Month of music to restore local live music scene

AUSTRALIA’S biggest names in music are on their way to Geelong and the Bellarine for a month-long live music bonanza.

Surround Sounds will hit the region from April 7 until May 8 as the local live music scene returns to life after a tumultuous two years.

Paul Kelly, The Rubens, Kasey Chambers and Busby Marou, Children Collide, Hard-Ons and Human Nature are among the acts set to perform at the region’s most popular music venues.

Mt Duneed Estate will host a packed Easter Saturday line-up for a special edition of A Day on the Green, with modern Aussie favourites Lime Cordiale, Thelma Plum, Client Liaison and The Vanns on the festival ticket.

Other acts lined up during the month include Nina Ferro and her Jazz Ensemble, Ajak Kwai and Gordon Koang, Bones and Jones, Fenn Wilson, Pollyman, Sirens, INXS tribute band INXSIVE and the Geelong Symphony Orchestra.

Favourite venues at Geelong’s foreshore, CBD and suburbs, plus Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Drysdale and Portarlington will all play host to Surround Sounds events.

In a region first, the Melbourne Music Bus Tours will rebrand itself for Geelong as part of the festival to provide immersive local tours of musical hotspots.

Meanwhile, the City of Greater Geelong has hinted at even more to come, with Surround Sounds’ full program set to be announced on March 1.

“The acts revealed today are amazing, with more to come when the full line-up is announced at the start of March,” COGG acting mayor Trent Sullivan said.

“This will be a sensational month-long celebration of music and the many iconic live music venues in Geelong and across the Bellarine. We can’t wait.”

Councillor Eddy Kontelj, who chairs the City’s arts, entertainment and hospitality portfolio, said the event would help revitalise Geelong’s live event industry.

“The council and our arts and culture team have been working hard to rejuvenate an industry so badly impacted over the past couple of years, and the arts, live entertainment and hospitality portfolio has been such a valuable vehicle to assist us with this,” Cr Kontelj said.

“Surround Sounds is another exciting and tangible example of this. As well as offering fantastic entertainment for visitors and locals, we hope it will help bring the vibrant atmosphere back to our hospitality sector and provide a lift for the local economy.

“The live acts and performers are top class and there is sure to be something to satisfy everyone’s taste in music. With our venues ready and welcoming, this is another step toward Geelong becoming the live entertainment hub of Australia.”