PROGRAM 2023
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST
WELCOME TO COUNTRY
FRIDAY 25 - 6PM - FESTIVAL BRAZIER, APOLLO BAY FORESHORE
WinterWild opens with a Welcome to Country from Eastern Marr Aboriginal Corporation, 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 MECH 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.
Winter Degustation: Graze
FRIDAY 25 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.
Dietry requirements are not available for this event
TAROT AND TAPAS EXPERIENCE
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 7pm - 2-4 Noel Street, Apollo Bay, VIC, 3233
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 - EXACT TIME TBC
MEET AT THE APOLLO BAY FORESHORE OPPOSITE THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE
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 un-educational, 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.
Walks will go ahead rain or shine.
Note: 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.
TIRAKUNA SOUNDS
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 10AM - UNITING CHURCH HALL, 49 NELSON STREET
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.
Low and Slow BBQ Masterclass
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 11AM - GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE
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
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
Sympathy for the Devil: A Rolling Stones Tribute
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2PM - GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE
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.
Cold immersion and breathwork with Mark Kluwer
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 12PM & 3PM
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.
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 2024) 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 2022 Edition
1 x pack of The Last Embers spiced rum infused beans , a Hello Coffee x WinterWild collaboration
Estelle Shircore Barker: House Concert
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 4PM - VENUE TO BE ANNOUNCED UPON 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 DAWN - EXACT TIME TBC
MEET AT THE APOLLO BAY FORESHORE OPPOSITE THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE
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 un-educational, 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.
Walks will go ahead rain or shine.
Note: Contains low impact walking and augury.
THE DOGWATCH
SATURDAY 25 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.
Dietry requirements are not available for this event
Dane Blacklock & the Preacher’s Daughter at the Mech, with s p o r e s and MELT
SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 8PM - APOLLO BAY MECH HALL, 21 GREAT OCEAN ROAD APOLLO BAY
Surrender to the desires of the flesh with Australia’s premiere 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 dirty and hypnotic heavy riffs covered in fuzz, dreamy licks, dirty bass and driving drum beats. Prepare to be melted.
MOONGARDEN
SATURDAY 27 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
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST DAWN - EXACT TIME TBC
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 un-educational, 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.
Walks will go ahead rain or shine.
QIGONG
SUNDAY 27 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.
Meet the Maker: Hello Coffee Roasting Masterclass
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 10AM - APOLLO BAY DISTILLERY
Spend some time with Hello Coffee founder Justin Arthur tasting your way through their range of blends. He'll take you through the production journey and how to develop your palate to evaluate different coffees….
Low and Slow BBQ Masterclass: The Smoked Entertainer
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 10AM - GREAT OCEAN ROAD BREWHOUSE
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 TO BE ANNOUNCED UPON 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 - Ticket holders to meet at The Project Space, 2/4 Noel St, Apollo Bay. Ticket price includes museum entry, bus transfer to the Apollo Bay Cable Station Museum and return transfer to the Apollo Bay Gin Distillery, 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.