We got a bunch of regional bands to pick their top 10 songs of 2016

We asked a few regional bands (who are all worth voting for) to pick their top 10, filled with some regional, many Victorian and national acts.

Vanessa Fernandez on her new sound, being a mum and performing at Sunset Sounds

Melbourne’s own songstress Vanessa Fernandez has had a very busy year, playing gigs all over the place, writing new music and all whilst raising her newborn second child Sam.

Sam Hanson on his live EP launch, new band and discovery of Cards Against Humanity

Forté chat to award winning soloist Sam Hanson, set to introduce his latest EP ‘Contagious’ live with his new band 10 HIGH FLY this month.

James Southwell Band

Playing over 2000 shows since his debut album in 2006, James Southwell has established himself as one of Australia’s leading blues performers. Forté chat with James ahead of his upcoming National Tour.

Suzi Quatro on her return to the stage

When rock legend Suzi Quatro said goodbye to Australian audiences back in early 2015, she thought she was ready to hang up her iconic leather jumpsuit for good – but she was wrong.

British India

Before the four buddies – formerly of St Bede’s College – head overseas for a well-earned break, Melbourne’s British India are preparing to hit the road again for a handful of very special shows. “We just want people to come out and get excited – these shows are going to be like one big party,” says their affable front man Declan Melia.

The Limiñanas

Marie and Lionel Limiñana are the duo taking psychedelic garage pop to the next level. Singing in both English and French, these guys echo the 60’s French pop and the fuzzy darkness of American art rock.

Study Sound at Oxygen College

Oxygen College is all set for a huge 2017 with all of their courses, again, quickly filling to capacity. Oxygen College offers full time courses in Music Performance, Visual Arts, Photography and in Sound Production with the next intake kicking off in February.

Clowns

2016 saw Melbourne hard-core punks Clowns having the last laugh. They have spent the better part of the last two years touring the world on the back of their highly celebrated second LP Bad Blood, playing some of Europe’s biggest festivals and amassing a loyal fan base.

Five regional acts to watch in 2017

Here’s a small look at the acts we’ll be keeping our eye on this year – you should too.

Connecting emerging songmakers to mentors

Connecting Song is the newest music mentorship program for emerging musicians in the Geelong region to further their skills. The project is part of the bi-annual Mountain to Mouth event and was made possible after being successful in receiving a grant of $11,000 from Creative Victoria’s Music Works grant program.

Geelong’s Best Busker Competition

In a bid to find the best street performers of Geelong, the Best Busker Competition was created. Uniting all of those with a taste for the stage, Forté chat to the organiser Steve Thew.

Hollie Smith on her love-hate relationship with music

The soul singer-songwriter from the depths of New Zealand, Hollie Smith has been making music for more than 20 years, and she is still as fresh, melodic and captivating as ever.

The Sugarcanes

If you have ever been to Meredith Music Festival, you will know that the Friday is one of the longest days you will ever experience. After setting up camp by 8am, you are left with a whole eight hours with nothing to do but drink beers and gradually ease into the stress free mindset of the festival. That is until 4pm when the music starts and you head down to the amphitheatre to be greeted by 10,000 happy faces.

New Year’s Eve events to attend to bring in 2017 right

Here are a few ways for you to bring in 2017 around the region.

Hey Mammoth

Female trio Hey Mammoth are the acoustic, folk band boasting edgy harmonies and inspired lyrics. Forté chat with Rosey, Matilda and Cam ahead of the new year!

The Dead Daisies: The American-Australian Supergroup

The Dead Daisies are the very definition of an international band.

The group’s members are scattered across the globe, and though they’re often called an Australian-American rock outfit, the truth is a little more muddied. Past members have lived on almost every continent on Earth, and the band’s current lead singer John Corabi – of Mötley Crüe fame – has called a range of countries home.

Here’s a list of upcoming music festivals you should be attending in Victoria

Below is a list of a few festivals you’ll be sure to find some of our staff attending.

Guest Edit: Big Words

Big Words are the Melbourne based four piece creating their own style of a hip hop influenced hybrid of soul and RNB, combined with an uncommon collaboration of genres making these guys one of a kind. Ahead of their upcoming gig at Beyond The Valley, the guys have Forté their ultimate festival line-ups.

Forté’s Guide to Beyond The Valley

Deck yourself out in the best festival gear, find your tent and start packing the car – Beyond The Valley is back again for round three! Running over the New Year’s weekend, thousands are expected to overtake Lardner Park to check out this musical paradise.

The Australian Institute of Music: Your Pathway into Entertainment Management

Breaking into the music industry is always a challenge. Because of this, and the increasing interest of music as a profession, The Australian Institute of Music introduced their Bachelor of Entertainment Management.

Don Henley: A Day on the Green discuss the music icon

The Eagles stand as one of the greatest American bands of all time, selling more than 150 million records—100 million in the U.S. alone. And Don Henley is one of the men responsible for such an effort, alongside co-founder the late Glenn Frey and members Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and Bernie Leadon.

Hayley from The Jezabels shared with us her votes for the triple j Hottest 100

Hayley from the band shared with us her top 10.

20 bands in regional Vic who killed it this year

In no particular order, here are our picks for 20 regional acts kickin’ it in 2016.

 

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