Day Classic Event Locations – Victoria
Major: Melbourne, Geelong
Local events: Alexandra Yea and district, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bemm River, Bendigo, Caroline Springs, Colac, Drouin, Echuca (NEW), Edenhope (returning from 2020), Eynesbury, Girgarre, Horsham, Lilydale (returning from 2021), Lysterfield, Mansfield, Mildura, Mornington Peninsula (NEW), Ouyen (returning from 2019), Sale, Seymour (NEW), Shepparton, Stawell, Traralgon/Toongabbie, Warrnambool, Wycheproof
Start your Mother’s Day with purpose by suiting up, showing up, and standing up against breast cancer. Proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for breast cancer research to improve outcomes for those affected by breast cancer. The Mother’s Day Classic Foundation supports the NBCF’s goal of zero deaths from breast cancer. There is still so much work that needs to be done to ensure that women can live free of breast cancer in the future.
Visit mothersdayclassic.com.au for more information on your nearest location and to register to take part.
The Rions are heading out on a national Australian tour in May and June
Racking up some 10 million streams worldwide, going back-to-back in consecutive Hottest 100 countdowns and drawn praise from the likes of even the most unlikely of fans in Avatar’s Sam Worthington, Sydney school friends The Rions are on the rise, sharing their first taste of new music for 2023 with their latest single ‘Scary Movies’.
To celebrate the release, the band are heading back on tour this May stopping off in Meanjin/Brisbane’s The Brightside, Tarndanya/Adelaide’s Jive, Boorloo/Perth’s Amplifier, Naarm/Melbourne’s The Evelyn Hotel and Eora/Sydney’s The Lansdowne Hotel.
The Rions National Tour
Fri 12 May – The Brightside – Meanjin/Brisbane
Fri 19 May – Jive – tarndanya/Adelaide
Sat 20 May – Amplifier – Boorloo/Perth
Sat 27 May – The Evelyn Hotel – Naarm/Melbourne
Fri 02 Jun – The Lansdowne Hotel – Eora/Sydney
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
First forming back in high school where they took to talent shows encouraged by their music teacher Mr. Stone (father to Northern Beaches musical royalty Angus & Julia), Noah Blockley, Harley Wilson, Asher McLean, and Tom Partington went on to upload their single ‘Night Light’ to triple j Unearthed. It was from there that the band went on to take out the winning prize for Unearthed High in 2021 which catapulted them to national recognition. The win built on the momentum of debut singles ‘Sadie’, ‘Halfway Out’ and ‘Head Still Hurts’, followed by ‘Disassociation’ and ‘Anakin’, each stronger than the last.
‘Scary Movies’ arrives this month, with the 19-year-old band set out to make a song that conveys the fun side of falling in love. They share, “Too often stories about love are written from the perspective of the hardships that come along with a relationship, or the heartbreaks a lot of people can relate to, but an aspect that isn’t touched on enough is how fun falling in love can be and how happy finding your person can make you.”
Even with its childlike title, ‘Scary Movies’ marks a distinct leap past the growing pains of their formative high-schooling years when we first met them, and into the maturity and depth of their contemporaries. Fronted by vocalist Noah Blockley who sits at the cross-section of Alex Turner, Sam Hale, or Ezra Koenig in his cheeky yet assured confidence that any mum could fast become a fan of, the band takes a collective step towards the band, and men, they want to be.
Tickets on sale now via therions.com/tour-dates
Lizzo announces Australian headline tour for July
Straight off the back of being announced as a Splendour in the Grass headliner, four times GRAMMY Award-winner, Emmy Award-winner, songwriter, rapper, flautist and singer Lizzo has now announced she’ll be bringing The Special Tour 2023 to Australia and New Zealand this July for a series of headline shows.
The tour commences at Perth’s RAC Arena on July 14, followed by Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne on July 17, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on July 23 and concluding at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Wednesday July 26 with special guest Tkay Maidza appearing for all shows.
Lizzo The Special Tour 2023 Australian Dates
RAC ARENA, PERTH
FRIDAY JULY 14
ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE
MONDAY JULY 17
QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY
SUNDAY JULY 23
SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND
WEDNESDAY JULY 26
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Every once in a while, an artist changes not only music, but culture as well. Lizzo has done both, shifting the sound, soul, and spirit of popular music and culture with a series of definitive history-making smashes. Along the way, she has collected numerous awards, topped the Billboard Hot 100 at #1 twice, picked up over a dozen gold and platinum certifications, sold out tours, and appeared in blockbuster films.
Lizzo’s hugely adored second full-length offering Special is her biggest, boldest, and brightest revolution thus far: bursting with chunky disco-funk beats designed to make you move. Special’s spirited, charismatic anthems are her most adventurous yet. The album saw Lizzo receive 4 nominations at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards recently, with monumental lead single About Damn Time taking out the coveted title of Record Of The Year.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the most unabashedly joyous, sonically diverse, and emotionally profound album put out by a major label since Beyonce’s Lemonade,” Lizzo’s SPECIAL debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and #1 on the Pop Albums chart.
