Month: August 2009

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tooheys Extra Dry Launches uncharTED LIVE Free Shows

Fresh from the success of the recent Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED competition comes uncharTED LIVE, a series of free gigs showcasing some of Australia’s most promising up-and-comers.

“TED has a proud history of supporting Australia’s best emerging artists and live music events,” said Tooheys Extra Dry Marketing Director, Josh Gaudry. “uncharTED LIVE gives us an opportunity to take a breaking artists platform that has really gone from strength to strength over the past three years, and merge it with a year round calendar of live music events.

“This new platform will not only give uncharTED entrants more exposure and a chance to build on their fan base during the key competition public voting periods, but also give fans more chances to get out there and experience what uncharTED is all about – celebrating Australia’s best emerging talent.”

Free tickets are available to anyone over the age of 18 who registers on the uncharTED website. Shows are on at the following locations around the country.

Enigma Bar, Adelaide
20 Aug – Amour Fou, The Foundry, Tidal Jive
3 Sep – Erosion, Blood Red Renaissance, Kremator
10 Sep – Sonny Loveless, Before Clear Skies, Day on Fire,

Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
15 Aug – Burning Brooklyn, The Bloodpoets, Teleprompter
29 Aug – FelineDown, Nine Sons of Dan, Grand Atlantic
12 Sep – Super Nudists, Letter To Spain, Ellington
19 Sep – No Filter, Falling Short, The Gallant

Annandale Hotel, Sydney
13 Aug – Cap A Capo, Hytest, One Flew East, Chemical Transport
20 Aug – The Deer Republic, Sierra Fin, Free Agent Crew, The Waitups
27 Aug – Chambers, Marble Archers, Hancock Basement, Under Lights, Hercules

Amplifier Bar, Perth
13 Aug – Tracksuit, Sleep TV, Stellas Kitchen
27 Aug – Columbia, Ravior, Die_Zeitgeist
10 Sep – The Transients, with more to be announced
24 Sep – Homebrewe, Hostile Little Face, Rise Apollo

Prince Of Wales, Melbourne
2 Sep – Foxx On Fire, National Airlines, Polygon Palace, The Tiger & Me
9 Sep – Hot Little Hands, Saint James, Goodnight Owl, The Hamish Macleod Band

Image source: Ilker @ Stock.xchng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jarvis Cocker Flies Solo to Oz

Beloved Brit popper Jarvis Cocker made a splash in the 1990s with the group Pulp. These days he’s doing the solo thing, and he’s winging his way to Australia in December to show us how.

The tour comes on the back of the album Further Complications, Jarvis’ second solo recording. Four shows have been scheduled for the tour, which strangely bypasses Melbourne. I’ve got no clue what he’s got against the Victorian capital, but after so many tours missing Adelaide these days it’s nice to see that at least they don’t miss out.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale on Friday August 14.

5 December 2009 – HiFi Bar, Brisbane
7 December 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
8 December 2009 – Metropolis, Fremantle
10 December 2009 – HQ Bar, Adelaide

Image source: livepict.com @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Bawden's Classical Crossover CD

gracepromoshot

When a singer impresses the likes of Olivia Newton-John, you know she’s got something special. Livvy says soprano Grace Bawden has “one of the most beautiful” voices she’s ever heard. And she’s only 16.

Grace displays a maturity beyond her years on her debut album Gifts of Grace, a blend of contemporary and classical songs. There’s something for everybody here, including covers of “Streets of Philadelphia,” “Now and Forever,” and the album’s first single, an interpretation of the Icehouse hit “Man of Colours.” A real highlight is “Cold Outside” featuring the incomparable Soweto Gospel Choir. With an R&B groove, African beats, and Grace’s distinctive soprano vocals, it’s really something else.

Grace will showcase tracks from the soon-to-be released album at the following South Australian shows this month. If you’re in the area, make sure you check her out!

10 August 2009 – Shedley Theatre, Elizabeth
11 August 2009 – Marion Cultural Centre
11 August 2009 – Star Theatres, Hilton
12 Augsut 2009 – PT Noarlunga Arts Centre
13 August 2009 – Golden Grove Arts Centre
14 August 2009 – Parks Arts & Functions Complex, Angle Park
18 August 2009 – Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga Centre
22 August 2009 – Opera on the Creek, Jacobs Creek Retreat

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Robinson Comes Home

Teen guitar virtuoso “Smoking” Joe Robinson, the winner of season two of Australia’s Got Talent, is coming home for a series of September and October shows.

