Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barry Southgate Releases New EP Cut

Barry Southgate is back with “You,” the latest release from his Epitome EP. This is another sweet slice of soul music from this exciting Aussie talent, and I’m sure girls who love Chris Brown and Jason Derulo are going to lap it up.

The single comes off the back of a bumper twelve months for Barry. He took out Radar Radio’s Unsigned Find competition, and was also named a NA2R finalist. He also scored support slots for some of his favorite soul acts including Brian McKnight, Joe, Eric Benet, and K-Ci & JoJo.

2012 doesn’t sound like it’ll slow down either. Barry will appear alongside Deb Mailman and Jessica Mauboy in The Sapphires movie, and a song he co-penned will feature on Stan Walker’s new album Let the Music Play. Hopefully his own full-length record won’t be too far away!

Barry Southgate first came onto my radar when he was an Australia Idol semi-finalist a few years ago, and I’m thrilled to see him continuing to make his mark on the local scene.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Oh Mercy Play North American Shows

Oh Mercy have brought their brand of indie pop-rock to America. The Aussies are Stateside to promote their latest album, cheekily titled Great Barrier Grief.

Oh Mercy’s latest disc was inspired by the classic albums and songwriters who’ve influenced the band’s members over the years. It hit number 13 on the ARIA charts, and its songs are receiving plenty of airplay on American college radio. No doubt that will inspire plenty of young Americans to check out the following shows, including their third appearance at South by Southwest.

3 March 2012 – The Echo, Los Angeles
14 March 2012 – The Studio, Austin
14 March 2012 – Joe’s Crab Shack, Austin
16 March 2012 – Official Sonicbids SXSW Showcase @ Maggie Mae’s, Austin
17 March 2012 – Aussie BBQ @ Maggie Mae’s, Austin
21 March 2012 – Hard Luck, Toronto
22 March 2012 – Library Bar, Toronto
24 March 2012 – Aussie BBQ @ El Mocambo, Toronto
25 March 2012 – Aussie BBQ @ The Bellhouse, Brooklyn

Image source: Nicole Reed/Planetary Group

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emmy Bryce and Kate Vigo Announce Double-Header Shows

Melbourne singer-songwriters Emmy Bryce and Kate Vigo are joining forces for one monster tour next month.

The girls met late last year and instantly bonded over their shared passion for making music. Kate loved “the brightness and optimism” of Emmy’s sound, while Emmy was drawn to Kate’s hard work ethic. After spending some time together, announcing a co-headlining tour seemed like a no-brainer.

And so these indie popsters will play capital cities and regional centres next month on their The Hunter and Gatherer tour. It’s intended to be a real interactive event, with the girls employing social media throughout the run of dates to engage with their fans. Emmy will be promoting her debut EP Seven Days, which hits stores today, while Kate will give music lovers a sneak peek at her forthcoming debut album Blue to Gold.

Tickets are available from the venues for The Hunter and Gatherer shows.

4 April 2012 – Hotel New York, Launceston
5 April 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
7 April 2012 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
12 April 2012 – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba
13 April 2012 – Bar Me @ El Rocco’s, Sydney
14 April 2012 – Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
15 April 2012 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
21 April 2012 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
26 April 2012 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne

Image source: Emmy Bryce website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timothy Nelson & The Infidels Embark on First National Tour

After taking their home state by storm, Western Australia’s Timothy Nelson & The Infidels are setting out on their first national tour.

The tour announcement comes off the back of an exciting 2011 for the band. They released their debut album I Know This Now in May, and received rave reviews from several music publications including this very blog. Their song “Speak The Truth In Love” was named Song of the Year at the Western Australian Music Industry Awards, and they sold out several headlining shows. This is an act that ticks all the boxes.

Western Australia knows just how good this band is. Now it’s time for the rest of Australia to discover them at the following shows.

10 March 2012 – The Bird, Northbridge
11 March 2012 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (Acoustic @ 3 pm)
24 March 2012 – Norfolk Courtyard Sessions @ Norfolk Hotel, Fremantle (Acoustic @ 2 pm)
29 March 2012 – Indy Warhol @ The Lansdowne, Sydney
30 March 2012 – The Vanguard, Newtown
31 March 2012 – Pure Pop Records, St Kilda (Acoustic @ 3 pm)
31 March 2012 – The Wesley Anne, Northcote (Acoustic @ 4:30 pm)
1 April 2012 – The Tote, Collingwood
14 April 2012 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle
15 April 2012 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (Acoustic @ 3 pm)

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cold Chisel Launch “No Plans” with Intimate Shows

Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you probably know that Cold Chisel have been hard at work preparing their first new studio album in 14 years. However you might not know that the band got the touring bug during last year’s massive Light the Nitro run, and are planning shows to launch No Plans.

No Plans features 13 songs, including last year’s single “All For You” and “I Got Things to Do” penned by the band’s late drummer Steve Prestwich. The album also features Steve’s last recorded performances. Its title comes from the important lesson the band has learned in the wake of Steve’s untimely death.

“In late 2009 the five of us made plans to record together again and do a tour,” said frontman Jimmy Barnes. “After lots of twists and turns that’s exactly what we’ve ended up doing but due to Steve’s passing those plans changed a lot along the way. The last two years have reminded all of us that sometimes life deals up things you don’t expect. You can’t take anything or anyone for granted. Sometimes it’s best to have no plans.”

