Chops & Mash are making delicious music like their latest single “Castle High.” This is one of those songs that sneaks up on you, drawing you in with its delicate treatment and beautiful harmonies. The lyrics, which explore the idea of the way we take freedom of information for granted and will willingly sacrifice our privacy for convenience are so timely.
The modern themes are appropriate for this Mullumbimby act who came together over Instagram to make music. Today a real life couple, they balance their musical ambitions with the responsibility of caring for mini-Chops! Juggling music and parenthood can’t be easy, but hopefully we hear more from this talented twosome really soon.
Author: Lauren Katulka
Music and More at Brisbane’s Free Hidden Lanes Festival
Exciting Aussie acts including Tyne-James Organ, The Vanns, Cry Club, and Greta Stanley will entertain crowds at this year’s The Hidden Lanes Festival in Brisbane. The event aims to celebrate the lanes of Fortitude Valley, shining a light on more than 80 local businesses operating in California, Winn, Bakery, Lucky, and Little Valley Lanes.
Aside from the musical acts, there’ll be plenty of food vendors, a fashion and beauty trail, an art and design trail, and nearly 20 master classes teaching you everything from how to make cocktails to how to braid hair.
All this is completely free, so get amongst it on October 26. The Hidden Lanes Festival takes over Fortitude Valley’s lanes from 10 am til late. Register for the master classes and heritage trail via the event’s website.
Image used with permission from Gyro PR
Creature Fear Ease You Into Your Working Week With “Makeup”
Getting back to work after a long weekend is never easy, but Melbourne’s Creature Fear are here to blast away the blues with their feelgood new single “Makeup.” It’s got a cool ‘60s garage rock feel with a fun pop flair that makes it great fun from the first listen, but even more likeable with every subsequent spin. Trust me.
Vocalist and guitarist Cameron Graham says the song is “about feeling suppressed but experiencing an awakening that gives you an urge to want to portray yourself true to who you are.”
Creature Fear have earned a reputation as a must-see band through support slots with Killing Heidi, Ball Park Music, Kingswood, Tired Lion, The Delta Riggs, and Boo Seeka. Victorians can catch them doing their thing at the remaining shows of their single launch tour.
11 October 2019 – The Catfish, Melbourne
12 October 2019 – The Workers Club, Geelong (FREE)
Josh Kroehn’s New Single is Fire
Some songs are great background music. They provide a soundtrack that helps us charge forward with our day. However, there are other songs that require a little more attention. If you don’t give them your full focus, you might just miss their beauty. “Here I Burn,” the latest track from Josh Kroehn’s EP Something I’ve Found is one of those songs that really deserves you to take a moment out of your day and just listen.
It starts small and subtle. Wait for it though. It might be a slow burner, but when it takes hold it doesn’t let go. The self-reflective lyrics are also so powerful.
Josh will launch his EP for hometown audiences at The Jade in Adelaide on October 11.
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
Clews Rework “Hollywood” and It’s Amazing
It’s amazing how a different treatment can help you hear a song in a brand new way. I didn’t mind “Hollywood” on its release, but Clews’ song didn’t excite me enough to encourage me to put fingers to keyboard. Now that the Aussie sisters from Mollymook have stripped the song back for “Hollywood II,” I’m firmly on board.
This acoustic treatment really brings out the poetry and pain in the lyrics. I kind of missed the pathos in this track about that tricky transition from youth to adulthood before.
Clews will treat local fans to their Spooky Pageant tour before heading off to the UK for the first time, then returning home for some summer festivals. Catch them at all the following shows.
25 October 2019 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
1 November 2019 – Foundry, Brisbane
2 November 2019 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 November 2019 – The Wardrobe – Live at Leeds, Leeds
24 November 2019 – Castle Hotel, Manchester
25 November 2019 – The Poetry Club, Glasgow
26 November 2019 – The Crofters Rights, Bristol
27 November 2019 – The Waiting Room, London
6 December 2019 – Fairgrounds Festival, Berry
8 December 2019 – Summer Salt, Glenelg
21 December 2019 – Summer Salt, Cottesloe
Kwame Forges Ahead With “Stop Knockin’ @ My Door”
Ghanian-born, Sydney-based urban artist Kwame ushers in a new chapter with the release of “Stop Knockin’ @ My Door!” The track continues the trajectory Kwame set with 2018’s Endless Conversations and gives us our first taste of his new project, set to drop next year.
“The use of the repetitive sample chop on the line ‘Stop Knocking’ is meant as a constant force, a shield and message for any trouble, negativity and sadness to steer clear from my presence,” he explained, adding that his message is to “never, EVER allow someone’s dark thoughts to cloud over you. We do exactly what we want, when we want, how we want. We now embark on a new culture forming right in front of our eyes.”
“Stop Knockin’ @ My Door!” is more straightforward than his previous releases, with less of the new wave sonics that can distract from the message. Personally, I feel it’s his strongest track to date. It makes me so excited to hear what comes next.