Lizzo first took over with her 2019 debut album, CUZ I LOVE YOU. It bowed at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, reached platinum status, graced countless critical year-end lists, and spawned “Tempo” [feat. Missy Elliott] (platinum), “Juice” (2x-platinum), “Good As Hell” (4x-platinum), and “Truth Hurts” (9x-platinum).
“Truth Hurts” raced to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and dominated the chart for seven weeks, making history as “the longest running #1 by a solo female rap artist ever.” Speaking to its impact, Rolling Stone even touted it among its coveted “500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.”
At the GRAMMY® Awards, “Truth Hurts” took home “Best Pop Solo Performance,” CUZ I LOVE (Deluxe) scored “Best Urban Contemporary Album,” and “Jerome” walked away with “Best Traditional R&B Performance.”
General Public Onsale: Wednesday March 29, from 11am. For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, go to www.livenation.com.au / www.livenation.co.nz
100 Years of Wonder: Disney On Ice is touring Australia once again this June and July
It’s the wonder we all grew up with – from the utter joy of Mickey and Minnie Mouse to the intergalactic adventures of Buzz Lightyear and Woody and the epic tale of Elsa and Anna in Frozen, to the bravery of Moana and the magical worlds of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and more.
In 2023 this wonder will be celebrated as Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder comes to Australia in a stunning six-city tour taking in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle over June and July.
Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder Australian Tour
Perth – 15-18 June – RAC Arena *returning for the first time in four years!!
Adelaide – 23-25 June – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Melbourne – 28 June – 2 July – Rod Laver Arena *the perfect school holiday adventure!
Brisbane – 6-9 July – Brisbane Entertainment Centre *the perfect school holiday adventure!
Sydney – 12-16 July – Qudos Bank Arena *the perfect school holiday adventure!
Newcastle – 20-23 July – Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
View this post on Instagram
Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder is an adventure for the whole family, filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics, unexpected stunts, and wow-moments both on the ice and in the air. The show brings the magic of Disney on Ice to Australia, starring the world’s most beloved characters and some of the most advanced ice-skating technology yet!
Mickey Mouse and pals start the party, with Captain Hook’s treasure map taking them through Tinker Bell’s immersive, fantastic worlds. Audiences will laugh as hilarious pirates flip, tumble, and twist on tumble tracks and stilts as they show off for Captain Hook.
Then, the colourful spirit realm of Disney Pixar’s Coco is explored before Moana sails across the ice as she bravely saves her island from the fiery wrath of Te Ka, Belle is seen in the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and of course the entire crowd will sing-along with Elsa in the icy world of Frozen.
When Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie recruit the Green Army Men for a daring rescue in Andy’s room, the power of teamwork is everything!
It’s Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder in one action-packed show that families, and kids of all ages will love.
Pre-sale tickets from Thursday March 23 at 10am register here: https://www.disneyonice.com/
General public tickets on sale from www.ticketek.com.au/
You can pick your own sunflowers at this picture-perfect farm near Ballarat
There’s just something about sunflowers, isn’t there? Bright and wholesome, sunflowers radiate a cheeriness that positively lifts spirits and makes you feel pretty darn great.
Hailed as one of regional Victoria’s most popular rural experiences, the truly wonderful Sunflower Farm located in Dunnstown (near Ballarat) has reopened, featuring over 200,000 sunflowers blooming across its land ready to be picked and brought home.
Sunflower picking dates this week
5pm – 8pm – Wed March 22nd Twilight Special
10am – 4pm – Thurs March 23rd
10am – 4pm – Fri March 24th
10am – 4pm – Sat March 25th (unless picked out)
10am – 4pm – Sun March 26th (unless picked out)
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
View this post on Instagram
Located on a 15-acre private farm, owners Laiken and Karl Britt open up their gates for the general public to pick the bright-yellow sunflowers for approximately 4-6 weeks each year from mid-February. With the extreme weather, this year’s season opened a little later with the first weekend coinciding with the March Labour Day long weekend.
With picking dates and times released via socials (open from Wednesday 22 March – Sunday 26 March this week), visitors are able to wander Victoria’s biggest sunflower field while hand-picking beautiful sunflowers as you like and snap a bunch of fresh pics for the gram.
For only a $10 entry fee (kids under five are free), and $4 per stem you can take home your very own bunch. There’s no limit to how many you pick either! Guests are encouraged to bring cash, as while there’s eftpos, the WiFi service is a tad unreliable on the farm.