Cold Chisel will launch No Plans at Bluesfest on April 5 before is hits stores the next day. Following that, Chisel will play some very special “one night only” album launch shows. After last year’s big arenas, the smaller venues will allow the band to better connect with the fans that have supported them through the years. Tickets for these shows go on sale on March 19, but if you want to get a jump on the competition sign up to the Cold Chisel mailing list for pre-sale information.

See Cold Chisel supporting the release of No Plans at the following shows

5 April 2012 – Bluesfest @ Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay
7 April 2012 – Sandalford Estate, Swan Valley
12 April 2012 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
18 April 2012 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dirty Three Launch Comeback Tour

After an extended hiatus, Dirty Three are back with a brand new album and tour.

Toward the Low Sun is Dirty Three’s first album since 2005, and the fruit of one of the band’s most creative periods. It’s no cosy return to a musical comfort zone. There’s an electrifying energy in the melding of punk, jazz, and avant-garde sounds that shows Jim White, Mick Turner, and Warren Ellis are excited to be back together.

“Dirty Three has always been about the way we play together and feed off each other,” explained Warren Ellis. “We wanted this one to be a return to the more improvised and instinctive approach of the earlier recordings.”

Dirty Three will take Toward the Low Sun on the road this month, starting with a show this Friday in Perth. Tickets are available from the usual outlets for the following gigs.

9 March 2012 – Astor Theatre, Perth
10 March 2012 – WOMADelaide, Adelaide
12 March 2012 – The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
14 March 2012 – Powerstation, Auckland
16 March 2012 – The Palace, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
17 March 2012 – One Perfect Day Festival, Gippsland
18 March 2012 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (SOLD OUT)
21 March 2012 – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney
22 March 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
23 March 2012 – Starcourt Theatre, Lismore

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360 Plans Flying Aussie Tour

After recently completing a sold out string of dates, 360’s figured it’s time for another go round. He’ll play underage and adults only shows around the country in June as part of his The Flying Tour.

The tour is well-timed, as 360’s Falling & Flying album is still enjoying great success thanks largely to the big single “Boys Like You.” Single collaborator Gossling will join 360 at all the shows, along with Hermitude and Bam Bam.

He’s known for his big sound, but 360’s keeping things nice and intimate this time around with shows at small venues that allow him to really connect with his followers. To ensure he does just that, he’s giving his fans first dibs on the tickets. Join his website’s mailing list by midday on Friday to get the pre-sale information. The pre-sale will then kick off on Saturday March 10, ahead of the general public sale on March 15.

8 June 2012 – Waves, Wollongong (18+)
9 June 2012 – Come Together Festival, Sydney (All Ages)
10 June 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (18+)
11 June 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (Under 18s @ midday)
15 June 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (18+)
16 June 2012 – Pier Live, Frankston (under 18s @ 1 pm)
16 June 2012 – Pier Live, Frankston (18+)
17 June 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (Under 18s @ midday)
20 June 2012 – The Gov, Adelaide (All Ages)
22 June 2012 – Villa, Perth (18+)
23 June 2012 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Under 18s @ 1 pm)

Image used with permission from Crucial Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Jezabels Come Home

The Jezabels have found time in their busy touring schedule to announce a string of local dates. The Sydney indie-pop quartet will play national shows in June, sandwiched between gigs in North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia.

The Jezabels will be back on home soil to launch their new single “Rosebud” and support the ongoing success of their debut album, Prisoner. They’ll be joined on all shows by Canadian electro-rock darling LIGHTS and Melbourne up and comer Snakadaktal. Frontier Touring members can nab pre-sale tickets first on March 8 ahead of the general release on March 13.

1 June 2012 – Festival Hall, Melbourne (all ages)
2 June 2012 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (all ages)
5 June 2012 – Metro City, Perth (18+)
7 June 2012 – Convention Centre, Brisbane (all ages)
9 June 2012 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (all ages)

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tell St. Vincent Where to Go

After earning rave reviews for her latest album Strange Mercy and live performances in the United Kingdom and America, St. Vincent is bringing her show to Oz.

Strange Mercy was named one of the best albums of last year by a host of music bibles including The Guardian, Pitchfork, NME, and Q. She also attracted a few new eyeballs with appearances on Gossip Girl and Portlandia.

Refreshingly St. Vincent refuses to spend her time patting koalas and taking happy snaps near the Harbor Bridge like the other touring artists do. She wants to see the best our cities have to offer, and she’s encouraging Aussie fans to help her out. Just send a tweet to @St_Vincent using the hashtag #StVincentInOz to make your suggestion. If she likes your tip the best, St. Vincent will reward you with a double pass to your local show and an autographed T-shirt.

St. Vincent plays the following Aussie shows over the next fortnight.

8 March 2012 – Rosemount, Perth
10 March 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane
12 March 2012 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
14 March 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne
16 March 2012 – Adelaide Festival, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefield Tour “Bad Reality”

Rock prodigies Stonefield are set to rock Oz with their Bad Reality tour.

The string of dates will support the single of the same name, a foot-stomping rock track which comes some nine months after the release of their breakthrough song “Blackwater Rising.” I can hardly blame the sisters for taking so long to launch it though. Over the last twelve months they’ve played some of the biggest music festivals in Australia and the United Kingdom and supported acts like The Foo Fighters, Kaiser Chiefs, and our own Cold Chisel. Those girls have definitely been busy!

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the following shows.

19 April 2012 – The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
20 April 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 April 2012 – Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra
22 April 2012 – The Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
24 & 25 April 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
26 April 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
27 April 2012 – The Standard, Surry Hills
28 April 2012 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment