KURT VILE LIVE

Castlemaine is a hit town. Originally they came for the gold, today they’re escaping Melbourne. Recently nicknamed Northcote North, it’s home to an increasing number of tree-changers who’ve sold their inner-city Melbourne cottages and moved to the country, but still expect decent coffee. The Theatre Royal has been the heart of the town since 1851, and claims to have been in continual operation longer than any other cinema on mainland Australia. Its day job is showing movies, but it’s also been a live venue from the start. Lola Montez, the Spanish Dancer and mistress of King Ludwig the 1st of Bavaria, famously entertained the gold miners there in 1855.

As a band venue it’s intimate and real, with a good stage and a capacity of around 400. For those old enough to remember, it’s just like the Crystal Ballroom – St Kilda’s legendary venue from a time before pokies and EDM, when bands ruled the world, and Nick