Visitors are also advised to wear suitable shoes for walking around the paddock and watch out for any snakes or bees in the area. Dogs are also welcome (making for an even cuter Instagram post) but will have to remain on a leash at all times. And remember, this is an outdoor event with no cover if it is raining it is a good idea to bring an umbrella and wear boots, the picking session will go ahead!
View this post on Instagram
We’ve all seen and envied the photos of endless sunflowers in a field. Speculating where we could possibly dally among these gorgeous flowers and take a snap just like that? Well, now you know.
Grab your bucket and secateurs (or scissors) and hurry!
Keep your eye on socials for updated opening times, or head to the website here.
Portrait: Back to Back Theatre’s participatory photographic exhibition arrives at Geelong Gallery
Arriving at Geelong Gallery this month, Back to Back Theatre’s Portrait is a participatory photographic exhibition with works facilitated by Tamara Searle and photographer Gemma-Rose Turnbull with students from Geelong’s own Nelson Park and Barwon Valley schools.
This long-term project was created with a foundation of self-determination, in which existing photographic representations of disability, age, gender, and sexuality were challenged, allowing each of the students to reflect on and express their unique identities.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
In the creation of Portrait, Searle and Turnbull (and their collaborators) offered a safe space where young women from both schools could openly, and authentically question their diverse identities and analyse photographic forms of representation.
These formative discussions, and the preferences and personalities of the young women, informed the processes and outcomes for each of the incredible and inspiring 17 portraits on display.
The photographs are presented in collaboration with the participants, who share a strong belief in the necessity and powerfulness of self-representation by teenage women living with disability.
View this post on Instagram
“We are proud to present Portrait which liberates thinking, discussion, and creative tasks and practices focussed on identity and self-determination in the participating young women’s representation,” says Geelong Gallery Director & CEO Jason Smith.
“The exhibition is scheduled to coincide with Geelong Gallery’s 2023 drawcard, ticketed exhibition Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere which will ensure a wide-ranging and extensive audience for this important project.”
A free exhibition, locals and tourists alike are encouraged to visit Geelong Gallery to meet the personalities of the young women, profiled in each of the 17 portraits on display.
“The project was designed specifically for girls and female-identifying students to avoid, in this instance, some of the gendered and sexual complexities in high schools to ensure a safe space where young women could openly, authentically question their gender, sexuality, and representation without feeling any influence of the male gaze or comparison,” says Project creator Tamara Searle.
The work was made with the support of set and costume designer Kate Davis, and studio photographers Mano Sidhu and Holly Borschman. Support was provided by Tara Lynch and Sue Angelovski, Nikki Watson and Mindez Chua.
Project participant Charlotte says of her portrait (pictured above) and the production process, “It’s (a portrait) a photo of a person and they can, be doing something… and then we kind of got to design our art further of what we wanted to create… what we wanted to see in the photo.”
A series of public programs will be announced to coincide with this exhibition.
Back to Back Theatre—Portrait runs from Saturday 18 March to Sunday 16 July 2023 at the Geelong Gallery. This exhibition is free entry. Find out more here.
Top Arts 2023 returns to the NGV, showcasing the talent of Victoria’s emerging creatives
Top Arts 2023 returns to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia for its 29th year, showcasing the talent of Victoria’s emerging creatives who have excelled in VCE art subjects.
Top Arts 2023 celebrates the creativity, vision and commitment of 38 emerging artists and designers from across the state who have used art to bring their passions and concerns into sharp focus. The exhibition showcases works that are provocative and introspective, spanning themes of cultural and gender identity, vulnerability, society and nature.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Direct from Belmont High School, Geelong, Arthur Foulkes’ stoneware of Shoulder to shoulder, Skull to skull and Cardboard box 2022 explores the inextricable link between consumerism in modern life and the influence of peers.
“‘Cardboard Box’ encapsulates our contemporary culture of consumption. The figures on the pot each display a unique interaction with the box symbolic of the variety of beliefs around the society we live in and its capitalist dogmas,” Foulkes says.
“‘Shoulder to shoulder. Skull to Skull’ examines peer influence and the association between those who surround us, their attitudes, ideas, opinions and the impact they have on our mind. The men’s, bodies are connected uniting them as a singular entity, that think, behave, and believe under the influence of the other.”
View this post on Instagram
Further highlights from the exhibition include Minh Dang’s striking portrait Sorrow 2022 which depicts the artist’s friend and reflects on the challenges of a young queer man growing up in rural Victoria.
Dagoman, Wardaman and Gurindji woman Jasmine Glass has produced three woven baskets using traditional weaving techniques, reflecting the young artist’s connection to Country, her cultural heritage, and the long lineage of Aboriginal women who maintained the practice before her.
Mildura’s Eden Muster’s playful costume designs are reminiscent of childhood nostalgia and dress-up, intending to return audiences to a time of youth and impulsiveness set far from the pressures of adult life.
