The nomadic Sui Zhen has used her travels as creative fodder for her debut album Two Seas.
It’s truly a global release, with tracks written, mixed, and recorded here, there, and everywhere. Songs written in the bustle of Sydney were laid down in the calmer surrounds of a Southern Highlands church before being arranged in Berlin and finally mixed in on the New South Wales South Coast. While visiting family in Bahrain, Sui Zhen knew the time was right to stop collecting songs and unleash them on the public.
The internationally influenced disc is best described as indie-folk, although the dashes of country, pop, and other genres mean it doesn’t neatly fit in any box. The single “Little Frog” gives you some indication of what’s in store.
Two Seas hits stores today, which gives fans a few weeks to familiarise themselves with the songs before Sui Zhen takes the album on the road. See this exciting singer-songwriter and her full band at the following launch shows:
30 May 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood
1 June 2012 – The Lass’O'Gowrie, Wickham
3 June 2012 – FBi Social, Kings Cross
6 June 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 June 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong (Free)
14 June 2012 – The Front Café & Gallery, Canberra
If the old saying that there’s no rest for the wicked is true, the lads from Busby Marou must be very bad boys. Fresh from shows in North America, this hardworking Rockhampton duo is preparing to hit local stages again.
The forthcoming tour celebrates the recent release of the deluxe edition of their self-titled debut album. If you still don’t have it yet, the addition of the new single “I Still Don’t Believe,” some old EP tracks, and a few choice cover versions might convince you to invest!
The single tour is your last chance to see Busby Marou before they return to North America for the rest of the year. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
14 June 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
15 June 2012 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
16 June 2012 – Diggers Grand Ballroom, Tamworth
20 June 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
22 June 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 June 2012 – Zierholz, Canberra
24 June 2012 – The New Albury Hotel, Albury (Free)
27 June 2012 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
28 June 2012 – The Corner, Melbourne
29 June 2012 – Fowlers, Adelaide
6 July 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
7 July 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
8 July 2012 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle
12 July 2012 – Woombye Pub, Sunny Coast
13 July 2012 – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
14 July 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
15 July 2012 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
Image used with permission from Footstomp Music
I was thrilled to wake up to the news that George Michael is returning to our shores. I was disappointed when illness derailed his plans to bring his Symphonica tour to Australia earlier this year, so it’s exciting to see he hasn’t forgotten about us during his recovery.
George put on one of the best shows of the year when he toured here in 2010. With the addition of a symphony orchestra and the promise of some long awaited new material, these Aussie dates are sure to take things up a notch. While I look forward to hearing some new tunes, I’m also excited to hear he’ll play hits from way back in the Wham! days and some choice cover versions.
Tickets for the following shows go on sale to the public on May 10 at noon:
13 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
17 November 2012 – All Phones Arena, Sydney
21 November 2012 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
27 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
1 December 2012 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley
Image source: Insasse @ Wikipedia Commons
Perth act The Autumn Isles are taking their brand of psychedelic pop to Melbourne and its suburbs for four big shows in just three nights!
Kicking off tonight, the band will treat discerning music lovers to tracks from their colourful debut album Kaleidoscopes. This isn’t a band that relies on studio trickery, so I’m sure they’ll shine in the live setting. Melbournites can catch them at the following shows over the next few days:
3 May 2012 – Bertha Brown, Melbourne
5 May 2012 – Purepop Records, St Kilda (3 pm)
5 May 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
6 May 2012 – The Retreat, Abbotsford
Image used with permission from The Autumn Isles
Nine Sons of Dan have introduced us to their forthcoming EP The New Kids with the rocking new single “Diamond Skin.”
The single shows us the way Nine Sons of Dan have matured since their last release, no doubt under the guidance of American producer J.R. McNeely (Amberlin, Paramore). It hits harder, but it’s got this strong melodic core that anchors it so well. While J.R. McNeely took the reins on “Diamond Skin” the remaining five tracks were overseen by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect).
The New Kids should be a big release for the band who took out the rock category in last year’s New Artist to Radio Awards. It’ll hit record store shelves around the world on June 29, not long after the band wraps up their support slots for The Darkness.
Drummer Morgan “Flakey” Blake says the single captures the energy of Nine Sons of Dan’s live shows, so if you dig it you’ll probably want to see them in the flesh. Conveniently enough once their dates with The Darkness wrap up they’re taking the EP on the road. Catch the Gold Coast lads at the following shows this July:
12 July 2012 – Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie (18+)
13 July 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
14 July 2012 – Youth Arts Warehouse @ Metrodome, Gosford (All Ages)
15 July 2012 – The Lair @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
19 July 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
21 July 2012 – The PA @ Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast (18+)
27 July 2012 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (All Ages)
28 July 2012 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (18+)
29 July 2012 – Spensers Live, Melbourne (Under 18s, 2 pm)
4 August 2012 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment
It took David Myles six albums to finally get to Australia over the Christmas period, but thankfully it hasn’t taken so long to arrange a return visit. The Canadian singer-songwriter will tour Australia again this May.
David’s still riding high on the success of that sixth album Into the Sun. That record’s been nominated for five awards at Canada’s upcoming East Coast Music Awards, so it’s clearly something special. David’s currently touring the album through his homeland, so he should be in fine form when he touches down in Oz.
Make sure you arrive at the shows early to see some local talent from Aussie duo Camille & Stuie. The twosome joined David at his Brass Monkey show last time, and he was so impressed by their performance he offered them the support slot this time around. See why at the following gigs.
18 May 2012 – The Pub,Tamworth (Free)
19 May 2012 – Woombye Pub, Woombye
20 May 2012 – Pioneer Village, Petrie
24 May 2012 – The Vault, Windsor
25 May 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
26 May 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
1 June 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
2 June 2012 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
3 June 2012 – Lizottes, Newcastle
8 June 2012 – Wesley Anne Hotel, Northcote
9 June 2012 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
10 June 2012 – Harvester Moon Cafe, Bellarine
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Tijuana Cartel are celebrating the release of ”Offer Yourself,” their first single of 2012, with a month long tour.
It’s a far cry from the three-month mission they embarked on late last year, but it should see the Gold Coast act fresh faced as they stop in on capital cities and regional centres.
It’s also the perfect warm up to pending international dates, which include a slot at America’s acclaimed Burning Man Festival and Germany’s Fusion Festival.
See Tijuana Cartel off in style at the following shows:
12 May 2012 – Bay View Hotel, Batemans Bay
18 May 2012 – Soundlounge, Currumbin
19 May 2012 – The Great Northern, Byron Bay
24 May 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
25 May 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
26 May 2012 – The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
31 May 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
1 June 2012 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
2 June 2012 – White Star, Albany
8 June 2012 – Divers, Broome
9 June 2012 – Hotel Kununurra, Kununurra
15 June 2012 – The Bakery, Perth
Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment
The Aves will whip crowds into a frenzy when they take their new EP Panic on the road next month.
The Adelaide outfit will play dates in Victoria and New South Wales before returning to the City of Churches. It’ll be a short homecoming though, as the band are slated to appear at Canada’s NXNE Festival in June.
The Aves will treat audiences to their gritty brand of garage pop at the following shows:
9 May 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong
10 May 2012 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney (Free)
11 May 2012 – World Bar, Sydney
18 May 2012 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
18 May 2012 – Pony, Melbourne (2 am)
1 June 2012 – Worldsend, Adelaide
Image used with permission from Show Off Services
Buckley Ward will take their new album So Pretend to the masses this month.
The follow-up to Something in the Night is jampacked with perfect pop music with heart. The layered organic sounds and pitch perfect harmonies are what the genre should sound like. The singles “Into the Darkening Blue” and the title track sit amongst new favourites.
So Pretend hits stores on April 20, which gives fans at the first show in Adelaide a little more than a week to learn the words! Here are all the shows on Buckley Ward’s album tour.
28 April 2012 – Edinburgh Castle, Adelaide
11 May 2012 – X&Y, Brisbane
19 May 2012 – The Toff, Melbourne
27 May 2012 – Pure Pop Records, Melbourne
2 June 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney
Image used with permission from Show Off Services
Royston Vasie are riding the wave following their recent supporting slot on the Ben Kweller and Manchester Orchestra tour. If you enjoyed the band’s melodic sensibilities then, you’ll love their new single “You Want It Now.”
The song is our first taste of the band’s debut album Tanahmerah, which will hit stores in June. It features the irresistibly catchy guitar hooks and big singalong choruses the Melbourne quartet are famous for.
Royston Vasie will celebrate the single release with two big launch shows. They’ll play for hometown audiences at the Northcote Social Club on April 28 before taking the stage at Sydney’s Oxford Arts Factory on May 11.
