Building on five years of success, Be Hear Now returns to provide artists living, working or studying in the City of Ballarat with the tools and guidance they need to refine their craft and build sustainable careers.
Following an EOI process, five artists will be selected to participate in a customised program that will prepare them to record, mix, master and release their own original singles.
Participants will receive five dedicated sessions with an industry-matched mentor as well as professional recording and production support, photography and design for promotional materials, release strategy development, and marketing and distribution assistance. Professional development will also span areas including music business, branding, marketing and social media, live performance, tour planning, digital distribution and playlist pitching.
Music Victoria and the VMDO are proud to come on board as supporting partners for 2026, enhancing the program offering with VMDO-led masterclasses, Music Victoria memberships and access to a desk space at Music Victoria’s Collingwood office.
Applications for Be Hear Now 2026 close on Friday 30 January. To be considered, applicants must live, work or study within the City of Ballarat. Program activity will take place from approximately March to September 2026.
Join Manningham Council and Music Victoria on Tuesday 30 September from 6:00pm at Warrandyte RSL for a deep dive on all things making it in the music industry. Our expert panel features Caitlin Reilly (Founder & Director, In Cahoots), Ella Thompson (Musician) and Juliette Lalli (Live Music Curator & Artist Manager).
Learn more about booking and pitching for gigs, building an audience, setting yourself up as a working musician and more.
The workshop will also be an opportunity for Manningham musicians and music workers to network and learn more about the upcoming opportunities in the area.
Learn more about our speakers below.
Caitlin Reilly (Founder & Director, In Cahoots)
Caitlin is the Founder & Director of In Cahoots, a studio specialising in marketing for Australia’s independent music and arts communities. She plans and delivers campaigns across social media, paid advertising, content, and email — underpinned by branding frameworks that give creative projects clarity, consistency, and longevity. Her work spans grassroots initiatives through to large-scale projects, with partnerships including Northcote Theatre, Untitled Group, When Pigs Fly Festival, and OK Motels.
Ella Thompson (Musician & Songwriter)
Ella Thompson is a musician & songwriter whose music traverses the landscape of classic & contemporary soul. Ella's lyrics explore themes of belonging, both to the microscopic & the universal. She invites listeners to contemplate the vast expanse of human emotion and the interconnectedness of all things. The last 18 months has brought a prolific hot streak of releases, with 2023's breakout Domino, and follow-up long-player Ripple on the Wing out on Hope Street Recordings. Originally from Warrandyte, Ella is now based in Naarm (Melbourne).
Juliette Lalli (Live Music Curator & Artist Manager)
Juliette is a Live Music Curator, Creative Producer, Artist Manager and Booking Agent with over 10 years experience producing and programming live music events, curating festivals such as Brunswick Music Festival and Grampians Music Festival, booking venues and supporting artists to build creative and fulfilling experiences for their communities. Juliette currently works for Blossom Rot Records, is a lecturer in the Live Music Business program at Industri Education and has her own booking agency, Shows by Jet where she represents EGGY, Quality Used Cars, Jess Ribeiro and Bad Bangs.
Venue: Warrandyte RSL
113 Brackenbury St, Warrandyte VIC 3113
Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Access information:
For detailed, up-to-date information on Warrandyte RSL accessibility, contact them directly by phone at (03) 9844 3567
For all other access enquiries please email arts@manningham.vic.gov.au or call 9840 9444
Join Music Victoria in Moonee Ponds for two professional development events in collaboration with the Live Music Office as part of the Live & Local Program.
Aimed at emerging musicians in Moonee Valley looking to improve their skills within the music industry, the two workshops will be an opportunity to learn from some of the most respected figures within the Victorian music scene.
The Moonee Valley Live & Local Professional Development Series will be covering everything from marketing, gig booking, radio, release strategy, music business basics, getting grants, contracts and negotiating fees.
The events are free to attend but registrations are essential.
Wednesday 11 June | Getting Strategic in the Music Inudstry
Speakers: Adam Montgomery (Booking Agent, Lonely Lands), Alyse Newman (Publicist, Artist Manager, Consultant – AANTHOLOGIES)
Venue: Clocktower Centre - Balcony Tower Room - 750 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
Wednesday 18 June | Getting Organised in the Music Industry
Speakers: Charlotte Abroms (Creative Consultant, Digital Strategist, Hear Hear), Rhea Caldwell (Self-Managed Musician & Designer, Baby Blue)
Venue: Clocktower Centre - Balcony Tower Room - 750 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
Back in the Game is a free professional development series that will feature leading industry members discussing music business, gigs, marketing, radio and streaming. The series takes place 6pm-7:30pm at Music Market in Collingwood Yards from Tue 6 June over four weeks.
Tue 6 June - Getting Organised
Glenn Bennie (APRA AMCOS)
Charlie Woods (Self-Managed Musician)
Moira McKenzie (Moira McKenzie Legal)
Danielle Siers (Music Victoria)
RSVP here
Post-workshop gig
William Thomasz @ The Workers Club
Wed 14 June – Getting Gigs
Juliette Lalli (Venue Booker/Live Music Curator)
Clare Douglas (Sofar Sounds)
Vaughan Quinn (Festival Booker, 3RRR Presenter)
Holly Pereira (Music Victoria)
RSVP here
Post-workshop gigs
Chey Jordan & Seth Hancock @ Gasometer Upstairs
Immigrant Union & Zoë Fox @ Gasometer Upstairs
Tue 20 June – Getting Noticed
Danysha Harriott (Brunswick Ballroom)
Ashlea O’Loughlin (Social Season)
Sarah Guppy (This Much Talent, Gig Life Pro)
Mikaela Copland (Music Victoria, Tall Poppy Mgmt)
RSVP here
Post-workshop gig
Dopplerhaus & Spawn @ The Old Bar
Thu 29 June – Getting Plays
Tanya Bunter (triple j)
Sam Cummins (3RRR)
John Halstead (DITTO, Seven Seven Music Group)
Shannen Egan (Turning Agency, Nettwerk Group)
RSVP here
Post workshop gig
Premium Fantasy w/ Claire Birchall & Banish @ Nighthawks
Access: If you have any access requirements please email info@musicvictoria.com.au
Demographics & Identity questions: For more information about our demographics and identity questions in the registration process, please head to: musicvictoria.com.au/demographics-and-identity
Music Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, on whose unceded land we advocate, support and celebrate on. We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities. We acknowledge them as the first artists, the first musicians, and the first creators of culture. We deeply respect the role that music and songlines play in the continuation of their culture for the past 60,000+ years.
The inaugural Gold Sounds Music Conference was held on 19 - 21 November in Castlemaine and brought together musicians and music industry professionals from across Regional Victoria.
A dedicated Venues Day was attended by 15 professionals from 11 live music venues in Central Victoria, and featured sessions on accessibility, inclusion and moving forward beyond COVID-19. A dedicated Youth Program convened with the input of local FReeZA committees and featuring Dallas Woods and guests from The Push was attended by over 15 young people from Castlemaine and Bendigo.
The Industry Day was book-ended by rousing keynotes from Liz Stringer and Jen Cloher who shared invaluable thoughts and insights with the delegates. The conference also featured a detailed and inspiring presentation on Accessibility from Eliza Hull, engaging conversation with engineers Anna Laverty and Casey Rice, plus discussion panels on promotion, mental health, and connecting with audiences.
The event wrapped up with a gathering at Castlemaine's iconic Theatre Royal where attendees and speakers were able to continue networking and building relationships.
"A day well spent at Gold Sounds - plenty of great stories at the forum today and a dash of community resilience reminding us all what it is that we do what we love". - Conference Delegate