Hugo Martin’s Father and Poppy Series 2022 delves into family relationships, shared history and the sense of connection throughout time, painting hopeful and enjoyable scenes of the artist’s family across three generations.
For Jack Snow-Viener, the Sulfur photographic series overlays images, asking viewers to contemplate their own notions of what is conventionally beautiful.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said, “The annual Top Arts exhibition demonstrates the astounding talent of Victoria’s young artists and designers as they contemplate the world around them following a challenging period of disruption. The level of technical and conceptual complexity present in this year’s exhibition is a testament to the resilience of young artists and we are proud to continue to foster their work, perspectives and experiences at the NGV.”
Top Arts 2023 will be on display from 17 March – 9 July 2023 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square, Flinders St & Russell St, Melbourne. Free entry. Further information is available via the NGV website.
Unlocking the Secrets: Filmmaker and comedian Pauly Fenech is coming to Geelong this week
For lovers of all things film, filmmaking and more, the Geelong Waterfront Film is bringing Pauly Fenech to Geelong for one evening only.
Heading to Geelong’s Wharf Shed on Friday, 24 March, Pauly will be sharing tips on filming on a micro-budget, with skeleton crews using limited props as part of the Geelong Waterfront Film’s ‘Unlocking The Secrets’ professional development series.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
View this post on Instagram
An Australian filmmaker, film and television actor, director, producer and writer, Pauly became a household name when appearing on SAS Australia 2022. However, Pauly, is also well-known for creating and starring in the TV series and film Fat Pizza.
He has also written, directed, and produced Swift and Shift Couriers, Housos, Bogan Hunters, Fat Pizza: Back in Business and Housos Vs. Virus: The Lockdown, as well as the motion pictures Fat Pizza (2003), Housos vs. Authority (2012), Fat Pizza vs. Housos (2014) and Dumb Criminals: The Movie (2015).
Pauly will arrive in Geelong as part of Geelong Waterfront Film’s “Unlocking the Secrets” … what we wish we knew series. A series of development sessions for filmmakers and content creators to learn new practical skills and gain advice from expert practitioners. This will not only give them the confidence to progress their career but also bolster the potential of Geelong’s creative industry.
Pauly will share his knowledge, tips and stories on how to create content with limited dollars.
“Ensuring a skilled film and content creator base is one of the keys to the Geelong region becoming a sustainable film hub,” says Michael Stangel, chair of Geelong Waterfront Film Board.
“Pauly had no hesitation coming to Geelong to support regional filmmakers.”
“Geelong Waterfront Film seeks to be inclusive and encourages young and undiscovered talent to take part in the Unlocking the Secrets sessions as well as industry creatives who wish to broaden their skills.”
The session held at Geelong’s Wharf Shed is on 24 March at 7pm is ideal for filmmakers, content creators, and those who want to be guaranteed a laugh.
Tickets are $40 per person and includes canapes with drinks available for purchase at the bar.
For more information and to secure a ticket visit Geelong Waterfront Film.
Måneskin announce first-ever Australian headline tour for 2023
Following sold-out shows across the globe, rock phenoms Måneskin have announced their first-ever headline tour of Australia as they bring their RUSH! World Tour to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide this November.
Bringing their raucous live set and phenomenal production, the tour will hit Australia in November, kicking off in Brisbane at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 20, before moving through Sydney to play Hordern Pavilion on November 22, Margaret Court Arena on November 23 and finishing up in Adelaide at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 24.
RUSH! World Tour 2023
November 20, 2023 – Brisbane, QLD – BCEC
November 22, 2023 – Sydney, NSW – Hordern Pavilion
November 23, 2023 – Melbourne, VIC – Margaret Court Arena
November 25, 2023 – Adelaide, SA – AEC Theatre
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
On what it means to take their raucous live set to Australia, Måneskin enthuse, “We can’t wait to come to Australia, it will be the first time for all of us so we’re pretty much curious about everything, especially the crowd. It feels crazy to finally be able to meet our fans there!”
Armed with a 2023 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, Måneskin’s RUSH! world tour will see them headline arenas across the US and Canada, including a landmark show at New York’s historic Madison Square Garden. They’ll be crossing continents to rock their way around South America, Japan, Singapore, Germany, France, the UK and Ireland.
The RUSH! World Tour will follow on from Måneskin’s ongoing LOUD KIDS World Tour which continues to see them sell out shows globally and play to over 500,000 fans. With over twenty sold out shows still to come on their current tour, and Australia’s first stop – Brisbane marking their twentieth show on the RUSH! tour, there is no denying we are in for an absolute treat when this iconic act heads down under. Notorious for their stomping live show, it’s no secret the band love winning over new audiences, with Måneskin firing up,
“We want to thank our fans in Australia, we are coming for you! Expect fire, stage smashings and lots of sweat!”
