Month: December 2012

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Strangers Announce Album Tour

Sydney rock quintet Strangers will kick off 2013 with a national tour to promote their debut album Persona Non Grata.

It’s a gritty release, but one with real maturity that’s no doubt been helped along by seasoned producer Tom Larkin (Shihad, The Getaway Plan, Calling All Cars). As the title track shows, it rocks hard, but the melodic guitar riffs ensure it stays accessible.

The release of Persona Non Grata caps off a big year for Strangers, who enjoyed support slots with The Darkness, Good Charlotte, and Calling All Cars, and even sold out their own headlining show at The Lansdowne. The upcoming nine-date tour hints that 2013 might be just as epic!

31 January 2013 – The Great Northern, Newcastle
1 February 2013 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
2 February 2013 – The Patch, Wollongong
7 February 2013 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
8 February 2013 – Workers Club, Melbourne
14 February 2013 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle
15 February 2013 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (FREE)
16 February 2013 – Amplifier, Perth
17 February 2013 – Indi Bar, Scarborough

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tony Joe White Announces Aussie Tour

Not content with shows at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest, Tony Joe White has decided to arrive in Australia early and play shows around the country.

Music lovers will be treated to the timeless tunes of the Swamp Fox, a bona fide music legend who’s been in the business for the last 50 years. I’m sure his sets will feature plenty of classics, but this won’t be just as nostalgia tour. Tony Joe released his most recent studio album The Shine in 2010. It scored rave reviews and proved Tony Joe’s
still got it.

Tickets for the following shows are available now from Love Police.

7 March 2013 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
8 March 2013 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
9 March 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
10 March 2013 – Substation, Newport
13 March 2013 – The Basement, Sydney
14 March 2013 – Coogee Diggers, Coogee
15 March 2013 – Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, Hurlstone Park
16 March 2013 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
17 March 2013 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
28 March 2013 – The Gov, Adelaide
29 March 2013 – Boogie @ Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook
30 March 2013 – The Deni Blues & Roots Festival, Deniliquin
31 March – 1 April 2013 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay

Image source: Raul Mesa @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Vigo Offers Album Tease with New Single

Kate Vigo’s current suitor should be under no illusion with the release of her new “Not the One.” The track pulls no punches; this man might be a good distraction for now, but he’s not the one!

“Not the One” comes from Kate’s forthcoming album Blue to Gold, a disc which promises to fuse the organic roots of music with the synthetic sounds Kate loves so much. She says she’s been enjoying having fun and writing the kind of songs that “people can dance around in their bedroom to,” although she adds that the album also has a much darker side.

If “Not the One’s” any indication, Blue to Gold will be an album to listen out for in 2013.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Churchill Comes Home for Summer Tour

After playing more in 300 shows around the world in 2012, you’d think Kim Churchill would be ready for a rest. But it seems the lure of a homegrown summer tour is too strong. Kim will return to Australia for a string of dates to support last year’s release of his sophomore album Details of Distance.

The album showcases an artist whose traditional bluesy, folky sound is maturing. There’s a grittier edge to the songs including the first single “Season’s Grind” and the newie, “Sarah.” Kim recorded the album in Vancouver, Canada, and he’s clearly excited to bring it to music lovers in his own country this summer.

“I’m excited to be in my country for the summer for once,” Kim said in a statement. “Also very excited to be touring with Steve Smyth. I find him melodically very inspiring and an incredible performer.”

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

2 January 2013 – Indica Showcase @ The Vanguard, Sydney
5 January 2013 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
6 January 2013 – Beav’s Bar, Geelong
9 January 2013 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
10 January 2013 – Cambridge Hotel Side Bar, Newcastle
11 January 2013 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong NSW
12 January 2013 – The Basement, Sydney
18 January 2013 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Fremantle
19 January 2013 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
20 January 2013 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
22 January 2013 – The Loft, Gold Coast
23 January 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
24 January 2013 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
25 January 2013 – The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
26 January 2013 – Widgefest, Jugiong
1 February 2013 – Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series, Melbourne
2 February 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
16 February 2013 – Garden of Unearthly Delights @ Paradiso Spiegeltent, Adelaide
17 February 2013 – Fringe Comes to Birdwood @ Birdwood High School, Birdwood
22-24 February 2013 – Cobargo Folk Festival, Cobargo
1-3 March 2013 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
8-11 March 2013 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
15-17 March 2013 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fairchild Republic Strike Gold Again

Is anyone sick of hearing me talk about how good Gold Coast six-piece Fairchild Republic are? I fall a little more in love with them every time I hear a new track. The latest is “Tear Us Down” an anthemic slice of pop-rock that will have you wanting to buy a cigarette lighter, just so you can hold it above your head in the soaring chorus. I’m pretty sure there’s not a bad song in this talented new act.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Finn, Hood Gurus, and More for Between the Bays

With a stellar line-up of Aussie acts, this year’s Between the Bays Music Festival is shaping up to be one of the best. This Mornington Peninsula festival might not be massive, but it’s managed to attract The Hoodoo Gurus, James Reyne, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Tim Finn for the 2013 event.

No doubt these acts are attracted to Between the Bays’ relaxed vibe and family-friendly community feel. Those city kids can keep their festivals with lengthy queues and greasy junk food. Between the Bays encourages punters to bring their own picnics or enjoy the food and wine from local providers.

For the eighth annual Between the Bays, organisers are trying something new. It’s starting a bit later, at 4 pm to be precise, and will run through to the evening. It seems like a pretty smart move as crowds won’t need to cope with stifling summer heats!

Between the Bays will hit a rural property on Rickards Road in Moorooduc in the Mornington Peninsula on February 23. Tickets cost just $59.90 and even less for the kids. Get yours through Ticketmaster now.

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“King of the Sun” – Jamie Hay

With the year drawing to a close, I expected I had heard all of the albums destined to make an impression on me in 2012. And then I started up King of the Sun by Jamie Hay.

It’s an album of pure heart, a collection of songs that’s raw and organic and poignantly stripped bare. With little more than an acoustic or slide guitar, sometimes a banjo, to keep time, Jamie’s vocals take center stage. There’s so much passion and soul in his roughened voice, it grabs you and forces you to listen until the last note.

King of the Sun is quintessentially Australian in many respects. Jamie’s songs reference local towns and use the word “mate” casually. They take place in pubs, not bars. But your average Aussie bloke wouldn’t share as much of himself as Jamie does here.

It’s hard to name standout tracks, because every one is so bloody good. I was still moved by “Rabbit Hole,” the single I heard months before. “The Gift of Years” also compels, an a capella track that is so striking and brave. It’s fitting though for an album that dares to be exposed.

I feel like I can’t say enough good things about King of the Sun, so perhaps I should just say this. I haven’t gone through my recent reviews and decided what album is my favourite of the year, but I’m not sure I need to. I’m pretty sure this is it.

Image source: Hobblehoy Bandcamp

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Los Coronas Announce First Aussie Tour

Celebrate summer with the brassy sounds of acclaimed Spanish surf rock band Los Coronas.

Formed in Madrid in 1991, this exciting band blends traditional Spanish melodies with retro Californian surf music. Their distinctive sound is showcased on their incredible 2010 release “Big Wave Riders.”

It’s taken Los Coronas more than two decades to reach Australia, and they’re not wasting their time on our shores. They’ll play the following sets at some of Australia’s best summer festivals as well as headlining shows around the country.

29 & 30 December 2012 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford
31 December 2012 – Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island
1 January 2013 – New Year’s Day Concert @ Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
2 January 2013 – Clancys, Dunsborough
3 January 2013 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 January 2013 – Space Theatre @ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
6 January 2013 – Summer of Soul @ Mossvale Park, South Gippsland
8 January 2013 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
10 January 2013 – Westernport Hotel, Westernport
11 & 12 January 2013 – Sydney Festival @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney
15 January 2013 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
16 January 2013 – Mona Foma, Hobart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justin Townes Earle Announces Another Aussie Tour

Justin Townes Earle has made so many trips to our fair shores that he’s virtually an honorary Aussie. So it’s unsurprising, yet still exciting, to hear he’s planning to play a string of dates along the East Coast next February.

It’s hard to work out exactly why Justin’s making his way here. He hasn’t released another album since he toured Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now last April. There’s no big blues festival in February to entice him. Perhaps it’s just a good excuse to introduce us to Robert Ellis, a Houston-based singer-songwriter who’ll make his Australian debut as Justin’s support act. Or perhaps Justin just loves Australia so much that he doesn’t need any reason to play for us.

You can see him doing just that at the following shows. Tickets are on sale now from Love Police.

2 February 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
3 February 2013 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (afternoon show @ 1:30 pm)
5 February 2013 – The Basement, Sydney
6 February 2013 – Coogee Diggers, Coogee
8 February 2013 – Heritage Hotel, Thirroul
9 February 2013 – Milton Theatre, Milton
10 February 2013 – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
13 February 2013 – Lizottes, Newcastle
15 February 2013 – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth
16 February 2013 – Star Court Theatre, Lismore
17 February 2013 – Byron Community Centre, Byron Bay
19 February 2013 – The Old Museum, Brisbane

Image source: Skot Nelson @ Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Von Stache Charms with “Sandbox Love”

Victorian act Von Stache has wooed me with the video for her latest song “Sandbox Love.” The vintage clip was actually created using old footage of her parents. Doesn’t that just make this love story even sweeter? It’s not overly polished, as we’d expect from something recorded independently in a home studio, but there’s something so delicious about this slice of retro electro-pop!

If you love Von Stache’s sweet homegrown sound, you’ll be happy to know there’s more where it came from. Von Stache is preparing to release her debut four-track EP We Don’t Sleep In the Night in the coming weeks.