For years they were hidden in the musical wilderness, feeding off the steady props that continued to trickle through on the back of their stone-cold classic debut record Since I Left You, released all the way back in 2001. Tunes like Frontier Psychiatrist and the hypnotic title track marked this Melbourne-based collective as one of the most influential outfits in the history of Australian music as their patchwork, sample-friendly rave ups wove themselves into the fabric of our collective musical identity.

From that point, year after silent year would go by until suddenly, in May 2016, word came through of a “hotline” which could be called with new Avalanches tunes waiting on the other side. As hype rolled on it was eventually confirmed that Wildflower was coming and that after 16 long years, we’d finally have new music.

What we didn’t see coming was the revelation that, now shorn of all members but two (Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi), these boys would somehow pull of a Benjamin Button-esque miracle in which their skills and relevance had completely failed to age. Wildflower was brilliant and The Avalanches now possess a stage show befitting of a band with a momentous catalogue, not just one wondrous record.

The Avalanches 2018 Australian Tour
10 February – Party In The Paddock – White Hills, Tasmania
24 February – Sydney City Limits – Centennial Park, Sydney
25 February – Perth International Arts Festival, Perth
7 March – The Tivoli – Brisbane
10 March – Golden Plains – Meredith, Victoria
11 March – Womadelaide – Adelaide
www.theavalanches.com

The most extensive food, wine and music gathering ever created on the Mornington Peninsula, The Peninsula Picnic is the perfect regional getaway or home-grown retreat to discover hidden gems from the region’s famous wineries, gourmet restaurants and passionate food producers, all set to the serene soundtrack of some of Australia’s finest live music acts.

Sample the award-winning wines from Circe – with one of the country’s top Pinot Noirs, their selection will leave you in no doubt as to why this proudly Australian wine features on menus from New York to London. From their stunning surrounds of rolling hills overlooking the ocean, Montalto wines are a favourite for connoisseurs, whilst the family vineyard Crittenden Estate provides intimate and carefully curated wines. Merricks General Wine Store, a renowned fixture of the Mornington Peninsula, will showcase their three esteemed wine labels: Ballieu Estate, Elgee Park and Quealy. Prancing Horse will be presenting their unique wine made using their own organic and biodynamic practices, whilst T’Gallant will be showcasing their Australian twist on well known European winemaking styles.

The Peninsula Picnic – A Food, Wine & Music Gathering
Sunday March 29, 2015
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
www.peninsulapicnic.com.au