The full throttle Måneskin live show has already travelled to over 25 countries between Europe, North America, South America and Japan in 2022, saw the band go back to their beloved Rome for an extra special sold out show at the historic Circo Massimo with 70,000 tickets sold, and between headline shows the band dominated festival stages around the world including Coachella, Rock in Rio, Lollapalooza (Chicago, Paris and Sweden), Rock Im Park and Rock Am Ring, Rock Wertcher, Summer Sonic in Japan and more.
Before hitting the road again for the RUSH! World Tour, the band will play 5 special stadium shows in their beloved Italy in July with more than 220,000 tickets already sold. And alongside both tours, Måneskin will be commanding stages at Glastonbury and Primavera Sound.
The RUSH! tour follows the band’s new album of the same name, released in January 2023 to global acclaim and chart domination, reaching #1 in 15 countries and Top 5 in 20 countries, and garnering over 800 million global album streams, adding to the band’s impressive 7.3 billion global artist streams.
Tickets to the RUSH! Australian leg go on sale Friday March 24 at 9am local time. Find out more here.
Frankston’s Big Picture Fest is back and bigger than ever
From Monday 20 March to Sunday 26 March, Frankston City Council in conjunction with The Big Picture Fest will commemorate emerging and established artists who, over the course of the week, will bring vibrancy and life into the urban landscape.
The festival has become a highlight in the cultural calendar both on the Mornington Peninsula and for art-lovers across the state. With a lineup of exhibitions, installations, and performances, the festival guarantees an immersive and engaging experience for patrons of all ages. As anticipation builds for the event, locals and visitors alike are eager to discover the electrifying new murals that will be displayed in this year’s festival edition.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Beginning in 2018, Big Picture Fest has annually brought both international and local street-art connoisseurs to the suburb. In its 6th year, the epic lineup of artists includes Mistery, Smug One, Sofles, Katherine Gailer, Maria Pena, Hard Thirteen (Indo), Olana Janfa (Norway) & Abbey Rich – just to name a few. Download the map to find the nine sites.
Nine new artworks are being made during the course of the festival, so patrons will also have the opportunity to see the streets come to life first-hand – and maybe even meet the artists behind it all.
There are a few ways that patrons can experience the festival. You can take a self-guided around the festival at your own pace. Or, you can opt for a more immersive experience and book a free guided Street Art walking tour so you can learn the stories and inspirations behind the artists’ creations running from 24-26 March. The popular and nearly sold out, 1.5-hour tour offers a more intimate look behind the curtain and can be booked here. Better be quick! Alternatively, you can simply stroll around the various marked locations scattered around Frankston’s CBD. Next to each artwork, QR codes are available which offer insight into the artist and their creative process.
On Friday 24 March, you can make your way down to the Block Party. This free event brings bands, street performances, food trucks, alcohol vendors and live street painting to rendezvous against the backdrop of Frankston’s street art. The event will commence with a Welcome to Country Ceremony. Then, patrons will enjoy the all-Australian indie rock-pop line-up with performances from Teenage Dads, Zoe Fox and the Rocket Clocks with Muma Ganoush. The celebration of community and culture continues to the food trucks, where you can pick from a diverse range of cuisines including Melbourne’s best poffertjes, Mushiki dumplings, and Poncho Mexican. This all-ages event will be running from 4:30–10 pm in the Thompson Laneway. The new Night Walk and digital projection will yet be another after-dark experience not to miss.
New in 2023, see street artists in action in the daylight hours on Gallery Lane, Park Row and Thompson Lane. As the sun sets, the lights turn on as you self-guide yourself towards a nighttime projection artwork and audio by Filip Roca in Park Lane.
This impressive projection animation State is a seven-minute-long audio-visual piece that revolves around and studies the physical world’s structure and aggregate state of matter. It is a first for Victoria so you don’t want to miss it!
The Big Picture Festival has become integral in shaping Frankston’s urban identity and has seen the landscape become a canvas for some of the world’s most celebrated street artists – transforming buildings and alleyways into eye-catching murals. As a culturally diverse and vibrant suburb, the event sees the Frankston community come together to celebrate its history and ever-evolving scene. The Frankston City Council acknowledges that street art is unique in that it is accessible – it can be relished by anyone who passes it by.
Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of art, culture, and community. Further information on the Big Picture Fest can be found here.
This article was made in partnership with Frankston City Council.
Australian powerhouse The Amity Affliction announce national tour
The national run will begin at the band’s hometown Brisbane at Fortitude Music Hall before heading to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall, Melbourne’s Forum and wrapping up at Perth’s Metro City. This 2023 tour marks two decades since the band formed in 2003.
