Parkes Library and Cultural Centre is turn­ing up the volume these school holidays bycelebrating Youth Week with Rock Band Vibes, a high-energy, hands-on music ex­perience for young people aged 12–22, happening on Friday, 17 April 2026.

Whether you’ve never picked up an in­strument or already love to play, this begin­ner-friendly workshop is all about jumping in, trying new things, and making music to­gether.

Across the 2.5-hour session, participants will rotate through guitar, bass, drums, vo­cals and keys – before choosing a favourite and as a group, form an instant band.

Starting with the basics, you’ll have the chance to build confidence quickly and learn parts of a song that matches their skill level. Everyone will work as a group, piece together a popular song with a focus on timing, teamwork and performance skills – then wrap it up with a full run-through so the newly formed band is stage-ready.

“We’re excited to have Dave Cutler from Forbes Guitar Academy leading the ses­sions. He brings a wealth of experience and a real passion for making music accessible to young people,” said Creative Learning Coordinator Sharon Degeling.

Then it’s time to hit the stage at Jam Night! After the workshop, participants (and other young performers) will have the opportunity to perform in a fun, supportive live music setting. No pressure – just good vibes, crea­tivity, and celebrating local talent.

This event is part of NSW Youth Week from 16 – 26 April and is proudly supported by Parkes Community Arts and the Office for Youth (Department of Communities and Justice). For information contact Parkes Library on 6861 2309 or book your spot at https://events.humanitix.com/rock-band-vibes-youth-event

This year’s feature performer for Frost and Fire is Aussie rock legend DIESEL.

Winter in Central West is set to heat up when Frost and Fire returns to Forbes on Saturday 20 June 2026, lighting up the Forbes Ski Dam from 4pm to 10pm with live music, glowing bonfires and a vibrant winter atmosphere.

This year’s event will be fuelled by a red hot musical line‐up, led by Australian pop-rock-soul icon DIESEL, whose unmis­takable voice is sure to set the Frost and Fire stage alight. DIESEL (Mark Lizotte) re­mains one of Australia’s most enduring live performers. His career includes multiple number one albums, six ARIA Awards, mil­lions of streams worldwide and a fiercely loyal fan base.

Audiences can expect to hear iconic hits such as Tip of My Tongue, Don’t Need Love, Soul Revival and Cry in Shame.

Joining this year’s line-up are a band rec­ognised and loved by Aussies of all ages.

The Magnificent Seven will deliver feel‐good classics guaranteed to warm up the crowd. From The Cockroaches to The Wig­gles and now Frost and Fire.

Melbourne-based artist, Sandee Facy has been blazing a trail across the Austral­ian country music scene. Sandee’s authen­tic storytelling brings a fresh spark to the Frost and Fire lineup.

Adding even more fuel to the fire, Frost and Fire 2026 will proudly showcase local talent Amitié and Foxxy Cleopatra, cel­ebrating the region’s vibrant music scene.

Combined with roving entertainment, cul­tural performances and fireworks, the 2026 Frost and Fire artist lineup delivers the perfect soundtrack for unforgettable winter memories.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said, “This year’s Frost and Fire line‐up is truly amazing”.For tickets and bus schedules, head to 123tix.com. Get in touch with the Forbes Visitor Information team on 02 6852 4155 to help you plan your Frost and Fire week­end. For more information about Frost and Fire 2026, visit www.amazingforbesnsw.com

Three time Australian bush poet champion Gregory North.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Patterson is a one off tour by Poet Gregory North to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Banjo Paterson doing a Central Western Tour in 1901.

Mr North approached Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea to see if they would like to host his Forbes leg of the 2026 tour and they happily accepted.

Gregory North is a three-times Australian champion bush poet and confirmed Banjo Paterson tragic. He has written two books on Banjo and recorded a double album of Banjo’s poetry. Since 2017 he’s been per­forming the “Life and Rhymes of Banjo Pat­erson” show at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton, Queensland. The Winton area is where Banjo wrote our unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda. Greg is there for four months each year to entertain the tour­ists.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson concert shows the great contribution Ban­jo made to Australian culture and History.

Banjo Paterson spoke at the Forbes Town Hall in 1901 and visited Forbes and the dis­trict a number of times.

When Banjo came to Forbes and spoke at the Forbes Town Hall he had not long re­turned to Australia from South Africa as a war journalist during the Boer War. Banjo’s life story is an amazing journey and well worth coming to the concert to learn more.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Patterson will be on 24 April at the Forbes Town Hall, a 2pm start with afternoon tea following the concert.

Any proceeds that are raised by Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea at this one-off event will be donated to the Forbes Mu­seum as they have a number of important restoration projects underway and all dona­tions are appreciated.

Catch Gregory North’s “Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson” show during the tour. www.gregorynorth.com.au

Pictured are a few of the Super Tag Gala Day participants from L-R Chris “Spicy” Spicer (Half back), Jono Morrison (Asst Coach), Blake “The Snake” Huntly (Fullback), Chris Mitchell (Asst Coach) and Dan “Bones” Jones (Second row).

The team from Currajong Disability Servic­es are inviting organisations, schools and community groups to join them for a fun and inclusive day of sport and community.

A Super Tag Gala Day has been organ­ised for Tuesday 14 April, and will be all about bringing people together through footy in a way that includes everyone.

The idea started when Andrew Thomas, President of the Parkes Spacemen, sent a video to Douglas Pout from Currajong Dis­ability Services and said, “We need this.”

From there, the team from Currajong, alongside Andrew and working with Brooke Mallison from NSWRL, quickly decided to make it happen.

Douglas Pout said, “We kept coming back to the same thing, there just aren’t many opportunities locally for people with disability to get involved in proper, struc­tured sport without having to travel.

“So instead of waiting for something to come here, we thought we would build it ourselves. It’s about people having a crack, being part of something, and enjoying it.” said Doug.

The Super Tag Gala Day is primarily tar­geted towards people living with disability, but is open to people of all abilities, with providers, schools and community groups from across the region encouraged to come along.

Douglas Pout said the event has drawn interest from places like Orange, Cowra and further afield, with one group travelling from Newcastle.

Most participants will come through their service provider, but if someone wants to be involved, they can just reach out to Cur­rajong and they will be pointed in the right direction.

“Days like this give people a reason to get out, be involved, and connect with others.

It’s not just about the sport. It’s about hav­ing something to be part of, seeing familiar faces, and building a bit of confidence over time.” said Douglas.

Currajong are seeking donations and sponsorship and are also applying for grants to help support the day. A lot of the cost sits around food and running the event, so that’s where support makes a big difference.

In return for sponsorship businesses will be recognised across the event and on the day itself. But more than that, they’ll back­ing something that genuinely benefits the local community.

A strong turnout of over 100 participants plus staff and supporters is expected on Tuesday 14 April at Pioneer Oval, with sup­port from NSWRL on the day. Spectators and supporters are welcome and a commu­nity BBQ will be running.

For more information, please call Doug­las Pout on 0409 264 394 or email doug­las.pout@currajong.org.au.