Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes Join Shanley Del For Beautiful New Single

I don’t always warm to country music, especially the kind of country that sticks to the genre’s roots. Yet in spite of that, “The Basics of Love,” a new collaboration from Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes and ARIA award winner Shanley Del has won me over.

It’s the strength of the songwriting that does it for me I think. It’s so true and vivid, creating the story of these two people making their way through the world and their emotions. Lachlan cowrote the track with his Wildes bandmate Damian Cafarella and Melbourne songwriter Nia Robertson.

“Nia had the original idea for the song and I loved it immediately,” Lachlan said in a press release. “It’s kind of like a scene from an old film – just a moment in time where a couple of characters are replaying all their mistakes in their heads. They’re at the bar together, but they’re very much alone – for now.”

Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes will capitalise on the release of “The Basics of Love” with a run of shows next year, including appearances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

I’m Kinda Buzzed And It’s All Because I Love the ’90s is Back!

I had a ball at this year’s I Love the 90s show, so I’m thrilled to hear it’ll be back in 2018 with a lineup that might just be better than the original! Naughty by Nature, Blackstreet, Sisqo, Montell Jordan, All 4 One, Rob Base, C&C Music Factory, and Snap all on the same bill? Sign me up!

My only real gripe is the choice of venues this time around. While I’ve never been a fan of Allphones Arena, at least it gave seats to the people who wanted them. While the shows were a great big party and those dancing on the floor looked like they were having a ball, perhaps promoters should have remembered that these musicians had their heyday 20 years ago. Now a large section of the target audience is pushing 40! We like getting up and dancing when we want to do but knowing there’s a seat when it all gets too much. Perth and Adelaide, consider yourself lucky that you’ll have a seated option!

There are presales happening for some shows RIGHT NOW and more on Wednesday, or you can wait for the general sale on Friday September 29.

11 March 2018 – Redhill Auditorium, Perth
14 March 2018 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
16 March 2018 – Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne
17 March 2018 – Parramatta Park, Sydney
18 March 2018 – Eatons Hill Outdoor, Brisbane
20 March 2018 – Reid Park, Townsville

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get On Board With The Northern Folk’s New Single

Genre-bending Melbourne-based band The Northern Folk is preparing to release an exciting new single “Get On,” and I can’t stop listening. It won’t officially drop until October 12, but you can wrap your ears around it early here.

Like so many of the best songs, “Get On” came out of feelings of frustration.

“Frustration with religion, politics and absurdly priced scones,” according to male vocalist Paul Dyason. “The consequence was less of a sermon, but more an informative manual that outlines fun ways to not be a dick.”

The track reminds me of something Ed Sheeran might do if he wasn’t a solo act. It builds on that honest, rhythmic lyrical base with lush harmonies, heavy-handed piano, and a rich horns section. The sound is so intricate, with so many elements coming together, but it works so well.

The Northern Folk will take up residency at The Gasometer Hotel in October and tour the East Coast over the coming months.

4 October 2017 – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (with Rose Burgess Trio & Zac Saber)
8 October 2017 – Beer Deluxe, Albury
10 October 2017 – UMSU Tuesday Bands @ Melbourne Uni, Melbourne
11 October 2017 – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (with The Peeks & Domini Forster)
15 October 2017 – Spring Fling St Festival, North Melbourne
18 October 2017 – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne (Single launch with Ben Whiting & Joyce Prescher)
19 October 2017 – Transit Bar, Canberra
20-22 October 2017 – Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley
23 October 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
25 October 2017 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
26 October 2017 – The Black Malabar, Newcastle
27-29 October 2017 – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo
9-11 November 2017 – Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival
12 November 2017 – Healesville Music Festival, Healesville
9 December 2017 – By The Banks Festival, Albury
27 January 2018 – Summer Sounds Festival, Bermagui
2-4 March 2018 – Cobargo Folk Festival, Cobargo

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sun Sap’s Dreamy Single Comes to Life

With a healthy dose of honky tonk and a cool, laid back vibe, Sun Sap’s “Miss Behind” has me anticipating warmer weather. It’s that perfect lazy summer weekend song, with classic influences given a modern twist.

The song came to the Illawarra band’s Shaun Gaida after a wacky lucid dream.

“I was eating pancakes served on the face plate of a Baldwin piano while Burt Bacharach himself sung ‘Miss Behind’ to me the whole time never breaking eye contact,” he said. Whether their take is better than Mr Bacharach’s we may never know, but you can hear Sun Sap’s version live at their upcoming shows.

30 September 2017 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
4 October 2017 – Rad, Wollongong (with Julia Why?)
14 October 2017 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
27 October 2017 – Rad, Wollongong (with The Ruiins)
9 November 2017 – Rad, Wollongong (with Heart Beach)

Image used with permission from Future Popes

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Slowly Slowly’s New Single is Out of This World

Melbourne rockers Slowly Slowly continue their winning ways with their epic new single “Aliens.”

I absolutely love this track. It starts small but builds to the kind of crescendo that encourages you to punch your fist in the air and sing along.

Slowly Slowly frontman Ben Stewart says “”the song is a stream of consciousness, equal parts self-loathing and self-pity. I wrote it in my car on my phone in about four minutes. I guess that’s why it kind of sucks.”

It doesn’t.

“Aliens” comes from Slowly Slowly’s forthcoming second album. If you love the song, you can score a 7” with two versions of “Aliens” and the live track “Dinosaurs” from Slowly Slowly’s Bandcamp page. They’ll launch the single in front of hometown fans at Howler in October before joining Something for Kate on their national tour.

6 October 2017 – Howler, Melbourne (single launch)
10 November 2017 – Manning Bar, Sydney (with Something for Kate)
11 November 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane (with Something for Kate)
17 November 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Something for Kate)
18 November 2017 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth (with Something for Kate)
24 November 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (with Something for Kate)

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Enjoy Black Bird Hum’s Reggae Sounds Live

Sydney reggae outfit Black Bird Hum has shared the stage with the likes of Arrested Development, Collie Buddz, Kingfisha, The Melbourne Ska Orchestra, and Bobby Alu. Now they’re stepping out on their own with a string of headlining shows and festival slots to celebrate the release of their new single “Down”.

These guys are the real deal. Find out for yourself why they’ve earned a reputation as one of the best reggae acts in the country at the following shows.

28 September 2017 – Federal Hotel, Bellingen
29 September 2017 – Shark Bar, Miami
30 September 2017 – Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna
1 & 2 October 2017 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
7 October 2017 – Coogee Beer and Cider Festival, Coogee
22 October 2017 – Marrickville Festival, Marrickville
28 October 2017 – Spring Street Social, Bondi Junction
3 November 2017 – Northern Beaches Music Festival, Narrabeen
4 November 2017 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
5 November 2017 – Moonshine, Manly

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Oxford Art Factory Turns 10

With so many live music venues closing their doors of late, Oxford Art Factory’s 10th birthday is something to be celebrated.

What a wild ride this Sydney space has had since opening its doors in 2007. The venue hosted Lady Gaga’s very first Australian show and recently it was the venue of choice for Dave Grohl’s cover band Chevy Metal. On the home front, OAF has nurtured the likes of The Rubens, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Preatures, and Nick Murphy (Chet Faker), booking them before they became household names.

OAF will mark its milestone birthday with an eclectic selection of local and interstate favourites including Gum, Palms, ORB, Green Buzzard, Party Dozen, and heaps more on October 14. Tickets are free but you’ll need to RSVP to confirm your attendance at Moshtix. Get on it!

Image source: James Dennes @ Flickr.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cub Sport and Middle Kids Announce Free Summer Shows

As the countdowns tell us Christmas is less than 100 days away, it’s probably time to start knuckling down and saving a bit of money. You don’t need to sacrifice some time out though, with Cub Sport and Middle Kids joining forces for a string of free gigs next month thanks to Summer Bright Lager. The Aussie acts will travel around together playing free afternoon gigs through October and November.

These shows come at an exciting time for both bands. Cub Sport has just released the album BATS, featuring the singles “O Lord” and “Chasin” while Middle Kids are fresh off the plane from three months touring in the United States. The headliners will be joined by a local up-and-coming act each afternoon, so make sure you get out early to discover the talent in your own back yard.

Mark the dates on your calendar and head to the Summer Bright Lager website for more details.

21 October 2017 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong (from 3pm)
22 October 2017 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (from 3pm)
28 October 2017 – The Bucket List, Sydney (from 1pm)
29 October 2017 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta (from 3pm)
4 November 2017 – Tasman Way, Byron Bay (from 1pm)
5 November 2017 – Secret Location, Sunshine Coast (from 1pm)

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Ready For Summer With Reuben Stone’s “Brighter Than the Sun”

Summer doesn’t seem so far away when you’re listening to Reuben Stone’s new single “Brighter Than the Sun.” Its release is the latest highlight in a busy year for the Melbourne reggae artist, who has toured the country with Tash Sultana, the Pierce Brothers, and the one and only UB40.

It’s such a cool track, with husky vocals, a great groove, and bright and bold horns.

“’Brighter than the Sun’ was written about love, life, the highs and lows of existence,” Reuben explained. “Struggles that come out of nowhere can be fixed with self-reflection while looking deeper inside yourself you can mentally step back and take an outside perspective.”

Reuben’s live shows are always something special with their blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. Find out for yourself at the following gigs, kicking off with a Sydney show tonight!

21 September 2017 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
22 September 2017 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
14 October 2017 – Birregurra Festival, Birregurra
18 November 2017 – Brown Brothers Spring Wine & Food Festival, Milawa
14 December 2017 – Waywards Hotel, Sydney (Single launch)
15 December 2017 – The Penny Black, Melbourne (Single launch – FREE)
16 December 2017 – Noosa Oval, Noosa (with Tash Sultana)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lenka Releases Stunning New Single “Heal”

Lenka has offered us a taste of her new album Attune ahead of its October 13 release. The lead single “Heal” is a gentle pop ballad with introspective lyrics, the result of a collaborative songwriting session over tea with Sally Seltmann.

If you love “Heal,” you’re in luck. Preorder Attune now and you’ll receive a digital copy of “Heal” and another song “Lucky” to enjoy while you’re waiting for the album. Speaking of the album, it sounds very cool with a papercraft diorama sculpture piece part of its unique packaging. As someone who’s long bemoaned the death of interesting liner notes, I’m impressed.

Lenka will celebrate Attune’s release with a show at Los Angeles’ Hotel Café on October 17 and another at New York’s Mercury Lounge on October 19. Hopefully it’s not too long before we see her back on home soil.

Image used with permission from Wiking PR