Since emerging in 2008 with their debut Severed Ties, Australian powerhouse The Amity Affliction have consistently delivered. They’ve clocked four No. 1 records, earned multiple Gold and Platinum certifications in their home country and enjoyed a string of Top 30-charting albums on Billboard.
The Amity Affliction: Australian 2023 Tour
- Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane: Thursday Oct 19
- Hordern Pavilion, Sydney: Saturday Oct 21
- Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide: Tuesday Oct 24
- Forum, Melbourne: Thursday Oct 26
- Metro City, Perth: Saturday Oct 28
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
They’ve also received critical accolades from Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, The Noise, and more. Throughout their career, The Amity Affliction have remained a featured attraction on some of the biggest festivals in the world — from Download UK, Reading and Leeds, Vans Warped Tour, Rock am Ring, Rock im park, Graspop, Sonic Temple, Welcome to Rockville, Hellfest, Slam Dunk, Jera on Air, and more!
The band has sold out countless headline treks and have hit the road with everyone from A Day to Remember to Motionless in White to Silverstein to Sum 41 to Beartooth to PVRIS. New material is expected in 2023. Their latest single I See Dead People, released in February, is their fastest streaming single. The band now has crossed the 1 billion stream mark worldwide.
Tickets go on sale 12pm Friday March 24. My Live Nation members can secure tickets early during the Live Nation presale at 12pm Thursday March 23.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au.
Gold Rock 3550 is Bendigo’s newest rock music festival celebrating homegrown talent
With famous, authentic heritage attractions and world-class gastronomic delights, the regional city of Bendigo is about to become an electrifying hub for music lovers this April with a brand-new rock music festival, Gold Rock 3550.
The inaugural celebration of independent Bendigo homegrown and affiliated bands and artists, Gold Rock 3550 will take over Handle Bar in Bendigo on Saturday, 1 April featuring a smorgasbord of great music – both local and further afield.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
Running from 3pm until late, the free festival will feature local bands Bendigo noise-rock/post-punk group Alarms, Derwents, The Bridesmaid (the musical side project of Four Lions guitarist Keith MacQueen), Loui Froia Band, Mystic Park (the new vehicle for Bendigo-based singer-songwriter Shann Lions, a 25-year veteran in the independent music scene), and local superstar Mia Mazzarella – straddle, overlap and represent the various threads that comprise the rock genre.
Headlining the event is Stepmother, the Melbourne power trio who recently supported You Am I in Castlemaine. Fronted by Graham Clise (Annihilation Time, Lecherous Gaze, Rot TV, Witch) and with Equal parts motor city proto-punk and feedback-drenched fuzz on the darker side of psychedelia, Stepmother plays anthems for the poor depraved sickos and rock n roll miscreants. With influences ranging from Blue Cheer & The Pink Fairies to Nervous Eaters & The Damned, these guys are sure to bring all the rock n roll vibes to Bendigo this April.
The new festival is the brainchild of the aforementioned local musician Shann Lions, best known as frontman/chief songwriter for roots rockers Four Lions, and prior to that, indie rock combo Ruteger.
“For me, Gold Rock is about showcasing the different styles of music Bendigo has to offer in the best backyard venue in the town,” Lions says.
“Having bands who are playing Handle Bar for the first time is exciting. We are putting on a day out for the music fans of this town to come and listen to bands that they may become new fans of, and share in their journey.”
MC Sam Bastian will oversee festivities, Bendigo Vinyl will be DJing and Cornella Brewery will provide a hazy beer brewed especially for the festival.
“Local brewers and the local independent vinyl shop being part of this local day is a big part of it,” Lions said.
Entry is free, and doors open at 3pm.
Keep up with the latest event updates here.
Two huge headliner changes for Groovin The Moo festival
Groovin the Moo have revealed that two headlining acts will no longer be performing at this year’s festival. Omar Apollo and Skepta have “unfortunately cancelled their Australian tours”, with GTM instead announcing Genesis Owusu and Nothing But Thieves as their replacements.
Genesis Owusu and Nothing But Thieves will perform at six beaut regions around the country, joining the likes of Denzel Curry, lord of the bangers Fatboy Slim, Eliza Rose, Ball Park Music, Skegss, LUUDE, Ocean Alley and Amy Shark, among others, on the GTM festival lineups.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
English five-piece Nothing But Thieves are a huge addition to the festival lineup, with the band gaining international recognition for their unique sound and electric live performances. With the recent announcement of their fourth album, ‘Dead Club City,’ the band is set to take Australia by storm with their upcoming tour. Their blend of fresh sounds and internationally acclaimed chilling live sets will be showcased in show rooms across Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, as well as at the appearances at Groovin The Moo Festival.
Genesis Owusu’s appearance comes off the back of a huge 2022 for the performer, having delivered huge sets at the likes of Spilt Milk, Lost Paradise and Falls Festival, plus his own national tour, as well as being the big winner at the 2022 AIR Awards in Adelaide, the annual ceremony that recognizes the best in Australia’s independent music community.
