Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Arrested Development Headlines Cockatoo Island Film Festival’s Concert Series

There’ll be more than movies at the 2012 Cockatoo Island Film Festival. The event will see the historic Sydney island transformed into an entertainment hub, with cinema screens and live music stages, from October 25 to 27.

Arrested Development will grace the main stage on Thursday October 25 as part of their 20th anniversary tour. Bluejuice and Jinja Safari will follow the American hip hop act on October 26, and Matt Corby will close the festival with another licensed all ages show on October 27.

If you want to party on after those acts make sure you head to the Precinct Nightclub. Artists like Gossling, Saskwatch, the Future Classic DJs, and Halfway Crooks will be pumping out tunes from 10 pm to the early hours of the morning.

Tickets for all Cockatoo Island Film Festival shows are available now through Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kelly Joe Phelps Returns to Oz for Album Launch Shows

American blues legend Kelly Joe Phelps will make a pit stop in Australia this spring to promote his latest album Brother Sinner & The Whale.

The album marks a return to form for Kelly Joe, who’s refocusing on the marriage of simple songwriting and his acclaimed slide guitar melodies. Kelly Joe calls Brother Sinner & The Whale a gospel album, but his blues and folk leanings bring something new to that genre. Incredibly it was recorded in just three days.

The Australian shows are nestled amongst more than 200 dates around the world, including shows in Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and even Iceland. The local dates are especially exciting for fans as Kelly Joe hasn’t performed here in around five years.

Kelly Joe Phelps will launch Brother Sinner & The Whale with the following Aussie shows.

30 October 2012 – Blue Beat, Double Bay
31 October 2012 – Camelot’s Lounge, Marrickville
1 November 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
2 November 2012 – Lizottes, Newcastle
3 November 2012 – The Substation, Melbourne
5 November 2012 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
7 November 2012 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
8 November 2012 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
9 November 2012 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
10 November 2012 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mama Kin Single Offers Magical Album Sneak Peek

The incomparable Mama Kin will give us a taste of her forthcoming album The Magician’s Daughter with the new single “Was It Worth It.” The album won’t hit stores until early next year, but we can enjoy the single when it’s released on September 28.

The new album showcases an artist exploring new musical styles and the human condition.

“I got used to the idea that I have to be out of my comfort zone to make the kind of art I want to make, I have to feel pushed. I have to be on the edge to be able to jump in and get as deep as I want and need,” Mama Kin explained. “Magic for me is when there is a transformation inspired by subtle forces, and this is what we aim to bring to our audiences.”

Fans can enjoy “Was It Worth It” and a sneak peek of songs from the new album when Mama Kin tours around the country for the next few months. Tickets for her Talisman tour are on sale now.

27 & 28 September 2012 – Caloundra Music Festival,
6 October 2012 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
19 October 2012 – Town Hall, Nannup
20 October 2012 – Clancys Fish Pub, Dunsborough
21 October 2012 – Mojos, North Fremantle
25 October 2012 – Jive, Adelaide
26 October 2012 – The Railway Club, Darwin
28 October 2012 – Island Vibes Festival, North Stradbroke Island
30 October 2012 – Camelot, Marrickville
31 October 2012 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
1 November 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
24 & 25 November 2012 – Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Claude Hay Announces Massive Album Tour

He’s currently playing shows in the United Kingdom, but these are just a warm-up for local bluesman Claude Hay. Before long he’ll be back on home soil and playing gigs to support the release of album number three, I Love Hate You.

The album pays tribute to Claude’s influences, with parts recorded at the legendary Sun Studios and Claude’s own self-built Vader Studios in the Blue Mountains (so named because a massive back-lit Dark Vader oversees production). Claude’s a regular traveller, so it’s only fitting that many of the album’s songs were inspired by his experiences on the road.

“I do over one hundred thousand km per year for about 11 months of the year, a lot of it in a tour van I’ve personally customized to be my home away from home, so you get to see a lot of things,” Claude explained. “The last 12 months has seen me cover France, US, and so much of Oz, I never found I had not much to write about.There was always something somewhere that I loved or hated.”

