PROGRAM 2023
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST
WELCOME TO COUNTRY
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 6PM – FESTIVAL BRAZIER, APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
WinterWild opens with a Welcome to Country from Eastern Maar, followed by performances from Wemba-Wemba rapper RidzyRay and other contemporary First Nations artists around the Festival Brazier.
Jen Cloher at The Mech, with Zoë Fox and the Rocket Clocks, Sid O’Neil, and Outtatime
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 8PM – APOLLO BAY MECHANICS INSTITUTE HALL, 21 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Jen Cloher (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) is a songwriter and performer whose taut, terse brand of rock is charged with the static tension that comes with being an eternal misfit. In I Am The River, The River Is Me – their first album in five years – Cloher finally breathes out. With a cool, unfussy confidence, these songs suggest that home is not found in a place or a politic, but in the community you keep. Inspired by Cloher’s powerful matrilineal line of wāhine Māori, I Am The River, The River Is Me is not urgent, or hurried, but it is vital.
With support from disco-infused space-pop project Zoë Fox and the Rocket Clocks, Apollo Bay’s beloved singer-songwriter Sid O’Neil, and the soulful vocals of local indie-jazz five-piece Outtatime.
Yeah, Righto: Nat’s What I Reckon
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 9PM – APOLLO BAY HOTEL, 95 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Viral comedy champion, rock musician, mental health advocate and award-winning, best-selling author Nat’s What I Reckon has sold out tours and comedy festivals, published three books, a board game and a podcast, and clocked up over 4.6 million online followers and hundreds of millions of views on this wild ride he is on.
His hilarious social commentary, good-natured piss-taking and honest conversation about mental health have seen Nat performing live and selling out shows at comedy festivals and theatres all over Australia since 2020.
Come find out what the sweary rock’n’roll comedian has been up to with his brand new show.
Book in early champs!
★★★★★ ‘Brilliant… this man has a natural talent for comedy. Funny, raw and honest, Yeah, Righto has evolved beyond comedic fuckery. As wholesome as it is entertaining.' HiFi Way
★★★★★ ‘Hilarious… one not to miss.’ Glam Adelaide
★★★★ ½ ‘Nat's A Champion, and so is his show!’ Hush & Pandemonium
This event is generously supported by the Apollo Bay Hotel.
Please note that this is an 18+ event.
Winter Degustation: Graze
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 7PM – GRAZE, 14 PASCOE STREET, APOLLO BAY
A six-course degustation after dark at Graze, showcasing the region’s best produce. Featuring Dama Dama free-range wild harvested venison, free range local duck, Otway Pork, Warrnambool lamb, dessert, and a selection of local wine at bar prices.
Note: Unfortunately no dietary modifications can be made due to the specialised format of this event.
A Night at the Museum: The Apollo Bay Historical Society
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 7PM – APOLLO BAY MUSEUM, 6250 GREAT OCEAN ROAD APOLLO BAY
Step back in time at Australia’s last remaining cable station. Join the knowledgeable team at the Apollo Bay Historical Society for a captivating evening of storytelling, traversing the famous shipwrecks of our coastline and the changes to life in and around Apollo Bay, through artefacts and visual displays.
Note: The Museum site is for drop-off only – please park on the foreshore opposite. BYO torch.
TAROT AND TAPAS
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 7PM – THE PROJECT SPACE, 2-4 NOEL ST, APOLLO BAY
A mystical evening of tarot and tapas, presented by The Project Space. Included in the ticket price is a 45-minute tarot beginner class with Eldritch Forest, a three-card individual tarot reading, an A3 tarot print, a sound journey with Otway Sound Medicine, a crystal showcase and Q&A with MOONTIDE, plus a heavenly selection of dinner tapas and mulled wine.
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST
Dawn Chorus: The Midnight Horrors
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST, DAWN – 6:30AM
Meet on the Apollo Bay Foreshore opposite the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse at the black shipping container.
A surreal tour of the birds of Apollo Bay (living, dead, mythological and extinct); at dawn. Start your day with The Midnight Horrors, as they lead you on an arcane and entirely uneducational psychogeographic birdwalk.
There'll be birds of ill omen. Birds long past. An inner-city pigeon that left work one afternoon, got the first bus down the coast, and is now just sitting on the sand, briefcase resting beside it, looking out to sea.
Note: Walks will go ahead rain or shine. Contains low-impact walking and augury.
QIGONG
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 8AM – APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
Ignite your qi (life force energy) and drop into presence and connection with Apollo Bay’s own Dani Cullen, in this movement meditation practice in the open air, by open fires.
Note: This event takes place undercover but outdoors, so dress warmly. Please bring your own yoga mat.
TAROT MASTERCLASS WITH ELDRITCH FOREST
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST, 8.30AM – THE PROJECT SPACE, 2/4 NOEL STREET, APOLLO BAY
Deep dive into the magical world of tarot with Eldritch Forest, whose everyday life has been defined by the tarot for forty years. This half-day masterclass will focus on card placement, reading design and reading skill with a speed reading practice. Morning tea included.
Note: Spaces limited.
TIRAKUNA SOUNDS
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 10AM – UNITING CHURCH HALL, 49 NELSON STREET, APOLLO BAY
Experience deep sound and high-frequency energy healing with reiki practitioners and sound healers Daniel Correa and Elysia Bartlett of Tirakuna Sounds. Bathe in the powerful frequencies of gongs, singing bowls, shamanic drums and chimes against the backdrop of a roaring sea.
Note: Please dress in comfortable clothing and bring your own yoga mat, pillow, blanket and water.
Wild Wanderers: An Imaginative and Interactive Storytime at Wildlife Wonders
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 10AM - WILDLIFE WONDERS, 475 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
The Wildlife Wanderers invite all young explorers to embark on an exciting journey to protect and preserve the wonders of nature! This children’s event combines imagination, education and entertainment in an interactive storytime experience.
Take an imaginative journey through lush forests, vibrant coral reefs and majestic mountains while helping defeat the many threats facing our native plants and animals – like the Polluting Plastic-breathing Dragon!
Note: Ticket includes a Wild Wanderers Adventure Pack. This event is best suited to children aged 4-7 years old.
Low and Slow BBQ Masterclass
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 11AM – GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE, 29/35 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Brought to you by the team at Barbecue Asylum, this day-long workshop will cover everything from solid fuel cooking methods and fuel selection, to fire and temperature management and meat trimming. There’ll be immersive cooking demonstrations of brisket, lamb shoulder, pork ribs, reverse-seared steak and more. Arrive hungry.
MEET THE MAKER: APOLLO BAY DISTILLERY
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 1PM – TASTES OF THE REGION (BEHIND THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE), 1 MCLAREN PARADE, APOLLO BAY
Meet the Apollo Bay Distillery team behind the WinterWild Whisky in this in-depth masterclass. Enjoy a whisky flight and some locally sourced cheese as you’re guided step-by-step through the process of making whisky.
Kraken Mobile Weaving Workshop: Lyndi Whalen
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 1PM – THE PROJECT SPACE, 2/4 NOEL STREET, APOLLO BAY
Apollo Bay artist Lyndi Whalen has been weaving for over twenty years. In this four-hour workshop, she’ll share techniques passed on to her by master weavers Aunty Brown Razem and Gay Grae, and Joy Beeby and Meg Pascal from Surfcoast Weaver Birds.
The session will focus on coiling and stitching techniques, and is suitable for both beginners and those with experience.
Note: Spaces limited.
Sympathy for the Devil: A Rolling Stones Tribute
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2PM – GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE, 29/35 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
A Rolling Stones tribute featuring local bands and visiting WinterWild artists, curated by local community music legend Michelle Fillmore. Expect to hear all of your favourites plus some deep cuts performed with a twist.