Groovin The Moo Tour Diary 2023
Wayville, SA – Friday 21 April (School Holidays)
Adelaide Showground
Kaurna Country, Wayville, SA
Maitland, NSW – Saturday 22 April
Maitland Showground
Wonnarua Country, Maitland, NSW
Canberra, ACT – Sunday 23 April
Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)
Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country, Mitchell, ACT
Bendigo, VIC – Saturday 29 April
Bendigo’s Prince of Wales Showgrounds
Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Bendigo, VIC
Sunshine Coast, QLD – Sunday 30 April (Long Weekend)
Kawana Sports Western Precinct
Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country, Warana, QLD
Bunbury, WA – Saturday 6 May
Hay Park
Wardandi Noongar Country, Bunbury, WA
Tickets to all GTM shows are on sale now. Head here for more info.
1927 announce massive 39-date Australian tour celebrating 35 years of timeless hits and touring
Australian rock band 1927 hit the road in 2023 with a mammoth national tour that will see them crisscrossing Australia as they bring their Next Generation ’23 tour to fans and music lovers.
Starting in Perth in April, 1927 will play 39 shows through until September, hitting up places like Brisbane, Hobart, Warragul, Sale, Ballarat, Newcastle, Dubbo, Mildura, Townsville and Adelaide, among many other spots across the country.
1927 Victorian Tour Dates
02.06 WEST GIPPSLAND ARTS CENTRE – Warragul, VIC
03.06 THE WEDGE – Sale, VIC
09.06 CAPITAL THEATRE – Bendigo, VIC
10.06 WENDOUREE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE – Ballarat, VIC
16.06 PALMS AT CROWN – Melbourne, VIC
17.06 FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE – Frankston, VIC
28.07 LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE – Warrnambool, VIC
29.07 HORSHAM TOWN HALL – Horsham, VIC
12.08 MILDURA ARTS CENTRE – Mildura, VIC
01.09 KARRALYKA THEATRE – Ringwood, VIC
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
From the golden era for Australian rock bands, to reinvigorating fans today 1927 is a national treasure that has been entertaining audiences for 35 years. Having stood the test of time they’ve earned their place as icons of the Australian music scene.
“Whatever you think you’re going to see and hear is not what you’re going to see and hear. If you have not seen this version of 1927 perform these songs live, well, I won’t say you’re in for a shock, you’re in for a treat,” Erik Weiderman said.
Known for hits such as ‘That’s When I Think of You’, ‘Compulsory Hero’, ‘To Love Me’, ‘Scars’, and of course, ‘If I Could’, 1927 became overnight household names with their debut album ‘…ish’ in 1988.
‘…ish’ went five- times Platinum, stayed in the ARIA chart for 46 weeks (selling an excess of 400,000 copies) and won ARIA’s for best debut single and album.
Appearing with 1927 is Jason Singh. Jason Singh has been entertaining audiences and touring the world for over two decades as a singer, songwriter and original founding member of the ARIA Award winning Aussie pop/rock chart toppers, Taxiride.
1927 are touring Australia in 2023 and these shows are not to be missed!
Tickets on sale now here.
Sarah McLeod announces One Electric Lady East Coast solo tour
Fresh from a national tour with revered rock band The Superjesus to promote their new single ‘Money (We’re Only In It For Love)’, Sarah McLeod is bringing back to the stage an updated reprise of her successful 2021 show ‘One Electric Lady’ which sees her performing with her dual output guitar.
The shows kick off in June with three shows in Queensland, followed by Adelaide, two dates in Victoria and will then end with four shows across NSW, wrapping the tour in Newcastle at Lizottes on Sunday 25th June.
One Electric Lady Tour
Thurs 1st June – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi QLD
Fri 2nd June – Jindalee Hotel, Brisbane QLD
Sat 3rd June – The Royal Hotel, Nundah QLD
Sat 10th June – The Grace Emily, Adelaide SA
Thurs 15th June – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave VIC
Fri 16th June – The Workers Club, Fitzroy VIC
Thurs 22nd June – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla NSW
Fri 23rd June – The Vanguard, Sydney NSW
Sat 24th June – The Heritage Hotel, Bulli NSW
Sun 25th June – Lizottes, Newcastle NSW
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
Regarding her performance, Sarah explains, “I designed a guitar that could play bass and guitar at the same time, so when I add beats I sound like a three-piece band”.On bigger shows and festivals she adds a drummer for more punch and on this tour she will be showcasing the more intimate stripped back versions.
In 2021 Sarah had been teaching herself piano, she felt it best to learn on the job so she hired herself as a piano player to be the support act for herself as the guitar player. The combination of Sarah’s voice with the piano proved to be a winner and by the end of the tour the piano player had become the headline act.
