Month: April 2012

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Flo Rida Promotes Good Feeling Down Under

Flo Rida’s new EP Good Feeling is in Australian music stores today, and the man himself won’t be too far behind. The American urban artist will visit Australia for a promotional tour between April 11 and 15.

It promises to be a busy time for Flo, who’ll meet his fans at Sydney and Melbourne’s shopping centres and rub shoulders with television’s elite at the Logie Awards.

I might be showing my age, but in my day in store appearances happened in shopping centres. These days it seems all the fun’s moved to the car parks. Flo Rida will appear at the level 8 car park in Westfield Parramatta at 4 pm on April 12 before jetting to the car park opposite Plaza Centre Way at Eastland Shopping Centre at noon on April 14.

Will you catch the Flo?

Image credit: Chad Griffith

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Delta Goodrem Back and “Sitting on Top of the World”

I was delighted to hear Delta Goodrem back on radio today with her new single “Sitting on Top of the World.” With a bit of a song drought and her relocation to the United States, she sort of dropped off my radar. It’s so great to have her back!

I’m also thrilled this song is so upbeat and optimistic. While I love Delta’s gut-wrenching ballads, we really were saturated with them. This song is a perfect slice of pop, with a positive message and killer vocals, naturally. It’s no surprise that it’s so good though, as Delta worked with Grammy Award winning producer John Shanks on the track. The single, which is officially released on April 13, is the first cut from Delta’s next album, which should hit stores later this year.

Its release is really well timed just a few days ahead of the premiere of The Voice. I’m reminded of the way Jennifer Lopez faded from view only to burn up the charts when she sat on the American Idol judging panel. Do you think we’ll see the same from Delta?

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Smitty & B. Goode Tour Rocking New EP

There’s no mucking around with Smitty & B. Goode. This rocking local twosome has just released a second EP We’ll Take It From Here, and you can hear the whole thing in just eight minutes!

There are four tracks in all, each one a good honest slice of old fashioned rock and roll. There are no tricks to it, perhaps because it was recorded in a Sydney community centre! The video for “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music” takes you inside the recording process. It’s all very back to basics, using the natural acoustics of the makeshift studio to great effect. It’s got some rough edges, but the passion of the players is infectious.

What you hear is what you get with Smitty & B. Goode. They’re two lads that love their music, so much so that they recently escaped the corporate grind to work on their craft full time. Without a day job to fall back on it, it sounds like they need fans to attend their EP launch tour more than ever! Get out and show your support at the following shows.

6 April 2012 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
15 April 2012 – Botany View Hotel, Newtown
27 April 2012 – Mum @ World Bar, Kings Cross
3 May 2012 – Old Bar, Fitzroy
4 May 2012 – Retreat Hotel, Brunswick
10 August 2012 – The Exeter Hotel, Adelaide
11 August 2012 – The Squatter’s Arms, Thebarton

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hanson Back Again & Touring Oz

Hold on to your eardrums; Hanson are heading back to Australia.

Probably their fans have mellowed a bit since the band’s glory days, but I still expect a bit of hysteria when those blonde brothers visit Australia this September, some seven years after their last trip Down Under.

No doubt we’ll enjoy a bit of “MMMBop” and other Middle of Nowhere gems, but the trio are also touring to promote their fifth album Shout It Out. Slated for a summer release, the disc promises that optimistic blend of soul and pop the band has always produced, albeit with some deeper vocals.

Tickets for Hanson’s brand new shows go on sale on April 12 from the usual outlets.

13 September 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
14 September 2012 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne
15 September 2012 – HiFi, Sydney
20 September 2012 – HiFi, Brisbane
21 September 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
22 September 2012 – Metropolis, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Riothouse Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Milek Tours Debut EP

Tom Milek is hitting the road to celebrate the release of his debut EP Love & Ambition.

If this charming track “Vicious Circles” is any indication, music lovers are in for a real treat with this disc. I love its organic feel, which sounds like the best of Ryan Adams with a bit of Whitley thrown in.

Tom Milek’s Love & Ambition tour kicks off in his hometown of Melbourne tomorrow and snakes around the country before wrapping up in the same city next month.

5 April 2012 – The Toff, Melbourne
12 April 2012 – Beavs Bar, Geelong
20 April 2012 – The Metro, Adelaide
21 April 2012 – The Loft, Warnambool
9 May 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
10 May 2012 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
24 May 2012 – The Gov, Adelaide
25 May 2012 – Cornish Arms, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Reef’s Gary Stringer

After blazing up the charts with “Put  Your Hands On” in 1997, Reef seemed to disappear from view. But now they’re back with a brand new box set and an Australian tour. I caught up with the band’s lead singer Gary Stringer to chat about those Down Under dates, the retrospective package, and the band’s next chapter.

You’re heading Down Under soon for your first tour in 12 years. Have you missed us?
For sure. Oz was a much favoured destination on the Reef whirlwind and the fact that we’ve  been asked to come back some 12 years later is just amazing.

What are your fondest memories of your last Australian visit?
The people. For example, if we mentioned surfing to someone, we’d be around their house and the garage would be swung open and we could take our pick of boards and suits. Lush. Eating pies after surfing too. Proper job.

You’ll be here for a couple of weeks. Do you have any plans to do some sightseeing?
I want to go to the free trades hall in Melbourne.

You’re touring to promote your new box set which features all your previous albums. What was it like compiling it and looking back on your body of work?
Blinding. Me and Jack [Bessant] were touring with the StringerBessant Yard album until October last year so when  the chance came to put together the box set and tour it around, it seemed just like the right time. The music has held up well. Not so sure about seeing myself as a 20-year-old in the home movie bit mind. The book and 12″ vinyl are ace.

Do you have a favourite song from your back catalogue?
I have a few favourites: “Steal Away,” “Lucky Number,” “Stone for Your Love,” “Say What You Want.”

You reformed in 2010. What inspired you to get the band back together?
Chris Gilks [Reef’s manager].

You’re currently touring at home. How does it feel to be back together, playing these songs you wrote so long ago?
It feels like a party.

You’ve got a reputation as a really dynamic live act. What do you think makes your shows so special?
Well I think you are asking the wrong fellow for this question. We give it our all. I like to get lost in the music. I also like to try and harness the energy of the audience too, you know … get it going on.

Since reforming you’ve playing some major festivals like Isle of Wight and Glastonbury, and soon Lakefest. Are you surprised that people are still interested in what you do so many years later?
Yes. We must have done something right. BBB Radio 1 still play Reef.

Releasing a box set seems a bit like closing one chapter. What does the future hold?
All being well, we start work on a 2nd StringerBessant album in October, and hopefully Dom [Greensmith, Reef drummer] will come play on it with us. Yeah man!

Catch Reef Down Under at the following shows this June.

1 June 2012 – Metropolis, Fremantle
7 June 2012 – The HiFi, Brisbane
8 June 2012 – Billboard, Melbourne
9 June 2012 – The Metro, Sydney

Image credit: Steve Gullick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing’s Gonna Stop The Darkness

Those blasts from the past just keep on coming. After a long absence, British glam rockers The Darkness are returning to our shores for their Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us tour.

Fans will be happy to note the band will tour with their original line up of Justin and Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, and Ed Graham. The shows won’t just reminisce about the band’s golden days, although I’m sure there’ll be plenty of that. The band will also spruik their third studio album, their first in eight years, which is expected to drop later this year. The disc hasn’t been christened yet, but it will feature the new single “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us.”

Expect shows as epic as the band’s image when The Darkness touch down in May. Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the following dates.

4 May 2012 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
5 May 2012 – Panthers, Newcastle
6 May 2012 – UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney
8 May 2012 – The Palace, Melbourne
10 May 2012 – ANU Bar, Canberra

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Churchill Launches “Detail of Distance” at Bluesfest

Could there be any better place for local guitarist and singer-songwriter Kim Churchill to launch his sophomore album Detail of Distance than Bluesfest. The album will hit stores on April 5, a day before Kim commences his three-day stint at the iconic Byron Bay festival.

Kim recorded Detail of Distance in Vancouver, Canada with the help of master producer Todd Simko (Xavier Rudd, Bif Naked). It showcases an artist mature beyond his 21 years who’s started to add some rock edge to his bluesy folk sound. You can definitely hear that new energy in “Season’s Grind,” the first single lifted from the album.

Happily for those of us scattered around the countryside it’s worth noting that the Bluesfest slots are far from your only chance to see Kim. He’ll play shows through to June, so he’s bound to pull in to a town near you.

6 April, 7 April & 8 April 2012 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay
19 April 2012 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
20 April 2012 – The Soundlounge, Gold Coast
21 April 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Sunshine Coast
22 April 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
28 April 2012 – The Gum Ball, Maitland
3 May 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
4 May 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
5 & 6 May 2012 – The Heritage Hotel, Bulli
10 May 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
11 May 2012 – Baha Tacos, Rye
12 May 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
13 May 2012 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
16 May 2012 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
17 May 2012 – The Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough (Free Entry)
Fri 18 May 2012 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
19 May 2012 – Norfolk Hotel, Fremantle
20 May 2012 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
25 & 26 May 2012 – Blues on Broadbeach, Gold Coast (Free Entry)
31 May 2012 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula
1 June 2012 – Milton Theatre, Milton
2 June 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Jimmy Little

I was saddened to hear the news this evening that Jimmy Little has passed away after a long battle with illness. At the age of 75 he slipped away in his sleep.

Like many music lovers of my generation I became aware of his music in 1999, when artists like Paul Kelly, The Church, and Nick Cave covered his songs on the Messenger album. After that I was impressed when he took on the songs of U2, PJ Harvey, and other modern musicians on his Life’s What You Make It record.

However Jimmy had hits from the 1950s, including songs like “Royal Telephone,” “El Paso,” and the Barry Gibb penned “One Road.”

The music is just one part of the Jimmy Little story though. He founded The Jimmy Little Foundation in 2006 and campaigned tirelessly to increase the life expectancy of indigenous Aussies. He’s got an Order of Australia, a NSW Senior Australian of the Year title, and he’s in the ARIA Hall of Fame.

For all these things and more, he will be missed.

Image source: Jimmy Little website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Partying for a Purpose Raises Funds for Indigenous Music Programs

If you’re going to go out and party next month, why not do it for a good cause? Major Raiser will host Partying with a Purpose at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel on May 5.

The event, the fourth of its kind, will raise funds for the Music Outback Foundation. This group donates musical instruments to outback schools to ensure our indigenous kids have the same opportunities for culture expression as those in the city.

Ticket holders will be entertained by Brisbane dance act Mitzi, Triple J darlings Glass Towers, as well as Toucan, Colour Coding, Conics, and Lancelot. If you can’t make it to the event you can also download Let’s Band Together, a compilation which features tracks from all contributing artists. You’ll find it at Major Raiser’s Bandcamp page. All proceeds from the digital release will also help the Music Outback Foundation.

If you can get along and support the event though, I suggest getting them early from Moshtix. Coopers Beer will give complementary ale to everyone who buys a pre-sale ticket, and Moshtix will donate a dollar for every pre-sale ticket to the cause.

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback