I haven’t come across Brisbane four-piece Grand Atlantic before, but they’ve really impressed me with this acoustic cover of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” The lads have stripped the bouncy girl power anthem back to acoustic guitars, a little percussion, and vocals, and the result is quite remarkable. And there’s not a single leotard to be seen! Well done!
Month: May 2009
See Shannon Noll In The Raw
Shannon Noll fans have been waiting patiently as the singer-songwriter struts his stuff in Europe. But their loyalty won’t go unrewarded, with Shannon announcing a massive homecoming tour.
Shannon will strip back his radio-friendly tunes for the In The Raw: In Conversation and Acoustic shows. Unfortunately the territories will miss out, but you can’t fault a bloke who pays a visit to every Aussie state.
With plenty of regional dates there’s probably a show near you. Tickets are on sale from the venues now!
30 July 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
31 July 2009 – The Epping Club
1 August 2009 – Blacktown Workers
7 August 2009 – Harbord Diggers Club
8 August 2009 – Penrith Panthers
14 & 15 August 2009 – Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
20 August 2009 – Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton
21 August 2009 – Burswood Theatre, Perth
22 August 2009 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
23 August 2009 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
27 August 2009 – Kedron Wavell Services Club, Brisbane
28 August 2009 – Gympie Muster
29 August 2009 – Twin Towns Services Club, Gold Coast
30 August 2009 – Victoria Point Sharks Club, Brisbane
4 & 5 September 2009 – The Palms At Crown, Melbourne
11 September 2009 – Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre, Hobart
12 September 2009 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston
16 September 2009 – Stawell Town Hall
17 September 2009 – GPAC Ford Theatre, Geelong
18 September 2009 – Regent Multiplex, Ballarat
19 September 2009 – Regent Theatre, Yarram
20 September 2009 – Warrnambool Entertainment Centre
25 September 2009 – Revesby Workers Club
26 September 2009 – North Sydney Leagues Club
2 October 2009 – Cessnock Supporters Club
3 October 2009 – Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club
Hype Escalates Over Eskimo Joe Inshalla Release
There are just eight days to go until Eskimo Joe release their brand new album Inshalla. To celebrate the release, the band has given their website a hot new makeover.
But that’s just the start of the Inshalla excitement. If you’re in Sydney on Tuesday May 26 make sure you get down to the Apple Store on George Street, where the band will perform as part of the iTunes Live from Sydney series. The free show kicks off at 9 pm, but as access is limited fans are encouraged to arrive early. If you can’t make it to the show, or if you just want to relive it, you can buy an EP of the performance through iTunes.
The band isn’t forgetting their fans home in Western Australia, with a very special preview concert coinciding with the album launch on May 29. Tickets to the show can be won through Nova937 or the Eskimo Joe e-mail list.
But that’s not the only perk for Western Australians. The band will also release a special WA-only edition of Inshalla, featuring a live disc with tracks recorded on the band’s last album tour. Copies are strictly limited, so make sure you reserve your copy at your local WA record store!
Image source: Newscom
Doves Fly Into Australia
Blink and you might just miss them, but the Doves are returning to Australia for a couple of dates!
The British rockers are visiting for the first time in four years to support their new album Kingdom of Rust. Their last local tour sold out, and the tiny venues this time around mean they’re likely to repeat the feet.
Rumour has it that the band will also appear at Byron Bay’s Splendour in the Grass festival, so if you’ve got tickets to that you may be in for a treat. Otherwise, grab your tickets for these confirmed shows from the usual outlets on June 4.
28 July 2009 – Billboards, Melbourne
30 July 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
1 August – Capitol, Perth
Image source: Newscom
Monster Magnet Announce Aussie Tour
New Jersey natives Monster Magnet are preparing to rock Oz for the first time since 1999.
It’s an interesting time for the band to tour considering their last album 4-Way Diablo was released way back in 2007, but I’m sure fans aren’t about to complain. Frontman Dave Wyndorf says the show will make you “swim in the sweat of a million orgies.”
If that description isn’t enough to fire up the enthusiasts, and scare the pants off the mothers of kids attending the Sydney show, then I don’t know what is! Catch the band at the following venues this September.
5 September 2009 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (18+)
6 September 2009 – The Metro, Sydney (All ages)
8 September 2009 – Billboard, Melbourne (18+)
10 September 2009 – Metropolis, Fremantle (18+)
Image source: PR Photos
Sui Zhen Wows Street Press Collective for uncharTED Semis Spot
Sydney songbird Sui Zhen has won her place into the Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED semi finals after impressing Street Press Collective.
“If she was from Iceland you’d love her; she’s from Australia so you should love her more,” said a spokesperson from Street Press Collective.
She’ll join the other media picks – Ellington Death Battle, and Hot Little Hands – and the top six public-voted bands in the semi finals.
They’ll battle to earn a spot at Splendour in the Grass and an artist development package worth $25,000. You could catch the band live at Splendour simply by voting for your favourite. There’s just one more week of voting to go, so head to the website and make your voice heard!
Image used with permission from Peer Media Group
New Kids on the Block Announce Australian Tour
Here’s the news all girls in their mid-twenties have been waiting for. New Kids on the Block are visiting Australia.
Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight and Danny Wood paved the way for the likes of Take That, Backstreet Boys, and ‘N Sync. It might seem strange for a boy band to get back together now they’re middle-aged men, but Joey says their friendship is as strong as ever.
“I think the thing with us is that we always hung onto the fact that we were buddies first. It’s different now, it’s a little more planned out and professional, but we’re still a bunch of guys who love doing this and want every show to be our best,’ said Joey.
Who better to support a middle-aged boy band than an ex boy band star? Former Westlife member Brian McFadden will also be along for the ride.
So have N.K.O.T.B still got “the right stuff?” You can find out at the following shows. Tickets go on sale from the usual outlets on May 28.
1 August 2009 – Burswood Arena, Perth
3 August 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
4 August 2009 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
6 August 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
8 August 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
10 August 2009 – Acer Arena, Sydney
15 August 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Image source: PR Photos
Pez Gives "These Days" Another Spin
Melbourne hip-hopper Pez is following up his smash hit “The Festival Song,” with another surefire chart-topper “These Days 2009.”
The song is a remixed, rerecorded version of fan favourite “These Days.” It sees Pez reunite with Blue King Brown’s Hailey Cramer and some of Melbourne’s finest session musos.
Pez said he was inspired to revamp the song to give back to his loyal fan base.
“I was so amazed by the level of support people gave to the ‘The Festival Song’ when it hit radio late last year – and I’m still amazed at the response it continues to get at shows, online and on the radio,” Pez said.
“At the same time, I wanted to show people who only knew me from ‘The Festival Song’ that there’s not just one side to me, that I’m a diverse artist with a lot more to offer than just that one track. And of course, I wanted to give the loyal supporters – those who’ve copped the album and keep telling me that they want to hear new material – something really special to tide them over until I drop another full-length.
“I think with ‘These Days 2009,’ we’ve achieved all of that. We’ve improved on the original track tenfold and I can’t wait for people to hear it for themselves.”
The release of ‘These Days 2009’ coincides with Pez’s support slot on Bliss N Eso’s national tour. Check out this amazing urban lineup at the following venues!
6 June 2009 – ANU Bar, Canberra (18+)
12 & 13 June 2009 – Festival Hall, Melbourne (All ages)
19 June 2009 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)
26 June 2009 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (All ages)
27 June 2009 – Metro City, Perth (18+)
Image used with permission from Soulmate Records
Hot Little Hands Make uncharTED Semis
The Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED competition is beginning to take shape, with the announcement of the MySpace media pick. Melbourne outfit Hot Little Hands have automatically secured a spot on the semifinals, which kick off on May 22. They’ll join the other media picks, Ellington from Brisbane and Death Mattel from Sydney.
MySpace was drawn to Hot Little Hands original sound and stage presence.
“They’re an ‘ORIGINAL’ band – and you can’t say that about a lot of bands,” explained Mark Bulgin, Marketing Manager for MySpace Australia. “They manage to take influences from electro-pop and rock n’ roll and make something unique out of it without any pretention. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re white-hot live.”
Hot Little Hands will join the other media picks and the bands receiving the most public votes at the uncharTED website. Head to the site and cast your vote for your chance to win tickets to Splendour in the Grass!
Image source: Bratha @ Flickr
Get Starting Sunday Single For Free
Melbourne outfit Starting Sunday are preparing to wow Australia with the release of their brand new EP tomorrow and a national tour kicking off later this month.
As Front Counter, the band quickly established a loyal following in Melbourne and even appeared on Neighbours! Now they’re back with a new name and a new grown-up sound.
“Originally we were going to keep the name, then we started writing more music for this EP and we started to realise that not only had our sound drastically changed and matured, but we as a group had grown and moved on. We didn’t feel like we were Front Counter anymore, so a name change became very important,” singer and guitarist Rhys Thompson said.
“We wanted to portray the idea of a new beginning. It was on a Sunday after a few shows in Brisbane that everything changed. The new band started on a Sunday, so after a while it became pretty obvious what we should call the band.”
You can check out Starting Sunday before your friends with their free download offer. Just head to their website, leave your e-mail address, and you’ll get their first single “When You’re Around” for free. How cool is that?
The track is instantly accessible, with a sing-along chorus and the perfect blend of rock and pop. If you’re into Starting Sunday, make sure you catch them on their national tour. Most of the shows are over 18s, but there are a few all ages gigs for the kids too!
28 May 2009 – “Snitch” @ Rosie’s Nightclub, Brisbane (18+)
30 May 2009 – The Hive, Fortitude Valley PCYC, Brisbane (All Ages)
4 June 2009 – “Hot Damn” @ Spectrum, Sydney (18+)
12 June 2009 – Barwon Club, Geelong (18+)
19 June 2009 – Mischief @ Mynt Lounge, Werribee (18+)
20 June 2009 – Fist 2 Face In Store, Melbourne (All Ages – 1pm)
20 June 2009 – “Bang” @ Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
21 June 2009 – Coburg Festival, Coburg (All Ages)
26 June 2009 – Syke @ Electric Light Hotel, Adelaide (18+)
27 June 2009 – We Are Godzilla, Adelaide (All Ages – 1pm)
3 July 2009 – Rubys Lounge, Belgrave, VIC (18+)
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment