G’day regional Victoria music fans.
Well, it’s been a big month for regional Victorian acts after they dominated various music awards around the country.
D.D. Dumbo (aka Castlemaine native Oliver Hugh Perry) took out triple j’s J Awards Australian Album of the Year for his amazing debut, Utopia Defeated.
The Surf Coast’s King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard won the ARIA Award for Best Heavy Release; they also took out the Double J Artist of the Year Award, and also Australian Music Video of the Year in the J Awards for Danny Cohen and Jason Galea’s amazing video for People-Vultures, set in the You Yangs.
They also took home gongs in The Age Music Victoria Awards for Best Band, Best Live Band and Album of the Year. They also blew away 10,000 music fans at Meredith Music Festival, which once again took out The Age Music Award for Best Festival. The two specific regional awards were won by The Drones (Best Regional Act) and The Bridge, Castlemaine (Best Regional Venue).
So make sure you treasure your local scene, because we’ve got some of the best bands, venues and festivals in the country (and the known universe).
Speaking of treasuring things, the Victorian state government launched the Australian Music Vault at the Arts Centre Melbourne last week, dedicating almost $10million to celebrate Australia’s musical history through exhibitions in the Arts Centre Melbourne’s main gallery space, travelling exhibitions, an online resource and shows. They have promised to ensure that the curated exhibitions will tour regionally, so hopefully one of them will hit your town or city soon.
Have a great, safe festive break.
Member Moment:
Major Tom’s, Kyneton
Placed neatly in the heart of picturesque Kyneton, Major Tom’s offers locals a friendly place to meet, eat and check out some of the area’s and Victoria’s finest. It claims to be a ‘burger joint’ (which it is), however it is in fact much more. Recently hosting hypnotic dark country band Broads, Pretty City and Ben Wright Smith, keep an eye on the gig guide and consider heading up the Calder Highway for nachos and a knees up this summer.
Gig of the Month:
New Year’s Evie at Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook – 31 December 2016 to 2 January 2017.
Let Your Hair Hang Down! Bruzzy and BT have invited a swathe of awesome local acts to help you get your party on this New Year’s. From Jazz Party to Dorsal Fins, Loose Tooth to DJ Manchild, this is one great place to invest some festive season energy reserves. Get down in the dust on the d-floor, as well as on the infamous Giant Slip n Slide (a genuine headline act). A soon-to-be not-so-well-kept secret.
Industry updates from Music Victoria
Written by Patrick Donovan, CEO of Music Victoria.
