Swim Season bowled me over in February with their single “Hide and Seek.” Now they’ve done it again with their latest cut, “Soldiers.”
This track is so accessible that I can easily see it earning a place on commercial radio, and that’s no criticism. It’s wonderful to hear a song that you can immediately connect with. It has such a great feel to it, it reminds me of summer barbeques and beers.
“Soldiers” is the latest track lifted from Swim Season’s debut EP Cascades. They’re currently celebrating its release with some launch parties. Catch them at The Roxbury in Sydney on November 28 or the Workers Club in Geelong on December 11.
Unless you were one of the lucky fans at Josh’s Fans First shows, this will be your first chance to hear the new material up close and personal. A couple of zoo shows and beautiful theatre dates will ensure these will be some very special concerts.
“I’m extremely excited to share this tour news with you!,” Josh said in a press release. “It’s been ages since I’ve done a full band tour, but it’s all happening next year, and I’ve tried to make as many shows ‘All Ages’ as possible.”
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
29 January 2016 – Twilight at Taronga, Sydney (ALL AGES)
30 January 2016 – Canberra Theatre Playhouse, Canberra (ALL AGES)
4 February 2016 – Studio 56 @ Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
5 February 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
6 February 2016 – Star Court Theatre, Lismore (ALL AGES)
12 February 2016 – Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
13 February 2016 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong
19 February 2016 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
20 February 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Under 18s permitted with parent or guardian)
After playing 40 dates in the United States, Melbourne songstress Shelley Segal is back home playing concerts and showing off her softer side with her new single “Background Noises.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been let down by a Shelley Segal song, and she keeps her record intact with this one. It’s an insightful track reflecting on the breakdown of her friends’ marriage and how she might fare in the same circumstances.
“The chorus seems to mean something different to me each time I sing it. Sometimes a shock, a deep loss, a painful reminder, an acceptance, a coming to terms with, a finality, a longing, an assertiveness, a future, a determinedness. As such a change would at different times of reflection,” she explained in the press release. “It’s not just a love or relationship lost but a physical place – a space and time that was all encompassing and is now gone.”
After all those US dates, she’s bound to be in fine form. Here are all the remaining shows of her Aussie tour.
21 November 2015 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (18+ FREE)
22 November 2015 – Hickenbotham of Dromana, Dromana (ALL AGES FREE)
26 November 2015 – Bennetts Lane, Melbourne (18+)
27 November 2015 – Collins Square, Docklands (ALL AGES FREE)
28 November 2015 – Paynesville Wine Bar, Paynesville (18+)
29 November 2015 – The Milk Factory, South Brisbane (Under 18s permitted after contacting venue)
9 December 2015 – Albion Hotel, Albury (18+ FREE)
13 December 2015 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (18+ FREE)
18 December 2015 – Collins Square, Docklands (ALL AGES FREE)
As I stated in my last post, I’ve been bouncing off the walls this week. There’s not a lot of music that can match the sort of energy I’m feeling, but Melbourne’s Vallee are in synch with how I’m feeling with their new single “Jungle.”
It’s such a fun, upbeat track with frantic guitar loops and pounding jungle drums. Amanda Norman from SANS adds depth to Vallee’s signature harmonies. And I love the lyrics, which reference those instant connections you make that really leave their mark.
I’ve been bouncing off the walls this week with the news that Rob Thomas is finally touring this country again. It’s been too many years since he was here with Matchbox Twenty, and even longer since we were treated to solo shows. But finally, fans like me have some dates to start looking forward to.
Rob’s heading our way to promote The Great Unknown, a fantastic album that really should have lingered longer in the charts. Hopefully his recent promo tour can put it back in the top 50, because it really deserves to be heard. I’ve been playing it most days since its release and while my husband’s probably over it, I’m still not sick of it.
