Full Surround Sounds lineup revealed

The month-long Surround Sounds program of live music has been plugged in and turned up to 11.

Released in full last week, the program features some of Australia’s biggest names and freshest faces in rock, pop, indie, doom, metal, jazz, classical, jazz and hip-hop.

It also celebrates Geelong and the Bellarine’s live contemporary music scene and cultural heritage, and will take place from April 7 to May 8 in venues and cultural spaces across the region.

The lineup includes Aussie favourites Crowded House, music icon Paul Kelly, world-renowned band The Rubens, country-music stars Kasey Chambers and Busby Marou, Geelong local Adalita from Magic Dirt, indie band Children Collide, veteran rockers the Hard-Ons, and beloved vocal quartet Human Nature perform in some of the best-known venues.

Other highlights include:

• Nina Ferro & her Jazz Ensemble performing the Songs of Ella Fitzgerald
• A presentation from Music in Exile with performances from Ajak Kwai, Asecuma Beats and Gordon Koang
• A Bonsai Records showcase featuring Bones & Jones, Fenn Wilson, Pollyman and Sirens
• Album launches from Plaster of Paris, Baraka the Kid and doom bands Dr Colossus and Oceanlord, and
• A First Nations celebration at Johnstone Park including Fred Leone, Bumpy, Deans of Soul and Loud & Deadly.

Adalita will lead busloads of music fans around the region in the Geelong Music Bus Tours alongside fellow local musician Mick Thomas (Weddings, Parties, Anything).

“Geelong is a part of my musical beating heart,” she said.

“This is where I started as a musician, from the grungy corners and sticky carpet venues in the nineties, through to its glorious fresh sounding halls and studios, this is one of the most important centres of Australian music.

“So much music was formed here, and Geelong has a musical culture that covers many genres from rock to jazz, punk to classical.

“So excited to be part of Surround Sounds which brings all this musical culture and history together. Rock on, Geelong!’’

The music landscape of Geelong and the Bellarine will be explored across a curated series of deep-dive conversations with musicians including Eliza Hull in a special showcase of deaf and disabled artists, cross-art form installations, and live projections.

City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan welcomed the huge line-up of beloved artists and musicians who will be the next big thing, that’s set to delight every music aficionado.

“Greater Geelong has a long and proud history of both producing talented musicians and having a strong reputation as being a live music hub,” he said.
Surround Sounds Geelong and the Bellarine is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

For further information, the full program and ticket information, head to the Surround Sounds Geelong website.