Month: August 2012

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens Woo With Sweet Folk Music

Canberra songstress Julia Johnson and her outfit the Deep Sea Sirens have been quietly plugging away in the music business since 2005. After honing their craft, the band’s decided to time is right to release their debut album Family Pets.

The album has equal parts sadness and joy, all anchored together by Julia’s sweet vocals and her ever faithful instruments, the 36-string autoharp and banjo. It showcases tracks you might have heard when the band recently supported Tim Rogers, Lanie Lane, and Kate Miller-Heidke, including the current single “Little Surprises.” These songs were all recorded using vintage recording technology to ensure they have that authentic, analogue vibe.

If you like what you hear make sure you see Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens at their upcoming shows.

30 August 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
10 September 2012 – The Phoenix, Canberra (FREE)
12 October 2012 – The Empress, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Lark Bounces Back After Christchurch Quake with Aussie Tour

His practice space and studio might have been flattened in the Christchurch earthquake, but you can’t keep a musician like Tom Lark down.

He could have packed it in then and there but instead the Kiwi singer-songwriter went back to basics and sequestered himself in his bedroom. Rather than feeling hemmed in by the space’s restrictions, he became inspired by his new limitations. The not so originally titled Tom Lark EP is the result of this flurry of creativity. The disc features the new single “Give You All My Lovin’” and other songs which marry Tom’s innate sense of storytelling and folky guitar sounds.

Tom and his band will touch down in Australia for the first time next month to bring the EP to the masses. Catch them at the following venues, including dates supporting Sydney muso Feelings.

12 September 2012 – Bakery Lane, Brisbane
12 September 2012 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
19 September 2012 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (with Feelings)
20 September 2012 – Trinity Bar, Canberra (with Feelings)
21 September 2012 – Goodgod, Sydney (with Feelings)
22 September 2012 – Workers Club, Melbourne (with Feelings)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian & The Sapphires Number Ones for Second Week

Aussie artists Guy Sebastian and the team from The Sapphires have maintained their dominance of the ARIA Charts this week. For the second week we see Guy’s “Battle Scars” at the top of the singles charts, and The Sapphires soundtrack at number one on the albums charts.

Justice Crew have also maintained the pressure on the singles charts. Their monster hit “Boom Boom” holds steady at number two.

Ricki-Lee’s new album Fear & Freedom has made a big impact in its first week with a number seven debut. Meanwhile Missy Higgins and Karise Eden are hanging onto the top ten by their fingernails. The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle is at number 9, and My Journey’s at number 10.

Click below for all this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Guy Sebastian & The Sapphires Number Ones for Second Week” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wes Carr is Buffalo

Australian Idol alum Wes Carr has reinvented himself as Buffalo. The former talent show victor is a bit beardier these days, and his music has a more organic, rootsier, folkier feel. That’s showcased with his brand new single “Blood & Bone,” the title track from Buffalo’s debut EP.

The new sound is only fitting for Buffalo. The name was inspired by the native American belief that when someone dreams of a buffalo they will return to their heritage and roots. That’s exactly what Wes has done here. It’s so much simpler than the Silverchair-offshoot Tambalane or the radio-friendly music he created post-Idol. But that’s exactly why it’s so good.

You can see all that for yourself when Buffalo launches Blood & Bone at the following shows, including support slots with The McClymonts.

31 August 2012 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra (with the McClymonts)
1 September 2012 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (with the McClymonts)
6 September 2012 – Panthers Port Macquarie (with the McClymonts)
7 September 2012 – Cex Club, Coffs Harbour (with the McClymonts)
8 September 2012 – Club Forster (with the McClymonts)
9 September 2012 – Bateau Bay Hotel, Bateau Bay (3 pm show – with the McClymonts)
14 September 2012 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore (with the McClymonts)
15 September 2012 – Toowoomba Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (with the McClymonts)
21 September 2012 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (with the McClymonts)
22 September 2012 – Vikings Club, Canberra (with the McClymonts)
29 September 2012 – Evan Theatre @ Penrith Panthers, Penrith (with the McClymonts)
5 October 2012 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle (with the McClymonts)
6 October 2012 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
12 & 13 October 2012 – The Palms @ Crown Casino, Melbourne (with the McClymonts)
23 November 2012 – Notes, Newtown
30 November 2012 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Elliot the Bull Tour EP This Spring

I’m always interested to hear stories of bands in my backyard blowing up. So I’ve been thrilled to see the buzz Central Coast act Elliot the Bull generated after last month’s “Paint the Sky” single tour.

