Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mirabel Foundation Assembles Amazing Line-Up For 20th Birthday Party

For the last 20 years, the Mirabel Foundation has helped children orphaned or abandoned as a result of parental drug abuse. They are still the only organisation in this country dedicated to this vital work. That makes their milestone birthday a reason to celebrate, and they’re bringing some of Australia’s best musicians together for the party.

The Mirabel Foundation’s star-studded birthday bash will feature performances from Paul Kelly, Deborah Conway, Mark Seymour and Cameron McKenzie, Ross Wilson, Vika and Linda Bull, Clare Bowditch, Dave Larking, Davey Lane, Benny Walker, Dan Kelly, Bill McDonald, and Pete Luscombe and Clio Renner from the RocKwiZ band. Brian Nankervis will host the event which is sure to be an absolute cracker.

It all goes down at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda on July 6. Tickets are an absolute steal at $70 plus booking fee. Get yours before they’re all gone to support this amazing cause!

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Family Fold Releases Pop-Rock Gem “Crying in the Carwash”

Family Fold, the latest musical venture from Paul Andrews of Lazy Susan fame, has just dropped their brand new single “Crying in the Carwash.” It’s a straight-up pop rock pleaser with a soaring string section and solid lyrics.

“I recorded the track in Nashville with a guy called Brad Jones who has worked with lots of Australian artists like Bob Evans, Missy Higgins and Melody Pool,” Paul explained. “When it came to recording the solo … we were stuck for what instrument we should use. I suggested strings and Brad’s face immediately lit up. ‘I have a guy in Kentucky,’ which sounded so awesome I wouldn’t have cared if it was someone scraping a piece of cut glass across a toy ukulele, I had to go with it.

“We sent the track away, with no parts having been written, to this ‘guy in Kentucky’ and it came back magically a few days later with the most stunning string parts. ‘I have a guy in Kentucky’ has now entered my every day vocab for something a bit ‘on the down low’ that comes through with the goods.”

“Crying in the Carwash” gives us our first taste of Family Fold’s new album Ashfield Skyline. It’s set to drop in August, but you can get a cheeky sneak peek when the band played The Hideaway Bar in Enmore on July 21.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

5SOS and Sheppard Make It an Aussie Double on the ARIA Charts

I honestly can’t remember the last time we saw Aussie acts on top of the albums and singles charts. But this week we’ve been supporting our own, keeping 5 Seconds of Summer at number one on the singles charts with “Youngblood” and propelling Sheppard to number one on debut with their sophomore album Watching the Sky. This is 5SOS’s fourth consecutive week at number one with their new album’s title track. That album dropped on Friday. Expect it to make a big impact on the charts next week. Meanwhile, Watching the Sky is Sheppard’s first number one album, and the fifth Aussie album release to top the charts this year.

Amy Shark is holding steady on the singles charts, staying at the number six spot with “I Said Hi.” This track has been getting a truckload of airplay at the moment, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it climbs a little higher next week.

The Presets are the only other Aussie act on the charts. Their latest album Hi Viz is at number nine this week, after debuting in the fifth position last week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Watching the Sky – Sheppard
2. Beerbongs & Bentleys – Post Malone
3. The Greatest Showman – Soundtrack
4. Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts
5. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
6. ye – Kanye West
7. Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes
8. No Shame – Lily Allen
9. Hi Viz – The Presets
10. X – Ed Sheeran

Top 10 Singles
1. “Youngblood” – 5 Seconds of Summer
2. “Better Now” – Post Malone
3. “Girls Like You” – Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B
4. “Back to You” – Selena Gomez
5. “One Kiss” – Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
6. “I Said Hi” – Amy Shark
7. “No Tears Left to Dry” – Ariana Grande
8. “2002” – Anne-Marie
9. “Love Lies” – Khalid & Normani
10. “All Mine” – Kanye West

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Indiago Drop Soulful Rock Single “Gusto”

South Australia is such fertile rock ground, giving birth to such legendary names as Cold Chisel, The Angels, The Mark of Cain, Sarah McLeod, and Masters Apprentices. The latest SA act to catch my attention are Indiago, a four-piece who are giving me serious Kings of Leon vibes with their latest track “Gusto.”

“We’ve been through a lot of changes over the past twelve months,” says frontman Will Solomon. “I think this is a perfect example of where we’re at musically, and the song stands as a dedication to those who’ve stuck with us.”

It’s still a little rough around the edges, but Indiago have definitely got some skills. I’m looking forward to hearing more from this talented South Australian act.

Image used with permission from Mixed Muse PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Opera Stars Headline Opera Romance in Brisbane

Queenslanders can enjoy a little culture at the QPAC’s Lyric Theatre on June 28, when Opera Queensland stages its very special one-off concert Opera Romance.

Acclaimed vocalists Antoinette Halloran and Rosario La Spina will headline the event which promises soaring arias, stunning duets, and the opportunity to hear more about the lives and passions of these revered entertainers. They’ll be joined on stage by members of Opera Queensland’s Open Stage Community Chorus.

Tickets are available now through the Opera Queensland website. At just $69 plus booking fee, they’re an absolute steal.

Image used with permission from Agency North

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mustered Courage Countrify “Run to Paradise”

I know a bluegrass version of “Run to Paradise” sounds pretty far out, but open your ears and your minds to this cover from Melbourne’s Mustered Courage. Featuring none other than Mark Gable, it’s the cover you never knew you needed to hear.