YEAH, RIGHTO: NAT’S WHAT I RECKON - MATINEE
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2PM – APOLLO BAY HOTEL, 95 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Viral comedy champion, rock musician, mental health advocate and award-winning, best-selling author Nat’s What I Reckon has sold out tours and comedy festivals, published three books, a board game and a podcast, and clocked up over 4.6 million online followers and hundreds of millions of views on this wild ride he is on.
His hilarious social commentary, good-natured piss-taking and honest conversation about mental health have seen Nat performing live and selling out shows at comedy festivals and theatres all over Australia since 2020.
Come find out what the sweary rock’n’roll comedian has been up to with his brand new show.
Book in early champs!
★★★★★ ‘Brilliant… this man has a natural talent for comedy. Funny, raw and honest, Yeah, Righto has evolved beyond comedic fuckery. As wholesome as it is entertaining.' HiFi Way
★★★★★ ‘Hilarious… one not to miss.’ Glam Adelaide
★★★★ ½ ‘Nat's A Champion, and so is his show!’ Hush & Pandemonium
This event is generously supported by the Apollo Bay Hotel.
Please note that this is an 18+ event.
Cold immersion and breathwork with Mark Kluwer
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 12PM & 3PM – APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
Reconnect – with yourself, with others, with your environment – in this transformative two-hour session of guided breathwork and cold immersion led by expert facilitator Mark Kluwer.
Cemetery Tours: The Apollo Bay Historical Society
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 3PM – APOLLO BAY CEMETERY, 277 GREAT OCEAN ROAD
Walk among the graves of Apollo Bay’s early settlers, guided by the Apollo Bay Historical Society. In this afternoon of storytelling, learn about the lives of those who rest with a world-class view.
Ticket includes souvenir booklet.
Note: Places limited. Please wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes.
THE WILD FEAST
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 4PM – APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
Rug up and gather ‘round the fire to mark the close of a deep, dark winter in the Otways.
There’ll be pans of paella laden with famous local seafood and vegetables, low-and-slow smoked meats, fresh pasta, fluffy bao, soups and more. Warm your hands with a mulled wine or hot toddy, and choose from a range of local craft beers from Otway brewers Prickly Moses and cocktails from the Apollo Bay Gin Distillery.
Leslie D. King and the Trembling Shakes will bring some soul-soaked rock’n’roll, joined by some very special guests. Stay after sunset to witness the festival’s signature outdoor performance, The DogWatch.
WinterWild is a community-led festival that only exists due to the support of volunteers and donors. While the Wild Feast is free to attend, we’d appreciate your RSVP – with or without donation – so that we can estimate numbers for catering.
Your donations secure the future of the Wild Feast. Donate before the event begins (4pm Saturday 26 August 2023) and go into the draw to win a WinterWild prize pack:
Accommodation for two for WinterWild 2024
Double passes to three major events at WinterWild 2024
WinterWild merch: shirt, hoodie and beanie
1 x bottle of WinterWild Whisky (2023 edition)
1 x pack of Hello Coffee x WinterWild’s The Last Embers spiced rum-infused beans
Estelle Shircore Barker: House Concert
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 4PM – VENUE ANNOUNCED ON PURCHASE
Apollo Bay’s own concert pianist presents a solo recital performed on the grand piano in an intimate house setting. Inspired by WinterWild, Estelle Shircore Barker has created a diverse program which traverses from the fiery to the ethereal and from the eclectic to the deeply moving. Featuring works by Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and more.
Dusk Chorus: The Midnight Horrors
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST, DUSK – 5:00PM
Meet on the Apollo Bay Foreshore opposite the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse at the black shipping container.
A surreal tour of the birds of Apollo Bay (living, dead, mythological and extinct); at dawn. End your day with The Midnight Horrors, as they lead you on an arcane and entirely uneducational psychogeographic birdwalk.
There'll be birds of ill omen. Birds long past. An inner-city pigeon that left work one afternoon, got the first bus down the coast, and is now just sitting on the sand, briefcase resting beside it, looking out to sea.
Note: Walks will go ahead rain or shine. Contains low-impact walking and augury.
THE DOGWATCH
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 6PM – APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
At the throbbing heart of WinterWild is fire. And nothing embraces, sculpts and worships fire quite like The DogWatch.