Rob seems to love a winery as much as I do, so there are a few winery shows as with his tours in the past. He’s playing traditional entertainment centres as well, but the real pick of them is bound to be his show on the steps of the Opera House. During his promo tour this week I’ve heard him talking about the fond memories he has of that Crowded House farewell show on the steps, and how consequently that gig has some real significance for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear a Crowded House cover on the night.
As a member of the fan club, I’ve already got my tickets, but there’s a Live Nation presale on November 23 ahead of the general sale on November 25. To get you in the mood, here’s the charming video for his new clip “Hold On Forever.”
20 February 2016 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 February 2016 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
24 February 2016 – ‘On The Steps’ Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney
27 February 2016 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley
28 February 2016 – Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton
2 March 2016 – Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth
5 March 2016 – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley
6 March 2016 – Clipsal 500, Adelaide
Sometimes you listen to new music and you know before it even really starts that it’s going to be your thing. It was like that when I started to play “You Don’t Know Me,” the latest single by Melbourne singer-songwriter Vinten. It had me at the strings and folky sounds, but the track backed it up with much more than these winning elements.
Apparently Vinten has been in something of a writing frenzy of late, and his inspiration is creating greatness. The song is so lush and organic, with such a strong emotional core. The lyrics which reference a childhood love and that longing we always have, despite knowing we can’t go back, are so relatable. This is quality stuff.
The time leading up to Christmas is always busy, but Vinten’s encouraging us all to put his EP launch date in our calendars. He’ll launch his debut EP What Has Been, featuring “You Don’t Know Me,” on December 19 at The Public Bar in North Melbourne. It sounds like an excellent way to take a break from all of the pre-Christmas frenzy to me!
Some days you just feel taking off, leaving behind all of the responsibility and baggage and bullshit and starting over. Queensland pop act Fieu taps into that desire in her brilliant new single “Running.”
It’s a bolder and more commercial sound than we’ve seen from Fieu at the past, which could be the influence of her collaborator Joel Quartermain of Eskimo Joe shining through. Either way, I like it. If you do too, make sure you catch Fieu at one of the remaining shows of her east coast tour.
18 November 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
19 & 20 November 2015 – Australian Music Week, Sydney
22 November 2015 – Element Bar, Coffs Harbour
X Factor fans might know him as Barry Southgate, but Barry Conrad is quick to let music lovers know that chapter of his life is firmly behind him. As if to prove the point he’s emerged with a brand new name (dropping his surname in favour of his middle name) and a brand new single “Anywhere We Go.”
I listened to the single version first, and honestly I wasn’t that impressed. It was a bit overproduced and too polished for my taste. But I’ve always loved Barry, so I decided to give the song one more try and listen to the version he did on The Morning Show.
This is where it’s at. Without the bells and whistles of a studio, the song’s laid bare and it’s better for it. Changing his name late in the game means Barry really has to start again in terms of building his brand, but he’s got the talent to do just that.
Georgi Kay’s single “In My Mind” might have earned has an ARIA and a Grammy nomination, but it didn’t really get me going. I was looking for a bit more meat from this Aussie songstress, and I found that in abundance in her new single “God of a Girl.”
This is a dark and powerful number which explores the mind of an abuse victim and what happens when you push someone past their breaking point. It’s much more stripped back than “In My Mind,” which allows you to really appreciate Georgi’s smoky tones.
It might not fill a dancefloor like her previous single, but I think it’s great stuff. Unfortunately I only have access to a sample to play for you, but if you like what you hear head to Georgi Kay’s website and sign up to her mailing list to get a free download of the song.
Former Sydneysiders Falls might be living in Los Angeles now, but when they’re releasing music as beautiful as their latest single “When We Were Young,” I’m happy to keep on covering them on Sounds of Oz.
This track sees the band back to their country-folk best after the release of the previous single, the cinematic “Let In The Light.” Both tracks come from Falls’ most recent album Omaha.
They were slated to come back home to play the Gorgeous Festival, but after that was cancelled I’m not sure they’ll be making the trip. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see this talented twosome back on Aussie soil.
The always reliable 