Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australians Musicians Bring Tubular Bells to Live Venues

Tubular Bells is one of those albums that continues to endure. I remember Dad playing Mike Oldfield’s classic to me as a kid. Now decades later, my twenty-something sister and her boyfriend have discovered it. No matter when you first heard Tubular Bells, if you fell in love with it you’re going to want to see Tubular Bells for Two.

This unique show has sold out in festivals around the world, and it’s finally coming to Australia. Mike Oldfield had the benefit of some of the world’s first multi-tracking technology when he recorded this classic album. But to bring it to life, this show has just two guys – Austalia’s Aidan Roberts and Daniel Holdsworth – juggling more than 20 instruments, all live.

Tickets are available from the Tubular Bells for Two website for these spellbinding shows.

17 & 18 February 2017 – Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
10 & 11 March 2017 – York Theatre @ Seymour Centre, Sydney
24 March 2017 – Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
25 March 2017 – Lismore City Hall, Lismore
30 March 2017 – Armitage Centre @ HBA, Toowoomba
31 March 2017 – Redland PAC, Cleveland
1 April 2017 – Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich
2 April 2017 – Majestic Theatre, Pomona
6 April 2017 – Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo
7 April 2017 – The Capitol, Tamworth
8 April 2017 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
22 April 2017 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
5-7 May 2017 – Street Theatre, Canberra

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Essie Releases Stunning Debut Single, “Electric Wires”

Melbourne songbird Essie has released her beautiful debut single “Electric Wires.”

The song reflects on Essie’s travels and the people and places she’s discovered on her journeys. I love Essie’s angelic vocals which are laid over lush synths, which give the song a hint of 80s nostalgia.

“When writing, a song usually grabs hold of me and my subconscious takes over. Sometimes it’s a very therapeutic process, other times it can be a little daunting to really address those deepest inner thoughts. I get bored pretty easily so creating something that is unique to each song is really important to me,” Essie explained.

After spending time writing and recording in the UK over the past few years, Essie is excited to release her debut EP in 2017.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Silhouettes of Song” – Murry Rhodes

Just in time for Christmas, the Territory’s own Murry Rhodes has released his debut album Silhouettes of Song.

Murry is a relative newcomer to the music industry, having worked most his life as an electrician in the Outback. He honed his craft traveling across the country for the last two years, playing everywhere from cocktail bars to caravan parks. This album draws on that experience. When you’re there to entertain a crowd that doesn’t know who you are, you typically play covers, and they make up the bulk of this release.

I was drawn in from the first song, a flawless cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In the Wind.” Some covers reminded me of all that I loved about the original, like his take on “Hallelujah.” So many people have covered this song over the years, but his version was every bit as good as the best I’ve heard. I haven’t listened to “Seven Spanish Angels” in years; this version brought tears to my eyes. Other tracks made me see the songs in a new way. For example, I don’t think I’d heard the pain and struggle in “Drift Away” before. There were a couple of missteps for me though. “Makin’ Whoopee” and “Hey Good Lookin’” probably went down a treat in the country’s piano bars. They seem effortless, perhaps too effortless. There’s nothing to fault per se, but they don’t quite stir me in the same way as some of the more unconventional choices.

Murry has included two original songs here, and they really showcase his gift as a songwriter. These two numbers are as powerful as any of the more established songs included on this release. “Lifetime,” which reflects on the impact of depression as the years pass, is particularly moving.

Murry Rhodes has a voice that is so rich and beautiful. It’s not a perfect voice, but one that drips with emotion. It adds extra weight to this already stellar collection of songs. I love that this is a minimalist album; with just a man and his piano the songs have the right amount of room to breathe. The instrument isn’t just used as accompaniment either. There are moments where his skills on the keys shine, as they should. Murry Rhodes is a complete artist, not just a singer that plays a little piano. He might be late to the music game, but I’m thrilled he’s downed electrical tools and decided to share his gift with us.

Silhouettes of Song is out now. Murry Rhodes will play Darwin at the Hub in Palmerston on December 23 and 30.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spike the River Will Make You Smile

Melbourne’s Spike the River aspired to create something “explosive.” It’s met the brief with the brand new single “Rally.”

What a firecracker this song is, all enthusiasm and energy. The guest vocals from Georgie Darvidis are the perfect foil for those of Spike the River mastermind Rosco Elliott.

I hear Spike the River injects every bit of that energy into its live shows, so keep your ear to the ground for those. Until then, good luck getting this song out of your head today!

Image used with permission from Future Popes

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dead Language Gets Toes Tapping

I have had one of those weeks that I’d rather forget. A week where there seems to be too much bad news to comprehend and I just needed to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I could listen to depressing music and wallow, but I’d much rather find something to uplift me. I’ve found it in “L.E.D. Nights,” the latest track from Sydney electro act Dead Language.

I don’t normally go for floor fillers like this, but the shimmery synths are taking me right back to my childhood spent at roller discos. I also love the rich powerful vocals from Dominic Price.

“I began writing L.E.D. Nights over a year ago, but it’s taken me until only now to finally realise fully,” he explained in the press release. “It was a particularly hard song to get right. It came from feeling completely stifled and frustrated by being a musician. LED Nights was the first song I could finally get right; it’s now become my own personal anthem to try not to doubt myself too harshly.”

Is “L.E.D. Nights firing you up too?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Magnets New Video for “Fight” Delivers the Goods

Prepare to feel empowered ladies. Melbourne songstress Magnets has created one hell of an inspired video for her latest single “Fight.”

It explores the strength and power women have to protect themselves against the odds. Magnets wants to remind all the women and men who see this clip that women deal with the situations her clip shows every single day.

“There was a time in my life where the attacks brought on by men had me broken,” she explained. “It’s taken me everything to rebuild, restore and come back swinging. Fight isn’t necessarily about about fighting an ‘aggressor’, it’s about fighting for your self worth.”

Make sure you listen to the lyrics while you’re taking in this clip. The song and the visuals work so beautifully together. This is truly special art.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Carus Thompson Tackles Big Issues on Island

It’s been five long years since Carus Thompson has released any new music, but he’s making a real statement with his comeback single “Beach Fires.” The track explores the ice epidemic and way this terrible drug erodes friendships and communities.

“Beach Fires” comes from Carus’ forthcoming album Island, which is slated for release in early 2017. Expect more big themes on the record, with songs exploring isolation, refugees, apathy, and other issued affecting our social climate.

Carus will take these songs on the road with local shows in February and March.

12 February 2017 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide (Matinee)
17 February 2017 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2017 – Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove
26 February 2017 – Grampians Festival, Halls Gap
3 March 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
4 March 2017 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
5 March 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
10 March 2017 – The Quarry Ampitheatre, City Beach

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Artists Pay Tribute to George Martin’s Work With The Beatles

George Martin was one of the great talents we lost this year. Next February, some of our brightest local stars will honour to his extraordinary work with the Beatles in a tour dubbed From Mania to Revolution: A Beatles Tribute to George Martin.

Davey Lane, Ashley Naylor, Kram, Linda Bull, Jim Fleming, Nick Murphy, Brett Wolfenden will play two sets jampacked with Beatles classics every night, joined with some other very special guests.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

1 February 2017 – The Athenaeum, Melbourne (with Deborah Conway, Dan Kelly, and Ella Thompson)
2 February 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane (with Kellie Lloyd, Darren Middleton, and Luke Peacock)
3 February 2017 – Manning Bar, Sydney (with Abby Dobson, Steve Kilbey, Jodi Phillis, and Rob Younger)
9 February 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Koral Chandler, Taasha Coates, Dusty Lee, and Ben Marwe)
10 February 2017 – Badlands, Perth (with Justin Burford, Felicity Groom, and Dom Mariani)

Image used with permission from Remedy PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cameron Avery Heading Home for Single Tour

Now based in Los Angeles, Perth-bred musician Cameron Avery is coming home to play shows supporting his dreamy new single “C’est Toi.”

Cameron penned the stunning piano ballad about the last time he fell in love. It’s got a nostalgic vibe about it that I really love, as well as some gorgeous poetic lyrics. It’s the first track lifted from Cameron’s highly anticipated album.

You’ll no doubt get a sneaky listen to more of the album tracks at the following shows.

14 January 2017 – Freo Arts Centre Courtyard, Fremantle
18 January 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
19 January 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Campervan Dancers Cast a Spell

Show me a band that can harmonise beautifully and I’ll show you a very happy music lover. The acts that get it right tend to have a close relationship. They might be siblings, for example, or in the case of >The Campervan Dancers, husband and wife. The Sydney folk duo has entranced me with their debut single “Starlight (Pickin’ Pears).”

The song has such a timeless appeal that despite being written in 2012 it hasn’t dated one jot. Ryan and Chelsea Collings wrote the song while they were falling in love; perhaps that’s what gives this song that extra bit of magic. I love the way the duo has layered sounds underneath their vocals, like the bossa nova drums from their grandma’s old organ, cats from YouTube, samples from astronauts, and even the sound of a real star.

“Starlight (Pickin’ Pears)” will feature on The Campervan Dancers’ self-titled EP, which will be available next year. Hopefully the other songs on this five-track recording will be every bit as special.

Image used with permission from Ditto PR