He’s spent the last two months in the United States, splitting his time between Nashville and New York. During that time he’s attracted the attention of industry heavyweights Stevie Vai, Dweezil Zappa, and our own Tommy and Phil Emmanuel.

“I’m looking very forward to coming back home and I’m so excited to be bringing this electric show out on the road! I’ve played electric guitar since I was about 10,” he said. “It’s only been the last two years in which I’ve been in acoustic mode. It’s going to be great fun working with such a great band, too! We’ll be playing plenty of my original tunes, cool arrangements of popular tunes, as well as some of my acoustic tracks.”

This will be our last chance to catch the talented youngster for a while, as he’s heading to China after these dates. It sounds like everything’s happening for this amazing guitarist.

4 September 2009 – Raval @ Macquarie Hotel, Surry Hills
5 September 2009 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
6 September 2009 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
9 September 2009 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
10 September 2009 – Commercial Hotel, Kaniva
11 September 2009 – The Sand Bar, Mildura
12 September 2009 – Paris Cat, Melbourne
16 September 2009 – Milton Theatre, Ulladulla (All ages)
17 September 2009 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber (Under 18s permitted with adult supervision)
19 September 2009 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba (Under 18s permitted with adult supervision)
20 September 2009 – Glasshouse, Port Macquarie (All ages)
23 September 2009 – Bon Amici Café, Toowoomba (Under 18s permitted with adult supervision) 24 September 2009 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi (Under 18s permitted with adult supervision) 25 September 2009 – Lone Star Tavern, Gold Coast
26 September 2009 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall (All ages)
27 September 2009 – Brisbane Jazz Club
1 October 2009 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
2 October 2009 – Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree (All ages)
3 October 2009 – Northern Star Hotel, Newcastle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hot Little Hands Announce Hot Little Tour

Fresh from their stint as Toohey’s Dry uncharTED finalists, Hot Little Hands are taking their music on the road. The Melbourne outfit will join forces with New Zealand’s The Tutts for four big shows.

Hot Little Hands come armed with two synthesizers, a Wurlitzer, and some surprises! Their sound has been described as a “mix of 80s revival, 50s electronic-voodoo-swamp-blues and 60s garage disco,” with “some soul, electro, four part harmonies, funk, trumpet blasts, and pop” thrown in for good measure. That’s an impressive blend!

The tour celebrates the release of “Dynamite In Black & White,” the third single from the band’s album of the same name. It’s currently available through Rubber Records.

Tickets for the following shows are available now through Posse.

14 August 2009 – Spectrum, Sydney
22 August 2009 – Troubadour, Brisbane
27 August 2009 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
28 August 2009 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"The Bottom of the Lake" – Tinpan Orange

bottomofthelakecover

One of the greatest perks of my job is getting a jump on amazing new music before the rest of the world. The latest disc to cross my desk and touch my heart is “The Bottom of the Lake” by Tinpan Orange.

I’d never heard of the band, but I was instantly drawn in by the whimsical cover art and the promise of mandolins and ukuleles. I’m always a sucker for instrumentation that’s a little left of centre.

This is one CD that didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them. This is music that feels familiar, yet completely different from anything that inhabits radio. The sound is lush; not from studio wizardry but from the rich textured layering of instruments and vocals. For a three-piece, Tinpan Orange have one hell of a sound. Everything is perfectly measured: delicate, lilting, and warm.

Emily Lubitz is a real find, a siren with a voice so husky and inviting. Her brother Jesse’s songs didn’t gel with me as easily. I’m reminded of the way I felt when listening to george years ago, so enamoured with Katie Noonan that I struggled to appreciate Tyrone’s tracks. As with Tyrone Noonan, the songs with Jesse Lubitz up front aren’t bad. They just don’t thrill me in quite the same way.

That aside, it’s really hard to find fault with this album. It’s an exciting release, with elements of folk, jazz, and even a little flamenco. Like a patchwork quilt, no two pieces are quite the same, yet it all comes together as something magical and very special.

The Bottom of the Lake will hit record stores on August 17.

Image used with permission from Two Fish

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Nik Yiannikas from Lost Valentinos

They say there’s no rest for the wicked. If that’s true, the lads from Lost Valentinos must have been very naughty boys! Fresh from a European tour, they’re already preparing to travel around our fair country to promote their highly anticipated debut album Cities of Gold. I caught up with the band’s frontman Nik Yiannikas ahead of the craziness!

You’ve just come back from a European tour. How was that?
It was great. We had been there briefly before, a few years ago, and in the time in between we have become a much better band. Our sound is definitely more refined and I think we have found our own “thing” now rather than something that is obviously borrowing from other bands, like we may have been in the past.

In the UK the crowds are quite tough, I guess because of the sheer amount of quality music they are exposed to, but I think we definitely left an impression over there and will be back there very soon. The rest of Europe was very receptive from the outset and, from our experience at least, I can say that playing in continental Europe is always a lot of fun!

You’re about to head out on your Conquistadisco tour. Are you looking forward to getting back in front of your local fans?
For sure. There’s no place like home! And we haven’t really done the regional thing yet, so it’s a bit of a journey into the unknown.

It’s a pretty fantastic name for a tour. What can music fans expect from these shows?
It is a great name isn’t it?! In fact it is a word that Ewan Pearson came up with to describe us whilst we were making the album. As for the tour, all of the following words go a little way towards describing the spectacle that is the Lost Valentinos live show: Gold. Black. Samba whistles. Air horns. Sometimes two drummers, sometimes one drummer. Kwaito. Forceful krautrockin’ techno. Manchester. Guitars. MS-20.

During the tour you’re playing Splendour in the Grass, and you’ve played Parklife, Falls, and Playground Weekender in the past. What do you enjoy about the festival experience?
Pretty much everything! You get the best riders, best treatment and biggest crowds when playing at festivals. Except when it’s a shit festival, then it can be a really bad experience.

Continue reading “Q & A with Nik Yiannikas from Lost Valentinos” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Song Obsession: "Last Day on Earth" by Kate Miller-Heidke

It’s funny how life sometimes brings you back to songs, making you remember why you loved them in the first place, perhaps even making you fall a little deeper.

When I received the album Curiouser by Kate Miller-Heidke last year I was instantly struck by just how stunning the song “The Last Day on Earth” was. Then Channel Ten used it in their latest advertising campaign for Neighbours, and I fell in love all over again.

Apparently the song raced up the iTunes charts as the Australian TV viewing public grieved, so Sony has decided to release the track as an official single. Smart move. And now that we’ve got an official film clip, with Kate looking absolutely stunning with her red dress and new strawberry blonde do, I can erase the image of a sobbing Declan from my mind as I listen! While I can’t embed that clip, you can enjoy this live version!

 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Peats Ridge Music Festival Lineup Announced

The more laid-back alternative to Coaster, the Peats Ridge Music Festival, has announced another incredible line-up for the New Year.

Local darlings Sarah Blasko, Liam Finn, The Panics, Whitley, Ash Grunwald, Blue King Brown and many more will all travel to the Central Coast to take part.

The first and second run of tickets have already sold out on the festival’s reputation alone, but fear not. A third batch will go on sale on Wednesday 12 August from Oztix from 9 am. But don’t delay, as once these tickets go that’s it.

The Peats Ridge Music Festival is the first major music event in Australia to run entirely on renewable energy. So why not have a green New Year, and celebrate with some top tunes? The festival runs from December 29 to January 1.

Image source: Somaya @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jez Mead is No Sucker

In a world of disposable pop and middle-of-the-road rock, the authentic tunes of Jez Mead are somewhat of a revelation. He’s been an independent force for years, but now this poetic sage is taking his music to the masses.

Jez is set to release his debut EP Sucker on September 4, and he’s winging his way around the country to celebrate. The disc is the first release on Jez’s own label Belly Up Records, which works in conjunction with EMI Music Australia. But there’s more to come, with Jez set to release his debut album Beard of Bees early next year.

See Jez and hear his message at the following launch shows around the country.

3 September 2009 – Emily Grace, Adelaide
10 September 2009 – Northcote Social, Melbourne
17 September 2009 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
23 September 2009 – The View Factory, Newcastle
25 September 2009 – Diggers Tavern, Bellingen
30 September 2009 – Troubadour, Brisbane
2 October 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Original Matters