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Chicago’s BELLHEAD have just announced one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2025 as ‘Threats’ is now available on CD, Digital Download, and Streaming on all major platforms. The first single and title track “Threats”was previewed a few weeks ago on March 10th via Bandcamp pre-order and is already being critically praised. ‘Threats’ is the first EP of new material since BELLHEAD released ‘Good Intentions’ in 2023.
Longtime fans will be rewarded for their patience and loyalty to the band, while people new to BELLHEAD will be immediately hooked by this release.
Are there songs about Death? Check.
Songs about Revenge? Yep.
Drowning? You know it.
Heartbreak? Got You Covered!
Femme Fatales, Murder, and Sorrow?
Yes!!!
All the familiar elements that fans have come to expect from BELLHEAD are still there, and yet with this release, the duo has grown in their songwriting, implementing refreshing styles and approaches to their storytelling.
Gone is their distinctive Black and White branding, having been replaced by vibrant yellow. The Anachronistic artwork of the previous releases, now issues a harsh warning along with a full color photo. Ivan Russia and Karen Righeimer-Schock let you finally see who exactly is making good on these “Threats”
Engineered by Neil Strauch and mastered by Carl Saff, the EP which will be released via Oppressive Sky Records includes five new songs alongside two remixes. Darkwave’s rising stars Clubdrugs provide a hallucinogenic fueled trip through a Haunted Mansion on the remixed “Heart Shaped Hole”, while Stabbing Westward’s Chris Hall provides additional vocals on the remixed “Bad Taste” that gives it a club filling stomp one does not often associate with BELLHEAD, leaving you with your fists pumping and feet moving.
THREATS! tracklisting:
Threats
Heart Shaped Hole
Shutters + Stutters
No Dead Horses
Double Jeopardy
Bad Taste (Stabbing Westward Remix)
Heart Shaped Hole (Clubdrugs Remix)
Since the release of ‘Good Intentions’ back in 2023, BELLHEAD have grown in popularity thanks in part to their never ending tour schedule and fiery interactive live performances. They have performed over 50 shows from one end of the country to the other, sharing the stage with such legendary acts as Stabbing Westward, Julien-K, Gene Loves Jezebel, Clan Of Xymox, Night Club, and performing at some high profile fests. In support of ‘Threats’, BELLHEAD will be hitting the road once again with Summer tour dates and additional appearances on Festival Stages.
BELLHEAD 2025 TOUR DATES
06/27/25 – Coles’s – Chicago, IL – BELLHEAD (w/ King Sans / Braince / Wet Chain)
07/26/25 – Crucible- Madison WI- Electronic Saviors Vol 7 Live showcase w/Bellhead,Null Device, Sensuous Enemy, Interface
08/08/25 – Lamplighter Lounge – Memphis, TN – BELLHEAD (w/ Ego Likeness)
08/09/25 – Healer – Indianapolis, IN – BELLHEAD (w/ Plague Garden / In A Darkened Room / Grave Love / Final Girl / Broken Nails / Waiting for Meteors / Twice Dark)
08/10/25 – Livewire – Chicago, IL – BELLHEAD (w/ In a Darkened Room)
09/11/25 – Burlington Bar – Chicago, IL – BELLHEAD (w/ Feyleux)
09/12/25 – Turnstiles – Grand Rapids, MI – BELLHEAD (w/ Feyleux)
09/13/25 – Historic Masonic Temple – Bay City, MI – BELLHEAD (w/ Feyleux)
More dates to be announced
’Threats’ can be ordered here :
https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/album/threats
‘Threats’ can be found on Spotify here:
Threats – Album by Bellhead | Spotify
Band Links:
https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bellheadband/
https://www.instagram.com/bellheadband/
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kG1HBhqba49nSNiN92pVg
Mailing list sign up:
*All photos by Fleurette Estes Photography
Saturday, June 21 – Lo’99
Saturday, June 28 – Wongo
Saturday, July 5 – PARIS (4-hour set)
Friday, July 11 – Pola & Bryson (UK)
Saturday, July 12 – MOTEZ
Friday, July 18 – Osmosis Jones b2b Prizefight (3-hour set)
Saturday, July 19 – Tiff Cornish + Lowdown
Sunday, July 20 – Garden Party ft. Aphrodite (UK)
Friday, July 25 – Flowidus (NZ) + Freaks & Geeks (UK)
Saturday, July 26 – Midnight Dance Party + Liam V
Saturday, August 2 – POOLCLVB
Saturday, August 16 – Airwolf Paradise
Saturday, August 30 – Shake Daddy
SINGLE TAKEN FROM FORTHCOMING NEW ALBUM THE BALLAD OF MONTE LOCO
DUE OUT FRIDAY JUNE 27 – PRESAVE NOW
TOURING NATIONALLY AUGUST – OCTOBER FOR THE ‘THE BALLAD OF MONTE LOCO’ TOUR
An upbeat coalescence of dub, Spaghetti Western hues and revolution, today ARIA Award-winning ska collective Melbourne Ska Orchestra unveil a brand new track Bom Bom Bom; a charismatic sonic powder keg that also accompanies a music video and the announcement of a new forthcoming Melbourne Ska Orchestra album, with The Ballad Of Monte Loco set for release on Friday June 27. And with a huge global tour set to span Australia, Japan and Canada from July to October 2025, the arrival of The Ballad Of Monte Loco kicks open the doors to a thrilling new MSO musical saga ahead of a huge run of shows.
