N’Fa Jones has blown my mind with the video for his new single “March On.”

The clip sees the former 1200 Techniques frontman singing along some cute little cartoon critters. The Grizzly Brothers worked on the clip which was shot live using stop-motion animation techniques. There’s right, there was no post-production to clean it up. Impressive stuff indeed!

The cool clip is just what N’Fa needs to promote his new EP Babylon, which hits music stores everywhere on April 6. To celebrate its release N’Fa will play the following launch shows around the country. Tickets are on sale from Moshtix now.

30 March 2012 – The Manor, Leederville (with DJ Charlie Bucket)
12 April 2012 – The Factory Floor, Marrickville (with Tom Showtime)
13 April 2012 – The Cambridge Side Bar, Newcastle (with Tom Showtime)
19 April 2012 – The Grace Darling, Collingwood (with Remi Kolawole & Tom Showtime)

The Jezabels are getting us all excited for their upcoming Australian shows with the release of a gorgeous new music video for their latest single “Rosebud.”

The atmospheric clip is the perfect accompaniment for this gorgeous new song, which comes from the band’s breakthrough debut album Prisoner. The LP is set to sell a few more copies as it’s just been released on old school vinyl. “Rosebud” will also be released as a 7-inch vinyl single for the upcoming Record Store Day. What a great way to mark the occasion which celebrates physical music!

As a reminder, here are all the places you can catch The Jezabels when they return home.

1 June 2012 – Festival Hall, Melbourne (all ages)
2 June 2012 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (all ages)
5 June 2012 – Metro City, Perth (18+)
7 June 2012 – Convention Centre, Brisbane (all ages)
9 June 2012 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (all ages)

Things are on the up for Jacob Butler. Fresh from the release of his new single “Come My Way,” the X Factor and Australian Idol graduate has inked a record deal with South Africa’s The David Gresham Company, the same independent label that takes care of The Temper Trap, Placebo, Nickelback, and Bush.

The deal will expose Jacob’s work to music lovers in South Africa and its territories, including Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “Come My Way” will hit the nation’s radio waves in the coming weeks.

“Come My Way” has also just hit radio after Munich based promoter Robert Larasser became interested in the track.

The “Come My Way” video has been viewed more than 125, 000 since its release two months ago, and it sounds like it’ll have plenty more hits in the months to come!

The Getaway Plan are the latest act to announce Groovin’ The Moo sideshows. The Aussie rockers will play three club shows in the major capitals to complement the regional festival dates.

The dates are well timed to support the release of the Melbourne band’s latest single “Move Along.” I’m in love with the film clip, which showcases some of the most gorgeous spots in Western Victoria. It’s inspiring me to do my own travelling!

Tickets are on sale now for the following Getaway Plan shows.

3 May 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond
5 May 2012 – Groovin’ The Moo, Bendigo
6 May 2012 – Groovin’ The Moo, Townsville
11 May 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
12 May 2012 – Groovin’ The Moo, Maitland
13 May 2012 – Groovin’ The Moo, Canberra
18 May 2012 – The Amplifier, Perth
19 May 2012 – Groovin’ The Moo, Bunbury

Nashville based singer-songwriter Butterfly Boucher has returned home to launch her impressive new single “5678!”

The track was recently named the single of the week on iTunes Australia, and it was also on the soundtrack of a recent Private Practice episode. And don’t you just love a single with an exclamation mark? It comes from her new album Butterfly Boucher, which hits stores on April 13. While it’s not her first release the self-titled moniker is appropriate, as it’s her first as an independent artist.

Butterfly Boucher’s tour kicks off tomorrow night in Melbourne before traveling through New South Wales and the ACT. Local appearances from this Adelaide born artist are rare, so see her at home while you can!

21 March 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
22 March 2012 – The Front Gallery Café, Canberra
24 March 2012 – The Vanguard, Sydney
25 March 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla

Sydney folk duo We Are the Birdcage has well and truly charmed me with their beautiful new single “Two Left Feet.”

The song tells of the missteps we all take in relationships. It sounds so gentle, but there’s real emotion behind those lush harmonies and the swell of the instruments. I am truly swept off my feet by this song, and can’t wait to hear more from this twosome.

It seems it’s time for me to track down the EP. “Two Left Feet” is the first single lifted from the Little Father Time, a disc that will further ponder love, loss, and other universally binding themes. I’m sure I’m not the only one begging for seconds!

When I think of the music of Alice Springs I imagine earthy blues or roots or patriotic country numbers. I certainly don’t think of the sounds of Lowlakes, a cruisy ambient act that surprisingly comes from the Red Centre.

Lowlakes release their self-titled debut EP today, a recording which features this single “Song for Motion.” It’s a gorgeous slow-burning song with Tom Snowdon’s distinctive vocals and a dreamlike, epic quality. I wasn’t quite sure about it when it started but by the end I was completely won over. It’s just so different and beautiful.

The Lowlakes EP is in stores now.

Respected Queensland hip hop artist Rainman is currently traveling around the east coast to promote his brilliant new single “Darlin’.”

I love the way Rainman’s rapping works with Calski’s soulful vocals, but I think I love the accompanying clip even more. Rainman assures us it’s no music video, but when a piece of footage is backed by a single it’s hard to resist calling it one! Whatever it is, it introduces us to Rainman’s impressive vinyl collection. Colour me jealous!

The track, which is digitally released on March 23, comes from Rainman’s second album Bigger Pictures, which drops on May 4. Both release dates are a little while off yet, but Rainman is already building buzz on his single launch tour. Here are the remaining dates.

17 March 2012 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
12 April 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (Free)
13 April 2012 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
14 April 2012 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
27 April 2012 – The Annandale, Sydney (Supporting Dialectrix)
28 April 2012 – Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle (Supporting Dialectrix)

Crooked Saint turns up the charm with this new single “Man in Waiting,” the second to come from his Sweating Bullets EP.

The Melbourne troubadour has created a gorgeous folk rock tune driven by his jangly banjo and warm harmonica. The song is about having too much fun, and the inevitable repercussions of living with such wild abandon. It was never intended to be a single, but it’s had such positive feedback that Crooked Saint couldn’t resist giving it a digital release.

After relocating to Sydney and Los Angeles for months at a time last year, Crooked Saint has turned his attentions back to his home state. He’s currently playing shows in his native Victoria, along with a very special Live in Your Lounge gig. Want him to play in your lounge? Then just head to ToneDeaf to enter!

15 March 2012 – Baha Tapas & Taco, Rye
16 March 2012 – The Torquay Hotel, Torquay
17 March 2012 – The Espy Basement, St Kilda
24 March 2012 – Live In Your Lounge

This week Oceanics wowed me with their new single “Chinatown (Is Not Newtown),” so when I got the opportunity to chat to the band’s guitarist Jackson Haswell I jumped at the chance. Read on to find all about the song that’s stuck in my head, the band’s forthcoming EP, and life on the road.

You’re releasing your second EP at the end of the month. What can you tell me about it?
We’d like to think that it’s a solid step in a more mature direction. Wayne Connolly really helped us develop as a collective, and better understand the principles of songwriting.

What do you think you learned between the recording of your first EP and this one?
Once again, I attribute a lot of the learning process to Wayne Connolly here. Our approach to writing songs, especially at the guitar platform, has been influenced. Elliot and I began working on newer material even during the recording process of this EP, and are excited to keep trucking with our new approach.

What was it like stepping into the studio the second time around?
Considering it was a larger studio, miles from home, it was different to say the least. We borrowed Wayne’s excellent amp collection and really had a chance to mess around with sounds and make forward strides in our journey to finding our sound.

The EP features the single “Chinatown (Is Not Newtown),” which is one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard lately. Why did you choose to share it with the public?
Thank you very much! It was a decision influenced by radio pluggers and PR types from Melbourne to Brisbane. Next time I’d be very interested to see how a decision would fare, based purely upon the band’s collective instinct.

Your press release credits your friendship as one of the keys to the band’s success. How did you all meet?
That sounds cute. I would say we’re as friendly with each other as any other young band. We all have our own friendship circles outside Oceanics. Elliot and I were friends in high school, and met Andy and Tom later when we decided to take our Simon and Garfunkel guitar duo to the live stage.

You’re about to start touring the East Coast to support the EP’s release. How do you feel about that?
We’re flying to Melbourne on Thursday night to begin the first of the shows. We’re excited to be playing that far south once again. It’s been a while.

What do you love most about playing live?
Playing electric guitar is where I find my personality extended to its fullest. Being applauded by a large group of people for purely doing what I love is the best thing I’ve encountered in my 20 years on this planet.

Will the rest of Australia get the chance to see you any time soon?
At this stage, places like Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania aren’t a feasible option. It’s certainly something I’ll be pushing for as soon as possible though. This country is huge and I want to do laps of it.

Do you have anything else in the pipeline?
Writing as many songs as possible for the foreseeable future. We want an extensive song bank to choose from for our next studio production, whenever that may be.

You can catch Oceanics doing their thing at the following venues this month and the next.

15 March 2012 – Laundry, Melbourne
16 March 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney
22 March 2012 – Cobra Kai, Brisbane (EP Launch)
23 March 2012 – Elsewhere, Gold Coast (EP Launch)
12 April 2012 – Landsdowne Hotel, Sydney
13 April 2012 – Mum, Sydney
14 April 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney