Forte - The Magazine

Forte is the leading magazine for music and entertainment in Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Geelong, Surfcoast, and Warrnambool. It is published every two weeks and can be picked up for free at more than 850 locations. You can find it in places like bars, cafes, restaurants, universities, TAFEs, record shops, convenience stores, retail stores, service stations, hair and beauty salons, art galleries, music studios, and many other spots throughout regional Victoria.

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Our unmissable picks at RISING 2025: Melbourne's Winter playground of wild creativity

1 week ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer You may already know Melbourne — its laneways, late-night bars, and gallery haunts — but you don’t know it like this. For a few heady weeks this winter, RISING turns the city inside out, upside down, and pulses with life well beyond the beaten path. Just an hour’s train ride from the familiar, RISING 2025 is calling with a program that’s equal parts art rave, soul excavation, cultural jam session, and cosmic playground.
Wanderer Festival reveals Missy Higgins, The Living End, Magic Dirt among dazzling lineup

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer The beloved biennial celebration of music, arts and coastal magic has unveiled a massive list of Aussie and international icons for 2025. Dust off your dancing shoes and start prepping your road trip playlist because Wanderer Festival is back, baby. Set to take over the NSW Sapphire Coast in October, this beachside fest is boasting a huge lineup, check it out below.
This hidden festival will transform Ocean Grove alleys into a luminous dreamscape

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by Frankie Anderson-Byrne A quiet alleyway in Ocean Grove’s industrial estate is about to become one of the most unexpected cultural hotspots on the coast. Grove Illuminated, a boutique after-dark festival of light, music and art, will ignite the night this June, transforming a tucked-away laneway in Ocean Grove into a glowing, immersive celebration of creativity, community and nature.
My Pet Rhino: Prog rock rhythms and catchy melodies on debut album Arrows

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by Billy August Arrows is the debut album from Sydney prog rock project My Pet Rhino – the brainchild of songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Maratheftis. Maratheftis has spent the better part of two decades lending his considerable guitar playing chops to a string of covers and originals bands, including Twinkling Stars and Mckenzie & Jon. But My Pet Rhino marks his first major statement as a songwriter and bandleader.
Surf rock trio favourites The Grogans return to heavier roots on electric fifth album

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by Frankie Anderson-Byrne A jagged, genre-hopping collection that showcases the trio’s signature blend of surf, psych, garage and grit - Stagger arrives today. Described by the band as a “patchwork of different sounds”, Stagger leans into the unexpected. Rather than sticking to one sonic lane, the album shifts, bends and swerves — each track revealing a new facet of The Grogans’ musical DNA.
Karnivool return with purpose, power, and a national tour

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer After five months of studio seclusion in their hometown of Perth, Australian progressive rock heavyweights Karnivool are emerging from the creative shadows — and they’re bringing something new to the surface.
There’s a massive, free underground concert happening in the Metro Tunnel

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer First Nations powerhouse label Bad Apples Music will take over the Metro Tunnel's Anzac Station for a free concert as part of RISING festival's closing celebrations. Track Work – Music From The Underground will transform the yet-to-be-opened Metro Tunnel station into a subterranean performance space for a one-day-only event.
Off Peak, On Point: Why now’s the best time to explore Geelong and The Bellarine

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer From vineyard-dotted hillsides to soul-soothing spas and galleries buzzing with bold creativity, the so called “off peak” season brings a different kind of energy. One that’s spacious, seasonal, and unmistakably special. Whether you’re a local ticking off long-promised plans or a visitor seeking something with a little edge and elegance, minus the summer queues, now is the moment.
Geelong’s Angus Robb returns with magnetic solo debut - Forte Magazine

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by Frankie Anderson-Byrne Geelong’s own Angus Robb is stepping back into the spotlight with his new self-titled project, as a solo artist with a story to tell and a voice that's more powerful than ever.
Geelong printmaker launches emotional exhibition best viewed from the footpath

2 weeks ago | fortemag.com.au | Frankie Anderson-Byrne

words by staff writer Geelong-based printmaker Astrid Lempriere will exhibit a new body of work, The Weight of Light in an intimate new collection of linoprints. Exploring the quiet weight of emotion, strength in softness, and the human experience of being both seen and unseen, each hand-carved piece reveals a moment of stillness—often introspective, sometimes joyful, always tender.