The disc sees Claude experimenting with his traditional blues roots and exploring his passion for rock and funk. The signature slide guitar and four-on-the-floor rhythms should ensure it doesn’t alienate longtime fans too much though. It’s a concept album too, about the things Claude loves, hates, and hates to love. The concept album is rarely attempted these days, but it always makes an impression. Consider me intrigued!

I Love Hate You hit record stores across Australia today. You can see Claude and his pimped out tour bus at the following shows.

28 September 2012 – The Velvet Lounge, Mt Lawley
29 September 2012 – The Fly By Night, Flytrap, Fremantle
1 October 2012 – The Perth Concert Hall, Perth (supporting Joe Bonamassa)
5 October 2012 – The State Theatre, Sydney (supporting Joe Bonamassa)
6 October 2012 – The Northern Star, Newcastle
12-13 October 2012 – The Mission Evolve Festival, Mission Beach
19 October 2012 – Solbar, Maroochydore
20 October 2012 – The Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay (FREE @ 4 – 6 pm)
20 October 2012 – The Australian Hotel, Ballina (FREE @ 7:30 pm)
21 October 2012 – The Joynt, Brisbane
26-28 October 2012 – The Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, Windsor
27 October 2012 – Food ‘n’ Groove Festival, Bexley Park, Bexley
28 October 2012 – The Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland (FREE)
2 November 2012 – Baha Tacos, Rye
3 November 2012 – The Blues Train, Queenscliff
4 November 2012 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
9 November 2012 – The Albion Hotel, Albury
10 November 2012 – The Bendigo Blues Fest, Bendigo
11 November 2012 – The Glenelg Surf Club, Glenelg (FREE)
15 November 2012 – The Heritage, Bulli
16 November 2012 – The Front, Canberra
17 November 2012 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula (FREE)
22 November 2012 – The Peachtree Hotel, Penrith (FREE)
23 November 2012 – The Oxford Arts Factory Gallery, Darlinghurst
24 November 2012 – The Katoomba RSL, Katoomba
29 November 2012 – The Odyssey Tavern and Brewery, Geelong
30 November 2012 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine
1 December 2012 – The Bluestrain, Queenscliff
2 December 2012 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo (FREE)
6 December 2012 – The Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie (FREE)
7 December 2012 – The Cabarita Sports Club, Cabarita (FREE)
8 December 2012 – The Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna (FREE)
9 December 2012 – The Bucca Hotel, Bucca (FREE)
12 December 2012 – R-Bar, Hamilton Island (FREE)
13-15 December 2012 – Paddy Shenanigans, Airlie Beach (FREE)
16 December 2012 – Longboard Bar, Townsville (FREE)
19 December 2012 – The Rails, Byron Bay (FREE)
21 December 2012 – The Vanguard, Newtown
22 December 2012 – The Victoria Hotel, Orange

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jeff the Brotherhood Announce Big Day Out Sideshows

Nashville wunderkinds Jeff the Brotherhood will complement their appearances at the Big Day Out next year with a string of sideshows.

Jeff the Brotherhood have honed their live performances with more than 400 shows in the last two years. These sideshows give fans an opportunity to catch the pair playing sounds from their new album Hypnotic Nights in some of Australia’s most beloved nightspots. The intimate atmosphere those venues afford should make them much more tempting than the festival dates.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning, September 21, for the following Jeff the Brotherhood sideshows.

17 January 2013 – The Standard, Sydney
19 January 2013 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
23 January 2013 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
24 January 2013 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
27 January 2013 – Mojo’s, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Shows in Space Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Voice’s Brittany Cairns Joins Jake Nauta on New Single

Blue Mountains boy Jake Nauta has teamed up with The Voice contestant Brittany Cairns for the cruisy new single “Grandpa Song.”

The clip takes us into Jake’s Blue Mountains studio, and captures the spontaneous magic that happens when these two beautiful voices combine. The gentle sweetness of both artists works so perfectly with this upbeat, summery tune.

