Don't make my mistake

★ Don’t make my mistake ★

Apparently, I have no idea what's happening outside Castlemaine.

Recently I was lured to a popular coastal town for a rare mums' night out. It began with excellent Japanese food, plum wine and tickets to dance. Tick, tick, tick.

As we approached the venue, we joined a sea of 18-year-olds. Where are they all going? I wondered.

The answer was the same place we were.

A sticky, black-lit room behind the local pub. It had the energy of a Northern Ontario university bar, the kind of place where you're snowed in, there are no alternatives and Avril Lavigne songs are repeating.

The mums were unfazed. They danced. I closed my eyes and pretended I was at Boomtown.

My advice to you this weekend is to stay local and go Winter of Disco Content 2: Heaters Only at to Boomtown. The gig is back on Saturday with a bigger capacity, a bigger sound system and, yes, more heaters. Both literal and musical.

The lineup reunites bosom buddies, DJ Joey Lightbulb (Mikey Cahill), Jen Moore and Pearl (aka Clam Dirt Ya Big Flirt).

"We're starting at 7.00pm with some throwback hip hop vibes to get people in the zone," says Pearl. "Then I'm playing 8.00pm–9.00pm, still leaning in the hip hop / funky / afrobeats area."

Think Afrika Bambaataa and Deelite (taking me back to my first rave at the now defunct Honey Pot Ski Resort in the 90s).

After that, Jen Moore takes over. You know Jen. She won Castlemaine Idyll and stole the show in Castlemaine The Musical. 

"Jen will do what Jen does, which is spinning sensational crate-dig gems that will make you wriggle," says Pearl.

Then comes Joey Lightbulb.

"Mikey is just gonna full send it and make you feel like you've”… discovered a whole new species of citrus. I am paraphrasing, but you understand. 

The first Winter of Disco Content sold out, and this one probably will too. If you want to sweat this frigid week out on the dance floor, be smart. Don't leave it to the group chat.

• Book tickets to Winter of Disco Content, Saturday night at Boomtown

❀ Too funny ❀

Comedy shows. Discuss. 

I’m kind of afraid of them. There are just so many things that could go sideways. 

However. The lineup for this year’s Women of Wit is good and so is the cause. It’s happening Fri, 17 July at The Phee. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Castlemaine & Surrounds Women’s Shed.

The annual showcase has champions women in stand-up. This year's lineup includes Janty Blair, Simone Amohanga, Mel McGlensey (see below) and award-winning comedian Laura Davis, alongside local acts Cath Styles, Bess Patterson and locals Julieta Mateo and Patti Fawcett.

♡˖ Events ˖♡

• 🧘‍♀️ Seasonal Yin, Love Tribe Yoga, Fri, 10 July, 5:30 PM *90-min yoga practice exploring winter energy

• 🎵 Irish Open Session, Albion Hotel, Fri, 10 July, 6:30 PM *Irish pub singalong

• 🎵 The Blitz Kids, Theatre Royal, Fri, 10 July, 7:00 PM *80s synth-pop supergroup

• 🧸 Maldon Teddy Bear Adventure, Maldon Community Centre (Progress Hall), Sat, 11 July, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM *Parade, explore, picnic

• 🎵 The Complete Unknowns, Wesley Hill Market, Sat, 11 July, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM *Classic covers + chai, pastries, coffee, pies and market stalls

• Blorch! Lot 19, Sat, 11 July, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM *Group exhibition opening, feat. works by Lawrence Finn, David M Lewis, Simon Dubbeld, Riley Finn  

• 🎵 RMFC, Theatre Royal, Sat, 11 July, 7:00 PM *Post-punk vibes w/ Station Model Violence, Silicon Prairie, Romansy and Beauty Park 

• 🎵 We Maverics, Newstead Community Centre, Sat, 11 July, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM *Alt-country, folk

• 🎵 Winter of Disco Content, Boomtown, Sat, 11 July, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM *Feat DJs Joey Lightbulb, Jen Moore and Pearl

• 🎭 Whistle and Trick, Phee Broadway Theatre, Sun, 12 July, 10:00 AM *Songs and puppets for kids and grownups

• 🎭 Drop-in Theatre Workshop, Goods Shed, Sun, 12 July, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM *Low pressure, high quality, all welcome

• 🎵 Midnight Blues Review, Maurocco Bar, Sun, 12 July, 2:00 PM *Blues, Jump, Chicago

• 🎵 Cut Worms, The Bridge, Sun, 12 July, 2:30 PM *Country-esque folk rock

• 📽️ The Sheep Detectives, Theatre Royal, Sun, 12 July, 3:00 PM *Witty and sweet as heck, fab way to cap off school hols

