20 May 2016
From loving our pets, to the urge to take selfies, we all have our quirks that help shape our personality. Artist Georgia Naughton has uncovered such quirks from a handful of Geelong locals and put pen to paper to create small portraits to showcase them.
19 May 2016
Funny man Kevin Kropinyeri is a lot of things to a lot people. To his family he is a proud father, son and partner. To others he is a hard working MC, sports fanatic, former class clown and community leader. Kropinyeri is a prominent member of the Ngarrindjeri Nation and knows first-hand the everyday hardships that Indigenous Australians face.
17 May 2016
After five successful years running, the Robert Burns Scottish Festival is making its way back to Camperdown to mark the sixth year of Scottish filled festivities. I spoke to Corangamite councillor Ruth Gstrein who is just one of the busy people working behind the scenes to put this year’s celebration on and who gave a great insight into what to expect over the weekend.
16 May 2016
Straalen may be relatively new to the scene, but he’s been honing his skills since he was 12 years old. Now 18 with a new single and EP on the way, we had a chat with the talented muso (he recently was a finalist for his songwriting) about evolving in the industry, his music and sharing a birthday with Woody Allen.
15 May 2016
Over his career, Shane Howard has forged himself as one of Australia’s greatest song writers and creative minds. However, he’s also respected equally for his commentary, activism and support of social justice issues.
14 May 2016
The Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre has long been a hub for celebrating aspects of Aboriginal culture, and located on Wadawurrung Country has done so through the use of native plants, workshops and artworks in the gallery. Connecting to Country is Narana’s newest event and takes what the centre has previously done to a new level.
14 May 2016
In 2014 Bendigo’s Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre launched Talking Justice to coincide with Law Week. The event created the chance for central Victorians to come together to share and discuss social justice concerns in a stimulating and respecting environment.
13 May 2016
The story of how Dan Kelly and Alex Gow met is akin to a muso bro-mance (a word both of them would likely cringe at). True, Kelly can’t remember exactly when he first heard of the Melbourne songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of indie rock band Oh Mercy, but the friend of a friend mentality was definitely there.
12 May 2016
Doug Parkinson is no stranger to performing, and has already garnered much praise and acclaim as a singer and performer of great distinction, but it’s his new show heading to regional Victoria that will no doubt raise his profile even further in the coming months.
12 May 2016
It’s been two decades since drummer Mike Wengren and guitarist Don Donegan held auditions to find a much-needed front man for their new band (then known as Brawl). After seeing dozens of singers, both Wengren and Donegan started to lose hope. Until in walked David Draiman, a 23-year-old Jewish guy who had previously worked as a healthcare administrator.
12 May 2016
For close to two years, Blackman’s Brewery in Torquay has been helping fuel the excitement around the craft beer scene.
“The whole thing has just been a whirlwind,” Jess admits of opening the Bell Street brewhouse and bar with her partner Renn Blackman.
9 May 2016
Everyone at some point or another dreams of the luscious rolling green hills of Ireland. For Bernadette Morris it’s an everyday reality in her hometown of Dungannon. Sitting in the lounge room with a hot cup of tea looking out the window, a hare majestically hops along outside the front door. Coming out of a cold winter spell, things are looking up on this dry Wednesday April morning. In a family of six girls and four boys, it’s been quite a challenge to stand out from the crowd, however music has always been a mainstay of Morris’ life.
6 May 2016
The only time it’s acceptable to drink on a train is if you’re taking the Ales on Rails trip from Victorian Goldfields Railway. You heard right, there is a train that is dedicated to serving you top notch beer and food in the comfort of decadent transport.
6 May 2016
There’s nothing like starting a national tour having released the number one selling Australian album in 2015. That’s exactly what Lee Kernaghan did two nights ago having seen his 2015 release ‘Spirit Of The Anzacs’ storm the charts and the hearts and minds of ordinary Aussies everywhere.
6 May 2016
The Torquay Theatre Troupe’s tagline on the website reads “Making quality theatre accessible to our local community” and that’s exactly what the troupe are doing in the theatre’s latest play written by Ben Brown, All Things Considered.
6 May 2016
Western Edge Youth Arts have crafted themselves a very esteemed reputation through constantly putting on cutting edge and socially relevant theatre spectacles, with their upcoming double feature ‘Of Longing’ and ‘Belonging’ adding to their list of high quality productions.
5 May 2016
Shaun Kirk is a musician who always seems to be on the road, and each time he never ceases to show regional Victoria some love. We had a chat to the musician ahead of a few shows where he’ll do just that.
4 May 2016
Things are changing in the Geelong After Dark world. While this year will again bring the city alive after 6pm, there have been a few changes made to the running of the event which will hopefully make your night the best it possibly can be.
4 May 2016
When other 11 year olds were busy working out their timetables and playing video games, Sahara Beck was setting the foundations for her career in music. After setting her sights on becoming a singer, she wrote and recorded her debut album ‘Volume One’ when she was 14. Now five years later, Sahara has put out her fourth release, Panacea.
4 May 2016
“Our expectations weren’t too grand, it just kind of happened,” Joel Cooper, one of the owners behind East Geelong giftware store Frank & Dolly’s, tells me of how the store came to be.
3 May 2016
The Mud Peas may not be a local band that you are familiar with, but after gathering a developing fan base due to their fun live performances riddled with unique blues rock numbers, they may definitely be popping up on your radar at some stage very soon. I caught up with singer and rhythm guitarist Aaron Salta to chat about touring and all things in the busy lives of The Mud Peas.
3 May 2016
In the lounge room of his mate’s house, Trent Bell grabs the hairbrush and without fear, begins to belt out the Australian National Anthem. While the other kids in the street are singing along to the likes of the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys, this somewhat patriotic experience has since led Bell all over the world to develop his unique singing style. Originally hailing from Werribee, as he sits on his hotel bed in Adelaide while on the promotional tour for his new single Limitless, a smile creeps over Bell’s face as we begin to chat about the journey so far.
3 May 2016
Mayfair Kytes’ Matt Kelly is in fine spirits for someone coming down with the plague (he insists it’s just a bit of a cold, and he’s drowning himself in garlic to combat it, but we at Forte know better). The experimental folk-pop foursome’s debut album, Animus, as we talk is on the verge of being released after a year of planning and production, the record a labour of love. Yet watching the film clip for first single, Sleepyhead, is quite an unsettling experience. Between a stocking-clad head ripe with weird tumours, the shaggy black and white monster lurching around, and the overarching eerie harmonies and guitar lines, it’s an immensely surreal clip.
1 May 2016
An interview with singer/songwriter Kristy Coote is an interesting affair. So engaging and open on one level, yet so mysterious on another. The Newcastle-based singer has recently released her new single ‘Favourite Thing’, from her debut album of the same name, and is about to go out on the road for a national tour.