JANEY Releases Stunning New Single “Hurts Me Like Hell”
Sibling duo JANEY hit all the right notes with their latest single “Hurts Me Like Hell.” It’s got a beautiful lush synth-pop sound and some angelic vocals from Sarah Otto. Then you’ve got those lyrics, which so eloquently explore the idea of moving forward in life, even if it hurts the ones you care about.
“The song was birthed from a moment of disconnect with a family member of ours,” explained Sarah’s bro Billy. “It’s incredible how much body language can tell so much about how a person feels about you, not to mention when you’re a hypersensitive melancholy artist.”
The last time JANEY played a show it sold out. Hopefully it’s not too long before they’re back on stages for us!
New Shag Rock Single Worth the Wait
Shag Rock have kept us in suspense all year, but they’ve finally dropped their first single for 2019. “Old School Lover” is worth the wait, an instantly likeable pop-rock number full of optimism and irresistible harmonies.
“‘Old School Lover’ is a track that’s definitely outside of our ordinary safe-haven of laid back tunes – but it’s one we’re really proud of,” guitarist/vocalist Al Wilson explained.
Shag Rock have had a wild couple of years, selling out shows here and in New Zealand and amassing more than 15 million global streams. They’ve spent the last few months in the studio, but they’re itching to get back out in front of audiences. Welcome them back to the live scene at the following upcoming shows.
12 October 2019 – The Foundry, Brisbane (Under 18s)
19 October 2019 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
20 October 2019 – Lansdowne, Sydney
25 October 2019 – The Foundry, Brisbane
6 December 2019 – elsewhere, Gold Coast
12 December 2019 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury (FREE)
13 December 2019 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (FREE)
14 December 2019 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
Image used with permission from GYRO PR
Jeffe Teams Up With Australian Ballet For Beautiful Video
Take one beautiful song, add some incredible dancers, and you’ve got a recipe for something special. If you need a pick-up me, look no further than the launch clip for the Australian Ballet’s 2020 season, featuring Jeffe’s new song “Motionless.”
Of course, that minute and a half is a bit of a tease, so I’ve posted the full track too. “Motionless” seems super-chilled and breezy on the surface, but tap into those lyrics and you’ll hear their dark undercurrent. The song reflects on the darker corners of our mind and embracing all parts of ourselves, including the turmoil and struggle.
Jeffe spends most of her time in the UK now, but she’s got one more show for the Listen Out Festival, the Sydney date on Saturday, before she jets back. If you’ve got Listen Out tickets, make sure you don’t miss her set!
Image used with permission from GYRO PR
Hair @ The Art House, Wyong – 22 September 2019
I’ve seen many musical productions in my time, but I can’t remember ever being greeted by a sign warning me of what was to come. There’d be sexual references, drug references, racial slurs, and strobe lighting effects. Oh yeah, and full frontal nudity. In all honesty, that was one of the few things I knew about Hair before arriving at The Art House in Wyong last week. However, I soon discovered that while the pink bits are what Hair is best known for, it’s far from the most important thing about this musical.
If the warning sign out the front wasn’t reminder enough that this musical might take us out of our comfort zone, the sight of Hugh Sheridan’s Berger crawling over the audience in little more than a loin cloth just a few minutes in did it. Seeing Hair certainly isn’t like your average night of musical theatre. It’s bold and funny. There’s a real youthful energy about it, despite its ‘60s setting. In fact, perhaps the young characters have a greater energy than the current crop because they’re connecting with one another rather than their smartphones!
Hair does an incredible job of capturing a moment of time. The characters live life, embrace experience, laugh, and love, but the spectre of the Vietnam War looms large. It catches you at moments, when the laughs give way to pathos. I have been lucky enough to live my life fairly removed from war. I remember the Gulf War in my youth, but watching it on TV didn’t feel too dissimilar to watching a Hollywood action film. It’s palpable here, like another character just waiting to tap the characters we quickly grow to love on the shoulder. They can shake it off for a time and sing another song or smoke another joint, but we know it’ll catch up to them.
Speaking of the songs, it’d be remiss of me not to mention this cast. There are the big names like Hugh Sheridan, Paulini, and Prinnie Stevens, with voices as striking and personalities as sparkling as you would expect of people with their profiles. But there were no weak links here. Matthew Manahan as Claude, Stefanie Cacamo as Crissy, and Callan Purcell as Woof were especially strong.
As the lights faded to black I found myself thinking that Hair was one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I’ve seen. A week later I’m still turning it over in my mind. It’s not like anything I’ve seen before, but that’s one of the things that makes it so special. Let the sunshine in.
This production is travelling all around the country. You can still see it at the following venues.
28 September 2019 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong (1.30pm & 7.30pm)
29 September 2019 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong (5pm)
3 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (8pm)
4 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (8pm)
5 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (2pm & 8pm)
6 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (2pm & 7pm)
11 October 2019 – Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise (7pm)
12 October 2019 – Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise (7pm)