It all came about after Mark had a chance meeting with the band during the 2012 Country Music Festival in Tamworth. He praised their work, and a fast friendship was formed.

“Being a young band and our first ever trip to the Festival, it really meant a lot to us,” explained guitarist Julian Abrahams. Their paths crossed paths for several years until the band “mustered the courage” to ask Mark to sit in on one of their sets in 2014. The crowd went wild, and they knew they were onto something special.

“The chord progression lends itself very well to the traditional bluegrass sound so it made a lot of sense and Aussies love this bloody song and we loved delivering a version that the country and bluegrass people could get into as well. That audience absolutely brought the house down after we played it with Mark.”

“Mustered Courage fans are no strangers to us doing left of centre cover versions, so we think this should be a nice addition to our repertoire. Maybe even a new country anthem that opens the doors of Aussie rock fans to a genre they don’t yet know they love. Time will tell … bluegrass paradise.”

It’s very different, but I think this cover is genius. How about you?

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Tipsy Scholars Announce Aussie and UK EP Shows

The Tipsy Scholars are shaking up the indie folk scene with their debut EP Nowhere to Be. It’s an exciting release with beautiful songs littered with pop culture references and rich harmonies. While the single “Cold Hands” was a crowd-pleaser, I think “Modern Anxiety” is my favourite track. It speaks so eloquently about our fast-paced tech-obsessed world and how the very devices that are meant to enhance our lives can make us long for a simpler time. Just make sure you heed that explicit lyrics warning; it’s not the sort of thing you want to crank in a conservative office!

The Tipsy Scholars are celebrating the Nowhere to Be’s recent release with their biggest tour yet. Not content with 12 dates along our east coast, the Aussies will follow up the local shows with dates across the United Kingdom.

16 June 2018 – Festival Allsorts, Canberra
29 June 2018 – Moonshine, Sydney
7 July 2018 – Bar 33, Melbourne
20 July 2018 – BMEC, Bathurst
26 July 2018 – UniBar, Wollongong
28 July 2018 – Polish Club, Canberra
2 August 2018 – Hamilton Station, Newcastle
3 August 2018 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
5 August 2018 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
9 August 2018 – The Lansdowne, Sydney
10 August 2018 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
17 August 2018 – Whelans, Dublin
24 August 2018 – The Bowery, Dublin
31 August – 1 September 2018 – Deeside Music Festival, Aberdeen
2 September 2018 – Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
5 September 2018 – The George Orwell, Dundee
8 September 2018 – The Luna, London
14 September 2018 – The Eagle Inn, Manchester
15 September 2018 – The Spice of Life, London

Image used with permission from RiSH Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Press Club On Tour For Late Teens

Press Club haven’t long wrapped up a national tour with The Smith Street Band, but they’re already itching to get back on stage. The Melbourne indie punk-rock act will headline their own East Coast tour to celebrate the recent release of their debut album Late Teens and the single of the same name.

The song “Late Teens” drops with a music video celebrating the best of Australia. Featuring footage filmed on the band’s most recent lap of the nation, it’s the sort of thing that makes you pretty proud to hail from this wide brown land. It also shows you just what you can create from the back seat of touring vans and airport gate lounges!

If you missed them with The Smith Street Band or you’re ready for a second helping, catch Press Club at the following gigs.

6 July 2018 – The Chippo Hotel, Sydney
7 July 2018 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
26 July 2018 – Strawberry Boogie, Wollongong
27 July 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
4 August 2018 – Bloodhound Bar, Brisbane

Image credit: Zoe Yeoman

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Club Yorke Open New Chapter With “Stop the Bleeding”

The release of “Stop the Bleeding” ushers in a new chapter for the Melbourne band formerly known as Residual. Now recording as Club Yorke, the four-piece rock act is making the kind of powerful, heart-on-sleeve music you can’t help but warm to.

“We wrote ‘Stop The Bleeding’ towards the end of what I guess was really an accidental hiatus,” lead singer Sam Burtt explained. “We had been writing lot of stuff that we were proud of and tweaking it here and there in preparation for a new single but one rehearsal, this song just happened. I remember having one kind of improvised run through of it and it all just fell into place from there, it was really one of those special rare moments where the song really writes itself. Discovering it rather than contriving it from nothing”

Club Yorke are currently touring the country with fellow Melbournians Empire Park. These are all the places you can catch them play.

14 June 2018 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
23 June 2018 – The Workers Club, Geelong
30 June 2018 – The TAH, Hobart

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Coming Out Inspires Maribelle’s New Single “I’m a Mess Without You”

Working as a singer, songwriter, and producer, Melbourne’s Maribelle knows what it takes to create a smash single. No wonder her latest track “I’m a Mess Without You” is catchy as all get out.

This pop gem is a fun, feel-good number, but dig a little deeper and you’ll discover it’s more than just an upbeat earworm. The track’s deeply personal lyrics reveal Maribelle’s journey embarking on a new relationship and coming to terms with her sexuality.

“I was hiding my feelings for somebody, and hurting them because I wasn’t being honest with myself,” Maribelle explained. “It’s actually about my current girlfriend and the early stages of our relationship. I was out in the club one night and had a ‘Days Of Our Lives’ montage of all of our memories together, and just realised what a mess I was being.”

With such immense talent and a killer pop sensibility, expect to hear plenty more from Maribelle.