Witness this large-scale outdoor performance around the Festival Brazier. Incorporating fire, pyrotechnics, movement and song, The DogWatch features a horde of local artists, performers, dancers, musicians and Apollo Bay stalwarts. A passionate, eerie performance that goes to the dark heart of the Otways in winter.
Winter Degustation: Graze
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 7PM – GRAZE APOLLO BAY, 14 PASCOE STREET, APOLLO BAY
A six-course degustation after dark at Graze, showcasing the region’s best produce. Featuring Dama Dama free-range wild harvested venison, free range local duck, Otway Pork, Warrnambool lamb, dessert, and a selection of local wine at bar prices.
Note: Unfortunately no dietary modifications can be made due to the specialised format of this event.
Dane Blacklock & the Preacher’s Daughter at the Mech, with s p o r e s and MELT
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 8PM – APOLLO BAY MECHANICS INSTITUTE HALL, 21 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Surrender to the desires of the flesh with Australia’s premier satanic gospel experience Dane Blacklock & the Preacher’s Daughter. In this decidedly wicked aural and visual extravaganza, the message is simple: follow your bliss, cast off your shame, and revel in the sublime, feral beauty of it all.
With support from s p o r e s, with their blend of lazy disco anti-fascist slo-core lackadaisical noise punk for the apocalypse, and Otways psychedelic trio MELT, who’ll have you diving down a rabbit hole of fuzz-covered heavy riffs, dreamy licks, dirty bass and driving drum beats.
MOONGARDEN
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 10PM – APOLLO BAY SAILING CLUB, 10 BREAKWATER ROAD, APOLLO BAY HARBOUR
Say a bittersweet farewell to winter at MoonGarden. Dance under a blanket of stars by a raging ocean with some of Australia’s best alternative electronic artists. Headlined by Harvey Sutherland DJ, with Milo Eastwood and Post Percy.
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST
DAWN CHORUS: The Midnight Horrors
SUNDAY 26 AUGUST, DAWN – 6:30AM
Meet on the Apollo Bay Foreshore opposite the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse at the black shipping container.
A surreal tour of the birds of Apollo Bay (living, dead, mythological and extinct); at dawn. Begin your day with The Midnight Horrors, as they lead you on an arcane and entirely uneducational psychogeographic birdwalk.
There'll be birds of ill omen. Birds long past. An inner-city pigeon that left work one afternoon, got the first bus down the coast, and is now just sitting on the sand, briefcase resting beside it, looking out to sea.
Note: Walks will go ahead rain or shine. Contains low-impact walking and augury.
Meet the Maker: Hello Coffee Roasting Masterclass
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 10AM – APOLLO BAY GIN DISTILLERY, 23-27 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
Reserve your seat for a curated coffee tasting session led by one of the award-winning roasters from Hello Coffee. In this informative session, you'll gain insight into the fascinating journey of coffee, from its origins on the farm to the art of roasting and the meticulous process of selecting the best beans and creating blends.
During the session, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a range of treats from the wood-fired oven while exploring a variety of coffees, each offering a distinct flavour profile. This immersive experience will provide you with a deeper understanding of how coffee is cultivated and prepared, enriching your appreciation for the beloved beverage.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned roaster and indulge in a delightful coffee tasting morning.
Note: Spaces limited.
Eco-somatica : Wildlife Wonders
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 10AM – WILDLIFE WONDERS, 475 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
An embodied, sensory experience involving audio immersion, guided movement meditation, biomechanics and the use of story and narrative. Led by Simon Slieker and based on the Feldenkrais Method of movement, Eco-somatica is a transformative somatic workshop with an ecological focus, inviting you to connect with the ground beneath your feet while exploring wider ideas about your place in the environment.
Note: The workshop will close with a complimentary hot drink and time for reflection in the Emu Cafe at Wildlife Wonders visitor centre.
Low and Slow BBQ Masterclass: The Smoked Entertainer
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 10AM – GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE, 29-35 GREAT OCEAN ROAD, APOLLO BAY
A day-long BBQ workshop hosted by the award-winning team at Barbecue Asylum, with a focus on food for entertaining: jerk chicken, beef short ribs, lamb racks, perfectly minced burgers, Mexican street corn, apple-smoked New York-style cheesecake and more.
Arrive hungry.
Estelle Shircore Barker: House Concert
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 12PM – VENUE ANNOUNCED ON PURCHASE
Apollo Bay’s own concert pianist presents a solo recital performed on the grand piano in an intimate house setting. Inspired by WinterWild, Estelle Shircore Barker has created a diverse program which traverses from the fiery to the ethereal and from the eclectic to the deeply moving. Featuring works by Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and more.
Heart Maps: Down the Line, an ambulatory audio adventure
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 2PM
Meet at The Project Space, 2/4 Noel St, Apollo Bay. Ticket price includes bus transfer to the Apollo Bay Cable Station Museum, museum entry, return transfer to The Project Space, and a gin.
‘Heart Maps: Down the Line, an ambulatory audio adventure’ is the culmination of artist and researcher Amy Tsilemanis’s winter 2023 creative residency in the Otways, Gadubanud Country. Explore the rich layers of Apollo Bay’s past, present and future through maps and audio in this two-hour moving feast of creative oral history.
Note: Please bring your own smartphone and headphones.
This project is supported by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund Fellowship program and was produced in collaboration with the Apollo Bay Museum, Gadubanud custodian and artist Richard Collopy, Jade Forest (with Apollo Bay Arts Inc. and The Development Lab) and Aimee Chapman.
Heart Maps Story Trail
Hear stories of Apollo Bay – past and present – and explore the rich layers that connect us all in this self-guided and self-paced story trail produced by Amy Tsilemanis. Find the QR codes around the festival site, pop in your headphones, and stop in for food and art as you walk your own heart map.
FREE
Elemental Resonance
WinterWild exhibition at Arts Inc. Gallery
WinterWild Festival presents Elemental Resonance at Arts Inc. Gallery. Inspired by Oceania Pearl’s vision for the 2023 Dogwatch and curated by local artist and WinterWild Festival Creative, Jade Forest, Elemental Resonance brings together the talents of over 25 local and "almost local" artists in an swirl of traditional media, augmented reality, and soundscapes. The gallery is an artist-run space nestled within the Apollo Bay Mechanics Institute Hall, ‘The Mech.’ WinterWild Festival and Elemental Resonance challenge everyone to brave the wind and water, to affirm life, art and community. The works are presented Salon style, so expect an explosion of art.
Festival director Bill Fraser wanted to highlight the powerful collective of visual artists in the Apollo Bay area. The Festival itself began in defiance of the fear and isolation that the Lorne fires brought to our community. Then we faced the setbacks and cultural pressures that came with COVID. This is a show of community and local artists thriving together, inspired by the elements
Some of these artists have only begun to exhibit, and others have been showing work for over 50 years. Michelle Filmore channels the ocean into the flow of resin on board. Fingle Sin made us a whale. Sisca Verwoert celebrates colour with oil on canvas. Tiphaine De Fleurette Hunter Brown explores the relationship between childhood, ancestry and a body in the landscape. Zuzannah Karolewska, known for her meticulous linocuts, is painting stunning landscapes filled with light. The prolific Sara Doyle has focused on three interpretations of the Cape Otway Lighthouse. Chris Hogard brings her loving quirk into ceramic beasties. Fred Ogley, shows a painting inspired by the DogWatch brazier. Fairhaven artist Rebecca Hoskings Kuarka Dorla Estuary Journey Ecosystem is a coalescence of photography, digital art, sound and Augmented Reality. An intersection of art and technology, with a focus on culture, and appreciation of the local natural world. Each artist has offered their skill and work as part of the thriving arts community of this wild coast.
ELEMENTAL RESONANCE OPENS FRIDAY,25TH OF AUGUST AT 7PM AND RUNS UNTIL SUNDAY THE 27TH AT 4PM