STAR-STUDDED YEAR AHEAD
GEELONG’S growing reputation as a live music hub will again go from strength to strength this year, with big names already booking gigs in our festivals, halls, pubs and bars.
While the city’s growing list of thriving live music venues will continue to attract local and international talent, punters will also get the chance to see some of the world’s most renowned musicians at intimate concerts and festivals throughout the year.
Falls Festival will bookend the year, with US hip hop powerhouse Run the Jewels and DJ Wax Motif ringing in 2018 with the midnight shifts at the Lorne festival last week. The festival is again set to return at the end of 2018 — barring a major upset — bringing yet another all-star line-up of international headliners and local acts.
The always-popular A Day on the Green series will drop by Mt Duneed Estate for at least three gigs in 2018.
Everybody’s favourite back seatsoundtrack singer songwriter, Bryan Adams, will be joined by Daryl Braithwaite and Thirsty Merc on January 12.
Then Pop megastar Robbie Williams will hit the estate for an already soldout show on March 3, with the ‘Almighty Monster Lineup’ coming the following weekend on March 11, headlined by The Living End and Spiderbait.
Torquay will also get a taste of music festival fever this month, hosting the inaugural The Fourth Night festival at Torquay Common on the 25th, headlined by Aussie legends the Cat Empire and Sarah Blasko.
Golden Plains Festival will again rumble its way into the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from March 10 to 12, headlined by world-renowned rapper Big Boi and Melbourne’s own electronic pioneers, The Avalanches.
Those itching for another taste of Australiana won’t have to wait long after the departure of Daryl Braithwaite, with The Voice himself John Farnham being joined by Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, Richard Clapton, 1927 and Taxiride at the Twilight at the Track concert on March 18 — after its original December date was postponed.
Then Then, as if the golden tonsils ton of Mr Farnham weren’t enough, Aussie national treasure Jimmy Barnes will bowl over audiences at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre on April 27.
Aussie legends of a different era, Angus and Julia Stone, also picked out Geelong for a visit on their 2018 national tour, dropping by Costa Hall on April 18.
With many more acts set to announce tours and concerts in Geelong in coming months and throughout 2018, the city’s live music lovers look set to be spoiled for choice next year.