Opening with the whirring sound of a film projector and hypnotic hooks, Bom Bom Bom swings into a track punctuated by tremolo guitar picking, dub beats and smoky soundscapes, perfectly setting the scene both for a dusky desert caper as well as a call to action, with Bom Bom Bom’s lyrics soaked in powerful protest as Melbourne Ska Orchestra leader Nicky Bomba elaborates, “Bom Bom Bom is a rally cry wrapped in rhythm. It’s about waking up, standing up, and remembering that the power belongs to the people. There’s a fire underneath it all—a deep frustration with systems that divide and distract—but also a joy in coming together to shake the walls with music. It’s protest through party. It’s a revolution… with a horn section.”
“There’s definitely a nod to The Skatalites and Toots,” adds Bomba, “but also the storytelling vibe of Gil Scott-Heron, the space-dub of Lee Scratch Perry, and that Spaghetti Western cinematic scope—Morricone still guiding us like a desert prophet. We utilise a few different languages too, Sally Ford bringing the Texacali spirit to the MSO sound.”
Produced by Nicky Bomba and the MSO crew, Bom Bom Bom was recorded in-house with a tapestry of sound design courtesy of award-winning composer Wally Maloney. And with soundscapes spanning the full gamut of the cinematic West including church bells, whips, horses and whistles (also extending to the broader The Ballad Of Monte Loco album), it’s fitting that the accompanying music video for Bom Bom Bom embraces a spirit befitting the silver screen, with the clip once again bringing on board a long-time MSO collaborator to bring the Western vibes to visual fruition. “We wanted to capture some of the cinematic energy of Sergio Leone classics like The Fistful Trilogy and merge it with some of the wilder, more surreal visions of the West,” shares Bomba. “We love the craziness of films by Alejandro Jodorowsky, so we hoped to bottle a bit of that energy as well. We figured a good tribute to these cinematic ideas would be a trailer to our fictional Western film The Ballad Of Monte Loco. We worked with long-time collaborator and friend Clayton Jacobson—he’s got the eye for mixing real grit with cinematic magic. He’s done some of our most popular music videos and he just gets it.”
Along with Bom Bom Bom, Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s most recent singles Walls of Jericho and John Wayne have steadily painted a picture of what lies at the heart of the group’s upcoming new album, The Ballad Of Monte Loco; a tantalising combo of Western badlands smoulder fused with reggae, horns and beyond across its 13 tracks. Opening with a haunting church bell, galloping percussion and ghostly melodies, The Brave, The Mean and the Wild Ones perfectly sets the scene, detailing “how the West was won” merged with perky saxophone solos, genuine horse gallops, sweeping horns and honky tonk piano. From here, The Ballad Of Monte Loco continuously feels like a full body immersion into a celluloid fever dream, with hazy dub swoon (No Doubt About It and Read Between The Lines), prowling Western soundscapes, Latin piano lines and sprinkling percussion (Pay No Mind), mesmerising grooves set against sparkling horns and commanding urgency that transcends language and time (No Me Mientas), as well as a whispered and haunting interlude (Fortune Teller). The second half of The Ballad of Monte Loco then immediately journeys between upbeat cinematic storytelling (John Wayne), jubilant positivity (Spring In My Step), funked-up jaunt (When Bootsy Came To Town), and a powerful call to arms coated with modern panache and vintage saloon vibes (Realidad). And while the entirety of The Ballad Of Monte Loco is equally eclectic yet cohesive, closing track One Thing ends on a commanding note, deftly balancing its languid vocals, cloudy arrangements and bewitching harmonies with a sturdy closing message to persevere against the odds.
“This album was born in a time of uncertainty, but also one of reflection and fire,” says Bomba of the upcoming album. “The Ballad of Monte Loco is our imagined Western world, where rhythm is resistance, and people rise together through music. It touches on revolution, false prophets, joy as rebellion, and the power of truth when it’s sung loud. We wanted it to feel like both a warning and a celebration.”
One of Australia’s most commanding collectives, Melbourne Ska Orchestra amalgamate some of the country’s finest musicians and performers, helmed with formidable dexterity by Nicky Bomba (John Butler Trio, Bomba, Bustamento). Forming in the early 2000s, MSO are an energy-infested orchestra with a difference, with the group comprising up to 26 members spanning vocals, horns, keys, percussion, woodwind and more. Releasing their self-titled debut album in 2013, MSO would earn the first of many ARIA Award nominations, ultimately going on to take out Best World Music Album in 2016 for their second full-length, Sierra Kilo Alpha, as well as Best World Music Album in 2019 for their multi album box set One Year of Ska. And proving their relentless work-ethic alongside their world-class skillset, One Year of Ska also found Melbourne Ska Orchestra releasing a song every week for an entire year.
Over the years Melbourne Ska Orchestra have ticked off multiple sold out shows on home soil, dozens of major festival appearances, twelve international tours, and a sea of awards and nominations. But it’s not just the group’s prolific output that has found them so hotly in demand worldwide, with MSO’s explosive live performance and genre-defying genius generating acclaim and huge nods of approval from reggae and ska legends including Stranger Cole, Owen Grab, Carlos Malcolm, Ranking Roger and Neville Staples.
In 2025, Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s world domination continues, both via the upcoming release of The Ballad Of Monte Loco as well as an upcoming huge global tour that will see them travel through Australia, Japan and Canada throughout July, August, September and October 2025. And whetting the appetite with today’s new single, dropping Bom Bom Bom ahead of the release of The Ballad Of Monte Loco later this month, there are truly some unforgettable moments still to come, as Nicky Bomba concludes, “We’re buzzin’! There’s nothing like the full MSO experience live—up to 20 of us on stage, blasting brass, thundering percussion, and skankin’ til the roof lifts. It’s not just a gig—it’s a full-blown brass opera with boots, sweat, and soul. We’re bringing the world of Monte Loco to life in every town we hit.
“This isn’t background music. This is a dancefloor sermon. A brass-laced vision quest. A reminder that when we gather in rhythm, walls fall and hearts rise. Bom Bom Bom is just the beginning. Monte Loco awaits…”
Bom Bom Bom is out now
The Ballad Of Monte Loco is due out Friday June 27.
Tickets for Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s ‘The Ballad Of Monte Loco’ Tour are on sale now from www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/.
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA – THE BALLAD OF MONTE LOCO AUSTRALIAN SHOWS
Tickets available from http://www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/
FRI 01 AUG | LIBERTY HALL, SYDNEY
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 02 AUG | UC HUB, CANBERRA
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 09 AUG | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS
Tickets available from Ticketlink.com
FRI 29 AUG | THE WOOL EXCHANGE, GEELONG
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 30 AUG | THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 05 SEP | ALTAR BAR, HOBART
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 12 SEP | THE GOV, ADELAIDE
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 13 SEP | PORT BEACH BREWERY, FREMANTLE
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 19 SEP | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 20 SEP | MIAMI MARKETTA, GOLD COAST
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 03 OCT | 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Photography: Cyril Asuncion
Timescape is a bold new UK woodland weekender that will run from July 18th to 20th at Abbots Ripton Estate, Cambridgeshire. Centered around Trance, House, and affordability, this new addition to the UK’s summer festival circuit takes over the former Secret Garden Party site. It offers a diverse electronic lineup that blends iconic names with rising talent, creating a fresh, accessible experience for clubbers.
Founded by a collective of seasoned industry professionals and presented in collaboration with leading international brand Unkonscious and Peach Club, Timescape promises a high-quality festival experience rooted in connection, nature, and community. The event highlights that great and impactful production and lineups shouldn’t come at a premium price. The team behind Timescape is primed to deliver a fresh offering to the UK festival landscape. Attendees can expect an intimate and affordable Trance and House gathering that’s dedicated to music lovers and community. Capped at 2,000 people, Timescape will offer a boutique-style alternative to the larger-scale festivals currently dominating the market.
Rick Ford, Festival Organiser comments
“Timescape is about connection through music, nature, and community. We wanted to bring something truly special to the UK, an intimate, outdoor gathering where everyone feels part of the story. It’s all about the people, the music, and the environment, with affordability at its core.
Set amongst the scenic forests and lakes of Huntingdon, one of the UK’s most idyllic regions, the multi-day experience will be shaped by connection, nature, and a diverse soundtrack spanning the spectrum of dance music. Across three days, over 60 DJs and live acts will perform, navigating across Trance, House, and Techno and set to create a unique and immersive experience.
Headliners include iconic Trance names like Lange, Slipmatt, Indecent Noise, Dave Pearce, and Sneijder, alongside UK-exclusive performances from Rinaly Presents Rina Mirai, David Forbes pres, Seebrof, with a back-to-back special featuring Lange & The Space Brothers. Carly Wilford also joins the lineup following from her Tomorrowland debut set.
Weekend camping tickets start at £137.50 including booking fee’s with day tickets from £25 + booking fee, with a limited number of early bird offers available. Timescape is actively aiming to reset the UK festival landscape, becoming one of the most affordable and accessible festivals this summer.
Options for camping, glamping tents and motorhome/caravan pitches provide a range of accommodation choices for festivalgoers. Whether attendees bring their own tent, campervan, or opt for a furnished glamping setup, Timescape offers options to suit all budgets and preferences
Limited Early Bird Tickets
https://timescapefestival.com/
Find Out More & Follow
Photography: Josh Ma – Words: Ken Magno
Ezra Collective light up the Sydney Opera House in a vivid display of pure magical-musical energy, captivating audiences from all walks of life and uniting the mass together through the only language that is understood by all; pure, joyful, upbeat music.
Sydney Opera house is usually home to some of the most extravagant displays of art to grace Sydney, be it contemporary dance or ballet, theatrical displays or musicians looking to utilise the acoustics of the performance space inside the venue. Ezra Collective sought to do something a bit different; the London based afrobeats / jazz quintet came only to tear the roof down, spread their message of joy through music and to stir up the biggest party that Sydney has ever seen.
From the start of their set, the audience knew they were in for one hell of a night. The lights lifted, and the sound of horns could be heard blowing despite the empty stage. As the lights shifted everyone’s focus toward’s the back of the room, saxophonist James Mollison and trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi could be seen leading the set as the rhythm section of the band walked in; bassist TJ Koleoso, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones and the larger-than-life drummer-slash-bandleader Femi Koleoso. As the group united, every member of the audience began to rise and move, as if being led in a hypnotic trance by the pied piper’s of the jazz scene themselves.
The setup of the stage was minimal, having only the instruments, amplifiers and some flashy lights to control the atmosphere of the concert hall, though this was all they needed. Ezra Collective is the type of band that knew how to capture the attention of those around them, whether they’re playing in underground jazz bars or on the streets, the collective is one of those rare generational talents that people are naturally drawn to, no matter what background.
Throughout the night (and much to my own amazement, constantly commenting “Can’t believe I’m seeing this happen inside the Opera House”), the band members would make their way into the audience, causing mass hysteria from the audience to start up dance circles and start jumping around as if no unspoken ‘no moshing inside the opera house’ rule didn’t exist. The night was carried by nothing but the music, not a single word was spoken outside of the usual “How we feeling Sydney” that was belted out by the band members throughout the night and by the rhythmic screams from the audience. Their title from their hit 2024 release “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” plastered on the backs of many audience goers was a slogan that came to life, as even the most resilient of members were soon tapping their feet.
Ezra Collective at the Sydney Opera House was one of those nights that you walk away from thinking “what did I just witness” – the infectious energy carrying out as the crowd spilled into the street with a more syncopated rhythm in their step, while some (such as myself) spent the few moments after the show catching their breath in the freezing Sydney winter. The only way to summarise the feeling of the night is to go back to their best hits album title – “EZ to the World”.
Bakers Eddy have released their eagerly anticipated new EP I’m Doing Better, out now via ADA.
Featuring triple j backed singles ‘Manners Street’ and ‘Dust On My Brain’, tongue-in-cheek extraterrestrial fan track ‘UFO’, and three brand new songs ‘Caroline’, ‘How Do I Know’ and new focus track ‘Hopeless Dreams’, I’m Doing Better is Bakers Eddy at their most exciting, and their most honest.
Alongside the EP release, the band are excited to announce a national run in August and September, with metropolitan and regional dates throughout QLD, NSW, SA, and VIC.
Talking about the record, frontman Ciarann Babbington shares:
“It’s a step in a new direction for us, and I think it will feel like a breath of fresh air for anyone who has been a fan for the last few years. We’re wearing our early emo/pop punk influences on our sleeve more than we’ve ever done, and we’re speaking about things that really matter to us. We’re letting people in on our experiences growing up together, and at times we’re being more vulnerable than we’ve ever been before. But it’s high energy at all times, which has become a staple of this band and something I don’t think will ever go away.”
The EP’s focus track ‘Hopeless Dreams’ is one such example of this vulnerability, touching on
“that feeling of fear that you might succumb to life when things get difficult, and wind up giving up on your dreams when things feel too hard,” Ciarann reveals. “This is something I was going through before writing this song. I was doing a lot of thinking and noticing patterns of getting in my own way sometimes. Putting this down on paper helped make me more aware of these things which I think is a good thing, to be honest and vulnerable and try to not make the same mistakes.”
Self-produced alongside Vincent McIntyre (Fan Girl / Mr Industry / Elizabeth M. Drummond),
Mixed by Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend / The Strokes / Weezer),
Mastered by Emily Lazar (Foo Fighters / Coldplay / Sia),
I’m Doing Better combines elements of alt rock, pop, and 2000s garage, glued together by energetic pop punk-influenced melodies.
The EP is the Naarm-based, Aotearoa-raised band’s first record since their acclaimed 2022 debut album Love Boredom Bicycles (Ivy League), with lead single ‘Manners Street’ reigniting their momentum in March this year. ‘Manners Street’, a love letter to the band’s beloved Aotearoa hometown of Wellington, saw the band back in fine form, with an add to full rotation on triple j after a first play on the station’s Home & Hosed program.
Second single ‘Dust On My Brain’ debuted on triple j’s Drive program and swiftly found itself to be a fan-favourite, with the crowd singing every word back to them at their launch show just days after release. Both tracks landed coverage from Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Music Feeds, The Music, Happy Mag, Tone Deaf and more – plus playlisting support from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
Earlier this year, Bakers Eddy embarked on a successful month-long stint overseas, writing and performing in the USA including appearances at SXSW in Austin, and New York’s New Colossus Festival.
Led by charismatic Ngāti Porou / Ngāti Tuwharetoa frontman Ciarann Babbington, and rounded out by childhood friends Jamie Gordon (drums) and twin brothers Ian (bass) and Alex Spagnolo (guitar), Bakers Eddy have spent the last couple of years moving between extensive touring schedules, identity-shaping writing sessions, and meaningful conversations. The band have supported the likes of Maggie Lindemann, Stand Atlantic, Beddy Rays, WAAX, and Grandson, and their compelling and undeniably electric live shows have seen them win over audiences wherever they go.
BAKERS EDDY
I’M DOING BETTER EP TOUR
Friday 8th August – The Austral – Adelaide, SA
Friday 15th August – Buddys Bar – Sydney, NSW
Saturday 16th August – 7th Day Brewery – Brookvale, NSW
Thursday 21st August – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse – Gold Coast, QLD
Friday 22nd August – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
Friday 12th September – Shotkickers – Melbourne, VIC
🎟️ For tickets and more information visit www.bakerseddy.com
CONNECT WITH BAKERS EDDY
Linktree | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Globally renowned Australian rockers Ocean Alley are thrilled to announce their fifth studio album, Love Balloon, set for release on September 19 via Community Music. Alongside the news, the six-piece have dropped the record’s infectious title track.
Joyful and uplifting, “Love Balloon” offers a blissful glimpse into the band’s creative direction on their upcoming album – confident, exploratory and full of character. Anchored by an irresistible groove and a shimmering Nile Rodgers-inspired guitar riff, the track threads an unexpected touch of disco flair along its pulsating bassline, marking playful new territory for the band. It feels effortlessly spontaneous, echoing the carefree energy of previous singles “Tangerine” and “Left Of The Dealer”. It’s charming, lighthearted, and above all, fun.
Working with legendary producer Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Powderfinger, Rage Against The Machine) for the first time, the band embraced a stripped-back, more emotionally resonant approach to Love Balloon. Across 10 tracks, they take listeners on a journey through life and love in all its complexity, underscored by moments of light, vulnerability and connection. There are moments that feel expansive and hopeful, and others that are more introspective and raw. It’s not ignorant of our inner worlds or the world outside – it offers an escape from it.
On the record, keyboardist and vocalist Lach Galbraith explained, “The album explores the many layered dimensions of love – not just the cinematic kind where you’re falling head over heels, but the full spectrum: joy, hurt, discomfort and disappointment. Let’s call it the river of love – whether it’s with a partner, a friend, or family, you never know when it’ll get deep, go shallow, or suddenly change course. It’s such a force that you have to just surrender to its current.”
With a reputation for their magnetic live performances, and a catalogue that’s now surpassed 1 billion streams, Ocean Alley have a huge run of international dates to come throughout 2025. They are making appearances at iconic festivals including Lollapalooza, Sziget and Austin City Limits, alongside shows at LA’s Hollywood Palladium and Brooklyn Paramount in New York. The group will make their first trip to Latin America with shows in Mexico, Brasil and Chile, before taking on their largest headline show to date, anywhere in the world – at London’s iconic 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace in September.
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MELT 2025
IS COMING IN
FIRST PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT REVEALED!
22 OCT – 9 NOV
ON SALE FROM 10AM TODAY!
Following a record-breaking, traffic-stopping, absolutely joyous festival in 2024, Melt Festival returns in 2025 to crank the fabulous factor up to eleven.
From Swarovski-studded cabaret icons to river flotillas, sweaty dance floors and hilariously gay PowerPoint nights, Brisbane’s annual festival of Queer arts and culture promises to be a city-wide celebration of internationally acclaimed artists, homegrown icons, sexy premieres and boundary-pushing brilliance. Here’s just a taste of what’s in store for Melt’s 2025 edition!
Get ready for the cultural climax of the year as fearless, sharp-witted and fabulous cabaret superstar, Reuben Kaye, unleashes the Queensland premiere of enGORGEd for Melt Festival 2025 at QPAC. Featuring Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and musical direction by Shanon D Whitelock, this is Kaye’s most lavish, loud and liberated show yet.
Making its Melt debut, Ben Graetz’s (aka Miss Ellaneous) Miss First Nation drag pageant will catwalk into Brisbane, celebrating Blak excellence, creativity and culture with the most glamourous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander queens in the country. After state heats around the country, the grand finale will take centre stage at Melt, where the nation’s fiercest will battle it out for the crown. Expect jaw-dropping performances, powerful storytelling and cultural pride.
What does it mean to be “Australian” in 2025? New musical The Lucky Country tackles that question with wit, warmth and a touch of musical rebellion. Directed by Sonya Suares with music and lyrics by Vidya Makan, this genre-defying work confronts Australia’s cultural contradictions with honesty, heart and a rocking score. Get ready for a sharply observed, joyously unapologetic production that leaves no myth unexamined.
River Pride Parade returns, bringing a flotilla of fabulousness down the Brisbane River/Maiwar, from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse. Got a boat? Register your interest to join the fleet HERE. No boat? Get ready to SPLASH OUT as Harry K launches a fabulously Queer boat party on Brisbane’s newest entertainment venue OASIS.