People raved about the band’s easy on stage presence, their effortless harmonies, and the quality of their songs. If you missed out then, don’t make the same mistake when the band tours their self-titled EP this spring. The EP easily blends folk, rock, and indie-pop influences to create a quintessentially Aussie sound.

Fresh from shows in China, Elliot the Bull will take advantage of the warm weather approaching with the following gigs along Australia’s east coast.

31 August 2012 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why (supporting Abby Dobson)
1 September 2012 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber (supporting Abby Dobson)
8 Sept 2012 – Upstairs – The Beresford, Surry Hills
13 September 2012 – The Loft @ UTS, Sydney
15 September 2012 – Big Exo Day, Sydney
20 September 2012 – Ravesi’s, Bondi
21 September 2012 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
28 September 2012 – Revolver, Melbourne
29 September 2012 – The Empress, Melbourne
4 October 2012 – Beer Garden, Surfers Paradise
6 October 2012 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
19 October 2012 – Burdekin Upstairs, Sydney
26 October 2012 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
27 October 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
28 October 2012 – Old Manly Boat Shed, Manly
10 November 2012 – Phoenix Bar, Canberra
11 November 2012 – The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale

Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sleep Decade’s Dreamy New Single “Bicycle”

Melbourne quartet Sleep Decade turn up the romance in their debut single “Bicycle.”

This isn’t your run of the mill love song with “moon in June” rhymes and clichéd scenarios. It’s much realer than that. You can feel the connection and chemistry between these two lost souls just discovering one another. It’s sweet, but not sappy.

Sleep Decade have spent the last year cutting their eye teeth alongside local acts like Pikelet, Richard in Your Mind, and Love Connection, but they’re about to step into the spotlight. Their debut album Into Spinning Lights will hit stores October, but before that they’ll launch the single for hometown fans at Fitzroy’s Bar Open on September 16.

Image used with permission from Shows in Space

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Leave It All Behind for Album Tour

With their debut album Leave It all Behind finally sitting on record store shelves, the time is right for Melbourne funk-soul charmers Saskwatch to take their show on the road.

The tour will be something of a homecoming party, as Saskwatch have spent August abroad playing the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Clearly they were just warming up to wow local music lovers.

If you love a foot stomping evening of sweet jams and soulful grooves, these shows are for you!

13 September 2012 – Bigsound, Brisbane
14 September 2012 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
15 September 2012 – Qpac, Brisbane (FREE)
16 September 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
20 September 2012 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
21 September 2012 – Stoke Factory, Wollongong
22 September 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
28 September 2012 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Festival, Haden
5 October 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
6 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 October 2012 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Little Father Time” – We Are The Birdcage

We Are the Birdcage first captured my imagination in March with their sweet single “Two Left Feet.” They make good on the promise I heard there with their debut EP Little Father Time.

In six tracks, the Sydney duo firmly establishes their sound. It’s folky, with gorgeous harmonies at the fore. The music is simple, but it swells unexpectedly as the tunes hit their emotional crescendo. The whole thing is really beautiful, accessible and well-crafted with few rough edges. Critics might call it too gentle and cruisy, but there’s something so appealing about the sweetness most of the tracks convey.

Not that We Are the Birdcage are incapable of digging down and finding some extra grit. “Much Too Small” is my favourite song from the recording as taps into that emotional core and ups the intensity. That extra dirt is so compelling. I loved the other songs, but adored this.

I was enjoying Amanda’s K’s vocals so much that it was a bit jarring to hear the twosome switch things up for the closing track “Carry the Fire.” It’s a gorgeous song, but that dominant male voice doesn’t quite gel with the rest of the recording. That’s really the only blemish on this EP though. Little Father Time is a gorgeous journey through We Are the Birdcage, and a hint at the brilliance that’s yet to come.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Murlocs Launch Tee Pee

We might expect an EP called Tee Pee to be full of puerile humour, but instead The Murlocs latest recording offers us a blast from the past.

The five-track EP builds on the fuzzy, harmonica spiced blues the band delivered on their first EP. The mates from Ocean Grove have such as appealing dirtiness about their sound that music lovers young and old can’t help but get on board.

The recording has such a raw sound and spontaneous energy that it’s unsurprising to hear it was recorded in just one weekend in harp player Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s spare room.

I can only imagine how beautifully such an organic EP will translate to the stage. Victorians will get the chance to find out when The Murlocs launch Tee Pee at The Tote on August 31.

Image used with permission from Singhala Music