Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Jon English

It seems the Australian music industry just can’t catch a break. Just days after the death of Daddy Cool’s Ross Hannaford, we’ve lost another of our legends, Jon English. At just 66 years old, in the middle of a tour, it just doesn’t seem fair.

Jon was hospitalised in Newcastle after suffering broken ribs. During surgery to correct the problem, doctors discovered an issue with his aortic valve. He suffered an aortic aneurysm from which he never recovered.
It was just days ago that Jon was apologising to his fans for postponing shows and posting that he couldn’t wait to be “rocking out on stage.” He was booked to be part of Cruise N Groove 2016 in October. This was a man who wasn’t supposed to be going anywhere.

We’ve all got our special memories of Jon English. For me he was a big part of my discovery of music theatre. I remember seeing him in Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore in the 90s. He had such charisma. He was larger than life up there on the smallish Civic Theatre stage.

Jon leaves behind his wife Carmen, four children, and a legion of fans. He will be missed.

Image source: Lynott88 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sweaty Palms Gets Bigger

The Central Coast’s newest music party Sweaty Palms just got a whole lot cooler with the addition of Perth indie rockers Tired Lion, indie pop act ADKOB, and local darlings RedHook, Elaskia, and DJ Bobbie Derwin.
They join already announced acts Kingswood, Ocean Alley, the Lulu Raes, and Bootleg Rascal.

Sweaty Palms hits the Entrance Leagues Club at Bateau Bay on March 19. Tickets are affordably priced, but if you are one of the first 25 to turn up with a palm tree organisers will accept that as payment. That makes it the world’s first live music event accepting palm trees as currency. Only on the Central Coast!

Image used with permission from Kingdom Sounds

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Abraham Does Bjork

When I was a teen, all the girls in my peer group seemed to be obsessed by Bjork. I never quite got it. Her music seemed so weird to me, lacking in melody and focus. It really takes an amazing artist to make me appreciate music that had passed me by, but Ben Abraham has done just that with his incredible cover of “Hyperballad.”

I was so surprised when I heard the first of these covers. I loved it. Ben’s treatment really brought out the lyrics, and there’s a lighter, more delicate touch than I remember in the original. I decided I’d post my favourite of the two version I received, but as I listened to the second I realised I just couldn’t choose. They’re both so beautiful and special in their own right.


So tell me readers, can you pick? Do you prefer the version with Luke Howard or Tim Shiel?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Molly, Flume Top the Charts

For the first time in a long time, local releases are sitting at the top of the albums and singles charts. As I predicted, the screening of Molly gave the soundtrack a big boost. In its eleventh week in the top 50, the biopic’s soundtrack has jumped from number nine to the top spot. No doubt we’ll see a similarly strong result next week since the show just wrapped up.

Meanwhile on the singles chart, Flume has clawed his way to the top with “Never Be Like You.” The track featuring Kai is Flume’s first number one single.

Molly’s success has pushed Sia’s latest album This is Acting from number one down to number five this week. Another recent number one, Bloom by RÜFÜS, sits at number nine.

Here’s a full run-down of this week’s top tens.

Top 10 Albums
1. Molly – Soundtrack
2. 25 – Adele
3. Nothing Has Changed (The Best of David Bowie) – David Bowie
4. Purpose – Justin Bieber
5. This is Acting – Sia
6. A Head Full of Dreams – Coldplay
7. Blackstar – David Bowie
8. Anti – Rihanna
9. Bloom – RÜFÜS
10. Nine Track Mind – Charlie Puth

Top 10 Singles
1. “Never be Like You” – Flume feat. Kai
2. “Pillowtalk” – Zayne
3. “Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots
4. “One Call Away” – Charlie Puth
5. “Gold” – Kiiara
6. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber
7. “Fast Car” – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
8. “Lush Life” – Zara Larsson
9. “All My Friends” – Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper
10. “Roses” – The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Go Venue Hopping in Brisbane for Mountain Goat Valley Crawl

In the tradition of the great Australian pub crawl comes the first annual Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, a festival that brings together some of the best up-and-coming Aussie talents at stages around Brisbane.

Awesome acts like Ayla, Babaganouj, Jeremy Neale, Twin Haus, and Machine Age will play on stages at The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry, and Black Bear Lodge. All of these venues are within two square blocks so it’s easy to get from one to the next.

The best part is that it’s all completely free. Timetables will be confirmed later, but for now, make sure you save February 27 in your diary Brisbane!

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RÜFÜS Tops Albums Charts

After the chart dominance of Adele, Justin Bieber, and the incomparable David Bowie, there hasn’t been a lot of reasons for this Aussie music blog to celebrate local chart acton. However, finally a local act has managed to shift Adele from the top of the albums charts. RÜFÜS has scored a second number one album in as many releases with Bloom.

The soundtrack from the upcoming miniseries “Molly” is the only other local release in the top 10 albums. No doubt we’ll see it improving on its number seven spot when it actually screens.

As far as the singles go Flume is challenging the number one spot with “Never Be Like You.” Can the track featuring Kai, currently at number two, knock that god awful version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” off the number one spot? I can only hope so!

“Hoops” has benefited from its recent Hottest 100 win. The Rubens song is this week’s highest chart re-entry. It sits at number 10 this week; it peaked at number 25 last October.

Here are the other songs and albums selling well this week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Bloom – RÜFÜS
2. 25 – Adele
3. Blackstar – David Bowie
4. Nothing Has Changed (The Best of David Bowie) – David Bowie
5. Purpose – Justin Bieber
6. Dystopia – Megadeth
7. Molly – Soundtrack
8. X – Ed Sheeran
9. 1989 – Taylor Swift
10. The Complete Greatest Hits – The Eagles

Top 10 Singles
1. “Fast Car” – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
2. “Never be Like You” – Flume feat. Kai
3. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber
4. “One Call Away” – Charlie Puth
5. “All My Friends” – Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper
6. “Lush Life” – Zara Larsson
7. “Ex’s and Oh’s” – Elle King
8. “Sorry” – Justin Bieber
9. “Middle” – DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine
10. “Hoops” – The Rubens

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bird’s Basement Brings Jazz to Melbourne

Jazz lovers are in for a real treat with Bird’s Basement set to open its doors in Melbourne.

The club has already assembled an impressive line-up for its opening month, with American jazz legends Ravi Coltrane and Lee Ritenour scheduled to play on the first night, and Wendy Matthews, Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows, Albare, Joe Chindamo, Mike Nock, The Young ‘uns, and even Brian Mannix shows within the first month.

Bird’s Basement is a purpose-built club in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. It will offer two shows nightly – one at 6 pm and the next at 9:30 pm, accompanied by an Italian a la carte menu. Now this is how I want to see music. Melbourne, I’m officially jealous.

Bird’s Basement will welcome music lovers from March 1. You’ll find it at 11 Singer’s Lane.

Image used with permission from Cavanagh PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Steve Clisby Covers “I Still Call Australia Home”

I might be a little biased, since my husband is American, but I think there’s something so special about people who choose to live in our country. I love Australia, but I’ve also not known what it’s like to live anywhere else. I was taught my country was the best, and I never questioned it. But when people have lived abroad and they choose to make Australia home, they’re doing it because they’ve seen what else is out there and they truly know Australia is the country for them. Like me they were probably told the place they grew up is superior, but they explored beyond their immediate environment and rejected what they were told.

Perhaps that’s why I warm so much to Steve Clisby’s version of “I Still Call Australia Home.” I can truly feel his dedication to our country coming through this performance. And is there a more beautiful backdrop than Sydney Harbour?

Steve said he recorded the iconic Peter Allen song because he wanted to give back to the supporters he’s found in his adopted home. “I’m originally from California, but have lived in this beautiful country for over 16 years now – I fell in love with it the moment I arrived. I definitely call Australia my home and being able to do this now is very powerful for me,” he said in a press release.

I can’t think of a more appropriate time to share this single with you. Happy Australia Day!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Foundry Honours David Bowie

Like so many music lovers, I’m still feeling the loss of so many musical luminaries of late. Glenn Frey hit me hard. I only saw the Eagles live last year, and I’d have put money on him being the last man standing. He seemed so vibrant and full of life. And then of course there was the loss of David Bowie. I’d wanted to see him live when he came out in 2004 but I’d already booked tickets to the US to meet an online boyfriend at the same time. Thank goodness I ended up marrying that boy, because otherwise I’d really be sore about that missed opportunity.

But I digress. There are so many Bowie tribute nights being organised, and quite rightly so. But I wanted to make sure to promote the show at The Foundry next month. The good folks at this venue aren’t profiting from the event, which is sure to be a sell-out, but donating all proceeds to cancer charities. In light of the way we lost Bowie, this seems like the best way to really honour his memory and contribution to the music world.

If you want to get together with like-minded people who know just how much Bowie’s music meant and see it performed by some of Brisbane’s brightest young talents, get along to The Foundry in Fortitude Valley on February 21. Doors open from 5 p.m.

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

PBS 106.7FM Announce Drive Live! Line-Up

PBS 106.7FM’s annual Drive Live! is approaching, and it looks like it might be one of the best yet. From February 1 to 5, some of the best musicians in Melbourne will perform live at PBS’ Collingwood studios between 5 pm and 7 pm. I’m talking The Drones, Sui Zhen, Jess Rebeiro, Mollusc, and heaps more. It’ll be a treat for music lovers across the Victorian capital and a real thrill for those lucky enough to earn a place in the studio.

If you want to be one of them, send an email to events@pbsfm.org.au with the subject line: NIGHT (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) YOUR NAME and MEMBER NUMBER (if applicable). It’s free to go, but capacity is limited so send off your requests ASAP.

Here’s the full program so you can decide what you want to see or hear.

Monday, February 1 – Zen Arcade
Taipan Tiger Girls
friendships
Mollusc

Tuesday, February 2 – Mixing Up The Medicine
The Drones
Deaf Wish
Deep Heat

Wednesday, February 3 – The Afterglow
Terrible Truths
Sui Zhen
Jess Ribeiro

Thursday, February 4 – Fang It!
Batpiss
Wet Lips
Grotto

Friday, February 5 – Stone Love
Little Desert
Waterfall Person
Drug Sweat

Image used with permission from Higher Plains