Month: June 2010

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cola Wars To Tour Invader Album

Cola Wars told us that we’d see them on the road really soon, and now they’re making good on that promise. The band, which is made up of former members of Bodyjar and For Amusement Only, has announced a string of dates to support the release of their debut album Invader.

“We’ve had such a great response from people who have heard the single [“Giving It Up”] we can’t wait to get the whole LP out and play the tracks live,” enthused guitarist and vocalist Cam Baines.

The tour kicks off on June 18, which just happens to be the same date the album drops. Punters attending the Northcote gig won’t have to buy the album though, as it’s included in their ticket price! Tickets for all gigs are available from the venues for the following shows.

18 June 2010 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
8 July 2010 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
9 July 2010 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
10 July 2010 – Thriller @ Rosies Tavern, Brisbane
16 July 2010 – TBC, Melbourne
17 July 2010 – Bang @ Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne
7 August 2010 – Enigma Bar, Adelaide

Image source: Cola Wars website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

My Fiction Offer Free Download Ahead of Album Release

Brisbane band My Fiction are preparing to release their debut album FireRomanceFire, and can’t wait for you to hear it. The indie rockers are so eager to share their music that they’re offering the track “Gravel Rash and Football Stars” as a free download. Just click here to enjoy the song!

Produced by ARIA Award winner Magoo, FireRomanceFire features the single “Every June,” which is already enjoying some airplay and rave reviews on Triple J.

FireRomanceFire is due out in July. To celebrate its release, the band will play a special show for their hometown at The Zoo on June 16. Tickets are currently available from the venue, and it pays to get them early. All presold tickets will come bundled with a copy of the album; not bad for 20 bucks!

Interstate fans shouldn’t feel too neglected, as My Fiction promises to announce shows around the country soon.

Image source: My Fiction MySpace

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes Raging New Release

Jimmy Barnes is following up his massive 2009 album The Rhythm and the Blues with an album of originals entitled Rage and Ruin.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 05: Jimmy Barnes of Cold Chisel performs during a Cold Chisel concert at ANZ Stadium on December 5, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)


Barnesy recorded the disc in Los Angeles earlier this year with producer Don Gehman. Jimmy tragics will note that this is the same producer who worked on Two Fires, Heat, Soul Deep, and Flesh and Wood. These are amongst my favourite Barnesy CDs, so I’m hopeful that the newie will be just as exciting.

Jimmy will give us a taste of what’s to come when he performs the first single “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” at Wednesdauy night’s State of Origin game. This is Jimmy’s kind of crowd, so he’s sure to go down a treat.

Rage and Ruin will hit stores on August 13.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Earth Worker Gives Away Single, Supports Ash Grunwald

Dean Carroll, or Earth Worker as he’s known to music buffs, is giving away his new single “Who’s Coming Along” as a free digital download. Just click here to get your hands on the track, which comes from Dean’s debut album Seeds of Light.

The album has been a labour of love for Dean, who independently recorded and produced it along with writing all the songs. We should see that disc in stores this summer.

Earth Worker will play a string of shows to support the single release, including an appearance at the Winter Magic Festival and the support slot on Ash Grunwald’s Katoomba concert. If you want to see Earth Worker live check out the following gigs. More dates will be announced closer to the release of Seeds of Light.
19 June 2010 – Winter Magic Festival, Katoomba
30 June 2010 – Baroque Bar, Katoomba
1 July 2010 – Steel Mantra Body Mod and Piercing, Windsor
2 July 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
15 July 2010 – Happy Yess, Darwin
14 July 2010 – Happy Yess, Darwin

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus & Julia Stone Outsell the Rest with “Down the Way”

We all knew Angus & Julia Stone’s latest album Down the Way was selling truckloads, but what you might not realise is that the album is this year’s highest selling local release.

The disc has notched up platinum sales since it debuted at number one in March, a position it held for two consecutive weeks. Several months after its release, it’s just reentered the top ten.

With the duo such hot property at the moment, it’s no wonder that extra shows have been added to their upcoming tour. Here’s the revised schedule; if you still haven’t organized your tickets I suggest doing so ASAP!

18 August 2010 – Moncreif Theatre, Bundaberg
19 August 2010 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
20 August 2010 – Andergrove Tavern, Mackay
21 August 2010 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
22 August 2010 – Botanic Gardens, Cairns
25 August 2010 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
26 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
27 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (NEW SHOW)
1 September 2010 – Llewellyn Hall ANU, Canberra
2 September 2010 – University Hall, Wollongong
3 September 2010 – Grandstand Hall @ Showgrounds, Hobart
4 September 2010 – The Saloon, Launceston
8 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (NEW SHOW)
9 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
10 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
11 September 2010 – Town Hall, Meeniyan (SOLD OUT)
12 September 2010 – Town Hall, Meeniyan (SOLD OUT)
17 September 2010 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
18 September 2010 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
24 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (NEW SHOW)
25 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
26 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Queen Ifrica Joins Blue King Brown for “Women’s Revolution”

Blue King Brown are back with their new single “Women’s Revolution,” a collaboration with respected Jamaican chart topper Queen Ifrica. Reflecting the heritage of both acts, its dynamic film clip was shot in Kingston and Melbourne.

“The song draws inspiration from the day-to-day female leaders in our world,” explained lead singer Natalie Pa’apa’a. “It also identifies and reinforces the philosophy that the best way to effect change in communities of developing nations is to educate, support and encourage the young female population, as they are most commonly the ones who grow up to be the anchors and teachers within their families and extended community. Queen Ifrica is one of Jamaica’s most gifted female artists and it has been incredible to have her collaborate with Blue King Brown. Feel it!”

“Women’s Revolution” will be available as a digital download from June 11. The song and video will be bundled together on iTunes for the special price of $1.69. “Women’s Revolution” comes from Blue King Brown’s sophomore album Worldwize, which will be in stores on August 20. The album’s release coincides with the band’s support slot on John Butler Trio’s April Uprising tour.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gurrumul Gets an American Release, Announces US Tour

In 2008 all of Australia fell under the spell of Gurrumul. This blind indigenous singer sang in a language most of us didn’t understand, but his warmth and passion spoke to us in way that went beyond words.

His self-titled album went platinum twice and won ARIA Awards for best independent release and best world album. Now American audiences are set to hear it, with the album scoring a US release through Dramatico Records on June 15.

Gurrumul will support the release with the following shows in North America and Europe, where he has also built a strong following. If you’re living abroad, you don’t want to miss these shows.

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu performs live on stage during the Indigenous Music Awards 2009 at the Gardens Amphitheatre on August 21, 2009 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Peter Eve/Getty Images)


15 June 2010 – Joe’s Pub , New York City
20 June 2010 – World Cafe Live, Philadelphia
22 June 2010 – Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Centre, Washington
24 June 2010 – Enwave Theatre @ Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
30 June 2010 – Old Town School of Folk Music , Chicago
6 July 2010 – Triple Door , Seattle
8 July 2010 – Troubadour, Los Angeles
15 July 2010 – Muffathalle, Munich
16 July 2010 – Sunset Festival, Zurich
19 July 2010 – Nice Jazz Festival, Nice
20 July 2010 – Paleo Festival, Nyon
22 July 2010 – Stuttgart Jazz Open @ Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart
23 July 2010 – WOMAD Festival, Malmesbury
24 July 2010 – Barbican Centre, London

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aeons To Give Away New Beyond the Satellites EP

Sydney electro-pop duo Aeons are preparing to release their debut EP Beyond the Satellites this month, and they want you to enjoy it for free.

I’ve heard the first track from this five-song release, “Where The Sky Meets the Sea,” and I’ve got to say I’m impressed. I’m not typically a fan of electronic music, but this isn’t the kind of thing you need to hear in a club to appreciate. The track is well crafted, the vocals superb, and the sound very slick. Click here to give it a listen!

I shouldn’t be surprised though, as Aeons enlisted the help of Diamond Cut, the producer behind remixes for Cassette Kids, Amy Meredith, Delta Goodrem, and loads more. The lads themselves are no slouches, having performed at Parklife and remixed the likes of Lisa Mitchell and Deep Sea Arcade.

Beyond the Satellites will be released on June 18 through Aeons’ Bandcamp and MySpace pages.

Image used with permission from Aeons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Brittle’s Geoff Slingsby

In less than a week, Brittle will unleash their debut EP The Owls, a project that the band are preparing to give away for free! Today I caught up with the band’s drummer Geoff Slingsby to chat about his band’s generosity, their massive three-month tour, and more.

Brittle’s an interesting band name. Where did that come from?
We started off as teenagers in high school, and we just started out playing covers and stuff like that. And my mum booked us a gig at the local ampitheatre, and we didn’t have a same. So it was just really spontaneous. We were first called Brittle FX, but then we changed it just to Brittle because of other band names like NO FX and Def FX, stuff like that. We changed it to Brittle and then we just stuck with that. We liked it and it’s a bit different.

You’re about to release your new EP The Owls. Was it as much fun to make as it is to listen to?
Yeah, it was amazing. We had a really good experience because we worked with a well-known producer called Mark Opitz. It was a lot of fun because he was showing us a lot of different skills and stuff that he had, and he was sharing a lot of stories with us from working with people like Michael Hutchence from INXS, Rose Tattoo, stuff like that.

I was reading over the names of some of the bands he’s worked with. Was it a little intimidating getting in the studio with him, knowing all of those big names he’s produced?
Yeah, it was a bit intimidating because we’d never worked with a producer before. So we didn’t really know what to expect. We were like sponges. We just listened to every thing he said and we just did it.

You’re preparing to give the EP away as a free digital download, which is an extraordinary step. Why did you decide to be so generous with your music?
Well, one way or another people are going to like it. It takes one person to put it up on the net and they can get it for free anyway. But also it’s good to give something for free as well. We talked about it a lot with each other and we thought to get some really good fans if we just start giving away stuff for free, then they’ll be more likely to come to a show because they’ll know the songs. Rather than having to download it and worry about paying for it, this is a lot quicker and a lot more available.
Continue reading “Q & A with Brittle’s Geoff Slingsby” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Help Feed Homeless Dogs with Pedigree Adoption Drive

I wanted to take a short break from chatting about music to mention another topic that’s dear to my heart. You might have noticed the Pedigree Adoption Drive banner in my sidebar. I was always of the opinion that it’d be a great cause to support, but I was also acutely aware than my cat Gizmo would never tolerate us adding a pup to the mix. I also rent, so getting a dog approved would be a bit of a long shot.

But as the banner reminds us, even if we can’t adopt a dog we can help the brand make a difference. Clicking on the banner will take you through to the Pedigree Adoption Drive’s Facebook page. Show that you “like” it and Pedigree will donate a bowl of food to a homeless dog. It’s a really simple thing we can all do to help out dogs that need it. While you’re at the Facebook page you can also make a special Pedigree version of your profile pic to help spread the word. If you can resist those sad puppy eyes you’re a stronger person than me!

Image source: Claudia Meyer @ Stock.xchng