Each year one of the favourite events on the Forte calendar and in regional Victoria is the Arockalypse event put on by The Loft. With more than 30 bands descending on Warrnambool over the Queen’s Birthday weekend it’s an event any rock-loving gig-goer should have tickets to.
Entering into its fifth year, past events have seen The Loft unearth some of the best talent in the region. This year’s line up sees; JackJackJack, The Stiffys, Dr Colossus, Eddie Boyd & the Phatapillars, Gullies, Louise Adams Band, The Alamo, Crossfire Hurricane, Cameron Holmes & the Blues Dudes, Doctor & the Apologies, Rage Against the Sewing Machine, Jacob Pugh, Cooper Lower, Ell Gee, Jugg, Ditto, Gabby Steele, The Cheeky Fellas, Jess Skye and Donnie Dureau all take to the stage.
The very first event back in 2012 was actually known as The Loft’s Big Day In, and the event has well and truly outgrown that name. Jarrod Shaw, chief of the Loft, said it early on in the event’s creation that it was, and always will be, about the talent.
“Warrnambool has a fantastic pool of musical and artistic talent and we need to nurture and support this. But really, this isn’t about putting on Australia’s chart-topping artists. This was and always will be about making sure that the amazing bands that I get to see every day get seen by as many people as possible,” Jarrod says.
Past years have seen Dallas Frasca, Buddha in a Chocolate Box, Sex on Toast, The Go Set, The Pretty Littles are more grace the stage, though we’ve outlined a few of the bands below for you.
The Stiffys
Since they entered the world as one being broken into two, the bodacious boogie-boarding bandits and art rock pioneers have made us believe in ourselves with their positive messages. The Melbourne-duo have educated us with their instructional videos. They have drunk our beers when our backs were turned. And they’ve also managed to give us plenty of tunes along the way. Look out for ‘Kissy Kissy’ and ‘Boogie Boarding’ when they hit the stage.
JackJackJack
Since forming in 2013, JackJackJack have quickly developed a highly distinctive sound; somewhere between hip hop and funk-rock they’ve found a home and continually kill it on stage. On stage the band are mesmerising, made possible in part thanks to Magdalene Baines intricate vocals, and have quickly developed a following throughout Melbourne, regional Victoria and along the East Coast.
[Main Image] Dr Colossus
A band with Simpsons themed doom rock, need we say more? Originally from Portland the band have since made a home for themselves. “We were always joking about starting a doom band between us,” Dr.Jon tells Forte. “One day we were in a bus between Launceston and Hobart playing shows with our old band Honeytrap and the name ‘Dr. Colossus’ came up… along with the idea that we could make it Simpsons themed. That was 2011.” Despite what you may think, Hans Moleman and Moe are the two favourite characters from the duo.
Cooper Lower
Warrnambool’s Cooper Lower is a young singer-songwriter you may want to keep an eye on. Influenced by the likes of John Butler, Ed Sheeran and Lewis Watson, the soulful acoustic muso began chipping away at the guitar when he was 12.
Tickets can be purchased via theloftwarrnambool.oztix.com.au or at the door if not sold out.
When & Where: The Loft, Warrnambool – June 10-12 [Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend]