Off the back of its wildly successful first edition last year, Maldons infamous Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas returns for an expanded three-day festival from the 4th  to the 6th of August in 2023.

Described as Victorias answer to Dark Mofo, Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas will once again ignite Victorias goldfields with a boundary-pushing program of events, with ghost tours, cemetery tours, themed food experiences, workshops and performances, plus talks on death, goldfields history and the shadowy side of life all of which is sure to surprise, delight, incite and excite you.

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

 

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Having received the tick of approval from Kate Bush herself, Australias 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 Brisbanes 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 theyll take care of the rest.

The best part is you will never be kicked out of Pub Choir for singing terribly, its not that sort of choir! Instead, youll 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. 

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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 its 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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Bendigo Advertiser, By Andrew Brown, April 17 2023

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for the extradition case against Julian Assange to come to an end.

Senator Wong said the legal case and imprisonment of the WikiLeaks co-founder has been going on for too long.

Mr Assange has been imprisoned in the UK for more than four years and faces extradition to the US on espionage charges.

Appeals to stop his extradition are currently before the UK courts.

Speaking at the National Press Club, Senator Wong said the government would continue to press for Mr Assanges release

Last week, almost 50 Australian MPs and senators signed a letter to US Attorney-General Merrick Garland urging him to end the pursuit of the WikiLeaks co-founder.

Advocates have urged for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the issue of Mr Assange during upcoming meetings with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.  https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8161607/assange-imprisonment-has-gone-on-for-too-long-wong/?src=rss

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 groups pub rock roots

Having also just been announced for this years Splendour in the Grass, which will be the bands 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 s...