Queer PowerPoint is back and it’s gayer, geekier and more gloriously unhinged than ever. Watch a rotating cast of Queer creatives turn boring boardroom tools into high-concept hilarity and unexpectedly wild theories. The only rule…they must use the most mundane medium, Microsoft PPT. Topic? Niche. Delivery? Unfiltered. Results? Hysterical. Think you’ve got something to share? Apply to present HERE.
Iconic star of stage and screen Bernadette Peters returns for her first Australian performance in over a decade and a major cultural moment for theatre and music lovers alike! An Evening with Bernadette Peters will hit the Brisbane Convention Centre on Friday 24 October. Expect a glorious night of songs and stories from Peters’ incredible career, accompanied by Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. Get your tickets HERE.
Last year Melt called on Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community and allies to get nude and 5500 people answered that call for Spencer Tunick’s monumental installation on the Story Bridge. This year Melt is asking you to get vocal! Round out your Melt experience with 1000 Voices, a major choral event uniting queer and ally choirs and solo singers in one monumental moment of song, spirit and solidarity – a love letter to community, courage and collective harmony. Goosebumps guaranteed.
Melt 2025 continues to push the envelope, bringing together explosive nightlife, emotionally resonant theatre and thought-provoking visual art. Hole-Mania 2.0 promises an unhinged, high-energy Queer wrestle-party at The Tivoli, hosted by Queer dance party icon Shandy and drag menace Gogo Bumhole. Meanwhile, horror meets high drag in Scream Queen at the Princess Theatre, a blood-curdling drag spectacular starring a killer lineup of global drag royalty including Naomi Smalls, Yvie Oddly, and Drag Race UK winner Kyran Thrax.
In theatre, the program cuts deep with works that reckon with identity, belonging and colonisation. Jordan Shea’s award-winning Malacañang Made Us at Queensland Theatre explores the Filipino-Australian diaspora with epic scale and emotional grit. Whitefella Yella Tree at La Boite Theatre is a luminous love story between two Aboriginal boys on the brink of invasion, a poetic and heartbreaking reflection on land and first love, while Gerwyn Davies new work Shimmer brings stunning, identity-focused photographic portraits to the Museum of Brisbane, made in collaboration with trans and gender-diverse young people at Open Doors Youth Service.
Other program highlights include the return of Micah Rustichelli’s Demon Rhythm, which challenges the value of image consumption through a massive work of painting and repurposed Instagram imagery from the app’s explore page, SEXY GAY ART at VENTspace, a saucy, subversive showcase of Queer desire in all its forms and Femme Follies Burlesque, a sapphic spin on classic cabaret that brings fierce femme energy and glamorous grit to The Wickham. Rounding out Melt’s first program announcement for 2025 is Still Lives: Brisbane by Luke George and Daniel Kok, a roped-up homage to the city’s punk past, suspending instruments (and performers) in a haunting reanimation of Brisbane’s radical roots.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation, Andrew Powell said: “After a phenomenal debut, Melt returns in 2025 as one of Queensland’s most dynamic and inclusive celebrations of arts and culture. Now in its second year, the festival continues to spotlight the creativity, pride, and diversity of our LGBTQIA+ communities, while drawing visitors from across Australia and beyond.
“The Queensland Government is proud to support Melt through Tourism and Events Queensland, recognising its growing impact as a cultural and tourism highlight on our calendar”.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane is ready to welcome visitors from all over Australia to this unique and beloved celebration.
“Melt is an amazing celebration of our LGBTQIA-plus community, creating so much to do in our vibrant arts and cultural scene,” Cr Schrinner said.
“There’s no better place to have such an iconic festival, with our river, cultural precinct and Brisbane Powerhouse set to stage a program full of world-renowned acts, international artists and local talent.
“Melt is set to attract thousands of residents and visitors, and it offers a fantastic boost to our economy as everyone enjoy our bars, restaurants and hotels”.
And honey, this is just the beginning! Full program coming soon…
MELT 2025
Brisbane/Magandjin: 22 October – 9 November
TICKETS ON SALE FROM 10AM TODAY!
For more information, please visit:
melt.org.au
The program’s first announced events include:
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Reuben Kaye – engorged |
Sexy Gay Art (Art) |
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Femme Follies (Burlesque) |
Splash Out (boat party) |
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Gerwyn Davies (photographic portraits) |
The Lucky Country (theatre) |
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Hole-Mania 2.0 (Queer wrestle-party) |
Whitefella Yella Tree (theatre) |
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Malacanang Made Us (theatre) |
Bernadette Peters (already announced) |
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Miss First Nation (drag pageant) |
1000 Voices (already announced) |
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Queer PowerPoint (event) Scream Queen (drag) |
River Pride Parade (already announced) |
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An Immersive Winter Experience Set to Open in Melbourne
Tickets on sale now through Megatix
Melbourne’s iconic Riviera Beach Club in partnership with Happen Group has today unveiled plans for a brand-new immersive Winter Wonderland experience launching in time for the school holidays.
The Riviera Winter Wonderland will see the Elwood venue transform into the ultimate winter experience every day from 01June 2025 through to 03 August 2025.
The family-friendly experience will offer a variety of daytime entertainment including the custom-made ice-skating rink complete with real ice, snow blizzards and skate aids! Private Igloos including catering packages that are ideal for children’s birthday parties, a market area offering festival snacks, popcorn, fairy floss, snow cones, face painting and more!
By night, the space will transform into an ‘after-dark’ offering for adults including DJ’s and disco skating, the private igloos will offer premium alcohol packages and catering for 2-6 guests while the market area will serve the winter classics including mulled wine and a selection of cocktails.
Overlooking the breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne’s iconic waterfront restaurant, The Pavilion Restaurant and Bar will offer a front row seat to all the winter wonderland action with their exceptional food and dining experience available to guests.
“We are excited to transform this iconic venue into a winter wonderland experience! We have ensured that we have catered to both families with young children and the adults so that everyone can enjoy this event by the bay in Melbourne.” Daniel McFadyen – Happen Group
Ticket prices start at $18 with family packages available from $62 at www.megatix.com.au RIVIERA WINTER WONDERLAND
Address – 42B Marine Parade, Elwood VIC 3184
Open from 01 June 2025 – 03 August 2025
4pm-10pm weekdays
10am-10pm weekends
Extended trading hours for school holidays will apply
UK rap phenomenon Central Cee is hitting the road for his first-ever global tour following the highly anticipated release of his debut album. The CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS WORLD TOUR 2025 will bring his electrifying live show to fans across the world.
The Australian leg includes major stops at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, and wraps up at RAC Arena in Perth.
Need accessible seating?
Accessible tickets must be booked through the official ticketing agent’s dedicated hotline or online form.
Photography: Charlyn Cameron
After three years of grit, growth, and deep soul-searching, Katie Brooke unveils her second studio album Relentless – a project that captures her most defining years as a songwriter, a mother, and a woman walking unapologetically in her own boots.
Written entirely by Katie and produced with long-time collaborator Rusty Crook in Tamworth, Relentless blends classic country roots with raw, reflective storytelling. It’s a natural progression from her 2022 debut Sticks, Stones and Stories, but this time, the stories hit even harder.
“I started writing this album three years ago, around the same time I became a mother and my life shifted to a whole new realm,” Katie shares. “In that time, I became the artist I’ve always hoped to be. My songwriting got more honest, more traditional, more me. It’s the most true I’ve ever felt.”
That truth echoes through every track. There’s a maturity to this record – not just in vocal delivery or production, but in the songwriting itself. Each track feels like a journal entry cracked open for the listener.
At the heart of the album lies its bold title track, ‘Relentless’ – written in a storm of frustration and self-reflection. It’s a sonic statement of defiance, channelling burnout into clarity. That same undercurrent of resilience threads its way through ‘Too Far Down’ – a previous single that cracked the CountryTown Hot 50 airplay chart in 2023 – and ‘Ain’t No 9 to 5’, a foot-stomping salute to the work ethic and passion Katie inherited from her family – celebrating sweat, legacy, and the kind of drive that doesn’t clock off when the day ends.
The album also leans into vulnerability with unflinching honesty. ‘A Little Dirt’, which hit #2 on both the Play MPE Country Most Downloaded and Most Streamed charts, is Katie at her most confessional – a bright, melodic reflection on regret and growth. ‘Someone’s Enemy’, explores the slow unravel of friendship, while ‘Higher Ground’ serves as a moving tribute to her hometown and the 2022 Northern Rivers floods that reshaped it forever.
There’s also room for heart in its most nurturing form. ‘You Can Always Come Home’ was written for Katie’s daughter Faith – a love letter to unconditional love and belonging. On the flip side of tenderness is ‘Can’t Fake That’, a whip-smart, playful tribute to country women living the life for real – not for image. With a wink to cowgirl culture and an undeniable swagger, it’s a refreshing burst of confidence and camaraderie.
The cinematic, ‘Haunted or Holy’ is the kind of track that unfolds differently on every listen, while ‘Secondhand Spurs’ is a nostalgic ride through Katie’s early 20s in Tamworth, where dreams, heartbreak, and horse riding collided. “If my 20s had a theme song, this one is it,” she laughs.
The sound of Relentless is unmistakably Katie – timeless, authentic, and beautifully lived-in. Featuring world-class musicians like Jason Roller (Alabama, Grand Ole Opry Band), Rusty Crook, and Bradley Bergen, the album was recorded slowly and intentionally, with Katie traveling five hours each way from her rural NSW home to Tamworth. “That drive became its own ritual,” she recalls. “A time to reflect, dream, and shape this album into something that feels worn in and well loved.”
Raised on a beef cattle property and now raising her own family in the same Northern NSW pocket, Katie has never chased a trend. Her whip-smart lyrics, salt-of-the-earth vocals, and no-nonsense charm have earned her a loyal following. Alongside accolades like winning the Listen Up Music Songwriting Prize (Gold Coast Semi-Final) and sitting on its national judging panel, she’s opened for the likes of The Black Sorrows, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley and Shannon Noll.
Her Relentless album tour will take Katie and her full band across regional and metro Australia – a long-awaited step up for the country artist who’s previously toured solo or acoustically.
Whether she’s riding horseback with a guitar, writing songs while the baby naps, or cracking whips (just like her dad did when he opened the Sydney 2000 Olympics) – Katie Brooke is as real as they come. Relentless effortlessly channels that authenticity and marks a turning point, not just in her career, but in her own story.
“I experienced a major flood, became a first-time mum, faced some tough failures – and still kept pushing forward. This album is about that journey. It’s about becoming.”
It’s not just the sound of a country artist finding her feet – it’s the sound of one finally riding full tilt into who she’s always been.
TOUR DATES:
Friday 16th May – Chattahoochee Joe’s – Brisbane QLD
Saturday 17th May – Mummulgum Hall – Mummulgum NSW
Saturday 31st May – The Hoey Moey Country Music Festival – Coffs Harbour NSW
Sunday 1st June – The Crown Hotel Grafton – Grafton NSW
Sunday 15th June – The Northern Rivers Hotel – Lismore NSW
&FRIENDS Festival is redefining what it means to be a destination music experience in Southeast Asia. On May 30 & 31, 2025, at Okada Manila, global superstars and Asia’s rising artists come together to celebrate music that’s beyond borders.
With Grammy-winning EDM powerhouse Zedd, Billboard-charting producer ILLENIUM, and genre-bending rapper bbno$ already leading the lineup, &FRIENDS Festival has now announced the addition of DJ HYO, the electrifying DJ persona of Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation. Known for her unique fusion of EDM, house, and K-Pop, HYO has carved out her space in the global DJ scene.
Returning to Manila, DJ HYO is set to deliver a performance that amplifies &FRIENDS’ vision of bridging East and West with K-Pop flair and festival energy. Her presence marks a celebration of K-Pop’s global influence and highlights the growing impact of Asian artists in the international festival space.
Joining her are a lineup of Asia’s rising talents: Singapore’s Kiara, Thailand’s BOTCASH, Taiwan’s RayRay, Japan’s KDH, and South Korea’s Jeonghyeon: all bringing their own unique sounds to the stage. They represent a diverse wave of music that makes &FRIENDS one of the most culturally rich festivals to take place in Manila.
Three Stages, Two Days, One Unforgettable Weekend of Music
The festival transforms Okada Manila into a multi-stage experience, where fans can explore everything from high-energy EDM to experimental beats and live vocals across the Cove Stage, the Creator Stage, and the Friendship Stage, each offering its own distinct vibe.
May 30, 2025 (Friday)
- Cove Stage: Zedd headlines alongside HYO, €URO TRA$H, RayRay, Fairlane b2b Siangyoo, Kiara, Hoang, and more.
- Creator Stage: The night turns into a K-Pop Rave presented by HIDDEN NIGHTS, with 2Spade, Hoaprox, and Foxela, and more spinning K-wave hits with an EDM twist.
- Friendship Stage: DJ collectives Restored Bass and EKO&FRIENDS take over for a night of Asian underground music.
May 31, 2025 (Saturday)
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- Cove Stage: ILLENIUM and bbno$ make their Manila debuts, along with Seven Lions, 2Spade, Jeonghyeon b2b KDH, Hoang b2b MVSE, NGHTSHIFT, Caden, Orange Juice Asia, and more.
- Creator Stage: Filipino music is front and center with the OPM Stage led by Ylona Garcia, joined by Amiel Sol, Kiyo, and music-focused collectives like Orange Juice Asia and Planet Workshop, expanding the definition of what OPM can be.
- Friendship Stage: Scene-shaping groups Midnight Rebels and Contrast deliver their signature style, fusing sound and community-driven culture.
2-Day Tickets that include entry to both days, are at Php 8,500 for General Admission and Php 15,000 for VIP.
Solo day tickets start at Php 6,000 for Day 1, with Zedd, €URO TRA$H, Kiara, Fairlane b2b Siangyoo and more EDM acts. Day 2 starts at Php 3,500, headlined by bbno$, ILLENIUM, and Seven Lions.
VVIP Cabanas and Day 1 Music + Expo tickets are officially sold out.
&FRIENDS Festival is powered by LastDrop.
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About &FRIENDS:
&FRIENDS is a lifestyle + events brand by Clout Kitchen that celebrates Gen Z pop culture, the creators leading the charge, and the communities around them. A gateway between East and West, &FRIENDS Festival brings the world’s biggest names to Asia while giving local rising stars a global spotlight.
About Clout Kitchen:
Clout Kitchen is a startup that crafts unique, creator-powered tech and experiences that unlock infinite fun and possibilities for creators and their communities. Headquartered in Los Angeles and Manila, Clout Kitchen is backed by world-class investors like a16z Games and AppWorks. Learn more at cloutkitchen.net.
About LastDrop:
LastDrop is an all-in-one marketing app for music artists and content creators that puts fan outreach, engagement, and social growth on autopilot.