As the return to regular live music programming continues to simmer away post the lockdown misery of last year, a host of new events are popping up all the time.
The latest to be added to the events calendar is the inaugural Almost Summer, a multiple day celebration of live music set to land in the heart of Bendigo at the end of November.Almost Summer will bring a cornucopia of talent to an outdoor stage next to the historic Capital Theatre. Catch Black Cab, Bananagun, Gabriella Cohen, Geoffrey O'Connor, Pookie, Phoebe Go, Cool Sounds, Greatest Hits, Sunfruits, Freeds, Suzi, and Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung singer-songwriter Carissa Nyalu, plus locals Nadia Phillips, Flora and Aplegate with DJs Joey Lightbulb and DJ Friday.
Melbourne's energy efficient music power source Mikey Cahill will be MCing on Friday night and Triple J producer and presenter Pip Rasmussen, who makes everyone feel like they're her friend, will be MCing on Saturday and Sunday.
"Curating Almost Summer Music Festival has been a dream come true," Creative Director of Hear Them Holler, the independent agency behind Almost Summer, Lior Albeck-Ripka says.
"We're getting to put on a festival that we want to go to! We're beyond excited to have booked Kardajala Kirridarra – a band I've personally fawned over and who haven't played in Victoria for over four years.
"Whilst we're all experiencing one of the coldest winters ever in Victoria, we are busy planning this super fun all inclusive festival of great music and food.
"We want the experience to be easy, relaxed and fun, and we're thinking of all the things audiences will want so we have them on the ground ready to go."
Almost Summer is part of ALWAYS LIVE, the new state-wide celebration of contemporary live music supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria. Think squelchy pop-disco, wistful folk, edgy hip hop, new-school R&B, alt. country and an unmissable performance from all-female First Nations act from the Red Centre, Kardajala Kirridarra – the first since their Naarm show in 2018.
Across three days, on one stage outside the iconic Capital Theatre, Bendigo's local talent will combine with burgeoning and established Australian acts ready to throw off their cumbersome North Face jackets to embrace the sunshine.
Genres are out the window, with a carefully curated playlist including 16 bands and DJs that will tick boxes for every music lover.
Adding to that there'll be locally sourced liquid refreshments and food available, as well as summer fruits and creamy cool ice-creams and icy-poles on offer to keep your dance energy levels at optimum.
If you're looking to add to your vinyl collection and support the artists on the bill, Bendigo Vinyl will host a pop-up record store throughout the event.
@almostsummermusic We went to Bendigo to talk to locals about Almost Summer music festival and this is what they said !!! @ALWAYS LIVE @Hear Them Holler @Freeds @gabriellaacohen @suzi sings @Friday @CONCRETE PLAYGROUND ♬ original sound - almostsummermusic
The event is remaining a 'bit boutiquey' with a cap of 500 tickets per day – this ain't no massive field situation. Enticing, accessible and cool in the shade, it's Almost Summer. Tickets are available.
Almost Summer takes palace at Capital Theatre (Bendigo) 25-27 November.
Almost Summer 2022 Line-up
Kardajala KirridarraBlack Cab
Bananagun
Gabriella Cohen
Geoffrey O'Connor
Pookie
Phoebe Go
Cool Sounds
Greatest Hits
Sunfruits
Freeds
Suzi
Carissa Nyalu
Nadia Phillips
Flora
Aplegate
Joey Lightbulb
DJ Friday
Hosts Mikey Cahill (Friday) & Pip Rasmussen (Sat-Sun)