In 2023, the piano has been given a promotion and is now a fully fledged part of her electric show.
Sarah will be performing beautifully broken down versions of her solo and Superjesus back catalogue plus a few special covers.
Tickets on sale now via sarahmcleodofficial.com
Ross Noble brings his solo stand-up tour Jibber Jabber Jamboree to Geelong
English stand-up comedian and actor Ross Noble, best known for being runner-up in The Celebrity Apprentice in 2021, is bringing his 21st solo stand-up tour Jibber Jabber Jamboree to Geelong in 2023.
Presented by A-List Entertainment, The international star will take to The Geelong Arts Centre on Friday, 1 September 2023.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
To celebrate his 21st milestone, Noble invites audiences to join him for an evening on the sort of inspired nonsense that has cemented his place as the supreme master of stream of conscious freewheeling stand-up.
This is your chance to see Noble live on stage in his natural habitat.
What’s this about? What will we learn? How will it change the world? There are all pointless questions to ask when Noble is off on one of his tangents.
Grab a ticket and come and enjoy the ride!
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 22 March at 9am and can be purchased here.
Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival reveals lineup for its 2023 edition
Featuring the cream of the Australian Blues music scene and renowned as one of the longest-running and most important events on the blues festival calendar, The Winter Blues Festival has announced its return for 2023 this July, bringing along an impressive lineup of Australia’s best artists.
Now in its 24th year, the free festival has gone from humble beginnings as a one-Sunday-afternoon event in a pub with a handful of bands – to being a festival that sprawls across 4 days, in 20-plus venues around the town of Echuca, Victoria.
The festival has now announced its first round of artists for 2023, a list that contains some festival favourites and some new artists to discover. There’s something for the die-hard blues fans, but also music that’s perfect to accompany a relaxing weekend with a few drinks, some good food, and some good friends. Check it out below.
Winter Blues Festival – First artist announce (in alphabetical order):
19-Twenty
Anna Scionti
Cass Eager
Catfish Voodoo
Creek
The Detonators
Doc Halibut
Dom Turner & The Rural Blues Project
Electric Blues Collective
Fiona Boyes
FOOLS
Frank Sultana
Hat Fitz & Cara
Jesse Redwing
Lloyd Spiegel
Owen Campbell
Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here
Along with the continued success of the Winter Blues Festival has come huge economic and cultural benefits for the local and regional community. As 20,000 punters make the annual pilgrimage to Echuca Moama from all over Australia, it’s hard to believe that the last weekend in July was once the quietest weekend of the year for tourism in the historic port town.
As always, the Wrap Party on Sunday night will return as a ticketed fund-raising event featuring the cream of the festival, ticket sales soon to be announced.
The Winter Blues Festival was set up by the community for the community and is a not-for-profit organisation that relies on funding from local businesses and grants funding to keep going.
There is no better way than spending a winters weekend at The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival from July 27 – 30 2023. Find out more here.
A weekend Filipino food and culture fiesta comes to Melbourne this April
One of Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s most treasured pillars, Special Events, returns this for the first time in four years.
From north to south, east to west, big-ticket fine dining to low-key and well-loved, the Special Events program takes in everything we love about eating in Melbourne and spins it into a red-hot edit of one-off menus and sure-fire good times. It’s the heart and soul of the Festival, and a highlight promises to be Seafood, Stars and Stories at Seafarers – a Filipino barrio fiesta by the sea presented by The Entree.Pinays.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
View this post on Instagram
Taking place on the festival’s final weekend on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of April, Seafood, Stars and Stories at Seafarers will celebrate Filipino cuisine, culture, and community at Melbourne’s historic Mission to Seafarers in Docklands.
Those who purchase tickets will be able to experience a delicious menu by some of Melbourne’s best Filipino culinary talent all in one destination. In true Filipino style, dive hands-first into their catch of the day: a Seafood Kamayan Plate of sustainable local produce, plus an exciting menu of colourful street food favourites such as Hoy Pinoy Bbq skewers, Silog Shop rice bowls, lechon (spit-roasted pig), Boba Bar taho, and halo halo by Pecks Road (a cold dessert made up of shaved ice, evaporated milk, and colourful medley of leche flan, ube jam, and crispy rice puffs), and pantry staples from Sweet Cora Cakes.
A Filipino-inspired drinks menu will also feature, especially curated by Serai Melbourne’s mixologist, Ralph Libo-on, and will include local Filipino-owned brands 7000 Islands, Akasya Kape and the much awaited launch of the Calamansi Crush Cider. This will be to celebrate the humble calamansi: a small, versatile native citrus with a big zesty punch.
Seafood, Stars and Stories at Seafarers MFWF Event takes place 1-2 April of April 2023 at Mission to Seafarers, 717 Flinders St, Docklands. Tickets can be found here.