• 🎵 Jimmy Lowdown and The Dirty Shames, Shedshaker, Sun, 12 July, 5:00 PM *Blues rock

• 😂 Elliot Goblet: Up Close and Personal, Northern Arts Hotel, Sun, 12 July, 6:00 PM *‘One of the most original comedians in the history of the known Universe’

• 🇫🇷 French Connections Bastille Day concert, Shedshaker, Tues, 14 July, 7:00 PM *Songs, comedy, dinner + show: $75, show only: $35

• 🏉 Footy training w/ The Falcs, Harcourt Rec Reserve, Weds, 15 July, 6:15 PM *Every Weds, all welcome

• 🙋 Trivia Night, Bridge Hotel, Weds, 15 July, 8:00 PM *Table bookings essential

• 🎵 Dave Hole, Theatre Royal, Fri, 17 July, 7:30 PM *Renowned bluesman and acclaimed slide guitar virtuoso

• 🧘 Meditative Sounds Bath, The Sanctuary, Fri, 17 July, 6:30 PM *A vibrational balm of singing bowls, drums, chimes and gentle chants

• Women of Wit 2026, Phee Broadway Theatre, Fri, 17 July, 7:30 PM *Stand-up comedy, fundraiser for C’maine + Surrounds Women’s Shed

• 🌱 2026 Josine McEwan annual fundraising lunch, Buda Historic Home and Garden, Sat, 18 July, 12:00 PM *3-course winter meal + lecture by Anna Beesley on the impacts of climate change on historic gardens

• 🍷 Cellar Door open, Bress Wines, Sat, 18 July, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• 🎵 PubSing, Shedshaker, Sat, 18 July, 7:30 - 10:00 PM *Sing Adele's Rolling in the Deep

• 💃 Ballroom Dance Class, Wesley Hill Hall, Sun, 19 July, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM *8-week class, get ready for The Dance

• 🎂 B-day Cuppa & Cake, Castlemaine Safe Space, Tues, 21 July, 2:30 PM *Safe Space is 4! Drop in to celebrate

• 🫶 All Things Teens and Tweens, Castlemaine Library, Thurs, 23 July, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM *A free session designed to support parents

• 📽️ Antarctica, The Giant Awakens, Phee Broadway Theatre, Fri, 24 July, 100 PM *Doco following young female climate scientists in Antarctica

• 🫖 Floursmith High Tea Luncheon, Guildford Public Hall, Sat, 25 July, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM *Book if you’re keen. It will sell out

• 📕 Winter Book Chat, Castlemaine Bowling Club, Sat 25 July, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

• 🎵 Misty Green Vale Live, Castlemaine Art Museum, Sun, 26 July, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM *immersive, meditative dream-pop

• 🚶‍♀️Walking tour: Forest Creek Trail, Thurs, 30 July, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM *Led by Parks Vic Ranger Sam Pollard, meet at Exhibition Pass Reservoir

• 📕 Richard Flanagan: In Conversation, Castlemaine Town Hall, Thurs, 6 Aug, 7:00 PM *Booker Prize winning author speaks with Astrid Edwards

• 🎵 'Man Ke Andar' Launch, Maurocco Bar, Thurs, 30 July, 6:30 PM *w/ Pearl, Neon Goblin and Black Wattle Witches

• 🎵 Thursday Night Music Club, The Bridge, Thurs, 30 July, 8:00 PM *Feat. Dan Kelly, Gaia Scarf, Brock Alexander

• 🎵 The Meircats, feat. Goldie, Maurocco Bar, Sat, 1 Aug, 7:00 PM *Jazz, Latin, swing + dinner available

• 🎵 The Meltdown, Theatre Royal, Sat, 1 Aug, 7:00 PM *Soul

• 🌱 Forest Creek Fridays, Greenhill Ave, Castlemaine, Fri, 8 Aug, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM *Monthly drop-in creek clean up

• 🌿 Intro to Nature Printing, Castlemaine Press, Sat, 8 Aug, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• 👠 La Dolce Divas, Maurocco Bar, Sat, 8 Aug, 6:30 PM *An Italian-inspired drag trivia night, live drag performances, games, prizes, food, cocktails

• 🎵 Wild Otter Club Dance Party, Boomtown, Sat, 5 Sept, 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM *A fundraiser for Castlemaine Fringe

𖥔 TALK TO MOI PLOISE 𖥔

Hi, hi! Who should I interview next? If you have an idea, reach out. I’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. xx