“Grandpa Song” is the second single from Jake’s debut album Here With You. He’ll play it and more of his pop-folk numbers at Sydney’s Hybernian House on September 22.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gypsy & The Cat Announce Album Tour

It’s been a bit quiet on the Gypsy & The Cat front, but the Melbourne duo are almost ready to unleash the follow-up to their smash hit Gilgamesh.

The Late Blue promises to build on the unique soundscapes the band created on their debut. There are dreamy ballads, driving rock numbers, and synth-laden floor fillers. It’s also the first to be released through Gypsy & The Cat’s own label, Alsatian Music.

The Late Blue will hit record stores on October 19, which should give fans just enough time to become familiar with the songs before Gypsy & The Cat kicks off their national tour. These shows are the only opportunities to see this in demand band on Aussie soil this year. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 21, for the following dates.

26 October 2012 – The Palace Theatre, Melbourne
1 November 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
2 November 2012 – Capitol, Perth
8 November 2012 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
10 November 2012 – Hi-Fi Brisbane

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names To Play 2013 Bluesfest

The first of four Bluesfest line-up announcements has been released, and already it’s enough to make me salivate. The bill includes big international names like Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy and the Stooges, Chris Isaak, the Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, and Glen Hansard and the Frames.

We haven’t heard about any of the local acts who’ll play, but no doubt they’ll come in some of the next announcements. This current crop is definitely enough to whet my appetite!

Bluesfest will take over Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Shire from March 28 to April 1. Tickets are on sale now through the Bluesfest website. Are you excited?

Image source: Festival Eurockeennes @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beards Go Viral

The Beards are taking the internet by storm with the video for their latest single “Got Me a Beard.” In just a week the fun animated music video’s notched up more than 150, 000 views on YouTube!

The clip brings to life the band’s utopian vision of a world where beards and the men who wear them proudly rise up against their clean shaven peers!

This music video is really fun stuff, and it should bring a few more folks to The Beards’ End of the World (For Beardless People) shows, which kick off next week. Have you stopped shaving in readiness lads?

28 September 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
29 & 30 September 2012 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
4 October 2012 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
5 October 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
6 October 2012 – The HiFi, Brisbane
10 October 2012 – The Club, Bundaberg
11 October 2012 – Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
12 October 2012 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
13 October 2012 – JCU Unibar, Townsville
14 October 2012 – The Jack, Cairns
24 October 2012 – Bar On The Hill, Newcastle
25 October 2012 – UniBar, Wollongong
26 October 2012 – Baroque Bar, Katoomba
27 October 2012 – Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley
1 November 2012 – ANU, Canberra
2 November 2012 – The Metro, Sydney
3 November 2012 – The HiFi, Melbourne
15 November 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
16 November 2012 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
17 November 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
18 November 2012 – Indi Bar, Scarborough Beach
22 November 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
23 & 24 November 2012 – Queenscliff Festival
29 November 2012 – Royal Oak, Launceston
30 November 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
1 & 2 December 2012 – Jive, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Split Seconds Extend Album Launch Tour

Split Seconds are having so much fun on their You’ll Turn In To Me album launch tour, they’ve announced a brand new batch of dates. The Perth born act will continue playing around the country through September, October, and November.

The new collection of shows includes support slots for local band Oh Mercy and former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus with his new outfit The Jicks, as well as appearances at Wave Rock Weekender and a star-studded show at Perth Zoo.

Here are all the new places you can see this hard-working Aussie act rocking out!

21 September 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting Oh Mercy)
22 September 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi (supporting Oh Mercy)
28 September 2012 – The Rosemount, Perth (supporting Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks)
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Weekender, Hyden
5 October 2012 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle (supporting Oh Mercy)
6 October 2012 – The Bakery, Perth (supporting Oh Mercy)
12 October 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool (supporting Oh Mercy)
13 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (supporting Oh Mercy)
19 October 2012 – The Bended Elbow Geelong (supporting Oh Mercy)
25 October 2012 – Hi-Fi, Melbourne (supporting Oh Mercy)
17 November 2012 – Perth Zoo, Perth (with Gurrumul and Angus Stone)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment