MUSIC & EVENTS
Set in the heart of Castlemaine, the Theatre Royal is the longest continuously operating theatre on the mainland. Winner of the best Regional Music Venue, five times running, the theatre hosts some amazing local and international artists.
KEANU NELSON & KANKAWA NAGARRA
Hailing from Papunya/Warumpi, NT, Keanu Nelson previews his forthcoming second album alongside producer Yuta Matsumura. Together they road test their evolving, way out “dub country” sound through unreleased songs and cuts from his celebrated debut Wilurarrakutu.
Joining him is Kankawa Nagarra, the 83-year-old Walmatjarri Elder, teacher, activist and blues singer from Wangkatjungka, WA. From cultural songs at ceremonies to hymns, gospel and country, she discovered the blues years later after hearing a busker in Derby. Her album Wirlmarni, recorded with Darren Hanlon in the Kimberley, was awarded the 20th Australian Music Prize. With a follow-up underway, Kankawa will also share new material at the Theatre Royal.
Revive Live – an Australian Government initiative
TELENOVA
Telenova bring their renowned live show on a special run of regional dates this October in support of their sophomore album THE WARNING.
Anchored by lead single THE DEEP — a driving, cinematic statement of intent —THE WARNING expands Telenova’s universe into something more urgent and exposed than ever before. Following their #2 Australian album Time Is A Flower (2025), the new record cements the trio’s evolution.
The distinctive world of Telenova — shadowy, sample-driven songs laced with trip-hop and electronica influences — is the creation of Filipino-Australian vocalist, songwriter and filmmaker Angeline Armstrong, alongside multi-instrumentalists Edward Quinn and Joshua Moriarty.
THE RUBENS
The Rubens are heading back on the road for their sixth studio album, Group Therapy.
It’s the sound of a band going full circle. After experimenting with synths and autotune on 2024’s SODA, Group Therapy sees The Rubens return to their roots – guitar-driven, recorded live in the room, and made with a mindset of getting it right the first time rather than fixing it later. Produced once again by Konstantin Kersting (Spacey Jane, DMAs, Genesis Owusu), this time working alongside the band in person at their Camden studio, it’s their most authentic record in years.
“How do people often experience music? Together,” says keyboardist Elliott Margin. “Live shows are our favourite part of being in a band. That’s pretty much group therapy for us.”
