UK rock band Smokie are set to tour Australia later this year in celebration of their 50th anniversary. In Melbourne you’ll be able to catch them at The Palms at Crown from 5-7 October 2025. The “All the Greatest Hits Tour’’ will feature every single hit record they had including Lay Back in the Arms of Someone, Needles and Pins, I’ll Meet You at Midnight, Oh Carol and of course Living Next Door to Alice which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The band is best known for their smooth, radio-friendly sound that dominated the 1970s. Their blend of soft rock, pop, and country…
Author: Melbourning
Australia’s only dedicated First Nations-led film festival, the Birrarangga Film Festival, is back in Naarm (Melbourne) from 13 to 18 March 2025, bigger and bolder than ever. This biennial event, now in its fourth edition, will showcase more than 150 films from Indigenous filmmakers across Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, the United States, Finland, Norway, and beyond, offering a vibrant celebration of global First Nations culture and storytelling. Held across 10 venues, including the Capitol Theatre, ACMI, and Lido Cinemas, the festival will feature Australian premieres, panel discussions, live music, filmmaker masterclasses, and even 360-degree immersive screenings. Many films will…
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio is set to host Batsh*t – a wildly theatrical and deeply personal one-woman show by Leah Shelton. Running from 28 May to 1 June 2025, this award-winning production is a rebellious exploration of female madness, blending dark humour, innovative staging, and raw emotion to tell the story of Shelton’s grandmother, Gwen, who was institutionalised in 1960s Australia for daring to seek independence. Created by Shelton and directed by Olivier Award-winning artist Ursula Martinez, Batsh*t is a requiem for Gwen, who was incarcerated at Perth’s Heathcote Hospital in 1963 and subjected to involuntary drug treatments and electroconvulsive therapy…
A stage adaptation of Alison Lester’s best-selling children’s book Imagine will come to venues across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2025 following a run at the Arts Centre in January. Imagine Live is a 60 minute magical celebration of creativity, friendship and our precious natural world. From the multi award-winning team behind Robot Song, performers play and sing their way through the pages of Alison Lester’s much-loved book Imagine, and quickly discover there is more to these pages than they first thought. IMAGINE LIVE combines live action and animation with digital puppetry in a large-scale, multi-screen performance. Underscored by beautiful original music, oversized…
Experience the sights, sounds, and flavorus of Indonesia right in the heart of Melbourne as the Nongkrong Festival returns from 9-23 February. Inspired by the Indonesian word nongkrong, meaning “hanging out,” this festival is all about coming together, sharing stories, and celebrating the deep cultural ties between Indonesia and Australia. This year’s theme, “Roots and Routes,” explores heritage, identity, and the journeys that connect communities. Across two weeks, the festival will feature everything from interactive workshops and live performances to food markets and late-night club events. Here’s what not to miss: Whether you’re into food, music, or cultural storytelling, Nongkrong Festival 2025 promises an unforgettable celebration…
Local supergroup Australian Rock Collective has announced a new tour, performing Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon in theatres and concert halls across the country this August. Comprised of four living legends in Australian rock music – Kram (Spiderbait), Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Mark Wilson (Jet) and Davey Lane (You Am I) – the Australian Rock Collective brings to the stage the rabid enthusiasm of friends who grew up as diehard music fans combined with the legacy, skills and experience of artists who have directly contributed to it. “The records that informed our musical paths/obsessions/journeys curate our tours for themselves, really,” said Davey Lane. “Pink Floyd’s message and…
Chadstone Shopping Centre – already Australia and the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest shopping centre – is set to unveil a huge expansion in March. The Market Pavilion will open on Thursday 27 March 2025, spanning a massive 26,500 square meters—surpassing the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This eagerly anticipated addition will house over 50 market-leading retailers, offering everything from everyday essentials to gourmet delights, all under one roof. “The design and retail offer in The Market Pavilion combines the best of the modern fresh food marketplaces one visits whilst in Europe with the ambience and much-loved brands that are enthusiastically embraced by Melburnians locally…
This March, Theatre Works is set deliver a bold new take on Anton Chekhov’s timeless classic playThree Sisters. Directed by acclaimed creative Greg Carroll, this ambitious production kicks off the 2025 By Theatre Works season with a 12-strong ensemble of local actors, an immersive set design, and a fresh perspective that promises to breathe new life into the beloved play. First performed in 1901, Three Sisters follows the lives of four siblings—Olga, Masha, Irina, and Andrei—over three and a half years as they navigate love, loss, and longing after their father’s death. While Irina clings to hope, Masha struggles in a loveless…
Get ready to celebrate the power of words, creativity, and community at the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival, running for 10 days of free events and activities in St Albans, Sunshine, Westvale, Sydenham, Keilor and Deer Park from 13-22 March. Kicking off with a bang, opening night features Australian music icon Kate Ceberano in conversation with journalist Paul Bateman. The multi-award-winning artist will delve into her beautifully illustrated memoir, Unsung, a treasure trove of song lyrics, stories, and artworks from her four-decade career. But that’s just the beginning. The festival lineup is packed with literary heavyweights and heartfelt stories. Hear Brimbank…
Love is in the air—and on the menu—at Mary Eats Cake this February. The beloved Melbourne-based patisserie is turning up the romance with a limited-edition Valentine’s Day High Tea, designed to make your heart (and taste buds) swoon. Until Friday 28 February, Mary’s charming Montrose cottage and elegant Brunswick venue will be serving up a love letter to indulgence, complete with specialty white chocolate raspberry scones, a berry bliss cocktail, and chocolate-coated strawberries. For $75 on weekdays or $79 on weekends, guests can revel in a decadent spread featuring four savoury bites, three sweet treats, and unlimited specialty teas. The pièce…
Rugby League powerhouse Melbourne Storm is heading to Casey Fields in Cranbourne East for a pre-season match against the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday 23 February. Storm fans can also watch three curtain raisers before the kick-off, in what will be an epic afternoon of footy. The Storm Under 17s will play at 1:00 pm, followed by the Storm Under 19s at 2:30 pm. Both teams will take on the Manly Sea Eagles. At 4:00 pm, the Storm Female Development Squad will showcase their talent in an intra-club match. City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the event…
Get ready for a vibrant burst of creativity at Frankston’s Street Art Festival from 17 – 23 March. Frankston is shaking things up with a fresh new vision that celebrates its rich urban art culture, bringing together local legends and international talents. With more than 80 stunning murals already on display, the festival will push this number to 100, giving visitors even more art to explore. Whether you’re exploring Frankston’s artwork independently, joining a national award-winning tour, or diving into one of the hands-on workshops or artist talks, there’s something for everyone. The festival culminates in a buzzing Block Party…