Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bid on Musicians’ Shoes for Charity

Over the past 18 months, Warner Music Australia has been sending plain white Converse sneakers and Sharpies to some of the best local and international music acts for its In Their Shoes program. The musicians have put their unique stamp on the footwear before sending them back to Warner headquarters. Now finally Warner has put the one-of-a-kind shoes up for auction to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the musos’ favourite charities.

You’ve got until October 29 to bid for shoes doodled by Cold Chisel, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz, Lisa Mitchell, You Am I, New Order, Moby, Busby Marou, Tame Impala, and heaps more. All shoes will be sent out on October 30 with a certificate of authenticity.

Whose shoes do you have your eye on?

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Audego Get it Right with “Fight”

I must admit, I wasn’t really feeling Audego when they released their last single “Sleepy”, but with their follow-up “Fight” they’ve really turned my head.

I think the difference here is the strong emotional core. More than just an intriguing electronic number, it’s a powerful snapshot of a marriage gone wrong. Producer Paso Bionic plays the role of an abusive husband while vocalist Big Fella takes on the part of his victimised trophy wife. The surrealistic clip, created by the talented team at Round 3 Creative, charts the deterioration of the toxic union. The song comes from Audego’s sophomore album Beneath the Static and the Low.

Audego will launch the album with a show at Sydney’s FBi Social on October 26 and another at The Hideaway in Brisbane on November 9.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Shadow Electric Host 12 Shows in 10 Days

Melbourne’s The Shadow Electric will serve up a slew up live music next month as a prelude to its 3rd annual cinema program. The Shadow Electric will host 12 shows over 10 days from the 1st of the month.

Acts are still being finalised, but the line-up as it stands is pretty enticing. Little Scout and Palms will both stop by on their album launch tours. Local music legend Courtney Barnett will take the opportunity to launch his EP at the venue, and supergroup The Ape will also grace The Shadow Electric stage.

Visit The Shadow Electric website to see all the shows and set times and secure your tickets.

Image used with permission from We Manage

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skrillex at Shore Thing

Sydneysiders can ring in the New Year with Skrillex at this year’s Shore Thing festival. The event will see the internationally acclaimed DJ bringing his Skrillex Spaceship stage show to Australia for the very first time.

In another festival first, organisers have entrusted their headliner to craft the rest of the line-up. Skrillex will handpick his support acts to ensure this year’s Shore Thing is a night to remember.

Tickets are on sale now for this over 18s event from the Shore Thing website.

Image used with permission from Fuzzy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Acfields Need Your Help for Album Funding

With 18 days to go, Dan and Hannah Acfield are still well short of their Pozible goal. If they don’t reach it, these super-talented siblings will run out of the cash they need to finish their first full-length album.

Giving to the cause is well worth your while. Not only will you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped The Acfields bring their music to the masses. A donation of just $5 will give you a digital copy of their EP Turning a Page. Start splurging and you could have Dan become your music mentor or Hannah become your op-shopping buddy.

So browse the options and give, give, give people! This brother-sister duo make such beautiful folk-pop music, and it deserves to be heard by all!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Havana Brown Ushers in New Year at Sydney’s Harbour Party

I don’t mean to alarm you, but the festive season is just a couple of months away. If you haven’t even thought of Christmas gifts, let alone your New Year’s Eve plans, you’re in luck. The folks from Nova 969 in conjunction with LPS have organised Harbour Party 2013 to get you dancing until the wee small hours.

Luna Park will host an all-star line-up including our own Havana Brown, American house maestro Ian Carey, TV Rock’s Grant Smillie, jazz musician turned global dance superstar Timmy Trumpet, and X Factor queen Samantha Jade. These acts and more will play against the beautiful backdrop of the spectacular Sydney Harbour. As well as all the great music you can enjoy the venue’s rides for the price of your ticket.

Luna Park will be fully licensed on the night so this is a strictly over 18s event. Tickets are available from the Harbour Party website, Ticketek, or Moshtix.

Image source: Adam Bielawski @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Siren Tower Tour “King River” Single

Rootsy Perth rockers The Siren Tower are hitting the road this week to support the recent release of their epic new single “King River.”

Isn’t it refreshing to hear an Australian song sung with a truly Australian voice? That accent and those rough edges give it a real honesty that’s so compelling. The Siren Tower’s frontman Grant McCulloch says the song “is about returning to familiar places to seek refuge. It’s about discovering that these places, these ports, they weary with time just as we do. They offer respite, but often their power lies in association with a memory, and sooner or later the world comes knocking.”

“King River” comes from the band’s 2012 album A History of Houses, but it still sounds fresh as a daisy. It comes with a gorgeous film clip directed by Tim Brade and pieced together by the band’s multitalented lead singer.

The Siren Tower will promote the single release, and remind us why we fell in love with them in the first place, at the following shows.

24 October 2013 – The Republic Bar, Hobart
25 October 2013 – The Espy Front Bar, Melbourne (FREE)
31 October 2013 – The Great Northern, Newcastle
1 November 2013 – The Beresford, Sydney (FREE)
2 November 2013 – Tempo, Brisbane (FREE)
9 November 2013 – Amplifier Bar, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Reyne Plays Greatest Hits in Sydney

James Reyne will celebrate his career over two big nights at Sydney’s The Basement this November. The Aussie music icon will play his A Crawl to Now shows on November 1 and 2.

James will play some of his greatest hits from more than 20 albums with an acoustic trio. In the first half he’ll offer up solo hits, some new material, and perhaps even a few numbers from his supergroup Company of Strangers. In the second half, James will trot out smash singles from the Australian Crawl days.

“This will be the first comprehensive look at the past unto the present that we’ve ever undertaken,” James said. “Up until now I’ve not contemplated sifting through all of the Australian Crawl material with the intention of performing it ‘songbook’ style. I’m very excited about these shows.”

These gigs are fast approaching, but general admission tickets are still available for both shows through The Basement.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Beautiful Fools Tour Beautiful Single

Matt Harris, Shawn Whittaker, and Leigh Wilson might call themselves the Beautiful Fools, but there’s nothing silly about the music they make.

The strength of their early demos enticed American producer Matt Malpass, who previously worked with Train, to help them record and produce their debut self-titled EP. This recording features the lush single “Small Town,” which speaks so eloquently of wanting to escape from a frustrating situation.

“It could be a job, a relationship or for me it was the small town I lived in with no way of fulfilling what I wanted to do,” explained songwriter and frontman Matt Harris. “You know it can be done and you will get there and if you stay where you are your dreams will fade and you will end up someone you didn’t want to be.”

Beautiful Fools will launch “Small Town” this week at the following shows.

23 October 2013 – World’s End Hotel, Adelaide
24 October 2013 – Bull & Bush, Baulkham Hills
25 October 2013 – Music Makers Club @ Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from The A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Forever the Optimist Tour “Revolutions”

Brisbane rock act Forever the Optimist will take their new single “Revolutions” to the masses next month, following plenty of local and American radio love.

It’s easy to see why radio stations at home and in the States are digging this track. I appreciate that the band built it beautifully rather than going for the jugular from the outset. It’s dark and moody and oh-so satisfying.

Forever the Optimist will be joined on their local dates by a who’s who of local alt-rock and prog acts including Sydonia, Engine, Shinobi, Self is a Seed, and a very special guest for their Brisbane show which the band is keeping under its collective hat. Here are all the places you can see this emerging rock force this November.

1 November 2013 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
9 November 2013 – River Rock Festival, Toogoolawah
16 November 2013 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
17 November 2013 – Espy Showdown @ Gershwin Room, Melbourne
21 November 2013 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
23 November 2013 – Spectrum, Sydney
29 November 2013 – Southern Cross Tavern, Coolangatta
30 November 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane